Dao Equaling the Heavens

At midnight, a dark shadow flipped over the high wall.

Gu Wen landed lightly; at this moment, he had already changed into a black outfit, his face covered, and a hat perched on his head.

He glanced back at the three-meter-high wall behind him; jumping down from such a height seemed like descending a single step—only through personal experience could one comprehend the profoundness of his movement technique.

With his mana fortified and the spell circulating, his Moonset Step at the First Level made him as light as a swallow.

Following his memory, Gu Wen hurried through the alley; the night in Bianjing was silent and somber with a persistent drizzle, while in the distance, Dragon Bridge flourished with singing and dancing, intoxicated in revelry.

Moonset Step made no noise, and Gu Wen ran tirelessly; every bit of physical energy consumed was offset by the circulation of mana driven by his foundation, theoretically allowing him to run indefinitely as long as his mana was sufficient.

About two hours later, Gu Wen arrived south of the city, only a kilometer away from the gambling hall in a straight line.

Yet, taking various turns and bends, it took him another stick of incense in time.

Suddenly, a figure appeared at the corner ahead, poorly clothed, sallow-faced, hiding from the rain in the alley corner, seemingly a beggar from nowhere.

Gu Wen paid no attention; he continued moving forward, his pace swift and abnormal for an ordinary onlooker.

But what of it? He had encountered numerous beggars and displaced persons in the alleys, all too busy avoiding government officers, let alone reporting to authorities.

Those government officers, each one with a General's belly, wouldn't bother with what a commoner had to say; fabricating a merit by committing murder could be likely.

One cannot apply modern experiences to view a gradually crumbling ancient society.

Daqian was fundamentally born from chaos, everyone striving to survive on their own.

Gu Wen was no exception, except he walked a righteous path.

Near the gambling hall, Hu Sanyuan's home was easy to recognize with its brightly lit entrance and two stone lions standing sentinel.

It was clearly the estate of a high court official, likely having fallen victim to power struggles, dead or exiled. Gu Wen's mansion came the same way; decades ago, merchants could not afford such residences, and on the first day he moved in, he had dismantled the facade that once belonged to the elites.

He wondered whether Hu Sanyuan was reckless, foolish, or if the social order had deteriorated to such a chaotic state.

Gu Wen could only sigh, "Daqian is doomed."

He vaulted into the courtyard where footsteps approached; enhanced by the Jade-eyed Water Wave Pearl amid the rain or water, even from dozens of meters away, Gu Wen could tell there were two men, their steps heavy, likely guards.

Gu Wen did not evade; carrying a wooden stick, he briskly walked forward, his senses sharp, the Jade-eyed Water Wave Pearl emitting brilliance, raindrops turning the stick into a spear tip, dark red Gang Qi adhering to it.

A hundred steps distance, fifty steps, twenty... ten... one!

At the corner, their faces met, a spear pierced through the throat, skin and cloth entangled, blood spraying, the lantern in hand falling to the ground.

With a flick of the spear, tearing skin and vessels, it plunged into another man's chest; his mouth agape, but Gu Wen grasping it, whispered, "Don't breathe, your lungs are shattered, breathing will only hasten your death."

The guard's eyes widened in terror, fear filling his gaze, but his internal organs were shattered by the Gang Qi, dying instantly, eyes still open.

The lantern on the ground slowly extinguished in the fine rain, gone in three seconds.

Two strong men, dead instantly.

The nature of the subordinates reflects that of the master. Hu Sanyuan, running a bank and pawnshop with usurious loans, was unmistakably a gangster-like figure; could his men be any different, pure as White Lotus?

In these cannibalistic times, killing was normal, and being killed was also normal.

Yet, Gu Wen had not even a slight flicker of emotion, if any, only joy—delight in his mastery of power.

Previously, he could never imagine himself killing two people within three seconds, a feat only heard of among high-level martial artists in tales of Jianghu.

Gu Wen stood up, flicked the blood off his hands, glanced at his somewhat distorted spear tip, and thought, "The form-shifting hardness of the Jade-eyed Water Wave Pearl is limited, good for carrying, but I still need to find a more suitable weapon."

The true use of the Jade-eyed Water Wave Pearl was to have sensory enhancement and accelerated cultivation in water-abundant areas.

Continuing forward, he passed the side rooms and headed straight for the main residence.

Houses in Bianjing varied wildly, but the estates of officials and dignitaries were mostly similar in layout.

On this rainy night, there were few patrols; as Gu Wen passed a side room where guards lived, he could hear the sound of dice playing.

The residence was brightly lit, despite the late hour.

Gu Wen arrived at the door, noting the intensifying rain, each drop falling more clearly and loudly.

Such was no reason for stealth; he had no intention of acting like a mere thief. With power, one should not become arrogant but also not utterly dismiss one's capabilities.

Bang!

The door was kicked open, the thunderous rain masking the noise, the candlelight inside snuffed out by the wind, darkness engulfing the space as two glaring gazes shot through.

Whoosh!

A flying dagger hurled from the shadows; Gu Wen, having formed a watery shield upon entry, saw the dagger deflected by its slick surface, embedding in a beam.

The watery shield was sliced open, its defense against sharp weapons still problematic.

Spirit light flared in Gu Wen's eyes, his gaze piercing the darkness, finding Hu Sanyuan bound and gagged in a chair, facing away from the bed.

