Chapter 143: Riding Forward, Killing Intent Boils
Chapter 143: Chapter 143: Riding Forward, Killing Intent Boils
Zhu Ge wore clothes Hua Liusha had woven for him.
In her free time, she poured over the *Annals of Gusu Silk* and practiced her needlework the moment she returned. Her craftsmanship improved by the day.
Hua Liusha was even planning to make inner armor and leather armor to sell in the future.
In these troubled times, such weapons and equipment were always in demand.
"Good horse, faster."
At that thought, Zhu Ge leaned low over Mazhu’s back and gripped tightly with his thighs.
Riding without a saddle or stirrups is incredibly difficult.
But Mazhu’s true form was bamboo, and conveniently, a joint on its back served as a sort of saddle.
All he had to do was grip tightly.
And with Zhu Ge’s immense thigh strength, he could do more than just hold on—he could likely crush Mazhu completely.
So, this entire journey had been a taste of extreme speed for Zhu Ge.
He just had to activate his [Secret] trait to hide his aura and presence. To all other creatures’ senses, it seemed as if Mazhu were running alone.
It was a huge improvement over his previous travels, where a Demon Beast would block his path every few miles.
NEEEIGH—
Mazhu, enjoying the exhilarating run, couldn’t help but let out a long, clear neigh.
In the past, Mazhu would never have dared to run so recklessly.
But now, it carried a powerhouse who had utterly defeated even the Sword and Axe Mantis.
Carrying a being of such power, Mazhu felt fearless. All it needed to do was gallop through the forest to its heart’s content.
Before long, Mazhu was approaching Jianshui City.
Many demons still stood guard outside Jianshui City. However, with the Sword and Axe Mantis gone, some people were now venturing out.
Jianshui City was packed to the brim. The last time Zhu Ge had arrived, the streets were already teeming with people, even at dawn.
The situation outside had eased somewhat, so many people had no choice but to return to their home villages.
However, for ordinary people, leaving the city was a death sentence.
So, anyone leaving the city now had at least some level of Cultivation.
They were either at the Second Realm, or they were groups of those in the First Realm traveling together.
Among the travelers, Zhu Ge spotted some people in uniform attire who looked like they belonged to the city’s Martial Arts Halls.
Escort missions were part of the routine work for places like Martial Arts Halls, Academies, and Immortal Pavilions.
The Martial Dao of the Martial Arts Halls, the Confucian Dao of the Academies, and the Immortal Dao of the Immortal Pavilions—all were major Daos with exceptional combat strength.
Aside from their daily training, people from the surrounding villages would hire them for tasks such as escort missions or driving away Demon Beasts.
Zhu Ge’s arrival, of course, drew the attention of many travelers.
"Hey? Did a person just appear on that horse’s back?"
"Hush! You can tell that man is a powerful expert. Don’t run your mouth!"
"We need to get moving. With an expert like that around, most of the Demon Beasts will be drawn to him."
"What a fine horse! That man actually managed to tame a Transformed Bamboo Spirit. How have I never heard of such a figure in Jianshui City?"
Many were focused on their journey, particularly the farmers and peasants from the villages.
Their lives were precarious, a daily struggle for survival. They had no spare energy to ponder the meaning of Zhu Ge’s arrival.
Most of those who were talking belonged to Jianshui City’s Martial Arts Halls and Immortal Pavilions.
They had keen eyes and could discern Zhu Ge’s power.
To cross the forest alone, and on horseback no less, spoke of both incredible skill and immense courage.
Zhu Ge, however, paid them no mind and rode straight into the city.
The city gate was still protected by an Array, but he possessed an entry token and passed through into Jianshui City with ease.
Zhu Ge first asked for the location of the Fish Scale Martial Arts Hall, then rode Mazhu in that direction.
As he advanced, an immense, overbearing aura began to rise from his body.
DONG DONG—
DONG DONG—
DONG DONG—
His Martial Arts Heart began to throb of its own accord.
Even at a mere thirty percent of its power, the sound echoed for miles, roaring like a great flood, like the Yellow River pouring into the boundless ocean.
"What is that sound?!"
The streets were crowded, but any person with a measure of Cultivation could feel the killing intent radiating from Zhu Ge.
This was a killing intent forged one punch, one palm strike at a time, from the flesh and blood of Demon Beasts.
His killing intent surged like a tidal wave!
Zhu Ge was just making his way from the city gate, Mazhu’s pace having slowed to a walk.
His killing intent immediately drew the attention of the city gate guards, as well as the Decurions and Centurions drilling Soldiers nearby.
"Warrior, please halt!"
A Soldier came forward to block Zhu Ge’s path. "Killing is forbidden inside the city!"
"Killing is forbidden?" Zhu Ge glanced at the Soldier, his gaze lingering for a few seconds on the man’s scarred arm before he spoke.
"Relax. I’m not here to kill. I will act within the rules."
The Soldier hesitated. "This..."
This Soldier was a Decurion. Uncertain of what to do, he gave Zhu Ge a fist-and-palm salute before leaving to report to his superior.
Zhu Ge paid it no mind.
He had come to make a grand display, but there was more to it than just causing a stir. He needed a reason. Making a scene was only useful when you were in the right; when you were in the wrong, it was pointless.
As Zhu Ge advanced, the many travelers trying to leave the city parted to make way for him.
Zhu Ge’s Martial Arts Heart throbbed relentlessly, seething with killing intent.
This imposing aura wouldn’t harm the people around him.
But anyone who tried to approach him would find it as difficult as walking into a gale.
Zhu Ge held his silver rod, his expression perfectly serene.
He had used the silver rod for a long time, and his Blood Qi had gradually seeped into it, staining the entire weapon with a faint red hue.
Combined with its original silver and the influence of Zhu Ge’s Literary Energy, "silver rod" no longer seemed a fitting name.
’Perhaps it should be called the Purgatory Star Rod...’ Zhu Ge thought, glancing at his weapon.
’The red of the Blood Qi, combined with the star-like motes of Literary Energy... yes, Purgatory Star Rod is a much better name.’
Those around him had no idea Zhu Ge had the leisure to be naming his weapon. All they saw was him inspecting the rod, as if checking its readiness for battle.
Something big was about to happen!
Countless people sensed it.
Ordinary folk hurried home, barring their doors and shuttering their windows. Those with connections to powerful factions rushed to deliver the news.
Zhu Ge, however, remained unhurried. But inside him, his Blood Qi surged with the rumbling crack of Celestial Thunder collapsing in on itself among the clouds.
By now, it wasn’t just a radius of a few miles—the entire city could likely hear the beat of his Martial Arts Heart.
In truth, with his current strength, Zhu Ge could likely kill every ordinary person in the vicinity just by unleashing the full power of his Martial Arts Heart.
For one thing, the phantoms within his Martial Arts Heart could only be condensed by geniuses of the highest order.
Even someone as powerful as the Raincoat Fisherman had been hailed as a genius simply for condensing a single phantom of a fisherman’s song.
And Zhu Ge?
He had fused the Martial Arts of Huaxia, inherited the Martial Arts Secret Manuals meticulously chosen by the Raincoat Fisherman, trained and studied with tireless diligence, and tempered it all in battle against countless Demon Beasts.
Finally, with his all-encompassing Senluo Martial Arts, he had forged his own Heart of Martial Arts Origin.
All paths of the Martial Dao begin at the Origin!
And so, as he rode into the bustling heart of the city, he sent the entire populace into an uproar.