Assassination!

"Fear Heavenly King?" The title exploded like a bomb in everyone's ears, draining the color from their faces and brewing immense panic and dread. Commandery Princess Yinyao looked around at her teammates. Seeing each of them pale, their solemn expressions tinged with suppressed terror, she could not resist bringing out her small megaphone. Her mature, commanding voice rang out: "Who is Fear Heavenly King?" Zhang Yuanqing took a deep breath. "The head of the Soldier Master sect's Four Heavenly Kings. In terms of strength, he shouldn't be any weaker than your master." Hearing this, Commandery Princess Yinyao's emotions fluctuated violently. She was intimately familiar with her master's divine might in her prime—a terror-inducing power, a true Dominator of the mortal realm. Guan Ya shook her head, her face exceptionally grave. "No, Fear Heavenly King is stronger than Lady Sandao—much stronger. The Palace Mistress of the Water God Palace once clashed with Fear Heavenly King, and neither could get the better of the other. "Fear Heavenly King possesses Alliance Master-level combat strength." "What?" Zhang Yuanqing was stunned. "Fear Heavenly King is a demigod? That can't be right—I've read his basic file, and isn't he a peak Dominator?" Guan Ya shook her head. "I don't know the details on that." Zhang Yuanqing, meanwhile, recalled the information he had gleaned from Lian Sanyue—the evil factions had no demigods. "Demigod" was a stage in the lawful professions rather than a mere title. Evil professions had no actual demigod stage, yet they possessed demigod-level combat power. Thus, although Fear Heavenly King was a Dominator, he could rival a demigod. This matched the intelligence he had previously gathered. *For Fear Heavenly King to come meet Edo Swordsman in person shows just how much importance he attaches to Takamagahara. This also proves my previous conjecture correct: Takamagahara conceals a rare treasure—one valued even by demigod-level powerhouses. That must be why the First Emperor sent Xu Fu across the sea back then... If Fear Heavenly King is coming, then the danger level of this mission isn't something tens of millions can compensate for...* Zhang Yuanqing thought grimly to himself. Just then, Commandery Princess Yinyao raised her small megaphone and said: "Dark clouds loom over your brows, faint hints of bloody light beneath, but your fortunes have not yet reached certain doom. Were you truly to encounter Fear Heavenly King, your countenances would not look like this. "Of course, when high-ranking Dominators or even Human Immortals are involved, astromancy might not be precise. How to proceed is for you to deliberate." Xiao Yuan remarked coolly, "Instead of wasting words here, you'd better listen to the rest of the conversation." Zhang Yuanqing promptly shut his mouth, turning along with the others to look at Xie Lingxi. Keeping up her listening state, Xie Lingxi relayed the contents of the conversation: "Blood Drinking Mad Blade says: 'I haven't been able to reach Fear Heavenly King yet. This Heavenly King champions boundless freedom; when he is running freely beneath the sunset, his phone is off. "'Still, he is reasonably responsible and contacts headquarters periodically to handle official business. I've already reported the information about Takamagahara. As soon as Fear Heavenly King checks in with headquarters, he'll rush over immediately.' "Edo Swordsman says: 'Please make haste. If the key to Takamagahara isn't retrieved for a prolonged period, the Thousand Cranes Group will report this matter to Heaven's Punishment. If Heaven's Punishment gets involved, I fear even the Soldier Master sect won't come out ahead. I recall the Soldier Master sect has four Heavenly Kings.' "Blood Drinking Mad Blade says: 'Ah, about that... Trust me, Edo-kun, Fear Heavenly King is relatively reliable among the Four Heavenly Kings. Besides, the Soldier Master sect has five Heavenly Kings now. Moreover, I am Fear Heavenly King's subordinate; such vital intelligence cannot be reported to other Heavenly Kings. Let us wait a bit longer. If Fear Heavenly King hasn't arrived by tonight, I will call headquarters and report to the other three Heavenly Kings.' "Blood Drinking Mad Blade says: 'Edo-kun, I understand your anxiety, but let me tell you—aside from Heavenly King Demonic Eye, Fear Heavenly King is the least bloodthirsty and the most trustworthy among the Heavenly Kings. In the recent killing trial, he made a bet with the Grand Marshal of the White Tiger Guards and lost a rule-based item to him. If it were any other Heavenly King, they would have welshed on the bet long ago.'" Xie Lingxi recounted the intercepted words verbatim. *Phew. It's suddenly such a wonderful thing that the Soldier Master sect's Heavenly Kings have such severe personality defects. God bless the Heavenly Kings' unreliability...