Chapter 44

Xiao Sheng stepped into the valley, his gaze sweeping over Yan Zhaoge and Feng Yunsheng, his eyes instantly narrowing to slits. A cold light flashed in his narrow eyes, venomous like a snake. Even his rough voice could not dispel the chilling sensation: "Good, good, I truly haven't wasted my time today. In the same day, in the same place, I've run into both of you."

Xiao Sheng, with his full beard, revealed a cold smile. Yan Zhaoge slightly tilted his head, sizing up Xiao Sheng: "Your beard makes me feel uneasy, but I can't quite put my finger on why."

Hearing this, the muscles around Xiao Sheng's eyes twitched: "Yan Zhaoge, do you still remember when I said that our paths would cross again?"

"I never thought this day would come so soon."

Xiao Sheng's gaze turned to Feng Yunsheng, his voice suddenly becoming much lower: "Feng Shimei, I also told you before that you couldn't escape."

Feng Yunsheng said indifferently: "Looking at you, it seems you were quite badly injured back then."

Xiao Sheng's eyes were fixed on Feng Yunsheng: "Feng Shimei, I always knew you were fearless, and now I see it even more clearly."

"But don't rush. I will make you understand that there are many things in this world more terrifying than death."

"And at this moment, in front of me, your life and death are not up to you."

Xiao Sheng's voice became much softer, but it was filled with bone-chilling coldness: "Believe me, you won't even be able to end your own life."

Feng Yunsheng smiled slightly. Her current cultivation was only at the Body Tempering stage, while Xiao Sheng was already at the late-stage External Gang Master realm. The gap between them was indeed so great that one side's life and death were not in their own hands. But her hand gripped the knife tighter, and her expression showed no fear: "Xiao Sheng, you should thank me for helping you remove your greatest weakness."

"Didn't you feel that your progress over the past two years has been faster than before?"

Xiao Sheng's gaze grew even darker: "You're still as sharp-tongued as ever. Very well, that's what I like most about you."

"Later, we will have plenty of time to reminisce."

"You don't think that the people around you can protect you, do you? If so, your judgment is truly poor."

Hearing this, Yan Zhaoge chuckled: "The Great Sun Saint puppet you shattered is watching you from the sky."

Xiao Sheng did not get angry; instead, he nodded: "Indeed, Yan Zhaoge, you have some skills."

"I must admit, I underestimated you before."

"But if you think that gaining a slight advantage back then means you've defeated me, you're only deceiving yourself."

As he spoke, Xiao Sheng stood still, but a powerful External Gang energy radiated outward. As the energy flowed, a faint metallic luster appeared, becoming increasingly brilliant. In an instant, a golden halo seemed to envelop Xiao Sheng's body. The next moment, golden light rays shot out, swirling through the sky and earth, like countless golden swords and knives formed by sunlight. The golden light instantly crossed a hundred steps, passing behind Yan Zhaoge and Feng Yunsheng.

Amidst the piercing sounds, the golden light rays either pierced into the rocks or the ground, leaving the valley behind Yan Zhaoge riddled with holes. The golden light rays remained embedded in the rocks and ground, not dispersing for a long time. They formed a semicircle, surrounding Yan Zhaoge and the others.

The black-clad martial artists behind Yan Zhaoge frowned. Controlling the External Gang energy to form tangible weapons and using it for long-range attacks was a hallmark of a mid-stage External Gang Master. This was a significant improvement over the initial stage External Gang Master's energy release, both in attack and defense.

The ability to control the External Gang energy to form tangible weapons and use it for long-range attacks, covering a hundred steps in an instant, made it difficult for opponents to escape. This was not the end. Xiao Sheng's hands were behind his back, and his body began to rise, ascending higher and higher until he stopped in mid-air. He floated there, unsupported by anything. This was a hallmark of a late-stage External Gang Master.

Compared to a mid-stage External Gang Master, a late-stage External Gang Master had even more powerful and refined External Gang energy, allowing them to float in the air for a short time and move short distances. Against opponents who couldn't do the same, Xiao Sheng could at least ensure he wouldn't lose. If he couldn't win, he could simply float away, leaving his opponent helpless.

Even if the opponent also used tangible weapons for long-range attacks, the closer the distance, the stronger the attack. By maintaining a distance, Xiao Sheng could ensure that the collision point of the weapons was closer to him, giving him a significant advantage.

In the previous match with Yan Zhaoge, using the puppet as a medium, Xiao Sheng was indeed constrained, and his true strength was not fully demonstrated. Now, he finally showed the overwhelming power of a late-stage External Gang Master compared to an initial stage External Gang Master. The difference in realms was not just a matter of words.

Xiao Sheng, suspended in mid-air, looked down at Yan Zhaoge. "I am a late-stage External Gang Master, and you are an initial stage. You may not be convinced, but if you interfere with Feng Muge's affairs, I cannot be blamed."

"Even if your elders from Guangcheng Mountain were here, the principle would remain the same."

"If you protect the escaped disciple of the Great Sun Holy Sect, then our battle is no longer a friendly match."

Xiao Sheng looked down at Yan Zhaoge and suddenly smiled: "I could kill you right here and now without any trouble."

"But even if you don't interfere with Feng Muge's affairs, there's still something to play with today."

"Only, it will be Cao Shidi who plays with you first."

At this moment, a group of white-clad young people appeared in the valley, led by Cao Yuanlong, who had been defeated by Yan Zhaoge in Zhenlong Abyss. Cao Yuanlong slowly exhaled: "Yan Zhaoge, I want to fight you again."

Around his body, brilliant golden light rays shot out, like needles. In the previous Zhenlong Abyss, Cao Yuanlong had stirred his External Gang energy, shattering the ground beneath his feet. Now, the ground around him was left with countless needle-like holes, like a honeycomb or ant nest. The penetration and cohesion of his External Gang energy were incomparable.

The golden needle-like External Gang energy radiating from Cao Yuanlong now had a faint metallic luster, clearly indicating he had reached the External Gang Master realm!

Feng Yunsheng looked at Cao Yuanlong and raised her eyebrows slightly: "You've used the Sun God Needle to strengthen your External Gang energy, achieving the external release?"

Yan Zhaoge's face showed a playful expression: "I've heard of this method, but I remember it has significant side effects, causing you constant pain and making your life worse than death, and greatly delaying your subsequent cultivation progress."

Cao Yuanlong's face was indifferent: "Compared to the humiliation you inflicted on me, a little pain is nothing."

"I will not be a man until this grudge is avenged!"

With that, Cao Yuanlong took a step forward, directly appearing in front of Yan Zhaoge! Yan Zhaoge raised an eyebrow, and with a flick of his right sleeve, a green light shot out like lightning.

"Green Dragon in the Sleeve, well done!" Cao Yuanlong shouted, and his hands suddenly crossed. It was not the Central Heaven Palm. The golden needle-like External Gang energy, which had been rigid, became soft, like countless fine threads. The countless threads, turning from rigid to soft, wrapped around the green sword light like snakes emerging from their dens.

Yan Zhaoge's sword light trembled, and green sword energy erupted, cutting through the golden threads. But the threads seemed endless, continuously wrapping around, gradually depleting Yan Zhaoge's sword momentum. Yan Zhaoge carefully observed Cao Yuanlong's martial arts, his lips twitching, and his expression became somewhat strange.

Cao Yuanlong said coldly: "I know you achieved the External Gang realm earlier, but I still forced the Sun God Needle into my body to quickly reach the External Gang Master realm."

"Specifically to cultivate this martial art that counters your Green Dragon in the Sleeve!"

"Today, you are a dead dragon!"