Chapter 783: Ren Jie’s Rules

The outbreak of border conflicts and the emergence of the rank system drew the attention of all martial artists, whether from gangs or individuals. They flocked to understand the system behind the “Imperial Proclamation” mission, somewhat dampening the shock caused by the sudden appearance of Ximen Chuixue’s disciple, Ren Jie.

Yet…
Yipin Tang never ceased its efforts to recruit Ximen Chuixue’s disciples!
It was rare these days to see another warrior as powerful as the Emperor or Kai Xin, and Meng Yun refused to miss such an opportunity. Huang Sha and Jian Piao were still among the top experts at the Silver Fox level.

That day…
In the same alley, outside Ximen Chuixue’s residence, several people arrived.
A man in white robes, wielding a three-foot-long sword, stood proudly and coldly on the street outside the door, shouting inward in a deep voice:
“Jian Piao, leader of the White Robes Sect, has come to witness the mastery of Ximen Chuixue’s successor…”

“…”
The rhythmic sound of drawing a sword inside the courtyard stopped abruptly, followed by a cold young voice: “Do you know the rules?”
Those outside felt a chill.
These days, countless people had come to invite Ximen Chuixue’s disciples to fight, but because Ren Jie was proud and ignored them, many even tried to force him to appear under the pretense of seeking advice. All of them died…
Now, hardly anyone remained outside!
With an unchanging expression, Jian Piao calmly uttered two words:
“Duel.”
Only a duel permitted by the system could exempt Ren Jie from punishment for killing within the city. Thus, those who didn’t request a duel couldn’t see him.
Jian Piao was a true warrior. Understanding this, he came to see for himself just how extraordinary Ximen Chuixue’s swordsmanship was, the legendary “fastest sword in the world,” and to gauge the Emperor’s sword skills… to see if there was a chance to surpass him.

Creak!
The door opened.
The mysterious young man Ren Jie still carried his icy demeanor, but after killing many famous warriors and top-ranked experts in the capital over the past few days, an invisible chill radiated from him, and his gaze toward others grew even colder.
When his eyes fell on Jian Piao, it was as if he were looking at a dead man…

“…”
Feeling Ren Jie’s somewhat arrogant gaze, Jian Piao frowned slightly, annoyed.

He had practiced martial arts for many years. Though he was surprised by a young man who had spent a year diligently practicing swordsmanship in games starting at sixteen without stepping outside, the surprise wasn’t enough to make him look up to him. He had seen Ren Jie draw his sword and experienced it from a first-person perspective. Although he couldn’t react quickly enough, that didn’t mean he couldn’t defend himself. Even though the once-famous “Rainy Night Asura” had been defeated and killed, Jian Piao remained full of confidence. Some moves allowed one to judge the enemy’s actions from subtle details before attacking and parry in advance! That was a kind of pride—a mindset of strength that others couldn’t understand or possess. But for Ren Jie, this imposing martial artist before him was no different from others… Practicing drawing and swinging his sword daily for a year had brought him to a state of calmness, allowing him to deeply understand the essence of his swordsmanship. But since yesterday, he had made further progress! He realized that his master had arranged this duel to train his swordsmanship and elevate it to a higher level… Before, his sword was driven by a strong desire for revenge—full of killing intent but lacking true murderous purpose. His will and sword intent hadn’t fully merged because his practice targets had always been dummy targets, not real people… After killing more than a dozen experts yesterday, Ren Jie gained deeper insights and gained a better understanding and trust in his sword, enabling him to make a breakthrough at will. Now, he was faster, with a sharper sword glow! “Duel!” “I accept!” Both of them were quiet people. After Ren Jie opened the door, he immediately proposed a duel, and the other party accepted. A golden flag descended from the sky and vanished soon after. A duel meant fairness and justice—no equipment would be lost upon death, nor would one become weakened, but it would affect one’s ranking! “You may strike now.” Ren Jie stepped down from the steps, his gaze cold and his tone calm. Jian Piao refused not to fight. No one, not even the Emperor or others before, had been able to withstand Ren Jie’s sword strike. Once Ren Jie drew his sword, it meant the battle was over. “Wait!” Just then, the sound of horse hooves approached rapidly from afar. The rider dismounted and landed near the two of them. “…” Ren Jie was stunned. He glanced at the newcomer, who appeared to be in his twenties, with an ordinary appearance but a sinister look, and his way of dismounting was unrestrained.

He had seen this man online before—Huang Sha, the deputy head of Yipin Tang, a highly skilled expert. Although he wasn’t ranked on the Dragon List recently, his reputation had soared ever since he returned to the Central Plains, making him the top expert in Yipin Tang!
“Brother Ren, let’s not rush into a duel. First, take a look at what I’ve brought for you. These people are a small gift from Yipin Tang…” Huang Sha smiled wickedly and clapped his hands, immediately after which a group of Yipin Tang disciples pushed a few people forward.
When Ren Jie saw those familiar faces avoiding his gaze, his eyes narrowed sharply, and a faint killing intent spread around him. In that instant, his hand grasped the hilt of his sword…
“!”
At the peak of his fury, Ren Jie stopped drawing his sword. His gaze turned icy as he glanced at Huang Sha, who showed a hint of surprise. “I don’t want anyone to interfere in my affairs,” he said, his tone laced with anger.
“Don’t misunderstand. When they heard about you, they tried to run away but were caught by our men… Our headmaster admires your talents and hopes you’ll join Yipin Tang. These enemies of yours are just a small welcome gift from us. As for rewards, our headmaster said that aside from the position of headmaster, anything else—take it!” As the deputy head of Yipin Tang, Huang Sha wasn’t afraid at all in the face of Ren Jie’s anger and continued to smile.
After hearing this, the anger in Ren Jie’s eyes gradually subsided…
He scanned the faces of his enemies, who kept avoiding his gaze, with disdain. “It’s been a year, and you’re still so weak…”
“Get lost. I’ll come for your lives when I have time.” Ren Jie wasn’t in a hurry to seek revenge, knowing these people had no chance against him. He could take his revenge anytime he wanted.
“Take them away.”
Huang Sha smiled and ordered his men to take those people away without hesitation. Then he turned his gaze back to Ren Jie. “Brother, consider my offer?”
“As long as Yipin Tang has someone who can take a strike from me without dying, I’ll agree to your request,” Ren Jie replied, speaking for the first time.