C5 Ten Thousand Water Slash
No wonder the mission remained incomplete; there was more than just the Suppress Mountain Tiger King to contend with!
In total, four assailants approached. Jiang Xiaofan could distinctly sense the overwhelming aura of the Spirit Martial Stage emanating from one of them, while the other three exuded the formidable presence of those at the High Level of Original Martial.
The man with the Spirit Martial aura surveyed the trio before addressing Jiang Xiaofan, "Step aside if you're not involved with Ocean Pavilion's affairs!"
At that moment, Su Waner rose to her feet, still pale and recovering from her injuries. She stared icily at the man and declared, "Huang Yu, your cowardly ambush on our team won't go unpunished by the Divine Wind Sect!"
Huang Yu burst into laughter and retorted, "Fear the Divine Wind Sect? Why would Ocean Pavilion tremble at your name? Besides, who's to say it was us who acted today?"
Jiang Xiaofan cleared his throat and interjected, "I would."
"Are you a fool?"
Su Waner's gaze on Jiang Xiaofan was laced with concern, "You're putting yourself in danger—they won't spare you for this."
Huang Yu's eyebrow arched as he scrutinized Jiang Xiaofan, his eyes finally resting on the Jiang family crest stitched in gold on his chest. "A member of the Jiang family?"
"Senior Brother, I recognize him," chimed in a man beside Huang Yu. "That's Jiang Xiaofan, the one whose martial level was destroyed by the young lord of the Jiang family."
"Really? The Jiang family's reject?"
Sneering, Huang Yu taunted, "You're lucky you're from the Jiang family. I'll give you a pass this time. Now scram!"
"Jiang Xiaofan, it doesn't matter who you are. Just go. They're after me, not you," Su Lin urged, positioning herself between Jiang Xiaofan and the assailants, her Maple Sword at the ready.
Su Lin, too, stood up and stepped forward, her fists clenched with resolve. "Hmph! You villains have sealed your fate today!"
With a dismissive wave from Huang Yu, the three Original Martial Stage disciples charged at Su Lin and Su Waner. The two women met their gaze coolly, ready to engage in battle.
As the trio clashed, Jiang Xiaofan couldn't just stand by idly. Gripping the Blazing Sword, he charged into the fray!
"Seeking death!"
One of the disciples spun around to strike at Jiang Xiaofan, his hand shimmering with a subtle energy, aiming a fierce blow at Jiang Xiaofan's chest!
By now, Jiang Xiaofan possessed the prowess of the Seventh Level of the Original Martial Stage, matching these opponents in strength. There was no way he would back down.
With a slight shift of his stance, he evaded the incoming attack. Without hesitation, he drew the Blazing Sword from his backpack and brought it down upon the disciple!
"Puchi!"
The sword's edge bit into the disciple's shoulder, carving a deep, bone-exposing gash from which blood spurted. The disciple howled in agony, stumbling backward.
In that moment, Huang Yu bellowed and, wielding his hammer, charged at Jiang Xiaofan with such speed that Jiang Xiaofan had no time to react!
"Boom!"
The hammer slammed into Jiang Xiaofan's back. He felt as though he'd been struck by a locomotive, his insides seemingly shattered. With a stifled groan, he collapsed, unable to rise.
Huang Yu, hammer hanging low, approached the fallen Jiang Xiaofan and sneered, "You Jiang family reject, daring to lay hands on my men? Today, I'll make you rue the day you were born!"
With that, the hammer crashed down mercilessly. Jiang Xiaofan's knee exploded with pain, his vision darkening as he nearly lost consciousness. Huang Yu, with a chilling smile, brought the hammer down again, reducing the other knee to a bloody pulp.
"I'll crush your legs! Next will be your hands!"
Jiang Xiaofan's eyes rolled back in his head, overwhelmed by the might of a Spirit Martial Stage master.
Even at his peak, Jiang Xiaofan couldn't best Huang Yu, and now, utterly drained, he couldn't muster the strength to stand.
