Chapter 355 176: A Word Worth 9 Tripods

The disciples of the Thunderbolt Hall froze on the spot. When the light from Jiang Ran's saber dissipated, they collapsed to the ground, their bodies split apart.

Jiang Ran clicked his tongue. He had just dealt with a minor but persistent threat.

After this battle, the Thunderbolt Hall would never have the chance to put on an act in front of him again.

Of course, this matter was likely not over yet.

But for now, he had no time to go to the Thunderbolt Hall and call them to account. If he did, he would have to find their great Hall Master first.

With this in mind, he glanced in the direction where the other Thunderbolt Hall disciples had fled.

He saw that Scholar Jingtan and the others had already slaughtered them all.

Turning back, he saw Xuanyuan One Slash standing not far away, holding the Qianjun Saber and watching him.

Their eyes met, and Jiang Ran grinned.

"Senior Xuanyuan, why are you staring at me like that?"

"Were you doing that on purpose just now?"

Xuanyuan One Slash's eyebrow twitched. "Was it to lure these people out?"

"You're wise, Senior."

Jiang Ran looked at Xuanyuan One Slash, unable to suppress a smile. He was starting to feel this old man was quite interesting.

He was blunt and straightforward, direct and decisive in his actions—the complete opposite of Chen Zixuan.

"Who needs your flattery?"

Xuanyuan One Slash took a deep breath.

"Make your move. Let's fight again!"

The situation had been decided, and everyone had already noticed the two men standing together. They had been straining their ears to hear what they would say.

Now, hearing that Xuanyuan One Slash wanted to fight again, all eyes shot toward them.

"So be it."

Jiang Ran did not refuse. After all, regardless of his reasons for agreeing to fight Xuanyuan One Slash last night, a promise was a promise and could not be broken under any circumstances.

He smiled faintly.

"However, you are my senior, after all."

"How about this? I, your junior, will make a single strike. If you can neutralize it… then we'll consider today's matter settled."

"Settled?"

Xuanyuan One Slash nearly cursed out loud. He had wasted half a day's effort and lost many of his brothers. Who wanted to just call it settled?

"Senior, watch closely."

Jiang Ran paid no mind to Xuanyuan One Slash's thoughts.

His gaze hardened, and his blade slid slowly from its sheath.

The strike seemed straightforward, almost completely devoid of any fancy moves.

Xuanyuan One Slash was still trying to understand it when he suddenly caught a trace of something in the corner of his eye… a mark…

This mark was like a chasm.

It was like the simplest truth in the world.

It was also the most normal thing in the martial world.

But the moment that mark was seared into his mind, countless moves flashed through his thoughts.

Beads of sweat the size of beans appeared on his forehead, mingling with the rain as they fell to the ground.

VMM!!

The blade stopped at Xuanyuan One Slash's neck.

Xuanyuan One Slash had never even drawn his saber.

Because no matter how he might have struck, the outcome would have been no different.

He couldn't block it!

He stared at Jiang Ran with vacant eyes.

"What… what saber technique is this?"

"The Mark of the Line Between Life and Death. The mark lies with me, not with you."

"The Great Master named this move the Mark of Life and Death. What do you think, Senior Xuanyuan?"

Jiang Ran slowly pulled back his Gilded Saber and returned it to its sheath.

Xuanyuan One Slash's eyes were tightly shut. He only opened them after a long moment.

He let out a long breath.

"What a Mark of Life and Death!"

"To think such a saber technique exists in this world. I have no complaints about my defeat."

"It was Chen Zixuan's great honor to have died at the hands of someone like you!"

"You're too kind, Senior."

Jiang Ran smiled. "We had a prior agreement. If I won this battle, all previous matters would be written off. How about we bury the hatchet?"

"Bury the hatchet?"

Xuanyuan One Slash burst into laughter.

Jiang Ran's eyebrow twitched. 'Is this old man planning to go back on his word?'

But after he finished laughing, Xuanyuan One Slash suddenly dropped to his knees with the force of a toppling mountain.

"You made your promise, and I made mine."

"If you lost, you would become my disciple and take care of me in my old age."

"If I lost, I would become your disciple and take care of you in yours… though that latter part is probably impossible."

"But I'm the one who gave my word about becoming your disciple! When I say something, it's set in stone. There's no going back on it!"

"Honored Master, please accept my bow!!"

After speaking, he prepared to kowtow!

The scene unfolding before them made everyone's jaws drop.

Jiang Ran's stunningly brilliant strike was already shocking enough.

Dao Wuming, Ning Jiuyuan, and the others hadn't even recovered from the shock of that strike, and now Xuanyuan One Slash was about to take him as a master.

They all looked at each other, completely bewildered.

One must understand that the most famous powers in the Golden Cicada Martial World were the One Sect, Two Assemblies, Five Swords, Seven Sects, and Thirteen Gangs!

The Blood Saber Hall was one of the Thirteen Gangs, one of the top powers in the martial world.

As the Hall Master of the Blood Saber Hall, Xuanyuan One Slash's fame was beyond what any ordinary person could compare to.

He had dominated the martial world his entire life, and now, near the end of it all, he was going to take a young man as his master.

This was not just stunning; it was also strangely admirable.

To be such a man of his word—no wonder the Blood Saber Hall was counted among the Thirteen Gangs.

The others hadn't expected it, and neither had Jiang Ran.

Looking at Xuanyuan One Slash, who seemed even older than Old Drunkard, Jiang Ran quickly reached out to help him up.

"Senior Xuanyuan, wait! I am young and inexperienced. With my meager skills, how could I dare be your master?"

"That was just a joke before. Please don't take it seriously, Senior!"

"Preposterous!!"

Xuanyuan One Slash was furious. "I have roamed this world my entire life and have never once gone back on my word! If you don't let me become your disciple today, then you'll have to kill me!!"

"If you really do it, then it will just be you cleaning house."

"All disciples of the Blood Saber Hall, listen up! This man is my Honored Master!"

"If he wants to kill me, it is his absolute right! None of you are to show him the slightest disrespect!"

"After I die, everyone in the Blood Saber Hall, from top to bottom, will revere him above all! Anyone who dares to disobey will be chopped up and fed to the dogs!!"