In the dead of night, a dark figure flipped over the high wall.
Gu Wen landed gracefully, now clad in black attire with his face covered and wearing a bamboo hat.
Glancing back at the three-meter-high wall behind him, the descent seemed as easy as stepping down a stair, the profoundness of his agility only understood through personal experience.
Empowered by his techniques, with his cultivation method in motion, the First Level of Falling Moon Step made him light as a swallow.
Following his memory, Gu Wen hurried through the alleyways of the silent and rainy Bianjing at night, where in the distance, the revelry of Longqiao Bridge contrasted the tranquility.
Falling Moon Step moved silently and effortlessly, as Gu Wen sprinted tirelessly, his exhaustion offset by the consumption of physical energy accompanied by the activation of his Dao Foundation.
Theoretically, as long as his energy was sufficient, he could keep running endlessly, almost with unlimited stamina.
After about half an hour, Gu Wen arrived at the southern part of the city, only a kilometer away from the gambling house.
However, he had to take a roundabout route, which took another joss stick's worth of time.
Suddenly, a person appeared at the corner ahead, dressed shabbily with a pale complexion, hiding from the rain in the corner of the alley.
Gu Wen paid no attention, continuing forward with a quick pace, his abnormality evident to any normal person.
But what of it? Along this path, he encountered many beggars and refugees in the alleys, who were usually too busy avoiding the officials to even think about reporting to them.
The officials with their protruding bellies wouldn't bother with what a commoner had to say, lest they be falsely accused and punished.
One cannot apply modern life experiences to view a gradually deteriorating ancient society where chaos was the underlying theme, and everyone sought their own survival.
Gu Wen was no exception, just that he walked on the right path.
Near the gambling house, Hu Sanyuan's residence was easily recognizable, with brightly lit lanterns at the entrance and two stone lions standing tall.
Clearly, it was a residence of high-ranking officials, which should have belonged to a certain high-ranking official, now likely embroiled in power struggles, either dead or exiled.
Gu Wen's residence was acquired in a similar manner, as decades ago, merchants and traders could not afford such luxurious houses, yet on his first day moving in, he tore down the facade that originally belonged to the privileged.
Whether Hu Sanyuan was reckless, foolish, or if the social hierarchy had deteriorated to such an extent, Gu Wen could only sigh and think, "The Great Qian is doomed."
Entering the courtyard, footsteps approached from the front.
The aquamarine eyes, empowered by the rain, allowed Gu Wen to discern two individuals from several meters away, their heavy steps indicating they were guards.
Gu Wen did not evade them, instead, he walked briskly with a wooden staff in hand.
His senses sharp, the aquamarine eyes radiated brilliance, raindrops falling on the staff transformed into spearheads, with dark red Qi enveloping them.
A hundred steps away, fifty steps away, twenty... ten... one! At the corner, a spear pierced through a neck, skin and clothing mingling, blood spraying, and a lantern falling from the hand.
With a swift movement, the spear tore through the skin and blood vessels, then plunged into another person's chest.
The person's mouth agape, Gu Wen held him, whispering softly, "Don't breathe. Your lungs are shattered, gasping will only hasten your death."
The guard's widened eyes filled with fear, but before he could react, the shockwave of Qi directly caused his demise, his eyes still wide open.
The fallen lantern gradually extinguished in the light rain, in just three seconds.
Two strong men met their end on the spot.
One can judge a master by their subordinates.
Hu Sanyuan, running a pawnshop and usury business, was essentially a member of the underworld.
Could his subordinates be any different?
In these ruthless times, killing and being killed were normal occurrences.
Gu Wen, devoid of any emotional fluctuations, felt only a sense of joy in mastering his power.
Previously, he could not have imagined killing two people within three seconds, a feat only spoken of in tales of martial arts experts.
Wiping the blood off his hands, Gu Wen glanced at the slightly distorted spearhead, muttering to himself, "The control and hardness of the aquamarine eyes' water manipulation form is limited. Convenient to carry, but I should find a more suitable weapon in the future."
The true purpose of the aquamarine eyes was to enhance perception and accelerate cultivation in places with abundant water sources.
Continuing forward, passing through the wing rooms, he headed straight for the main residence.
Bianjing's small houses varied in design, but the layouts of the residences of high-ranking officials were mostly similar.
On this rainy night, with few patrolling guards, Gu Wen could still hear the sounds of dice rolling from one of the wing rooms where the guards resided.
The main residence was brightly lit in the middle of the night.
Approaching the door, as the rain intensified, the sound of raindrops falling grew louder.
Unconcerned about concealing his presence, Gu Wen had no intention of acting like a thief.
With power comes responsibility, and he was not going to ignore his abilities.
With a kick, the door burst open, the thunderous rain masking the sound.
The candlelight inside the house was extinguished by the wind, and in the darkness, two pairs of eyes locked onto each other.
A flying knife darted from the shadows, but Gu Wen had already formed a water curtain upon entering, causing the knife to deflect off the slippery surface and embed itself in the ceiling beam.
