Counterkill!

Li Hao was willing to serve as bait and shield, waiting for a chance to counterkill the Hundred-Breaker martial master pursuing them. Yet Liu Yan did not dare take such a gamble. This was different from last time. When they dealt with Zhou He, everyone had been there to back them up. With Liu Long and the others present, keeping a mere Ten-Slayer realm martial master under control had been easy, leaving no room for mishaps. Today, however... Liu Long had yet to return. Though Liu Yan was near the Hundred-Breaker level, she still fell short. Furthermore, the enemy was far from alone. Otherwise, three against one might have been worth a try. But once they were pinned down, multiple martial masters were trailing right behind. Rain soaked Liu Yan's long hair. The usually seductive woman now had her clothes plastered against her skin, accentuating her alluring curves even more. Yet her eyes were completely stripped of their habitual banter and smiles, filled only with tension and gravity. Li Hao had no mind to admire the view. Being dragged along by Liu Yan, his speed naturally couldn't match hers; being pulled at such a breakneck pace was exhausting, wearing him out completely. *Fight back!* Li Hao knew they had to counterattack now. As of yet, no supernaturals had appeared. If they didn't strike back and were run down, his teacher might intervene... and if his teacher intervened, the supernaturals might flee. *We can't go on like this...* Though he hadn't set any lofty goals for himself, he had his own plan. He wanted to draw out everyone who had come to kill him! Until all of them gathered, he could not die. He had to give his teacher the chance to take them all out in one fell swoop! The earlier his teacher acted, the less he would accomplish. Supernaturals possessed manifold tricks. Once his teacher showed up and slew a few martial masters, the other supernaturals might scatter like frightened birds, vanishing in an instant. Therefore, they not only had to buy time here, but also strike back and force the enemy to continuously feed in reinforcements. That was Li Hao's plan! It was also the reason he was willing to take this risk rather than stay tucked away in the Silver City Ancient Academy. Otherwise, once his teacher reached the Thousand-Battler realm, Li Hao could have simply stayed hidden there. Why bother taking such risks? "Sis!" Li Hao kept his voice low, tinged with urgency. While they still had stamina, they had to hit back. Otherwise, continuing to flee at this pace in such weather would soon leave them without even the strength to lift a hand. Whether martial masters or supernaturals, none of them were invincible at this stage; their mysterious energy and inner force were both finite. Such high-intensity exertion drained them tremendously. Of course, Li Hao still had a trump card! He was circulating the Five Animals Breathing Art. Warm currents seeped from the jade sword resting against his chest. Li Hao absorbed a portion of it, while the overflow dissipated outward, soaking into Liu Yan, who was gripping him tightly. Mid-sprint, Liu Yan, who had been ignoring Li Hao, suddenly stiffened slightly. A split second later, she caught herself and kept running. Her heart, however, churned with shock! *Mysterious energy?* *No!* For a moment, she had thought a supernatural was attacking them, locking onto her, invading her body. But that wasn't it. The energy was coming from Li Hao—not overwhelmingly strong, rather faint in fact. Yet in a situation like this, the energy didn't blast her violently. Instead, like a warm spring, it warmed her body and restored her strength. *What is this?* Liu Yan's mind was muddled, leaving her no time to ponder what kind of power this truly was. Even so, her tense muscles visibly relaxed. They had been running for over three minutes. Under hot pursuit, sprinting at full tilt while hauling another person along was profoundly exhausting. Yet now... she was regaining strength! A strange look crossed Liu Yan's rain-drenched face. While running, she stole a glance at Li Hao from the corner of her eye. That power continued to flow steadily, bringing her a warmth she hadn't felt in a long time. It even felt as though old injuries—inflicted by backlashes from absorbing mysterious energy—were slowly mending. *There's definitely something strange about this kid!* *No wonder people are hunting him!