Chapter Thirteen: An Assassination Across Ranks

Unable to repress the bloodlust surging from deep within, Shi Yan gasped for breath as he dropped fiercely from the embrace of layered leaves. In his refined right arm, essence surged like tides, and a savage, violent aura threatened to erupt uncontrollably from his limb.

“Not good!”

One of the ever-vigilant martial artists’ expression changed dramatically. He looked up in alarm, just as Shi Yan descended like a sharp blade, his arm wrapped in dense mist that shot forward to engulf the man’s head.

An endless torrent of resentment and despair—dark emotions—rushed into his nose and mouth. In that instant, he felt as if he were immersed in a vast sea of blood, countless vicious ghosts clawing at him, binding his body so tightly he felt his guts rupture. Even the thought of resistance could not arise.

Crack!

Shi Yan’s iron fist smashed down upon his skull, the crisp sound of bone shattering ringing out. The man managed only a single scream before his life was snuffed out, and his essence uncontrollably surged into Shi Yan’s meridians.

The other martial artist, Zheng Tie, looked on in horror. Instinctively, he hurled a blue smoke bomb high into the air. The bomb exploded overhead, a hazy blue light shining brightly in the sky like a miniature sun.

“There!” Mo Yanyu’s expression lit up with excitement. Without hesitation, she turned and flew toward the area where the blue smoke bomb had burst, followed by Karu, who hesitated for a moment before letting out a cold laugh and joining her.

“Boy, you can’t escape now!” Zheng Tie, after releasing the blue smoke bomb, felt a surge of confidence. He fixed his gaze on Shi Yan, chuckling coldly. “I’ve waited so long for you. You finally couldn’t resist showing yourself. Let’s see where you run this time!”

Shi Yan was still breathing heavily, his eyes narrowed and murderous intent rolling within him like stormy waves. The essence from the dead martial artist fueled his own ferocious aura, as if a voice within urged him to unleash further carnage.

Seeing Shi Yan only gasping for breath and not attacking, Zheng Tie felt secretly triumphant. He kept a ten-meter distance, sneering, “Soon Miss Mo and Master Karu will arrive. You’re dead for sure!”

Shi Yan growled low, like a beast unleashed, suddenly charging at Zheng Tie. Misty white smoke from his right arm shot out like a serpent, aiming to coil around Zheng Tie’s neck.

Prepared, Zheng Tie did not confront Shi Yan directly, instead retreating another ten meters.

The snake-like white smoke pursued relentlessly, almost sentient, persistently winding toward Zheng Tie even after his withdrawal, intent on ensnaring him.

Alarmed, Zheng Tie snorted, his dagger whirling as he slashed at the white smoke.

The smoke split in two under the blade, but instead of dissipating, each strand wrapped around Zheng Tie’s arms. Two sinister thoughts surged into Zheng Tie’s mind—his whole body shuddered, visions of bloody carnage and floating corpses flooded his eyes. His strength deserted him.

Bang!

Shi Yan charged forward, his right arm channeling all his power. His fist smashed into Zheng Tie’s face, bloodthirsty, frenzied essence exploding from his fist and flooding into Zheng Tie’s skull.

Blood poured from Zheng Tie’s seven orifices, terror and disbelief frozen in his gaze. He collapsed, his essence bursting forth.

Their bodies shriveled, blood drained from their faces, their essence utterly depleted.

Shi Yan’s bloodlust raged on, but he forced himself to stay calm, gathering their food and crystal coins, then slipping up the ancient tree to hide among thick branches, repeatedly reminding himself to stay composed.

The bloodlust lingered, but as he circulated his essence, the turbulent energy in his right arm slowly subsided into his abdomen, and his arm returned to normal.

Breathing evenly, Shi Yan suppressed the negative energy within his body, even the murderous glint in his eyes fading away as he watched below through the leaves.

Soon, several figures appeared under the shade. Two Mo family martial artists arrived first, both at the second stage of postnatal cultivation, unable to project their essence. Cautious, they scanned their surroundings, wary of another attack.

After a while, Mo Yanyu and Karu appeared. Mo Yanyu glanced at Zheng Tie’s corpse and declared, “It’s him!” Her phoenix eyes glinted coldly as she searched for traces of Shi Yan’s escape, carefully examining the branches.

If Shi Yan had fled in haste, he would have broken branches or left heavy footprints. In a rush, he could not have concealed such marks.

Mo Yanyu’s methods were sound.

Unfortunately, Shi Yan was still in the ancient tree, never having left. Mo Yanyu quickly searched but found nothing, her beautiful face twisted in frustration. “Damn it! It’s like he vanished! Not a single trace!”

Karu stroked his chin, squinting around, then suddenly looked up and sneered, “Boy, come out! Do you really think you can hide?”

Shi Yan’s heart leapt, his dark eyes flashing coldly, the murderous aura he’d been suppressing suddenly spilling forth.

“So you’re up there after all!” Karu laughed coldly, a mass of dark energy gathering in his hands, flecked with chilling light, which he hurled at Shi Yan’s hiding place.

“Little wretch! Let’s see where you run now!” Mo Yanyu, biting her silver teeth, unleashed the “Azure Arc Crescent Slash,” crackling with electricity, shooting straight into the foliage where Shi Yan hid.

