Chapter 252: Old Man Draws the Blade, Everything Settled

"Lord Zhuang, Li Rui has left the city."

The voice carried urgent, heavy panting.

"Just now, although he wore night clothes, he was still spotted by the brothers keeping watch."

The lean, strong man's eyes were filled with excitement.

Heaven knows how much cold wind he had eaten outside the Anning Guard every night; he had waited for a full half-month, and finally waited for that old turtle to come out.

Zhuang Renhe's calm expression changed slightly; joy, excitement, cruelty...

"I know."

After saying this, there were no more movements.

"My Lord, not taking action now?"

The lean, strong man saw Zhuang Renhe's appearance and was confused for a moment.

Speed is the essence of war.

Li Rui had just left the city, and now was the best time to pursue and kill.

Why not hurry and set off?

Zhuang Renhe flashed a trace of impatience: "Go down."

"Yes."

The lean, strong man took a deep breath, bowed, and then turned and walked out of the room, even closing the door on his way out.

After he left.

Zhuang Renhe stood up, walked to the shelf made of rosewood, and turned the porcelain cup slightly.

The wooden shelf turned silently, revealing a deep, pitch-black hole.

Zhuang Renhe walked into the secret room.

At this time, the secret room was empty, clean and tidy; beside it was a row of wooden shelves with polished torture instruments, and... night clothes.

He skillfully put on the night clothes and then picked up the long blade hanging on the wall.

Indeed.

The world thought that as someone from a prominent family, he used a sword, and the sword he carried at his waist when he went out was also a sword.

It seemed that as long as one was from a scholarly background, one should use a sword.

This was almost something Yu Kingdom people were accustomed to.

But what he actually used was a blade.

As a County Magistrate and someone the Zhuang family focused on cultivating, he almost had no need to fight others, so he rarely used his blade.

And those who had seen him use his blade were all dead.

Whenever he used his blade, it meant someone was going to die.

Zhuang Renhe did all this silently.

Then he disappeared into the secret passage at the other end of the secret room.

"Second... Second Uncle?!"

On the pitch-black official road.

Two young men turned their heads and saw Zhuang Renhe appear behind them.

'So fast!'

They had this thought at the same time.

They had been arranged to monitor Li Rui; tonight they had just sent the intelligence out, and they hadn't left the city for long before Zhuang Renhe arrived.

"Second Uncle, that Li Rui went in this direction, at most half a li away."

"He is too cautious; we didn't dare to follow too closely."

One of the young men said in a low voice.

"Good."

Zhuang Renhe nodded expressionlessly: "You did well; I will handle the rest, you go back first."

"Yes."

Hearing this, the two young men showed joy and nodded repeatedly.

Just about to leave.

Suddenly heard the sound of a blade being drawn.

Before either of them could turn their heads, their heads were already falling to the ground in unison.

Cang!

The long blade returned to its scabbard.

Zhuang Renhe remained expressionless, killing two nephews of the same clan just like killing a beggar on the side of the road, without any difference.

'Don't blame Uncle for being heartless; blame bad luck.'

Regarding Immortal Qi.

He didn't intend to let anyone know, even the Zhuang clansmen.

Clansmen and blood relatives are also people; as long as they are people, they can be bought, and they can rebel.

If the Ghost Gui Ming Jiao knew he had stolen the Immortal Qi, he wouldn't even need them to pursue him; just throwing out the matter between the Zhuang family and the Ghost Gui Ming Jiao would be enough to plunge him into an unrecoverable situation.

Some things.

It is enough for him to know alone.

Zhuang Renhe didn't even look at the corpses on the ground; once he killed everyone, there would be plenty of time to bury the corpses.

Transforming into a phantom, he swept into the mountain forest.

"Where is he?"

Zhuang Renhe frowned slightly.

He had already chased out for a li, but still didn't see Li Rui's figure.

'Could it be that he changed direction temporarily?'

Zhuang Renhe's face didn't look very good.

Just as he was pondering.

Sou!

A sound of breaking wind came from the darkness beside him.

Zhuang Renhe reacted extremely quickly, making a reaction in the blink of an eye, tilting his head and dodging it just right.

His gaze happened to see the small hole left by the featherless short arrow piercing through the tree.

At this time.

A human voice came from the mountain forest: "Sure enough, it's really hard to sneak attack a Fifth-Rank expert."

Zhuang Renhe looked in the direction of the voice and saw Li Rui, also dressed in black night clothes, slowly walking out of the darkness.

Ambush?

Zhuang Renhe narrowed his eyes slightly.

But there wasn't much tension in his heart.

"Alone?"

"Do you think you can kill me?"

He looked at Li Rui with great interest.

Li Rui laughed, walking while saying: "If you don't try, how do you know."

"Arrogant!"

Zhuang Renhe didn't expect that he was the one chasing Li Rui, but it turned into Li Rui ambushing him.

