Dual wielding volcanoes, killing through the west

"Dang Dang!"

He flicked the blade twice, his tone growing increasingly somber.

The sword is a gentleman's weapon.

But the word "knife" can subconsciously evoke many things: war, blood, screams... Lu Aniu pointed to the sword as a knife, and Zhang Renfeng, being a fellow martial artist, quickly understood the meaning of his metaphor.

"Anyone, and I mean anyone, who would stab you like this is doing so because there is something to gain from it."

“If you control a state, the emperor’s sword will cut you; if you control a city, the warlord’s sword will cut you; if you control a piece of land, the government’s sword will be aimed at you; if your father is bedridden and about to die at home, and you happen to have a lot of property, then your relatives’ sword will be aimed at you.”

Lu Aniu took a deep breath and gritted his teeth, saying, "If you have no power, no influence, and no skill to rely on, then in this world, a thousand knives, ten thousand knives, will compete to keep cutting you!"

"So what?" Zhang Renfeng looked at him expressionlessly. "The knife in your hand is faster and bigger than anyone else's, so you can betray your master and ancestors and cut innocent people at will?"

"I have a knife in my hand, but I only use it to deter the wicked and kill the villains, but I will never use it to bully the weak!"

“Heh…hahaha…” Lu Aniu laughed loudly, then looked at him again after laughing, “The fact that you can say such things shows that you don’t understand at all. You can’t become a Buddha by just sitting in meditation in the meditation room.”

"There are never any innocent people..."

He raised his sword, pointing it directly at Zhang Renfeng, tilted his head slightly, and said coldly, "In this world, it's either you cut me or I cut you."

"It's either you kill me, or I kill you—!!!"

----

Having said all he could and done all he could, Lu Aniu poured all the complex emotions in his heart into this one sword strike, and once again assumed his stance!

Although there are 999 moves in the "Upside Down Well" technique, they can only be called "swordsmanship" and are not yet considered true martial arts.

In the last battle at the chapel, what ultimately determined the outcome was nothing other than this sword technique that had reached the pinnacle of its art.

Others practice swordsmanship and it's like autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves, but he alone can cut down autumn wind with fallen leaves!

……

"boom------!!"

Time seemed to freeze, frozen in that moment. Everything slowed down with the thrust of the sword. The distant sounds of gunfire, explosions, and screams were all dragged into an invisible vortex, stretched infinitely long, until the sounds became distorted and eerie.

Having learned his lesson the hard way, Zhang Renfeng wouldn't repeat it.

He and Qasim reviewed the move for a long time and finally came to some conclusions: the so-called falling leaves were not slow at all; on the contrary, they were too fast. Incredibly fast, like a shooting star, like lightning, like a flash of light! So fast that everything around them seemed to be slowed down, falling into a strange state.

Before the person could react, the sword had already grazed their body, causing severe injury.

……

The buzzing sound of swords was already ringing in my ears, like a death knell.

In that instant, Zhang Renfeng was no longer as terrified as before. Instead, he cleared his mind of all distractions and returned to a state of near unconsciousness.

In the blink of an eye, the Lesser Formless Skill was fully activated. In his eyes, the sword light that had attacked a second time had been cleansed of its impurities, stripped of all its killing intent and ferocity. It had transformed into a single drop of water splashing out from a hundred rivers, crystal clear, pure and harmless.

Tighten your arches and push with your toes.

"Boom!!!"

The concentrated force instantly propelled Zhang Renfeng's body forward, as if he were walking on water, not only not dodging, but instead stepping on the ground to meet the attack.

He covered the splashed water droplet with his right hand and gently brushed it away.

This attack demonstrated an exquisite mastery of power, down to the smallest detail. Just as Lu Aniu had said during their first battle in the chapel, "Kung Fu is a contest of the smallest details." This time, he completely neutralized the power of the sword strike with his extremely sophisticated technique, working within the smallest possible range!

A streak of light brushed past him, creating gusts of wind that snapped his hair.

"boom----!!"

In the instant they passed each other, Zhang Renfeng used a move called "Hidden Flower Under the Leaves," his body stretching out like a drawn bow, adjusting his arms and shifting his power, extending his muscles and bones.