* Zhang Yuanqing felt a wave of relief wash over him and said: "Xiao Yuan, set up your altar immediately and perform the ritual to bless our operation." "Do we strike now?" Commandery Princess Yinyao asked through her megaphone. "No, not now. Wait until the banquet ends," Zhang Yuanqing said. Striking now meant facing two Level 5s head-on. Although their side had the numerical and overall combat advantage, it wouldn't be an overwhelming curb-stomp, making it very easy for either of them to escape. Xiao Yuan immediately entered the bedroom to prepare the altar. A dozen minutes later, she emerged looking faintly fatigued, her cool voice clear and pleasant: "It is done." As if the blessing had taken effect, Xie Lingxi by the window suddenly chirped in delight: "Edo Swordsman said: 'Let's end today's dinner here. I can't wait to enjoy this beauty any longer.'" Everyone immediately turned their eyes to the surveillance feeds. Edo Swordsman had an arm wrapped around a young woman as he rose from his seat, walked through the hallway, climbed the stairs, and entered a room on the second floor facing the window. Li Chunfeng swiftly switched camera feeds. The computer screen split into just two tiles: on the left was Blood Drinking Mad Blade continuing to drink in the dining room, and on the right was Edo Swordsman's bedroom. "Do we strike?" Queen asked. "No, wait a bit longer..." Zhang Yuanqing kept his eyes fixed on the screen. While he spoke, Edo Swordsman had already stripped with the young woman's assistance. He shoved the woman roughly onto the bed, tore away her clothes, hoisted her legs, and began rhythmically thrusting with practiced familiarity. In front of the computer monitor, everyone silently turned their gaze toward Yuanshi Tianzun. The atmosphere grew quietly awkward. Zhang Yuanqing's expression remained completely unperturbed as he stated steadily: "At a time like this, a man's vigilance is at its lowest. Because all the blood rushes to a specific area, cerebral blood flow drops, and cognitive functions dull... "Mhm, it's time to strike. If Edo Swordsman doesn't last very long and enters sage mode, it'll actually work against us." Xiao Yuan shot him a glare and strode straight into the bedroom without a word to prepare the death curse. Li Chunfeng tapped the Enter key to freeze the surveillance feed. "The feed in the manor's security room matches this one. For the next few minutes, nobody should notice anything amiss." Time was of the essence. Guan Ya took the Night Walker Cloak from Xie Lingxi, draped it over herself, and dashed onto the balcony alongside Zhang Yuanqing. With a howl of rushing wind, the two concealed figures rode the gale into the air, swooping directly toward the manor. Commandery Princess Yinyao activated Night Wandering, leaped off the balcony, and charged toward the estate. Soft moans and violent impacts echoed through the bedroom. The soft mattress creaked and groaned under the strain. Emboldened by a mild drunkenness, Edo Swordsman galloped with abandon, relishing the soft, warm body beneath him and venting his pent-up apprehension and anxiety from recent days. He harbored no small amount of worry about his future. Partnering with the Soldier Master sect was tantamount to bargaining with a tiger for its hide. Yet he had no choice. In his youth, he had traveled in the northern region under the banner of academic and cultural exchange, lingering there for some time, which was how he came to know Blood Drinking Mad Blade. Knowing his status in the Thousand Cranes Group, Blood Drinking Mad Blade had deliberately fostered a friendship. With money and beautiful women paving the way, the two had quickly grown close. And Edo Swordsman himself had felt that maintaining ties with the mainland's most formidable faction, the Soldier Master sect, was a fine way to broaden his channels and network. After fleeing to the mainland, he used the key and secrets of Takamagahara as bargaining chips to secure the Soldier Master sect's backing and seize control of the Thousand Cranes Group back home. As for what lay inside Takamagahara, he would only take the Three Sacred Treasures; if the treasures were missing, he would claim a mere tenth of the spoils. What he could currently rely on to leverage his position was not the key itself, but the location of Takamagahara. Although the key remained in his hands, it would not have been difficult for Blood Drinking Mad Blade to kill him and seize the treasure at a slight cost—except the Soldier Master sect had no idea where Takamagahara was. To guard against the Soldier Master sect killing him and interrogating his spirit, Edo Swordsman had prepared foolproof countermeasures: he possessed an item capable of instantly destroying any spiritual residue left in his body upon death. Furthermore, with a Swordsman's Iron Will, a Mist Lord of the same level would find it exceedingly difficult to bewitch him. Because of this, he had stayed here in peace and security. Now, Edo Swordsman could only place his faith in the rumors that Fear Heavenly King was indeed an honorable man; otherwise, he would end up dead without a grave. This was a monumental gamble. Yet throughout history, which hegemon who conquered the world had never made such gambles? Win, and