Martial Saint with Passives

Xie Xingwen and Liu Cang rushed through the mountain villa, scanning the area, but they saw no sign of Jiang Che and his party of four.

"That’s strange. Their names are clearly on the roster, so where are they?" Xie Xingwen frowned.

He then found Elder Fang, who was in charge of assigning disciple missions, and put on an anxious, concerned expression. "Elder, have you by any chance seen Junior Sister Tang Qiaoqiao from Yanluo Courtyard? I’ve looked all over for her but can’t find her. I’m quite worried."

The Elder recognized him as the Vice Sect Leader’s son and knew of his pursuit of Tang Qiaoqiao. He smiled and pointed toward the northern periphery of the villa. "Don’t you worry, Nephew Xie. Young Qiaoqiao didn’t come inside. Jiang Che took her and the others to patrol the northern outskirts, supposedly to guard against any stragglers. It’s perfectly safe!"

"Thank you, Elder!" After getting the information, a sharp glint flashed in Xie Xingwen’s eyes. He immediately led Liu Cang north.

The two of them rushed onward and finally spotted Jiang Che, Tang Qiaoqiao, Liu Qing, and Su Wan behind a small knoll north of the villa.

Xie Xingwen and Liu Cang immediately hid behind a tree, observing from a distance.

"Uncle Liu, I’ll leave it to you," Xie Xingwen said, giving Liu Cang a look.

Liu Cang understood. Moving like a phantom, he slipped silently into the dense woods behind the knoll to await Xie Xingwen’s signal.

...

On the knoll, Jiang Che appeared calm, but he was inwardly on high alert for the slightest disturbance.

’He knew full well that Xie Xingwen would never let this opportunity pass.’

Suddenly, his heart lurched!

The All-Seeing Eye activated on its own. A wave of bone-chilling, mortal danger suddenly washed over him from the dense woods behind!

A blurry vision flashed through his mind:

A masked man erupted from the woods, killed him in an instant, and then abducted a terrified Tang Qiaoqiao!

Jiang Che’s heart skipped a beat. ’So, it’s finally happening!’

He made a decision in a flash. ’I can’t wait for him to come to me! I have to take the initiative!’

’But if I fight him here, my secrets will be exposed!’

Jiang Che shot to his feet, clutching his stomach and forcing a pained expression onto his face. "Argh! Can’t hold it, can’t hold it! My stomach is killing me! I need to use the woods for a minute!"

Tang Qiaoqiao, who had been idly plucking blades of grass, pursed her lips in disgust. "How crude! Just go, hurry up!"

"Make sure you all watch over Junior Sister Tang! Don’t wander off!" Jiang Che called out hastily. In a flash, he vanished into the dense woods behind them at incredible speed.

Watching his frantic retreat, Liu Qing and Su Wan couldn’t help but snicker. "How long has Junior Brother Jiang been holding that in?"

...

「Inside the dense woods.」

Guided by his All-Seeing Eye, Jiang Che soon spotted a powerfully built Martial Artist with a black scarf masking his face. The man was hiding behind a large tree, apparently waiting for the right moment to strike.

Seeing Jiang Che walk right toward him, a flicker of clear surprise crossed the man’s eyes.

’How did he come right over? Did he spot me? Is his Perception that sharp?’

Their eyes met, and the air instantly grew thick with tension.

Liu Cang dropped his cover and stepped out slowly. "Sharp instincts, kid," he said in a low voice. "Since you’re in such a hurry to die, I’ll be happy to oblige!"

Jiang Che’s brow furrowed.

’That aura rolling off him is as vast as an ocean...’

’Peak of the Refining Organ Realm!’

He discreetly slipped the Attack Jade Talisman his master, Xu Qingshan, had given him out of his robes and concealed it in his sleeve.

Then, putting on a look of utter terror, he cried out in a choked voice, "P-Peak of the Refining Organ Realm?! I’m done for! I’m a dead man!"

Seeing him pale with fright, Liu Cang sneered. "Scared now? Too late!"

The words were barely out of his mouth when he moved. Like a leopard pouncing on its prey, he lunged forward with ferocious killing intent!

However, in the very instant he moved, he saw the corner of Jiang Che’s mouth—the same Jiang Che who had been paralyzed with terror moments before—curl into a strange smile.

The next moment, Jiang Che flung something at him!

It was a seemingly ordinary, azure Jade Talisman.

Liu Cang thought nothing of it at first, but in the next instant, every hair on his body stood on end!

From that Jade Talisman, he felt a terrifying power, an aura potent enough to shatter the heavens and sunder the earth!

It was the power of a full-force attack from a True Master Realm expert!

"Damn it!" Liu Cang’s pupils contracted. He wanted to dodge, but it was too close, too fast. There was no time for any meaningful reaction!

The azure Jade Talisman erupted mid-air in a blinding flash of light. A terrifying torrent of True Qi, as massive as a mountain, roared forth and instantly engulfed Liu Cang!

"No—" Liu Cang only had time to let out a short, desperate scream. Before that power, his Body-Protecting Qi was as fragile as paper, shattering and dissipating in an instant!

BOOM!

Liu Cang’s body, as if smashed by an invisible giant hammer, was flung violently backward. He snapped two trees in his path before crashing heavily to the ground, rolling a few times, and then lying still.

Jiang Che approached cautiously.

He saw Liu Cang lying there, his chest caved in, countless bones shattered throughout his body. Blood trickled from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. His face was mangled beyond recognition; he was dead.

He looked as if he’d been hit head-on by a stampeding elephant.

’This Jade Talisman from Master... it’s terrifyingly powerful!’ Jiang Che’s heart pounded at the sight, a wave of fear washing over him after the fact.

’An expert at the Peak of the Refining Organ Realm, gone in a single blow!’

He was reminded of the hand grenades from his past life. ’This thing is basically the same!’

In truth, Jiang Che hadn’t wanted to use this Jade Talisman so soon.

But his opponent was simply too strong. Even in his Black Armor Form, he would have been no match.

He’d had no choice but to use it.

’This thing is incredible,’ Jiang Che couldn’t help but think. ’I’ll have to figure out a way to get another one from Master later...’