A person sacrifices himself to become a saint in a chaotic world of martial arts.

Chapter 154 Alliance

Wei Zhenghong stood still, his chest heaving violently, causing the hem of his Taoist robe to flutter.

The shock on his face lingered for a long time; his lips moved a few times, but he couldn't utter a sound.

Jin Tangjing.

Peak of the mid-stage True Qi Realm.

A seasoned veteran of the underworld who had dominated Qingyuan County for twenty years, his swordsmanship was unparalleled. He once fought the leader of the Qingjiao Gang to a standstill for fifty rounds in a mass grave outside the city. That battle lasted a full hour, and he actually killed the leader of the Qingjiao Gang, thus establishing the Golden Knife Alliance as the number one gang.

He just died like that?

To die at the hands of a mere lad in his early twenties?

Wei Zhenghong slowly sat down, the chair making a slight creak.

His fingers tapped unconsciously on the rosewood armrest, producing a dull "tap-tap" sound, one tap after another, which was particularly clear in the silent main hall.

"Jin Tangjing's peak mid-stage True Qi Realm cultivation is no joke. Su Bai was able to kill him, and do so cleanly and efficiently."

He paused, his gaze sharpened, and his fingers suddenly stopped.

"Late stage of True Qi Realm".

Wei Fu asked cautiously, his voice low, afraid of disturbing him: "Patriarch, you mean—that chief constable is in the late stage of the True Qi Realm?"

"Early twenties, late stage of True Qi Realm—" Wei Zhenghong didn't answer directly, but muttered to himself, "How is this possible? Even the true disciples of those major sects are only this good, right?"

He was silent for a moment, then suddenly looked up, a glint in his eyes: "Go, investigate further. Find out everything that happened last night, in detail. Especially the details of how Su Bai made his move, the more detailed the better."

""

"Yes!" Wei Fu replied, turning to leave.

"etc."

Wei Fu stopped and turned around.

Wei Zhenghong stood up, walked to the window, and pushed open the carved window frame.

Outside the window, the sky was already turning a pale white.

In the distance, the faint hustle and bustle of the morning market could be heard, and vendors selling breakfast had already begun to roam the streets and alleys.

He stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the gradually brightening sky outside the window.

"The Golden Knife Alliance is gone, and their territory—" he said slowly, his voice unhurried, as if discussing something ordinary, "It's time for our Wei family to make a move."

Wei Fu was taken aback, then understood. A look of surprise flashed in his eyes, and the fear on his face vanished: "What the patriarch means is—"

"The Golden Knife Alliance has three streets, two gambling dens, and a dock in the west of the city." Wei Zhenghong's voice remained calm as he lightly tapped his fingers on the windowpane. "These places can't all be taken over by the Garrison Command."

"But Patriarch, that Su Bai—" Wei Fu hesitated, rubbing his hands together, "if he's in the late stage of the True Qi Realm—"

Wei Zhenghong turned around, a cold smile appearing on his face.

Late stage of True Qi Realm?

"So what if Su Bai is at the late stage of True Qi Realm? The Wei family has been rooted in Qingyuan County for thirty years; how can a mere brat like him compare to their foundation?"

He walked back to the table, picked up another teacup, and filled it with tea from the teapot.

The tea was poured into the cup, making a crisp sound, and wisps of steam rose up.

"Moreover—" He put down the teapot, his cold smile deepening, the wrinkles around his eyes widening, "His annihilation of the Golden Knife Alliance this time has incurred the wrath of many. Do you think the other gangs will sit idly by? The Iron Palm Gang, the Blood Blade Gang, aren't they all eyeing him covetously? No matter how strong Su Bai is, can he be stronger than the three major gangs joining forces?"

Wei Fu suddenly realized and nodded repeatedly: "The patriarch is wise! Even if Su Bai is at the late stage of True Qi Realm, he wouldn't dare offend so many forces at the same time!"

"So," Wei Zhenghong picked up his teacup, slowly blowing away the tea foam, "we'll seize the territory we need to seize, and fight for the benefits we need to fight for. If Su Bai is sensible, he should know when to stop. If he's not sensible," he didn't finish his sentence, but just smiled meaningfully, brought the teacup to his lips, and took a small sip.

Outside the window, the morning light shone into the room, falling on his face in a flickering pattern.

Iron Palm Clan headquarters, training ground.

The morning light shone on the bluestone-paved ground, casting long shadows of rows of wooden dummy dummies.

The wooden dummy dummies varied in height and build, and some were covered with dense palm prints, the deepest of which were indented about an inch deep, showing the marks left by years of beatings.

On the weapons racks by the field, swords, spears, and halberds gleamed coldly in the sunlight.

Beside the frame stood several huge bluestones, their surfaces pitted and uneven, marks left by the members practicing their palm strikes.

Gang leader Tie Lingshan stood with his hands behind his back, listening to his subordinates' report without saying a word for a long time.