'The rumors are true; this person is indeed deep in scheming.'

His eyes darted left and right.

"Lord Li, let's get straight to the point; is the Immortal Qi in your hands?"

"Immortal Qi?"

"What Immortal Qi?"

Li Rui looked puzzled.

Zhuang Renhe snorted coldly.

Old fox, keep pretending!

"Since you won't say, I'll have to search for it myself!"

In the blink of an eye, Zhuang Renhe's long blade at his waist was drawn out.

It was a strange blade, a pitch-black blade, a blade that blended into the night.

The reason he was willing to talk nonsense with Li Rui was actually to confirm whether Li Rui had brought helpers; he was taking action now because he had already confirmed that there was only Li Rui here, or that the helpers were some distance away.

Regardless of the situation, it was enough for him to kill Li Rui ten times!

Fifth-Rank against Sixth-Rank is crushing.

"Die!"

Zhuang Renhe had originally thought about capturing Li Rui alive.

But Li Rui's performance was too cunning, and he didn't have full confidence, so he decided to let this little old man die.

Sometimes, dead people are actually easier to open up.

The sharp blade intent instantly blew away the withered leaves on the ground, wrapping Li Rui.

'As expected of a Fifth-Rank.'

Li Rui was unprecedentedly solemn.

If he hadn't been forced into a corner, who would be willing to challenge across ranks?

He had already confirmed that the person who wanted him dead was Zhuang Renhe, or the Ghost Gui Ming Jiao, but these were no longer important.

When facing someone who wanted his life.

All means would only appear fragile and unbearable.

He had tried to endure, but Zhuang Renhe seemed to have targeted him and didn't intend to let him go, having sent people to keep watch for half a month.

And regardless of official rank or realm, Zhuang Renhe crushed him; he could dodge once, could he dodge a second time, a third time, or a lifetime?

Even if he resigned and fled into the deep mountains, he would still be dragged out by the Ghost Gui Ming Jiao.

Didn't you hear Zhuang Renhe say that they were doing it for the Immortal Qi?

So the matter had to be resolved.

Facing the powerful slash of a Fifth-Rank, Li Rui was terrifyingly calm, and the Hidden Blade had already appeared in his hand.

At this time.

Still wanting to hide his clumsiness would be truly stupid.

Dang!

Blade and blade collided in the air. The terrifying giant force instantly shook Li Rui into retreating repeatedly, and even the hand holding the blade was trembling.

Li Rui's heart sank.

"Is this the strength of a Fifth-Rank?"

Even though he had now opened the Qi Sea and was close to the Sea-Observing Realm, he hadn't crossed that threshold, so he was ultimately an outsider.

Can't compare.

No way to compare.

Zhuang Renhe saw that his eight-percent-strength slash hadn't succeeded, his brows furrowed slightly, and then he said in surprise:

"You actually still hid your clumsiness."

"Opened the Qi Sea?"

"Tsk tsk, it seems the Immortal Qi is indeed on you."

Zhuang Renhe's eyes shone with more excitement; the stronger Li Rui was, the more mysterious he was, the greater the possibility of obtaining the Immortal Qi, and the more excited he became.

Reading the original text!

A little old man had actually opened the Qi Sea; if this wasn't the fortune given by the Immortal Qi, what could it be?

"Mine, mine!"

Zhuang Renhe licked his lips: "I admit, I really am a bit reluctant to kill you."

The best way for someone like Li Rui was naturally to capture him into a secret room and dig out the secrets in his stomach bit by bit.

It's just a pity.

Li Rui's current strength exceeded his expectations, so he had to die.

Zhuang Renhe no longer held back.

The black blade in his hand turned into a giant python, opening its bloody mouth toward Li Rui, wanting to swallow him.

Black Swamp Heaven Python Diagram!

Li Rui's eyes condensed.

Almost at the same time the black python appeared, a purple-gold giant dragon appeared in the mountain forest, its wings flapping.

Dragon's roar!

"Puff!"

Li Rui's purple-gold giant dragon collided with the black python, and he was knocked back by the terrifying giant force, blood spilling from the corners of his mouth uncontrollably.

At this time.

Zhuang Renhe was no longer arrogant, jealousy almost twisted his state of mind, and his elegant face became violent.

"Why, why does a piece of trash like you deserve to possess the Dragon Form!"

"It should belong to me!"

Zhuang Renhe had long heard that Li Rui possessed the Dragon Form.

A python grows into a flood dragon, a flood dragon grows into a dragon.

If one could become a dragon, who would be willing to be a python?

He was also secretly surprised in his heart.

'So powerful!'

But he had already used ten percent of his strength, yet he still couldn't take down Li Rui, and anxious emotions rose in his heart.

Retreat?

Impossible.

Tonight, both he and Li Rui had exposed their identities, so it was destined that only one could live.

This person must be him.

The person who died must be Li Rui.