* Liu Yan said nothing, weighing the situation in her mind. Her stamina and inner force were draining rapidly, and the Hundred-Breaker martial master pursuing them was indeed stronger than her. But she was also on the very verge of breaking into the Hundred-Breaker realm. The enemy's physical energy and inner force were draining as well! As one side waned and the other waxed, if she could recover to her peak—given that the pursuer had already suffered a wound from her earlier, plus the toll of the wild chase—perhaps... they truly had a shot! "Shoot!" Liu Yan barked in a low voice. In that instant, she scooped Li Hao up, cradling him in her arms like a child as she continued to bolt. Li Hao was stunned. A moment ago, he was merely being dragged along, and now Liu Yan was carrying him like an infant. He was a grown man... how humiliating! Of course, at such a juncture, he didn't care. With Liu Yan carrying him, Li Hao's hands were freed. Drawing his Vortex III, Li Hao aimed at the Ghost Face martial master less than fifty meters behind them—the only Hundred-Breaker among the pursuers. *Bang!* A gunshot rang out! That martial master was formidable indeed. Even during a high-speed chase, he deftly dodged the bullet. However, his pace was still disrupted, and his voice carried a chill: "Li Hao, you can't run! You must realize that if this continues, you won't be the only one dying—many more will die with you!" Li Hao's expression remained steady. He didn't rush to fire again, letting the distance between them open up slightly while continuing to circulate the Five Animals Breathing Art. He shouted back, "If I can't escape, don't think you can either! My teacher will avenge me! He might not be able to kill supernaturals, but a mere Hundred-Breaker like you is well within his reach!" "A joke!" Yuan Shuo! The name echoed in the Ghost Face martial master's mind. Yuan Shuo! Twenty years ago—no, even three years ago—he wouldn't have dared provoke Yuan Shuo. But now... Yuan Shuo's era had passed. Supernaturals had risen. Martial masters... heh! He was a martial master himself, and a Hundred-Breaker at that. He understood better than anyone that martial arts had truly declined. A few years back, Hundred-Breaker martial masters could dominate an entire region. Yet over the past few years, Lunar Nether supernaturals had multiplied, and the ranks of Solar Radiance powerhouses were growing by the day. In Silver Moon Province alone, there was an entire host of Solar Radiance supernaturals. Those were existences comparable to the Thousand-Battler realm! Whereas martial masters... well, Silver Moon Province didn't have a single Thousand-Battler left. The martial path had completely decayed. An old relic like Yuan Shuo ought to be six feet under by now. Li Hao expected Yuan Shuo to avenge him? Yuan Shuo had better look out for himself. The Night Watchers couldn't protect him forever. He had countless enemies. It was said that the man from back then, having advanced from Hundred-Breaker to Solar Radiance, had made further strides in recent years, surpassing even Solar Radiance! In the past, the Night Watchers hadn't cared about a single Solar Radiance and could afford to shelter Yuan Shuo. But now that someone beyond the Solar Radiance realm was coming for vengeance, would the Night Watchers still protect him? Such thoughts flickered relentlessly through the Ghost Face martial master's mind. *Bang!* Right then, a bullet grazed past his ear, nearly clipping him. The Ghost Face martial master snapped back to reality! Beneath the mask, his face twisted with anger, his tone growing harsher: "Li Hao, come over here and I won't kill you! Do you want Liu Yan and Chen Jian to die with you? Do you know how many people will die in Silver City if the Demon Hunting Squad is wiped out? "You understand nothing! Silver City is too small, the weakest and smallest among the thirty-two cities of Silver Moon Province—a place meant to be abandoned! Countless forces are eyeing Silver City, and the Night Watchers lack the manpower and inclination to guard it. Years ago, the Night Watchers proposed abandoning small cities and relocating the populace to gather in major hubs, adopting a defensive strategy! "Liu Long refused to let Silver City vanish into the river of history. He insisted on guarding Silver City, using the power of a Hundred-Breaker martial master to stand against supernaturals! "Liu Long once boasted before the Night Watchers that as long as he lived, Silver City would not be abandoned. But once he dies... Silver City will become a thing of the past! Countless people will be forced to leave their homes and livelihoods, fleeing to distant lands just to survive! "Do you want Liu Long and the others to die alongside you?" The Ghost Face martial master bellowed from behind! He sounded as though he were genuinely considering Silver City's welfare and worrying over its future. Naturally, there was truth in his words. Several years ago, higher-ups had indeed proposed abandoning smaller cities to fortify major ones. Silver City was to be given up because the Night Watchers lacked the energy