Members of the Hidden Dragon Guard are one in a million elites, each with their own abilities. Just as their name suggests, members of the Hidden Dragon Guard all hide their identities, possibly as Elders of certain sects or even as small street vendors.

Their duty is to monitor everything under the heavens—they are the eyes of the Great Flame Royal Family!

Their level of secrecy is such that even Qi Gang, who held high authority, only knew that the Great Flame Royal Family had such a mysterious department, yet he had never made contact with its members.

Su Changkong naturally did not know that Qi Gang mistook him for a member of the Hidden Dragon Guard.

“No matter what identity he claims… Anyone who dares to block my path must die!”

A captivating Sword Qi surged in Qi Gang’s eyes.

Qi Gang felt loyal to the Great Flame Empire, and though the empire had treated him well, he realized that this was the limit he could reach. By joining the Life Extinguishing Association, he could easily advance further!

Moreover, Qi Gang had heard rumors of a great upheaval that was about to sweep across the ten nations. By then, not to mention the Flame Empire, the entire geopolitical landscape of the ten nations might be reshuffled.

This great upheaval was as dangerous as it was opportunistic!

The Flame Empire had been in existence for two or three thousand years. The first Flame Emperor had risen in the last great upheaval, elevating his family to royal status, surpassing other millennium-old families, and prospering to this day.

Is there no mercy among princes and generals? Born humble, Qi Gang climbed step by step to where he was now, harboring an ambition not to be content with being beneath others. By joining the Life Extinguishing Association, he would start a new life and, in the forthcoming upheaval, there would be opportunities to reach even higher!

For this reason, Qi Gang went through great trouble to feign an extraordinary image, all to join the Life Extinguishing Association. While everything was going smoothly, an obstruction named ’Dao Wufeng’ suddenly appeared, causing complications—how could Qi Gang not be enraged?

Even if the other party was likely a Five-Qi Grandmaster like himself, Qi Gang had no choice but to strike with all his might, slaying him to regain the trust of the Life Extinguishing Association!

Su Changkong looked at Qi Gang and said calmly, “It’s you who provoked me!”

Qi Gang deceived everyone, intending to use them as stepping stones, and had recently attacked mercilessly, including aiming at Su Changkong and the others—Su Changkong’s intent to kill him had reached its peak!

“Words are useless! Today, this one shall show you that even among Five-Qi Grandmasters, there are disparities!”

On Qi Gang’s rather ordinary face, a fierce look appeared; he would not allow anyone to block the steps leading to a higher level!

“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!”

Amidst intense killing intent, the Sword Qi barrier that enveloped Qi Gang became visible to the naked eye. Streaks of Sword Qi, initially formless and invisible, became tainted with streaks of blood. Their movement sliced through the air with a hissing sound.

“This is… the Illusory Blood Sword Manual! Qi Gang has also cultivated this sword manual?”

Cangwen Yu was somewhat shocked upon seeing this scene.

The Illusory Blood Sword Manual was the highest secret of the Blood Sword Demon Sect, one of the seventy-two Demon Sects from the past. Hundreds of years ago, as the Blood Sword Demon Sect gradually declined, the Yan Imperial Family took the opportunity to eradicate it, and the sword manual fell into their hands.

The Illusory Blood Sword Manual is a Profound Martial Art nearly at the level of Unparalleled Techniques! Only those with great talent and achievement in the way of the sword could glimpse its secrets.

“The Yan Imperial Family has indeed treated this Qi Gang well, allowing him to study and practice the Illusory Blood Sword Manual, yet he still chose betrayal without hesitation.”

Witnessing this scene, martial artists were shocked, and their opinion of Qi Gang chilled further.

Qi Gang had managed to become a Five-Qi Grandmaster before the age of fifty, which was certainly due to his own exceptional talents. Still, a more significant reason was the support he received from the Yan Imperial Family, with abundant resources cultivated for him. They had treated him quite well, but Qi Gang betrayed them without a second thought, proving to be an ungrateful wolf.

“Kill!”

Driven by his Sword Intent, Qi Gang unleashed the Illusory Blood Sword Manual that he had studied deeply for years. He transformed into a streak of blood-light, lunging towards Su Changkong!

Innate abilities have highs and lows, and even Five-Qi Grandmasters have their strengths and weaknesses, and this difference lies in the tier of martial arts they practice. Qi Gang’s Illusory Blood Sword Manual was of Semi Ultimate Skill level, which he only displayed against formidable foes.

“Hiss!”

With a flick of his finger, Qi Gang’s robust True Qi and Sword Intent converged into a blood-colored Divine Sword, exuding a soul-shaking scent of blood, thrusting directly at Su Changkong.

This sword attack, carrying Sword Intent, locked onto Su Changkong’s energy, making it seem as if no matter how he dodged, there was only one outcome: death beneath the blood sword!

“Hum, hum!”

