Once the caravan was on its way they were soon approaching the boundary GuangXi.
Everyone's nerves were taut as they kept their vigilance high.
Madlenkosi called to a nearby mercenary, "Why is everyone so nervous?"
The man looked at him in shock and whispered, "Don't you know of the Blood Buddha Sect? They were once followers of the Dharma Sect but they proceeded on the 'Path of Blood Qi' and then formed a new school...They're ruthless murderers,"
Madlenkosi was slightly startled at this while secretly hoping he would be able to at least see one or two. His 'Merciful Ferry Guiding Staff' reached Lesser Mastery and to progress, he needed actual fighting experience.
As they continued the caravan ground to a halt as multiple bald men stepped out from the bushes before them. Each sported a blood-red Kasaya, bloodshot eyes, and long black fingernails.
As they surrounded the caravan the highest-ranked was a cultivator in the 9th layer of qi gathering.
"These people would do well to help me break through to the Qi conversation realm." Zhao Fu smiled and said.
He was around 22 years old and had joined the Blood Buddha Sect later than most. Due to the killing and harvesting the blood essence of multiple travelers, his qi layer repeatedly broke through.
He stared at the stagecoach as he took in a whiff, "Hmm? I smell primordial yin...Ahaha Even the heavens wants me to break through!"
Madlenkosi face turned ugly as he couldn't understand how a human could treat others like cultivation resources.
He stood next to the mercenaries as he undid the tie on his Taahkarr and rested it on his shoulder.
"Slaughter these mercenaries, they'll do well as blood qi resources," Zhao Fu said as he smiled.
As one snuck forwards, Madlenkosi rushed forwards as well as he swung his staff.
'Guiding Way!'
He shouted as his staff thrust into the man's throat, he flicked it and then smashed the man's head like a watermelon. It might have seemed long but it all happened within a few breaths.
Everyone was shocked, especially the disciples of the Blood Buddha Sect as their eyes stayed on him.
Zhao Fu's face went ugly as he came to the forefront. His eyes squinted as he made a gesture for them to deal with everyone else.
"I'll deal with this one," He enunciated slowly.
Zhao Fu got into a fighting stance as his fingers spread and his nails curled in a claw-like motion.
His feet cracked the ground beneath them as he kicked off. His dash placed him right before Kosi as he made a grasp for his neck.
Kosi shifted his head and neck to the left as his right leg kicked Zhao Fu's next claw attack. Zhao Fu recoiled from the blow as he corkscrewed in mid-air as he landed lightly, his Kasaya billowing with the wind.
He stared at Kosi like a wolf stalking its prey as they walked around in a circle, neither willing to show weakness.
'Benevolence Of The Asura Buddha!'
'Parting Waves!'
*SCREECH!*
As staff and claw slammed together, Kosi was shocked that his opponent's claws didn't break.
Zhao Fu on the other hand was astounded by the sheer weight as he was soon launched into the air.
With a flip, he landed on a branch nearby.
He solemnly stared at Kosi, " Which Sect's disciple are you?"
" I have no sect.."
'Parting Waves!'
A staff shadow appeared from concentrated qi!
As Zhao Fu dodged a staff shadow slammed down, blasting it into splinters as leaves scattered across the sky!
Madlenkosi noticed the staff shadow, realizing he had touched on Greater Mastery of 'The Merciful Ferry Guiding Staff'.
Madlenkosi laughed as he rushed his opponent like a dragon soaring out the sea.
His Taahkarr sweeping upwards, the wind howled and screamed!
'Guiding Bo!'
Time seemed to stop at this moment.
It was the same 'Guiding Bo' technique but after touching Greater Mastery it seemed better executed and along with the staff shadow, it created an astoundingly different result!
Mercenaries and Blood Buddha Sect disciples were aghast by the pure brutality shown from his staff techniques.
They thought that if they faced this technique, it would only lead to one result...DEATH!
" Break!"
'Absolution of the Buddha!'
A huge palm made of blood qi struck down from above as an iron-like smell filled everyone's nostrils.
As he looked up, Madlenkosi felt no fear, only an unrelenting urge to fight!
' Lanterns! Lit! All Around!
In a brief moment, thousands of blows landed on the blood palm. As the barrage continued it created a dense din of explosive noises!
Anyone with a lower Qi layer would be dead thousands of times over!
"Break!", "Break!", "Break!"
Feeling the pressure of the Blood Palm above him, he attacked with further ferocity!
*CRACK!*
As they looked at the blood palm noticeable cracks began to form on its surface as it slowed.
*BOOM!!!*
The blood palm shattered as Qi blasted outward, but Kosi was not finished!
As he raised his staff, he remembered the staff move within the painting.
As he channeled this attack, his Prana and Qi combined!
The air went still!
'STRIKE THE HEAVENS!'
Madlenkosi shouted as he attacked with everything he had!
A gold staff shadow extended into the air as it slowly fell towards Zhao Fu and the rest of Blood Sect Disciples!
Their eyes were filled with a myriad of expressions. Shock, fear, and desperation filled them as they started at the incoming all-mighty golden staff wreathed in flames.
'Absolution of The Buddha!'
A Blood Palm reappeared to intercept this heaven-defying staff shadow as Zhao Fu channeled every last drop of blood qi into this technique.
*BANG!*
The blood palm didn't last longer than a few seconds under the staff before shattering!
The staff smashed down as Zhao Fu raised his claws to intercept it! The staff's blow was horrendously powerful! This strike alone broke both Zhao Fu's arms as they continued to his head!
*CRACK!* *KAKA*
The sounds of bones breaking sounded out as the mercenaries gasped at the bone-chilling sound.
Zhao Fu hollered as the staff's shadow slowly expanded in his eyes, the staff connecting with his forehead, as it pushed him into the floor as a bloody paste!
The staff shadow falling slightly after as it landed on a majority of the other Blood Buddha Disciples.
The aftermath left a long trail of debris and gouged out the earth as it destroyed wherever it landed. Blood, flesh, and bones littered the area as everyone stared at the tired and sweating golden youth.
"What the hell was that staff technique?" He thought to himself, slowly placing a Qi replenishing pill in his mouth.
The other Blood Buddha Sect disciples either died under the blades of other mercenaries or ran immediately at the smell of death.
Slowly Madlenkosi muddled his way back to the caravan to rest. Shortly after the commotion died, he was asked by the clients to come to the Stagecoach to which he politely refused.
_____________________
Within the stagecoach were 3 beauties from the merchant Li family of varying ages.
"I can't believe he rejected trying to get to know us, hmph!" Li Qianxin said.
"We may be from a merchant family, but to true cultivators, it doesn't mean much." Her elder cousin Li BiLing said as Li BiHua agreed.
The 3 Li family females were Li BiLing and Li BiHua, the twin daughters of the Li family Patriarch and their younger cousin Li Qianxin.
They were recommended to the Water Shroud Sect as they had talent. The twins were both at the 7th Layer of Qi gathering and their younger cousin at the 5th Layer of Qi gathering.
"Hmph, he's only slightly powerful, wait until I become an outer sect disciple. He'll have to eat my dust!" The younger cousin was quite arrogant ever since her recommendation.
Exasperated at their cousin's antics, they also looked forward to their future in The Water Shroud Sect...