Chapter 113: Taking You as My Disciple

Lu Ming’s actions instantly stunned everyone present.

Wang Shao was momentarily taken aback, then cursed, “Are you fucking crazy?”

At that moment, the pond water suddenly churned and boiled, like a pot of water brought to a rolling boil, as if something enormous was stirring beneath. A few muffled roars and faint screams echoed before the surface was stained with a layer of blood, then fell eerily still.

“What… what’s happening?” Seeing such a bizarre and terrifying scene, Wang Shao and the others finally panicked.

Meanwhile, Yao Gang and Miao Elai, the leader of the Witch Gu Sect, both turned their gaze toward Lu Ming. A group of Witch Gu disciples quickly surrounded them.

“Kid, who the hell are you to dare lay a hand on someone from the Witch Gu Sect?” Miao Elai’s voice was cold and sinister.

Lu Ming looked at him coldly and said slowly, “I am the one who’s about to wipe out scum like you from this world.”

“Hahaha,” Miao Elai laughed. “Young man, you’re unbelievably arrogant. You think just because you killed Wula, you can take on the Witch Gu Sect?”

“Oh? So you know about Wula,” Lu Ming raised an eyebrow.

“Hmph, Wula was reckless, descending from the mountain without permission and was defeated by you. Helpless, he returned to the sect to hide. He deserved death. Otherwise, do you really think under the watchful eyes of me and a Grandmaster, you could kill someone at will?”

“Heh, it seems you do have some skill. But your Witch Gu Sect is notorious for its cruelty and dares to perform blood sacrifices. Such monstrous acts will bring about your complete annihilation today,” Lu Ming said, folding his arms.

Miao Elai’s expression suddenly turned icy. “You even know about blood sacrifices? You must be quite capable then. You cannot be allowed to live. Kunwu, kill him.”

At his words, a towering middle-aged man nearly two meters tall and muscular stepped forward from behind him.

He was nearly naked, wearing only a cloth over his vital areas. His face, head, and body were covered with intricate totems—not painted, but seeming to grow naturally on his skin.

The moment he appeared, everyone felt an overwhelming pressure, as if a mountain was bearing down on them.

Yao Gang clapped his hands and smiled. “Master Miao, your skills are impressive. This Kunwu is now fully formed.”

The leader of the Witch Gu Sect, Master Miao, stroked his goatee proudly.

“Kunwu” means warrior in the Miao language. He was painstakingly selected from thousands of Miao people and brought back for the sect’s secret witchcraft rituals, refined day and night.

The chosen one was placed daily in a large vat filled with highly toxic herbs and various minerals, continuously boiled and tortured to death.

Yet his body was controlled by Gu magic, becoming a puppet.

After years of this process, Kunwu’s body had become as hard as iron and infused with deadly poison.

He felt no pain, knew no fear, and obeyed only the commands of his master to the fullest.

Anyone facing him was continuously plagued by toxic gases and would eventually succumb without a fight. Even the slightest wound from his claws meant instant death by poison—truly a lethal weapon among men.

In all these decades, Miao Elai had only managed to forge this one Kunwu, one of his deadliest weapons.

Kunwu now advanced directly toward Lu Ming. His immense frame, fierce countenance, and faint green mist radiating off him made Wang Shao and the others tremble with terror.

Only now did they realize this was no mere staged spectacle at a scenic area, but something truly horrific.

Wula’s fall into the pond, the blood rising to the surface, Kunwu’s terrifying appearance, and the young men bound nearby all gave them a sense of impending doom.

They huddled together, trembling, inching closer to Zhao Bing for some semblance of security.

Zhao Bing, though alarmed, felt overwhelmed. The situation had escalated far beyond what a single internal martial artist could handle.

A Grandmaster and a True Immortal were present—he didn’t know exactly what a True Immortal was, but it surely wasn’t something to be taken lightly.

Judging by the atmosphere, these people were clearly conducting a sinister ritual, and they themselves had accidentally wandered into a sacrificial ground.

Zhao Bing thought and thought but found no escape. His heart sank as he felt utterly weak and powerless for the first time since entering the realm of internal martial arts.

Kunwu alone seemed capable of dispatching him in seconds, not to mention the presence of the invincible Grandmaster and the True Immortal.

As Kunwu, exuding fierce murderous energy, reached Lu Ming, Yao Gang and Miao Elai smiled in anticipation of the coming spectacle.

Wang Shao and the others were so frightened they were limp, only able to support each other to avoid collapsing.

Kunwu arrived before Lu Ming and without expression threw a fist straight at his chest.

The punch came with astonishing speed and crushing force, savage and brutal.

Lu Ming merely smiled. Such a crude attack was laughable to him, like a child wielding a knife.

With a flick of his right hand, he kicked Kunwu. The huge man was sent flying with a loud clang, tumbling backward and plunging into the pond behind him.

The water boiled furiously again, accompanied by agonizing tearing sounds and a rise of blood-stained water. Kunwu vanished beneath the surface.

“Oh my god!” Wang Shao at the pond’s edge trembled violently, his legs shaking uncontrollably as tears streamed down his face.

The others shared his reaction, shaking and pale. One of the young men, Lele, had wet himself without realizing it.

They desperately wanted to flee this terrifying pond, but with guards watching, they dared not move an inch.

At the same moment Kunwu fell into the water, Lu Ming stomped his right foot hard on the ground.

The guards around Wang Shao and the sacrificial Witch Gu disciples suddenly felt a tremendous force surge from the earth, lifting them into the air.

Amid their screams of agony, one by one they were flung into the pond.

The water churned wildly again, accompanied by howls, snarls, and the cries of the Witch Gu disciples. In moments, the entire surface was stained deep red.

“Well, kid, I’ve underestimated you. You dare slaughter my disciples? I’ll make sure you suffer earthly torment, wail for a hundred years before death, never to be reborn,” Miao Elai roared furiously.

Seeing Kunwu destroyed and over a dozen disciples lost, his rage boiled over.

“Heh,” Lu Ming chuckled. “For you to make me never reincarnate, you’d have to have that power first.”

“Such arrogance!” Miao Elai bellowed and moved to strike.

But Yao Gang suddenly blocked him.

“Master Miao, no need to lose your temper. Today is the day of your alliance. Do me the honor and let me handle this.”

Miao Elai hesitated, then nodded slightly. Yao Gang was a Grandmaster, and his face had to be respected.

Yao Gang approached Lu Ming and said, “Young man, I see great talent in your martial path. I cannot bear to see you perish. How about this: become my apprentice, my direct disciple. I will petition Master Miao on your behalf to spare your friends. What say you?”

He stood confidently with his hands behind his back.

To him, this offer was a blessing from the heavens—who would refuse the honor of apprenticing under a Grandmaster?

He truly saw potential in Lu Ming, both in his martial skill and calm composure, already bearing the demeanor of a Grandmaster.

With his careful guidance, perhaps he could nurture Lu Ming into a true Grandmaster, elevating his own standing in the martial world far above others.

As for Master Miao, surely he would agree to this in exchange for some compensation and respect for Yao Gang’s favor.

Lu Ming remained silent for the moment, but Wang Shao and the others showed hopeful expressions. Even Zhao Bing’s face brightened with joy.

This was a chance at salvation. If Lu Ming agreed to become Yao Gang’s disciple, everything would be resolved.

“Hey, you better say yes already! What are you waiting for?” Wang Shao shouted anxiously.