He was about forty years old, with a robust build, a square face with distinct angles, and a stubble-covered chin.

His hands were rough like tree bark, with large knuckles and calluses on his palms—the marks left by decades of arduous practice of Iron Palm Kung Fu.

Although it was early morning, he had already been practicing for half an hour, and fine beads of sweat still covered his forehead.

"Late stage of True Qi Realm." After a long silence, he spoke slowly, his voice deep and resonant, echoing across the empty training ground. "A late stage True Qi Realm cultivator in his early twenties—interesting."

An elder standing nearby couldn't help but sigh, stroking his gray beard as he said, "Chief, this Lord Su is truly a genius. I've lived for over sixty years and have never seen such a young person at the late stage of the True Qi Realm. Even the brilliant old chief of the Azure Dragon Gang back then was only at the mid-stage of the True Qi Realm at the age of thirty."

Tie Lingshan didn't speak, but gazed intently at the distant horizon.

A few wisps of thin clouds drifted across the sky, illuminated by the morning light, edged with gold.

"snort!"

A cold snort came from the side, like a muffled thunderclap.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a burly figure striding towards them.

The man was at least nine feet tall, with broad shoulders and a thick waist; standing there, he looked like half an iron tower.

His dark face was full of flesh, with thick, black eyebrows and eyes that stared like copper bells, exuding an indescribable arrogance and domineering nature.

He was shirtless, revealing a tanned physique with prominent pectoral muscles and clearly defined abdominal muscles covered in crisscrossing scars.

It was Zhao Zhijing, the second-best fighter in the Iron Palm Clan, known as "Iron Man".

"A genius?" Zhao Zhijing scoffed, his voice booming like a bell, making everyone's eardrums buzz. "A late-stage True Qi Realm cultivator in his early twenties, so what if he's a genius? I can suppress him with one hand!"

As he spoke, he raised his large, fan-like hand and slowly clenched his five fingers.

His joints cracked like popping beans. As his inner energy surged, the veins on his hands bulged like earthworms, and his muscles bulged, faintly gleaming with a bronze luster, as if plated with copper in the sunlight.

The elder gave an embarrassed smile, didn't dare to reply, and took half a step back.

Tie Lingshan turned his head and looked at Zhao Zhijing, his gaze calm as still water, unfathomable: "Zhijing, don't underestimate your enemy. He is no ordinary person who can kill Jin Tangjing."

"Chief!" Zhao Zhijing strode forward, clasped his hands in a salute, his fists larger than an average person's head when clenched. "That old bastard Jin Tangjing, I've wanted to meet him for a long time. His swordsmanship is nothing more than relying on decades of practice; if we really fought, he probably couldn't withstand ten of my moves!"

As he spoke, his eyes were full of disdain, and his lips curled downwards: "Last time he was drinking at Qingfeng Tower, I passed by downstairs and glanced at him through the window. That old bastard actually looked away and didn't dare to meet my gaze! With that kind of guts, he dares to claim dominance in Qingyuan County for twenty years?"

Tie Lingshan didn't speak, he just looked at him quietly.

That gaze was calm as still water, yet it seemed to weigh a ton on Zhao Zhijing.

Zhao Zhijing felt a little uneasy under their gaze, and awkwardly withdrew his hand, his thick, dark eyebrows furrowing together.

"Chief, I'm not underestimating him, I'm just telling the truth," he muttered, his voice lower but still deep and resonant. "No matter how skilled Su Bai is, he's only in his early twenties. How much real combat experience could he possibly have? Jin Tangjing was careless and fell into his trap. If it were me, I would never have given him that chance! I've been roaming the martial world for twenty years, what haven't I seen?"

Another elder, smiling, stepped forward and said, "Chief, what Zhijing said makes sense. Even if Su Bai is at the late stage of True Qi Realm, he's still young and definitely lacks practical experience. Besides, we've actually turned misfortune into a blessing in disguise this time."

"A blessing in disguise?" Tie Lingshan raised an eyebrow and turned his gaze to the elder.

"Yes," the elder stroked his beard, smiling broadly, his eyes narrowing into slits. "The Golden Knife Alliance has uncovered Su Bai's background for us, isn't that a good thing? If it weren't for the Golden Knife Alliance's intervention, we wouldn't have known that such a fierce tiger had arrived at the Garrison Command. Now that we know, we're on our guard."

Tie Lingshan pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly, his large fingers unconsciously stroking the jade belt around his waist.

"As for the destruction of the Golden Knife Alliance—" the elder laughed even more heartily, his wrinkles crinkling together, "one less of the three major gangs, isn't that just right?"

Upon hearing this, the people around couldn't help but smile.

Yes.

The three major gangs in Qingyuan County—the Golden Knife Alliance, the Iron Palm Gang, and the Blood Knife Gang—have been fighting each other openly and covertly for years, each wanting to devour the other.

