Chapter 10: Three Steps of the Tang Sect

"Lei Wuji was greatly surprised: 'It's you!'" 

"'They are indeed still here.' A white-haired figure landed next to the person in purple." 

"'Tang Lian and that kid from the Lei family both took a hit from me. Without three hours of recovery, they won't be able to leave.' The purple-clad figure scanned the room, finally resting their gaze on the unconscious Wuxin lying on the long bench. 'Is it him?'" 

"The moment the words were spoken, the person in purple leaped up and dashed towards Wuxin. But someone was faster than him, instantly appearing in front of Wuxin and throwing a punch at the person in purple. It was Wuchan!" 

"'Underestimate your own abilities.' The purple-clad person sneered, retaliating with a palm strike." 

"'Be careful of his palm strength!' Lei Wuji hurriedly warned. Having exchanged blows with the purple-clad person before, he knew the terrifying power of his palms. However, even after their exchange, Wuchan still stood firm, while the purple-clad person retreated three steps in haste." 

"'Is this the Vajra Demon Subduing Technique?' The white-haired person frowned slightly, looking at Wuchan, who exuded an aura devoid of evil, with a face as resolute as a vajra. 'It seems he has reached the eighth level of power.'" 

"'The primary martial arts of the Buddhist sect?' Despite being forced back three steps by a punch, the purple-clad person remained composed. 'I underestimated this monk.'" 

"'Be careful.' The white-haired person reminded in a low voice." 

"The purple-clad person smiled, 'I have met Master Dajue of the Nine Dragon Monastery several times. Are you his disciple?'" 

"'I have been studying martial arts under Master Dajue for twelve years, but I have only learned martial skills and have not comprehended the Buddhist way. I dare not claim to be his disciple.' Wuchan threw a heavy punch. 'Please teach me, benefactor.'" 

"'Very well.' The purple-clad person took out a folding fan from his bosom and leisurely fanned himself. 'Rather than teach you, I'll just let you leave your life here.'" 

"'Purple Cloth, don't linger in battle. Take the person away first.' The white-haired person held a jade sword in his hand, coldly staring at the unconscious Wuxin lying on the bench." 

"'You are too softhearted. Isn't it better to kill them all? Otherwise, even if you take the person, they will come after you.' The purple-clad person glanced at Lei Wuji. 'Kid, I spared you just now because of Lei Hong. But you overestimate yourselves. Don't blame me.'" 

"'You!' Lei Wuji tried to muster his energy, but blood surged in his chest, almost causing him to faint." 

"'It's useless.' Xiaose shook his head. 'You took his palm. If no one helps you recover, you won't be able to use your true qi for ten days.'" 

"'You are quite knowledgeable. Who are you...?' The purple-clad person looked curiously at Xiaose and lightly fanned his folding fan." 

"'Purple Cloth! Enough talking!' The white-haired person roared angrily, his figure flashing past everyone and heading straight for Wuxin. At his roar, Tang Lian and Lei Wuji couldn't help but spit out blood and fell to the ground. Xiaose and Tiannü Rui instinctively covered their ears, but one person was completely unaffected—Wuchan! At the moment the white-haired man stood up, Wuchan also moved immediately!" 

"'Stop him.' The white-haired person's gaze was stern, his momentum unabated." 

"The purple-clad person fiercely swung the folding fan in his hand towards Wuchan. Not daring to linger in battle, Wuchan activated the Vajra Demon Subduing Technique and instantly threw three punches. However, when the purple-clad person's paper fan clashed with Wuchan's fists, there was no sign of giving way. Just now, Wuchan had pushed the purple-clad person back three steps with one punch, and he now understood the opponent's strength somewhat. But now, with three punches thrown, he felt as if his fist strength was dissipating into nothingness, which surprised him greatly. The purple-clad person sneered, 'I'll give it back to you.' He suddenly opened his folding fan, and Wuchan felt a surge of internal force rushing towards him uncontrollably, causing him to retreat three steps." 

"The purple-clad person had just retreated three steps, and now Wuchan was also forced back three steps!" 

"On the other side, the white-haired person had long since stood in front of Wuxin. He looked at Wuxin's brows and eyes, whispering softly, 'So alike.' He reached out to touch Wuxin's shoulder, but suddenly retracted his hand. He saw an extremely thin and small needle pass by, its tip shimmering faintly purple, obviously coated with potent poison." 

"'Dragon Whisker Needle.' The white-haired person frowned slightly, turning to look at Tang Lian lying on the ground. 'I didn't expect you to have such skills despite suffering such serious injuries. Among this generation of Tang Sect, can you rank in the top three?'" 

"Tang Lian did not answer him, only sneered coldly, 'Have you ever heard of a saying?'" 

"'Oh? What saying?' The white-haired person smiled faintly, but tightly gripped his jade sword. His robe fluttered without wind, evidently having activated his true qi and ready to strike at any moment." 

"Three steps of the Tang Sect, one step to the King of Hell. You are too close to me!" Tang Lian suddenly leaped up and spat out a mouthful of blood towards the white-haired man. The Tang Sect, renowned as the master of hidden weapons, was unparalleled in poison. Would a drop of that blood cost a life? The white-haired man dared not gamble, so he hastily retreated. He understood that when a member of the Tang Sect mastered the art of hidden weapons to its pinnacle, he himself would become a target! 

His speed was extremely fast, already evading the mouthful of blood. However, within that blood, another object flew out—a small leaf stained with blood red. 

"Frost Leaf Red!" The white-haired man was greatly alarmed. He swiftly tilted his body, narrowly avoiding the Frost Leaf Red as it grazed past his chest, almost hitting him. Yet in that moment, the white-haired man lost his balance and staggered to one side. 

