Chapter 146: Grandmaster's Demise (1)
Snowflakes whirled in a chaotic dance. Wang Huang shut the window, leaving only a sliver of a gap.
Three Savant experts taking on a first-rate Adept... just one exchange is all it takes. Hopefully, all goes well. Wang Huang peered through the crack, watching as the three Savant experts disappeared into the far end of a secluded alley.
Wang Huang heeded his big brother's words and didn't follow along. Would they succeed? He couldn’t be sure.
If it fails, I’ll just leave. Wang Huang knitted his brows slightly. Regardless of success or failure, I hope Qi Zai, Lian Qizhi, and Kou Jiao, all make it out alive.
Qi Zai was nineteenth on the Jiang Continent Human Rankings, Lian Qizhi was 38th on the Jiang Continent Human Rankings, and Kou Jin was 52nd on the Jiang Continent Human Rankings.
One had to understand that although Wang Huang was a Grandmaster, he only had five Savant experts under his direct command. These three were the strongest Savant experts he could deploy. If all three were to perish here, it would deal a heavy blow to his personal forces.
...
The three Savant experts, adopting an arrowhead formation, stealthily approached Wu Mansion along the secluded alley. They treaded with utmost caution, deliberately restraining their pace to avoid alerting any lurking onlookers in the shadows.
They all knew very well that whether it was day or night, the eastern district was constantly guarded by the Cloudstride Sect's experts, who kept a vigilant watch in all directions. This was no exception even during the new year.
"Sister Kou, you'll be our reinforcement." The lean, towering figure leading them whispered, "Old Zhi and I will infiltrate the mansion, take out Wu Yuan, and then make our exit. If anyone tries to stop us, show them no mercy!"
"Understood." The other two acknowledged with a nod.
They weren't professional assassins, thus they weren't too proficient in using hand gestures for silent communication. However, they kept their voices low enough that it was hardly a disturbance to the vicinity.
The trio swiftly approached the mansion.
...
The lights on the second floor of the Wu Mansion were extinguished.
Wu Yuan sat cross-legged, immersing himself in the practice of the 'Majestic Earth and Oceans' technique, silently absorbing the qi of the world. His Soul Force unconsciously dispersed.
To consume qi, one had to first be in tune with the world and wholly spread out one's consciousness. Only then could one perceive the mysterious power deep within all things.
"Hmm?" Suddenly, Wu Yuan's eyebrows furrowed slightly.
His soul sense had picked up several strong auras rapidly closing in on his mansion.
His Soul Force could only probe a radius of approximately 100 meters. However, it revealed every minute detail within that area, rendering stealth techniques futile. Soul sense, on the other hand, was a combination of one's soul, hearing, and other aspects, offering a vague perception of the vital auras present in the external world.
The vital aura of a martial arts expert was robust, while that of a common person was feeble. With the strength of Wu Yuan's current soul, he could easily detect any second-rate Adept and above within a two-li radius through soul sense. The closer and more vigorous the vital aura, the clearer it was reflected in his soul sense.
Three Savant experts? A chill flashed through Wu Yuan's eyes. In the middle of winter, during the New Year celebrations, they’re sneaking into my place in the dead of night?
If they were experts from the sect, they wouldn't be so covert. It was almost guaranteed that they had come with ill intentions.
There were less than 100 Savant experts in the entirety of the Jiang Continent, each one a prominent figure. What target could unite them in action?
There's a 99% chance they're here to assassinate me. The more Wu Yuan thought, the colder his eyes became, a murderous intent blossoming within him. They didn't dare kill me on Cloudhill, instead deciding to sneak into my mansion.
His mother, his sister, and many clan members were still sleeping in the mansion!
How brazen. Looks like my continuous display of talent has become too big a threat, forcing the enemies of the sect to abandon subtlety.
The recruitment of multiple Savant experts for an assassination mission was a bold move. Not many forces could pull this off.
The Great Jin Empire? The Wingborne Sect? Or assassins from the Pleiades Guild, or the Ninedeaths Circle? Several possibilities flashed through Wu Yuan's mind.
His soul sense could only roughly confirm the vital auras of the individuals. As for their identities and their strength levels? Those details eluded him.
Whoever they may be, it doesn't matter. Wu Yuan's gaze turned icy.
Gently, he opened the window, drifting down from the second floor like a gust of wind, disappearing into the darkness. He dashed over 100 meters in a single leap, leaving the vicinity of the mansion without causing the slightest ripple in the air.
The guards on both sides of the Wu Mansion, Gu Wang and Zhang Changsheng, didn't notice his movements at all.
In reality, Wu Yuan's skills surpassed even that of a Great Grandmaster who had mastered Integration. His Soul Force encompassed everything within a 100-meter radius, quelling even the slightest disturbances in the air currents.
My telekinesis ability is still lacking, unfit for combat. But as a supplementary skill, it proves quite effective. For instance, leveraging the flow of air to increase his speed.
...
Qi Zai, Lian Qizhi, and Kou Jiao dared not tread on the rooftops, instead proceeding along the shadows of the alleys.
The falling snow grew denser, veiling the world in a misty cloak of white.
In their line of sight, a silhouette flitted by.
"Stop!" Qi Zai abruptly halted, his eyes filled with terror.
At the same time, Lian Qizhi and Kou Jiao's eyes were also filled with shock.
Before them, the apparition solidified into a black-robed figure at the end of the alley. Before they could react, the figure had already closed the distance between them to a mere 30 meters without a sound.
The snow-covered ground bore no traces of footprints.
