Chapter 126: Chapter 124: An Unexpected Will

Qin Li could feel the ferocious killing intent from far away. ’This man,’ he thought, ’is a true Martial Artist!’

Qin Li could sense that this killing intent was exceptionally pure, untainted by other thoughts. He knew that Leng Ping couldn’t possibly be unaware that the Crown Prince had abandoned him. Yet, to be able to maintain such pure killing intent right before battle meant one thing at least: this man was a Martial Artist first and foremost, and everything else second.

The Innate Purple Qi was incredibly sensitive to all sorts of emotions and fluctuations in Primordial Power. Qin Li himself was already at the Celestial Level, but his Divine Sense was likely stronger than even that of an expert in the Celestial Shattering Realm.

Seeing the situation, the leaders of Cyan Dragon City’s various gangs quickly scattered to the sides. The members of the Daqing Gang also backed far away, leaving a large open space for the two men.

The Daqing Gang’s headquarters was surrounded by a vast stretch of barren land. Aside from the single road leading to it, the area was utterly desolate.

"Qin Li, between you and me, today is a battle to the death!" Leng Ping slowly drew the Flame Sword from its sheath. The blade, forged from some unknown material, was a fiery red, like a burning flame. The surrounding temperature rose slightly as the sword was revealed.

Qin Li smiled faintly and said calmly, "However, you will be the one to die."

"Haha, it’s not yet certain who will die!" Leng Ping laughed, then suddenly added, "But before we fight, I have something to say!"

Qin Li nodded. "I’ll give you time for your last words."

Leng Ping paid him no mind and declared loudly, "Today, in front of all the major gangs of Cyan Dragon City, I, Leng Ping, am here to settle a personal grudge with Marquis Qin!"

A personal grudge?

Right away, some people felt that something was off. ’Wasn’t this a feud between the Daqing Gang and Marquis Qin? How did it suddenly become a personal grudge?’

Many people stared at Leng Ping, their faces a mixture of expressions as they looked upon the king of Cyan Dragon City’s underworld.

"I know you might be confused by what I’m saying, but that’s alright! You don’t need to understand. You only need to bear witness. I, Leng Ping, have lived my life in an open and honorable fashion. Though I am a man of the underworld, I have never bullied others or oppressed the common folk! Therefore, I am a man of my word! The feud between Marquis Qin and myself began because of me. I was foolishly tricked by a villain’s scheme and sent my brother to ambush and kill Marquis Qin, only for him to be killed by the Marquis instead. Such are the grudges of the Martial World, and I, Leng Ping, will take responsibility for my own actions! No one else needs to bear this burden for me, and it has nothing to do with the Daqing Gang! Tonight, I am here to avenge my brother, Lightning Saber Sun Liu. If I am fortunate enough to kill the Marquis, I will give him a grand burial! The Marquis’s family will hereafter be treated as Tributors of the Daqing Gang!"

Leng Ping’s words left many people confused. Everyone understood the principle of cutting the weeds and pulling the roots, yet Leng Ping had twisted this into a matter of a grudge within the Martial World. ’What on earth is he trying to do?’

Some of the men sent by the Crown Prince, who were mixed in with the Cyan Dragon City gangs, also stared at Leng Ping in confusion.

But then, a sneer crept across Leng Ping’s lips as he continued, "If... I, Leng Ping, am unfortunate enough to die in this battle! Then... first, I hope that the magnanimous Marquis will not hold my wife and children responsible. They, in turn, will be forbidden from ever seeking revenge against the Marquis. Should they break this vow, may they die with a thousand arrows through their hearts! Second, if I die in battle..."

An extremely bizarre smile suddenly appeared on Leng Ping’s face. "The Daqing Gang... from this day forward... will obey the orders of Marquis Qin!"

BOOM!

The announcement hit the crowd like a bombshell.

Everyone, including Qin Li, stood as if petrified, their faces masks of shock and disbelief. They all wondered if they had heard him correctly.

He... he was actually planning to give such a massive gang... to his enemy?

’Heavens, is there something wrong with his brain? Has he gone mad?’

At that moment, Leng Ping threw his head back and roared with laughter. He turned his head and shouted toward the mourning hall behind him, "Brothers! Will you obey my orders?"

"We will!"

More than two thousand elite warriors of the Daqing Gang roared their reply in unison, though many of their voices were choked with tears.

These were the truly loyal men Leng Ping had gathered over so many years!

’Originally, there was also Lightning Saber Sun Liu and the forty-five brothers from the Battle Blade Hall,’ he thought. ’But I took one wrong step and made them go on ahead of me. If I die, I will join you today! If Marquis Qin dies, your great vengeance will be achieved, and you can all rest in peace!’ 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

’So, brothers, don’t be afraid. You are not alone!’

Leng Ping then called out calmly toward the mourning hall again, "You all understand, don’t you?"

After a long moment, a few sighs drifted out from the mourning hall, followed by a somewhat aged voice. "Dragon Head, why be so pessimistic? It is not yet certain who will win or lose..."

"I will ask you only one thing: if I die in battle, what will you do?" Leng Ping demanded harshly.

"We will naturally follow the Dragon Head’s will!" the men inside replied in unison without any hesitation, deliberately avoiding the two inauspicious words "last will."

Upon hearing Leng Ping’s declaration, the faces of some men in the crowd changed drastically. They pushed their way out of the throng and fled in a panic.

