Chapter 135: The Wrath of the Gu King

Su Ye recognized this dagger!

Although the lighting had been poor at the time, Su Ye was certain beyond a doubt that this was the very same weapon. It appeared that this situation was not merely a matter of Jiu Yayue seeking an explanation; the Jiu family had clearly intended to kill him long ago. Furthermore, Su Ye recalled that he had been kicked by a Miao family martial artist during that previous encounter, which proved that the Jiu family and the Miao martial artists had been colluding in the shadows for some time.

"You couldn't kill me then, yet you dare to appear before me now?" Su Ye’s expression darkened, and his killing intent began to emanate from his body. Since the other party had already made an attempt on his life, how could he simply let it go?

"Oh? It seems you have a keen eye!" The middle-aged man’s lips curled into a smirk. He gestured to the martial artist beside him, who immediately pulled Jiu Yayue back. "Su Ye, if you had just stayed in Yang City, with your talent, you might have achieved something great by biding your time. It’s a pity—you shouldn't have offended Ye Lingyun, and you certainly shouldn't have come to Thunder City!"

The implication was clear. The martial artists who had come to Thunder City were the elite, hand-picked by their respective families, and they understood instantly. Su Ye had shone so brightly in Yang City; if allowed to rise unchecked, Yang City would surely belong to him in the future.

"Master Xiao, don't be too heavy-handed! He saved me, after all!" Jiu Yayue shouted at the middle-aged man from a distance.

"Don't worry. This is the time of the 'Gu King’s Blade Sharpening,' and I have no desire to provoke the Gu King. I’ll just cripple him!"

Su Ye could not describe his current state of mind, but he had no intention of letting this Master Xiao go. If he had the chance to kill him, he would not hold back. As for this "Gu King’s Blade Sharpening," what did it matter? He, Su Ye, carried the Heavenly Thunder within him and practiced the *Three Thousand Yanhuang Tribulations*. He simply refused to bow to the superstition of the Gu King.

"Everyone, stand aside! This is a personal feud between the Jiu family and Su Ye!"

*Swish!*

Without another word, Master Xiao stomped his feet against the ground and soared into the air with a boom. A surge of energy erupted from his body, glowing with blue light as he struck down at Su Ye with a fierce punch.

"I’ll take him!"

Unexpectedly, Gangjin was even faster than Su Ye. The moment Master Xiao attacked, Gangjin lunged forward. He was the type who never dodged; he balled his fist, and a rolling wave of energy surged forward to meet the attack head-on.

*Boom!*

The two collided in mid-air like massive iron men. They both landed heavily, let out a roar, and charged at each other again. As the battle commenced, the surrounding factions exclaimed in shock. They had not expected that, having barely escaped the sea and not yet even entered Thunder City, fighting would break out so soon. However, they all watched quietly, with no intention of intervening.

"They're fighting already. It seems Su Ye is carrying something very valuable!"

"Of course! The Lightning-Inducing Pearl alone is worth a fortune. I heard that the pearl is crucial for navigating Thunder City—it’s the key to opening a certain treasure vault. Without it, even the Gu Witches couldn't find the entrance!"

"So what if they fight? Now is the time of the Gu King’s Blade Sharpening. You can't kill, so it looks like they'll just have to cripple each other. I heard Patriarch Jiang and the Young Alliance Master died at sea—not even a shadow of them remains. The Jiang family will likely be wiped out."

Many were merely here for the spectacle, secretly hoping for the two sides to destroy each other so they could scavenge the remains.

"Su Ye..."

Suddenly, Jiang Liuying called out to him, an uncontrollable joy breaking across her face. She whispered, "My family’s martial artist sent word—my father is safe. He just can't come out to see us for the moment; he told us to be careful."

Su Ye nodded heavily, a great weight lifting from his heart. He whispered, "Good! Since they have their own arrangements, we shouldn't worry."

Although he knew Jiang Ziyang was safe, the situation remained grim. The battle between the two had reached a fever pitch.

Clearly, Gangjin’s cultivation was higher, and his fighting style was vastly different from any other martial artist. There was no trace of hesitation in him; any powerful technique seemed futile before him. Even after being kicked several times, Gangjin roared, sprang back, and continued the assault, as if decapitation alone could stop him.

*Crack!*

With a crisp sound, Gangjin shattered the bones in Master Xiao’s hand. But Master Xiao was a ruthless man; at the moment he fell, he swung his dagger, slicing deeply into Gangjin’s chest.

*Rip!*

Blood instantly stained Gangjin’s clothes.

"Ah..."

Gangjin stumbled back, clutching his chest tightly. Where blood should have poured out, a strange, lichen-like plant began to sprout, looking much like moss.

"Poisoned?"

Su Ye and Jiang Liuying rushed over to shield Gangjin. Master Xiao did not pursue; he held the dagger with his remaining hand and laughed arrogantly. "Hmph, well? Do you still want to taste my methods? If you dare to attack me again, three days from now will be your death date."