"Rui!" Tang Lian called out urgently. 

In an instant, Tiannü Rui's sleeves gleamed with cold light, and two knives had already struck towards the white-haired man's chest. Tang Lian used three hidden weapons to set up a fatal trap for Tiannü Rui. With the knives just an inch further, they could have ended the white-haired man's life. But... 

"Your knives are too slow!" The white-haired man planted his sword in the ground, then charged forward, hands clenched, actually grabbing hold of Tiannü Rui's two short knives. The knives shattered into pieces in an instant, and Tiannü Rui hastily withdrew her knives and retreated back to Tang Lian's side, panting heavily. 

"I'm sorry, Lian. I missed the chance," Tiannü Rui sighed. 

"It's not your fault. He's just too strong," Tang Lian shook his head. "Even if I wasn't injured, I wouldn't be his match." 

"Tang Sect's Tang Lian, you are stronger than I imagined," the white-haired man pulled out his sword, his expression icy. 

"This look in his eyes... he really intends to kill," Xiaose sighed. He was the only one present who hadn't acted, yet he could speak with such detachment. 

Tiannü Rui glanced at Tang Lian and shook her head helplessly. Tang Lian, who could hardly stand, had no strength left to use hidden weapons again. Meanwhile, Wuchan and the purple-clad person had clashed several times, but Wuchan had no chance to push back the small paper fan, and the purple-clad person clearly had the upper hand. 

"And then there's me!" Lei Wuji finally couldn't hold back, but as soon as he tried to gather his energy, Xiaose pressed his shoulder. Xiaose rarely spoke with such seriousness, and he whispered, "If you don't want to become useless in the future, don't try to show off." 

The white-haired man advanced step by step with his sword. He had just underestimated the heavily injured Tang Lian, and this time, he wouldn't make the same mistake again. "Three steps of the Tang Sect, one step to the King of Hell." If someone truly stepped within the three steps of a Tang Sect master, death was indeed close at hand. Even a dying Tang Sect master couldn't afford to be careless. 

Tang Lian could only smile bitterly. However, at this moment, he suddenly heard a strange voice—a youthful voice with a hint of amusement. "Hey, can you still stand up?" 

Tang Lian was startled, turning his head to look at those around him, but no one reacted, as if they hadn't heard the voice at all. 

"Hey, stop looking around. Only you can hear me. If you have any strength left, come stand in front of me." 

Tang Lian looked at Wuxin, who was lying on the long bench. He saw a faint smile on Wuxin's lips and suddenly understood. 

"What are you looking at? If you keep looking, this old man with white hair will take me away! Hurry up and stand in front of me." 

Although Tang Lian was puzzled, he had no other choice. He exhausted all his strength to stand up and laboriously moved to stand in front of Wuxin. 

"Lian!" Tiannü Rui hurried over to support him. 

The white-haired man halted his steps, frowning slightly. "Tang Lian, I didn't want to kill you. Why force me?" 

Tang Lian was about to speak, but he found that his last bit of true qi had dissipated. His whole body was about to kneel down, yet suddenly he felt a hand pressed against his back. A strong true qi transmitted from that hand into his body, and he felt an indescribable warmth and comfort. The excruciating pain that had almost torn his body apart was recovering at an astonishing speed. 

"How many hidden weapons do you have? Bone-piercing nails? Iron caltrops? Dragon whisker needles? You only have one chance. Release them all! The technique of ten thousand trees scattering flowers, not every member of the Tang Sect can master it, but you are Tang Lian, so you can do it." 

"Enough," the white-haired man sighed when Tang Lian stubbornly refused to step aside. He swung his long sword, light flashing from the blade. Some strikes were fierce, others graceful, but the white-haired man's sword... was beautiful. 

Like a night of heavy snow followed by a blossoming pear tree that instantly withered—a breathtakingly beautiful sword, yet also a deadly one! 

"Now!" That voice gave Tang Lian the final command. 

Ten Thousand Trees Scattering Flowers! The Tang Sect's top hidden weapon technique. Even Tang Lian hadn't fully mastered it, but facing imminent death, he executed Ten Thousand Trees Scattering Flowers to its peak for the first time. He threw almost all the hidden weapons in his hands, and they bloomed in the air like flowers, pouring down towards the white-haired man and the purple-clad person! 

"How is this possible!" The white-haired man and the purple-clad person exclaimed simultaneously. Their jade swords and paper fans danced wildly, and one after another, the hidden weapons fell to the ground, forcing them to retreat outside the room. 

"You didn't disappoint me, but this level won't kill them," the voice still carried a smile. However, Tang Lian felt the hand on his back withdraw, and the warm internal force gradually dissipated within his body. His head spun, and he fainted. 

"Lian!" Tiannü Rui hurried over to support him. 

At this moment, Wuxin stood up. He opened his eyes, his white robe fluttering, and smiled, "Having witnessed this scene of Ten Thousand Trees Scattering Flowers, it was worth pretending to sleep." 

"Younger brother!" Wuchan angrily shouted. 

"Hello, senior brother." Wuxin raised an eyebrow slightly, his gaze sweeping rapidly across the scene. He glanced at Xiaose and Lei Wuji standing in the corner, smiled faintly, and flew over to them. He grabbed one person's shoulder, "These two look like good people. I want to go somewhere. Would you two gentlemen be willing to accompany me?" 

"W-where...?" Lei Wuji hadn't yet reacted to the sudden turn of events. 

"No," Xiaose replied coldly and decisively. 

The white-haired man and the purple-clad person had already stepped back into the room. Wuxin smiled, "Saying one thing and meaning another." With that, he grabbed one in each hand, kicked open the window, and flew out. 

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