Chapter 18 Top Martial Artist of the Jianghu, Killed with One Punch!

Xu Yan rode his tall horse out of the city, with two large parcels hanging on the horse's back, containing precious medicinal herbs needed for cultivation and a valuable piece of red-eyed tiger skin.

"The Xu Family fool is off to seek masters again."

"Look at that, he's brought generous gifts to visit the masters."

As Xu Yan passed by on his horse, discussions followed.

The rich fool is off to seek masters again.

In no time at all, it had become a hot topic among the Prefecture City citizens, a subject they delighted in discussing.

Xu Yan was indifferent to these comments, proud in his heart.

A bunch of frogs at the bottom of the well, how could they grasp the vastness of the Domain!

After leaving the city, Xu Yan immediately noticed that his family's Protectors were secretly following, obviously his parents were worried about his safety outside and had the Protectors guard him covertly.

These Protectors were too weak, with his strength, if he did encounter danger, the Protectors wouldn't be able to save anyone; they'd probably be killed instantly.

Ten miles away from the city, Xu Yan spurred his horse and quickly entered a forest, used a little trick, and easily shook off the Protectors from his home.

Once he was sure he wasn't being followed, Xu Yan returned to the small mountain village.

His master disliked disturbances, so he couldn't let anyone know the whereabouts of his master's secluded retreat, lest it disturb his master's peace.

The small town outside the mountain village was in sight, and Xu Yan planned to rest a bit there before heading into the mountains to go to the village.

Suddenly.

A figure rushed from behind, leaped up, and landed steadily in front of the horse, blocking the way.

Xu Yan frowned at the sight, judging from the swift skills, the pursuer was already a top-notch martial artist in the martial world, and it looked like his intentions were hostile.

"Heh heh, Xu Family kid, I've finally found you. No need for small talk, drop the medicinal herbs, and I'll spare your life!"

The road blocker, a man in his forties with unusually long and thick limbs compared to a regular person, yet his torso seemed small, making his overall appearance disproportionate, tall and thin.

Looking down from his horse, Xu Yan's eyes showed contempt, "You think you can?"

"Seeking death!"

A cold light flashed in the eyes of the tall, thin man as he leapt up and struck towards Xu Yan's face with a palm.

Seated on his horse, Xu Yan didn't even frown, sensing the strength of the opponent's palm, he didn't take it seriously at all.

Martial Artists of Qi Country, although they could break stones and were impressive to ordinary people, for Xu Yan, who had experienced the true Martial Arts, all of this was nothing more than mundane martial skills.

Very limited in scope, and weak in destructive power.

Although he hadn't yet entered the gate of Martial Arts, he had already refined his bones five times, not far from tempering real golden bones.

His vitality was so strong, how could it be compared with mere first-rate martial artists?

Even if he stood still and let the opponent chop and slash with an axe, Xu Yan was confident he wouldn't get hurt.

Facing the tall, thin man's palm, Xu Yan shouted coldly, "Scram!"

He threw out a punch with his hand.

Clashing with the man's palm.

The tall, thin man's eyes showed a sinister light, convinced his vicious palm strike would break the arm of the Xu Family brat, and with a subsequent strike, he could take his life.

The medicinal herbs would be his!

This was a valuable medicine, which could be exchanged for a large sum of money.

Boom!

However, at the collision of fist and palm, the tall, thin man's complexion changed drastically; his palm was like paper, instantly collapsing, and a powerful force shattered his arm.

The punch continued and hit the tall, thin man squarely in the chest.

Boom!

The tall, thin man flew backward, his chest caved in, bones shattered, internal organs turned to mush, dead on the spot.

Having killed a first-rate martial artist of the jianghu with one punch, Xu Yan's face showed excitement.

Too weak!

Just like a locust, dead with one punch.

And he hadn't even exerted much strength.

"This is the true Martial Arts!"

Xu Yan's eyes blazed with an unparalleled fervor. His golden bones had not yet formed, and he had yet to step into martial arts. Yet, against him, a first-rate expert was as fragile as paper mache; the difference was as vast as the sky and the earth.

"If I enter the world of martial arts, invincibility in Qi Country will be mine, and facing ten thousand troops alone will be a trifling matter!"

"Even an emperor, lofty and eminent, will count for nothing!"

At this moment, Xu Yan was boiling with excitement, his eyes aflame with passion, his heart set even more firmly on cultivating.

"I must enter the gates of martial arts within a year, truly become Master's disciple, and cultivate the supreme martial arts!"

After killing an obstructing first-rate expert with a single punch, Xu Yan continued on his way.

"I mustn't reveal my tracks; I can't ride this horse—it'll make it too easy to track me."

Musing to himself, Xu Yan dismounted.

Glancing at the nearby forest, he paused to think and then had an idea.

He immediately bent down and hoisted the horse onto his shoulders.

Horse: ???

Carrying the horse, Xu Yan strode into the forest. He detoured to erase his tracks along the way before heading to the small mountain village to avoid being tracked.

It wasn't until he passed through the sinister forest that he set the horse down and mounted it again, hurrying toward the small mountain village.

...

Xu Yan finally returned, bringing a large bundle of medicinal herbs with him.

What pleased Li Xuan even more was the enormous tiger skin.

Given its distinctive pattern, Li Xuan could almost be certain that this was the notorious tiger from the sinister forest!

The threat of the sinister forest was finally gone, and he had avenged the villagers who died tragically.

"Master, I killed this red-eyed tiger in the sinister forest without causing a big commotion,"

Xu Yan respectfully reported.

"Good! Good! Well done!"

Li Xuan was pleased and praised Xu Yan for his successful journey.

"Master is finally satisfied with my performance. Now that I have undergone bone transformation five times, the formation of my golden bones isn't far off. Master must think my Bone Refinement speed is pretty good as well."

Xu Yan was overjoyed by the praise.

"It's all thanks to Master's excellent teaching!"

Li Xuan held the tiger skin, growing fonder of it the more he looked. This tiger skin was valuable and would make a great family heirloom!

This silly disciple proved to be quite reliable.

Thinking this, Li Xuan spoke encouragingly, "Keep cultivating, keep understanding, and you will achieve something great."

"Yes, Master. Your disciple will not disappoint you!"

Xu Yan was thrilled.

Seeing his excitement, Li Xuan couldn't help but sigh inwardly—how easily his naive disciple got excited. A little encouragement and he was as invigorated as if he had been injected with chicken blood.

"That's good, I believe in you!"

Li Xuan nodded, then added, "The weeds in the vegetable garden have grown up again; go and take care of them."

The silly disciple was back, and with him, the time had come to clear the weeds that had accumulated in the vegetable garden.

He could live a carefree life once someone was attending to it again.

"Ah?"

Xu Yan was taken aback—just back, and he was supposed to weed?

With a stern face, Li Xuan said, "I observe restlessness in you. Tending the garden will calm your mind, which is beneficial for enlightenment and cultivation."

"Yes, Master. Your disciple understands."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yan suddenly realized. He felt somewhat ashamed, "Master always teaches us to be calm and composed, free from arrogance and impetuosity. After killing a first-rate expert with one punch, my mind has indeed grown agitated.

"This truly is unbecoming!

"Master's wisdom is profound; you saw through my agitated state with just a glance and sent me to weed the garden to quiet my mind and settle down so that I can refine my bones more effectively."

Just back, and Xu Yan was sent off to deal with the weeds—Li Xuan sighed wistfully, his silly disciple was too easy to fool.

ps: Seeking readers and everything in between ^_^