60: Chapter 60 Storm Kingdom, Western Martial Arts

Night was like ink. Sea breezes, laden with a salty, fishy scent, cut through the craggy reef area outside the city.

Jiang Hanzhou walked with a composed gait, seemingly following an overgrown path, his feet treading on earth mixed with fine sand and seashell fragments.

The dark woods on both sides rustled in the wind, while the dull thud of waves crashing against reefs in the distance arrived rhythmically.

In his perception, those three cold auras maintained a distance of about thirty zhang, like patient hounds, neither hurried nor slow.

Very good.

After walking another hundred zhang, the view suddenly opened up.

A small clearing in the forest was surrounded on three sides by towering black reefs, while the fourth side led to the surging beach.

The moonlight was mostly obscured by clouds, casting only a thin, bleak light that outlined the reefs and trees like baring-fanged monsters.

Jiang Hanzhou stopped there and slowly turned around.

"Having followed for so long, aren't you tired?"

His voice was calm, spreading clearly in the night breeze.

The forest was silent for a moment.

Immediately, three figures slowly emerged from the shadows in different directions, forming a triangular formation that surrounded him in the center.

The moonlight finally pierced through the gaps in the clouds and spilled down.

Jiang Hanzhou's eyes narrowed slightly.

They were not the Jianghu guests or local forces common in Bibo City that he had anticipated.

They were three men with high bridges of noses, deep-set eyes, and hair that appeared light gold in the dim light.

They wore tight leather outfits, covered by dark cloaks, with slender rapiers at their waists—their attire was vastly different from Central Plains Martial Artists.

Most striking were their eyes, which faintly gleamed with a pale green light in the darkness, like nocturnal animals.

Westerners.

The leader was in his thirties, his face as cold and stern as a stone carving, with a high nose bridge and thin, tightly pressed lips.

He stepped forward half a step, placed his right hand over his chest, and performed a slightly stiff but standard Western greeting, speaking in surprisingly articulate Central Plains Mandarin:

"My friend, disturbing you late at night is truly a last resort."

His voice was low, carrying a texture like metal rubbing against metal.

"I am Karl, from the 'Silver Wing Family' of the Storm Kingdom. These two are my companions, Luke and Solon."

He pointed to the two other blond-haired, blue-eyed men behind him, both of whom had arrogant expressions, their gazes locking onto Jiang Hanzhou like hawks.

"We followed Your Excellency with no ill intent, it is just..."

He paused, his gaze falling on Jiang Hanzhou's waist.

It appeared empty, but Karl's gaze seemed to pierce through the clothing to see the sumeru pouch inside.

"The 'profound iron essence gold' that Your Excellency bought at the Treasure Gathering Tower is of vital importance to our Family. We are willing to pay the original price—no, we are willing to pay ninety thousand taels to ask Your Excellency to part with it."

The words were polite, but the Qi suppression formed by the three of them, along with their undisguised, scrutinizing, and oppressive gazes, had turned the "request" into an "ultimatum."

Jiang Hanzhou laughed softly.

The laughter was faint, barely audible in the night wind, but it made Karl's brows furrow slightly.

"Part with it?"

Jiang Hanzhou repeated the phrase, shook his head, and his tone carried a hint of undisguised mockery:

"That sounds very nice. Isn't it just that you want to rob me?"

He looked up, his gaze sweeping over the three: "Why beat around the bush? If you want it, come take it with your own abilities."

Before the words even faded—

"Insolent!" The young man on the left named Luke barked, his Central Plains language carrying a heavy foreign accent, "Eastern commoner, how dare you be rude to the Silver Wing Family!"

His figure suddenly flickered!

It wasn't the eruption of Qi and blood common to Central Plains Martial Artists, but rather, pale silver light patterns, like blood vessels, suddenly lit up under the skin all over his body!

Those light patterns spread from the position of his heart, instantly covering his limbs and torso.

Luke's aura surged in an instant, his speed increased dramatically, leaving a faint silver afterimage in place as he lunged toward Jiang Hanzhou's left side like a ghost!

