Chapter 55: Awaiting the Master's Decision—To Kill or Not to Kill

On the distant city wall, a young man and woman watched Xia Jiuxuan intently.

“This guy, his strength is simply absurd.”

“Good thing we didn’t make a rash move, or we’d be dead for sure.”

“But he’s too arrogant. Facing formidable opponents, he doesn’t know when to retreat. Now he’s under the desperate assault of three Tongxuan experts—he’s dead for certain.”

The two spoke to each other.

“We can return and report now,” the young man said.

“No, I won’t be at ease until I see him die with my own eyes. If we fail the mission and the teacher blames us, we can’t bear the consequences,” the young woman replied, eyes fixed on the distance.

“That’s true. That kid is unbelievably brazen, daring to kill people from the Alchemists’ Hall. I’d like to see the miserable end he meets,” the young man said with a hint of amusement.

...

A powerful assault arrived in an instant, leaving Xia Jiuxuan no chance to evade.

Boom!

Suddenly, a surge of fierce blood energy erupted from his body, colliding with the three incoming attacks.

“Ah! You!”

The three Tongxuan realm guards, on the brink of death, widened their eyes in abject terror.

In their eyes, they saw a void dyed in blood, and within that void, a dark red sword of slaughter descended from the heavens, streaking straight for their very souls.

The blood energy surged forward, like a tide of a sea of blood, overwhelming the three of them.

They died on the spot, blasted to dust without a trace.

“Pah!”

Xia Jiuxuan spat out a mouthful of blood, staggering to one knee.

Forcibly using the Slaughtering Art had caused a severe backlash on his body, more serious than ever before.

“No, this won’t do,” Xia Jiuxuan muttered to himself, shaking his head. “I must never forcefully use advanced martial skills again. It’s too dangerous—I nearly exploded and died.”

A chill swept through him at the thought. If he had used any more force, he would have been beyond saving, destined to burst apart on the spot.

“Who’s there!”

Before he could catch his breath, Xia Jiuxuan’s spiritual sense picked up on another threat.

“Director, it’s me. Don’t attack, it’s me.”

Xia Jiuxuan turned to see Han Yu behind him, eyes wide with astonishment.

“Stay back!” Xia Jiuxuan forced himself upright, pushing Han Yu aside.

“Sneaking around—if you don’t kill me while I’m wounded, you’ll never get another chance!” Xia Jiuxuan raised his head, murderous intent flaring in his eyes as he shouted toward several abandoned houses not far away.

“Quite perceptive!”

Whoosh, whoosh!

Several figures shot out from the deserted houses, landing before Xia Jiuxuan in an instant.

“Yang Hun.”

Xia Jiuxuan narrowed his eyes. It was the eldest son of the Yang family he’d met at the city gate—Yang Hun.

At his side stood two Tongxuan level five guards and, furthermore, an elder who had just entered the Sealing Spirit realm!

“A domineering spear’s intent, unfathomable speed… So what Old Hei said was true. You’re the one who killed my brother!”

Recalling everything Old Hei had described to him, Yang Hun was overwhelmed with grief and regret.

He had wronged Old Hei—killed him by mistake.

Had he not heard today that his uncle was murdered and brought people for vengeance, he would never have discovered the truth.

“Only now do you understand? Fool.”

Xia Jiuxuan sneered openly, making no attempt to deny it.

Yang Hun gritted his teeth, rage scorching his heart.

“I’ll tear you limb from limb!”

This boy had killed both his brother and his uncle. Now, gravely injured, there was no way Xia Jiuxuan could escape!

“Master, this kid is too strange. To avoid any mishap, allow me to kill him,” the Sealing Spirit realm elder beside Yang Hun volunteered. He had witnessed everything just now and was deeply shocked.

A mere sixth-level Palace Entry youth had slain not only Blade King’s son but also three Tongxuan level three experts.

Such power was both terrifying and bizarre!

“Very well, Elder Wu Heng, please shatter all his bones. I’ll take him back for slow torture.”

Yang Hun, himself only at the sixth level of Palace Entry, was far weaker than Liang Yidao. He was no fool and would never personally seek revenge.

“Kill me? Ha.”

A shadow fell across Xia Jiuxuan’s gaze as he lifted his head and opened his palm.

A wisp of ghostly mist slowly rose from his hand.

There was no other way—he was at the end of his rope. Even if his soul was ruined, he had to survive first.

“Die!”

Wu Heng, the Sealing Spirit realm elder, struck with his palm like a blade toward Xia Jiuxuan.

...

On the distant city wall, the two young envoys from the Alchemists’ Hall were overwhelmed, unable to calm themselves.

