A Pawn's Passage

In the end, Wan Xiuwu suffered a loss because he did not use any weapons.

Logically speaking, Wan Xiuwu would not be short of spiritual objects since he was the disciple of the Wuxu Palace Master. However, Wan Xiuwu was a Martial Arts Practitioner, who generally did not like relying on external objects since their fists were the most lethal weapons. Thus, Martial Arts Practitioners would rely heavily on consuming various healthy foods and medicinal supplements.

Since Martial Arts Practitioners could not conjure the essence from heaven and earth, they had to continuously eat in large quantities to replenish their energy and blood qi. It was not an exaggeration to say that some Martial Arts Practitioners could eat nine whole cows a day.

Confucian practitioners and Daoist Qi Refiners asked the heavens to bestow on them the power of nature, which came at no cost. However, the food and medicinal supplements consumed by Martial Arts Practitioners were costly, racking up high expenses. Thus, scholars were most often seen as poor, while Martial Arts Practitioners were seen to be rich.

Wan Xiuwu was not from a noble family. He was an orphan with no family support, so he converted the spiritual objects given to him into Taiping coins.

On the other hand, Qi Xuansu had two spiritual cutlasses and two Xuan Jades. So the slight difference in cultivation level between them was not worth mentioning.

Qi Xuansu relied on the Xuan Jade of Life to strengthen his blood qi and physical strength. At least, Wan Xiuwu would not be able to push Qi Xuansu to his limit.

From this point of view, Qi Xuansu’s ranking on the Ruyi Leaderboard was indeed a bit low. Although Qi Xuansu was not as good as Zhang Yuelu and the top few, he could definitely be ranked between 100 and 200 on the leaderboard instead of being at the bottom rung.

However, this was no fault of whoever created this leaderboard. Aside from Madam Qi, no one knew that Qi Xuansu was transformed by the Xuan Jade of Life. Very few people even knew about the existence and the magical uses of the Xuan Jade. Without the Xuan Jade of Life, Qi Xuansu would have been in the bottom few of that list.

Wan Xiuwu clenched his fist again. He looked at Qi Xuansu and said, “So, it’s the famous Dayan Spirit Blade Technique. How interesting! This technique consumes a lot of innate qi. With your current level of cultivation at the Yuxu stage, I’m guessing that you’re already at your limit. Go ahead and show me what else you’ve got.”

Qi Xuansu tossed the two cutlasses to the side. “You’re quite knowledgeable. This Dayan Spirit Blade Technique does consume a lot of innate qi. My cultivation level is inferior to yours. If this is all I’ve got, I’m afraid I would’ve exhausted myself to death before wearing you down.”

Wan Xiuwu stepped forward. “That means you have no other abilities?”

Qi Xuansu raised his foot and stomped heavily on the ground. A crater appeared where he stepped, and a circle of cracks appeared on the periphery. “I just learned boxing recently, so I might as well put it to good use.”

Wan Xiuwu’s eyes were cold. He said with a sinister smile, “That’s my strong suit. You’re really courageous to attack me with your shortcomings.”

Although Wan Xiuwu refused to admit defeat, he secretly kept his guard up, not daring to be careless. After all, Qi Xuansu’s punches on his lower abdomen and ankle earlier were not light.

Qi Xuansu stopped talking nonsense and stepped forward. He thrust his palm at Wan Xiuwu’s face with a knifehand strike.

This was the flexibility of the Tantai Fist Intention. Although it was called the fist intention, fists were not necessary. It was just like how a Qi Refiner’s sword qi did not necessarily require the use of a sword, as seen when Feng Bo could unleash sword qi with his bare hands.

Wan Xiuwu used the previous finger technique to point at Qi Xuansu’s wrist, causing the spiral energy to vibrate endlessly. Qi Xuansu retracted his hand, his knifehand strike turning into a claw as he grabbed Wan Xiuwu’s wrist.

The two of them did not move much, merely exchanging dozens of hand movements. In this aspect, Wan Xiuwu was slightly better. He managed to hit Qi Xuansu on the elbow, causing Qi Xuansu’s body to stiffen immediately. However, Qi Xuansu allowed the blood qi to surge in his body, resolving this force.

Wan Xiuwu was slightly surprised. This move might seem ordinary, but it was actually an advanced method of exerting force by injecting his own strength into the opponent’s body. This would not hurt the opponent, but it would block the opponent’s meridians and stiffen their body. Wan Xiuwu tried repeatedly, but Qi Xuansu resolved it in the blink of an eye, which was beyond his expectations.

Qi Xuansu took the opportunity to counterattack, the invisible force between them booming like thunder.

Wan Xiuwu was a pure Martial Arts Practitioner, while Qi Xuansu could only be regarded as half of a Martial Arts Practitioner. Before he could use the Tantai Fist Intention, Wan Xiuwu had already forced him to retreat.