With a crackling sound, a cannonball struck, transforming from a fist into a palm, and slammed it hard into Lu Aniu's heart!

Chapter 858: I'm a Eunuch

"laugh----!!!"

He reversed his longsword and plunged it into the ground, creating a series of sparks, barely managing to stop himself.

This palm strike seemed ordinary, without any terrifying effect of smashing or shattering anything. It only pushed him back about ten meters before stopping.

Lu Aniu's expression was so blank that it seemed almost comical, filled with utter shock and disbelief. Even at this moment, he did not lower his longsword, remaining in the same stance as when he drew it, like a motionless wax figure.

Until blood began to gush from the corner of his mouth.

"...How...did you do that..."

He raised his arm to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth. In astonishment, he gritted his teeth and asked, "The Six Swords are domineering, but the sword moves are too profound and exquisite. Many successors only reached the level of the first or second sword until their death. However, it is enough to establish a sect in the martial arts world with just these two skills."

"This sword technique is far more demanding than the painstakingly honed Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill! I spent twenty years, day and night, studying it before finally mastering it. If it weren't for the Turtle Breathing Technique, I probably wouldn't have been able to make any breakthroughs... Since I learned this move, once I unleash it, no matter who the person is, they are instantly cleaved in two and die by my sword..."

“Just now, every movement of that palm strike was only theoretically possible, so insignificant as to be almost impossible. If you had made even one wrong move, your palm and fingers would have been sliced ​​off immediately, and your head would probably have been severed from your neck.”

Lu Aniu was completely baffled. "How...how did you manage to do that in this situation?"

Zhang Renfeng looked at him calmly, "I have already answered you, and the answer remains the same, it will not change."

"Ha...I...I don't believe it!"

Lu Aniu shook his head, and although he was facing Zhang Renfeng, he muttered to himself, as if speaking to himself, "I don't believe it. I'm standing in front of you. You should hate me to the core, wishing you could tear me to pieces. How could you be so calm?"

Looking at Zhang Renfeng's burly frame, he clenched his teeth and became increasingly defensive as he spoke, "With a sharp weapon in hand, the desire to kill arises naturally!"

"With such powerful tools at your disposal, it's not impossible for you to carve out your own territory, become a king, and hold high office! Money, power, fine wine, beautiful women... all the things that people crave, you can obtain with just a slight reach. How could you possibly... have no desires at all?!"

……

"On the day I became a disciple, with my senior brothers and sisters as witnesses, my master personally tied the belt around my waist. A martial artist relies on the spirit in his heart to live an upright and honorable life."

Zhang Renfeng said calmly, "I want to keep that promise."

Lu Aniu was stunned.

"Judging from the story the wolf told me, you must be the master's first disciple. He must have done the same things for you and given you the same instructions. But you lost your belt yourself."

Zhang Renfeng's gaze towards him was a mixture of disdain and pity, as he uttered, "The more talented someone is, the more harm they will cause if their heart is not upright..."

"what a pity."

----

Two hundred and ten years ago, at Louguantai in Zhongnan Mountain.

Yin Shanren smiled and waited for his answer.

……

After pondering for a long time, Lu Aniu shook his head.

"Oh?" The old man pondered for a moment, seemingly unsurprised. He simply put his hands behind his back, turned around, and looked at the setting sun that was about to sink below the ground. "So, you find the life of a hermit in the mountains too austere and don't want to stay here?"

“That’s not true.” Lu Aniu shook his head. “My family has been farmers for generations. Life on the mountain is tough, but it’s nothing compared to planting rice seedlings. During busy farming seasons, even the women have to work…”

At this point, the smile that had just appeared on his face immediately faded.

Yin Shanren remained silent, waiting for him to finish speaking.

"Later, a great flood hit Jiangnan, submerging our entire hometown. We kept running and running... My parents died, and I wandered aimlessly, lost in thought. At first, I was terrified, afraid that I would meet my maker one day. But later, I gradually got used to it. I became numb; after chewing bitter herbs for ten years, I no longer felt the bitterness, only numbness, and a bland taste..."

