Chapter 182: Chapter 173: Third Grade Arrives to Kill

In a certain place in the west of Jiangzhou City, the Xiaoshui Sect’s base was located.

In a garden, a middle-aged woman was earnestly speaking, "Qianqian, the Huang Family is a well-known family in Jiangzhou City, and Huang Family’s second son is the legitimate offspring of the family, exceptionally talented, and he has great potential to reach Third Grade. Calling him a young talent is not an exaggeration. Since he likes you, such a heaven-sent marriage, you must not be confused."

Huo Qianqian lowered her head, quietly listening, and after she finished speaking, she calmly said, "Aunt Ye, no need to say more, my mind is made up. I wish to dedicate my life to martial arts and never marry."

The middle-aged woman was infuriated, "Why are you so stubborn, child?"

"Aunt Ye, if there’s nothing else, I’ll go back to practice swordsmanship."

Huo Qianqian bowed and took her leave.

Although the middle-aged woman was angry, there was nothing she could do.

Xiaoshui Sect had its own rules, those willing to marry, the sect would help them find a suitable husband. Those unwilling to marry could stay in the sect and the elders should not force them.

However, generally speaking, those unwilling to marry are often the plain-looking female disciples. Disciples like Huo Qianqian, who are exceptionally beautiful, but unwilling to marry, are in the minority.

...

Huo Qianqian came out of Aunt Ye’s courtyard and walked straight to her own small courtyard. Passing through a moon gate, she suddenly heard someone discussing her.

"Have you heard? That Huang Family’s second son went directly to Aunt Ye to propose marriage. He wants to marry Junior Sister Huo. This is the second proposal she’s received this month."

"Being beautiful is really good. The Huang Family is a noble family with hundreds of years of heritage, and Huang Erlang is a handsome and talented person..."

"But I heard that Junior Sister Huo rejected this marriage."

"Ah? Why? Even Huang Erlang couldn’t make the cut?"

"What do you know, do you really think marrying into a noble family is a good thing? Have you looked at the few Aunties and Senior Sisters who married into noble families, have their faces ever had a smile? Junior Sister Huo is now favored by the elders. Haven’t you seen even the strict Aunt Ye treat her with care? If I were her, I wouldn’t marry either."

Huo Qianqian felt somewhat embarrassed upon hearing this and was about to quietly leave when she heard an unhappy cold snort.

"Hmph! She only relies on having a Senior Brother ranked sixth on the Cyan Cloud Ranking. The few aunties look at her with favor because of that surnamed Chen."

The voice was recognizable as Junior Sister Sun, who had the latest entry, and ever since visiting Feng Mansion and meeting Chen Ming, she had been critical of Huo Qianqian.

Another female disciple who was on good terms with Huo Qianqian said, "So what, having such a Senior Brother, it’s enviable."

Junior Sister Sun loudly declared, "Wait and see, that Chen Ming is about to die soon. Then let’s see if the aunties will still take her seriously."

Huo Qianqian, having walked some distance away, suddenly stopped upon hearing this sentence. She quickly turned around and quietly ran back to her original spot, eavesdropping attentively.

The previous female disciple scoffed, "Senior Brother Chen is ranked sixth on the Cyan Cloud Ranking, is he the kind of person anyone can kill?"

Junior Sister Sun sharply said, "If a Third Grade expert makes a move, he will die without a doubt."

The courtyard suddenly became deathly silent.

"Junior Sister Sun, stop speaking nonsense. Which Third Grade expert would lower themselves to attack a Fifth Grade martial artist?"

"Am I speaking nonsense? Do you know who he offended? The Third Young Master of the Qin Family, ranked third on the Cyan Cloud Ranking. He’s already put out word that Chen Ming must die!"

"Junior Sister Sun should be cautious, spreading such baseless rumors, don’t spread them everywhere. Qin Family shouldn’t stoop to such bullying tactics."

"Just because the Qin Family won’t doesn’t mean others won’t."

"In the end, you’re merely guessing. Is this kind of baseless matter worth discussing?"

Junior Sister Sun got agitated and blurted out, "I heard it with my own ears, could it be false?" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

After blurting out, she seemed to realize her indiscretion, and no matter how much the senior sisters asked, she refused to say another word.

...

Huo Qianqian quietly slipped out, clearly breaking sect rules, Xiaoshui Sect was strict with disciples going out, requiring accompaniment by elders.

But she couldn’t wait any longer.

Junior Sister Sun’s words made her break out in cold sweat.

Though Junior Sister Sun was spoiled, she wasn’t someone who fabricated lies. Her confident words were likely true.

Huo Qianqian carefully recalled that Junior Sister Sun had stayed at her aunt’s house for a day two days ago.

Her uncle was part of Six Gates, reportedly with Fourth Grade cultivation, and her uncle’s father even stronger, a Third Grade expert, who she often boasted about.

Just now, she said she heard it personally, likely about this Third Grade expert.

"Three Saints Rod!"

Huo Qianqian recalled the nickname of this Third Grade expert. It was said he once specialized in capturing wanted criminals, extremely powerful.

Over twenty years ago, he had captured the wife and daughter of the Pirate King, reaping huge merit, and exchanged it from Six Gates for a top-notch Cultivation Technique, then successfully breaking through to Third Grade.

Huo Qianqian had heard all this from Junior Sister Sun.

