Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

Right from the start, Sun Tianbiao's left rib cage and chest had been injured by the Dragon Vein Sword. Given that his left shoulder had just been slashed by the Devil's Blade, fresh blood was gus.h.i.+ng from his wounds and covered his entire body.

Even though he was an expert at the Xiantian Realm, Sun Tianbiao was unable to resist the effects of the huge loss of blood. His face had already turned pale, and he was sweating profusely.

With his face contorted with pain, Sun Tianbiao clamped his hand on his left shoulder and stared at Ling Yun. He asked incredulously, "Ling Yun, ten days ago, you weren't even able to defeat an expert at the peak of Houtian Realm Level Eight. How is it that you're able to slay a Xiantian Realm Level One expert so easily now?"

Ling Yun gave a dismissive laugh and replied casually, "Don't you know what being a genius means? It doesn't require any explanation."

Dugu Mo was rolling his eyes wildly when he heard those words. He thought, I'm also touted to be a rare genius in the Dugu clan. However, compared to you, I'm practically a useless person…

Sun Tianbiao laughed bitterly. He knew that the Sun Family had kicked an iron plank this time. Even though it was a stretch of the imagination to a.s.sert that he could annihilate the Sun Family single-handedly, with Ling Yun's current capabilities, it would be a breeze for him to launch isolated attacks on them in secret and wipe out their few remaining experts at Xiantian Realm Level Two and above.

This wasn't the most terrifying part — the most terrifying part was the rapid pace of cultivation that Ling Yun had achieved!

Ten days ago, he was still unable to defeat an expert at the peak of Houtian Realm Level Eight. But now, he could easily slay an expert at Xiantian Realm Level One. His progress was tantamount to advancement through at least three major realms!

If such a rapid pace of progress extended to the next ten days or half a month, even the ancestors of the Sun Family would probably struggle in fighting Ling Yun.

"Ling Yun, all these mistakes can be blamed on my scoundrel of a son, Sun Xing. If you spare my life today, I, Sun Tianbiao, will agree to any conditions that you name!"

Sun Tianbiao began to humble himself and extended an apology to Ling Yun. Moreover, he was earnestly pleading with Ling Yun to spare his life.

With a thump, Ling Yun stomped Sun Tianbiao's lower abdomen. Sun Tianbiao was too afraid to dodge the blow and endured it. Moaning, he curled up and resembled a huge, cooked prawn.

"You don't have the right to negotiate terms with me now. I don't intend to change my surname for the time being!" Ling Yun snorted.

Had Zhuang Meifeng still been safe and sound with her family, Ling Yun would perhaps have considered sparing Sun Tianbiao's life. Nevertheless, he would at least disable his martial arts capabilities.

But it was precisely due to Sun Tianbiao's coercion that his lady had been brought away by Priestess Desireless to the Tranquil Sect. Her exact whereabouts remained unknown, and it was inconceivable that a highly infuriated Ling Yun would spare Sun Tianbiao's life!

"It's impossible to grant your request to continue living. As for whether or not to relay this news to your clan, be decisive about it because I'm not that patient!"

After hearing this, Sun Tianbiao knew that he had no chance of living. The terror of death instantly overwhelmed him and caused his knees to buckle. He fell on the ground and trembled!

Those who had broken through to Xiantian Realm typically had a life expectancy beyond one hundred years. Sun Tianbiao wasn't even fifty years old, so he was naturally afraid of dying at this point!

"Ling Yun, I… I won't tell these things to my clan. I beg you, please let me go…"

Sun Tianbiao was terrified and fell kneeling onto the ground. He kowtowed vigorously to Ling Yun and implored him to spare his life.

Imagine a strong Xiantian opponent from one of the major families in Beijing losing his demeanor due to his terrifying fear of death.

A trapped beast would still put up a fight. Afraid that Sun Tianbiao would launch a sneak attack, Ling Yun had already activated the Stellar Condensation Technique and was slowly raising the Devil's Blade in his hand!

