207: The one who will die is me

Inside an ordinary abandoned Martial Arts Hall.

Within the Barrier Domain.

The silver-haired young man's figure flickered, his gaze like electricity, as he unleashed a punch covered in white Qi, striking the air.

"Boom!"

The air vibrated violently, an extremely condensed shockwave expanded and contracted within a small space, fluctuating thirteen times in an instant! This caused the power to layer repeatedly, erupting with a terrifying force nearly nine times its original strength!

If Jiang Yuan hadn't restrained his power, this one punch alone would have been enough to shake space and shatter the surrounding barrier formed by Dark Gold Rank items!

Eight-star Martial Skill [Empty Strike], Minor Achievement!

After one punch.

Jiang Yuan then drew the tachi kura kiri from his waist, and with a flicker of his figure, appeared behind the corpse of a Star Shield Beast, which was as large as a house and as hard as A-Rank alloy.

"Whew..."

Jiang Yuan gently exhaled, slowly sheathing his sword with a crisp clang.

"Clang—"

Behind him.

A one-meter-long slash lingered in the air, dark and profound, as if one end connected to the boundless Void Realm. The incredibly hard body of the Star Shield Beast was directly split in two by it, and continuously absorbed into nothingness, disappearing in an instant.

"As expected of a Martial Skill whose incomplete version already reached Nine-Rank, it's truly difficult."

Jiang Yuan sighed with emotion.

After several hours of exploration, practice, and tens of thousands of sword swings and punches.

At this moment, he had only cultivated this move to Minor Achievement.

"It's a pity that the power unlocked this time is the Dragon Magic Circuit."

"If the power unsealed this time had been [Supreme Analysis], it would have been great."

Jiang Yuan sighed.

In that case, he would have been able to fully comprehend this move and [Empty Strike] in just one night.

Spending a bit more time.

It wouldn't be difficult to deduce the complete version... After a night of Cultivating.

Feeling a slight increase in the vast, magma-like Qi and blood within his body, and sensing it becoming purer and more natural, a hint of enlightenment emerged in Jiang Yuan's heart.

"Practicing Martial Skills can also nourish the Physical Body and strengthen the physique."

"Indeed, as a Martial Artist, one still needs to frequently Cultivate Martial Skills, rather than simply killing monsters and relying on experience points to increase Rank..."

"Skills are shortcuts, while Martial Skills are fundamental."

"Previously, it was by killing Vicious Beasts, and recently, it was by relying on Blood Sacrifice Gloves to devour other Great Grandmasters to increase Qi and blood. The Rank increase has been too simple; I haven't truly settled down to Cultivate in a long time..."

"The Immortal Body Tempering Method is also stuck at the thirty-third form with no progress. Perhaps I've been too focused on external forces and forgotten that self is the foundation."

Jiang Yuan mused, cautioning himself.

While unSealing, self-Cultivation must never be neglected!

It's time to settle down.

"Swish!"

Night appeared in the darkness.

She is an epic-Rank Dark Night Dancer profession. After fusing with the Dark Blood, Jiang Yuan also obtained the most suitable Golden Rank set for her current use at Gokurakukan—the [Dark Kill Set]. Now, her speed and attributes are even more astonishing, silent, with doubled damage, she is simply an executioner in the darkness.

"Master, Night has found him."

Jiang Yuan's next opponent was the five-star Berserker Saint—Uesugi Hu.

Jiang Yuan glanced sideways: "Where is he?"

"At the Lion Society."

"Oh?" Jiang Yuan raised an eyebrow, a little surprised, but not much.

According to the information from Gokurakukan.

Uesugi Hu seemed to be a young man with a strong sense of justice, willing to do anything for justice, even resorting to unscrupulous means.

Therefore, he was highly recognized by the Lion Society, which upholds justice and order.

They had a good relationship.

If he knew his next opponent was himself, it was understandable for him to seek refuge at the Lion Society.

"I heard from Gokurakukan that besides the Shingu family, the Lion Society also possesses some decent secret treasures..."

Jiang Yuan's eyes flickered.

"It's called the saints bone, right?"

...In the early morning.

Lion Society.

Flash Sword Rider - Kujo Ruri, dressed in a black training suit, with her hair tied in a high ponytail, stood in the center of the spacious dojo, holding a bamboo sword in each hand, her eyes closed.

Her teacher's words echoed in her heart.

"Kujo, go and feel."

"Feel with your heart."

"Feel the Qi between heaven and earth, feel the breathing and rhythm of all things. In this way, you will be able to... comprehend the true meaning of the sword, and master... the Sword Domain."

Whoosh whoosh whoosh... Circles of subtle air currents rippled out from beneath her feet.

The dojo where she stood seemed to transform into a vast ocean, with Lan Lan waves surging beneath her feet.

After a long while.

The anomaly disappeared.

Kujo Ruri opened her eyes, a look of disappointment on her face.

"It still failed..."