Whoosh!

Shi Yan burst from the leaves, not sparing a glance at Karu or Mo Yanyu, sprinting madly toward the thickest part of the woods.

Both Mo Yanyu and Karu possessed innate cultivation, a full realm above him. Without the element of surprise, he was no match for either, let alone both together.

“After him!” Mo Yanyu barked, charging forward, followed by the Mo family martial artists.

Karu lingered, summoning back the dark energy that had pulverized Shi Yan’s hiding place, letting it vanish into his palm before he sped after them.

The Mo family martial artists quickly fell behind. Mo Yanyu and Karu, one before and one behind, pursued Shi Yan, narrowing the distance between them.

Boom!

A hazy blue light exploded before Mo Yanyu and Karu, dazzling them. Caught unprepared, their vision was momentarily blinded, and they crashed into trees. By the time their sight returned, Shi Yan had already put a hundred meters between them.

“Blue smoke bombs! Damn it!” Mo Yanyu cursed, furious as she resumed the chase.

Karu, equally incensed, spat out a curse and shot forward like lightning, surpassing Mo Yanyu and revealing his true strength. “Boy, I’ll make you wish you were dead!”

Boom!

Another blue smoke bomb detonated. This time, Karu closed his eyes in time, then resumed the pursuit once the light faded.

Karu’s innate cultivation was far superior to Shi Yan’s. He moved like a willow, light as air, and quickly closed the distance after the blue light subsided.

Dark energy once more gathered in Karu’s hands. Face grim, when only twenty meters from Shi Yan, he hurled it like a cannonball, its shriek aimed at Shi Yan’s back.

Boom!

Shi Yan released another blue smoke bomb. The bomb and the dark energy collided, spraying azure light across the forest and igniting a raging fire.

With the smoke bombs, Shi Yan kept running, each time Karu drew near, he deployed another bomb, gaining precious distance.

Finally, the stolen smoke bombs were spent. A strange warm current surged from his meridians—the essence he’d absorbed from the two martial artists was purified, infusing his abdomen and strengthening his own energy.

Shi Yan spun around, charging straight at Karu!

Karu sneered, unhurriedly refining his essence. In an instant, a layer of black light half a meter thick enveloped him, wrapping him tightly.

Essence Shield!

Shi Yan was startled but did not pause. He condensed his essence in his left hand, refraining from unleashing "Rampage," his iron fist forming a cone as he struck at Karu’s waist.

Karu’s eyes were full of disdain, unmoving as if waiting for Shi Yan to approach.

Bang!

Shi Yan’s fist struck the black light, feeling as if he’d hit cotton. The black light merely contracted, and his punch failed to break through to Karu.

“Heh, a mere postnatal cultivator thinks he can break my Black Light Shield!” Karu laughed, a surge of dark energy in his palm crashing into Shi Yan’s chest.

Shi Yan was hit as if by a mountain, power flooding his chest and forcing out a mouthful of blood as he was sent flying, the sound of bone breaking echoing in his ears.

Upon landing, blood filled Shi Yan’s mouth, his body feeling broken and racked with pain.

“Overestimating yourself.” Karu shook his head, face cold as he advanced. “Boy, better behave and become my medicine slave. I held back; otherwise, you’d be dead.”

“Again!”

Shi Yan staggered to his feet, wiped the blood from his mouth, and charged once more, eyes unwavering.

“Hmph! You’re courting death!” Karu sneered, again summoning the Black Light Shield to envelop himself.

Shi Yan’s right hand clenched, stubbornly striking with the same method. Karu laughed, “Since you’re so eager to die, don’t blame me.”

As Shi Yan advanced, his right hand suddenly shriveled, and before his fist met Karu’s shield, a mist of white shot forth—despair, terror, murderous intent erupted!

Karu’s face changed dramatically, but it was too late to react.

A moment later, a wave of frenzied, desperate power surged into the Black Light Shield. The shield, able to withstand the full force of a postnatal cultivator, shattered instantly. The evil force covering Shi Yan’s fist poured into Karu’s body like a breached dam.

Under that mad, murderous power, Karu’s mind seemed frozen, unable to defend himself.

The dagger hidden in Shi Yan’s left sleeve sliced Karu’s throat, blood spraying over Shi Yan.

A fine head flew high and thudded three meters away.

Karu’s essence collapsed, mingling with his last unwilling, fearful thoughts, flooding into Shi Yan’s meridians.

Shi Yan trembled with excitement at the unusual energy. Unlike Zheng Tie and the others, Karu’s innate cultivation meant his essence was denser and more powerful. Shi Yan stood motionless for a full minute, absorbing it all.

He removed Karu’s lone backpack, feeling weak and numb, especially in his right arm, unable to summon strength—aftereffects of "Rampage" he could hardly endure.

“After him!” Mo Yanyu’s shouts echoed from afar. Delayed by the smoke bombs, she finally caught up after over a minute, accompanied by several Mo family martial artists.

With his strength partially sealed, Shi Yan dared not confront them. Grabbing Karu’s backpack, he fled into the dense forest, running blindly to escape.

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