The right to unload cargo at the docks, the commission in gambling dens, the protection money on the streets—aren't all of these fought to the death?

Now that the Golden Knife Alliance has disappeared overnight, leaving only two major gangs, we have lost our biggest rival and gained a lot of territory. Isn't this a good thing?

"Hahahaha!" Zhao Zhijing burst into laughter, his voice shaking the rooftops and startling a flock of crows from the old locust tree beside the training ground. "Well said! There are too many three major gangs; one less is just right! Our Iron Palm Gang should at least get a share of the Golden Knife Alliance's territory! I've had my eye on that street in the west of the city for a long time; the monthly tribute from those shops there must be at least this much."

He held up five fingers, as thick as carrots, and waved them in front of everyone.

Tie Lingshan's lips curled up slightly, but the smile was fleeting, and he quickly regained his usual composure.

He gazed in the direction of the Zhenfu Division, his eyes flickering, lost in thought.

After a long silence, he spoke slowly, his voice deep and powerful: "Pass down the order, tell the brothers to prepare. It's time to make a move on the Golden Knife Alliance's territory."

Blood Blade Gang headquarters, secret room.

The light was dim, with only a few oil lamps burning quietly in the corners, illuminating the room in a half-light, half-dark manner.

The wick occasionally emitted a tiny spark, which was particularly clear in the silence.

A huge painting of a blood-red blade hung on the wall. The blade was as red as blood and looked eerie and ferocious under the lamplight, as if it might jump out of the painting at any moment.

The secret room was small, only about ten steps square, and simply furnished.

In the center is an eight-immortal table with a few chairs, and in the corner stands a display shelf with several antiques on it.

The windows were completely covered by thick curtains, not letting in a single ray of light.

Gang leader Liang Yan sat in the main seat, holding a wine cup in his hand, sipping it slowly and deliberately.

He was in his early forties, with a thin face, three neatly trimmed long stubble under his chin, and a faded blue robe with frayed cuffs. He looked like a poor, well-read scholar.

His eyes were long and sharp, and the occasional glint of light they held revealed an indescribable sinister intent.

At this moment, he lowered his head slightly, his eyelids drooping, concealing the expression in his eyes.

There was a person sitting opposite.

The man was covered in blood, his clothes torn to shreds, revealing bruises and welts underneath.

His face was covered in a tangled mess of beard, stained with dried blood, forming clumps.

His eyes were bloodshot, his eye sockets were sunken, and he looked exhausted and desperate.

It was Zhong Ji, the third elder of the Golden Knife Alliance, who had escaped the siege by the Zhenfu Division last night.

"Brother Zhong, calm down." Liang Yan raised his wine cup, his smile warm, a few fine lines appearing at the corners of his eyes. "Once you're here with me, you'll be safe."

Zhong Ji remained silent.

He sat in the chair, like a silent iron tower.

The chair was too small for him; his massive frame almost broke it.

He lowered his head, staring motionlessly at the celadon wine cup in front of him.

After a long while, he reached out and picked up the wine cup in front of him.

His hands were rough like old tree bark, with thick knuckles, bulging veins on the back of his hands, and calluses all over his palms.

But at this moment, the hand was trembling slightly, and the wine in the cup rippled slightly.

He tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp.

The strong liquor burned his throat, but he seemed oblivious, simply staring at the empty glass without uttering a word.

The light shone on his face, casting his expression in a half-light, half-shadow—a numb calmness to the extreme.

Liang Yan wasn't in a hurry. He continued drinking his wine, occasionally glancing at Zhong Ji.

His gaze swept over Zhong Ji, from his stubble-covered square face to his broad shoulders that could support a horse, and then to his incredibly strong arms.

Zhong Ji was exceptionally burly, and although he was disheveled and his clothes were tattered, his fierce aura remained.

Especially the exposed arms, the muscles are knotted like the roots of an old tree, the veins are bulging like earthworms, and they have a faint bronze sheen.

That luster wasn't from skin tone, but rather a sign that comes from mastering external martial arts to a certain level—the Iron Shirt or Golden Bell Cover, making one impervious to swords and spears.

Liang Yan's gaze lingered on that arm for a moment, a barely perceptible fervor flashing deep in his eyes.

That fiery passion vanished in an instant, quickly replaced by a gentle smile.

External martial arts skills.

When refined to the extreme, one becomes invulnerable to swords and spears, and possesses boundless strength.

A single punch can shatter a monument; a single palm strike can shatter internal organs.

He had long coveted such a master.

Unfortunately, Zhong Ji was a member of the Golden Knife Alliance, the Third Elder, a highly respected figure, and he couldn't be persuaded to leave.

Over the years, he had tried to probe Zhong Ji several times, both openly and covertly, offering gifts and making advances, but Zhong Ji had always politely but firmly rejected them.

Now that the Golden Knife Alliance is gone, Zhong Ji is like a stray dog—

Isn't this a golden opportunity?