Chen Tian held his Star Sword in hand, a flash of sword light erupting. It was as swift as a gale, a phantom of lightning, instantly striking with lethal threat. All the surrounding assassins dodged, but unfortunately, Chen Tian had poured his full power into this move. The speed of his sword light was beyond the reach of ordinary cultivators. Chen Tian’s sword light vanished. Amidst the myriad of sword lights, only a mere five people survived. The rest had all become souls beneath Chen Tian’s blade. If one resolves to kill, they must also resolve to be killed by Chen Tian. Chen Tian stepped forward. The seven looked at each other and nodded. Individually, none of them were a match for Chen Tian, so they could only join forces.
Joining forces offered a sliver of hope for survival. Now, each man for himself meant only one outcome: death. Chen Tian, wielding his Star Sword and clad in Star Armor, was at the peak of his power. The seven assassins before him were strong. Chen Tian's previous sword light was something ordinary cultivators could not withstand, indicating that these seven were exceptionally powerful. However, assassins were rarely weak.
One figure moved first, drawing Chen Tian's attention, while the others silently vanished as if they were never there. Chen Tian knew they had concealed themselves. Assassins generally avoided direct confrontation as it was risky. An assassin's combat style was to strike and kill, finding the right moment to eliminate the opponent with a single blow.
Chen Tian, aided by his divine sense, knew the position of everyone clearly. He opened his eyes and looked at the approaching assassin. This assassin exuded a powerful aura, his cultivation realm at the fifth level of the Gathering Grade. He was the weakest of the seven, thus serving as bait to attract Chen Tian’s attention. The others were seeking an opportunity, a weakness in Chen Tian, to end him with one strike.
They dared not confront Chen Tian head-on. After all, they hadn't been harmed by his previous attack, and they harbored some apprehension. Who knew if that attack was casually unleashed or a full-power burst? It was better to be cautious, to let one person test the waters. Then, if Chen Tian unleashed such an attack again, they would have a plan. If not, they would attack together and kill him.
The assassin approached Chen Tian. Chen Tian drew his long sword in a sweep. The black-clad assassin’s long saber clashed with the sword, sparks flying instantly. Chen Tian and the black-clad assassin met gazes. This battle was destined to have only one survivor: either Chen Tian or these assassins.
Chen Tian raised his arm high, instantly deflecting the assassin’s saber. A sword stroke followed, swift, precise, and fierce, filled with killing intent. The assassin felt the killing intent and let go of his weapon with both hands, somersaulting backward continuously. Chen Tian’s strike landed on the ground, and a scorching heat emanated from the molten rock.
Chen Tian's sword had pierced through the molten surface, and lava flowed. The Star Sword was incomparably hard, unlike any ordinary weapon. Chen Tian stepped forward, taking advantage of the assassin’s unstable stance. He appeared behind the assassin in an instant and thrust his sword. The assassin, before even regaining his footing, was engulfed in fear. Assassins were not suited for direct combat; their combat experience lay in ambushes and exploiting weaknesses. Fighting Chen Tian head-on, Chen Tian was fully confident he could deal with them.
If all seven attacked at once, Chen Tian might find it troublesome. But to probe his limits individually was overestimating themselves. Chen Tian’s Star Body, now condensed, was entirely different from his previous Star Light Body. His combat power had increased by at least three times, enough to kill a ninth-level Gathering Grade martial artist.
Let alone cultivators below the ninth level of the Gathering Grade, killing them was as simple as slaughtering chickens.
As the sword was about to pierce the assassin's body, a black light collided with the sword. It was a dart, a rhombus-shaped black dart shot from the shadows, covering Chen Tian's surroundings. Chen Tian shifted his stance, his long sword dancing in his hand, clanging and tinkling. Chen Tian knocked down all the darts. The assassin, escaping immediate danger, created distance between himself and Chen Tian.
“Fight with confidence, we are helping you from the shadows. You are safe. Try your best to test the opponent’s strength.”