There was no such thing as stopping.

Just when he was upset and confused, he heard the last number from Li Rui's mouth: "Two hundred."

"Blade intent is formed!"

Blade intent?

Just when Zhuang Renhe was puzzled, his pupils contracted slightly, and the hair on his body stood on end.

Just when they were fighting, Li Rui had actually woven a cage for him with blade intent silently!

Li Rui's blade intent also reached its peak at almost the same time.

He was secretly surprised in his heart, laughing coldly: "I admit, your blade technique is very interesting, but so what? Can you kill me?"

Li Rui smiled lightly:

"Lord Zhuang, didn't you notice anything wrong?"

"Wrong?"

Zhuang Renhe was stunned by Li Rui's words, then narrowed his eyes: "Stop pretending to be a ghost."

He was about to continue swinging his blade.

But heard Li Rui say: "Didn't you notice that there is a problem with the soil under my feet?"

After saying this.

Li Rui didn't wait for Zhuang Renhe to continue speaking, slowly lifting his right foot and dropping it heavily.

In Zhuang Renhe's surprised gaze.

A red long blade broke through the ground just like that!

The terrifying momentum made him, a Fifth-Rank, hold his breath.

"This is... an Immortal Soldier?!"

Zhuang Renhe's pupils contracted violently the moment he saw the long blade.

'Immortal Soldier!'

'How could he have an Immortal Soldier in his hand!'

He simply couldn't believe the scene before his eyes.

What is an Immortal Soldier?

An Earth Immortal's weapon!

Even some Earth Immortal experts didn't have an Immortal Soldier, which showed how precious an Immortal Soldier was.

Yet an Immortal Soldier appeared in Li Rui's hand just like that.

"This is impossible!"

Zhuang Renhe's eyes turned blood-red, and his face became distorted.

But Li Rui didn't intend to answer. 【25

He was just about to continue swinging his blade.

But he heard Li Rui say, "Have you not discovered that there is a problem with the soil under my feet?"

After saying this.

Li Rui did not wait for Zhuang Renhe to continue speaking; he slowly lifted his right foot and brought it down heavily.

In Zhuang Renhe's astonished gaze.

A crimson long blade broke through the soil just like that!

The terrifying might made even a Fifth-Rank like him experience a hitch in his breathing.

"This is... an Immortal Weapon?!"

The moment Zhuang Renhe saw the long blade clearly, his pupils contracted violently.

"An Immortal Weapon!"

"How could he possibly have an Immortal Weapon in his hands!"

He simply could not believe the scene before his eyes.

What is an Immortal Weapon?

The weapon of an Earth Immortal!

Even some Earth Immortal powerhouses do not possess an Immortal Weapon, which shows just how precious they are.

Yet an Immortal Weapon had appeared so vividly in Li Rui's hands just like that.

"This is impossible!"

Zhuang Renhe's eyes turned crimson, and his face became distorted.

However, Li Rui did not intend to answer.

Blade intent raged in his eyes, and his blade momentum reached its peak at this moment.

The dark night was illuminated by the fiery red blade light.

The Immortal Weapon sliced through all things.

The black blade Zhuang Renhe held above his head was split into two by the crimson Immortal Weapon, and the Immortal Blade sliced through Zhuang Renhe's body with almost no resistance, silently and soundlessly.

The ultimate sharpness!

Zhuang Renhe's pupils widened, his face full of disbelief.

He never imagined that Li Rui would actually have hidden an Immortal Weapon.

Of course.

He no longer had the chance to ask the questions in his heart.

Thump!

The two halves fell in opposite directions, and the blood that had no time to spray out splashed at this moment.

Zhuang Renhe was dead.

Li Rui looked at the corpse on the ground expressionlessly, not even intending to loot the body.

For someone who was already wearing night-traveling clothes, could one expect them to be carrying treasures on their person?

Tonight was naturally premeditated.

This was the burial ground he had chosen for Zhuang Renhe.

The blade was something he had buried in advance.

All for the sake of catching him off guard.

An Immortal Blade is strong, but if he had revealed it from the start, Zhuang Renhe would have been on guard and chosen to flee, and all of Li Rui's calculations would have fallen through.

Zhuang Renhe wanted him dead, and was it not the same for him?

If Zhuang Renhe did not die, he truly could not be at ease.

Therefore, the Immortal Blade could only be used once, and it had to be a one-hit kill.

Everything he did tonight was for that one strike.

This time.

Li Rui did not choose to destroy the corpse and erase the traces.

Instead, he used the blade to dip into Zhuang Renhe's blood and wrote a large "Qi" on the ground.

After finishing all this.

He carried the Immortal Blade on his back and disappeared into the long, dark night.

At this moment.

Lines of small text appeared before his eyes.

【Congratulations to the host for completing the intermediate "Famous in the Jianghu" plot — Cross-Rank Challenge.】

(End of this chapter)