Chapter 257 - 149: Two Clans and Three Sects, The Heart of Martial Arts Takes an Oath_2

Qian Jin’s face turned pale with shock upon hearing this. He quickly retreated dozens of meters, putting more distance between himself and Gu Sheng.

"Think carefully about this! This kind of opportunity doesn’t come often! If you insist on acting stubbornly and attacking me, then you and your family will face the endless pursuit of my sect until you perish completely. Don’t court disaster!"

Gu Sheng let out a loud laugh and said, "I’m alone; what do I have to fear? Besides, it’s hardly my first time killing someone from your Worship Flame Sect. Do you think that would scare me?"

"Go to your death in peace!"

Gu Sheng, holding the Thirst Blood Axe, charged at Qian Jin with an overwhelming killing intent.

Qian Jin had already witnessed Gu Sheng’s combat strength on Cang Mountain. Let alone now, when he was injured and weaponless; even in his peak condition, he wasn’t confident he could defeat Gu Sheng. Thus, he had no intention of engaging Gu Sheng. After throwing two darts, he activated the Shadow Concealment Skill and vanished into the darkness to make his escape.

To maintain the disguise effect of the Shadow Concealment Skill, Qian Jin couldn’t move at top speed. However, he wasn’t in a hurry—as long as he wasn’t detected, he could escape no matter how slow he moved.

Seeing Qian Jin suddenly vanish, Gu Sheng chuckled and said, "What a remarkable martial art!"

Without pausing his steps, Gu Sheng continued to pursue Qian Jin, covering over a hundred meters.

Suddenly, as he sprinted, Gu Sheng came to a halt. He twitched his nose slightly, then swung the Thirst Blood Axe in a sharp arc toward a large tree to his side.

Under the power of the Thirst Blood Axe, the tree—over forty to fifty centimeters in diameter—was cleaved in half. The sheer force caused the cut to shatter into countless wood splinters.

Qian Jin, who had been hiding behind the tree, was forced to reveal himself. After pulling back some distance, he glared at Gu Sheng with a sinister look and asked, "How did you know I was here?"

Qian Jin was baffled. Though his Shadow Concealment Skill was merely a second-rate martial art, its disguise effect was exceptional. He had tested it before: when fully activated and remaining still, even Golden Bone Realm experts couldn’t detect him.

However, Gu Sheng’s earlier attack had been decisive and precise. Though Qian Jin didn’t want to admit it, he knew that Gu Sheng had somehow seen through his Shadow Concealment Skill.

Gu Sheng took out a small cloth pouch and shook it with a grin. "Nothing fancy—a simple herbal powder hunters use to lure wild beasts, that’s all."

Gu Sheng touched his nose and said, "I used to be a hunter myself, so I’ve got a decent nose."

After Qian Jin had escaped on Cang Mountain last time, Gu Sheng had started researching ways to counter this technique.

Only at this moment did Qian Jin recall that, at the very start, Gu Sheng had shot an arrow at him. The arrow’s power was mediocre, so Qian Jin had smashed it aside, believing the powder to be a mere distraction tactic by Gu Sheng. Little did he know that it was specifically meant to mark him!

Qian Jin cursed angrily, "Cunning bastard!" He then unleashed all his speed, sprinting desperately toward Red Cloud Prefecture.

Even if Gu Sheng was strong, he was still in the Bronze Bone Realm. As long as Qian Jin could escape back to Red Cloud Prefecture, he could rely on the sect’s experts to capture Gu Sheng!

Qian Jin specialized in assassination techniques; alongside the Shadow Concealment Skill, his speed was one of his signature abilities. The movement technique he practiced, Floating Shadow Steps, was a second-rate martial art that, once mastered to Great Success, could leave afterimages that lingered for a long time.

Qian Jin had cultivated the Floating Shadow Steps to the Small Success realm years ago and, after years of insight, was only one step away from Great Success.

Executing the Floating Shadow Steps to its fullest, Qian Jin’s large frame darted forward like an agile cat.

"Heh, such a nimble fatty. But this time, you’re not getting away!"

Qian Jin had already learned Gu Sheng’s identity. If he were allowed to return to Red Cloud Prefecture, it would be an endless source of trouble in the future. What’s more, this guy had exploited Liu Honglie repeatedly and looted Bai Yuqi’s belongings; his fortunes were substantial. Since Gu Sheng was planning to visit Red Cloud Prefecture sooner or later, he wouldn’t let go of this juicy target.

"First-Level Quick Speed!"

Seeing Qian Jin retreating farther and farther, Gu Sheng activated the special effect of his Thunderbolt Leg technique.

