Chapter 222: Walk Your Own Path!

Lei Zhen lifts his hand to wipe the bloodstain from his mouth corner, and a hint of unexpected delight flashes in his eyes.

The thunder light on the gun's tip still flickers, but it's a few shades more ferocious than before.

He clenches the Thunder Gun in his hand, fixes his gaze on Lu Xiao, his tone carrying a hint of admiration.

"A mere second‑rank Grandmaster can actually wound me; it seems your Lu family's Standing Blade Technique is far stronger than I imagined! No wonder the Lu family ranks among the top tier of Kyoto's ancient martial families; truly the reputation is well earned!"

To be honest, before today I still looked down on Kyoto's ancient martial families, especially the old‑established Lu family.

In his view, after all these years there have been no prodigies of dazzling talent, and the family had long since declined.

But he didn't expect that Lu Xiao would give him such a great surprise.

Upon hearing that, Lu Xiao's hand gripping the great sword steadied a bit.

She gave a cold smile, her gaze sweeping over the still‑calm Jiang Feng beside her, a trace of gratitude flashing in her eyes.

"It's not that the Standing Blade Technique is strong; Jiang Feng is more terrifying than you imagine."

"If it weren't for his guidance, I couldn't even break through your gun net, let alone wound you."

"Oh? Are you kidding me?"

Lei Zhen follows Lu Xiao's gaze to Jiang Feng, sees Jiang Feng still looking drowsy, and immediately snorts a laugh.

He merely assumes Lu Xiao is just supporting Jiang Feng's front, and shakes his head helplessly.

"Lu Xiao, stop making excuses for that waste; if he truly had that ability, he would have acted himself long ago, why hide behind you pretending to sleep?"

In his view, Lu Xiao's ability to wound him is entirely thanks to the Standing Blade Technique, having nothing to do with Jiang Feng; after all, a person who runs a Medical Hall could never grasp the essence of top‑tier blade methods.

"Being wounded by you just now showed I underestimated you. But today I will make you see clearly that the chasm of power between us, like a heavenly trench, cannot be bridged by a single blade technique!"

The moment his words fell, Lei Zhen no longer held back, and violently circulated his entire body's Qi.

The thunder light on the Thunder Gun surged instantly, the blinding white flash almost preventing anyone from opening their eyes.

He stamped his feet forcefully onto the ground, and the alloy floor cracked with fine fissures.

A far more terrifying current instantly spread through his whole body, making even each strand of his hair stand on end.

He seemed to become a moving bolt of Thunder, the surrounding air scorching and warping, emitting crackling explosions.

The temperature in Texun Chang suddenly rose, and several iron weapons on distant racks were directly ignited by the thunder light, emitting intense buzzing.

Shao Jinpeng, standing aside, saw the scene and his eyes widened into rolling circles in an instant.

He couldn't help but gasp a cold breath, his tongue clicking as he spoke.

"My god! Is this the Thunder Gun's final move, Thunder Extinguishing Ten Thousand Ages?"

"Hiss! That's terrifying! This is the trump card technique of our Dragon Group Senior Thunder King! Back then, Senior Thunder King rose to the three founding pillars of the Dragon Group solely thanks to this move, shaking the entire ancient martial world!"

He swallowed, and his gaze toward Lei Zhen was full of reverence.

"Group Leader Lei truly lives up to being one of Senior Thunder King's heirs; this Thunder Extinguishing Ten Thousand Ages move retains at least seventy percent of Senior Thunder King's flair! Looking across the younger generation of the Dragon Group, no one can withstand this technique!"

After speaking, he quickly turned his head and shouted at Lu Xiao, his tone even carrying a hint of pleading.

"Group Leader Lu! You should just concede quickly! If this move lands, even if you don't die you'll end up with a lifelong disability! Why suffer? It's only because of that waste Jiang Feng, truly not worth it!"

He now truly fears Lu Xiao getting hurt.

Even though he defected to Lei Zhen and has worked with Lu Xiao for years, there's some bond.

Moreover, he knows how terrifying the power of Thunder Extinguishing Ten Thousand Ages is, and Lu Xiao definitely can't endure it.