and couldn't afford to scatter their forces to defend it against supernaturals. Yet Liu Long had declared that he alone was enough! Using the power of a martial master, he would resist supernatural incursions so Silver City wouldn't need to relocate. Relocation sounded simple. Yet once forced to migrate, countless people would abandon their homes and family trades. Arriving in big cities without savings or livelihood, displaced and dependent on others' charity, the youth might scrape by, but how would the elderly and children survive? This world was growing increasingly chaotic. A population of a million would mostly end up living in utter misery. As long as Liu Long lived, high-tier supernaturals at the Solar Radiance level didn't care about a backwater like Silver City, while any Lunar Nether supernaturals that dared invade were slain by Liu Long. Thus, the supernatural realm had never managed to gain a foothold here. But what if Liu Long died? How many supernaturals, having ascended to power overnight, now lusted desperately after wealth, authority, luxury, and women? Not daring to cause trouble in big cities, they would naturally flock to small towns to indulge themselves. Countless pairs of eyes were fixed on Silver City! *** Cradled in Liu Yan's arms, Li Hao's gaze flickered. *Was that the truth?* The authorities actually wanted to abandon small cities... That meant even the government was struggling to maintain control over the grand picture, forced to abandon peripheral territories to build massive fortress cities that could hold more people and be easier to defend. Had the authorities been forced into defense? Were they losing ground in the supernatural realm? Yet the government still possessed armies—massive armies—along with firearms, terrifyingly powerful conventional weapons, and supposedly even superweapons capable of wiping out entire cities. Even under such conditions, were they still forced on the defensive? Li Hao found it unbelievable! In his impression, the authorities were still exceedingly formidable. He had always assumed the Night Watchers were unwilling to exert themselves simply because Silver City was too insignificant for them to bother. Yet hearing this now made things look entirely different! Abandoning Silver City! No wonder that years ago, Silver Moon Province had been making noise about renaming itself to Lunar Radiance Province, an effort that had never succeeded. Perhaps Liu Long deserved credit for that as well. As a Hundred-Breaker martial master, he would have had a place even in White Moon City. Yet he had stayed stubbornly in Silver City, refusing to leave. *"Justice..."* Liu Long's habitual, almost hypocritical slogans echoed in Li Hao's ears. *Defend justice!* *Slay evil, uphold the Way!* Li Hao had always felt the words sounded fake, like self-consolation. But at this moment... learning these details from an enemy's mouth, Li Hao suddenly realized that perhaps... Liu Long cared about that slogan far more than anyone imagined. "Darkness will never triumph over justice!" Li Hao roared under his breath! Behind them, the Hundred-Breaker martial master drew closer, a chill running through his tone: "You're wrong! The victor is justice! The defeated are darkness! Martial arts have declined, while supernaturals have risen, filled with soaring ambition! They refuse to remain hidden in the wilderness, refusing to walk in the dark! When human power exceeds its limits and becomes sufficient to resist or annihilate an armed government, then... they wish to replace it! "Martial masters walked step by solid step, so their desires were never as reckless, and they could restrain themselves... But supernaturals?" At this moment, the Hundred-Breaker martial master sounded faintly disdainful, even contemptuous. Supernaturals? Reaching the heavens in a single leap, possessing power their virtues could never match. Seventeen- and eighteen-year-old boys suddenly becoming Lunar Nethers or even Solar Radiances, capable of matching a thousand men, killing with such ease and simplicity. Having acquired such power out of nowhere, how could anyone expect them to advance step by step like martial masters? No, they wanted to overthrow everything! To rebuild a kingdom of their own! That was the current supernatural realm. That was the state of the world. The Ghost Face martial master despised them—despised those supernaturals who had attained sudden might without earning it. Yet... reality was cruel. No matter how much he looked down on them, he still had to risk his life working for them! What did his reluctance matter? If he wasn't resigned to it, all he could do was find a way to merge into the supernatural path, to step into the supernatural realm. Even Yuan Shuo had failed. The