the world was his; lose, and he would return to the Spirit Realm. That was the risk any powerhouse had to shoulder. Yet living under such constant dread exerted enormous psychological pressure on Edo Swordsman. He needed wine and women to vent the strain. Amid a series of collisions rapid to the point of exaggeration, the woman's gentle moans turned into shrill cries. Edo Swordsman's lust mounted to its peak, and just as he was about to release it in full ecstasy, a violent wind whipped up outside the window. The very next second, the window shattered with a deafening crash, blasting countless tiny shards of glass inward. Amid the flying glass shards, a frigid gleam flared. Sword Qi flooded the room, erupting in an instant and striking in a flash, thrusting straight toward Edo Swordsman's heart. Under normal circumstances, Edo Swordsman would have been alerted the moment the gale surged. But with Xiao Yuan's blessing at play, combined with his climactic release, his reactions lagged by a beat. He only had time to twist sideways, narrowly evading the fatal strike. *Pfft!* The bronze sword pierced Edo Swordsman's stomach, punching clean through his back. Paying no heed to the searing agony, Edo Swordsman threw his body backward off the blade. Clenching his gluteal muscles, he kicked his right leg skyward. *Crack!* The air detonated beneath the force of the kick, connecting solidly with his assailant. A figure slammed heavily into the wall. It was a mixed-race beauty with a ponytail, holding a sword in her right hand while her left arm hung at an unnatural bend, her fair face pale with pain. When facing a Swordsman of the same profession, Guan Ya's swordsmanship and hand-to-hand combat skills might have been superior, but they could never grant an overwhelming advantage. Moreover, with a gap of an entire level between them, the opponent's speed and strength crushed the Level 4 Guan Ya. Without relying on top-tier items, a Level 5 Swordsman could slay a Level 4 Swordsman within thirty moves. Someone like Zhang Yuanqing, who possessed a mountain of top-tier items, was an anomaly after all. *A Level 5 Scout with over 50% exp...* Seeing Guan Ya's fractured left arm, Zhang Yuanqing deduced Edo Swordsman's approximate level. Cloaked in the Yin-Yang Robe, he immediately unleashed two wind blades, sending them crisscrossing toward Edo Swordsman, who had rolled off the bed onto the floor. *Crack! Crack!* Deep gouges were carved into the floor tiles, but Edo Swordsman had perceived the impending danger ahead of time and rolled away. He had no intention of staying for a drawn-out brawl. Completely naked, he dashed for the bedroom door, intending to regroup with Blood Drinking Mad Blade. He had only taken two strides when a dreamy shower of starlight rose before the doorway, blocking his path. "Yuanshi Tianzun?" Edo Swordsman froze. The Thousand Cranes Group had always gathered intelligence on the Five Elements Alliance, and ever since Asano Ryo cleared the killing trial, they had paid even closer attention to this young genius, acquiring his likeness. As the former vice leader of the Thousand Cranes Group, he recognized Yuanshi Tianzun at a glance. The thought of astonishment flashed past in an instant. Edo Swordsman summoned a gleaming katana from his inventory. Lunging forward in a bow stance, he slashed! Sword Qi cleaved downward vertically. Under the influence of the Swordsman's Awe, Zhang Yuanqing's mind shuddered, involuntarily spawning the thought that this foe was insurmountable. Hurriedly, he summoned the Purple Thunder Shield and raised it high overhead. The curved blade slashed against the round shield, sending dazzling sparks flying. Just as Edo Swordsman was about to drop into a sweep to sever Yuanshi Tianzun's legs, purple electric arcs crackled before his eyes with sharp snaps. Caught off guard, he was struck by the deflected electricity, his body stiffening slightly. "Guan Ya!" Zhang Yuanqing roared. At the same time, a dark yellow halo flared between his brows, swiftly spreading across his face, black and red tracing out a furious, combative theatrical mask. *Yellow Mask: +20% boost to physical stats and skill intensity.* The Purple Thunder Shield in his grip melted and coalesced into a small pumpkin hammer, swinging brutally toward Edo Swordsman. *Thump, thump, thump...* Guan Ya bounded forward on her long legs, her footsteps heavy and forceful like a sleek leopardess. The bronze sword in her hand surged with Sword Qi, letting out a crisp dragon's roar. Still trapped in paralysis, Edo Swordsman tilted his head slightly and flicked his tongue. *Whew!* A tiny, pitch-black kunai shot from his mouth, imbued with Sword Qi as it whistled through the air. Before the concealed weapon arrived, its Sword Qi had already sliced off a lock of Guan Ya's bangs. Mid-charge, she halted hurriedly and raised her bronze sword to parry. *Clang!