Chapter 24: Killing the Demon

Tang Tianqi's malevolent aura grew stronger, blood mist swirling around him. Faint, shrill roars emanated, as if thousands of wronged souls struggled and wailed within.

Shen Bai, having just narrowly escaped, looked grim. He took a longsword from his junior sister, turned to Gu Mo, and cupped his hands. "Brother," he said, "how about we join forces to eliminate this villain?"

Gu Mo nodded slightly. "Precisely what I had in mind," he replied.

Gu Mo was not one to show off. Before Shen Bai arrived, he was the only one capable of fighting, so facing the enemy alone was unavoidable. Now, having an expert like Shen Bai assist him was naturally beneficial, especially since Tang Tianqi was truly formidable at this moment. With nearly a century of cultivation in his Blood Cauldron Inner Energy, coupled with the Impure-Slaying Sword that could cut through metal like mud, his offense and defense were both pushed to an extreme. Martial arts combat wasn't like a video game where you just whittled down health bars. While Gu Mo was very confident in the defensive capabilities of his Nine Yang Divine Skill and the offensive power of his Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, it didn't mean he would become arrogant and believe himself invincible, free to act without restraint.

Tang Tianqi scoffed. "So what if you join forces? Even if ten more of you came, you would all surely die today! You blind fool, you've repeatedly ruined my plans. I'll kill you first!"

Tang Tianqi made the first move, charging directly at Gu Mo.

"Brother, be careful!"

Perhaps accustomed to being a hero, Shen Bai had no habit of hiding behind others. Even though Tang Tianqi was attacking Gu Mo, he rushed forward. His opening move was "White Cloud Clears at Dawn," a top-tier killing blow from the Flowing Cloud Sword Art. His body moved swiftly, his sword rotating with him, like the sudden burst of light as clouds part for the rising sun. The sword's initial momentum was soft and gentle, drifting like a leisurely white cloud, seemingly careless but secretly profound. The sword tip lightly touched, like a wisp of cloud caressing the face, yet in its silence, thunder could be heard, subtly blocking the enemy's retreat.

Tang Tianqi maintained his disdainful expression. His Impure-Slaying Sword suddenly spun, displaying unmatched power, like a furious thunderbolt tearing through the sky. Each swing of the sword produced a tearing sound, like rumbling thunder or the roar of a malevolent spirit, awe-inspiring and deadly, striking fear into the hearts of those who witnessed it.

Shen Bai dared not clash head-on with Tang Tianqi because the Impure-Slaying Sword could cut through metal like mud. He could only constantly evade and attempt risky moves to strike Tang Tianqi's vital points. However, Tang Tianqi's martial cultivation had reached a terrifying level, his swordsmanship was equally potent, his moves ruthless, and with the divine weapon in hand, he completely suppressed Shen Bai.

Thus, when Shen Bai retreated, it directly gave Tang Tianqi an opening. Tang Tianqi swiftly cleaved out with a sword, a massive sword qi pushing Shen Bai back. Immediately afterward, he thrust his sword toward Gu Mo.

"Die, blind fool!"

Tang Tianqi's sword thrust was filled with hatred, stirring up sand and stones, creating a chaotic scene imbued with the aura of death and despair, causing the world to lose its color and all things to tremble.

"Retreat quickly! Don't clash head-on!" Shen Bai urgently warned Gu Mo.

However, Gu Mo did not retreat. He slightly bent his left leg, his right arm bent inwards, and after circling his right palm, he pushed it outwards. The palm wind roared, seemingly accompanied by a dragon's cry. Wherever it passed, sand and stones flew, its power astonishing, like an enraged colossal dragon charging at Tang Tianqi with overwhelming force. At that moment, a dragon's roar erupted in the air. As Gu Mo struck with his palm, his inner energy condensed into a surging dragon. It was the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms: Arrogant Dragon Has Regrets!