government didn't provide enough support, and people like him had it even worse. Their only option was to seek refuge with wild supernatural organizations. After another stretch of the chase, the martial master spoke no more. Because he was about to catch up! His earlier words were merely meant to sow doubt and hesitation in Li Hao. Perhaps Li Hao would deliver himself into his hands? It wasn't impossible! According to the dossier he had received, Li Hao was someone who valued sentiment and loyalty. To avenge his classmate, he had willingly dropped out of the Silver City Ancient Academy. Would such a person, upon learning the true significance of the Demon Hunting Squad, still be willing to let them sacrifice themselves for him? "Li Hao!" Crossing the gap in a single stride, he drew nearer and nearer. The Ghost Face martial master said coldly, "Do you intend to bury all of Silver City for the sake of yourself alone? While Liu Long lives and Yuan Shuo remains, Silver City still holds value. Once they die, who will defend Silver City against supernaturals? "When that time comes, you will be Silver City's greatest sinner!" A look of agony crossed Li Hao's face. He ground his teeth, his eyes turning bloodshot. He glared wide-eyed at the martial master, the distance between them shrinking rapidly. Clutching the Vortex III, he tried to fire, yet his fingers trembled. Gritting his teeth, he yelled in fury, "Compromising with darkness will only bring greater calamity! If you dare kill me today... tomorrow you'll—" "Foolish! Who would go out of their way to slaughter ordinary mortals for fun? We're killing you because you have the value to be killed! Li Hao, Liu Yan and the others have gone mad, but you don't have to plunge into madness with them! You might not necessarily die, but if this stalemate drags on until the supernaturals arrive, not one of you will escape! "As a fellow martial master, I respect the Demon Hunting Squad. As long as they put you down... I can let them leave! Li Hao, this is a Hundred-Breaker martial master's promise! You are the crux—their lives and deaths rest entirely on your decision!" At that moment, Li Hao wavered. He gritted his teeth, and a moment later, he shouted hoarsely, "Put me down!" "Shut up!" Liu Yan snapped furiously. Li Hao struggled! Behind them, Chen Jian's face warped with rage. "Don't listen to his nonsense! Li Hao, stop thrashing around—you're ruining Team Leader Liu's rhythm!" *Damn it!* Li Hao was usually so composed, yet at a critical moment like this, he was throwing them into chaos! People were going to die! *Damn it, you can never trust these student types. When push comes to shove, they always drop the ball!* With Li Hao thrashing about, Liu Yan's breathing was already faltering. Behind them, the Ghost Face martial master smiled. *Just as expected!* Someone as sentimental as Li Hao—how could he not be moved after hearing all that? He loved dealing with these student types! If it had been an old fox like Yuan Shuo, he probably would have spat right in his face. Who would have listened to so much talk? Ahead, because of Li Hao's struggling, Liu Yan's speed visibly slowed. "Li Hao!!" Liu Yan roared in fury! Yet Li Hao kept fighting her grip, his teeth grinding together: "Put me down! You guys run! I can die, but you must live! Silver City needs you! In this world where darkness falls, it needs you to kindle a ray of light for the people of Silver City! So they can see a future! "Even if Silver City is truly disbanded and forced to migrate, with you around, the people of Silver City will at least have someone to rely on, something to hope for... I can't let my selfishness get everyone killed and snuff out all light for Silver City!" Li Hao sounded righteous and noble, and in the next instant, he struggled violently once more! "You bastard!" Thrown off balance by his thrashing, Liu Yan's breath hitched. In the next moment, she had no choice but to set Li Hao down, unable to carry him any longer. Behind them, the Ghost Face martial master genuinely grinned. *It's in the bag!* By now, the gap was less than ten meters. *Good boy, Li Hao!* *Still just a kid after all, with a heart full of justice...* If he had met such a lad twenty years ago, he would have been delighted, perhaps even considering taking him on as an apprentice. An apprentice like this would maintain the school's honor when he grew old and would never betray him. Martial masters needed people like this to care for them in their twilight years and see them off! Alas, supernaturals had risen! "You promised you would let Sis Liu and the others go!" Li Hao wrenched his arm from Liu Yan's grip, refusing to let her drag him along. Standing almost face-to-face with the Ghost Face martial master, his eyes were filled with desperate pleading: "You're a martial master too! A debt belongs to the debtor. If you want to kill me, go ahead! Just don't break your word!" "Li Hao!" Chen Jian was incandescent with rage. He lunged forward, grabbing Li Hao with one hand to shove him onward! *Damn it!