Chapter 75: Fighting for a Whole Corpse!

The specter stared at the two figures with their backs turned. A flicker of murderous intent flashed in its eyes. With a swift motion of its right hand, a slender, steel-needle appeared between its fingers. It was thrown immediately.

Swish!

“Die!”

At such close range, even a half-step Martial Marquis would be hard-pressed to survive without utmost care. What’s more, the specter’s goal was not to kill outright, but to wound Xiao Yang. As long as blood was drawn, the deadly poison coating the needle would seep into his body. Then, even a Martial Marquis would see their strength plummet. With ten silver-ranked assassins ready to strike, killing Xiao Yang would be as easy as snapping one’s fingers.

“Heh, these fellows can’t wait any longer,” Xiao Yang allowed himself a faint smile.

Hao Wenlong, too, sensed the incoming needle. Internal energy surged forth, and he threw out a punch.

Clang!

A clear, ringing sound echoed. The flying needle shattered instantly.

The assassin was momentarily stunned. The needle was forged from refined steel; only a Martial Marquis could break it. In that instant, a realization struck.

“Not good—a Martial Marquis!” he cursed inwardly, though his face remained impassive.

“The opportunity is here—everyone, attack!” he ordered. In a flash, ten silver-ranked assassins moved as one, rushing toward Xiao Yang.

“Courting death!” Killing intent erupted from Hao Wenlong. He was just about to act, but was stopped.

“Wenlong, let me handle this. You cover me,” Xiao Yang said. Having just made a breakthrough, he was eager to test his skills and would not pass up such a golden opportunity.

“But, young master!” Hao Wenlong was uneasy, clearly sensing that these were all assassins at the Greater Martial Master level, while Xiao Yang had only just broken through to that realm. He worried Xiao Yang might not be able to contend.

“These small fries are still within my grasp.” Xiao Yang glanced over them. The strongest among them was merely a fifth-tier Greater Martial Master. With his current cards, Xiao Yang could easily handle them. The only troublesome one was the assassin who had thrown the needle—the peak Greater Martial Master. Facing such an opponent would still be a challenge even with his new cultivation.

“You deal with the one who threw the needle,” Xiao Yang instructed.

After a brief hesitation, Hao Wenlong nodded. “Be careful, young master. I’ll be back soon.” In nearly an instant, he leapt out the window.

The assassins, thinking Hao Wenlong was coming for them, had braced themselves for battle.

But Hao Wenlong ran straight past them.

“What…” The group was stunned, unable to hold back as they turned to look. They saw the one who had given the orders—the Phantom—fleeing at full speed. Instantly, unease crept into the hearts of several assassins. It was clear they had been tricked.

“Retreat!” Only someone capable of frightening gold-ranked assassins could be a Martial Marquis. In an instant, the ten silver-ranked assassins recovered and turned to flee.

But Xiao Yang, eager to showcase his skills, would not let these free sparring partners escape. Especially since, after defeating them, he might even gain “loot.”

“Since you’re all here, why not exchange a few moves?” Xiao Yang’s voice rang out.

The silver-ranked assassins’ faces darkened. “That one is a Martial Marquis; this one is just a Martial Master. Let’s take him together,” one suggested, prompting a spark in the others’ eyes.

“Sorry, but I am now a Greater Martial Master!” Xiao Yang replied with a gentle smile, releasing his aura. Instantly, the ten assassins felt as if a heavy stone weighed on their hearts, making it difficult to breathe.

“All at once!” Simultaneously, all ten launched their attack.

Xiao Yang raised his head slightly, his body nimble as he dodged their strikes with ease, neutralizing their attacks as if it were nothing.

“A bit slow—speed up,” he said, a hint of dissatisfaction in his tone. The ten could not even push him to his limits. In truth, their attacks felt to Xiao Yang little faster than a snail’s pace. Only now did he fully understand the terror of Soul Saint power—at the Greater Martial Master realm, it was nothing short of a glitch.

After testing the subtleties of soul power, Xiao Yang was ready to try the vibration force he had yet to use—the first unique power from the Nine Saints Returning Origin arts. He felt a surge of anticipation.

“Be careful—I’m about to attack,” he said cheerfully. The next moment, he threw a punch, his fist wrapped in an odd energy.

Bang!

The assassin, who had clearly dodged, was still sent flying by the punch for reasons unknown. Blood traced an arc in the air. Looking again, the assassin was dead beyond saving.

“What just happened?” Xiao Yang stared at his fist in astonishment. He saw clearly—the opponent had evaded, yet still perished under his blow. He pondered for a while, but could not understand, and his gaze returned to the corpse.

“Test it a few more times, and I’ll understand,” he mused.

The scene sent chills through the remaining assassins, making them instinctively retreat two steps. The eerie event had been clear: the attack was dodged, yet the victim still died. It was too bizarre. Though they were assassins, they valued their lives.

“Let us go this once. We promise never to trouble you again,” one assassin ventured cautiously.

His words drew Xiao Yang’s attention. He didn’t need to choose—this one would do.

“Very well!” The assassins had barely begun to rejoice when they heard another phrase:

“But each of you must let me punch you once. Then I’ll let you leave.”

At this, nine assassins’ faces turned grim. The punch hadn’t even landed and the victim died; if it did, what hope was there?

In an instant, the remaining assassins resolved to offer the fiercest resistance, fighting for an intact corpse.

“You really think we’re made of clay? Even if we die, we’ll tear a chunk of flesh from you,” one swore with venom.

Hearing this, Xiao Yang raised an eyebrow. What was there to wait for? Time to teach them a lesson!

He strode forward, charging toward the assassins. A dagger thrust at him, but Xiao Yang dodged effortlessly.

“Courtesy demands reciprocity—take my punch!” He threw a punch, sending a figure flying.

Not done yet, he stepped forward to another assassin, delivering a kick.

Bang!

The blow landed in the assassin’s abdomen. The next moment, blood seeped from odd places, the assassin’s eyes bulging grotesquely. He tried to speak, but only managed to spit blood, his lips trembling without sound.

“My ordinary attacks seem to have become area attacks,” Xiao Yang realized. After dispatching all ten assassins, he had gained a better understanding of the vibration force. It was not that the opponents couldn’t evade, but that his attack range had increased. Where before one needed only to avoid his fist, now one had to keep a good thirty centimeters from it to escape.

He now knew the approximate distance—within thirty centimeters of his fist was his attack range. Dodging the fist alone was useless; only by maintaining that gap could one avoid his strike.

Moreover, the internal organs of all ten assassins had been ruptured, likely due to the vibration force. With such power, Xiao Yang’s ability to catch enemies off guard had soared. In battle, suddenly unleashing the vibration force would leave foes utterly bewildered.

And this power greatly enhanced his attack strength. Xiao Yang felt that, with his current abilities, he could even contend against most peak Greater Martial Masters.