Chapter 165: Ambush

It was still dark when they left the Demon Suppression Bureau.

The streets were empty and desolate.

Mo Tang could tell Lu Bai had been unhappy about handing over the Storage Pouch for nothing, so she said, "Xiaolu, don’t worry about it. The things in that Corpse Refining Sect cultivator’s Storage Pouch were probably useless anyway.

Once we get to the Evil Extermination Bureau, there are plenty of good things inside—Cultivation and Martial Techniques, elixirs. You can pick whatever you like.

Besides, you’ve earned more merit this time. It won’t just be recorded at our Evil Extermination Bureau; the Demon Suppression Bureau will have it on record too."

"Mm."

Lu Bai nodded and asked, "Does the bureau have any Celestial Tier Techniques or Ultimate Skills? Even a fragment would be fine."

Mo Tang shook her head. "We don’t have anything like that. We do, however, have an Earth Tier Technique for the Innate Realm that would suit you: the *Fiery Sun Technique*. It’s the Cultivation Technique both Xiaohe and I practice."

Lu Bai was slightly disappointed.

’I still have to find a way to get my hands on a Celestial Tier Technique or an Ultimate Skill.’

’But that stuff is far too rare.’

Forget Ultimate Skills; even Celestial Tier Techniques were incredibly rare.

"Brother Lu, to gain Viewing access to the Earth Tier Technique, the *Fiery Sun Technique*, you normally have to kill evil spirits and complete a few missions at the bureau."

He Liangzhi said with a smile, "The Chief is pulling some strings for you."

"KREEE!"

Just then, Ah Ming suddenly let out a sharp cry.

A warning flashed through Lu Bai’s mind.

Two masked men suddenly burst out of a dark alley beside them. Wielding Long Sabers and radiating killing intent, they charged straight for the three of them!

At the same time, two more figures appeared—one in front, one behind—both dressed in black for the night.

One held a longsword, the other dual spears. Their faces were hidden, revealing only pairs of vicious, glittering eyes.

The four attackers came from three directions, surrounding Lu Bai and his companions!

"Hm?"

Mo Tang’s expression changed.

’Someone actually dares to attack members of the Evil Extermination Bureau in Jingzhou City!’

’This wasn’t some ordinary roadside robbery.’

’She was wearing her Morning Attire; the enemy must have recognized it.’

’This ambush was clearly targeting them!’

’Judging by their skills, all four were Innate Martial Artists.’

If she were at full strength, killing four Innate Martial Artists would be child’s play.

She would have even sensed them before they appeared.

But right now, forget four Innate Martial Artists.

A single Innate Martial Artist could probably kill all three of them!

He Liangzhi was in no better shape than she was.

And Lu Bai hadn’t even reached the Innate Realm.

The situation was critical!

Mo Tang snapped, "Fight your way out! Don’t worry about me!"

"It’s fine. This is a good chance to see who sent them."

Lu Bai was perfectly calm, his voice even.

Mo Tang suddenly remembered the Tier Three Exotic Beast Chongming Bird at Lu Bai’s side, and her heart eased slightly. ’I almost forgot about that Exotic Beast,’ she thought.

In the blink of an eye, the two men from the alley were upon them.

SHIING!

The Cyan Cloud Sword was unsheathed!

A crimson light flared, piercing the darkness like the first rays of dawn.

CLANG!

Sword met saber, sending sparks flying!

CRACK!

The two incoming Long Sabers were instantly sliced in two by the sword’s edge!

As a Supreme Divine Weapon, the Cyan Cloud Sword was unbelievably sharp.

Even if Lu Bai couldn’t yet unleash the full power of the Cyan Cloud Sword, its edge was far beyond what ordinary Lower or Middle Grade Treasure Artifacts could withstand.

With their Long Sabers shattered, the two masked men shuddered, their eyes flashing with shock.

In that instant of stunned surprise, Lu Bai changed his Sword Move.

A single strike: *Meteor Chasing the Moon*!

Of the eight Sword Moves in the *Red Ming Celestial Patrol*, this was the fastest.

The Swordsmanship was formless—able to slash, shave, stab, or flick upwards.

A flash of sword light.

SHLICK!

The Cyan Cloud Sword instantly slit the two masked men’s throats, blood spraying forth!

The two attackers from the front and rear had just closed in when they saw this, and they were utterly shocked.