They had thought the boy was doomed, but he had withstood the combined assault of three Tongxuan experts and utterly destroyed them.

It was staggering.

At that moment, sensing Xia Jiuxuan’s serious injuries, they had been preparing to strike and kill him by surprise.

But then, a Sealing Spirit realm expert had appeared, making them hold back and observe.

Judging by appearances, that gravely wounded boy was unafraid even before a Sealing Spirit realm foe. Surely, he must have some unexpected trump card!

“Good thing we didn’t act rashly. That guy’s terrifying.”

“Yes—facing a Sealing Spirit realm, and still unfazed. Let’s see what methods he has!”

...

The ghostly mist in Xia Jiuxuan’s palm gradually condensed into the shape of a tiny sword.

Wu Heng’s attack was already upon Xia Jiuxuan’s brow.

“Die!”

Xia Jiuxuan snapped coldly. The chilling killing intent made Wu Heng’s heart tremble.

Whoosh!

At that instant, a sword’s intent descended from the sky.

Blood splattered across Xia Jiuxuan’s face, while Wu Heng’s head rolled to the ground.

Xia Jiuxuan frowned, sending his spiritual sense outward.

“You’re a bit late.”

He dissipated the slaughter sword poised to erupt in his palm and finally relaxed.

Then, under the horrified gazes of Yang Hun and his companions, an elder strode down from the air.

It was Su Hongde.

Feeling the abyssal, raging sword intent radiating from Su Hongde, Yang Hun dropped to his knees with a thud, utterly unable to control himself. The two Tongxuan level five guards beside him also collapsed, their knees shattering from the pressure.

“Aaah!” The two guards wailed, banging their heads on the ground. “Spare us, senior! Forgive us!”

Such a fearsome being was far beyond their ability to provoke!

“Hmph! Useless fools. My Yang family has wasted resources on worthless trash like you,” came a sudden voice. A figure streaked through the sky, landing beside Yang Hun. The three kneeling men immediately felt relief, the crushing pressure vanishing.

“Great-grandfather!”

Yang Hun’s face lit up with joy as he rushed to cling to the old man’s leg, weeping bitterly.

“Great-grandfather, that kid killed my brother and my third uncle. You must avenge the Yang family!”

“Stand up—Yang men do not disgrace themselves so!” the old man snapped.

“Hmph, I thought some great power had arrived. So it’s you, Yang Zhizhong—you old madman.”

Su Hongde glanced indifferently at the elder called Yang Zhizhong.

“It’s been a long time, Su Hongde. So the old fossil hasn’t died yet?” Yang Zhizhong retorted with a forced grin.

He then looked at the blood-soaked Xia Jiuxuan and said coldly, “This boy murdered members of my Yang family. Today I must behead him. Step aside, and I’ll consider it a favor to me, Yang Zhizhong.”

Su Hongde snorted. “What’s your favor worth? Why should I care?”

Yang Zhizhong’s face darkened. “Su Hongde, for the sake of a mere Palace Entry level five trash, you’d oppose me and the Yang family? Isn’t that a losing bargain?”

Su Hongde was utterly dismissive. “Who do you think the Yang family is? If you dare touch him today, even if I perish, I’ll wipe out your entire clan!”

Yang Zhizhong’s expression grew uglier. “Su scoundrel, you don’t know what’s good for you! Do you really think our family’s ancestor is so feeble, or your neck so tough? Don’t forget, though our ancestor retired from the sect’s domain, he’s not someone you can contend with!”

Su Hongde was well aware of this.

The Yang family indeed had an ancestor over six hundred years old.

It was said that this ancestor once cultivated in a secluded sect and reached the Saintly Entry realm.

Later, for unknown reasons, he was crippled.

The Yang family’s patriarch at the time paid a huge price to plead at the palace, asking the emperor to show mercy and allow the ancestor’s return from the sect.

With imperial permission, the barrier blocking outsiders from entering the world was lifted.

Since then, the Yang family’s ancestor had remained at home, but few had ever seen him in person.

“A cripple, nothing more. You think I’m afraid?”

Su Hongde refused to yield an inch.

“You! Scoundrel, how dare you insult our ancestor!”

“If you dare touch my master, I’ll kill that cripple of yours—what then?” Murderous light blazed in Su Hongde’s eyes.

Yang Zhizhong scowled, puzzled. “You madman, has your mind snapped in seclusion? Who is your master? Who said anything about touching your master?”

Su Hongde ignored him, bowed to Xia Jiuxuan, and said, “Master, please decide—shall I kill this old fool or not?”

At this sight, the entire Yang retinue was left utterly bewildered.