"Hold the execution!" Suddenly, a boom sounded hundreds of meters away, and the huge silhouette of a person shot forth from the base of the mountain. Bouncing lightly off the treetops with his feet, he covered a hundred meters with each move!

"Hmph! I hate to hear this phrase the most!" Ling Yun snorted and swiftly slashed the Devil's Blade downwards at Sun Tianbiao!

"Ah…" Sun Tianbiao cried in agony. His hands were propped on the ground as he remained in a kneeling posture. However, he immediately floated away in retreat and escaped Ling Yun's blade!

"Cha… cha… cha…"

Ling Yun was well-prepared for this. With a frosty gaze, he used the Shower of Flowers Technique to shoot out tens of steel nails from his hand. Simultaneously, he employed the Dragon Fish Phantom Ability to appear before a fleeing Sun Tianbiao!

"Ah!"

Sun Tianbiao had been so preoccupied with fleeing that he neglected the protection of his body with Xiantian True Qi. Tens of Ling Yun's steel nails pierced his back and caused him to yell in pain!

With a swish, the Devil's Blade slashed at him once again! The speed at which it fell was several times faster than the previous blow!

Fresh blood started spurting out, and the whole of Sun Tianbiao's right arm was severed by Ling Yun's blade!

"How dare you even think of making me change my surname. Have a taste of my slicing skills!" Ling Yun bellowed. Like a chef displaying his adroit use of the knife, he began slicing furiously at Sun Tianbiao, who was struggling in a p.r.o.ne position!

After a frenzied slas.h.i.+ng session, Sun Tianbiao had been cut into pieces by Ling Yun and no longer retained his human form!

"How dare you, Ling Yun!" When the expert who had called out for a stay of execution saw that Ling Yun had proceeded without hesitation, he was irate and took out a long, black whip in mid-air. With a shake of his wrist, the whip straightened and was used to strike Ling Yun's right wrist!

"Hmph!" Ling Yun snorted and flipped his wrist. The Devil's Blade instinctively countered the long whip, which slashed behind him.

Cui Lao's sharp eyes caught sight of a symbol of a flying condor on Lei Sheng's left chest and immediately sent a telepathic message to Ling Yun. "The newcomer is an expert from a branch of the Chinese special forces known as the 'Condor Team'. Don't harm him!"

Lei Sheng's cultivation had reached the peak of Xiantian Realm Level One. He knew that the weapon held by Ling Yun was the Devil's Blade. He snorted and changed his tactic. As he gently stroked the long whip in his hand, it became as agile as a snake and dodged Ling Yun's blade!

Lei Sheng landed on a gra.s.s patch about seven meters away from Ling Yun. He refrained from attacking and swept his gaze across the courtyard to a.s.sess the situation.

At this time, in front of the smaller villa, the ordinary experts who had been injured by the steel nails had managed to heal each other's wounds. They stayed at their original locations and groaned in pain. When they saw that Ling Yun had killed three Xiantian experts in succession, they neither dared to a.s.sist his opponents nor escape from their predicament.

When Lei Sheng witnessed the destruction in the courtyard, he knew that he had arrived too late. Out of the over sixty experts in the Sun Family who had come to Qingshui City, there were fewer than ten ordinary characters who survived the ma.s.sacre. The rest had been annihilated!

"Ling Yun, what problem is so big that you can't sit down to negotiate its resolution? You're only eighteen years old — haven't you gone overboard with such ruthlessness?"

Lei Sheng muttered as he looked at Ling Yun wielding his blade.

Ling Yun laughed coldly and stood erect. He moved a step forward and replied, "Gone overboard? I don't think so!"

"A branch of the Chinese special forces, the Condor Team. Sounds highly prestigious to me. However, while I was tackling the problem just now, where were you guys?"

Lei Sheng gave a startled expression and retreated a step backwards. "You — how did you know about this?"

