Volume One: The Menial of Changshui County Chapter 139: Entering Anxi Prefecture

“Master Jiu, those three thousand taels of silver belong to this divine beast.”

The large black dog lunged forward, only to be repelled by the dark cultivator.

In the next moment, it lunged again, completely unfazed.

The more the dark cultivator fought, the more alarmed he became. The big black dog was like a stubborn adhesive plaster, clinging to him relentlessly, driving him to frustration.

Especially with the formidable Lu Jiuzhang and the young maiden by his side.

Together, the three of them pressed the dark cultivator into a disadvantage.

It is known that the greater the stage in martial arts, the wider the gap between practitioners.

Three martial artists of the ninth grade could contend with an eighth-grade warrior and even stand a chance of victory.

But three eighth-grade warriors could not overcome a seventh-grade martial artist.

Unless those eighth-grade warriors were exceptionally gifted.

And the dark cultivator faced three such gifted martial artists and creatures.

“Pfft…”

Caught off guard, the dark cultivator felt a blade pierce his back, a three-inch wound appearing.

Blood flowed relentlessly, and the pain was excruciating.

Enduring the agony, he struck back fiercely, forcing the three to retreat, then quickly withdrew.

At this point, he could no longer be cautious. From his bosom, he drew out a small flag.

The flag was inscribed with numerous talismans, radiating a sinister aura.

Waving the flag, a surge of black energy enveloped him, with countless streams of dark energy emanating from the flag.

This small flag was his strongest magical artifact, forged only after slaying ninety-nine martial artists.

Within it resided countless souls; as the flag was raised, mournful wails echoed around.

These wails affected the mind, and the one-armed rogue’s emotions were disturbed, his eyes turning bloodshot with a murderous impulse.

“There is righteous energy in heaven and earth, spontaneously forming myriad shapes!”

Suddenly, a voice reached the one-armed rogue’s ears. His previously chaotic mind instantly cleared, feeling much relief.

The rogue looked toward the source—it was Lu Jiuzhang.

A white light enveloped Lu Jiuzhang’s whole body as he chanted quietly. With each phrase, the white light grew stronger.

The light was like a blazing fire, continuously consuming the black mist.

Even a slight contact ignited the darkness.

“Confucian Dao… you’ve reached the seventh grade of Confucian Dao? No, you’re a ninth-grade Confucian Dao practitioner, but how can a ninth-grade wield such power?” the dark cultivator exclaimed in astonishment.

Too many things today had exceeded his expectations.

---

As Lu Jiuzhang chanted, the sky darkened, clouds thickening overhead.

Within those clouds, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled incessantly.

All of this happened within moments.

Lu Jiuzhang’s robes fluttered like those of a peerless master.

Beneath the thunder, he wore the robe of the Demon-Slaying Department chief, bathed in white light, resembling an exiled immortal.

The dark cultivator feared thunder, his body trembling, instinctively preparing to flee.

In a single leap, he was already a hundred yards away.

Just as he was about to leave the cloud’s reach, Lu Jiuzhang moved and appeared before him.

Under the “Boundless Distance” technique, the dark cultivator could not escape Lu Jiuzhang’s grasp.

“Lu Jiuzhang, this has nothing to do with me; it was all ordered by County Magistrate Wang,” the dark cultivator panicked. “You can take your revenge on Wang. I didn’t grievously wound you and will let you go. There’s no need for us to die together!”

Lu Jiuzhang remained unmoved. The thunderclouds gathered more energy, as if about to pour down at any moment.

The lightning had locked onto the dark cultivator, giving him no chance of escape.

“Rumble…”

A bolt of lightning, as thick as a water bucket, descended from the sky, illuminating half the heavens.

Under the lightning’s strike, the dark cultivator was charred to a crisp. He did not die immediately; his fingers stretched into claws, reaching toward Lu Jiuzhang, seemingly intent on a mutual destruction.

The next moment, another bolt struck him.

Then a third, a fourth...

Until the ninth bolt of lightning, the dark cultivator was reduced to ashes, utterly vanishing.

Lu Jiuzhang collapsed, drained of strength.

He had hoped that breaking through to the eighth grade of martial arts would render his body robust enough to avoid many side effects when using Confucian Dao.

Unexpectedly, the toll was still immense.

“Master Jiu, mighty and majestic!” the big black dog rushed over. “Just now, you looked like an exiled immortal descending to the mortal world. Don’t mention some lowly seventh-grade dark cultivator; even a first-grade martial artist probably couldn’t stand a chance against you in a single exchange.”

The big black dog flattered him enthusiastically.

“Hurry to Anxi Prefecture. Don’t cause any more trouble,” Lu Jiuzhang cautioned.

Exhausted, he remained cautious. Any new danger now would be a serious problem.

Moreover, the strange phenomena in this place might attract many powerful martial artists seeking to investigate.

“Let’s go!”

Bai Xiaosu helped Lu Jiuzhang to his feet, and together with the big black dog and the one-armed rogue, they headed toward Anxi Prefecture.

...

After a brief moment, an elderly man dressed in splendid robes descended nearby.

After surveying the surroundings, he murmured, “When did Anxi Prefecture welcome such a great scholar? Could it be Old Master Xu?”

“But Old Master Xu has secluded himself for many years, rarely involving himself in worldly affairs. What could have drawn him out now?” he muttered to himself before quickly departing.

Not long after, several others appeared, conducted some searches, and then left as well.

By this time, Lu Jiuzhang had already arrived within Anxi Prefecture.

Once inside the city, the bustling shops were far more numerous and grand than those of Changxian County, flourishing dozens or even hundreds of times more.

The shops were vast, filled with a dazzling array of goods.

“Let’s head to Yingtian Tavern,” Lu Jiuzhang said. “If that’s the safest place, we’ll go there first. Find a place to stay, then we can plan the rest.”

After inquiring with a passerby, they made their way to Yingtian Tavern.

The tavern was not in the city center but rather in a remote area, located in the west district.

They had entered through the south district, and the west district was quite a distance away.

Along the way, Bai Xiaosu kept asking for directions.

Seeing Bai Xiaosu’s elegant appearance, several people tried to strike up conversations, but upon noticing the one-armed rogue in the carriage, the street ruffians quickly lost their nerve.

The one-armed rogue was too intimidating. While they might bully ordinary folk, they turned into pushovers when facing him.

The journey was uneventful, the carriage moving at a moderate pace.

Changxian County lay to the north of Anxi Prefecture, so Lu Jiuzhang traveled south into the city, then took several main roads westward.

The streets were crowded with carriages and pedestrians; a moment’s inattention risked collisions.

Fortunately, the one-armed rogue was a skilled driver, and his fearsome appearance deterred most from causing trouble.

Thus, after about an hour, they arrived before Yingtian Tavern.

At the entrance stood a towering gatehouse three stories high and over thirty feet tall. A plaque bore the four characters “Yingtian Tavern” in bold, elegant brushstrokes, flowing and refined.