"Escape!"
"Run!"
"Hurry and escape, or you'll lose your life!"
The old man's sense of impending danger, like a swaying wind chime, incessantly urged him to flee for his life.
In his panic, the old man chose to trust his instincts and immediately turned to run.
Alas, while intuition doesn't lie, it requires the ability to escape in the first place.
A dragon-shaped sword light suddenly struck the old man from behind as he fled through the air.
With a pained cry, the old man plummeted from the sky.
He wasn't dead yet, merely gravely injured. Just as he was about to continue his escape, the sword dragon executed a swift counter-attack, cleaving his body in two.
The old man's upper torso continued to flee, while his lower half remained on the ground, blood gushing out like a fountain.
The old man's upper half fled for over ten meters, a flicker of joy crossing his face. But before he could celebrate, the agonizing pain from the loss of his lower half finally reached his nerves.
A shrill, despairing scream pierced the air.
The old man's upper torso then fell to the ground. Though not yet dead, his state was more miserable than death itself.
The old man's ear-splitting wails echoed incessantly, filled with unwillingness, defiance, and a refusal to accept his fate. He didn't want to die, nor had he ever imagined dying such a pathetic and ignominious death.
"So noisy!"
Ning Beichen, intolerant of the racket, unleashed a punch to the old man's head.
With a *crack*.
Following the old man's final scream, a gory mess splattered everywhere, some parts still writhing on the ground.
With the old man's death, the surrounding area fell into an eerie silence. Even those who lay on the ground, severely injured and previously shouting, quickly shut their mouths.
If Ning Beichen's previous defeat of them could be attributed to luck, misfortune, or their underestimating him, then his powerful slaying of the old man shattered their pride and false hopes with brutal reality.
No one had expected such an outcome – not the people from the Central Continent, not City Lord Chang Tianyi, and certainly not Yang Qianrou herself.
No one anticipated Ning Beichen's sheer audacity and strength, his willingness to strike and kill individuals from the Central Continent without a moment's hesitation.
Did Ning Beichen truly fear no one from the Central Continent?
Or did he possess some hidden backing or influential patron that made him disregard them?
However, Ning Beichen paid no mind to their thoughts. Those who dared to harm someone of his caliber would be killed, regardless of their origin.
Furthermore, in Ning Beichen's mind, he needed no permission to go to the Central Continent.
Rather than endure their harassment, he chose to eliminate them directly. Since he had already offended them, he would take their airship and leave a few survivors to guide him.
If Ning Beichen had lacked confidence before, his decisive elimination of the old man had bolstered it significantly.
Perhaps he wasn't the strongest in this world, but he was certainly among the elites.
Moreover, the barefoot were not afraid of those with shoes.
Currently alone and unburdened, he wouldn't hesitate to spill blood and sever heads if the people from the Central Continent dared to target him.
At this, Ning Beichen walked over and proceeded to kick the individuals on the ground, killing all but three whom he found to his liking.
Ning Beichen's brutality and ferocity struck such terror into the hearts of everyone present, both from the Central Continent and the local populace, that they dared not even breathe.
Even the three survivors from the Central Continent, spared by Ning Beichen, were now petrified, their former arrogance and pride completely vanished, replaced only by fear of him.
Ning Beichen's appearance had utterly defied their expectations, in terms of his strength, courage, and attitude.
"Do the three of you want to live or die?" Ning Beichen asked them, his gaze filled with murderous intent.
"We want to live, we want to live," the three replied instantly, fearing that any delay would turn them into corpses.
"Very well, since you wish to live, I shall spare your lives." Ning Beichen declared magnanimously.
"Thank you, thank you, sir, for sparing our lives..." The three immediately prostrated themselves before Ning Beichen, kowtowing and expressing their heartfelt gratitude.
Beside them, Yang Qianrou watched, her heart filled with excitement. This was a man, a true man, unafraid of anyone.
Only City Lord Chang Tianyi wore a troubled expression. While Ning Beichen's massacre was satisfying, as he too disliked the arrogance of the Central Continent's people, the core issue remained unresolved.
He knew this matter would not be easily settled. He couldn't fathom how Ning Beichen could avoid retribution from the Central Continent, unless he chose to flee.
Chang Tianyi was even more worried that the Central Continent would vent their rage on the city, on him as its lord, or even engage in a slaughter to sate their fury.
The people of the Central Continent cared little for the lives of those in this desolate, remote border town.
"Don't celebrate too soon, the three of you. I want you to pilot the airship and take me to the Central Continent." Ning Beichen told them.
Ning Beichen's words startled everyone again. No one had imagined that Ning Beichen not only had no intention of avoiding the Central Continent but intended to go there.
The three had no choice but to agree. Ning Beichen offered them no options, directly sealing their cultivation, just as he had dealt with the arrogant transcendent cultivators before.
"Leader, are you... are you really going to the Central Continent?" Yang Qianrou asked Ning Beichen anxiously.
Ning Beichen nodded. He was determined to go to the Central Continent, even if it meant fighting his way there without an airship. Now that he had one, he naturally would depart.
"Leader, I want to go with you too." Yang Qianrou immediately pleaded.
"Yang Qianrou, this trip to the Central Continent is not an invitation. You may face pursuit. If you come with me, you could be facing a near-certain death. Think carefully," Ning Beichen advised her.
"Leader, I'm not afraid. I've thought it through. Especially after this incident, I don't want to experience it again. I want to go to the Central Continent, I want to become stronger, and I don't want to be bullied again while being powerless," Yang Qianrou stated earnestly.
"Very well, if you wish to go, then come along. But be prepared for the possibility of losing your life."
Since Yang Qianrou had made up her mind, Ning Beichen did not try to dissuade her further.
Fate is predetermined, and no one can truly dictate their future. One can only strive their best to seize it.