How despicable! Trying to tempt me from behind!
An Yi wiped the blood off his black combat dagger, baring his teeth in a sinister grin. "Sorry about that—couldn't resist."
The surrounding dark cultivators were stunned.
A chilling aura surged from behind!
Where the hell did this guy come from?!
"Dwarf!"
Death Monk's eyes nearly burst with rage when he saw Ghost Dwarf lying in a pool of blood.
His brother of decades—just like that, dead!
One moment, Ghost Dwarf had been gleefully wielding his wire saw, ready to dismember someone for fun. The next, he was ambushed and sent straight to the afterlife.
"Cheap shot! This brat attacked from behind!"
"Kill him! Avenge Ghost Dwarf!"
The dark cultivators roared furiously, surrounding An Yi with deafening shouts—yet not one dared to make the first move.
They weren’t stupid.
Even if it was a sneak attack, the fact that he’d managed to silently kill a Dark Force expert right under their noses spoke volumes about his terrifying strength.
This kid might look young, but he was probably someone who ranked among the top in all of Great Xia.
Chen Bing, gripping his Spirit Snake Sword, was slightly surprised by An Yi’s arrival.
By the usual script, this guy should’ve shown up much earlier. Why now?
And the moment he appeared, he’d stealthily taken out a Dark Force expert, drastically tipping the balance of power. Something about this felt… off.
The plotline was veering way off course!
"Night Emperor!"
Thousand Taoist’s voice was icy as he fixed his gaze on An Yi.
Those perpetually smiling eyes, the moment they opened fully, revealed a terrifying killing intent.
An Yi raised an eyebrow.
What the hell?!
His carefully hidden identity—how did everyone know about it now?!
"Ahem, wrong guy. I’m no Night Emperor," An Yi started to deny.
Thousand Taoist sneered. "You killed Gourd Immortal, didn’t you? The blood mark on you—it’s his!"
An Yi’s expression darkened. How did he know that?!
What shocked him even more was that after Thousand Taoist exposed him as the Night Emperor, Yan Zhi showed no surprise—as if she’d known all along.
Thousand Taoist’s face twisted with malice. His horsetail whisk spread slightly, and a powerful surge of energy pulsed outward from him.
The once-gentle demeanor was gone, replaced by murderous intent.
Even the scattered pebbles on the ground trembled under the oppressive force, bouncing unnaturally.
"I’ll handle this one. You two can deal with the rest of the trash, right?" Yan Zhi asked coldly, gripping her silver whip.
An Yi grinned confidently. "No problem. Glasses over here can solo it. I believe in him!"
Chen Bing was speechless.
The hell? Since when were we this close?
Death Monk, enraged by his brother’s death, swung his spiked chain, hurling the iron skull at An Yi. "DIE!"
An Yi dodged behind Chen Bing, patting his shoulder casually. "You take the last Dark Force guy. I’ll handle the small fry."
With that, he charged into the crowd of dark cultivators, dagger in hand.
"Truly shameless. No wonder you’re destined to die tonight—divine retribution, huh?" Chen Bing muttered, brandishing his Spirit Snake Sword as he engaged Death Monk.
An Yi weaved through the dark cultivators like a ghost, cutting them down effortlessly.
In the blink of an eye, two more fell to his dagger—both from behind.
"An Yi, be careful!" Shen Muxuan bit her lip, her delicate hands clenched so tightly they turned pale.
She knew An Yi’s lifespan was running out. The fear of losing him gnawed at her.
She’d already dragged him away from this mess once.
But the commotion here had drawn him back.
An Yi had insisted there was loot to grab—something about getting rich quick. She couldn’t stop him.
Even a fierce tiger struggles against a pack of wolves.
Seven Bright Force experts, plus a horde of lesser fighters.
It was tougher than expected.
But for them, facing An Yi was even worse.
Four dead in moments. Whoever stepped forward died. Only the Bright Force experts could last a few exchanges.
Then, one of the dark cultivators spotted Shen Muxuan standing to the side—an idea forming.
With a sly grin, he lunged at her, blade in hand.
"This girl’s with that brat. Perfect hostage material."
But as he moved, his body stiffened. Frost spread across his skin, freezing him mid-action.
Shen Muxuan’s eyes had turned ice-blue.
The onlookers were petrified.
Since when could martial artists do this?!
Shen Muxuan quietly swallowed a pill. The cold around her intensified.
She had to protect An Yi.
No one could hurt him!
Noticing this, An Yi smirked.
He knew this airheaded girl had some skills, but this was beyond expectations.
That guy had been a Bright Force expert—instantly frozen solid!
Even An Yi would’ve struggled without a sneak attack.
After a fierce skirmish, An Yi stepped back, sweat dripping as the air blade in his hand flickered and dispersed.
"Hey, Glasses, wanna switch?"
Bright Force experts weren’t pushovers. Without his air blade, he’d have been worn down by now.
Chen Bing ignored him, focusing on Death Monk.
None of this was his business. If not for An Yi’s late arrival, he wouldn’t even be here.
Shen Muxuan, wreathed in frost, declared, "An Yi, I’ll help!"
An Yi sighed. "Fine. Stay behind me and be careful."
Meanwhile, Chen Bing’s Spirit Snake Sword left bloody trails across Death Monk’s body.
Death Monk growled, fear creeping into his eyes.
This bespectacled kid—he couldn’t win.
Chen Bing lazily toyed with Death Monk, slicing him like a piece of meat.
Then, a thought struck him.
"Captain Yan! Watch out for that Taoist’s whisk!"
Yan Zhi froze.
So did Thousand Taoist.
Because right then, his whisk had just entangled her whip.
The next step—hidden needles laced with poison would rain down, piercing her through.
His trap had been exposed.
But the trigger was already pulled.
Swoosh!
Thousand Taoist activated the mechanism.
A storm of steel needles shot from the whisk.
Yan Zhi’s face darkened.
If not for the warning, she’d never have dodged in time!
Her silver whip lashed out, forming a protective barrier of energy around her.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The needles bounced off harmlessly.
An Yi glanced over, impressed.
"Energy materialization… Damn, she’s even scarier than I thought."
Thousand Taoist sneered, his skin turning ashen.
"You’re interesting, girl."
Yan Zhi was strong, but they were evenly matched. In a death duel, the outcome was uncertain.
Chen Bing dodged Death Monk’s strike, circling behind him.
But instead of attacking, he called out to Yan Zhi:
"Use the sixth move of Roaming Dragon Whip—Dragon’s Descent! Strike from above!"
Yan Zhi’s eyes widened.
This guy actually knew about their family's ancestral whip technique! He even recognized the specific moves.
Just who the hell is this kid?
--