Grief and rage filled Su Ye; this wound was meant for him. He gritted his teeth and shouted, "You despicable wretch! You used poison!"

Jiang Liuying cried out, "No, it's not poison! It’s a Gu! His dagger is coated in Gu!"

Su Ye looked on in shock, realizing the "moss" on Gangjin’s chest was indeed something else entirely—a parasitic plant already taking root in his flesh. Gangjin’s face twisted in pain, but he gritted his teeth and muttered, "I'm fine. I... I won't die! It was my own carelessness."

Su Ye clenched his fist, staring coldly at Master Xiao. "You know how to use Gu? Impossible! Where are the Miao family’s Gu Witches? Come out! Who planted the Gu?" He scanned the crowd and spotted several Miao martial artists, including Miao Ba, standing among them. "It's you again, it must be you!"

Miao Ba’s expression darkened. "Su Ye, are you a mad dog? Biting everyone you see? What evidence do you have that we used Gu?"

"If you want evidence, I’ll find it for you!"

Thunder and fire erupted from Su Ye’s body as he charged at Master Xiao. In terms of raw cultivation, Master Xiao was far superior, but he was now missing a hand. A whirlwind of lightning and fire engulfed him.

"You little beast, you're seeking death!" Despite his injury, Master Xiao brandished the Gu-tainted dagger and met the charge. If it had been anyone else, seeing that poisonous blade would have sparked fear, but Su Ye was unfazed. He had been poisoned by Gu at the Fotian Peak Miao Village, only to purge it using the *Three Thousand Yanhuang Tribulations*. Thus, even as the dagger thrust toward him, Su Ye did not flinch.

"Ah... be careful!" Jiang Liuying screamed, but her warning came too late.

*Slash!*

The dagger grazed Su Ye’s shoulder, blood spraying into the air. Had it been a fraction closer, it would have sliced his throat.

*Boom!*

At the very moment the dagger struck, Su Ye landed a devastating punch on Master Xiao. He poured all his true energy into the blow, striking Master Xiao squarely in the chest. A sickening crunch of breaking bones echoed out. Master Xiao flew backward, his chest visibly caving in. The dagger was jarred from his grip and fell to the ground.

"Today, I will kill you!"

Su Ye lunged forward, snatched up the dagger, and charged. Master Xiao tried to scramble up, but Su Ye kicked him back to the ground. The crowd gasped in terror.

"What? Master Xiao lost?"

"This Su Ye... he's fighting for his life! Is he gambling that he doesn't fear the Gu poison? Heavens, he actually won!"

Even the usually quiet Wu Bozhong and Wu Yan narrowed their eyes. They had seen many martial duels in Thunder City, but this was the first time they had seen a youth like Su Ye defeat a stronger opponent with such ruthless efficiency.

"He has courage and the will to fight to the death! A lad like this will surely achieve great things!"

Amidst the gasps, Su Ye stomped on Master Xiao several times, leaving him dazed. He grabbed the man by his hair, hoisted his head from the dirt, and held the dagger to his throat. "I’ll ask only once—who told you to use the Gu?!"

Master Xiao, though gravely wounded, maintained his bravado. He laughed wildly, blood bubbling from his lips. "If you have the guts, kill me! We'll just die together! If you aren't afraid of the Gu King’s Blade Sharpening, then do it!"

At the mention of the Gu King, the crowd’s expressions shifted. They had heard the sound of the sharpening throughout their journey; it was the very reason Master Xiao had hesitated to kill Gangjin earlier. He was terrified that taking a life would truly summon the Gu King.

Wu Yan shouted from afar, "Su Ye, let him go! Do not kill anyone now! The Gu King’s Blade Sharpening is no joke! You are in Thunder City, do you understand?"

From the crowd, the Gu Witch Miao Ba sneered, "Don't try to scare him. If you have the skill, kill him. I’m still waiting for your evidence! Before you falsely accuse us Gu Witches again, remember to weigh your own strength!"

Master Xiao laughed again, his mouth filled with blood. He struggled and gritted his teeth. "You don't dare kill me. Three days from now, your time will be up!"

"Is that so? I simply don't believe in such superstitions! It is you I am going to kill!"

Su Ye drove the dagger across Master Xiao’s throat!

*Swish!*

With a single stroke, he severed Master Xiao’s windpipe!

*Boom!*

The crowd was struck dumb, their eyes wide and fixed on the spreading pool of blood. Su Ye had truly killed him! Had he gone mad? Ignoring everything, asking no more questions, he had committed murder without hesitation!

"What? Su Ye, you... you actually killed him!" Everyone watched in disbelief.

*Boom!*

In the sky above, the sound of a blade being sharpened suddenly echoed out. The Gu King, it seemed, was enraged.