69novels Page 103
Page 103
The blade energy collided with the wall of energy, producing a low hum. The sharp blade energy was like hitting an invisible mountain, instantly dissipating into nothingness.
The shockwave spread outwards, and the surrounding air vibrated slightly, but Luke's figure remained as steady as a mountain, and not even the hem of his clothes was lifted.
However, it was precisely because of this strike that Luke and Zhao Yun's figures were exposed to them.
Although this was something Luke did intentionally.
A hint of surprise flashed in Guihai Yidao's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by indifference.
He gripped his longsword tightly, the blade pointing at Luke once more, his voice as cold as frost: "Who are you?"
Luke raised an eyebrow and said with a smile, "Just a passerby, a complete passerby. I just happened to see someone not sleeping at night, but instead leaping and bounding through the streets, so I came to take a look."
Gui Haiyi coldly replied, "Is that so? I don't believe it."
Gui Haiyidao's experience at Jueqing Manor destined him to distrust everyone, not even his closest friends. Even Zhu Wushi could not gain his complete trust. Only Shangguan Haitang was an exception, but a passerby was obviously not an exception.
Guihai Yidao's eyes became even sharper.
He slowly raised his long sword, its blade gleaming blindingly in the sunlight. His aura gradually intensified, and the surrounding air seemed to grow heavy.
Chapter 186: Martial Arts Chronicle: Dominating the World
"The Heartless Slash is utterly ruthless, severing heaven and earth, and eliminating gods and demons."
Guihai Yidao murmured softly, the cold light on the blade growing ever more dazzling.
Luke remained standing, a faint smile on his face. He lightly patted his sleeves, as if brushing off dust, then looked up at Guihai Yidao, his tone tinged with a hint of mockery: "The Heartless Slash, sounds pretty powerful. But, is there really anyone in this world who can completely let go of their seven emotions and six desires?"
Guihai Yidao's eyes paused slightly, but he quickly regained his indifference.
He did not answer, but simply raised his long sword high, its blade pointing straight to the sky.
"cut!"
With a low shout, Guihai Yidao's longsword slashed down suddenly, and an even sharper blade aura swept towards Luke.
This strike, carrying the full power of the Heartless Slash, seemed poised to cleave the heavens and earth in two.
“Five, six, seven.” However, Luke remained calm. He gently raised his left hand, palm up, fingers slightly bent, as if welcoming the blade's aura.
Just as the blade energy was about to touch him, a soft light suddenly burst forth from Luke's palm, rippling out like water and gently enveloping the blade energy.
"Om-"
The blade energy collided with the light, producing a low hum. The sharp blade energy gradually dissipated in the light, as if it had melted away.
Luke remained as steady as a mountain, and even the ground beneath his feet did not tremble in the slightest.
Shock finally appeared in Guihai Yidao's eyes.
He had never seen anyone so easily neutralize his Heartless Slash.
Guihai Yidao quickly regained his composure. The most important aspect of the Jueqingzhan technique is to eliminate all distracting thoughts, and shock is also a kind of distracting thought. The blade light rose again, cold and ruthless, and the azure blade energy slashed towards Luke, seemingly intending to split the tower and Luke in two.
"Stop with one strike!"
At this moment, Shangguan Haitang seemed to recognize who Luke was and hurriedly tried to stop him, but it was too late.
Luke slowly extended one hand, seemingly deliberate yet swift. This hand was as white as jade, with distinct knuckles and long, slender fingers—truly one of the most perfect hands in the world. Yet, the power emanating from this hand was also unparalleled.
With just the extension of one hand, it was as if an indestructible, transparent wall had formed in the air, and Guihai Yidao's sword energy was stuck in mid-air and pushed back.
Gui Haiyi's pupils contracted slightly, his heart filled with unconcealed shock. He held himself in high esteem, and the Heartless Slash was a skill he had painstakingly practiced for many years, yet he never expected it to be so easily neutralized today, and even backfire on him.
However, he was extremely experienced in combat and reacted very quickly. He then unleashed another sword aura, which neutralized the sword aura that Luke had sent back.
However, this hasty attack, while saving his life, also sent him flying backward, vomiting a mouthful of blood that splattered on the ground like red plum blossoms, highlighting his pale face and adding to his tragic appearance.
Seeing this, Luke shook his head slightly, a hint of regret flashing in his eyes.
He did not press his advantage, but slowly withdrew his hand, and the indestructible transparent wall disappeared.
He looked at Guihai Yidao, his tone carrying a hint of instruction: "The way of martial arts lies in self-cultivation, not in bloodlust. If you can let go of your obsessions, you may achieve even greater things."
Being a know-it-all is a flaw, but Luke figured he couldn't change it.
Guihai Yidao struggled to get up from the ground, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and looked at Luke with a complicated expression.
He had cultivated the Ruthless Slash technique for over a decade, and his philosophy was deeply ingrained. Naturally, it wouldn't change because of Luke's words. It was only because of his insufficient skill that he suffered such a crushing defeat.
Defeating someone is easy, but changing someone is incredibly difficult.
At this moment, Shangguan Haitang rushed forward to support Guihai Yidao and asked with concern, "Yidao, are you alright?"
Guihai Yidao shook his head slightly.
“Young Master Lu, Yi Dao acted impulsively. I apologize on his behalf.”
Shangguan Haitang placed her hand on Guihai Yidao's pulse point, took his pulse, and confirmed that Guihai Yidao was only experiencing turbulent blood and qi, and that he had only coughed up stagnant blood. After that, she breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, cupped her hands in greeting to Luke, and said...
Luke raised an eyebrow and asked, "You know me?"