When she arrived at Feng Siyuan’s house, it was already dark.

After explaining her purpose, she quickly met Feng Siyuan, "Mr. Feng, do you know where Senior Brother Chen is now? I have very urgent matters to discuss with him."

Feng Siyuan recognized her, "You are Huo Chengkun’s granddaughter?"

"It’s me. It’s extremely urgent, please inform me."

"How about this, I’ll have someone send you there."

Feng Siyuan knew where Chen Ming lived and had tried visiting him, only to find this rascal refused to see him. After two unsuccessful attempts, he stopped going.

"Thank you, Mr. Feng."

...

It took nearly an hour by carriage for Huo Qianqian to finally reach the place where Chen Ming was currently residing. It was an inconspicuous small courtyard, with a narrow alley that the carriage couldn’t enter.

She knocked on the door and was greeted by a fair-skinned, beautiful young lady, gracefully dressed as a maid.

"Miss, who are you looking for?"

"My name is Huo Qianqian, and I am looking for Chen Ming, Senior Brother Chen."

"So it’s Miss Huo. Please come in." The young girl led her inside. "Young master, Miss Huo is here."

"Miss Huo?"

Chen Ming walked out of the room and, upon seeing her, smiled, "So it’s my Junior Sister, come in. Why so late?"

"I have an urgent matter to discuss with you."

"Have a cup of water first, then we can talk."

Huo Qianqian, ignoring the presence of the young girl, said solemnly, "Senior Brother, a Third Grade formidable fighter is after your life!"

Chen Ming was taken aback, suddenly feeling the "Mingfeng Sword" at his side buzz with a piercing call.

It was a warning!

At the same time, a great sense of crisis arose in his heart, a chill penetrating his bones.

Without thinking, he simultaneously pushed Huo Qianqian and Qiuxiang away, causing them to fly off. Then, his figure vanished from the spot.

Huo Qianqian and Qiuxiang were involuntarily hurled over the wall, landing in the small courtyard next door.

"Trying to escape?"

Suddenly, a roaring explosion reverberated in the ears of the two women, their vision went black; they nearly fainted.

Huo Qianqian bit her tongue hard, regaining her senses through the intense pain, just as she was about to leap over the wall, a sound like a drumbeat struck her heart so forcefully, she almost vomited blood.

At the same time, a dazzling sword light illuminated the sky.

She looked up to see a figure in white clothes flying towards them, her garments fluttering like a celestial maiden descending to earth.

For a moment, she was utterly captivated.

"Celestial Dao Alliance?"

A hoarse voice rang out, with a tone bearing a hint of gravity.

It was a disciple of the Celestial Dao Alliance.

Huo Qianqian suddenly understood, no wonder she had such an unparalleled demeanor.

The woman in white stood her ground, blocking the man in black, her voice chill, "You cannot kill him."

The man in black had a burly figure, standing with hands behind his back, "You can’t stop me."

After saying this, with a boom, he shot forth like a cannonball, bypassing the woman in white, chasing after Chen Ming, whose whereabouts were unknown.

The woman in white also pursued.

In a blink, the three disappeared without a trace.

"Will he be alright?"

Huo Qianqian asked herself.

But she received no response. Turning her head, she saw the young girl lying unconscious on the ground.

At this moment, the sound of footsteps came from behind.

Huo Qianqian turned her head and saw an old man walking out from the house. She quickly said, "Sorry, we intruded on your place, we’ll leave immediately."

She picked up the young girl, ready to jump back over the wall.

"Her injury is severe, she shouldn’t be jolted."

"Are you a doctor, senior? Can you help me look at her injury?"

"Bring her inside."

...

On the other side, the chase continued outside the city.

Once outside, the man in black suddenly accelerated, "Boy, you cannot escape!"

Rapidly closing the distance.

He hadn’t accelerated earlier not due to a lack of speed, but because he found the target slippery and was obstructed by a Celestial Dao Alliance disciple. He didn’t want to act inside the city and cause too much destruction, attracting the powerful figures of the Celestial Dao Alliance.

Only after leaving the city did he speed up, and getting within thirty yards, he punched through the air.

The boy seemed to have eyes on his back, twisted his body, narrowly dodging the Fist Gang.

With a booming sound.

The Fist Gang penetrated a large tree, its force driving into the hillside. The ground shook slightly.

The strength was somewhat terrifying.

Third Grade is the True Gang Realm; its Gang Qi transformed into True Gang, truly indestructible, capable of melting gold and smelting iron with unbelievable power. Ordinary steel, in the face of a Third Grade’s True Gang, feels like paper, pierced easily.

It’s not an exaggeration; no matter how many Fourth Grade martial artists there are, they aren’t enough to match a Third Grade.

From Fourth Grade to Third Grade is a massive chasm.

Fourth Grade is at most called a master, while Third Grade is a genuinely formidable power. Their status is worlds apart.

Chen Ming could surpass levels to defeat Fourth Grade martial artists, but against a Third Grade, he couldn’t even escape, let alone fight back.

"It seems it’s still no good."

Seeing the man in black getting closer, he prepared to enhance his effort.

Suddenly, an unusual energy burst forth.

This is—

He was astonished, glanced back, saw the man in black hesitate, out of the corner of his eye, a figure in white soared into the air, garments fluttering without wind.

"I said, you—can—not—kill—him!"