Chapter 159: Please, Sir, Grant Me Death

"Pfft!"

As the Silver Needle entered his body, the True Qi carried on the needle tip erupted, disrupting the circulation of True Qi within Long Jiang's body.

Long Jiang spat out a mouthful of blood, staring at Chen Che with a face full of horror, and said with a trembling voice: "This is impossible, impossible! This is an Artisan Technique; these are not the methods of a Martial Artist!"

Chen Che gave a cold snort and replied: "When did I ever say that I was only a Martial Artist?"

"Impossible, this is absolutely impossible! You cannot be an Artisan; you cannot possibly know Artisan Techniques. I don't believe it! I don't believe it!"

Long Jiang roared hysterically, and even though he was already deeply trapped, he still kept shouting that it was impossible.

Artisan Techniques are the methods of an Artisan, including the relatively common Strange Gate and Hidden Armor, as well as Feng Shui Physiognomy, all of which belong to Artisan Techniques.

And in the circle of those who cultivate, people collectively refer to those who can use Artisan Techniques as Artisans.

Artisans and Martial Artists share the same origin; both cultivate True Qi, but they use it in different ways.

Martial Artists rely on True Qi to cultivate their physique; those with a high level of cultivation can even use True Qi Object Manifestation, control objects, and so on.

As for Artisans, they use True Qi to perform a series of mysterious transformations, evolving it into fire, lightning, and other forms to cause damage!

However, the difficulty of an Artisan's cultivation is even greater than that of a Martial Artist!

Currently, there are only two known ways to become an Artisan.

One is to be born with the ability to perform True Qi transformations; such a person is a genius encountered once in a hundred years.

The second, and most common way, is after one's Martial Dao cultivation reaches the Heavenly Master Realm and the path of Martial Dao reaches its end, those with high comprehension will begin to grasp other uses for True Qi—that is, on the foundation of a Martial Artist's cultivation, they cultivate Artisan Techniques!

But even for this second, more common way, for a Martial Artist to reach the Heavenly Master Realm is itself a task as difficult as ascending to heaven!

Therefore, this is also the reason why Artisans are so rare.

Long Jiang knew this all too well, which is why his mentality collapsed; he could not believe or accept that Chen Che actually knew Artisan Techniques and was an Artisan!

Moreover, his Martial Dao cultivation was only at the Grandmaster Realm, which, combined with his age, already made him a figure like a heaven-favored child.

Yet now he had even used an Artisan Technique, and the method by which he became an Artisan was undoubtedly the first one!

Such talent could not even be described by the word "monstrous"!

There is one more point: although the realm divisions for Artisans and Martial Artists are the same, the strength of a Martial Artist and an Artisan at the same realm cannot be equated!

Artisan Techniques are diverse, and some are even exceptionally profound. Unless there is a vast difference in realm, it is almost impossible for a Martial Artist to defeat an Artisan by using force to break through their techniques.

Long Jiang was experiencing this deeply at this very moment!

"You are an Artisan? How could you possibly be an Artisan?!"

Feeling the invisible restraint coming from the Array Diagram and the bone-chilling pain brought by the thirteen Silver Needles, Long Jiang could not believe it, yet he had to accept the reality!

"No wonder you were so fearless; so you are an Artisan. I actually had the audacity to try to kill you before; it is truly laughable."

Long Jiang suddenly revealed a sorrowful smile, his whole body slumped, and he completely lost the motivation to resist.

Because he knew that the outcome was already decided, and struggling was merely futile.

"What's wrong? What happened? Long Jiang! What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and kill him!"

Ma Yishan was stunned by the scene before him; he had witnessed the ground split and close, as well as the profound Array Diagram and the Silver Needles striking Long Jiang one after another.

All of this exceeded his understanding, and Long Jiang's words of self-abandonment made him feel intense unease and fear while he was in a state of confusion.

Driven by this anxious mood, he subconsciously urged Long Jiang to act quickly!

However, Long Jiang turned around and looked at Ma Yishan with pity, saying: "Sir, let's accept it. We have lost today, but to be able to die at the hands of this Mr. Chen is my honor as a Martial Artist. In my lifetime, to be able to cross hands with an Artisan—even when I get to the other side, it will be enough for me to brag about for a lifetime."