With the boost from First-Level Quick Speed, Gu Sheng’s speed surpassed Qian Jin’s by a considerable margin. Within a few dozen breaths, he closed in on Qian Jin, raising the Thirst Blood Axe high and slashing down fiercely.

Feeling the sharp wave of wind from behind, Qian Jin hastily sidestepped to dodge.

"Boom!"

With Gu Sheng’s strength and the inertia of his swing, the Thirst Blood Axe struck the ground with devastating force, carving a trench several dozen centimeters deep where Qian Jin had just been standing.

"Huff! Huff!"

Feeling the terrifying power of the Thirst Blood Axe, Qian Jin gasped heavily, terrified of being cleaved to death in the next second. He dared not stop for even a moment.

As Qian Jin darted erratically, Gu Sheng showed no mercy. He unleashed his strongest technique, the Three Fury Blood Strikes.

With the Three Fury Blood Strikes activated, the several-hundred-pound Thirst Blood Axe felt as light as a feather in Gu Sheng’s hands, moving as nimbly as a Longsword.

However, to Qian Jin, the Thirst Blood Axe seemed as heavy as a mountain. A single careless grazing hit left him feeling as if he’d been struck by a raging tiger. His internal organs shifted, his blood surged uncontrollably, and he spat out a large mouthful of blood.

When he hit the ground, Qian Jin struggled several times but couldn’t get up. Watching Gu Sheng approach with the giant axe in hand, his heart filled with panic, and his eyes brimmed with terror—the unmistakable fear of death.

Gu Sheng stopped in front of Qian Jin and slammed the Thirst Blood Axe into the ground with a thud. Staring at the axe’s gleaming edge, Qian Jin was paralyzed with dread and quickly begged for his life.

"Don’t kill me! Don’t kill me! I can give you money, martial art manuals! Even if you don’t wish to join our Worship Flame Sect, I can find a way to get you the Guiding Method in the future!"

Gu Sheng wasn’t naive; he understood this was merely Qian Jin’s attempt to buy time.

Gu Sheng chuckled and said, "Martial art manuals? I think that concealment martial art of yours is quite good. Did you bring it? Let me see."

At this, Qian Jin’s face showed difficulty. "To be honest, that martial art was something I exchanged for in the sect; it was a single-use item. Once I read it, I destroyed it."

When Gu Sheng’s smile slowly faded and his gaze turned sharp, Qian Jin quickly changed his tune. "But rest assured! This cultivation technique has been etched in my mind after years of practice. Although I’ve only reached the Small Success realm, the complete content is crystal clear to me. If you spare my life, I can write it for you!"

Gu Sheng tossed his white shirt in front of Qian Jin and said, "Write."

"If I write, I’ll live?"

Gu Sheng sneered, "If you don’t, you definitely won’t."

At this, Qian Jin suddenly grew defiant. "Heh, if that’s the case, just kill me! If I’m going to die anyway, I won’t make it easy for you!"

Gu Sheng didn’t expect the fatty to suddenly develop a backbone, so he softened slightly. "What will it take for you to believe me?"

After some thought, Qian Jin replied, "Swear on your Martial Arts Heart. If you break your word, may the Heart Demon consume you!"

In this world, martial artists valued oaths made on their Martial Arts Heart. Breaking such oaths would leave a blemish on one’s heart, causing their mental state to become incomplete and inviting the Heart Demon during future cultivation.

The Heart Demon was terrifying. At best, it could lead to stagnation, preventing further advancement; at worst, it could torment its victim day and night, resulting in their death.

After some consideration, Gu Sheng laughed and said, "Fine, I’ll swear!"

He raised three fingers to the heavens and vowed, "I, Li Hu, swear on my Martial Arts Heart. If Qian Jin gives me the true martial art manual, I will spare his life. If I break this vow, may the Heart Demon haunt me, and may I die a terrible death!"

After completing the vow, Gu Sheng spoke impatiently to Qian Jin. "Happy now? Start writing!"

Upon seeing Gu Sheng swear on his Martial Arts Heart, Qian Jin beamed with joy and began to write, using his blood from earlier as ink.

A few minutes later, Gu Sheng’s shirt was covered with the cultivation method for Shadow Concealment Skill.

"This technique isn’t hard to learn. Follow the instructions I gave, and you’ll immediately know if I’m lying."

Qian Jin then shared his years of cultivation insights in detail.

Following Qian Jin’s guidance, Gu Sheng began practicing right away.

Within fifteen minutes, a peculiar force surged around Gu Sheng’s body.

Under the influence of this force, his figure seemed to turn hazy and indistinct.