At the same time, he spread the fingers of his right hand, and from his fingertips extended half-foot-long, razor-sharp silver bone claws!

The claw wind was shrill, aimed directly at Jiang Hanzhou's heart!

Bloodline Power?

Jiang Hanzhou's eyes narrowed, but instead of retreating, he advanced.

His figure seemed to lose all weight, lightly shifting half a step to the side, perfectly dodging the edge of the silver claws.

At the same time, he joined his fingers like a sword, pale golden Qi and blood condensed at his fingertips, lightning-fast, pointing at a faintly pulsing silver-patterned node on the inside of Luke's wrist!

This finger strike arrived after the attack but struck first, chillingly precise.

Luke's expression changed slightly, clearly not expecting the opponent's reaction to be so fast and his eyes so sharp.

He twisted his wrist sharply, changing the claw strike into a slash, attempting to parry this finger.

"Clang!"

The finger and claw touched, emitting a crisp sound like metal striking metal!

Luke felt a scorching, fierce, yet needle-like force penetrate through his silver claws and straight into his arm Meridians!

That force was completely different in nature from the surging Bloodline Power within his body; it was more solid, more domineering, carrying a majesty that suppressed everything!

He let out a muffled groan, the silver patterns on his arm flickering violently, and his whole body was shaken back three steps by the force of that one finger, plowing shallow furrows in the ground.

After repelling Luke with one finger, Jiang Hanzhou's figure did not stop, his left foot twisted on the ground, his waist twisted like a bow, and his right leg swept out like a whip!

The leg wind whistled, kicking up sand and stones, aiming straight at the man on the right named Solon!

Solon's pupils constricted, but he did not dodge or evade, his hands quickly forming seals in front of his chest, and he spat out a few obscure syllables.

"Rock Armor, Condense!"

On the surface of his skin, a layer of grayish-white, rock-like stratum corneum instantly appeared!

His whole body seemed to turn into a stone statue, his aura becoming as heavy as a mountain!

"Bang!"

Jiang Hanzhou's leg kicked solidly onto Solon's crossed, blocking arms.

The muffled sound was like a giant drum being beaten!

A circle of spiderweb-like cracks exploded under Solon's feet, but he actually managed to withstand this kick!

Only fine cracks appeared on that layer of "Rock Armor," and his face turned pale; clearly, it was not easy.

"A bit interesting."

Jiang Hanzhou used the counter-shock force to flip in the air and landed lightly, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes.

Western Martial Dao, really does blaze a new trail.

This is not the path of Cultivating Qi and blood or opening Meridians, but rather developing Bloodline potential or using some secret technique or curse seal to instantly gain special abilities.

Pity...

"Flashy but lacking, the Foundation is insufficient."

He commented indifferently, and the next moment, his aura changed abruptly!

No longer restrained, no longer gentle.

Like a sleeping Vicious Beast that had opened its eyes!

"Boom—!"

Pale golden Qi and blood erupted from his body, not dissipating, but condensing into substance, forming a slowly rotating halo of Qi and blood within three feet of him!

Within the halo, faint phantoms of a Dragon and Tiger circled and roamed, and the low, majestic sound of Dragons Roar and Tigers Howl faintly came from the depths of his bones and muscles!

The terrifying Foundation of the dao bone initially formed, the Blood Pill condensed, and the Dragon Subduing and Tiger Taming Skill at Major Achievement were fully revealed at this moment!

Karl's expression changed drastically!

Although he had sensed that the young Easterner's aura was not weak, he had never expected that the opponent's true strength would be so terrifying!

This quality of Qi and blood... this pressure... far exceeded the ordinary Peak of the Viscera Burning Realm!

It even reminded him of those Elders in his Family who had touched the threshold of "Sky Knights"!

"Careful! He hid his strength!" Karl shouted a warning, while his hands quickly traced in front of his chest, and silver light patterns appeared out of thin air, weaving into a diamond-shaped light shield that blocked in front of him.

Luke and Solon also realized something was wrong and simultaneously activated their Bloodline secret techniques.

Luke's silver patterns brightened, his claws expanded to a foot long, his figure blurred again, and he attacked Jiang Hanzhou from different angles, claw shadows filling the sky, shrilly tearing through the air!