A flicker of vigilance appeared in Tang Tianqi's eyes. The momentum of his longsword remained unchanged, erupting with torrents of bloody light as it thrust directly toward the dragon formed by inner energy. Sword qi and palm wind collided. Those nearby felt an overwhelming force rush towards them, their breath catching, and they stumbled backward involuntarily.

Tang Tianqi's longsword actually bent slightly. He immediately channeled his full cultivation, raised his left palm to strike the sword hilt, and then, relying on the Impure-Slaying Sword's sharpness, pierced through the palm wind and thrust towards Gu Mo. But Gu Mo suddenly soared into the air, somersaulting mid-air, head downwards, feet upwards. His arms moved, his wide sleeves fluttering like outstretched dragon wings, as he unleashed "Flying Dragon in the Sky," striking at Tang Tianqi's head.

Tang Tianqi quickly raised his palm overhead, his powerful palm force erupting like a surging mountain flood. His nearly century-old Blood Cauldron Inner Energy was undeniably displayed at this moment, the surging qi causing the surrounding air to hiss as if ignited by its power. Shen Bai seized the opportunity and swiftly thrust his sword.

Seeing this, Tang Tianqi roared, bent his palm, and pushed it back, sending sand and stones flying from the ground, forming a massive vortex. His palm force, as if carrying immense weight, sent Gu Mo flying from above. He then swung his sword at Shen Bai, quickly repelling him with two strikes, before turning to attack Gu Mo again.

At this moment, as Gu Mo landed, he sensed Tang Tianqi charging. He quickly struck with both palms, clashing head-on with Tang Tianqi. He unleashed "Six Dragons Flying Afield," where six dragons emerged simultaneously, their grand and overwhelming momentum covering the sky and earth. It was the most righteous and kingly move of the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms.

Tang Tianqi's sword cut through two of the dragons, but he was still struck by the other four streams of inner energy. He was sent flying backward, spitting blood, and exclaimed with horror, "What kind of martial art is that?"

Shen Bai was also greatly astonished, thinking to himself: "What a powerful palm technique!"

Gu Mo remained silent, launching "Sudden Attack" at Tang Tianqi once more. Its momentum was incredibly swift, catching his opponent off guard, achieving victory through surprise, at extreme speed. Before Tang Tianqi could react, he took the palm strike directly, again sent flying backward.

However, his nearly century-old Blood Cauldron Inner Energy was indeed profound. After taking two consecutive palm strikes from Gu Mo's Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, he was still alive. He knelt on one knee, gripping the Impure-Slaying Sword, his hair disheveled, gazing at Gu Mo with eyes full of unwillingness. He spoke in a deep voice, "Who exactly are you?"

The other people present also looked at Gu Mo with great confusion. At this point, even Tang Tianhao and his son, Tang Buyi, who thought they knew Gu Mo's identity, began to doubt the information they had gathered about him; he was absurdly powerful. Shen Bai and his junior sister, meanwhile, were genuinely curious. All eyes were on Gu Mo.

"Blade-for-Hire, Gu Mo," Gu Mo stated calmly.

"Impossible, impossible!" Tang Tianqi roared. "With your martial arts, how can you be an unknown nobody? Impossible! Who are you, really? Why are you opposing me? Why? What grudge do we have?"

"Apologies," Gu Mo said, "I am truly a Blade-for-Hire. I came to Zhushan County simply to kill the Flying Dragon."

"No... *cough*..." Tang Tianqi spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes bloodshot. Staring fixedly at Gu Mo, he fell to the ground, unwilling to die, his eyes still wide open.

Gu Mo quickly went to detoxify Gu Chudong. Gu Chudong's cultivation wasn't deep, and he hadn't participated in the fight, so his poisoning was mild. With Gu Mo's Nine Yang inner energy, the poison was quickly expelled.

Gu Chudong immediately leaped up, drew his Tang saber, and ran to sever heads. He exclaimed with great delight, "Brother, we're rich! The Flying Dragon's head is worth a fortune, and these other two are worth several hundred taels too! Hahahaha, I'm going to buy a big mansion! Brother, our family is rich!"

Everyone else thought: "He must really be a Blade-for-Hire!"