Before Daniel Davis arrived in this world, Ning Daoqi was an object of admiration for countless people. Virtually no one dared to show him any disrespect. As soon as Zhu Yuyan heard the sound of Ning Daoqi's flute, she would retreat. The reason the Devil Sect was consistently suppressed by Cihang Jingzhai was largely due to Ning Daoqi's immense contributions.
However, after Daniel Davis arrived, everything changed. It was as if he had been knocked down from the highest heavens to the dust. This immense psychological contrast, even for someone with Ning Daoqi's strong mind, was difficult to bear. His mental state was shattered, and his strength significantly diminished. If, before, Ning Daoqi could compete with Bi Xuan and Fu Cailin, the three of them had once fought each other, as back then they were the only three Grandmasters in the world. Even to test their martial arts, they would occasionally spar. In the later Roundtable Night Banquet Grandmaster Battle, Ning Daoqi was slightly superior to Bi Xuan and Fu Cailin.
But now, Ning Daoqi had become the weakest of the Grandmasters. This created a huge grudge, particularly for someone like Ning Daoqi, who aspired to break through the void. This grudge was more than just a personal offense—it was a barrier to his path. To Ning Daoqi, it was a grudge greater than the destruction of his entire family.
Such a deep hatred even stirred enormous killing intent in Ning Daoqi's heart. Despite his usual adherence to the Taoist philosophy of "wu wei" (non-action), he couldn't ignore the desire to kill Daniel Davis. The so-called "wu wei" philosophy is conditional. Take, for instance, the Four Great Saints of the Buddhist sect, who appear to be detached, never having killed anyone. But just by looking at their top-tier Grandmaster status, it's clear that this cannot be the result of mere seclusion. They must have vast resources and combat experience.
Similarly, a Grandmaster, even if isolated, could be cultivated through resources, though these experts often lack battle experience, making it difficult for them to fully utilize their powers. This was the case with Yun Zhongjun of the Yin Yang family, one of their five elders, who failed when fighting the young Shaoyu duo.
The Four Great Saints had the strength to chase down Shi Zhi Xuan, but such power could not have emerged from a secluded life.
Ning Daoqi's greatest desire was to kill Daniel Davis, not just him, but also Fan Qinghui, Li Shimin, and others shared this sentiment. Even Fu Cailin of Goguryeo harbored the same thought.
However, wanting to act on it and actually being able to act were two very different things. Regardless of Daniel Davis's own strength, the forces around him were not something Ning Daoqi could contend with. If he couldn't kill Daniel Davis, he would have to deal with Duan Lang, the Buddhist enemy.
At this point, it is said that Ning Daoqi regretted his actions, especially after learning that the so-called Cihang Sword Classic was merely a censored version of the Devil Sect's ideas. This realization only fueled his anger, but it was too late now. He could only continue down this path.
"You, what about you? I've seen many shameless people, but I've never seen someone as shameless as you. How dare you call yourself the number one Grandmaster of the Central Plains? It's truly disgusting."
Ning Daoqi's eyes flashed with killing intent. He certainly sensed the taunting in Duan Lang's words, and at the same time, Duan Lang's heart was filled with boundless killing intent. Just thinking about the actions of Cihang Jingzhai and others made him want to kill Ning Daoqi right there.
If Cihang Jingzhai really cared about the world, they wouldn't have ignored the barbarians, the Five Hu, Sixteen Kingdoms, and the subsequent void-breaking events. The Cihang Jingzhai of Qin Mengyao's era still had some merit, but now…
Originally, Daniel Davis had made plans to deal with Ning Daoqi himself. His plan was to personally eliminate him, but now that Ning Daoqi had found his shadow clone, the plan had to be slightly modified.
"So, this is Ning Daoqi? I never imagined he would look like this."
When Duan Lang and Ning Daoqi confronted each other in front of the North Bawang Gang's gate in Shanhai County, many people, after hearing their conversation, started pointing at Ning Daoqi, their words blunt and unkind.
This wasn't just the people of the Central Plains; there were also members from the outer territories present. Throughout any era or nation, collaborating with foreigners was always frowned upon.
Among the people from the Central Plains in Shanhai County, they loathed Ning Daoqi the most. Having done business in both the Central Plains and outer territories for many years, they understood a crucial difference—whether or not one had a powerful nation behind them. Their circumstances were entirely different.
When the Sui Dynasty was strong, combined with Shi Zhi Xuan's strategy that caused the Turkic tribes to split into Eastern and Western Turks, the treatment of Central Plains merchants in the outer territories was far better than it is now. Back then, if bandits attacked, they could go to the authorities for help. Now, if robbed, they could only accept their fate.
If it had been Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, Xu Kaishan would have been dealt with long ago for such arrogance.
Though many merchants in Shanhai County were smugglers, it didn't mean they lacked honor. The fall of the powerful Sui Dynasty, and the subsequent inability to turn to the authorities, made them realize that Cihang Jingzhai and Ning Daoqi were to blame.
Moreover, the casualties caused by the fall of the Sui Dynasty, with seventy-two routes of smoke causing the deaths of millions, was also on Cihang Jingzhai and Ning Daoqi's hands. The bloody numbers were the most direct evidence.
Through Daniel Davis's persistent efforts to spread the truth, Ning Daoqi's reputation finally fell into the dust.
Duan Lang's words and the surrounding whispers thoroughly enraged Ning Daoqi. As a Grandmaster-level expert, even though the voices around him were soft, they didn't escape his ears.
"You're looking for death."
Furious, Ning Daoqi no longer displayed his usual Taoist elegance. Anyone's reputation would suffer under such public humiliation, and it was impossible to maintain the same state of mind. Now, Ning Daoqi just wanted to kill Duan Lang, the one who had humiliated him.
