Chapter 265 - 253: A Single Move Shakes the World! (Double-Length)
"That depends on whether the other party wants to continue fighting with me." Song Changming glanced at the dead bodies of the Corpse Refining Sect members behind him and said slowly.
In that moment, Li Jinyu suddenly felt that his concerns were somewhat unnecessary.
He even vaguely saw the fate of the Outer World Corpse Refining Sect...
If Song Changming could truly overturn the entire Outer World Corpse Refining Sect on his own, that would be an extraordinary achievement.
The Corpse Refining Sect has been in the Outer Domain for at least several hundred years.
Back in the day, the grand Ghost Blade Sect was obliterated, but the Corpse Refining Sect remained intact, still thriving as a major sect in the Outer Domain.
Now, it seems to be on the verge of replacing the former Ghost Blade Sect, becoming Da Lai Martial Realm’s biggest internal threat, the number one external enemy.
But the destruction of the Corpse Refining Sect has been something no one has accomplished for hundreds of years.
Even the Sword Venerable Nan Wuji failed to achieve it before he departed!
Therefore, even Li Jinyu was somewhat curious whether Song Changming could do it, and when it might happen...
Several days later, even before the Zhuji Pavilion’s biannual release of the Jianghu Secret Chronicles, the massacre at the government office in the Taiching Prefecture county seat was quickly disseminated, creating a huge uproar.
The general populace, unaware of the details, only knew that all the officials inside and outside the government office were killed, exterminated by a dark and sinister force!
The atrocity was so appalling it was simply outrageous.
Among martial artists, more facts were known.
Especially those powerful and influential martial artists, since Song Changming, Su Qingqing, and others did not deliberately hide their whereabouts, detailed information was easily uncovered by them.
It was clear this was the work of the Outer Domain Corpse Refining Sect, who set an ambush intending to kill Su Qingqing, the outstanding martial tao prodigy of the Da Lai Martial Realm.
As a result, they provoked Song Changming, ranked eleventh on the Celestial List, causing the Corpse Refining Sect members to be wiped out instead.
That wasn’t surprising, after all, there was Song Changming standing behind Su Qingqing, which was no secret.
But subsequently, Xu Baishu’s corpse was discovered, marking the death of a first-class bigwig within the Corpse Refining Sect in this turmoil, which changed the nature entirely!
Undoubtedly, this was the work of Song Changming.
In Da Lai Martial Realm, the more powerful the martial arts fighters were, the more they understood how formidable the two Yellow-eyed Corpse Puppets in that Corpse Refining Sect Elder’s possession were.
Many martial realm powerhouses had fallen due to the opponent’s Corpse Puppets.
Now that the opponent is dead, martial arts powerhouses in Da Lai Martial Realm, shocked yet exhilarated, applauded the event!
"Unbelievable, Xu Baishu of the Corpse Refining Sect just died like that, although he’s merely an old man with depleted qi blood, those two Yellow-eyed Corpse Puppets he possesses remain exceedingly powerful..."
"Who would have thought Song Changming could exhibit such strength!"
"I feel like his ranking on the Celestial List is too low..."
"I think so too..."
"Moving forward, I fear the Corpse Refining Sect will go crazy, not sure if Song Changming can withstand them..."
"If he can’t, we of Da Lai Martial Realm will stand with him!"
"..."
This event spurred widespread discussion in Da Lai Martial Realm, bringing the long-silent Song Changming back into the spotlight, attracting considerable attention!
Some newly emerging martial artists in the Jianghu, filled with fervor, regarded Song Changming as their role model, their target and direction to pursue.
They scoured for Song Changming’s past records, only becoming increasingly engrossed, akin to fervent fans.
If in an inn someone mentioned Song Changming in a derogatory manner, this group might pound the table to argue, defending Song Changming’s honor.
Regarding fame, Song Changming has reached a new height in Da Lai.
The most discourse focused on evaluating Song Changming’s actual strength, debating at which level it truly lies.
A position in the top eleven of the Celestial List would be a supreme honor for most.
Yet, nowadays, the majority opinion is unanimous that this position does not suit Song Changming’s abilities!
Song Changming’s name ought to appear within the top ten; Zhuji Pavilion needs to rearrange the top ten rankings at long last!
In Wangyue Prefecture, inside a courtyard surrounded by extremely solid black rocks.
With a soft shout, Su Qingqing moved with her sword, like a startling rainbow, her sword edge directed straight at Song Changming standing with hands behind his back not far away.
In the air, transformed by Sword Intent, a White Phoenix was born from her sword edge, initially taking wing, heading towards Song Changming.
With this strike, Su Qingqing left nothing held back, deploying her full effort!
Song Changming doesn’t wield a blade, merely raising a single finger, casually flicking.
Tremendous finger force explodes, rippling through the air, forming layers of apparent fractures!
The approaching White Phoenix shatters instantly upon contact with his fingertip, Sword Intent defeated, Sword Qi scattered.
Then, he flicks his finger once more.
Ping!
Su Qingqing’s sword edge is precisely flicked by his fingertip.
The next moment, Su Qingqing, along with her sword, spins tens of times in the air, losing balance and landing clumsily on her backside.
"Lost again, young master..."
Su Qingqing rubbed her sore behind and waist, shaking the hand that held her sword earlier, pouting.
Whenever facing Song Changming, the enormous disparity in strength suffocates, showing no glimmer of victory.
During these ten years, Su Qingqing has been overwhelmed by Song Changming since she was little.
She progressed swiftly in strength largely due to Song Changming’s significant role, so he believes.
"Could you reflect upon your actions this time involving risks?" Song Changming asked sternly.
"Yes, I shouldn’t have ventured alone before thoroughly investigating, falling into their trap!" Su Qingqing replied quickly.
She knew that if her responses don’t satisfy Song Changming, punishment might follow.
Today, she already felt Song Changming’s strikes were heftier than usual, evidently displaying displeasure over her falling into the Corpse Refining Sect’s setup earlier.
"Anything else?"
"Also... I should have immediately tried to contact Uncle Ping’an or Uncle Zhao Long, instead of procrastinating..."
"Anything else?"
"And... if realizing danger, I ought to flee at once..."
Su Qingqing wracked her brains for reflection, answering Song Changming to his satisfaction as much as possible.
"It’s precisely because you often wield your strength in public, revealing too much and leaving little hidden, making you an easy target, frequently putting yourself at risk, seldom able to transform peril into safety and escape unscathed.
This time, you should retreat into seclusion for a period until the Flying Thunder Technique achieves great perfection, refrain from going out, and practice writing and chess until it meets my satisfaction." Song Changming instructed.
Upon hearing her confinement and having to practice writing and chess to cultivate temperament, Su Qingqing immediately drooped but dared not defy Song Changming’s orders, swiftly agreeing.
Though her strength advanced quickly, especially in Qi Refining and Sword Dao, her personality has been somewhat too flighty, appearing insufficiently reliable in Song Changming’s eyes.
If it weren’t for his guidance, Su Qingqing’s original disposition might have led her to freely indulge herself.
In this way, unforeseen misfortune or being schemed against and killed would be predictable.
Over these years, Song Changming has rescued Su Qingqing more than once.
In fact, he’s already realized Su Qingqing’s dependency on him has become somewhat excessive.
He cannot always rescue her, eventually, Su Qingqing has to rely on herself, no one can continually assist her throughout her cultivation journey.
...