Martial Sage from the Vajra Skill

Chapter 299: Chapter 170: Shock and Fury

Xu Yang briefly sensed Cao Rong’s cultivation and, discovering it had reached Gang Qi Great Success, smiled. "What a coincidence."

After a few pleasantries, Xu Yang went downstairs. The person taking over had arrived early, so Zhou Zhichao and the others had already left. Only Gao Peng remained.

"Brother Xu, shall we go together?" Gao Peng asked with a smile.

Xu Yang nodded. "Sure!"

He had expected Xiao Hua to make a move today, but even by the time they reached the Purple Sun Sect, Xiao Hua hadn’t appeared.

’It’s probably because this is the first day of the assignment. If a Guardian Disciple like me were killed on the very first day, the Sect’s leadership would definitely investigate.’

Xiao Hua’s caution exceeded his expectations.

Over the next few days, Xiao Hua still made no move.

Sometimes, Zhou Zhichao and the others would return to the Purple Sun Sect with him. Other times, not even Gao Peng waited for him. It seemed as if no one was deliberately trying to get close to monitor him.

One day, Cao Rong arrived very late. It was almost dark when he finally came upstairs, his face full of apology. "Something came up and I was delayed. My apologies for being late, Brother Xu."

Xu Yang rose from his rush cushion and shook his head. "It’s no trouble. I might be delayed by something one day myself, and I’d ask for your understanding then too, Brother Cao."

"You’re a reasonable man, Brother Xu. I assure you, it won’t happen again," Cao Rong said, seemingly moved.

’Because Xu Yang was going to die today, it was absolutely true that this would never happen again.’

Xu Yang nodded and headed downstairs.

’What a shame. A Ten Heroes Genius, of all people. He could have offended anyone, but he had to cross a Steward.’

Watching Xu Yang’s retreating figure, Cao Rong’s gaze grew cold.

’He had no personal grudge against Xu Yang. The only point of animosity was the business with Gu Haoming, but he had no intention of provoking a Ten Heroes Genius over a dead man. It was irrational and offered no benefit.’

’But with Xiao Hua coming to him, things were different. He already suspected Xu Yang of killing Gu Haoming, but even if that weren’t the case, he would never refuse a chance to cooperate with an Outer Sect Steward. It was a sure thing, so why say no?’

"Looks like it’s just the two of us today, Brother Xu."

Gao Peng smiled from downstairs. It seemed the person meant to take over his garrison duty was also late today.

"Let’s go, Brother Gao."

Smiling, Xu Yang was the first to step out of the Divine Weapon Pavilion.

The evening clouds on the horizon were fiery red, as if stained with blood. The sun was about to dip below the mountaintops.

Gao Peng hurried to catch up. The two soon left the city and quickened their pace.

After a while, he seemed to be out of breath and began to fall behind.

Xu Yang stopped and smiled. "Pick up the pace, Brother Gao."

Gao Peng smiled. "I had a bit of an issue while training earlier and injured my meridians. They start to throb if I walk too fast. You don’t need to wait for me, Brother Xu. Go on back to the Sect. I’ll just take it slow."

Xu Yang shook his head. "How could I just leave you behind, Brother Gao? Here, let me help you."

BOOM!

A large hand tore through the air with a muffled roar, shooting toward Gao Peng like lightning.

Before the hand even reached him, the force of the wind it generated made Gao Peng’s face sting.

"You..."

Gao Peng’s expression changed drastically. He never imagined that Xu Yang, who was just joking with him a moment before, would suddenly attack.

As he threw up his Protective Gang Qi, Gao Peng retreated frantically, trying to escape Xu Yang’s grasp.

But he had only just lifted his foot when Xu Yang’s hand shattered his Protective Gang Qi and clamped down on his neck.

"Move again, and I’ll snap your neck," Xu Yang’s icy voice rang out.

Gao Peng shuddered, not daring to move an inch. "Brother Xu, why are you doing this?"

"You’ve been watching me for days. Did you really think I knew nothing? You all planned to make your move today, didn’t you?"

At his words, Gao Peng’s pupils shrank violently.

’So Xu Yang knew everything. He knew it all, yet he could pretend to be completely oblivious, laughing and joking with me. I almost started to believe we were actually becoming friends.’

’Such cunning and patience... it was terrifying.’

"Brother Xu, what are you talking about? I don’t understand."

Gao Peng was still playing dumb, but Xu Yang couldn’t be bothered to respond. He simply continued on his way, carrying Gao Peng with one hand.

’Even if Gao Peng hadn’t been helping Xiao Hua watch me, he was already on my kill list. Did he really think I’d forgotten how he tried to get me killed before?’

