A Pawn's Passage

As the long-standing Beggar King, Ye Xiu was indeed formidable. He carried two rapid-fire pistols, specially crafted firearms commissioned at great expense. Their advantage lay in their ability to load six bullets for continuous firing. However, their limitation was that they could only use the Grade-B Series Six Dragon Eye Bullets, which had significantly lower power.

The Beggar King dodged and fired continuously with flair. This was no ordinary use of pistols. Rather, Ye Xiu had integrated the techniques of swordsmanship into the use of firearms.

At this moment, Ye Xiu seemed less like he was wielding pistols and more like he was wielding dual swords, with thrusts, upward slashes, downward strikes, and parries. But instead of blades, the bullets were fired from varying angles.

With a range far exceeding that of a blade, the pistols—despite their limited bullets and lower firepower—were even more unpredictable and deadly than conventional swordsmanship.

Qi Xuansu was quite fond of using firearms, but he had never seen such a technique before. Caught off guard, he was struck squarely in the face by a bullet. Although Zhang Yuelu managed to dodge, she was temporarily forced to retreat as well.

During this time, Ye Xiu’s subordinates arrived. Being the stronghold of the Beggar Gang, this place was populated with many skilled fighters.

Upon hearing Ye Xiu’s whistle, they rushed in one after another.

Like their boss, they were all adept at using firearms. Many of them used pistols and rifles of varying lengths.

At this moment, Qi Xuansu was closer to Ye Xiu, while Zhang Yuelu, having been forced back earlier, was nearer to the doorway.

The two Daoists exchanged glances without needing to speak and worked separately. Zhang Yuelu turned to fight Ye Xiu’s subordinates, while Qi Xuansu charged at Ye Xiu.

Although Qi Xuansu had been struck squarely in the face by a bullet, the Grade-B Series Six Dragon Eye Bullet was far inferior to the Grade-B Series One Dragon Eye Bullet. Moreover, Qi Xuansu had the resilient physique of a Martial Arts Practitioner, so the shot had not even penetrated his skull. Within moments, the wound had mostly healed.

Earlier, Ye Xiu had displayed unique gunmanship. However, its flaw was evident. He had already used up the 12 bullets. Qi Xuansu would not give him the time to reload and had already closed the distance between them.

Left with no choice, Ye Xiu discarded his pistols and faced Qi Xuansu’s Flying Shadow barehanded. He employed his signature move, the Five Directions Scatter Hand, his hands moving unpredictably, flipping and weaving like a blur.

After exchanging more than ten moves, Ye Xiu spotted an opening. Curling his fingers, he flicked them to deflect Flying Shadow and followed up by striking Qi Xuansu’s vital chest acupoint.

However, just as Ye Xiu’s fingertips were about to touch Qi Xuansu’s chest, he felt a sudden foreboding sensation and abruptly withdrew his hand, retreating several steps.

The next moment, a cold light gleamed. Qi Xuansu had already drawn Qing Yuan, nearly severing Ye Xiu’s hand.

Ye Xiu was startled. He relied on his ten fingers for most of his martial prowess, so losing one would not only prevent him from using firearms but also significantly weaken his combat ability.

In battles between masters, the margin for victory was always razor-thin, so an injury like this could essentially decide the outcome.

Ye Xiu dared not advance recklessly. He changed techniques, alternating between fists, claws, palm strikes, and other variations.

Qi Xuansu responded by sheathing his short sword and only wielding his blade, fully unleashing the Dayan Spirit Blade Technique.

After dozens of exchanges, Ye Xiu began to falter. His palms and the back of his hands were covered in bloody marks. Fighting barehanded against a weapon had its limitations. His strikes barely extended half a meter before he was forced to retract and take on a defensive position.

Qi Xuansu’s Flying Shadow slashed down swiftly.

Ye Xiu dared not block it head-on. As he retreated, he flung something from his sleeves toward Qi Xuansu.

Qi Xuansu's expression changed, and he leaped back quickly.

But it was too late. A flash of fire erupted as a Grade-B Series Two Phoenix Eye Bullet exploded, shattering Qi Xuansu’s qi shield and leaving him dazed. His vision darkened.

Having retreated earlier, Ye Xiu avoided the blast and seized the opportunity to attack, striking his arm horizontally toward Qi Xuansu’s temple.

Qi Xuansu barely managed to dodge the slap to the head. But his shoulder was struck, causing him to slide sideways.

Steadying himself, Qi Xuansu glanced at his shoulder where he had been struck. Five black finger marks were visible, as if seared by intense flames. There were even wisps of black smoke curling upward.

Ye Xiu disappeared in a flash, reappearing before Qi Xuansu with both palms descending upon his opponent.

Qi Xuansu dared not test the hardness of Ye Xiu’s palms with his own head. He bent backward to dodge and simultaneously unleashed the River Dragon Fist of the Tantai Fist Intention.

Caught off guard, Ye Xiu was swept off his feet, crashing heavily into the wall.

Qi Xuansu exhaled a turbid breath. He realized that while Ye Xiu’s cultivation was not particularly advanced, around the fifth level of the Guizhen stage, he was an exceptionally difficult opponent due to his experience in Jianghu.

In the past, Qi Xuansu had always been the one using firearms to ambush others. Today, he had met his match and was outmaneuvered by this Beggar King.

Fortunately, Qi Xuansu had the physique of a Martial Arts Practitioner. While he could not condense his spirit and body, the miraculous regenerative abilities were greatly enhanced, allowing his injuries to heal faster. Moreover, Ye Xiu, not being from the Daoist Order, also wielded inferior firearms.