Luke hadn't been out there long and hadn't achieved any remarkable feats, so he didn't think his fame would be so great that everyone would know him, unless someone was deliberately trying to...
Actually, when Gui Haiyi made his move, Luke didn't recognize him. However, after Shangguan Haitang appeared, dressed as a man, and considering the way she addressed him, Luke easily guessed her identity.
Luke still has faith in Shangguan Haitang's character. In the original work, she can indeed be considered a good person. She has always received education in loyalty to the emperor and the country, and is a good person in the traditional sense.
However, there is always a problem with such good people: they are easily manipulated by others.
The only person who can wield the sword that is Shangguan Haitang is Zhu Wushi.
In fact, Luke and Zhu had met before, and more than once.
In Luke's memory, he had seen Zhu Wushi at least three times.
Of course, Zhu Wushi didn't come to him on any of these three occasions.
The first time I met Zhu Wushi was when Luke had just regained his memories of his past life, and it was also when he had just moved to Yujian Villa.
The second time I saw Zhu Wushi was five years ago, and the last time was a year ago.
Luke knew why Zhu Wushi went to Yujian Villa, but he didn't expect that Zhu Wushi would actually notice him. Otherwise, Shangguan Haitang wouldn't have recognized him so quickly. He guessed that the other party knew as soon as he entered the capital.
Shangguan Haitang, of course, had no idea what Luke was thinking, and spoke in a gentle, spring-like manner.
3.3
"Young Master Lu, this is a long story. Why don't we go outside and talk about it?"
Luke raised an eyebrow slightly and said, "It's getting late, I won't disturb you any longer, I'll take my leave now."
Luke didn't give her that kind of face. He grabbed Zhao Yun's hand, turned into a blur, and flew away.
Gui Hai sheathed his sword and came to Shangguan Haitang's side, asking a question.
"Who is he?"
Guihai Yidao wasn't the type to be so curious as to want to get to the bottom of things, but he was always very interested in strong people and didn't mind showing his curiosity.
Shangguan Haitang closed her folding fan and said, "He is the nephew of the master of Yujian Manor, and also a martial arts prodigy that Yujian Manor has only seen once in a century. My godfather originally planned to meet him, and I was also preparing to make contact with him, but I never expected to run into him today while on a mission."
Chapter 187: Martial Arts Chronicle: The King of Thieves, Sikong Zhaixing
Guihai Yidao was silent for a moment before speaking.
"He is strong!"
Luke exerted immense pressure on Guihai Yidao, using only one hand throughout the entire encounter—a level of power Guihai Yidao had never witnessed before.
Guihai Yidao had only ever felt this kind of oppressive feeling from Zhu Wushi.
However, since Zhu Wushi had never actually made a move in front of him, he had no way of judging whether Luke or Zhu Wushi was stronger.
Shangguan Haitang was unaware of Guihai Yidao's thoughts. Among the three siblings, she had the most diverse martial arts background, the lowest skill level, and the deepest bias towards Zhu Wushi. Therefore, she could not directly perceive Luke's strength.
However, Shangguan Haitang was well aware of Guihai Yidao's strength. Among the three of them, Guihai Yidao's skill might not be the most profound, but in the battle, Guihai Yidao would definitely be the one to emerge victorious.
Because Guihai Yidao grew up amidst slaughter, it was a true martial arts training method where failure meant certain death.
In contrast, she and Duan Tianya grew up in a relatively peaceful environment, without so much bloodshed.
Duan Tianya was eight or nine years older than them and had studied in the Eastern 21st Kingdom, so he probably had more experience. However, compared to Guihai Yidao, he was more indecisive.
As for Shangguan Haitang herself, needless to say, although her master, Wuhen Gongzi, was mysterious and rarely seen, he treated her, his disciple, very well, almost like a daughter.
However, after teaching her, Wuhen Gongzi went to sea to seek immortality, and Shangguan Haitang had not heard any news of him for a long time.
.................................................................................................................................
Early the next morning, Luke stepped out of his room and into the lobby of the inn where he was staying, only to find a lively scene unfolding before him.
A tall, slovenly-looking man was eating when suddenly his eyes rolled back, and he lay on the ground, foaming at the mouth, right in front of Luke.
"The food... is poisoned!"
While foaming at the mouth, the man grabbed Luke's trouser leg and managed to utter these words with difficulty.
However, Luke just glared at him, then slightly lifted his leg, pulled his trouser leg out of his hand, stepped on his chest, and strode over him.
"puff!"
The man on the ground nearly coughed up blood, pointing at Luke in disbelief and stammering.
"You...you...you..."
He was interrupted by Luke before he could finish speaking.
"What the hell are you talking about, Sikong Zhaixing? When did you start playing these kinds of tricks?"
Luke casually sat down in the chair, propped his chin up with one hand, and looked at the person on the ground who was still foaming at the mouth.
The man on the ground rolled his eyes and denied it, saying, "What Sikong Zhaixing? Who is that? I don't know him, I don't know him. You're being unreasonable. I was poisoned and you didn't help me find a doctor. Instead, you stepped on my foot. If you don't give me an explanation, I won't get up."
Luke's lips twitched, and he said, "Could you please be a little more professional next time? You've already spat out all the white foam in your mouth, did you run out of the medicine that was supposed to be there? Also, how can the shopkeeper do business if you shout that you've been poisoned in public?"
The man on the ground, Sikong Zhaixing, said this subconsciously.
"It's alright, this inn is mine, I don't make money from it, what's there to be afraid of..."
Sikong Zhaixing was speaking when his expression suddenly froze.
Luke looked at him with a half-smile and teased, "Go on, why did you stop talking?"