Leng Ping saw this and threw his head back, laughing. "Hahaha! The proudest achievement of my entire life was becoming brothers with all of you! Even if I die now, it was all worth it!"

As Leng Ping’s heroic words echoed, his aura instantly surged to its peak. He poured Primordial Power into his Flame Sword, causing it to erupt in blazing flames. With a flick of the blade, he shot up from the ground like a great bird, pouncing toward Qin Li. A fiery red streak of Sword Qi slashed down at him!

Qin Li flicked the Refined Treasure Sword in his hand toward Leng Ping, sending its scabbard shooting forward like an arrow loosed from a bow. At the same time, he swung his now-drawn sword, unleashing a transparent Water Dragon!

Water and fire do not mix. With a loud BANG, the air itself seemed to distort as a powerful shockwave rippled out in all directions.

At the same time, Leng Ping’s Flame Sword struck down the scabbard Qin Li had shot at him. Then, with a whistle of air, he landed gracefully and engaged Qin Li in battle!

Although Qin Li knew that Leng Ping’s declaration—that the Daqing Gang would belong to him after Leng Ping’s death—was not necessarily born of goodwill, he couldn’t help but feel a sliver of admiration for the man. If for no other reason, it was because the words he spoke today were so much like the Qin Li of his past life.

A true man should be ruthless, yet also clear about his debts and grudges!

Qin Li knew the Crown Prince was the one pulling the strings behind the Daqing Gang, so he understood Leng Ping’s motive. He didn’t want the gang to fall into the Crown Prince’s hands after his death. By giving it to Qin Li, his goal was to make him fight and contend with the Crown Prince.

And as it happened, Qin Li couldn’t refuse.

Never mind that he already had a feud with the Crown Prince. Even if he didn’t, Qin Li had a pretty good idea of the massive profits such a huge gang could generate each year.

Why did those powerful and mysterious hidden families, those secluded Sects, support their own factions to rule a country? Wasn’t it all for the sake of these astonishing benefits?

Money might be useless to a true cultivator, but rare treasures and various Refining Materials were absolutely impossible to obtain without it!

It was just like Qin Li’s Ancient Pill Formula Secret Manual. Its value was immeasurable. Any single Elixir within it would be coveted not just by the secular world, but even by those reclusive grandmasters!

But the irony was, Qin Li and the others couldn’t afford to concoct a single one! All because... they lacked the financial resources!

So, even if Leng Ping hadn’t tried to divert disaster his way by pushing the Daqing Gang into his hands, Qin Li would never have let go of a juicy prize like this anyway!

’I’ll fight anyone who dares try to take it from me!’

If it weren’t a life-or-death feud, Qin Li truly wouldn’t want to kill this brave, resourceful, and responsible man. Honestly, Leng Ping’s strength was impressive. Earth Level, Tier Eight—he was certainly no slouch.

He wielded his Fiery Flame Sword Combat Skill with supernatural proficiency! His moves were fierce, his speed extreme! If his opponent weren’t Qin Li, perhaps not even an Earth Level, Tier Nine Martial Artist would be his match.

Furthermore, every one of Leng Ping’s strikes carried a terrifying heat. The moment that temperature touched skin, it would instantly cause a severe burn. Even the physical fortitude of a Celestial Level Martial Artist would be unable to resist it!

Qin Li, however, was in no rush to kill Leng Ping. There were two reasons for this. First, he didn’t know how many of the Crown Prince’s men were watching from the crowd, and he didn’t want to reveal too much of his true strength. Second, the combat skill he had demonstrated on the training grounds today, the so-called Mad Dragon Thirteen Techniques, was something he had completely made up on the spot!

There was no such thing as the Mad Dragon Thirteen Techniques. His Five Elements Physique was real, however, and the Basic Techniques manual he had cultivated since childhood had actually laid the foundation for this.

Furthermore, Qin Li’s Innate Purple Qi was different from the Primordial Power within other Celestial Essence Martial Artists. The Innate Purple Qi was itself one of the purest forms of energy between Heaven and Earth, and it possessed an incomparable natural affinity for the Five Elements.

With the techniques and power of the ’Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, Only I am Venerable’ combat skill, combined with his Five Elements Physique and Innate Purple Qi, it was child’s play for Qin Li to create his own moves. He had been worried about not having a chance to practice these moves and make them more proficient, lest someone try to expose the secret of his true ’Only I am Venerable’ combat skill.

Therefore, in Qin Li’s eyes, Leng Ping had become the perfect sparring partner!

As the two exchanged blows, Qin Li’s "Mad Dragon Thirteen Techniques" grew more and more proficient, and he executed them with increasing ease.

’It’s time!’

This was a life-or-death struggle! Qin Li snorted coldly. He executed Furious Dragon Emerges from the Water, and the transparent Water Dragon suddenly doubled in size. Its speed... also doubled!

PUFF!

As fast as a bolt of lightning, it pierced through Leng Ping’s chest!

A smile of relief suddenly appeared on Leng Ping’s face. He spoke slowly, "Marquis Qin, promise me... you will treat my brothers well!"

Qin Li nodded, his face devoid of expression. A man like this did not need anyone’s pity.

A happy smile indeed spread across Leng Ping’s face. In his daze, it was as if he could see his most beloved woman once again, hear her saying in that delicate, sweet voice of hers, "Master Leng, I’ll be waiting for you to come back!"

Farewell... you beautiful little temptress! (To be continued. If you would like to know what happens next, please log in to www.qidian.com. There are more Chapters, and you can support the author and authentic reading!)