Chapter 148: Parting

Yun Qianshang was truly a genius of the sword. In just a few short days, he had completely mastered and assimilated the swordsmanship taught by Lin Feng.

This technique, "A Sword Separates the World," was a sword art from the Vast Heaven Martial Classic, considered an introductory sword technique within the sect.

The move was direct and sharp, its unreserved expression better reflecting the swordsman's intent, and it was thus frequently used as a foundational form to guide disciples into grasping sword intent.

Even so, the artistic conception of this single sword strike remained breathtaking, which was why Yun Qianshang had taken such a strong liking to it.

"First Sword Form: A Sword Separates the World!"

The longsword in Yun Qianshang's hand seemed to cleave straight down from the clouds, unspooling a dazzling path of silver light.

"Yun Qianshang, do not underestimate me!"

"Wulang Eight Trigrams Pole, Mourning for the Fallen State!"

Wu Sixun was not one to wait idly for death. Channeling his inner energy to its absolute peak, his aura surged violently around him. With fierce desperation, he unleashed the ultimate mystery of his family's martial arts, the Wulang Eight Trigrams Pole—a desperate, life-or-death final gambit known as Mourning for the Fallen State!

General Yang Wulang had fought fearlessly to save the realm, eventually perishing on the battlefield, the long pole in his hands stained crimson with blood.

A technique originally created to save the country in a time of crisis and face death with intrepid courage was now being used by a traitor against the God of War of Huaxia. The scene was deeply ironic and lamentable.

Though the tip of Wu Sixun's steel pole had been broken off, it remained immensely heavy. The silver pole danced in mid-air, creating a seamless defense, the blurring shadows weaving like a giant silver serpent winding and tumbling through the sky.

*Clang—!*

The longsword and the steel pole finally met in mid-air.

Military God Yun Qianshang, the man closest to the Saint Realm in Huaxia, was currently using a technique hastily learned just days ago to subdue his enemy.

Meanwhile, Wu Sixun, as the head of the Wu family, was using a sword style he had honed through years of bitter practice to fight back.

The superiority of their techniques was instantly clear!

*Puff!*

With utter disregard for his own life, Wu Sixun deliberately exposed a tiny opening amidst the flurry of pole shadows. Yun Qianshang instantly thrust the tip of his sword straight toward Wu Sixun's face.

"Hahaha! Die with me, Yun Qianshang!"

Just as the sword tip closed in on his brow, Wu Sixun jerked his head to the side, dodging the fatal blow.

Yet Yun Qianshang was no ordinary opponent. The longsword instantly shifted, turning from a thrust into a fierce slash, burying itself deep into Wu Sixun's shoulder.

*Squelch—!*

Blood spurted out like a gushing fountain. Instead of retreating even slightly, Wu Sixun wore a look of manic excitement and burst into a wild, shrill laugh.

"Hahaha, Yun Qianshang, this is your final destination!"

One of Wu Sixun's hands clamped fiercely down onto the longsword embedded in his shoulder, as if the spurting flesh and blood did not belong to him at all, while his other hand suddenly swelled and stretched, transforming into a savage python, with the steel pole serving as the serpent's tongue!

No one had anticipated that Wu Sixun would resort to such a mutual destruction strategy of trading his life for another.

"Oh no! The Military God is in danger!" Gu Feng recognized Wu Sixun's intent at once. He was trying to drag the Military God down with him in a suicide pact!

"Old Yun! Don't you dare fucking die!" Wang Yinhu roared at the top of his lungs upon seeing this.

Only Lin Feng remained utterly calm, showing not the slightest intention of drawing the Kunwu treasure sword at his side.

Seeing Wu Sixun's actions, a flash of cold light crossed Yun Qianshang's eyes.

He instantly released his grip on his right hand, dropping the longsword. His figure flickered as he dodged past Wu Sixun, and simultaneously, he pressed his fingers together into a sword gesture, slicing across Wu Sixun's neck.

***

"What? Yun Qianshang, you actually abandoned your sword!"

Wu Sixun never expected that the man renowned as the "Sword Obsessive" would abandon his weapon in the middle of a life-or-death battle. This was nothing short of a disgrace for a swordsman!

"My sword has always been in my heart; how could I ever speak of abandoning it? Besides, if I truly abandoned my sword, then who was it that killed you?"