The dojo's sliding door was pushed open, and an old woman knelt at the entrance, respectfully saying:

"Young Miss Kujo, it's time for breakfast."

"Just leave it there. I still need to Cultivate, don't disturb me."

"Yes..."

The old woman retreated.

Kujo Ruri opened the Crown Position Battle ranking.

As the night passed, the ranking had changed again.

[Tyrant] - Shirakawa Gen already had four stars and was ranked twelfth.

And she also had four stars now, wondering if she would encounter him.

"I hope not to encounter him..."

Kujo Ruri prayed in her heart.

"You won't encounter him."

As if someone had heard her thoughts, a bold male voice rang out not far away.

The sliding door opened, and a figure burst in.

Kujo Ruri looked over, her brows slightly furrowed.

"It's you?"

The rugged young man, wearing sunglasses and with his gray hair spiked up, raised a hand to her and grinned:

"Yo, Ruri, long time no see."

"It's you. What are you doing here?" Kujo Ruri frowned, not having much affection for this childhood friend.

She had once witnessed him ruthlessly use a young girl who admired him to kill an opponent, which ultimately led to the girl's death in an accident.

Afterward, the words Uesugi Hu spoke in the rain in front of the girl's tombstone, Kujo Ruri would never forget.

[She didn't die because of me, but sacrificed herself for justice.]

[No matter the cost, I will change all of this.]

"You're still as cold as ever, even though you look cute when you smile. I really don't know who will marry you in the future."

Uesugi Hu said with a chuckle, young in age, yet with a head full of gray hair, like a dying old man.

Kujo Ruri was about to say something.

Uesugi Hu suddenly said:

"If I die, could I trouble you to place flowers at Nanako's tombstone this year?"

Nanako was the girl's name.

Kujo Ruri's heart trembled slightly.

"You..."

Suddenly, the barrier covering the Lion Society twisted and fluctuated. Several Lion Society Great Grandmasters opened their eyes in the shadows.

To Kujo Ruri's shocked gaze.

A tall, familiar figure appeared in the depths of the darkness within the room. He wore a scarlet glove on his left hand, an ancient and weathered stone mask on his face, his silver hair swept back, a smile playing on his lips—mysterious and noble, powerful and ruthless.

"He really came." Uesugi Hu sighed softly.

He came even faster than he expected.

Fortunately, the preparations were complete.

"Shirakawa Gen?!" Kujo Ruri exclaimed in surprise.

Uesugi Hu stepped out from beside Kujo Ruri, leaving a remark.

"You won't be matched with him. It will be me who dies by his hand."

Kujo Ruri was stunned.

Uesugi Hu walked up to Jiang Yuan.

Jiang Yuan: "You knew I was looking for you?"

"Although I'm not good at studying, I still have this much common sense." Uesugi Hu chuckled.

"Your vitality is like a flickering candle in the wind, yet your eyes show no despair. What are you planning?" Jiang Yuan was somewhat curious.

"In shogi, even the lowliest pawn can occasionally checkmate the king." Uesugi Hu said, crushing the forced displacement crystal hidden in his palm.

"Swish!"

A mysterious purple light instantly descended, enveloping both of them.

When Kujo Ruri opened her eyes again, the two had already vanished.

"What exactly is going on?"

As if she had thought of something, she immediately rushed towards the shrine in the depths.

Of the four Grandmaster Elders who originally guarded this place, only one remained. The saints bone, wrapped in cloth and enshrined at the highest point, was also gone.

"Grand Elder, what exactly are you planning to do?"

Silence.

"Where did they go?"

"Lion's Den Ruins."

Hearing this answer.

Kujo Ruri's pupils contracted slightly, and an astonishing conjecture emerged.

"Grand Elder, are you..."

"Indeed."

The old and decrepit Lion Society Grand Elder, sitting cross-legged at a high position, spoke faintly with closed eyes: "His existence threatens order."

"For justice, he must be killed, even if it means my sacrifice. These are the words that kid Uesugi told me."

Kujo Ruri slowly widened her eyes.

"Is he trying to... !"

"He has already made preparations for death, so I let him take that saints bone. At the necessary moment, the saints bone will respond to his resolve."

...At the same time.

Within the ruins world controlled by the Lion Society.

Yellow sand filled the sky, and giant stone pillars pierced through heaven and earth.

Jiang Yuan was entangled by three Nine-Rank Lion Society Elders.

And under the effect of a Light Relic held by one of them, his Dark Territory was greatly weakened.

"Da da da da da da!"

"Bang bang bang bang bang bang!!"

Uesugi Hu burned his life force, activating his talent to conjure countless gun barrels and cannon muzzles around him, spewing flames. An endless barrage of bullets and shells, infused with Magic Power, rained down on Jiang Yuan.

"This is my final dance! Taste the flavor of a grand missile!!" Uesugi Hu laughed wildly, spitting blood while creating firearms and cannons.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!"

Rockets, entwined with azure electric arcs, crisscrossed through the air, tracking and blasting towards Jiang Yuan.