A...A Grandmaster? The eastern district of the city is guarded by a Grandmaster? Qi Zai's eyes bulged, wondering if he were hallucinating. Sent here to eliminate a mere teenager, only to come face-to-face with a Grandmaster?
Lian Qizhi and Kou Jiao, who were trailing behind, were equally transfixed in horror, unable to heed their instincts to flee. They could only stare wide-eyed at the figure who was entirely shrouded in black cloth. Even his eyes were covered.
Walking on snow without leaving a trace? The three of them could manage that, but it would require them to focus on controlling their movements precisely, reducing their speed. Meanwhile, this black-robed figure simply flickered 100 meters across without disturbing the air or leaving a single trace behind, just like a ghost.
The only possibility they could think of was that he was a Grandmaster, and not a weak one at that. He should have reached the Perception level at least.
We're doomed! If we face him head-on, I see no chance of survival. Qi Zai’s mind was in turmoil.
He was ranked nineteenth on the Jiang Continent Human Rankings. But Land and Human Rankings were like heaven and earth. Between the two lay an insurmountable disparity in physical constitution, even more so in skill. One was still tapping into their human potential, while the other drew their power from the world. The two simply couldn't be compared.
Whoosh! Whoosh! The fierce northern wind howled, accompanied by cascading snowflakes. The remote alley was devoid of passersby in the dead of night. Despite possessing the robust constitution of Savant experts, they had never felt this cold.
"Senior Huan Jian," Qi Zai gritted his teeth and addressed the figure. Even though Wu Yuan was concealed beneath the black robe and had used Transfiguration to slightly alter his form, it was still apparent that he was a man. Naturally, he was mistaken for Huan Jian.
"Tell me your name." Wu Yuan did not clarify, his voice icy cold, "State your intentions, are you here to assassinate Wu Yuan?"
"Run!" Without any hesitation, Qi Zai's figure retreated in a flash.
He had already identified Wu Yuan as Grandmaster Huan Jian, plus the man had called out his intentions. And this was Cloudhill City. Staying here any longer was a death wish! Fight? A few dozen Savant experts might stand a chance of killing a Grandmaster. Just the three of them? Defeat was certain!
The saying "Only a Grandmaster can deal with another Grandmaster" had been proven by countless experts from the Middle Land's thirteen continents through bloodshed and sacrifice.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Lian Qizhi and Kou Jiao also sprang into action. They no longer cared about concealing their tracks, putting everything into speed. After all, they had nothing to lose. An enemy Grandmaster was about to kill them, it couldn’t get worse than that.
The reactions of the three Savant experts were quick, but Wu Yuan was even faster. His Soul Force had already enveloped the entire alley, locking onto the three assassins. The moment Qi Zai's leg had moved, even before he exerted any force, Wu Yuan already sensed their attempt to flee. Though he was the last to move, his attack landed first.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Three flashes of light streaked through the air soundlessly. The two closer figures only managed to retreat several meters before their heads were impaled. The throwing knives, now tainted with blood, continued their trajectory, piercing into the ground deeply. The impact caused the ground to rupture and rocks and snow to scatter. The once pristine white became a canvas of crimson.
Lian Qizhi and Kou Jing were dead!
Only Qi Zai, the strongest among the three, kept his life. At the moment between life and death, he managed to unsheathe his saber, turning and striking the incoming throwing knife, deflecting it slightly off course. But the sheer power contained within the weapon sent tremors through his arms and his entire body was sent flying backward, his battle saber almost slipping from his grasp. The overwhelming force behind the knife consumed his thoughts.
Boom! The deflected throwing knife shot into a nearby house, crashing into two large pillars. Instantly, the house collapsed.
Before Qi Zai could rejoice, a sinister blade ray flashed. Its movement was so swift that it left no disturbance in the atmosphere.
Swoosh~ The thought of blocking the strike with his saber was abruptly dashed as searing pain erupted in his neck. Dizziness overwhelmed him, his vision blurring. With a thud, the last vestiges of consciousness slipped away as Qi Zai witnessed a headless corpse crumple onto the snow.
Qi Zai was dead!
He managed to block my throwing knife? Though it may seem like a coincidence, he was strong enough to rank in the top 30 in the Jiang Continent Human Rankings at least. Wu Yuan glanced at the headless corpse on the ground.
With a thought, the battle saber, inner armor, and other trinkets soared through the air and flew into Wu Yuan's storage artifact. Afterward, he quickly collected the remains of the other two Savant experts.
Thump~ Thump~ From just around the street corner, the sound of a patrol squad running over was faintly audible, mixed with voices urging, "Hurry, go and investigate."
It seemed that Wu Yuan's clash with the three Savant experts had caused quite a commotion, especially the collapse of the nearby building. The city guard was already alerted.
There's another one. Wu Yuan turned his gaze into the distance. Within his soul sense, there was an individual with an exceptionally robust vital aura in a building 800 meters away, much stronger than the three Savant experts. It was a Grandmaster!
Back when he faced Chen Luo for the first time, Wu Yuan's soul was still weak. Thus, when the Grandmaster concealed his aura, Wu Yuan was incapable of clearly sensing it. But now? Wu Yuan's soul possessed the ability to levitate objects. Within a two-li radius, not even a Grandmaster could elude his soul sense.
There are only two Grandmasters in the entire sect. Wu Yuan's eyes were cold. And it just so happens that these three Savant experts came from that direction?
How many coincidences could exist at the same time?
Whoosh! Wu Yuan took a step, silent yet swift, crossing over 200 meters in an instant. He disappeared at the end of the street, heading straight for the enemy.
Meanwhile, the city guards of the Cloudstride Sect had yet to reach the site of the conflict.
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