The hammer descended once more, a dull thud ringing in his ears, likely striking his arm. His consciousness blurred, and the pain had long since numbed him.
Huang Yu hoisted the blood-stained hammer and brought it crashing down on the other arm! Jiang Xiaofan felt a surge of unwillingness, yet he was so powerless that he couldn't even muster the strength to fight back.
"Clang!"
In that instant, a figure darted forward. Su Waner positioned herself in front of Jiang Xiaofan, thrusting her Maple Sword out to meet the hammer. The Martial Qi of the Spirit Martial Stage burst forth with her strike!
Huang Yu stumbled back several steps, then slung the bloody hammer over his shoulder, chuckling, "Su Waner, this waste is now utterly crippled because of you. Surrender quietly, and I'll spare his life. If not..."
Following Huang Yu's cue, a disciple with an injured shoulder drew a short knife and held it to Jiang Xiaofan's throat.
Su Waner's reflexes were lightning-fast. With a flick of her Maple Sword, a head soared into the air, tracing an arc before tumbling to the ground and coming to a rest.
"System Prompt: You have successfully slain an Ocean Pavilion disciple and acquired a short knife."
"System Prompt: You have successfully slain an Ocean Pavilion disciple and acquired 15 Copper coins."
"System Prompt: Congratulations, player, on your successful level-up. Current Martial Level: Level Five Original Martial."
...
A white light was pulled from the Ocean Pavilion disciple's corpse into Jiang Xiaofan's body by a swirl of black Qi. Warmth spread through him, and his wounds healed in an instant!
He hadn't anticipated that his attack on the Ocean Pavilion disciple would yield a killing reward, but the experience gained was crucial, filling his experience bar and propelling him to level up!
Restored to his peak condition post-level-up, it was as if he had been granted a new lease on life. He had braced for death, yet here he was, alive against all odds.
"Boom!"
The hammer struck with force, snapping Su Waner's Maple Sword in two. Huang Yu's laughter boomed, "With what strength do you hope to challenge me?"
Huang Yu, with his back to Jiang Xiaofan, gripped the hammer, its aura pulsing with power. As he prepared to charge at Su Waner once more, a deadly intent began to rise behind him!
By the time Huang Yu realized what was happening, it was too late. With a swift "Puchi!" the Blazing Sword had already pierced through his chest. Huang Yu staggered forward, the sword sliding out of his wound.
"You're asking for it!" he spat.
Despite the blood pouring from his chest and mouth, Huang Yu summoned the last of his strength and swung his hammer at Jiang Xiaofan's head with all the might of the Spirit Martial Stage. Jiang Xiaofan wasn't about to take the hit head-on. He unleashed the Wolf Totem, and with the sudden burst of speed, he retreated just in time to avoid the blow. The hammer crashed into the ground, and the resulting shockwave of Martial Qi sent him sprawling.
"System Prompt: You have successfully defeated Huang Yu. Fallen Maple Hammer acquired."
"System Prompt: You have successfully defeated Huang Yu. Ten Thousand Water Slash acquired."
"System Prompt: You have successfully defeated Huang Yu. 50 Copper coins acquired."
The Ten Thousand Water Slash: A skill that harnesses the force of myriad waters to launch a linear assault, decimating everything in its path.
...
"System Prompt: Congratulations, player has leveled up. Current Martial Level: Original Martial Level Six."
"System Prompt: Congratulations, player has leveled up. Current Martial Level: Original Martial Level Seven."
...
Jiang Xiaofan's victory over Huang Yu, a warrior of the Spirit Martial Stage, had netted him a wealth of experience. He didn't just gain his opponent's hammer but also a new skill—the formidable Ten Thousand Water Slash.
The team had already dispatched two foes, leaving two Ocean Pavilion disciples pressing Su Lin into a tight spot. Seeing Su Lin struggling, Jiang Xiaofan turned to Su Waner, who was resting against a tree, her complexion ashen. "Stay here and catch your breath. I'm going to lend a hand!"