He gazed into the distance down the mountain and said in a deep voice, "I'd rather die than live this bland, unchanging life again."

……

He had not forgotten the heinous crime he had committed in the palace.

Although it seems that the imperial court has not sent anyone to pursue him, when it comes to matters of life and fortune, no one can be trusted except oneself.

Lu Aniu concealed his origins, not even from his master. It was even less likely he would do so with a recluse he had only known for less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, someone he was destined to remain merely a nodding acquaintance.

However, his meaning has been made very clear through these words.

Yin Shanren remained silent.

"What?" Lu Aniu asked, "Master, do you think I lack the ambition for spiritual cultivation and only crave worldly things?"

"This is your own choice, so what right do I have to blame you?" Yin Shanren smiled slightly, shook his head and sighed, "It's just... a bit of a pity."

"Your obsession is just too deep, too deep."

"It's not a pity."

Lu Aniu's heart skipped a beat, but he shook his head, looked down the mountain, and said with a sense of pride, "A person lives for a hundred years, but in the end, they all return to dust. Rather than being sad and heartbroken before death, it's better to ride a horse and live a wonderful life while you still have breath!"

----

The past events flashed by like a revolving lantern.

His heartbeat, which was usually rhythmic like an old monk striking a bell, eventually became chaotic due to the continuous emotional turmoil.

"No...it's not a pity..."

……

He lowered his head slightly, his silver hair cascading down, obscuring his upper face and casting a shadow, making his expression impossible to discern. Only a few slight movements of his lips as he murmured to himself were heard, followed by a series of rapid, popping sounds emanating from Lu Aniu's body.

Zhang Renfeng was startled and quite surprised.

The opponent's momentum was rising steadily, and what was even more terrifying was that it was an internal force that he could not recognize!

Just as he hadn't recognized the Lesser Formless Skill, Lu Aniu at this moment also left him feeling incredibly confused and filled with awe—despite his contempt for his character, Zhang Renfeng had to admit that this was truly a formidable opponent.

If it were an old opponent, they would have already offered their necks for slaughter, but even now, Zhang Renfeng still dares not say that victory is certain.

“Not at all… regrettable, so all of this… was my own choice…”

"Two hundred years! Two hundred years of... glory and wealth, I, a shoemaker's son, have personally sent him to the pinnacle of this nation! Who? Who dares to look down on me! Who dares to disrespect me!"

"Hiss..."

The same white vapor burst forth from Lu Aniu's body, shooting out from the top of his head like an angry dragon.

This is the result of some extremely powerful internal energy being activated; it was the same when Zhang Renfeng activated the Luo Mo internal energy.

However, even though they were several meters apart, he still couldn't tell what kind of power Lu Aniu had used, or what terrifying methods he might employ.

All he knew was that his opponent had given it their all, using every last ounce of their strength! This was probably the final battle!

"drink!"

Zhang Renfeng gave a light shout, remaining steadfast in the face of change, and stood with his feet apart, as if tearing cotton, assuming the standard Three-Body Stance.

……

"Ha...hahahahahahahaha—!!!"

“?!” Zhang Renfeng suddenly sensed something was wrong.

Lu Aniu's almost manic smile became increasingly sharp and thin, completely unlike his previous deep and powerful masculine voice.

He had a terrible idea.

"you……"

"Oh, I forgot to tell you."

Lu Aniu took a step forward and came directly behind him, almost touching Zhang Renfeng's ear, and whispered with a smile, "I am a eunuch."

……

"boom--------!!!!"

Push off the ground.

Take off.

Mustang kick!

With one leg in mid-air, he unleashed a terrifying sonic boom that exploded around Zhang Renfeng's neck. Lu Aniu, his hair disheveled, looking like a madman, his eyes bloodshot, and his mouth stretched wide with excitement, almost reaching his ears, truly resembled a monster ready to devour its prey.

One kick.

The power of that kick signaled that all the advantages Zhang Renfeng had gained from his Lesser Formless Skill had once again been overtaken.

Chapter 859: You are a headless monster