* *What the hell are you doing?!* *You're relying on an enemy's promise?!* "Of course. I haven't lost my mind—why would I kill them and make enemies of Liu Long and the Night Watchers? Killing you is the mission! Killing them brings no benefit and only offends the Night Watchers. Even if the Night Watchers lack the strength for revenge right now, if my true identity is exposed, as a mere Hundred-Breaker, they can still crush me. I have no desire to provoke them!" The Ghost Face martial master chuckled. *That's the way!* Besides, he was telling the truth. Unless necessary, why kill members of the Demon Hunting Squad? To invite trouble upon himself? Just then, Li Hao lunged and bit down hard on Chen Jian's arm. Chen Jian released his grip by reflex, and with a violent jerk, Li Hao tore his other hand free from Liu Yan as well. Breaking free of both, he nearly collided head-on with Chen Jian, narrowly dodging him before sprinting straight toward the Ghost Face martial master. "Li Hao!" Liu Yan came to an abrupt halt, and Chen Jian stopped dead in his tracks as well. In the pouring rain, Li Hao dashed straight toward the enemy. At this moment, Li Hao's face showed total composure, bearing the solemn resolve of someone marching willingly to his death. He yelled, "I'm staying! You two go!" The distance was simply too short! The words had barely left his mouth before the Ghost Face martial master stood right in front of him. In that split second, even the Ghost Face martial master was caught off guard. *This fellow... really delivered himself right up to me!* Afraid he might accidentally crash into Li Hao and kill him—after all, he was a Hundred-Breaker while Li Hao was an ordinary mortal—the martial master braked hard, his boots carving skid marks into the wet ground. In the next instant, he laid a hand on Li Hao's shoulder. A smile broke across his face beneath the mask. His exposed eyes beamed with delight and sheer jubilation. *Mission accomplished!* His hand rested very lightly, as if Li Hao were made of porcelain and he feared crushing him. A Hundred-Breaker martial master was terrifyingly strong; a heavy squeeze could have pulverized Li Hao's shoulder. Yet at this moment, the martial master was handling him with utmost care. Li Hao, however, was a different story... Appearing unable to keep his footing, he pitched forward and crashed directly into the man. The force wasn't great. Just the strength of an ordinary person. However, having practiced martial arts for three years, Li Hao knew one crucial truth: even at the Hundred-Breaker realm, when exerting full effort, a martial master's rhythm was most vulnerable to disruption. As long as the timing was precise, breaking their breathing rhythm—though causing no immediate harm—would cost them precious seconds to gather their force again. This was something Li Hao had personally learned after killing Zhou He. Under normal circumstances, a Hundred-Breaker martial master would never let anyone get this close, let alone an enemy. But right now, the Ghost Face martial master was focusing his guard on Liu Yan and Chen Jian, paying barely any mind to Li Hao. As he seized Li Hao, he watched Liu Yan and Chen Jian warily. Those two might not necessarily be willing to leave just like that. "Liu Yan, Chen Jian, there's no need for you to—" *Cough! Cough!* Struck by Li Hao's collision right as he spoke, his breath hitched slightly. Right at that moment, Liu Yan let out a furious roar. Gripping her dagger, she twisted her body, kicked off the ground, and pounced straight at them. Filled with rage and bitter disappointment, she shrieked, "Even if I have to kill Li Hao myself, I won't let you bastards have him!" Her blade lunged straight toward Li Hao! The Ghost Face martial master was startled—*that won't do!