Seeing Gu Wen, despair flashed across his eyes, quickly replaced by joy.

Above the bed, a man and a woman were in the midst of pleasure, which Gu Wen had no interest in; he felt the mana emanating from the man.

An initiate of the world, he had encountered a colleague.

The man had also noticed Gu Wen, but instead of acting immediately, he covered the woman with a blanket, speaking to her in an exceptionally gentle voice to calm her into unconsciousness, "My dear, don't be afraid. We just have a guest. I'll attend to it shortly."

"Hmph!!!"

Hu Sanyuan let out a muffled scream, as his mouth was gagged, and the sound of the rain outside overwhelmed his efforts.

That is my wife!

"This wretch is naturally vile, and it's in these troubled times he found a good wife, yet he doesn't cherish her, beating and scolding her day and night. Meanwhile, I got along so well with the lady that I took her in, and when he stumbled upon us, I had no choice but to tie him up. If Fellow Daoist seeks to dispense justice, I'm afraid you've come to the wrong place..."

The mysterious man rose from the bed, and just as his words ceased, a cold glint arrived first, a flying knife he held between his fingers attempting to deflect it, but it was shaken off by the external Gang Qi.

He could have dodged, but instead he stood firm, protecting the woman behind him.

The spearhead touched his brow, yet no blood blossomed, instead a shattered golden light.

Gu Wen stepped back two steps, his heart filled with suspicion, suspecting that the opponent possessed some kind of treasure.

But he had no plan to retreat; since it was a case of black-eat-black and encountering a colleague meant fighting, having been attacked first also allowed him to claim self-defense.

Another thrust of his spear sent the mysterious man crashing against the wall; he had intended to block, but did not anticipate the surprising strength of Gu Wen. He had seen the spear's Gang Qi and knew to be wary of it, but strength was not something mere caution could prevent.

The mysterious man flipped over, spreading his hands, and a silver spear appeared out of thin air, parrying Gu Wen's renewed assault.

Bang!

The two clashed, sparks illuminating the moment.

Gu Wen employed the Xuanming Spear Skill with overpowering might, emphasizing overwhelming power with singular force, while the mysterious man's style was agile, his moves intricate, the silver spear flexible yet firm, flicking and quivering like a silver serpent escaping its hole.

The opponent was also a spear expert, and the weapon in his hand must be a Spiritual Treasure.

But nonetheless inferior to me.

First Level Dao Foundation!

Second Level Dao Foundation!

External Xuanming Gang Qi!

Mana surged within Gu Wen as his peak-level spear Gang Qi vibrated, a thrust encompassed by roaring wind and waves, the mysterious man hastily maneuvered to dodge; though the thrust missed the mark, the long spear swept across.

Bang!

The mysterious man was flung away, the doors and windows shattered like paper, and the sky coincidentally flashed with a startling thunder.

Rolling thrice, the man, like a nimble macaque, stabilized his stance, and spitting out a mouthful of blood, he praised, "Excellent spear Gang Qi, excellent spear technique, the tenth on the People's Ranking, White Saint Hee Huan, may I ask your distinguished name?"

At that moment, Gu Wen, his face covered by a hat, held a dark red long spear wrapped in external Gang Qi, and slowly stepped into the rain.

His voice was deep and hoarse from the mana suppression, accompanied by flashes of lightning and relentless rain.

"Heaven, Earth, and People Rankings, I have not been listed."

One lives this life for fame, kings and generals, heroes through the ages, for most, the ultimate pursuit is almost always to leave their name in history.

When will you reach the top of the People's Ranking, the pinnacle of the Earth Ranking?

A soft whisper arose by his ear, like that day on the Dragon Bridge when the Heavenly Immortal had descended, he yearned for her transcendence, her power over emperors, her strength, her status.

The Three Rankings of Heaven, Earth, and People are valuable assets.

Beyond immortality is to determine the heights among all beings.

Gu Wen was not indifferent to fame; he too was a common man—fearful, fearful of holding a position unworthy of his moral stature, the frailty of his original body, his identity as a household servant, everything felt like shackles depriving him of breath.

He thought he was indifferent, but seeing this man, who seemed inferior to him, also ranked tenth on the People's Ranking, he couldn't suppress the thoughts within.

First on the People's Ranking, at the pinnacle of the Earth Ranking.

He clenched his long spear even tighter, feeling as if sensing the rekindled spirit of its master, the dark red Gang Qi burned fiercely like fire, his mastery beyond the original Fourth Level Xuanming Spear Gang Qi pulsated, resonating with the Qi Sea Jade Sword.

He understood Sword Intent, naturally, he could grasp spear intent.

Learning one achieves all, the Fifth Level Xuanming Spear, Xuanming Spear Intent, everything falls into place!

"And how may I address Fellow Daoist?"

Hee Huan stood with his spear, feeling the tsunami-like combat intent; although he did not understand why the other was so fervent, almost like a ferocious ancient beast breaking free, he likely was a martial fanatic.

But he knew he must give his all, both out of respect for a strong opponent and for his own life.

"I came from the Red Dust seeking immortality, I am known as Red Dust."

"Disciple of the Yin Yang Dual Qi Sect, current successor, my Daoist name is White Saint, please enlighten me."

Boom!

The two figures, faster than the lightning, flashed by, brushing past as swiftly as fate itself.