The Blade Intent in Su Changkong’s mind was trembling, as if excited, eager to contend with it, and Su Changkong too was brimming with fighting spirit. A Five-Qi Grandmaster represents the pinnacle of innate combat power and has the capability to establish a sect; facing such an opponent, Su Changkong was keen to see for himself just how formidable a Five-Qi Grandmaster really was!

Giant Whale Skill, Endless Furious Sea!

Su Changkong didn’t choose to counter the sword with his own, but instead clenched his left fist tightly and, with the 10th tier of Giant Whale True Qi activated, he fiercely smashed out a punch.

This simple punch was filled with a thick, domineering True Qi that changed colors, and the instant the fist was thrown, the True Qi spiraled and howled, the profound Giant Whale True Qi forming a massive vortex, swirling and roaring between Su Changkong’s fist.

“Boom boom boom!”

As the punch was thrown, it was like a deep-sea vortex, with a giant whale bursting forth, raising waves and thunderous storms, an awe-inspiring force that turned the bravest of faces pale!

“Boom!”

The bloodstained Divine Sword furiously thrust forward, piercing the vortex, only to feel like a clay ox entering the sea—a sensation of being swallowed up. The rapidly spinning, shearing forces caused even Qi Gang’s decisive strike to lose its sword’s trajectory and diminish in power, while Su Changkong’s Giant Whale True Qi swallowed everything in its path, unstoppable!

“Bang!”

At the moment their fist and sword clashed, the ground trembled fiercely.

The raging force of the punch surged and struck, causing the walls of the valley to shatter, and large boulders to roll down as if in a landslide.

And the scattered Sword Qi slashed the ground, creating deep, bottomless cracks!

“Deng deng deng!”

In the instant of collision, after a brief standoff, Qi Gang could only feel his blood-stained Divine Sword shaking as if it would break apart, a horrifying True Qi rushing towards him like an abyss, forcing him to involuntarily retreat three steps. His steps indented the ground and cracks spread like a spider web, only then did he manage to stop retreating.

“A direct punch… repelled me?”

Qi Gang could hardly believe it. As a Five-Qi Grandmaster and one of the Demon Suppressing Department’s top three powerhouses, he was forced back with just one exchange.

Su Changkong’s punch was not only mysteriously powerful, but the domineering Giant Whale True Qi had reached a terrifying degree—truly shocking the world and horrifying the public!

“Chop!”

Having pushed Qi Gang back with a punch, Su Changkong’s energy surged. The enemy weakened, while he strengthened. With a step forward, the Iron-Cutting Sword in his right hand drew a semi-circular arc, bringing a chilling cold gleam. An ordinary Horizontal Chop could sever a mountain of metal in half!

A Chopping Intent that could shatter all defenses caused a distortion in time itself as it slashed directly at Qi Gang’s chest!

“Qi Sword Divine Armor!”

Qi Gang dared not be careless, his fierce Sword Qi forming a barrier around him, and large amounts of Sword Qi congealed into armor on his body.

Qi Gang was most proficient with the Qi Sword Technique, both offensive and defensive. When trained to his level, a mere thought could summon tides of Sword Qi and solidify them into armor!

“Chi la!”

The impregnable Iron-Cutting Sword mercilessly tore through the bulging Sword Qi like rotten wood, and as it scraped past Qi Gang’s chest, the invisible sword armor emitted tearing sounds. The sharp edge passed, leaving a shallow bloodstain on Qi Gang’s chest.

Although it was barely a flesh wound, it still caused Qi Gang’s pupils to constrict: “Indeed… it’s Blade Intent! The unique characteristic of Dao Wufeng’s Blade Intent is to break through the toughest defenses! He looks even younger than me; could he also have honed his Blade Intent in the Ten Thousand Soul Warrior Tomb?”

The secret realm of the Ten Thousand Soul Warrior Tomb, controlled by the Yan Imperial Family, was a place filled with warriors and spirits, greatly beneficial in honing one’s Intent Realm. At the level of having opened twelve Heavenly Pulses, Qi Gang had received the opportunity to enter once and successfully condensed his own Blade Intent.

In Qi Gang’s view, as a member of the Hidden Dragon Guard, Su Changkong must have also had the good fortune to enter the Ten Thousand Soul Warrior Tomb!

“You… have enraged me!”

The sting on his chest caused blood to surge in Qi Gang’s eyes, and the Five Qi in his Sea of Consciousness boiled over, making his Sword Intent even more refined. The vast nature’s spiritual energy was drawn together, forming the Divine Sword in his grasp!

As Sword Qi howled, distant Martial Artists and Monster Warriors wielding swords felt their own sheathed blades trembling uncontrollably, as if paying homage to a king!

When Qi Gang, a Five-Qi Grandmaster, exerted his full power, there was a sense of transcending humanity and ascending to divinity!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Madara Web Novel