"Night Emperor!"
The moment these words were uttered, Lie Tao's gaze turned icy.
"I've never heard of you."
"But the name alone sounds badass!"
An Yi gripped his dagger, noticing the newly unlocked skill [Throwing Weapons] in his skill bar, a smirk curling his lips.
"A long-lost skill comprehension... finally appeared!"
"Hey, kid lying over there, can you stand?"
An Yi glanced at Zhou Jun and asked.
Zhou Jun froze momentarily, staring at An Yi in surprise: "You—"
"Aunt Zhou is still waiting for you outside. Don’t die here!"
An Yi said coolly, spinning the combat knife in his hand before gripping it properly again.
Zhou Jun’s expression turned dazed, murmuring: "So you’re the one..."
The Gourd Immortal, to keep him as a willing blood thrall, allowed him to meet his mother once a month—forcing him to stay alive.
His mother had once told him about a brat his age living downstairs, squatting in their old apartment for two years, freeloading meals and never paying rent.
Now there was also a silly girl living with that brat. Though clumsy, she was beautiful and kind-hearted. With them around, he never really felt alone...
"Hey, hang in there. I’ll deal with these two bastards."
An Yi’s eyes hardened as he spoke softly.
"The remaining two... they’re the real bosses!"
Nie Qinglan stared at An Yi’s back, tears streaming down her face as she choked out: "You idiot... why did you come?! It’s dangerous here! Don’t you know that?! Big idiot... big, stupid idiot..."
Large teardrops rolled down her cheeks, no matter how hard she wiped them away.
An Yi:
"What the hell is this girl doing?!"
Why was she scolding him?
"Heh, don’t worry. If this kid agrees to replace you as my blood thrall, I’ll let you go."
The Gourd Immortal’s crimson eyes locked onto An Yi, licking his lips like a starved wild dog spotting a feast.
"That tempting scent of vitality... I can smell it through your clothes!"
An Yi felt nauseated, gripping his dagger: "Nonsense. Killing you will save them just the same!"
Lie Tao stepped forward, surveying the corpses of black-clad men strewn across the ground. He tightened his grip on the short staff, his expression solemn.
"This kid... he’s a formidable opponent!"
"Xiao Tao, need a hand from this immortal?" The Gourd Immortal teased.
Lie Tao coldly refused: "No need. Just some punk. Not worth the immortal’s effort!"
An Yi snorted.
"Looking down on me?"
Suddenly, An Yi moved like lightning, darting behind Lie Tao in an instant.
Speed had always been his forte—his stats were heavily invested in it!
Yet, despite his bulky frame, Lie Tao wasn’t slow either. He spun around, swinging his staff at An Yi.
"Never expose your back to the enemy!"
This was practically an ironclad rule for all martial artists!
An Yi’s passive skill [Ambush] was deadly, but it worked best for sneak attacks.
Unless they were complete morons, no one just stood there waiting to get hit!
Lie Tao turned and saw An Yi charging at him with the dagger, a cold smile forming.
Gripping his staff, he swung it with a force that sent shockwaves through the air, accompanied by a thunderous sonic boom as it clashed against the dagger.
"[Sweeping Army]!"
Lie Tao roared.
The staff collided with the dagger.
Clang!
A sharp metallic ring echoed.
An Yi couldn’t withstand the impact—his dagger was knocked from his hand, spinning through the air before embedding itself into the ground.
"Is that all?!"
Lie Tao grinned.
His family, the ancient martial Lie Clan, was renowned for their masterful and fierce staff techniques!
This [Sweeping Army] was one of their secret arts!
How could some brat in his early twenties possibly withstand it?!
An Yi flexed his wrist, unfazed: "Hmph. Pretty mediocre."
"Talk big all you want!"
Lie Tao sneered.
Crack!
His staff split apart!
The sound continued—
The staff shattered, fragments clattering to the ground.
"What—?!"
Lie Tao’s face darkened.
This was his family’s ancestral staff... and it had broken in his hands!
"What era are you living in, still using sticks of this quality? Cheapskate!"
An Yi remarked dryly.
Material-wise, the combat knife he’d snatched was far superior.
"You’re dead!"
Lie Tao growled, throwing a punch straight at him.
An Yi met it with a fist of his own!
Lie Tao had long been a master of Ming Jin, while An Yi had only just stumbled into the realm.
There was still a gap in their strength.
After the first punch, Lie Tao smirked—this kid was slick with a dagger, but his hand-to-hand skills were lackluster.
"Utterly average!"
Second punch!
Lie Tao’s smile stiffened. Blocking with his elbow actually took effort this time.
Third punch!
An Yi’s fist shot out with blistering speed, generating a sonic boom as it slammed into Lie Tao’s chest.
Lie Tao grunted, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
His eyes flashed with fury as he swiftly grabbed An Yi’s wrist—
But at that moment, An Yi’s other fist struck at his throat.
A weak, flimsy punch!
Lie Tao scoffed.
Slash!
A spray of blood erupted!
Lie Tao’s throat was slit clean through by a sudden black dagger!
"Moron, who said I was gonna box with you?!"
An Yi said coldly, the black dagger spinning back into his grip.
"Ghk... ghk..."
Blood gurgled in his throat. Lie Tao clutched his neck, eyes bulging in disbelief as he stared at An Yi.
Staggering, he collapsed with a thud.
His throat was severed—no chance of survival!
Until his last breath, he never figured out where An Yi had pulled that black dagger from.
"An Yi..."
Nie Qinglan gazed at his figure, her face flushed, heart pounding wildly.
A heroic figure riding clouds of rainbow light—this must be what he looked like!
"Night Emperor! Hell yeah!"
Chengzi, who’d once been dragged into this dungeon by Lie Tao, screamed hoarsely, his face red with excitement.
Instantly, the lifeless eyes of the prisoners in the dungeon lit up with hope as they stared at An Yi!
Zhou Jun, lying on the ground, grinned at the domineering figure holding the black dagger: "Night Emperor... hell yeah!"
Ding! Quest [Slaughter] completed—10/10!
Ding! Reward obtained: 100 points of Malevolence!
Ding! Skill [Berserk] acquired!
Hearing the system’s notifications, An Yi walked over, picking up his combat knife: "100 points! All into [Dagger Mastery]!"
Ding! Congratulations! [Dagger Mastery] has reached Lv. 3!
Ding! [Dagger Mastery] Lv. 3 unlocked: [Dual Wield]!
Two more system chimes rang out.
An Yi gripped the black dagger—Dragonfang Demonblade—in one hand and the combat knife in the other, his burning gaze locking onto the Gourd Immortal!
This three-meter-tall, bald, obese monster... was the true terror!