* The kunai ricocheted and lodged itself into the ceiling. The bronze sword in Guan Ya's hands vibrated incessantly, nearly knocked from her grasp. Having repelled the female Swordsman with his concealed weapon, Edo Swordsman's paralysis wore off right on cue. By now, he was too late to dodge Yuanshi Tianzun's attack and could only raise his blade horizontally to parry. He held supreme confidence in his weapon. "Tamakiri" was one of the Six Famous Blades of the Thousand Cranes Group, a Saint-grade item renowned for its toughness and sharpness. Even against a Mountain God of the same level, he could sunder their defense within ten slashes. Moreover, its superlative resilience allowed it to function as a defensive item in critical moments. Once he blocked this round of attacks, he would teach this Night Walker Yuanshi Tianzun just how terrifying a Swordsman was in close combat. *Clang!* Tamakiri, famous for its toughness, bent instantly under the strike of the pumpkin hammer. The blade vibrated violently at high speed before snapping in two. With unabated momentum, the pumpkin hammer hammered heavily into Edo Swordsman's chest. Edo Swordsman's chest caved in. His vision went black, the sheer agony nearly driving him unconscious as he crashed heavily into the wall, web-like fissures spidering across the whitewashed surface. *Flee, I have to flee right now...* An overwhelming sense of crisis surged within Edo Swordsman. Out of the corner of his eye, his Insight caught the subtle tensing of Yuanshi Tianzun's arm muscles, reading the trajectory of his next blow. Without hesitation, he spun against the wall. *Bang!* Zhang Yuanqing's pumpkin hammer struck empty air, smashing through the entire wall. Relying on the Swordsman's Iron Will, Edo Swordsman suppressed his injuries. Dropping into a deep bow stance, he held the broken blade flat above his head and let out a guttural roar: "All Under Heaven Are Weapons!" Fierce Sword Qi abruptly erupted beneath his feet, expanding into a domain that engulfed the entire room. Pillows, blankets, vases, ornaments, photo frames... one after another, objects floated into the air, brimming with Sword Qi. The broken blade slashed down in a blur. The levitating objects transformed into a tempest of razor-sharp swords, raining down upon Guan Ya and Zhang Yuanqing. Meanwhile, he himself leaped across the bed and crashed through the window to escape. *An attack this dense won't be blocked by the Water Ghost passive...* Without a second thought, Zhang Yuanqing vanished with a Star Escape before the barrage arrived. As for Guan Ya, he wasn't worried. Her injury was not severe, her condition was still near its peak, and with a Scout's Insight, these incoming projectiles would not pose an impossible challenge to her. In the dining room, the instant the gale kicked up, Blood Drinking Mad Blade was already alerted. He pushed back his chair, rose from the table, and entered a high state of vigilance. Immediately after, he heard the loud crash of shattering glass from the second floor. *The target is Edo-kun? People from the Thousand Cranes Group, or Heaven's Punishment? This howling wind... it's probably Heaven's Punishment.* Blood Drinking Mad Blade reached out, and a four-foot-long, blood-red saber materialized in his palm. He sank into a crouch, just about to crash through the ceiling and burst onto the second floor, when a silvery, bell-like laugh rang in his ears: "Hee-hee, come play a game with me~" The shadow of a young girl appeared in the dining room, slithering along the floor before latching onto his back. A bone-chilling cold swept over him. His arms stiffened, and his waist involuntarily leaned backward. Blood Drinking Mad Blade snorted coldly. His blood and vitality surged furiously, muscles knotting and bulging; with a slight surge of power, he suppressed the evil spirit's possession. At that moment, a blindfolded woman appeared in the dining room. With unerring accuracy, she picked up chopsticks, knives, and forks, smearing crimson rouge over them. The silverware and chopsticks floated up at once, aiming straight at Blood Drinking Mad Blade. "Hmph!" Blood Drinking Mad Blade's eyes flashed with scarlet light, and the runes across his face flared. The newly airborne cutlery and chopsticks clattered to the floor with a cacophony of metallic clinks; the resentful spirits possessing the utensils had been suppressed by Bewitchment. The woman standing by the table remained completely unhurried. Raising a finger, she traced a talisman in thin air, lunar energy coursing through the void and coalescing without dissipating. Flicking her finger, the talisman sailed right past the saber's slash and slapped directly onto Blood Drinking Mad Blade's face. The bloody light in his eyes dimmed instantly, and the bewitching runes across his face went dark. The cutlery and chopsticks rose once more, darting toward Blood Drinking Mad Blade like a torrential storm. "Huff, pant..." Edo Swordsman hit the courtyard ground and immediately sprinted toward the manor gates, roaring at the top of his lungs: "Enemy attack! Enemy attack!!" The moment his shout died away, he saw a terrifying four-meter-tall werewolf outside the estate, charging toward him under the moonlight.