After stepping on Si Tian's palm, Gu Qingfeng looked down with a cold, indifferent expression.
"Tell me, what is your purpose here?"
Si Tian, trying to keep his composure, warned, "Gu Qingfeng, I serve the Divine Martial King. If you harm me, you'll offend him—Ahhh!!"
Before he could finish, Gu Qingfeng crushed Si Tian's palm with his foot, breaking bones with brutal force. Blood splattered, and Si Tian let out a piercing scream.
Gu Qingfeng's eyes were icy. "You don't seem to understand the situation. Speak, and if you give me any more nonsense, I'll make you beg for death."
Panicked and terrified, Si Tian stammered, "The King heard about how you destroyed the Tiegu Gang and unified Baishi Dao. He wants you to work for him."
Gu Qingfeng sneered, "The Tiegu Gang was under King Shenwu. I killed Luo Yu and destroyed his gang. Doesn't Pei Jing want revenge?"
Si Tian, desperate to save himself, explained, "The Tiegu Gang was insignificant to the King. Your family's ability to unite Baishi Dao shows you're more valuable. If you serve the King, he'll reward you generously. With his resources, you could even break through to the Marrow Cleansing Realm or beyond."
Gu Qingfeng asked, "And if I refuse, what will Pei Jing do?"
Si Tian hesitated briefly, but a renewed stomp from Gu Qingfeng forced him to speak, "If your family doesn't submit, you'll be wiped out!"
"How much power does Pei Jing have in Guangyang Prefecture?" Gu Qingfeng pressed.
"I don't know the details… only our commander knows. The Black Xuan Guards have been hunted in Taishan County, making it difficult for us to move freely."
"And how many powerful warriors does Pei Jing command?"
"There are many, but I can't say exactly."
"What is Pei Jing's cultivation level?"
"His cultivation is advanced, at least at the Refining Organs stage. Some rumors even suggest he's reached the Grandmaster level, though I can't confirm that."
Satisfied with the answers, Gu Qingfeng said, "You've trespassed into the Gu family's domain. You should die. But, if you write down all the martial arts you've learned, I might give you a way out."
"Are you serious?" Si Tian asked, hopeful but skeptical.
"Gu never lies."
Realizing he had no other choice, Si Tian gritted his teeth. "Very well. Set my bones, and I'll do as you ask."
Without hesitation, Gu Qingfeng reconnected the dislocated bones in Si Tian's limbs. Despite the injury to his left hand, Si Tian was still able to write with his right. He was given pen, ink, and paper and began painstakingly writing down the martial arts he had learned.
After about an hour, Si Tian finished. He was pale from blood loss but handed over the papers. "Here, everything I know. I hope you'll honor your word."
Gu Qingfeng inspected the papers, glancing over them quickly. He memorized the contents and checked his martial arts list. Two new entries appeared:
Hundred Refinements of the Golden Body (Not yet mastered)
Seven Killing Swords (Not yet mastered)
Both were top-tier martial arts, extremely valuable, and aimed directly at Bone Refining perfection. The Hundred Refinements focused on defense and physical fortitude, while the Seven Killing Swords was a lethal combat art designed purely for killing.
Satisfied, Gu Qingfeng spoke, "The martial arts are in order. You may leave."
Si Tian, relieved, hurried to his feet. But as soon as he did, a flash of sword light pierced his chest, and he collapsed.
Plop!
Before Si Tian could react, Gu Qingfeng delivered a final blow, shattering his head with a powerful palm strike. The lifeless body twitched before becoming still.
"I only said I'd consider sparing you," Gu Qingfeng said coldly. "And after thinking it over, it's better if you die here."
From the moment Gu Qingfeng destroyed the Tiegu Gang, his conflict with King Shenwu was inevitable. Even if he had submitted to the King's offer, there was no guarantee the Gu family would survive, given the delicate balance of power in Guangyang Prefecture.
Gu Qingfeng had no interest in serving anyone, much less a king known for being ruthless and ungrateful. Si Tian's fate was sealed the moment he stepped into the Gu family's domain.
With Si Tian dead, Gu Qingfeng knew he was fully on the opposite side of King Shenwu now. But it didn't trouble him.
"If Shenwu wants to challenge me," he muttered, "he'll have to conquer Guangyang Prefecture first."
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