Truly demonstrating what is meant by overwhelming firepower, and what it means for a Berserker Saint to sacrifice everything for justice.

"Bang bang bang bang bang!!"

Huge explosions continuously erupted in the air.

Jiang Yuan's figure emerged from the smoke and dust, his entire body enveloped in golden Qi, his silver hair flowing, and a black mark on his forehead adding a touch of evil and mystery to him.

"Using yourself as bait, drawing me into a trap, teleporting me to the ruins world, and suppressing my power through this world—your plan is quite good, but... it's not enough!"

As Jiang Yuan spoke, golden light burst forth from the depths of his eyes, and his suppressive aura erupted, forcefully resisting the world's suppression on him.

He looked at Uesugi Hu in the distance.

"Daring to do such a thing, I suppose you've already prepared to die, haven't you?"

Under his suppressive aura, Uesugi Hu was pinned tightly to the ground, almost crushed to pieces, but he still remained conscious, gritting his teeth and enduring.

A faint golden light appeared on his chest, and the cloth wrapping the saints bone shattered inch by inch.

"This guy... his strength is indeed as abnormal as the rumors say!" The Third Elder of the Lion Society exclaimed, "No, it even exceeds expectations."

"Don't be careless! He certainly holds a great secret. If we can capture him, our Lion Society will have the power to contend with the Shingu family!" The Fourth Elder's voice was cold.

This was the greatest objective of the Lion Society's decision to launch this encirclement.

"Heh heh." Jiang Yuan sneered, "If you have the ability, then come."

"Arrogant!" The Ninth-Order Grand Master Swordsman Elder roared coldly, holding a luminous tachi, and slashed down. A huge blade light instantly filled the entire field of vision.

Lan Lan appeared around Jiang Yuan, and a dreamy Lan Lan light manifested.

[Returning to Nothingness]

All attacks completely missed.

Jiang Yuan's figure flickered again, appearing before the Nine-Rank Mage Grandmaster holding a staff, and punched down.

The next instant.

The Nine-Rank Mage Grandmaster and the Nine-Rank Shield Master in the distance swapped positions.

Jiang Yuan used [Empty Strike], shattering the Nine-Rank Shield Master Elder's great shield. His fist also shattered and bled due to the opponent's counter-attack skill.

Jiang Yuan didn't care, clenching his left hand, which wore the Blood Sacrifice Gloves, into a fist.

[Empty Strike] + [Instant]

A punch that pierced through a time gap slammed heavily into his abdomen, sending him flying backward, spitting blood.

Jiang Yuan transformed into a black light, rapidly giving chase, and instantly unleashed punches from all directions around him.

[Empty Strike] Nine consecutive strikes!!

Nine white spheres, formed by shockwaves, appeared around the Shield Master, then exploded simultaneously.

"Bang bang bang bang bang bang!!!"

The terrifying power, concentrated within a small space, and the destructive force generated by continuous superposition, could tear apart even a Nine-Rank Star Shield Beast, let alone a Nine-Rank Shield Master with a human body.

In an instant.

A Shield Grandmaster with tens of thousands of health and over eight thousand defense was left with only a head and torso, his limbs gone, and his health at rock bottom.

Just as Jiang Yuan was about to completely finish him off.

The Shield Grandmaster spoke with difficulty: "Life Shield's... Trap."

In a flash, an immense gravitational force pressed down on Jiang Yuan, making him feel as if he was carrying a giant mountain, and his speed plummeted. At the same time, black halos bound Jiang Yuan's limbs, making it difficult for him to move.

"The damage I receive will be converted into suppression for you."

The Shield Grandmaster said, and an ultimate life crystal appeared before him. Just as he was about to bite it in half.

Lan Lan acted. It rushed out at an extremely fast speed, flicked the life crystal away with its tail, and then swallowed it whole.

"Wh-what?!" The Shield Grandmaster's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Woof woof~~"

Lan Lan let out a joyful sound, then released a skill.

[Divine Water Three Thousand Strike]

"Whoosh la la!!"

The sound of ocean waves echoed in the Void Realm, followed by water elements rapidly converging between heaven and earth. To the Shield Grandmaster's horrified gaze, a vast ocean formed above his head, and then... crashed down with a roar!!

"Holy Light Shield!"

The Mage Ninth-Order Grand Master completed his incantation and acted, forming a huge light shield that blocked this forbidden-spell-like attack.

But before the Shield Grandmaster could relax for a moment.

Jiang Yuan's eyes flashed, and terrifying Mental Energy, amplified by the [sage mask], overwhelmingly crushed towards the three. Stone pillars collapsed, and the sky was torn apart by this extremely terrifying power.

"It's a Mental Attack!"

"Not good!"

The strongest of the three, the Swordsman Elder, his face changed drastically, and he retreated rapidly.

The Shield Grandmaster's Soul was instantly destroyed, and the Mage Grandmaster barely managed to block this attack after continuously using several defensive Mental Energy items.