Wan Xiuwu’s fists and kicks were powerful and heavy, and each punch was capable of cracking boulders. The orthodox Daoist fist intention was not weaker than the Tantai Fist Intention, knocking Qi Xuansu back several meters each time. He did not give Qi Xuansu a chance to breathe, wanting to crush Qi Xuansu to death.

As a result, their surroundings were chaotic.

To Wan Xiuwu’s disappointment, Qi Xuansu was not overwhelmed. Instead, Qi Xuansu used this pressure to sharpen his fist intention.

Wan Xiuwu was like a lone soldier who had ventured deep into the enemy’s territory for a chance to strike the opposing general in hopes of gaining a quick victory. However, if he failed, his food supply would run out, and he would starve to death.

After another hundred moves, Qi Xuansu was no longer in the passive situation. He began to counterattack, sparring with Wan Xiuwu.

Although Wan Xiuwu was never at a disadvantage in terms of techniques and even held a small advantage, his blood qi and physical strength were severely depleted. His fatigue was evident.

On the other hand, Qi Xuansu suffered a small loss, but he still had abundant physical strength. He seemed to have endless stamina, so he remained calm.

This was akin to a young boxer fighting an old boxer. Although the old boxer was not inferior to the young boxer, his endurance was not as good as that of the young boxer. Over time, he would be worn out.

After another hundred moves like this, Wan Xiuwu could no longer keep up. His punches became slower. Qi Xuansu even managed to punch him in the forehead, which sent him flying backward.

Qi Xuansu did not rush to strike the killing blow. Instead, he said, “Wan Xiuwu, is this all you have? Where did that ruthless leader of the Tiger Camp who tried to kill me go?”

Wan Xiuwu roared angrily, jumped up, and charged at Qi Xuansu again.

There might be some people in the world whose will could overcome their exhaustion, but that person was definitely not Wan Xiuwu. If Wan Xiuwu had such a will, he would not have instinctively let go of Qi Xuansu after being punched in the abdomen.

Sure enough, after Wan Xiuwu and Qi Xuansu fought for more than ten moves, Qi Xuansu changed his technique. Wan Xiuwu could clearly see that, but he was already at the end of his rope. His limbs could no longer keep up, so he could only watch as Qi Xuansu hit his wrist, fracturing his bones.

Without blood qi, the Martial Arts Practitioner’s speed of recovery was also greatly hindered.

Wan Xiuwu could only use his last strength to kick Qi Xuansu.

Qi Xuansu did not dodge this kick, allowing it to land on his left temple. However, Qi Xuansu took the opportunity to grab Wan Xiuwu’s ankle, twisted his body, and slammed him down on the ground, so hard that the ground cracked.

Wan Xiuwu took a long time to get back up. His body was shaking, and he no longer had the strength to fight.

This time, Qi Xuansu stopped holding back. He strode forward and punched Wan Xiuwu hard in the abdomen. It sounded like he had struck a large bell at the temple.

Wan Xiuwu was sent flying more than 30 meters away from this punch.

This time, Wan Xiuwu could no longer get up. His body was limp on the ground, and he vomited blood.

He reluctantly raised his head and saw Qi Xuansu’s face which was covered in blood, indicating that his kick was not in vain. However, Qi Xuansu did not seem to feel the pain, which was shocking.

It was not until this moment that Wan Xiuwu truly realized how terrifying Qi Xuansu was.

Qi Xuansu had gone through countless bloody battles of life and death. Thus, he was unafraid of death at critical moments. He could even exert 120% of his strength the closer he was to death’s door.

On the other hand, most flowerbed priests panicked and lost 80% of their ability when they were put in such critical situations.

Although Wan Xiuwu was not considered a flowerbed priest, he was used to living a comfortable life in Wuxu Palace. He also lacked fighting experience, so he was by no means as ruthless as Qi Xuansu.

Qi Xuansu walked up to Wan Xiuwu and looked down at his old classmate. “Do you have any last words?”

Wan Xiuwu panted heavily. “I should have killed you with one blow when I had the chance.”

“Right.” Qi Xuansu only responded with one word.

Qi Xuansu leaned down to pick up the Divine Dragon Pistol not far away and reloaded it. Then he pushed the muzzle of the gun against Wan Xiuwu’s forehead and pressed down the hammer.

Finally, Wan Xiuwu’s eyes flickered with fear, his Adam’s apple bobbing nervously. But before he could speak, Qi Xuansu had already pulled the trigger.

Wan Xiuwu was not yet a Heavenly Being. At such a close distance and with an armor-breaking projectile, it was no surprise that the bullet penetrated Wan Xiuwu’s head, leaving a bloody gaping hole.

The leader of the Tiger Camp back then was finally dead.

Qi Xuansu stared at Wan Xiuwu’s body and muttered, “One down, four more to go.”

List of Enemies

1. Zhao Fu’an — Baidi City

2. Feng Bo — Xijing Prefecture

3. Monk Yan Xiu — Yulan Temple

4. Yue Liuli — Wanxiang Daoist Palace

5. Wan Xiuwu — Wanxiang Daoist Palace