Chapter 133: Shaking Heaven and Earth, Moving Ghosts and Gods to Tears

Seeing this, the crowd could not help but cover their faces, unable to bear the sight.

Gou Cunjian’s giant foot descended. They feared that even a pile of steel would be crushed into scrap, let alone Wang Yangming, who was now no different from an ordinary person.

Yet, just at that moment, a voice rang out: "Gou Cunjian."

The voice was not loud, but everyone heard it with absolute clarity. Gou Cunjian, in particular, felt his mind struck by a thunderbolt, causing him to stumble backward several paces.

Astonished, the crowd turned their eyes toward the source of the voice. Lu Ming was standing up slowly, walking toward the center of the arena.

Zhao Huang stared at Lu Ming blankly and blurted out, "Are you insane?"

Even a grandmaster had been beaten to the brink of death; no one dared to step forward except for Wang Jingshan. Why would a coward like you want to intervene now?

The crowd shared Zhao Huang’s sentiment. This man had been feigning sleep ever since he arrived. Now that he had stood up, what did he want? Did he intend to show off in front of Gou Cunjian? Was he not afraid of being stomped into meat paste?

Lu Ming calmly walked to the center, stood opposite Gou Cunjian, and said, "Tell me how you learned to cultivate this technique, and I will spare your life."

The crowd erupted in an uproar!

"Has this man lost his mind?"
"Spare him? On what grounds?"
"He is truly courting death."

Seeing Lu Ming dare to boast so boldly before the terrifying Gou Cunjian, the onlookers felt a sense of pity for his arrogance.

However, Lu Ming had noticed Gou Cunjian the moment he appeared. He had sensed a flicker of mana fluctuation. Immediately, he had activated his Eyes of Insight. Under this divine ability, no matter how deeply Gou Cunjian hid, he was laid bare before Lu Ming’s gaze. He had instantly discovered the faint flow of mana within Gou Cunjian’s body, which had been altered into something far beyond that of a normal human.

Curious, Lu Ming had remained silent. He knew that Gou Cunjian must have a motive for hiding his true nature so deeply and would eventually reveal his hand. Lu Ming wanted to see what he was capable of. Moreover, he desperately wanted to know the origin of Gou Cunjian’s power, as his condition showed signs of a cultivator, distinct from a typical martial artist.

From the way Gou Cunjian fought, Lu Ming was certain he practiced a technique that fused sorcery with martial arts, granting him the strength to brutalize a grandmaster. Lu Ming was curious about the source of this technique; perhaps it would lead to clues about the hidden forces in this world, allowing him to prepare. Lu Ming had always believed that this world was more than what appeared on the surface.

Thus, only when Gou Cunjian unleashed his full power did Lu Ming intervene. After all, he had seen what he needed to see, and since it was difficult for a grandmaster to reach his level, Lu Ming did not want to see him perish so easily.

Gou Cunjian rolled his scarlet eyes at Lu Ming and let out a cackling laugh. "If you want to know, defeat me first."

With that, Gou Cunjian took a massive stride toward Lu Ming, the heavy thud of his footsteps shaking the very ground.

The crowd grew anxious. *You fool, don't provoke this god of slaughter! If he kills you, who here can stop him?*

Lu Ming offered a cold laugh. "Ignorant fool. I gave you a chance, yet you insist on seeking death."

Without even looking, Lu Ming threw a punch to meet the massive fist descending toward his head. His arm was no longer shimmering with golden light; instead, it was wreathed in a mysterious, dark-golden radiance.

Gou Cunjian’s fist, as large as a basketball, descended with a whistling sound, carrying the force of wind and thunder. Compared to it, Lu Ming’s fist appeared fragile and weak.

*BOOM!*

The two fists collided. Gou Cunjian stumbled back several steps, while Lu Ming stood rooted to the spot, unmoving.

The onlookers’ eyes widened in disbelief.

Lu Ming stood with his hands behind his back. "I will give you one more chance. If you do not wish to speak, then you may die."

Watching Lu Ming’s calm and composed demeanor, the crowd dared not whisper. They stared blankly, unable to comprehend what was happening.

Gou Cunjian suddenly stomped his foot. Countless bone spurs erupted from the ground beneath Lu Ming—he was using the same trick again.

The crowd gasped. This was the exact move that had severely wounded Wang Yangming. Fearing the same outcome, they worried for Lu Ming.

However, Lu Ming also stomped his foot. The ground shuddered, and the bone spurs shattered into dust, falling back to the earth.

Seeing his tactic fail, Gou Cunjian lunged forward. Bone spurs erupted from his body and shot toward Lu Ming. These massive spurs were razor-sharp, encased in a layer of indestructible internal energy, and flew at an incredible speed.

The hearts of the crowd, which had just settled, rose into their throats once more. This attack was far more powerful than the bone forest from before, reaching Lu Ming in an instant.

Lu Ming frowned and raised a hand, manifesting a dark-golden barrier. The massive spurs struck the barrier with a metallic clatter, breaking into pieces and falling to the floor.

"He's that strong?"

Seeing Lu Ming repel such a fierce attack so effortlessly, the crowd finally realized his power and could not help but cry out in shock.

At that moment, a long sword materialized in Lu Ming’s hand, burning with a fierce golden flame. The crowd felt the surrounding temperature soar, and within moments, their backs were drenched in sweat.

Lu Ming spoke slowly.

"Arrogant creature. You learned a few tricks and thought yourself invincible, daring to provoke the entire martial world of China. I gave you a chance, but since you refuse to speak, then go to your death."

With a swing of his blade, a flame-edged sword energy surged through the air toward Gou Cunjian.

Gou Cunjian had sensed extreme danger the moment Lu Ming summoned the flaming sword and had prepared himself. As the strike arrived, he hunched over, and a mass of bone spurs burst from his body, encasing him in a cage of bone.

Lu Ming’s 'Flame Dragon Slash' struck the cage, cleaving the defensive sphere in two.

The cage split apart, and Gou Cunjian inside was sliced in half. He did not die immediately. With a malicious glare, he said weakly, "Boy... you killed me... they will not let you go. Their power is beyond your imagination... everyone here... will die."

With those final words, Gou Cunjian collapsed and died.

Seeing the situation turn dire, Zhao Hu turned to flee. Lu Ming flicked his sword, and a streak of flame-edged energy cut across the air, severing Zhao Hu at the waist. His upper body slid silently to the ground, while his lower half continued to run for a few paces before collapsing.

The crowd watched in horror and awe, looking at Lu Ming as if he were a god of slaughter. The immense power and iron-fisted resolve he had displayed left them terrified. A deathly silence filled the courtyard; one could hear a pin drop.

Lu Ming’s flaming sword vanished back into his body. He shook his head; he hadn’t even used his full strength, yet Gou Cunjian had already crumbled. He was disappointed that he couldn’t find anyone truly capable of testing the full might of his Flame Dragon Slash.

Wang Yangming, supported by Wang Jingshan, managed to stand and approached Lu Ming. He bowed deeply with cupped hands. "I did not know a true master was present. My clumsy display was a disgrace, and I ask for your forgiveness."

Wang Jingshan’s face was ashen, his hands trembling as he held Wang Yangming. "Master, I failed to recognize your true stature and offended you. Please, I beg for your mercy."

Only moments ago, he had looked down on Lu Ming as a coward, never imagining that he was a being of heaven-shaking power. Even a grandmaster was nothing in his presence. How ridiculous he felt for having mocked him; if he hadn’t been supporting his clan head, he would have knelt and begged for forgiveness.

A grandmaster is not to be insulted, let alone someone who clearly stands far above the rank of grandmaster.