Chapter 150: Chapter 150: Golden Knife Transformation

The Pu Sect Leader Pu Xiang seemed rather dignified, "Since an old friend is visiting, please!" He gestured, indicating that the Bianji monk could come in. Bai Lang stood among the ordinary martial artists outside, watching the drama, and he knew the atmosphere was definitely one of revenge, "Coming when someone is celebrating a grand birthday, the grudge must be deep, probably a plot to wipe out the whole sect."

Since learning that the Golden Knife Sect was a profiteering operation of the local gentry, Bai Lang also realized how many dirty dealings were hidden inside; the extermination of an entire sect had certainly been done, but he didn't know whether the monk was a victim or one of the original loot‑splitting troublemakers.

"Basically none of them are good people; a dog‑biting‑dog is also entertaining," Bai Lang was the first to sit down, while a few young martial heroes were already crowding forward, ready to make a name for themselves. Bai Lang prodded the young hero beside him, "Young man, I am a country fellow from elsewhere; what is this Six and a Half Hall? Is it famous?"

The other party also seemed eager, and immediately gave Bai Lang a detailed rundown of the current power dynamics in Ji City. Bai Lang was genuinely stunned; he had no idea that Ji City, besides the Six and a Half Hall, also housed the Golden Breeze Fine Rain Hall. As for other alliances or federations, better not mention them—the Six and a Half Hall and the Golden Breeze Fine Rain Hall are the two biggest gangs in Ji City, together controlling roughly seventy percent of the city's streets, with the remaining thirty percent divided among other groups.

The most striking thing is that both gangs have official cover, straddling both the white and black sides; the Golden Breeze Fine Rain Hall leans toward the white side, while the Six and a Half Hall is heavily black. Both have powerful figures from the imperial court behind them, essentially the court's gloves. Bai Lang found none of this surprising at all; it wasn't odd to him that a black gang like the Six and a Half Hall could operate in broad daylight.

Both gangs are filled with cloud‑like masters, and their influence extends far beyond Ji City—indeed, they have sway over nearly half of Great Yan. Yet, from what Bai Lang heard, the farther one is from Ji City, the weaker these two gangs become—quite normal.

After hearing all that, Bai Lang naturally lavished praise on the eager man's breadth of knowledge, which made the man beam with pride, as if he had won Bai Lang over as a confidant. "Even a few modern chain‑farts can't stop a petty young martial hero!" Bai Lang chuckled to himself.

"How could they not realize that the biggest 'powerful organization' in Ji City is actually the imperial court's hawk dogs? They usually stay out of gang disputes, and most of the time they just clean up after the fights, so they appear unobtrusive," Bai Lang thought, increasingly suspecting a hidden mastermind behind the drama.

There must be some hidden hand; perhaps someone thinks the Golden Knife Sect has been taking too much and wants a replacement. Bai Lang felt that merely a signal from a mid‑level imperial official could set it off. "Otherwise, would the Bianji monk come alone for revenge during a grand birthday, or would he be fed up?"

Inside, the situation was similar; the Bianji monk lifted his wine bowl and took a sip. "In the past it was the Sect Leader's gift; these years have etched themselves deeply in my heart. Yet now, the matters before I became a monk can only drift away like smoke. I ask that the Pu Sect Leader also fade away."

"Amitabha." The monk set down his drink, and tiny insects swarmed out of the wine. "One Hundred Eight Path Snake‑Insect‑Rat‑Ant Fist!" someone shouted. The Bianji monk smiled and immediately launched an attack on Pu Xiang, the Sect Leader of the Golden Knife Sect.

Pu Xiang, the lofty master of the Golden Knife Sect, had refined the sect's divine art, the Spring‑Autumn Blade, to perfection. He let out a roar and unleashed a pre‑emptive slash—blade light flowing continuously yet without lethal force; this is the 'give' phase. When the opponent sees an opening or fails to adapt, the blade light erupts into a fierce strike that slays. Even though the opposing Bianji monk had mastered the One Hundred Eight Snake‑Insect‑Rat‑Ant Fist, Pu Xiang was confident his Spring‑Autumn Thirteen Blades could block him.

Moreover, there were several Innate Experts who came to celebrate the birthday, plus his three junior brothers. How foolish must the Bianji monk be to strike now? Isn't that just handing him a head on a silver platter?

Bai Lang also sensed the fight breaking out inside, and at the same time, the outside erupted as well. A deep voice rang in everyone's ears, "Six and a Half Hall, take action!" The rest was unnecessary; the clear‑headed young martial heroes immediately began to display their skills and make a run for it.

Those whose minds were not clear—like Bai Lang—some squeezed to the front of the hall, others, like Bai Lang, stayed at the table, continuing to eat and drink.

Inside, amusingly, only Pu Xiang, the Pu Sect Leader, and the Bianji monk were fighting. Yet, soon among those celebrating a birthday, someone sighed, "Six and a Half Hall… Pu Sect Leader, we've known each other twenty years; this must be your fault," and then also attacked Pu Xiang.

At this moment his junior brothers also drew their swords, blocking several renowned martial elders who came to celebrate, and now it seemed no one could be trusted. The Six and a Half Hall's power is such that if they truly move against the Golden Knife Sect, it would be a massive calamity.

The back gate of the Golden Knife Sect was pushed open, and a few men and women strolled in at leisure. Bai Lang didn't recognize them, but someone did: "Six and a Half Hall! 'Ask not the living but the spirits'! 'People more delicate than flowers'—Hua Xiangrong!" Instantly, the crowd thinned by more than half. These newcomers made no move, letting the others scramble to escape while they smiled and watched the battle inside.

Bai Lang remained seated, drinking and eating meat, while Hua Xiangrong kept glancing at him, seemingly fascinated by his heroic looks—so he ate and drank even more boldly, fully displaying masculine vigor. "Dog‑biting‑dog is pointless. Don't waste a fine spread!" Bai Lang thought.

At this moment, Guan Ba of the "Abandon Life for Righteousness" sect had already clashed with Baili Changqing's Du Tingbei; Guan Ba spat, "Only you old thief have ill intentions! Sure enough, you're here to help the Six and a Half Hall!"

Du Tingbei retorted, "Old dog! Today is your day of death!"

Du Tingbei's palms blazed like fire, unleashing boundless fiery force toward Guan Ba, while Guan Ba's three‑foot-long, five‑inch‑blade strange swords turned icy, solidly blocking the fire. Both roared, "Three Suns Rise! Azure Blood, Crimson Heart!"

"What a damn fake act!" Bai Lang curled his lip; sensing the aura, he guessed both had already exchanged several blows. "These Innate Experts are fighting, yet the building's still standing?" Bai Lang thought, and saw the ambitious youngsters rush straight at the Six and a Half Hall members at the entrance.

In reality, the only true melee was between Pu Xiang and the Bianji monk, and Pu Xiang held absolute advantage; his Spring‑Autumn Thirteen Blades flashed like snow, unfurling a long scroll that already annihilated countless bizarre insects and ants, enveloping the Bianji monk, and in a moment he could slash the monk beneath his blade.

And at that moment, a blade tip suddenly protruded from Pu Xiang's chest…