Translator: AnubisTL
Outside Blackrock City, a man and a tiger vanished in a cloud of dust, their departure as carefree as could be.
After a long while, Tian Long and the others slowly came to their senses, finally processing everything they had just witnessed.
What had they seen? It was simply unbelievable!
Zhao Kou, who had reached the level of an External Strength Martial Artist, had been utterly helpless against Li Qing, like a child facing an adult.
Many hadn't even seen how Li Qing had struck. One moment, Zhao Kou's longsword was in his hand; the next, it was spinning through the air in a perfect parabola, clattering to the ground.
"Could that have been Inner Strength?" Zhao Kou slumped to the ground, his face a mask of disbelief and shock.
Beside him, the longsword was buried halfway in the earth, planted firmly in place.
"Zhao Kou, what happened? Why did you lose so quickly?" someone asked, unable to contain their curiosity.
Zhao Kou shook his head. "I don't know. It was too fast. In an instant, an overwhelming force I couldn't resist surged through the hilt, and the weapon just flew out of my hand."
He pulled the sword from the ground and examined the blade. The next moment, he gasped sharply.
"Hiss!"
On one side of the blade, there was a perfectly clear fingerprint. The impression was so deep that it had completely protruded through to the other side.
And this was far from Li Qing's full power. He had moved with such casual ease, as if eating or drinking water.
Zhao Kou stared intently in the direction Li Qing had disappeared, a surge of impulse rising within him—he wanted to chase after him and beg to become his disciple.
But Li Qing was already far away, nowhere to be seen.
At that moment, Tian Long stepped forward. He too had noticed the mark on the blade and couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! My Brother Li truly has remarkable talent in the Martial Path! No wonder he's so devoted to it."
"Or perhaps it's precisely because of this dedication that he's achieved such heights in the Martial Path."
"Truly admirable!"
The Righteous Gang members present all couldn't help but stand in awe.
In this era where even basic sustenance was scarce, someone had willingly abandoned the readily available fame, fortune, and status to pursue the nearly extinct Martial Path.
Six years had passed since he left, and he had returned as an Inner Strength expert, all in this age of despair.
When he returned again, how much further would he have grown?
A Transformed Strength Grandmaster?
Tian Long didn't dare to imagine any further. In this world of perpetual darkness, achieving the realm of Grandmasters was nothing short of a myth.
If Li Qing had lived during the Sunlight Era, how much more extraordinary would his accomplishments have been?
"Huu!"
Thinking of this, Tian Long exhaled deeply, releasing the shock that had been building in his chest.
Born at the wrong time, a hero's path ends in ruin.
Unfortunately, his own days were numbered. He wouldn't live to witness the heights Li Qing might reach in the future.
"All of you, return now. Remember this: As long as the Righteous Gang exists, Li Qing will forever remain its other Gang Leader!"
Meanwhile, Li Qing had left Blackrock City, heading west. The journey offered no special scenery, only endless darkness.
Once he reached a desolate wilderness, where it was highly unlikely anyone would pass by, Li Qing decided to make a detour to Shengtian.
He carefully concealed his priceless gold, silver, and jewels in the blacksmith shop. Then, assuming several different identities, he purchased a large supply of meat and dried rations.
Afterward, he returned to the World of Eternal Night and continued his journey toward Giant Rock City.
The distance between Blackrock City and Giant Rock City was considerable. Even with Li Qing traveling day and night at full speed, it would take at least two or three days to reach his destination.
But he wasn't in a hurry to travel. He moved slowly and leisurely, as if he were on a leisurely journey.
During this time, he practiced the newly acquired Lightness Technique manual while continuing to cultivate the Golden Body Technique and Turtle Breathing Art.
Based on how many times his stomach growled, Li Qing estimated that the journey had taken him about four or five days.
Finally, illuminated by the crimson moonlight, he could clearly see a grand city wall rising from the horizon.
Scattered across the wall were glowing night mushrooms, each emitting a faint light.
He had arrived at Giant Rock City!
Unlike the chaotic Blackrock City, Giant Rock City was orderly under the rule of the City Lord's Manor.
"Giant Rock City openly boasts two Inner Strength experts. Whether there are other hidden powerhouses remains unknown," Li Qing murmured to himself, gazing at the city before him.
"I should keep a low profile during this trip. My priority is to thoroughly understand the situation within the city."
The Righteous Gang had established a base in Giant Rock City to facilitate trade for merchant caravans. Li Qing's goal in entering the city was to avoid attracting unnecessary attention.
The Red Fish Merchant Guild was openly buying up various Sunlight Era beasts. Bringing Fan Tong into the city so blatantly would surely attract their attention.
Until Li Qing understood whether the City Lord's Manor and the Red Fish Merchant Guild had other hidden experts backing them, he didn't want to draw their attention too early.
Of course, if they were merely Inner Strength Martial Artists, Li Qing was confident he could handle them without fear.
After waiting outside the city for nearly another day, the person Li Qing had been waiting for finally appeared.
On the main road between Blackrock City and Giant Rock City, a merchant caravan bearing the Righteous Gang's emblem came into view.
Recognizing the emblem, Li Qing moved swiftly, appearing before the caravan.
"Brother Li, this grain cart is empty. Have your beast get in here," the contact said, clearly following Tian Long's instructions. The arrangements had been meticulously planned.
Li Qing didn't say much, simply having the reluctant Fan Tong climb into the grain cart and covering it securely.
Li Qing personally pulled the cart carrying the tiger. The several-hundred-pound Fan Tong was no burden at all for him, as effortless as pulling the other carts loaded with Dark Wheat Mushrooms.
The caravan proceeded onward. At the city gate, the guards merely glanced at the caravan's emblem before letting them pass through without delay.
Li Qing noticed something as they entered the city. The merchant caravan had paid the guards at the city gate a dozen or so black, diamond-shaped crystal chips.
Under the cover of the caravan, Li Qing entered Giant Rock City without any trouble.
At first glance, the city was noticeably different from Blackrock City. It was much larger, not just in overall size but also in the scale of its buildings, which were significantly larger than average.
The main roads were exceptionally wide, easily accommodating seven or eight horse-drawn carriages traveling abreast without feeling crowded.
"Brother Li, the Gang Leader sent these for you," the contact said, producing a cloth pouch and handing it directly to Li Qing.
Li Qing accepted the pouch and weighed it in his hand. It felt quite heavy. "What's inside?" he asked casually.
"Money Crystals. They're the currency used for transactions in Giant Rock City. This should be enough to buy two Armored Pigs."
Li Qing nodded slightly, accepting the pouch without hesitation and tucking it into his chest.
"Not bad. What's your name?" Li Qing asked.
The contact had a shrewd, calculating look about him, always squinting as if meticulously weighing every detail.
At Li Qing's question, he immediately replied with a smile, "Brother Li, my name is Miao Qi."
(End of the Chapter)
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