Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior

Chapter 258 173: Guidance from a Master, Advancement in Skills!

As soon as these words were spoken, the scene suddenly fell silent, with only the winter wind moaning in the Black Stone Forest.

The brief silence was quickly broken by the sound of swallowing and gasping, and the scene immediately became as restless as boiling water in a boiler.

"Who exactly is that person?"

Several captains of Qingshui Town's government office showed drastic changes in their expressions. The leading Captain Qiu secretly lamented, regretting not recognizing the prowess of such a formidable figure.

That elder in blue was a Qingfeng Gang elder, and the Qingfeng Gang wasn't a faction of Qingshui Town but one of the five major forces in Qingyun County, known throughout the Three Counties.

Being able to serve as an elder there wasn't for an ordinary Seventh-Grade Martial Artist, but at least a Seventh-Grade Martial Artist with a Second-Time Tendon Transformation. Such a character's stomping could send tremors through several towns around Qingyun City.

Yet, the murderous sword intent of such a Qingfeng Gang elder was severed with just two fingers by a young man in a wheelchair, who even had to thank the young man for sparing his life after his sword was broken.

For a moment, everyone including Captain Qiu and the Cangying Gang were anxious and uneasy. Even the young girl from the Iron Fist Martial Arts Hall and many disciples were pale and silent like cicadas in winter.

Once one's strength reaches a certain level, even if Su Mu never expressed malice, his mere strength invoked awe and respect.

Su Mu closed his eyes again, with a hint of joy and anticipation flashing deep within.

His seemingly simple reach was actually an application of the Crane Play he had inferred over the past two months. Naturally, he had also activated the Jade Bone just now, but the power he used was less than one-twentieth of his peak.

With just this minimal power, the Crane Play could easily break the sword of a Muscle-Enhancing Martial Artist with Second-Time Transformation.

"Perhaps I've underestimated the potential of Transforming Mortals into Demons with the Five Animals Qigong. Its power even surpasses the Molten Fire Golden Body... If I can fully recover, it would be a blessing in disguise!"

As Su Mu's eyelids slightly flickered shut, the elderly man in blue before him counted as an 'old acquaintance'. Su Mu, with his photographic memory, clearly recalled that Lin Zhen was among the participants of the Banquet of Hongmen.

That night, Lin Zhen's sword even pierced through the Vajra Body's Golden Bell Body Protection, forcing Su Mu into the Furious Eyes Vajra, causing him some trouble.

However, the current Su Mu, whose meridians were broken, could still easily snap Lin Zhen's sword.

It wasn't that Lin Zhen had become weaker, but that his progress lagged far behind Su Mu's rapid advancement. Even with Su Mu's ruptured meridians, his strength would surpass the Su Mu from the Banquet of Hongmen.

Su Mu's earlier action was partly for Qinghe's sake, although not entirely calculated by Su Mu. But given that Lin Zhen came forward himself, and after breaking Lin Zhen's sword upon revealing the name Gu Feng.

Once this matter concludes, Su Mu, upon leaving Qingshui Town, would not have to worry about Qinghe being disturbed, as no one would dare provoke her again.

Moreover, Su Mu also used Lin Zhen to gauge his own current strength, at least determining that ordinary Seventh-Grade Martial Artists posed no threat to him.

"Continue."

Su Mu softly uttered, causing everyone present to shiver involuntarily.

"I, I admit defeat!"

Cang Ying no longer dared to continue the contest. Moreover, he was originally not a match for Li Lishi, and they had already offended Su Mu earlier, so they dared not provoke further.

"For the final round, Iron Fist Martial Arts Hall's Master Li wins!"

As soon as the words fell, Captain Qiu promptly announced.

With Cang Ying's surrender, Iron Fist Martial Arts Hall secured three out of five victories in the contest. Subsequently, regardless of invitations from Qingfeng Gang's Lin Zhen, Qingshui Town's government office, Iron Fist Martial Arts Hall, or Cangying Gang, Su Mu directly refused them all.

"Qinghe, let's return."

"Yes, sir."

Qinghe pushed the wheelchair toward Qingshui Town, and everyone watched the large and small figures depart with expressions full of awe.

After those two figures disappeared from sight, Lin Zhen glared fiercely at the leader of Cangying Gang. Cang Ying, seeing Lin Zhen's fierce gaze, trembled all over, knowing well that it might spell the end for Cangying Gang.

"Hmph!"

Right now, Lin Zhen couldn't bother with the Cangying Gang. He needed to quickly return to Qingyun City to report the day's events to the Gang Leader, and with a flick of his sleeves, he departed.

Watching his old rival Cang Ying's dejected expression, Li Lishi of the Iron Fist Martial Arts Hall felt a complex emotion, realizing today's duel between the two gangs seemed like nothing but a farce.

In the eyes of true strength, the so-called Iron Fist Martial Arts Hall and Cangying Gang were but ants.

However, Li Lishi quickly took a deep breath, dispelling his complex feelings and replacing them with relief and joy. Matters of a formidable figure like Mr. Lin were not something they could trouble themselves with.

"It's fortunate that I was respectful at Mr. Lin's residence the other day, otherwise today, the Iron Fist Martial Arts Hall's fate would certainly be worse than that of the Cangying Gang!"

...

In a single day, news of the Cangying Gang's defeat in the duel spread throughout Qingshui Town.

The townspeople of Qingshui secretly sighed in relief, as the business conduct of Iron Fist Martial Arts Hall, compared to Cangying Gang, was much better; naturally, the common folk hoped for Iron Fist Martial Arts Hall to flourish rather than Cangying Gang.

However, when the news spread, all parties tacitly refrained from mentioning Su Mu, and no one dared to disturb Su Mu's peace.

The next morning, Su Mu came alone to the Iron Fist Martial Arts Hall.

"What, you mean to say Mr. Lin has arrived?"

Last night, at the celebration banquet, Li Lishi drank quite a bit of wine, but upon hearing someone report the three words 'Mr. Lin', he instantly sobered up and hastily dressed to go outside.

"Mr. Lin!"

Li Lishi bowed respectfully in greeting.

"The agreement between us has been fulfilled, and I must leave for a while. I trouble Master Li to take care of Qinghe."

"Sir, you're too kind. It's no trouble at all; as long as I, Li Lishi, breathe, young Mr. Qinghe will not suffer any harm."