* Li Hao couldn't die right now. If he died, not only would the mission fail, but he would also face severe punishment. The higher-ups had made it explicitly clear: before the blue rain fell, Li Hao absolutely could not die! He wasn't just tasked with capturing Li Hao; he also had to protect him. At the very least, after capturing him, he had to ensure his survival until he was handed over to the supernaturals. Ignoring the breath knocked out of him by Li Hao's collision, the Ghost Face martial master gripped Li Hao and retreated. "Protect Li Hao!" the Ghost Face martial master barked. Grabbing Li Hao, he prepared to fling him backward toward the several Ten-Slayer realm martial masters trailing behind. He would have them secure Li Hao while he dealt with these two mad dogs. If those two insisted on killing Li Hao, he wouldn't show any mercy! Yet right at that moment, Li Hao—whom he hadn't cared about in the slightest—flashed a deadly glint in his eyes! Both hands curved into claws, inner force surging. The instant the Ghost Face martial master lifted him, their bodies flush against one another, Li Hao appeared panicked, reflexively throwing both arms around the man's neck. The Ghost Face martial master felt a faint twinge of unease. Bound like this, he couldn't throw Li Hao off, and it would only hinder his movements. *Why is this brat acting so cowardly all of a sudden?* In the next instant, he felt something tear, and the face of Li Hao before him was suddenly sprayed with hot blood! Right then, Li Hao unleashed the full power of both hands! With the strength of the Ten-Slayer realm bolstered by the second fold of inner force, his hands snapped forward like tiger claws, directly tearing open the enemy's throat! It was too fast! Far too unexpected! The Ghost Face martial master was vastly stronger, but he had been on guard against Liu Yan and Chen Jian the entire time, harboring zero suspicion toward Li Hao. Yet at this very moment, Li Hao had ripped his throat clean apart! In those young eyes, there was not a trace of terror or panic—only icy detachment. *Splurt!* Blood erupted violently like a fountain! "You..." Drawing up a breath before the pain could even register, the Ghost Face martial master still possessed enough strength to crush this insolent brat with a single palm. He raised his arm, about to smash a fist into Li Hao's head. Yet at that exact split second, just as Li Hao's hands tore through his throat, a third hand inexplicably shot out from below! As the Ghost Face martial master raised his fist, that third hand clamped down viciously onto his crotch! Between a man's legs... it was truly fragile. A Hundred-Breaker was no exception, and a Thousand-Battler would likely be no different! *Crack! Crunch!* It sounded as if something had been crushed—pulverized completely. In that instant, an agony beyond all description washed over him. The arm the Ghost Face martial master had just raised lost every ounce of strength before it could fall. A world-shattering scream tried to burst from his lungs! Yet his throat was torn to shreds! "Guh... khhh..." He hissed frantically, tears streaming uncontrollably down his face, spilling past the edges of his ghost mask. Crushed! Completely shattered! Yet he couldn't even scream. The agonizing pain numbed his entire being, turning his mind blank. The young man before him was utterly ruthless and vicious—ripping his throat, then crushing his manhood into paste! His body wobbled, and in the next moment, he sank directly to his knees. His hands had no strength left to do anything; they fell limply, instinctively cupping his crotch. Even knowing it was useless, he still shielded it by pure instinct. With tear-filled eyes, he struggled to lift his head, blood sputtering uncontrollably from his severed throat as he glared at Li Hao. *Done for!* Li Hao remained unmoved. Behind him, Liu Yan had already charged in with her dagger, driving the blade clean and ruthlessly through the Ghost Face martial master's temple. Without pause, she ripped the blade out and stabbed it in repeatedly! Those tear-filled eyes completely lost their light. Dead! A Hundred-Breaker martial master who, in a fair face-to-face clash, would have slaughtered Liu Yan and the others ninety-nine times out of a hundred... had fallen. Killed at Li Hao's hands! It had all happened too fast. Yet Li Hao suddenly looked panicked and frantic. Having been pressed close to the Ghost Face martial master, the moment the man died, Li Hao kicked off the ground and catapulted backward toward the pursuers, screaming at the top of his lungs, "Catch me! Protect me...!" Behind them, the Ten-Slayer martial masters had only just heard their leader's command to protect Li Hao. Although the Hundred-Breaker had suddenly dropped to his knees, their minds hadn't processed what had just occurred. The lead martial master reflexively reached out to catch the flying Li Hao. *Protect Li Hao!* Li Hao dropped smoothly into his arms, pressing close against his chest. Wrapping both arms tightly around the man's neck, he screamed, "Protect me!" Before the man could even think, an excruciating agony struck—his neck was violently wrenched by Li Hao's lock! At that moment, Li Hao's inner force erupted, his arms clamping down like iron bands. *Snap!