Qi Xuansu held his blade in his left hand and drew the Divine Dragon Pistol with his right, aiming it at Ye Xiu.

On the other side, Zhang Yuelu was fighting alone against a crowd. Though she did not use the Amorphous Paper, her mastery of the Six Void Tribulations alone made her a tiger among sheep. Few could last a single move against her.

Having fought her way through Beichen Hall and Tiangang Hall, Zhang Yuelu was not a pampered young lady like Bai Xiaojin. She appeared to sweep her arm casually, but it was enough to crush the chest of an elite fighter in the Beggar Gang, leaving him on the brink of death.

She then grabbed his collar, injected some innate qi, and hurled him like a giant projectile. Two other beggars who were unable to dodge in time were struck and left half-dead.

After succeeding in her strike, Zhang Yuelu did not pause. Her figure flickered unpredictably. Several gunshots missed her entirely.

Zhang Yuelu approached a man holding a long rifle. With a casual grab, she twisted the rifle as if it were a washcloth.

An elderly man with white hair attacked Zhang Yuelu from behind with a saber, but Zhang Yuelu turned gracefully and extended her five fingers for another strike.

In an instant, the old man’s vision was filled with Zhang Yuelu’s fingers.

Her fair and slender hand moved like a coiling dragon. Her five fingers closed into a fist, generating a spiral gust that shot out like a leaping dragon, covering all of the old man’s vital points.

The old man felt his skin tighten. If he were an ordinary person, the mere gust carried by those five fingers would have shredded his skin and flesh before her palm even landed, leaving only bare bones. However, with his Yuxu-stage cultivation, he managed to dissipate most of the force.

Though he could withstand the external force of the gust, he could not withstand her fingers.

Zhang Yuelu was not a Martial Arts Practitioner, so her physique was not particularly robust. Therefore, she did not prefer to use punches or kicks. Instead, she enveloped her palm in a layer of Five Elements Qi Shield. Her five fingers pierced the old man’s face, leaving five bloody holes, yet her fingers remained untainted by blood.

Seeing Zhang Yuelu’s ruthless methods, the remaining beggars hesitated, holding their weapons but not daring to approach.

Zhang Yuelu was still concerned about Qi Xuansu’s situation, so she wasted no time, launching an attack with a single step.

In just one encounter, Zhang Yuelu claimed the lives of two men.

This was due to the overwhelming dominance of the Earthly Preceptor’s method, the Six Void Tribulations. It possessed three mystical traits, one of which was the ability to nullify all sources of energy, like innate qi, blood qi, divine power, or magical power.

These beggars already had lower cultivation levels than Zhang Yuelu, so they were stunned to find their qi dissipating into nothingness under the effects of Six Void Tribulations. Overwhelmed with terror and losing their composure, they perished under Zhang Yuelu’s hands before they returned to their senses.

A gunshot rang out.

Ye Xiu tried his best to dodge but was still shot in the knee. The Grade-B Series One Dragon Eye Bullet was far superior to the Grade-B Series Six Dragon Eye Bullet. Ye Xiu also lacked the robust physique of a Martial Arts Practitioner, so his knee was completely shattered. Unable to support his body any longer, he fell to one knee.

Qi Xuansu threw out his Divine Dragon Pistol like a boomerang and charged with his blade.

Ye Xiu quickly dodged the flying Divine Dragon Pistol but could not evade Qi Xuansu’s Flying Shadow. Left with no other option, the Beggar King hurriedly pleaded for mercy. “Please spare me!”

Qi Xuansu’s hand was steady. The blade of Flying Shadow had already traced a shallow red line across Ye Xiu’s neck but stopped short of his carotid arteries.

“Tell them to stop,” Qi Xuansu demanded, applying more pressure to deepen the red line across the Beggar King’s neck.

Ye Xiu dared not play any tricks and immediately shouted, “Everyone, stop!”

The beggars surrounding Zhang Yuelu were intimidated by her. Rather than an attack, it was more of a desperate attempt to stall her.

Thus, when they heard Ye Xiu’s order to stop, they did not hesitate in the slightest. They quickly retreated, distancing themselves from Zhang Yuelu as they feared losing their lives.

The battle had not lasted long, yet the ground was already littered with corpses, all slain by Zhang Yuelu.

Zhang Yuelu did not spare them a glance, remaining indifferent.

Her resolve to reform the Daoist Order did not mean she was a merciful saint. If she were, she would not have been able to save others, let alone herself. She would have long perished in the Daoist Order’s intense internal struggles.

Reformation included the redistribution of power and benefits. Who would willingly surrender the power and benefits they already possess? Thus, changing the Daoist Order was not a matter of idle discussions in the Golden Tower Council. It was a life-and-death struggle, accompanied by bloodshed and relentless battles—a one-way road with no retreat.

Pampered flowerbed Daoists could not accomplish such a feat.

Only a wild Daoist like Qi Xuansu, who had climbed up from the bottom, could achieve this.

Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu exchanged a glance. Zhang Yuelu walked to Ye Xiu’s side, placed her hand on his shoulder, and used the Six Void Tribulations on him, temporarily sealing his cultivation.

Only then did Qi Xuansu have a moment to stoop down to pick up his Divine Dragon Pistol.

Ye Xiu’s expression was complex as he trembled. “Who are you people?”

Zhang Yuelu replied coolly, “Beggar King, please come with us to Tiangang Hall for tea.”