Empowered by the Wolf Totem, Jiang Xiaofan charged towards the fray. The two adversaries, sensing his approach, quickly turned to defend. With a slight smirk, Jiang Xiaofan brandished the Blazing Sword from below in an upward arc, unleashing a powerful surge of energy.
The sheer force of the Ten Thousand Water Slash was undeniable, sending the two disciples stumbling back. Jiang Xiaofan closed the distance in a few strides, standing beside an Ocean Pavilion disciple, he bellowed, "Divine Tiger Boxing!"
The Blazing Sword was swiftly stowed in his backpack, and in a flash, Jiang Xiaofan unleashed three rapid punches that thundered into the chest of an Ocean Pavilion disciple!
With the first punch, a gush of blood sprayed from the disciple's mouth. The second punch sent him hurtling through the air, slamming into another disciple behind him. Jiang Xiaofan advanced with large strides, his third punch exploding with force!
Both disciples screamed in agony as they were blasted away. Jiang Xiaofan then drew the Blazing Sword once more and impaled both men through the chest, skewering them together in a devastating move.
Su Lin and Su Waner were utterly astonished. As high-level practitioners of the Spirit Martial Stage, they could sense the Original Martial cultivation radiating from Jiang Xiaofan. Yet, in mere minutes, he had ascended three levels and unleashed a power that should only belong to the Spirit Martial Stage, instantly slaying three men. It was beyond belief.
This man was nothing short of a freak of nature!
"System Prompt: You have successfully slain an Ocean Pavilion disciple and acquired a steel blade."
"System Prompt: You have successfully slain an Ocean Pavilion disciple and obtained 19 Copper coins."
...
"System Prompt: You have successfully slain an Ocean Pavilion disciple and acquired a dagger."
"System Prompt: You have successfully slain an Ocean Pavilion disciple and received 17 Copper coins."
...
"System Prompt: Congratulations, player, on your successful level-up. Your current Martial Level is Level 8 Original Martial."
...
The experience from the two disciples propelled Jiang Xiaofan to yet another level. The battle was perilous, but the rewards were substantial. Now, Jiang Xiaofan possessed the strength of a Level 8 Original Martial. He was confident that within a month, he would surely break through to the Spirit Martial Stage.
Once he reached the Spirit Martial Stage, Jiang Xiaofan was determined to reclaim Jiang Nianrui!
The thought of that foolish girl, who had given him her unwavering devotion, tormented him. Each time she crossed his mind, his heart ached as if it were being sliced open.
In that moment, Su Lin approached Jiang Xiaofan and said, "You're truly formidable. I'm Su Lin. Thank you for saving us."
Jiang Xiaofan offered a modest smile in return. "It was nothing. I'm Jiang Xiaofan."
"My name is Su Waner, and we're both disciples of the Divine Wind Sect."
Su Waner approached Jiang Xiaofan, pulling a copper token from within her robes. "This is our sect's Invitation Token. Should you encounter any trouble, come find me at the Divine Wind Sect on Void Cloud Mountain."
Jiang Xiaofan accepted the token, expressing his gratitude with a simple, "Thank you."
"Su Lin, it's time to go."
"But... Okay, fine."
With a reluctant pout, Su Lin acquiesced. She gave Jiang Xiaofan a parting wave and followed Su Waner, leaving him standing alone amidst the eerie silence of the Gloom Forest.
"Sister Waner, why did you give him the token?" Su Lin questioned once Jiang Xiaofan was out of sight.
With a wry smile, Su Waner replied, "Disciples of the Jiang family who advance to the Spirit Martial Stage are immediately tested by the Ocean Pavilion and go on to train there. I doubt he'll be able to hold his ground in the Ocean Pavilion."
"You're right. The Jiang family's overbearing nature is well-known, and Jiang Xiaofan is too kind-hearted. He's unlikely to fit in with them," Su Lin said, as understanding dawned on her.
Gazing up at the heavens, Su Waner murmured to herself, "How did the so-called 'waste' of the Jiang family suddenly attain the cultivation level of the Original Martial Stage?"