"Huh? My... neck... was it just now—"

*Squelch—!*

A violent jet of blood erupted from Wu Sixun's neck, scattering into a crimson mist in the air. Only then did he realize that Yun Qianshang had long since achieved the unity of man and sword. His true killing blow was never the physical blade in his hand, but the sword intent residing within his heart!

*Thud—!*

His life force completely severed, Wu Sixun collapsed directly to the ground, surrounded by a spreading pool of blood.

With this, the farce involving the Tenglong Squad finally came to an end. Using Lin Feng's sword technique, Yun Qianshang had slain Wu Sixun, and all the martial arts families who had conspired with him would now face a thorough and merciless reckoning.

Over the month that followed, the entire Huaxia martial underworld was gripped by a chilling, murderous tension.

Everyone believed the Huaxia military could no longer tolerate the existence of the martial arts clans, which was why they were eradicating the Wu family and dozens of other allied clans under various pretexts.

Consequently, every single martial arts family in the Huaxia underworld shrank back like frightened turtles, never daring to act arrogantly in the underground world again.

Seizing the opportunity to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys, Yun Qianshang had achieved two goals with a single stroke.

Meanwhile, as the participant and driving force behind it all, Lin Feng was standing on the training ground, teaching the final lesson to the Tenglong Squad.

"That is all for today. My special training course concludes here temporarily. As the saying goes, the master leads you through the door, but your cultivation depends entirely on yourself. Whether you turn out to be dragons or phoenixes in the future is up to your own efforts. I will now officially leave this place."

With his hands clasped behind his back, Lin Feng radiated the imposing and immovable presence of a grandmaster.

The members of the Tenglong Squad standing on the training ground all wore sorrowful expressions, their eyes glistening with tears.

At that moment, Wang Zexi stepped forward and shouted hoarsely, "Instructor Lin! This is a song we dedicated to you, wishing you boundless prosperity in your martial path!"

"Ready, begin—!"

"Send off our comrades, embarking on the long journey.
Silent with both eyes full of tears,
The sound of camel bells echoes in our ears.
The road is long, the mists are vast.
Revolutionary lives often mean parting ways,
Though parting is the same, our feelings run deep.
Comrades, oh comrades,
Dear brothers,
Beware the cold north wind at midnight,
Take good care of yourselves along the way.
Send off our comrades, embarking on the long journey.
The burden is heavy, the road is far, filled with hardships,
Leaving a trail of camel bells all the way.

Mountains layered, waters crisscrossing.
Facing the wind and swimming against the current, our grand ambition remains,
We will not fail the nurturing grace of the people.
Comrades, oh comrades,
Dear brothers,
Until the spring breeze brings good news,
We shall meet again.
Comrades, oh comrades,
Dear brothers,
Until the spring breeze brings good news,
We shall meet again.
..."

This military song was traditionally sung by soldiers to bid farewell to their departing comrades.

The military was a place of iron and blood, devoid of overly sentimental romance; what remained was the power of combat and the brotherhood forged in blood and fire!

Listening to the resounding military song echoing behind him, Lin Feng's heart was deeply stirred. Although it was only a ten-minute walk from the training ground, Lin Feng walked it for a full half-hour.

When he leisurely arrived at the entrance of the training ground, Yun Qianshang was already waiting there.

"This is your military uniform. Once a soldier, always a soldier. If you miss them, you can come back at any time; the gates of the military will always remain open to you."

Yun Qianshang handed over the major general's uniform and smiled faintly.

"Yun Qianshang, did you think I wouldn't see through your intentions? I was just a blade in your hand, wasn't I? A blade used to sever the Wu family. To be played like that leaves a rather bad taste in my mouth."

As he spoke, Lin Feng pressed his fingers together into a sword gesture and casually flicked out a streak of sword Qi.

"Autumn Water Sword Finger!"

This was precisely the technique Yun Qianshang had stolen from Lin Feng and used to execute Wu Sixun.

Glancing at the deep gash left in the concrete ground beside him, Yun Qianshang raised an eyebrow and forced a wry smile at the corner of his mouth.

It seemed he really had thoroughly angered Lin Feng.

"How about this? In a little while, I will send you a generous gift as an apology. How does that sound?" Yun Qianshang beamed with a smile, actually resorting to currying favor.

Gu Feng, standing nearby, was completely dumbfounded.

This was the Military God, the ultimate pinnacle in the hearts of all soldiers in Huaxia!

Yet right now, he was smiling and trying to ingratiate himself with Lin Feng. What on earth was wrong with this world?