"Long Jiang, have you gone mad?! What are you saying?! I order you, kill him right now!"

Ma Yishan was so shocked by Long Jiang's words that he was at a loss, and at the same time, the fear in his heart grew stronger, so he urged Long Jiang to act again.

Hidden in the shadows, Ma Zijun widened his eyes, watching this scene without blinking.

The Artisan Technique Chen Che displayed was also beyond his imagination, but he was clear about Long Jiang's strength—a genuine Innate Grandmaster, not to mention in the Ma Family, even in the entire Jinling, he was a ranked figure.

Long Jiang had always relied on his strength and was arrogant, never even looking down on Martial Artists of the same realm.

Yet now, facing Chen Che, he had actually said such things, and even regarded dying at Chen Che's hands as the highest honor!

This was too crazy!

How on earth did Chen Che manage to do it?!

And that profound Array Diagram and the ground that split and closed—what was going on with these jaw-dropping scenes?

Beyond his shock, intense curiosity and doubt rose in Ma Zijun's heart.

Chen Che glanced at Long Jiang, then at Ma Yishan, and asked: "Can you tell me who you are now?"

Ma Yishan stared with wide eyes, his unease and fear written all over his face, yet he still maintained a shred of luck, clamping his mouth shut and saying nothing.

"Understood."

Chen Che nodded, looked at Long Jiang, and put on an innocent expression, saying: "There's no other way. If you don't die, your master won't be able to recognize the situation."

Long Jiang's face was full of piety. Since his feet were still trapped in the ground and he could not kneel, he could only bow ninety degrees to Chen Che and said sincerely: "Grandmaster Chen, I am a Martial Artist, and I can better understand that someone like you is an existence I could never catch up to in my entire life. For my previous offense, I have long deserved to die, and now to be able to die at your hands is, for me, a great honor and reward!"

"Please, sir, grant me death!"

Long Jiang gave a low shout, his face full of determination.

"Click!"

Chen Che snapped his fingers, "As you wish!"

At this second, the Array Diagram rotated, and a "Zhen" character turned to beneath Long Jiang's feet.

"Zhen Thunder!"

Chen Che gave a low shout.

Silvery-white electric currents crawled from the Array Diagram onto Long Jiang's body, converging on the thirteen Ghost Gate Needles stuck in him.

"Boom!"

"Crack!"

Swift and violent lightning was released from the needle tips, and Long Jiang's major acupoints exploded.

Blobs of blood mist exploded out from Long Jiang's body one after another!

In an instant, Long Jiang became a bloody mess, and with a thud, he fell backward to the ground.

Chen Che withdrew his Supernatural Power, and the Silver Needle flew back into his palm.

Ma Yishan opened his mouth wide, staring at the dead Long Jiang; the expression on his face shifted from shock to horror, his complexion turning pale then green.

He quietly looked up and discovered Chen Che was walking toward him; that calm and composed appearance looked to his eyes just as ordinary as a life-reaping impermanent ghost coming to collect his next shipment.

"Thud!"

Ma Yishan involuntarily knelt on both knees, his whole body trembling uncontrollably; seeing Chen Che had already arrived before him, he prostrated on the ground, too terrified to utter a single word.

At this moment, he finally recognized the situation, and that sliver of luck in his heart vanished completely along with Long Jiang's death.

He only wanted one thing now, and that was to survive!

"I don't want to ask again."

Chen Che looked down at Ma Yishan and spoke indifferently.

"I... I am called Ma Yishan, and Ma Yiren is my older brother. Ma Menghan is my older brother's illegitimate daughter; my sister-in-law hates her, so she asked me to help kill her!"

Ma Yishan said it all in one breath, but he still covered up his relationship with Huang Zhu.

Chen Che's expression was indifferent as he looked up at Ma Zijun, who was gradually revealing himself.

"Second Uncle, that is my younger sister, and also your niece; we all share blood ties, how could you actually bring yourself to do it!?"

Ma Zijun had already recorded Ma Yishan's words, so there was no longer any need to hide.

He walked over slowly, his expression filled with resentment, blame, sorrow, and anger.