Ling Yun replied indifferently, "We've never met before, right? Then how did you know my name?"

Lei Sheng was at a loss for words, and his facial expression turned uglier. Nevertheless, this wasn't the time to nitpick over trivial issues. He pointed at Sun Tianbiao, who had been reduced to a pulpy mush on the ground, saying, "Ling Yun, do you know that you've brought disaster upon yourself?"

Ling Yun laughed casually and retorted, "Yes, I know. To be frank, these three men were killed by me. You can just cut to the chase and reveal your plans regarding this matter!"

Ling Yun's wore a hostile expression on his face. If Lei Sheng had the audacity to strike him, he would be willing to leave him here as well.

"You! You really don't know the implications of your actions. Do you know that you've disrupted the orderliness of our country to a certain extent with your indiscriminate killing?"

"Oh?" Ling Yun stroked his head and acted as if he didn't understand Lei Sheng's words. "Disrupted the orderliness of our country to a certain extent? What orderliness?"

"Hmph, I'm unable to explain everything to you in such a short time. However, by killing Sun Tianbiao and tens of experts whom he had brought to Qingshui City, you've committed an unpardonable offense. I have to bring you back tonight!"

Ling Yun guffawed. "Bring me back? To where? Do you think that you can take me away with your pathetic abilities?"

After he had spoken, Ling Yun lifted the Devil's Blade and brandished it in front of Lei Sheng to show his amus.e.m.e.nt.

Lei Sheng looked embarra.s.sed. He hadn't expected Ling Yun to be so headstrong.

Even though Cui Lao and Dugu Mo were disguised in black clothing and face masks beside Ling Yun, Lei Sheng could identify them as partially-inducted Xiantian experts. However, those three men lying on the ground were full-fledged Xiantian experts!

Lei Sheng couldn't discern Ling Yun's level of cultivation. Despite being evenly matched in terms of numbers, Ling Yun's side had managed to slay Sun Tianbiao's gang of three Xiantian experts and remained unscathed. This suggested that Ling Yun's powers had surpa.s.sed that of Xiantian Realm Level One!

"Ling Yun, this person has the backing of the Chinese special forces. From his tone, I can tell that there's still some leeway in this matter. Don't make things difficult for him."

Cui Lao cautioned Ling Yun via telepathy once more.

A radiant smile beamed across Ling Yun's face. He directed a question at Lei Sheng, "May I know the esteemed name of this Condor Team expert?"

"Lei Sheng!"

Ling Yun chortled. "Oh, it turns out to be Senior Lei. I must be polite to you in that case. However, I'd like to consult you regarding a matter…"

"Go ahead and ask!" Lei Sheng knew that if he were to adopt a tough stance, he would definitely be at a disadvantage judging by Ling Yun's character and temperament. He had no choice but to play along with Ling Yun.

Still wearing a harmless smile on his face, Ling Yun asked, "If someone is bent on killing you, what would you do?"

Lei Sheng was stumped by Ling Yun's question. He subconsciously replied, "Regarding this… report the case…"

Ling Yun roared with laughter. He pointed at Tang Tianhao, who was walking slowly towards them. "If that person had even captured the Director of the Public Security Bureau, then who do I report the case to? What's the point of doing so?"

Lei Sheng gave a bitter expression the moment he saw Tang Tianhao.

It was Lei Sheng and Jie Fei who had stolen the dossier on Ling Yun from the Public Security Bureau. Of course they had seen Tang Tianhao before.

Ling Yun chuckled. "So, it's either the case where I obediently extend my neck for them to kill me, or I kill them first. Which of these options do you think I would choose?"

"Well said!"

Right after Ling Yun had spoken, a voice sounded from the dense forests beyond the villa's courtyard. It sounded heavenly!

Everyone was stunned and lifted their heads. They saw a woman with a thinly veiled face and dressed in white clothing. Her long dress fluttered in the wind as she trod gently through the night sky!