Assassins had their own specific methods of communication. Seeing that those hidden would assist him, the assassin's confidence surged. After all, with them around, Chen Tian couldn't kill him.
Chen Tian saw through the assassin's thoughts and said, “It seems you trust your teammates a lot!”
Chen Tian knew their hiding spots. Eliminating them one by one was better than dealing with all of them at once. Chen Tian did not expose their positions.
“Kid, even if you kill us today, you won’t be able to leave this place.”
The assassin spoke with a cold expression. The barrier in the sky enveloped the entire Demon Beast Mountain Range. Chen Tian had no way of leaving the Demon Beast Mountain Range. Within the Demon Beast Mountain Range lived demon beasts. Even the most powerful cultivators had to fight with their full might against these beasts, let alone being in the Demon Beast Mountain Range where even Saint Realm demon beasts resided. He didn't believe that a Saint Realm demon beast wouldn't be able to kill Chen Tian.
Chen Tian did not reply. He stepped forward, his figure transforming into a gentle breeze. As the breeze blew, the assassin hadn't even reacted when his arm was severed, pain erupting. The assassin endured the pain, looking at Chen Tian. How fast was that? Was this even human speed?
These assassins were not as fast as Chen Tian. Could it be that this guy was hiding his strength? The assassin laughed. It seemed this was Chen Tian's true strength.
“Aren't you going to make a move yet?”
The assassin looked around. No one would win. Instantly, the assassin’s face turned grim. He knew he had been abandoned, a disposable pawn. As long as he could test the opponent's true strength, his role would be over. After all, the bounty reward would be taken by one person. Who among those present didn't wish for others to die so they could pocket the bounty themselves?
“Damn it, damn it! I'll be waiting for you below!”
This black-clad assassin understood everyone's intentions. He roared in rage. Before he could react, Chen Tian's long sword ended his life.
The corpse fell to the ground. Chen Tian looked at the black sphere on his sword. A crystal ball. The sword hadn't pierced it but was stuck in the center of the crystal ball. What was this black crystal ball?
“Kid, hand that thing over.”
Upon seeing that thing in Chen Tian’s hand, the other six assassins all appeared, looking at the black crystal ball in Chen Tian’s hand. This crystal ball was standard equipment for Shadowy Pavilion assassins. If an assassin died, this item had to be returned to the Shadowy Pavilion. If one was lost, everyone involved in the mission would die, personally executed by the Shadowy Pavilion Master.
To enter the Shadowy Pavilion, one had to have this black crystal ball implanted within their body. Upon death, the black crystal ball had to be retrieved. The reason Shadowy Pavilion assassins often worked in teams was mutual surveillance. Of course, the Shadowy Pavilion had other means of surveillance; assassins watching assassins was the secondary method.
Chen Tian held it in his hand, and instantly a voice echoed in his mind. Chen Tian’s lips curled up. He hadn't expected these guys to have such good things. Chen Tian stuffed it into his storage ring.
Then he looked at the six people present, his eyes shining with a different kind of brilliance, as if he were looking at treasures or delicacies.
“Thank you very much for giving me such a good item. It seems you all have crystal balls in your bodies, don’t you? Then I shall accept them.”
Chen Tian smiled kindly, appearing like a sunny boy. To them, that smile was no different from that of a demon. Chen Tian flickered, suddenly appearing behind one of the assassins and thrusting his sword. The other assassins reacted promptly and decisively intervened to block Chen Tian’s attack. Chen Tian wanted to eliminate one first, to finish him as quickly as possible. Six people attacking Chen Tian alone was something he couldn't handle.
Seeing the six people attacking Chen Tian alone, Tian Mang Xing Yi could not stand idly by and joined the fray. He occupied three assassins, while Chen Tian's sword was about to pierce the head of one assassin. Unfortunately, it was blocked by two other assassins, and the sword's attack was slightly deflected.
This sword strike severed the opponent's left ear. Chen Tian turned, his long sword pointing at the three. With the Star Sword in hand, he would cut down all enemies.