Martial Sovereign of the Turbulent World

Chapter 181: Chapter 179: Then I’ll... Give You Another Hand

When the thick smoke and flames gradually subsided, one could see the site of the explosion. The Tongxuan Martial Artists from the Martial Arts Troupe who had been swallowed by the inferno moments before had vanished.

All that remained on the ground was a crater several meters wide and some severed limbs and torsos, charred black.

The arena instantly fell into a deathly silence.

A chill rapidly crept into everyone’s heart. Their faces were blank with shock, and for a moment, they almost forgot how to speak.

Until a voice, trembling and distorted with panic, finally broke the silence.

"It’s... it’s artillery! ...Western artillery!—"

"WHOOSH—"

In an instant, the crowd erupted into chaos.

On and off the platform, everyone was thrown into a commotion.

The Martial Artists from the Martial Arts Troupe, in particular, who had been radiating killing intent just moments ago, were now deathly pale. Like startled birds, they glanced around in a panic, desperately trying to scramble further away from the blast site.

It was true that a Tongxuan-level Martial Artist’s Protective Qi Membrane could block bullets.

But against an artillery shell? It was completely useless. What was the difference between the membrane and paper-mâché?

Ever since the Westerners arrived with their ironclad warships, countless figures from the Martial Arts world had died by their advanced ships and powerful cannons. Forget Tongxuan Realm Martial Artists—more than one supreme master of the Heart Intent Realm had perished under a sky-blotting barrage of artillery fire.

For the martial practitioners in Shenghai, a city teeming with Westerners and carved up by Concessions, this was a deeply ingrained and personal fear.

The Shenghai Martial Arts Troupe’s weakness wasn’t just due to their members’ humble origins. At the end of the day, power in this world was always tied to strength.

WHOOSH—!

WHOOSH—!

Two more piercing whistles tore through the sky.

One fireball exploded among the men of the Martial Arts Troupe, while another landed with precision at the border between the Woodcutter Gang and the Blue-clothed Gang.

The three factions were thrown into disarray, their tight formations crumbling instantly.

But before the chaos could settle, the dense crackle of gunfire, like popping soybeans, erupted! A torrential downpour of bullets rained upon the crowd.

The Martial Artists of the Martial Arts Troupe and the members of the Woodcutter and Blue-clothed Gangs fell in droves, like stalks of wheat before a scythe.

However, both the shells and the bullets seemed to have eyes, deliberately avoiding Luo Chengying, who stood at the forefront.

Before the gunfire ceased, a massive contingent of uniformed Patrol Police swarmed in from all directions. There were over a thousand of them, as if half the entire police force of the Hua Realm had been mobilized! In the blink of an eye, they had completely surrounded the vast Xuanwu Platform.

Nearly a thousand black muzzles were pointed at everyone, on and off the platform, and the grim spectacle forcibly quelled the pandemonium.

The previously aggressive members of the Woodcutter Gang and Blue-clothed Gang grew tense and fearful at the sight. The axes and daggers in their hands suddenly felt weightless. Even their pistols offered no sense of security as they subconsciously shrank back, huddling together...

Only Luo Chengying remained where he stood, not having moved a single step from the very beginning.

Luo Chengying’s face was ashen. He stared at a spot in the distance where the ranks of Patrol Police were parting to let a figure walk through. His eyes locked onto the slowly approaching man, and he bit out the name through clenched teeth.

"He! Ren! Li!"

...

On the Xuanwu Platform, an invisible pressure pricked at Fu Juemin’s skin like a thousand tiny needles.

The killing intent radiating from Zhao Jigang was completely undisguised, pressing down on him as if it were a physical weight.

Spurred by this killing intent, the vortex of Innate Primordial Qi in Fu Juemin’s Dantian began to spin rapidly, and he could feel the blood in his veins begin to warm.

When he first began his training, Li Tong had told him that martial arts were, at their core, the art of killing. They taught one how to swiftly fell and kill an opponent.

No martial art could be mastered in isolation.

Especially not... a completely new Dao.

His Demon Martial Dao, by its very nature, required a vast amount of real combat experience to be constantly refined and perfected.

Ever since achieving a breakthrough in his Demon Martial Arts, Fu Juemin had mentally simulated fighting a Gratitude Sensing Realm Martial Artist countless times.

And now, Zhao Jigang was the perfect opponent to make it a reality.

’In my Dual Soul Unity state, I can easily crush a Half-step Gratitude master, but what about a true master of the Gratitude Sensing Realm?

I wonder what level Zhao Jigang has reached within the Gratitude Sensing Realm.

...’

As countless theories waiting to be tested churned in his mind, Fu Juemin grew inexplicably excited. He ran his tongue over his slightly dry lips.

He had already made up his mind. If necessary, he would directly activate his Third Demon Soul and enter the state of Three Souls Gradually Infected. As long as he could activate and deactivate it quickly enough, he could pass it off as some unique form of martial arts.

The people below were too far away to see anything clearly. The only one who might was Zhao Jigang.

Even if Zhao Jigang did notice, it wouldn’t matter. As long as he was killed on the spot... no one else would ever know.

With that, Fu Juemin took a step forward.

Across from him, Zhao Jigang seemed just as impatient.