* A crisp crack rang out. Using a brutal bear hug from the Bear Combat Art, he snapped the man's neck clean in two! Drawing his gun with his right hand, Li Hao aimed directly at the head of a Ten-Slayer martial master beside him and pulled the trigger without the slightest hesitation. Extremely fast, holding the neck-broken corpse with one arm, he fired point-blank at the other man's head. The two were less than a meter apart! At such range, only an idiot could miss. *Bang!* A gunshot erupted—inescapable! Blood splattered from the man's head as the shot blew off his skullcap! In a single breath, two Ten-Slayer martial masters were dead at his hands. Behind them, Liu Yan lunged forward. Under the horrified gazes of the survivors, she drove a dagger through one man's throat, then drew a second blade with her left hand—dual-wielding, she plunged the other dagger straight into his heart! Two strikes, instantaneous death! In the blink of an eye, one Hundred-Breaker and three Ten-Slayers had been ruthlessly ambushed and butchered! "Watch out, he—" There had been a total of nine Ten-Slayer martial masters who, together with the Hundred-Breaker, formed a ten-man squad. Yet in an instant, four were dead, including the strongest among them. Among the remaining six Ten-Slayers, some were terrified out of their wits, while others were thrown into complete panic, at a loss for what to do. It was simply too fast! Right then, Li Hao fired again. At such close range, he didn't want to engage in hand-to-hand combat; it was too dangerous. Shooting first was the smarter move! *Bang!* Another shot struck a martial master directly. Nearby, Liu Yan spun with her dual daggers, leaping forward at blinding speed to sever another martial master's arm with a single slash. Of the remaining six, two were instantly incapacitated. Behind them, Chen Jian finally arrived... He was just as stunned as the enemy martial masters. The moment he arrived, Li Hao suddenly roared, "Protect me!" In the next instant, before Chen Jian's bewildered eyes, Li Hao yanked seven or eight grenades from his chest. The pull-rings were all strung together by a single cord, which he ripped in one swift motion! He dropped the grenades! Then Li Hao turned and ran for his life! Liu Yan, about to finish off the one-armed martial master, caught sight of the falling grenades from the corner of her eye. Cursing under her breath, she fled instantly. Seven or eight grenades! She was only a Ten-Slayer, not an invincible Thousand-Battler. Nor was she a supernatural with bizarre powers! Martial masters were still mortal flesh and blood. They would be blown to pieces! Instead of turning to run, she stepped off a martial master's shoulder and vaulted outward through the air. *Boom! Boom!* A thunderous explosion erupted. Among the six martial masters, three were blown apart, shredded into unrecognizable pieces. The other three were also blasted into mangled limbs. Liu Yan and Li Hao were both sent flying by the shockwave. Only Chen Jian, who had been slightly farther back, reacted in time. He yanked Li Hao behind him and raised his shield to block the spraying shrapnel and flying rocks. *Clang, clang, clang!* A barrage of impacts hammered against the shield. Chen Jian's mind was still reeling, but Li Hao had already spun around and charged back. His Ape Art exploded into action, making him nimble and light as a monkey. He clamped his hands around the throat of a pursuer who had followed him closely and survived the blast! Channeling his strength into a Black Tiger Steals Heart, his hands ripped straight through the man's chest! Blood drenched his hands! With a pulse of inner force, he shattered the beating heart inside! Over there, Liu Yan didn't waste a breath either. Turning back, she slit the throat of a fleeing martial master with a single slash. Now, only the last martial master remained alive, his right leg blown off. Having lagged half a step behind, he was slower to die. Chen Jian finally snapped back to reality completely! With a furious roar, seeing Li Hao and Liu Yan already finishing the others, he raised his shield and charged forward. Bringing the heavy shield crashing down with relentless bellows, he smashed the man's skull into mush! Dead! At this moment, silence fell. Li Hao and Liu Yan were drenched in blood. The rain grew heavier, swiftly washing over them and rinsing away the crimson, painting the ground in vibrant red. One Hundred-Breaker and nine Ten-Slayers—ten martial masters in total—had been bewilderingly ambushed and slaughtered right here by three Ten-Slayers! Liu Yan hadn't even fully recovered her senses. Methodically delivering finishing blows to the corpses, she kept glancing toward Li Hao. Her gaze was strange! It was hard to tell what she was thinking, but that look carried an extraordinary fervor and excitement. In this battle, Li Hao had been nothing short of incredible!