Though the water curtain had a slit, his defense against sharp weapons remained precarious.
With a glint in his eyes, Gu Wen saw Hu Sanyuan tied up in a chair, gagged with a piece of cloth, facing away from the bed.
The despair in Hu Sanyuan's eyes revealed a hint of joy upon seeing Gu Wen.
On the bed, a man and a woman were engaged in intimate activities.
Gu Wen had no interest in the specific scene, but he sensed the man's cultivation aura.
An Immortal in the world, encountering a fellow practitioner.
The man noticed Gu Wen but did not act immediately.
Instead, he covered the woman with a blanket, soothing her gently to keep her unconscious, saying, "Madam, do not fear. A guest has arrived, I will attend to them shortly."
Hu Sanyuan let out a mournful cry, muffled by the cloth in his mouth, unable to compete with the rain outside.
"That's my wife!"
"This scoundrel, having obtained a good wife in these chaotic times, fails to cherish her, constantly abusing her day and night. I had a pleasant conversation with the lady, so I took her in. Unfortunately, he caught us and I had no choice but to tie her up. If the Daoist wishes to seek justice, I'm afraid you've come to the wrong place..."
The mysterious man rose from the bed, and before his words could finish, a cold light had already arrived, attempting to deflect the flying knife with his fingertips, but it was repelled by an external Qi.
He could have dodged it, but instead, he shielded the woman behind him.
The spearhead touched his brow, but instead of blood, a golden light shattered forth.
Stepping back in surprise, Gu Wen suspected the man possessed some kind of treasure.
Another thrust came, and the mysterious man was thrown against the wall.
He had intended to block it, but he underestimated Gu Wen's inexplicable strength.
While he had seen the Qi of the spear, it was something he could handle with attention, but the strength was beyond what mere attention could avoid.
With a somersault, the mysterious man conjured a silver spear out of thin air, deflecting Gu Wen's subsequent attack.
The clash resounded, sparks illuminating the moment.
Gu Wen employed the Xuanming Spear Technique, focusing on overwhelming force, while the mysterious man employed a nimble and diverse style, with the silver spear exhibiting qualities of both softness and hardness, thrusting like a serpent.
The opponent was also a master of spears, likely wielding a spiritual treasure.
But he is far below me.
First Level of Dao Foundation!
Second Level of Dao Foundation!
Xuanming External Qi!
As the Qi surged within him, the spear Qi reached its peak, thrusting with the force of a storm.
The mysterious man dodged and evaded hastily, but the strike missed its mark, though the spear's momentum continued with a sweeping motion.
The mysterious man was sent flying, shattering doors and windows like paper, coinciding with a thunderclap in the sky.
Rolling three times, he steadied himself like a monkey, spitting out blood.
Admiringly, he said, "Impressive spear Qi, impressive spear technique. Ranked tenth on the White Saint List, He Huan. May I know the name of my esteemed friend?"
At this moment, Gu Wen, with his face covered by the bamboo hat, holding a long spear covered in dark red Qi, stepped slowly into the rain curtain.
His voice, deep and hoarse from the suppression of his Qi, amidst the thunder and lightning, the torrential rain continued.
"I have not made it onto the lists of Heaven, Earth, or Man."
In this lifetime, people strive for fame, whether kings, nobles, heroes of the ages, most aspire to leave a mark in history.
When will you be first on the Man List, the pinnacle of the Earth List?
Whispers echoed in his ears, reminiscent of the celestial being who descended on Longqiao Bridge that day.
He admired her transcendence, her superiority over imperial power, her strength, her status.
The lists of Heaven, Earth, and Man are a good thing.
Beyond longevity is the determination of superiority among all things in Heaven and Earth.
Gu Wen did not dislike fame; he was just afraid that his virtue did not match his position, stemming from his frail body and the status of a servant, all of which felt like chains suffocating him.
He thought he didn't care, but seeing someone seemingly inferior to him reach the tenth position on the Man List, he couldn't suppress the thoughts in his mind.
First on the Man List, the pinnacle of the Earth List.
Gripping the long spear tightly, feeling his dormant spirit reignite, the dark red Qi on the spear burned like fire, surpassing the original Xuanming Spear Technique with its Fourth Level of Qi, resonating with the Ocean of Qi Sword.
Understanding the sword intent, he naturally understood the spear intent.
Master one to master all, Xuanming Spear, Fifth Level, Xuanming Spear Intent, a perfect fit!
"How should I address my esteemed friend?"
He Huan stood with his spear, sensing the tsunami-like battle intent emanating from Gu Wen.
Though unsure why the other was so spirited, resembling a primordial beast breaking free, he was likely a martial fanatic.
But he knew he had to give it his all, out of respect for the strong and for the sake of his own life.
"I have wandered the mortal realm, seeking longevity. I am Hong Chen."
"Disciple of the Yin and Yang Dual Qi Sect, contemporary descendant, Daoist name Bai Sheng. Please enlighten me."
Boom!
Two figures clashed like lightning, a flash passing by, narrowly avoiding a fatal blow.
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