As the words left his mouth, Ning Daoqi's figure seemed to grow taller, and his hands moved rapidly, striking various postures, while the sounds of birds echoed throughout the street, signaling the use of his signature technique, the Eight Strikes of Scatter Hands.
Watching Ning Daoqi prepare to strike, the onlookers, stunned for a moment, immediately retreated to a safe distance, even though they had already been several dozen meters away.
"Eight Strikes of Scatter Hands, is that all?" Feeling the air around him slow with Ning Daoqi's movements, Duan Lang suddenly laughed. He then vanished from sight.
Ning Daoqi, who had locked onto Duan Lang's presence with his Grandmaster-level awareness, noticed Duan Lang's disappearance and his expression changed. Just as he was preparing to respond, he suddenly felt a darkness before his eyes, and then a large foot appeared in his field of vision, slamming into his face.
Bang!
Ning Daoqi's body was sent flying backward, crashing for dozens of meters before landing hard on the ground, creating a large crater.
"You're nothing. You want to break through the void? Who do you think you are—Sword Immortal Yan Fei, Celestial Master Sun En, Supreme Master Ling Donglai, or the Overturning Rain Sword Wave?"
As Ning Daoqi struggled to rise, he suddenly felt another sharp pain in his face as Duan Lang kicked him again, sending him flying.
Over and over again, the so-called number one Grandmaster of the Central Plains was kicked around like a soccer ball in front of Duan Lang.
This scene left everyone in Shanhai County stunned. For a moment, the entire county was silent. Ning Daoqi, one of the only three Grandmasters in the world, was humiliated like this? Most people didn't know about Song Que's strength, but to see a Grandmaster like Ning Daoqi with no ability to fight back—it was simply unfathomable.
In reality, Ning Daoqi was starting to lose his composure. He had imagined many scenarios when facing Duan Lang, but never one where he was utterly powerless.
"Ning Daoqi, you're too weak. You can't even please me."
Looking down at Ning Daoqi, whose arms were broken and who lay on the ground with a blank expression, Duan Lang stepped on his right shoulder. The force of his foot crushed through Ning Daoqi's body, completely destroying his meridians.
"Don't worry, I won't let you die so easily."
After destroying Ning Daoqi's meridians, Duan Lang waved his right hand, pulling over a rope and tying it to Ning Daoqi's left leg. Dragging him away like a dead dog, Duan Lang walked off.
"Is that really Ning Daoqi? Could it be a fake?"
After Duan Lang dragged Ning Daoqi away, the stunned crowd finally reacted. What they thought would be a legendary battle ended so quickly that it felt surreal.
"Could be."
"I knew it, Ning Daoqi is useless."
The disparity in strength made the people of Shanhai County question whether what they saw was real.
"Such speed."
Some refused to believe it was the real Ning Daoqi, but others, like Ba Fenghan, who had witnessed the battle, believed it. After leaving Luoyang, Ba Fenghan had been hunted by Bi Xuan's disciples. After killing most of his pursuers, he returned to the grasslands.
He had come to Shanhai County for the Wolf Bandits, and he hated bandits. His entire tribe had been wiped out by them, with only him surviving.
Bandits were like cancer in the outer territories.
Having witnessed Duan Lang's battle against the three major bandit groups, as well as his encounter with Ning Daoqi, Ba Fenghan could only think of one word: fast.
Duan Lang's fight with Ning Daoqi didn't require any special moves—just sheer speed.
"What? Ning Daoqi lost to the Kirin Demon without even putting up a fight? Who's spreading these lies?"
When news of Ning Daoqi's defeat spread, the entire martial world was shocked. No one believed it at first, thinking it was impossible.
Later, as more details emerged, some began to believe it, but many still doubted. However, once the public execution of Ning Daoqi was revealed, everyone was convinced.
"Traitor Ning Daoqi, executed immediately."
After capturing Ning Daoqi and obtaining the Eight Strikes of Scatter Hands from his mind, Daniel Davis immediately transmitted it using the Flying Thunder God technique. He then oversaw Ning Daoqi's execution.
The public execution of a Grandmaster was unprecedented, but it served as a massive deterrent to those who defied the law. This was Daniel Davis's true purpose—to send a clear message.
While Sengoku and his strategists failed to understand the situation, Daniel Davis succeeded in his goal. The martial world, shocked by his actions, flocked to Yangzhou.
In Yangzhou, with the combined efforts of the Double Dragon, Song Yuzhi, and Shen Luoyan, Li Zitong was quickly defeated. Before he could surrender, he was executed by Kou Zhong.
It's interesting to note that when Kou Zhong was a small-time thug in Yangzhou, he once considered joining Li Zitong's army.
The execution of Ning Daoqi and Liao Kong in Yangzhou, rather than Luoyang, was because Yang Guang's tomb was located there, and this was a promise Daniel Davis had made to him. The second part of that promise was to deal with Fan Qinghui and Fu Cailin.
"It seems Fan Qinghui has abandoned you. I must say, that was a wise decision."
Before the execution began, no one dared to interfere. Daniel Davis had expected some from the Buddhist and Daoist sects to attempt a rescue, but none came.
"Execute."
With Daniel Davis's command, Ning Daoqi and Liao Kong's heads rolled beneath the executioner's blade, sending shockwaves through the martial world.
This act was a direct response to those who disrespected the law, like the pirates in the Pirate World, where Sengoku's execution of Roger and later Ace failed to stop the tide. Here, Daniel Davis had achieved his goal. The difference was clear.
(End of Chapter)
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