One sought an opportunity to climb the social ladder and enter the elite circles of Shenghai; the other wanted to test the limits of his own power. Though their motives differed, their desire to kill one another was identical.

The atmosphere on the Xuanwu Platform grew taut. They were only waiting for the right moment to erupt like a thunderclap.

BOOM!

Just at that moment, a massive explosion erupted from below the platform.

"Hm?"

Both men on the platform froze, simultaneously whipping their heads around to look down.

They saw two shells land in the crowd, one after another, bursting into flames... Then, a massive contingent of Patrol Police marched onto the scene in formation. A dense sea of muzzles was raised, like a black forest.

"He Renli?!"

Zhao Jigang’s expression had already begun to shift the moment the shells exploded and the Patrol Police arrived. When he got a clear look at the man leading them, he let out a low, shocked cry.

He Renli?

Fu Juemin, however, was taken aback when he heard the name.

Then, it dawned on him.

’Of course. This must be Aunt Ding’s contingency plan.’

’He Renli was the chief of the Shenghai Public Security Bureau—or rather, the former chief. The current appointee, Nan Xiangcheng, had yet to dare assume his post, so the police force in the Shenghai Hua Realm was still firmly under He Renli’s control.’

’He was an unequivocal representative of the Wen System’s influence, Mayor Wen’s right-hand man. He had also been an acquaintance of Aunt Ding’s for many years. It made perfect sense for him to bring his men and intervene...’

"Shenghai City has always been the Wen System’s territory."

He recalled Aunt Ding’s words before he’d begun the challenge. He hadn’t fully grasped their meaning then, but now he understood the true weight behind her casual statement.

But just as everything clicked into place for Fu Juemin, Zhao Jigang’s imposing aura rapidly withered away.

Zhao Jigang stared intently at the scene unfolding below the Xuanwu Platform, his expression shifting, his gaze flickering. After a moment, he ripped the Black Jade Token from his waist and threw it at Fu Juemin.

CLATTER—

The Black Jade Token for the last of the Eighteen Gates of Life and Death landed at Fu Juemin’s feet with a crisp clatter.

"You win."

Zhao Jigang said, looking at him expressionlessly. All his previous killing intent had been retracted completely.

Fu Juemin glanced at the Black Jade Token on the ground, his brow furrowed slightly.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"Consider the gate passed for today."

Zhao Jigang’s tone was flat. "I won’t kill you. You may leave."

’He’s not going to fight?’

Fu Juemin was stunned.

Just because he saw the tide had turned, Zhao Jigang was giving up without a fight?

"I killed three of your top Half-step Gratitude masters. Aren’t you going to avenge them?"

Fu Juemin tried to "salvage" this perfect opponent.

Zhao Jigang was unmoved. "Elder Zhou and the other two entered the ring willingly. Life and death are matters of fate. They died on this platform, so they can’t blame you, nor can they blame anyone else."

"I also killed your son, Zhao Tianpeng."

Fu Juemin narrowed his eyes and spoke, enunciating every word. "And what’s more, you are the president of the Shenghai Martial Dao Association. You orchestrated this entire grand affair, only to surrender without a fight at the very end. With thousands of eyes watching, have you no regard for your own reputation?"

Zhao Jigang fell silent for a moment before speaking slowly. "If a son dies, you can have another. If you lose face, you can earn it back.

But you only get one life. Once that’s gone... there are no more chances."

BANG!

The ground beneath Fu Juemin’s feet cracked as he transformed into a black streak, lunging forward in a sudden attack!

On the Xuanwu Platform, the air ripped and tore as two phantom-like figures crisscrossed in a blur of motion.

A few breaths later, they suddenly broke apart and stood still once more... only now, they had swapped positions.

"You really won’t fight?"

Fu Juemin asked with a look of regret, making one last attempt.

Zhao Jigang clasped his hands behind his back, his expression as calm as a placid lake. He had regained the dignified air of the head of the Martial Arts Troupe.

"You possess a wondrous art and peerless Talent. At such a young age, your martial skill already surpasses all your peers.

But you have yet to enter the Gratitude Sensing Realm. As long as I wish it, you will never be able to touch me."

CRACKLE—

A series of fine, crisp sounds, like cracking porcelain, rang out as Fu Juemin’s form shrank slightly, instantly returning to his original state.

He now stood bare-chested, his physique slender and his features refined. His skin was as smooth and flawless as white jade, and his entire being seemed to faintly radiate a pure, limpid glow, like that of a Buddha Nature.

He lifted his gaze slightly, Zhao Jigang’s reflection captured in his dark, lotus-like pupils. "In that case," he said softly, "let me... give you a hand."

As he spoke, a brilliant, seven-colored light flashed in the depths of his eyes and vanished.

Zhao Jigang watched him, his expressionless face still unmoved.

A gentle breeze swept across the platform.

SLAP—!

The crisp sound of a slap echoed without warning!

Fu Juemin hadn’t seemed to move an inch, yet Zhao Jigang stood frozen as if struck by lightning, his eyes wide with utter disbelief.

There, on his left cheek, a palm print, red and tinged with purple....

...was slowly...

...becoming visible with shocking clarity.