Lu Xiao naturally also sensed the world‑shattering aura on Lei Zhen, and her heart couldn't help but contract sharply.

Yet she still stood firm on the spot, showing no sign of retreat.

At that moment, Jiang Feng's lazy voice echoed again in her mind, his tone still laced with a hint of teasing.

"Thunder Extinguishing Ten Thousand Ages? The name sounds impressive, but it's really just like a puppy sneezing—big in appearance but riddled with flaws."

Hearing this, Lu Xiao couldn't help but smile faintly.

Such a terrifying Thunder Extinguishing Ten Thousand Ages seems only trivial when spoken by Jiang Feng.

Then Jiang Feng's voice continued to sound.

"Remember, the original intent of the Standing Blade Technique has never been to stubbornly cling to the moves in a blade manual; it's that you are the blade, the blade is you, the blade intent merges with you. You need not be bound by those rigid methods, but instead gather your own blade intent and forge your own blade path!"

"Forge your own blade path!"

That voice was like a revelation, instantly awakening Lu Xiao.

She abruptly closed her eyes.

Images of years of daily blade practice flashed rapidly in her mind.

As a child she practiced blades with her grandfather in the Lu family ancestral hall; when the blade couldn't split firewood, the grandfather punished her to stand…

In her teenage years she sweated like rain, tirelessly training with blades, unaware how many long swords she wore down…

After adulthood, on missions, she broke through encirclements using the Standing Blade Technique…

Scene after scene interwove, and a peculiar sensation began to wander through her tendons.

The feeling was faint yet clear.

A strand of newly born blade intent slowly flowed through her limbs and bones.

She tried to reach out and grasp it, but couldn't, only watching it swirl in her tendons with her eyes wide open.

Blade intent… Blade intent!

Lu Xiao was completely immersed in her own blade path world.

Seeing Lu Xiao suddenly close her eyes, motionless, Shao Jinpeng even thought she had been stunned dumb by Lei Zhen's Thunder Extinguishing Ten Thousand Ages.

"Group Leader! Wake up! Stop standing there! Admit defeat quickly!"

Lei Zhen also frowned, then snorted a laugh.

"What? You know you can't dodge, got scared dumb? Fine, saves me from having to act!"

Only Jiang Feng, who had been standing aside all along, slowly opened his eyes.

"Not too stupid after all, finally made her comprehend the true meaning of the Standing Blade Secret."

Shao Jinpeng watched Jiang Feng at this moment still can Laughter, and, enraged, couldn't help but roar.

"Jiang Feng! The team leader fell into this situation because she trusted you, a waste; if anything happens to her, I won't let you off."

Jiang Feng was too lazy to bother Shao Jinpeng, and simply stared calmly at Lu Xiao in the Texun Chang.

At this moment, Lu Xiao still kept her eyes closed.

Only Jiang Feng could see that the aura around her began to undergo a subtle change.

In the originally heavy Blade Intent belonging to the Standing Blade Secret, a Silk of feminine‑only flexibility was added.

That Silk of flexibility intertwined with the fierce Blade Intent; although still very Weak, it already formed a prototype belonging to her.

Lei Zhen grew somewhat impatient while waiting.

He glared fiercely, and the hand gripping his Thunderbolt Gun thrust forward sharply.

Throughout, he transformed into a dazzling flash of thunder, bearing the terrifying power of Thunder Extinguishing Ten Thousand Ages, and lunged straight at Lu Xiao's face!

The tip of the gun's thunderlight almost tore the air, clearly intending to strike down directly, giving Lu Xiao no chance.

The Texun Chang's air was completely ripped by this shot, emitting a deafening sound of rending the void.

Shao Jinpeng even closed his eyes, unable to bear seeing Lu Xiao's tragic defeat.

But just as Lei Zhen's Thunderbolt Gun was about to pierce Lu Xiao, a sudden Bone‑chilling cold surged through his back.

It seemed as if an invisible sharp blade had already pressed against his back heart.

A deadly crisis instantly enveloped him, causing his movement to freeze abruptly in midair.