Chapter 184: Chapter 174: Fourth Rank, Part 2

Gang Qi, formed!

Chen Ming took a deep breath and glanced at the panel.

[Level: 60]

[Current Points: 1,270,000]

[Cultivation Technique: "Iron Horse Stance" (Fifth Level Perfection), "Five Elements True Skill (Missing)" (Sixth Level 3000/2,400,000)]

[Martial Skill: "Three Talents Fist" (Great Achievement), Eight Trigrams Saber Technique (Great Achievement), Zhuang’s Flying Knife (Great Achievement), Swallow Returning Sword Technique (Great Achievement), "Vermilion Bird Swordsmanship" (Great Achievement), "Phoenix Dance of Nine Heavens" (Third Level 1322/300,000)]

[Secret Technique: "Disguise Technique" (Great Achievement)]

In these thirteen days, he had gained over a million experience points, enough to push his level to around 65.

At that moment, he keenly noticed an opportunity.

Upon entering the Fourth Grade, not only did his True Qi undergo a qualitative change, but his five senses were also greatly enhanced. With the help of the Mingfeng Sword, he could finally "see" the attacks of that black-clad Third Grade expert.

Those beams of True Gang, carrying destructive power, came rushing toward him.

Meanwhile, the Sword Gang from the airborne Su Zhining fell like shards, with each sword precisely deflecting the deadly attacks of the black-clad man.

Among those numerous shards, one particularly hidden Sword Gang silently and stealthily headed straight for the black-clad man.

Not good!

The black-clad man realized it too late. His focus on killing Chen Ming had made him overlook his own safety.

Ultimately, he underestimated Su Zhining, who had just broken through and was seriously injured. He didn’t expect that, in such a state, she still had the strength to attack him.

The black-clad man could only muster his Protective Essence to withstand it.

Sizzle!

The thin layer of Protective Essence within him was pierced by the Sword Gang, a blood flower blooming on his chest, almost penetrating through him.

Yet the black-clad man didn’t even grunt, reversing his grip to strike at the airborne Su Zhining with his stick.

He finally realized one thing: unless he dealt with this woman, he would have little chance of killing that Chen Ming.

Su Zhining faced his strike without dodging, thrusting her longsword fiercely.

It was a life-for-life exchange, a strategy of mutual harm.

She’s crazy!

The black-clad man finally felt a twinge of regret, knowing he shouldn’t have gotten involved in these murky waters.

Those who could make it to the Cyan Cloud Ranking were not to be trifled with.

He had mentally prepared himself before taking on this task. However, he hadn’t anticipated getting entangled with a female disciple of the Celestial Dao Alliance.

This woman, so young, managed to break through to the Third Grade before him. She must be a true disciple of the Celestial Dao Alliance. The problem was, she was willing to risk her life to save this Chen Ming.

She was clearly intent on dying with him.

The black-clad man was truly afraid. Even if he killed Chen Ming, she might still choose to die with him. All his scheming would be for naught.

"Girl, why this unnecessary risk?"

He dodged proactively, advising earnestly, "With your remarkable talent and youth, why do you not cherish your life?"

"Is it worth it for such a man?"

"You’re so devoted to him, can he be just as devoted to you?"

"Girl, wake up. If you die, he might feel touched for a while, but eventually, he’ll forget you and fall in love with another woman..."

Yet, no matter how earnestly he tried, her sword did not waver, persistently and resolutely thrusting at him, forcing him to retreat step by step.

The black-clad man found himself in a dilemma, feeling utterly stifled by this irrational woman. Rational argument was futile.

Seeing her relentless advance, intending to kill him promptly, he finally erupted, "Don’t push me too far!"

Enraged, he no longer held back, unleashing his renowned ultimate technique, the thundering Three Rod Blows.

The Three Saints Rod was both his moniker and his most formidable technique. Years ago, he captured the Pirate King’s family using the Three Forms of Stick Technique.

It was with these Three Forms of Stick Technique that he had gained his current reputation.

This technique was truly exceptional, a genuine ultimate skill. The first blow deflected Su Zhining’s longsword.

With a boom.

One end of his rod exploded into powder.

Though intricately crafted, this rod could not compare to Su Zhining’s Divine Weapon.

The second blow struck hard on her Protective Essence, sending her flying.

The third blow hurled out, colliding with the Treasure Sword Su Zhining had thrown, knocking it off course.

At that moment, the sword, glowing blue, veered on its own and flew back toward him.

"Controlling the Sword with Qi?"

The black-clad man’s eyelid twitched at the sight. Such an advanced swordsmanship was typically mastered only by Second Grade experts. It required a Spirit-Communicating Divine Weapon and a deep connection with it to comprehend its Sword Intent.

She had just entered the Third Grade, yet she could control the sword with Qi—this was beyond belief.

"Hah!"

The black-clad man dared not slack off, channeling all his lifelong skills, layering his Gang Yuan to clamp down on the Divine Weapon.

Instantly, his Gang Yuan was pierced through dozens of layers, rendered as fragile as paper under the Divine Weapon’s sharpness.

However, no matter how strong the Divine Weapon was, once it lost its master’s control, it eventually exhausted its power. When the sword tip was just an inch from his chest, it began to slow and finally stopped.

Success!

A glimmer of pleasure appeared in the black-clad man’s heart. Just then, he felt a chill on his back as a sword tip protruded through his chest.

Before he could react, the sword tip twisted and withdrew, shredding his heart and innards into pulp. A mass of blood flowed from the gaping wound.

"Ah—"

He let out a deafening scream, turning to see Chen Ming already a few feet away, his eyes bloodshot, filled with endless resentment and malice.

This kid said, "No choice, your stance was just too perfect."

"You—"

The black-clad man felt his vision darken, the hole in his body draining away his once-invincible Gang Yuan.

No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t fathom dying at the hands of a Fifth Grade martial artist.

He never regarded this kid as a threat, having no defenses up while his Gang Yuan was focused on countering Su Zhining’s approaching Divine Weapon. When his old force was used up and the new was yet to rise, with all his guards down, this kid delivered a fatal blow.

Even in death, he couldn’t understand how this mere Fifth Grade boy breached his Protective Essence.

...

[You have slain a Level 75 enemy, earning 450,000 experience points.]

Chen Ming glanced at the notification. Seeing the massive gain of 450,000 experience, he felt relieved. Finally, it was over.

"Miss Su!"

He didn’t bother to check the corpse of the Third Grade expert, immediately chasing after the direction where Su Zhining had been thrown.

"Please don’t die."

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