Two Innate Martial Artists, killed by that young man in a single exchange!

"Watch out for his weapon!"

The sword-wielding masked man shouted a warning.

SWISH SWISH SWISH!

The other masked man, wielding dual spears, instantly unleashed a dozen spear-shadows—a baffling mix of real and illusory attacks.

Lu Bai pushed Mo Tang and He Liangzhi aside. Activating his Eye of Illusion, he instantly saw through the man’s spear movements. The Cyan Cloud Sword hummed as he unleashed a slash both forward and backward!

The Cyan Cloud Sword’s Blood Prohibition Power erupted, unleashing two blood-colored halos.

The Sword Moves of the *Red Ming Celestial Patrol*, meanwhile, were the epitome of hardness and pure yang.

The body of the sword seemed to burn as if forged in fire, turning completely red.

Wherever the edge passed, a crimson-gold sword light erupted!

*Burning the Eight Desolates*!

This was an area-of-effect attack from the *Red Ming Celestial Patrol*, capable of striking enemies in all eight directions simultaneously.

Lu Bai hadn’t unleashed it in all eight directions, only to his front and rear.

Even so, the two masked men didn’t dare to block the attack head-on, both dodging to avoid the edge of the Cyan Cloud Sword.

Just then, Lu Bai suddenly let out a great roar.

"ROAR!"

The roar of a tiger echoed!

The Silence Shocking Secret Technique erupted!

Both men shuddered, their Body Techniques momentarily freezing.

THWACK! THWACK!

A flash of bloody light!

The spear-wielding masked man was disemboweled by Lu Bai’s sword. Filthy blood and Internal Organs scattered across the ground as his body was thrown back, already dead.

The other man’s longsword was shattered by Lu Bai’s Cyan Cloud Sword. Lu Bai then turned the blade and flicked it lightly across the man’s wrist.

HSSS!

The tendons in his wrist were severed!

"Aargh!"

The man screamed. Just as he was about to turn and flee, he felt a violent tremor from the ground beneath his feet.

It was as if a great dragon was bursting from the earth; he lost his balance and nearly fell.

Before he could regain his footing, sharp pain shot through the joints in his shoulder, neck, and hips. Despite having a body full of Innate True Qi, he couldn’t muster any strength and collapsed limply to the ground.

Lu Bai used *Vajra Earth Splitting* to appear behind the man in an instant. Sheathing his Cyan Cloud Sword, he performed the *Eight-armed Dragon Tamer*, Tearing Sinews and Shattering Bones to dislocate several of the man’s joints.

Mo Tang’s mouth fell slightly agape.

She had seen Lu Bai’s methods the night they pursued Dou Kuan.

Barely half a month had passed, yet Lu Bai’s combat prowess had already risen to another level!

And this was while facing a siege by four Innate Martial Artists.

Although he had the advantage of a superior weapon, this was still completely beyond her imagination.

"Take him back to the Evil Extermination Bureau!"

Mo Tang quickly snapped out of her stupor and said in a grave voice.

Lu Bai nodded. Just as he was about to haul the man up, a sharp, piercing sound of something slicing through the air reached his ears.

Without a second thought, he dropped and rolled.

TING! TING! TING!

The sound of metal striking stone rang out behind him.

Lu Bai glanced out of the corner of his eye.

A dozen short arrows had landed where he was just standing, more than half of them buried deep in the street’s stone pavers.

The remaining few had pinned the masked man to the ground, killing him instantly!

Mo Tang’s expression flickered. "Mechanical Technique?" she murmured.

Lu Bai narrowed his eyes.

’Killing their own man to silence him. How ruthless!’

Before he could react, another figure shot down from the roof beams to the side. His body was suffused with Blood Qi that seemed to be burning, making him look like a ball of fire!

’Blood Qi like flames... A True Master of the Martial Dao!’

Lu Bai’s heart went cold.

He cultivated two great Ultimate Skills and possessed Divine Power. Dealing with ordinary Innate Martial Artists wasn’t a major issue for him.

But against a True Master of the Martial Dao, the gap was too vast. He didn’t stand a chance.

"Ah Ming!"

Lu Bai shouted.

"KREEEEEE!"

Ah Ming understood. It leaped into the air, crying out to the heavens. Its iridescent wings spread wide, its scarlet crest looked ready to drip blood, and its golden beak gleamed as it pounced on the mid-air True Master of the Martial Dao!