Solon roared, slammed his fists together, and that layer of "Rock Armor" quickly spread to his whole body, even condensing a layer of inch-thick grayish-white stone armor on his skin!

He stepped forward in large strides, like a war Puppet, threw a punch, the fist wind as heavy as a collapsing mountain!

Facing the full joint attack of the two, Jiang Hanzhou's eyes were cold.

He suddenly closed his eyes.

Not out of arrogance, but to mobilize a deeper level of power.

In his Dantian, the goose-egg-sized dark golden Blood Pill suddenly accelerated its rotation! Deep within his bones, those wisps of seven-colored clouds brightened slightly!

The next moment, he opened his eyes.

Golden light flowed in his eyes!

Tidal Shadow Thousand Hands secret Martial Skill—Thousand Shadows Return to One!

He formed an ancient fist seal with both hands in front of his chest, and then pushed out a punch levelly.

This punch looked slow, but it was actually fast to the extreme!

Wherever the fist edge passed, the air let out an unbearable wail, faintly distorting!

The sky full of silver claw shadows, in front of this plain and unadorned punch, crumbled and dissipated like ice and snow under the sun!

Luke was horrified to find that no matter how he changed his moves, that fist edge seemed to have locked onto his Soul, unavoidable!

"No—!"

He frantically drove his Bloodline Power, crossed his claws to protect his chest, and the silver patterns lit up like they were burning!

"Puff!"

The fist edge printed onto the center of the crossed claws.

Time seemed to stand still for a moment.

Then—

"Crack! Crack-crack—!"

The tooth-aching sound of bone fractures rang out densely!

Luke's pair of silver-lit, hard-as-iron bone claws, along with his arms behind them, fractured and twisted joint by joint like fragile dead branches!

His whole body was hit head-on by a charging wild elephant, his chest collapsed, fresh blood mixed with visceral fragments sprayed out wildly, his body flew back more than ten zhang, and he slammed heavily into a black reef!

"Boom!"

The reef exploded, rock fragments flew.

Luke lay paralyzed in the pile of rubble, his arms hanging limply, a terrifying dent in his chest, his aura instantly withered to the extreme, his eyes filled with unbelievable horror and despair.

One punch, heavily injuring Luke, who had a cultivation equivalent to the Middle Stage of the Viscera Burning Realm and possessed Silver Wing Bloodline!

Solon's rock heavy punch had just arrived at Jiang Hanzhou's side.

Jiang Hanzhou didn't even look back.

His left hand reached out like lightning, fingers spread, lightly grasping that fist wrapped in thick stone armor.

It was heavy and cold to the touch, as if holding a thousand-jin boulder.

But Jiang Hanzhou's five fingers exerted force, and pale golden Qi and blood surged out like raging flames!

"Crack—!"

The stone armor shattered!

Solon watched in horror as his "Rock Armor," which could withstand sword slashes and axe hacks, shattered like clay under the other's five fingers!

Then, an irresistible giant force came, his whole body was swung up and smashed hard into the ground!

"Boom!"

The ground shook violently, dust rising.

Solon was smashed half a foot into the soil, his stone armor shattered, blood sprayed from his mouth, his internal organs felt displaced, his vision went black, and he completely lost his ability to fight.

Jiang Hanzhou let go, shook off the stone chips and blood foam from his hand, and looked up at the last person—Karl.

Karl had already retreated ten zhang away, the silver light shield protecting him, his face pale, his eyes no longer having any arrogance, only deep fear.

Too strong!

This was simply not an existence they could contend with!

What Early Stage of the Viscera Burning Realm? This was definitely a monster that had touched the threshold of the Eastern Martial Dao "Dragon Elephant Realm"!

"Your turn."

Jiang Hanzhou stepped forward, walking toward Karl.

The footsteps were not heavy, but it was like stepping on Karl's heart.

He gritted his teeth hard, as if having made a difficult decision, took out a silver token engraved with complex eagle wing patterns from his bosom, and crushed it hard!

"Please, Master Sang, take action!"