After about a kilometer, there in the twilight, stood Xiao Hua, blocking the middle of the road like a mountain.

"Steward Xiao, help me!" Gao Peng shrieked, dangling from Xu Yang’s grasp like a helpless chick.

Xiao Hua’s brow twitched. ’Useless trash. Didn’t I tell him to find an excuse to split up with Xu Yang? How did he let himself get caught?’

"Are you trying to threaten me with him?" Xiao Hua sneered.

’It was just Gao Peng. Even if Xu Yang was holding Cao Rong, he wouldn’t hesitate. This was actually a perfect opportunity to silence all the witnesses at once.’

Xu Yang shook his head. "No. I just wanted to show you how useless your pawn is. Next time you need someone to watch me, do me a favor and find someone competent."

As he spoke, his fingers tightened.

CRACK!

With a sharp snap, Gao Peng’s limbs convulsed. His eyes bulged, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. Xu Yang had crushed his neck completely.

"Good riddance! Saves me the trouble!" Xiao Hua barked.

’It was taboo for a Steward to kill a disciple. He had been worried Gao Peng might use this against him later, so he’d already planned on silencing him afterward anyway.’

His gaze grew sharp. "My son, Xiao Chen. Was it you who killed him?"

"Guess," Xu Yang said with a smile.

The next instant, he turned and darted into the mountain forest at the side of the road, still carrying Gao Peng’s corpse.

"Trying to run?"

Xiao Hua roared and gave chase, unleashing the full power of his Marrow Cleansing Minor Achievement cultivation.

He tore through the woods like a hurricane, snapping trees and kicking up clouds of dust in his wake.

"You can’t escape! Tell me who killed my son, and I’ll grant you a quick death!"

After a few dozen breaths, he spotted Xu Yang rushing through the forest and immediately launched a Palm attack from a distance.

’Xu Yang is merely at Gang Qi Great Success. Even if he has reached Marrow Cleansing, he’s dead today.’

He held back with this Palm, afraid that a single strike might kill Xu Yang, leaving him unable to interrogate him about his son’s murderer.

The Gang Qi shot out like a beam of light. Just as it was about to slam into Xu Yang, he suddenly threw Gao Peng’s corpse in its path.

BAM!

The Palm Force struck Gao Peng’s corpse, which instantly exploded in a shower of gore and severed limbs. A thick cloud of blood mist completely obscured Xu Yang’s figure.

Xiao Hua frowned, about to move around the disgusting spectacle to continue his pursuit.

The next moment, a searing heat rose from the forest, and an astonishing aura began to surge.

"Who’s there?!" Xiao Hua roared.

’He sensed the aura of a Marrow Cleansing Martial Artist. A second person was lying in wait! Xu Yang had deliberately lured him here.’

’Could it be my son’s murderer?’

Alarm shot through Xiao Hua. ’To dare ambush me here, they must be no ordinary expert. No wonder Xu Yang knew I was making my move today. He captured Gao Peng and didn’t even flee, daring to confront me head-on.’

He grew wary and was about to retreat when a golden Sword Qi, carrying a roiling heatwave, slashed out from behind the blood mist.

"Golden Gang Qi?"

Without a second thought, he shot out a palm of his own. With a loud BOOM, the Sword Qi shattered. The resulting shockwave of Force swept out, pulverizing the surrounding trees and grass.

Xiao Hua felt a sharp pain in his palm. A domineering, blade-sharp Gang Qi radiating intense heat tried to bore into his body.

Just as he moved to suppress this invading Gang Qi, a figure that looked as if it were cast from gold burst through the cloud of dust, charging right behind the Sword Qi, a massive golden saber in hand.

Who else could it be but Xu Yang!

"Damn it! You’ve already reached Marrow Cleansing! You’re the little bastard who killed Chen’er!" Xiao Hua roared, a mixture of shock and fury on his face.

The only reason he hadn’t considered Xu Yang the killer was because he believed Xu Yang lacked the strength. He had assumed it must be someone else.

But now, here he was—a Marrow Cleansing cultivator. He’d had the strength to kill Xiao Chen all along.

He was filled with shock and rage. How could he have been so careless as to let Xu Yang grow this powerful?

’No, it’s not just that. The little bastard hid it too well. He was hiding his true strength all this time.’

A chill ran down Xiao Hua’s spine. Xu Yang had concealed himself so deeply. Given a little more time, his cultivation might have even surpassed his own.

’That old fool, Lin Cheng... He never told me Xu Yang’s talent was this monstrous.’