Yang Yi softly spoke these words, and a strange, distant wind began to stir.

————Wind?

In this sealed hall, barring the single window and the doorway, no wind should have been able to penetrate, and the sources of any draft were far from Yang Yi.

The wind swept by, and a strange heat current followed. This bizarre phenomenon caused the suddenly attacking men in black to freeze mid-strike, their gazes fixed warily on Yang Yi, daring not to move.

"He truly is strong." A figure in the shadows murmured in disbelief, astonishment filling his eyes.

He wasn't alone. At another location, the very air shimmered, suggesting someone hidden within it. "How can this kid, merely a Cyan-rank Grandmaster, unleash a Second Level Grandmaster Domain? Interesting, truly interesting!"

"What's happening? What on earth is going on?" Shangguan Qingyun watched as the men in black abruptly halted their advance near Yang Yi, staring at him with palpable caution. He muttered to himself in confusion.

Nor was he the only one; Tang Shen, Ximen Ling, and even Xuanyuan Bing, seated on the sofa, regarded Yang Yi with perplexed expressions.

"What are you all waiting for? Attack him, quickly!" Ximen Ling snapped out of his stupor, his first action being to issue a command.

"Attack!" Though inwardly wary of the youth before them, the men in black dared not retreat under their young master's explicit order. They surged forward instantly.

"Hahahaha! Hahahaha!"........

Just as the group of black-clad men lunged toward him, Yang Yi erupted into unrestrained, arrogant laughter, and in that very instant, his figure vanished. This sudden change brought the charging assassins to a shocked halt.

"Deterrence—I must admit, I never thought I'd grow fond of that word. Perhaps it's the only way to minimize further complications!" Yang Yi’s form was now merged with the air. A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he instinctively scanned a few locations. Two individuals he could not read, and one he recognized—someone he had encountered before. His expression instantly grew grave.

"Hmph! Interesting!" Yang Yi snorted coldly, and then his silhouette blurred. A series of uncanny sounds followed, and every single man in black still standing suddenly convulsed. Their backs arched, mouths flew open, and after a few spasms, each one expelled a cloud of bloody mist.

"Pfft!" "Pfft!" "Pfft!"...............

"Quickly, surround him! He’s a high-level Master..." One man in black tried to order his comrades to form a defensive circle, back-to-back, but before the sentence was complete, his neck flashed red, and a gout of blood sprayed out.

"Such speed!" The two figures in hiding exclaimed simultaneously.

One lurked in the dark corner, one was concealed within the very air, and a third was situated in a particular spot where his appearance was comparatively easier to discern. Looking from the outside through the window, one could clearly see he was an old man with a head of white hair. His eyes shone with sharp brilliance, and a faint smile played on his lips as he observed Yang Yi’s movements.

"This young man's cultivation is not bad, but why would he deploy a Second Level Grandmaster Domain? It must be due to that foreign internal energy surging within him. Hmm, not bad, not bad, quite interesting!" The old man stroked his long white beard, nodding in quiet approval.

"You lot need to hurry up! Brother Yi has already finished his part, and you’re still standing there gaping. Do you need my help?" Fatty Lin leaped forward. Among the Ten Army Generals, he was closest to Long Yi and often joked with him. The other Generals treated Fatty Lin with deferential respect, which annoyed him greatly. Long Yi, however, matched his temperament, so Lin leaped to his side and said with a mischievous grin, "You should manage yourself. There’s an expert over there similar to you, probably just a bit stronger in internal energy. If you want to break through to the Grandmaster level, you need to fight opponents above your rank." Long Yi grimaced slightly, sometimes genuinely regretting befriending such an impudent fellow as Fatty Lin.

"Haha, truly a good brother!" Upon hearing this, Fatty Lin’s eyes locked onto the target Long Yi indicated, his fighting spirit surging to its absolute limit. "Whoosh!"

"Hmm?" The man in black frowned as a thin sword swept toward him.

"You come fight me!" Fatty Lin declared arrogantly, brandishing his soft sword at the assassin.

"Hmph!" The man in black ignored him, scoffed, and then sprang forward, his whole body enveloped by the momentum of a crescent moon blade as he hurtled toward Fatty Lin.

Clang!!! Clang!!! Clang!!!!

The piercing sound of clashing steel was agonizingly sharp, sparks flying as blade met blade in the brief exchange. Fatty Lin showed no complacency, maximizing his unique battle intent, using his remaining internal breath to fuel his body as he continuously clashed with the assassin.

"Bang!" Fatty Lin was struck heavily by a punch and slammed into a nearby crossbeam. "Pfft!" He spat out a mouthful of blood. "Good, very good! It’s been a long time since I felt this exhilarating. Come on, again!"

Although Fatty Lin had been hit and his chest was severely bruised, the fighting spirit blazing in his eyes grew only fiercer. As the saying goes: Fortune is sought through danger; breakthroughs are pursued at the edge of death, ensuring an absolutely solid foundation.

"If you're so eager to die quickly, then I shall grant your wish!" The man in black shook his body, his eyes flashing momentarily, and a strange, hot vapor emanated from his crescent moon blade. "Crescent Slash!"

Blade Qi???

Fatty Lin's first reaction to the incoming attack was recognizing the blade qi. His heart jolted, and he dared not hold back, swinging his sword to meet the assault. "Clang!" Lin’s sword collided with the blade qi. "Ugh!" He let out a stifled groan, his eyes glazed over, followed by, "Pfft!" another spurt of blood.

"Are you an Ability User?"

"Hmph, did I ever claim I wasn't an Ability User?" The man in black sneered, then continued, "I am both a Martial Artist and an Ability User! You underestimated me."

"Waaah!" Fatty Lin vomited another mouthful of blood. His entire outfit was shredded, not by the blade qi—no, more accurately, by the ability, the power of an ability user who could manipulate qi. His Adamantine Body had been completely shattered by this so-called qi, leaving Fatty Lin grievously wounded and struggling even to move.

"Fatty!" Feng Jiu shrieked, seeing Fatty Lin kneeling half-bent, covered in wounds, his face a mask of disbelief.

"Fatty?"

"Hiss!" Yang Yi whispered softly, and then his speed abruptly accelerated. He wiped out all dozen-plus men in black in a single, fluid motion. But when he paused, Yang Yi turned his head toward Fatty Lin. It was better if he hadn't looked; the man seemed utterly frenzied. His eyes were bloodshot, and his face was horribly contorted.

"Whoosh!" The crescent moon blade in the assassin’s hand flashed with a sliver of light, and his figure materialized instantly before Fatty Lin.

"Fatty!" Yang Yi’s voice was hoarse; he was already boiling with rage. His form blurred in a flash of lightning and stone. Simultaneously, three peculiar sounds rang out: "Shhh! Shhh!"

"Clang!" "Clang!"............

The man in black dodged two flying daggers, but one seemed unavoidable and plunged directly into his arm. "Sizz!" Blood gushed out. Seeing Yang Yi already closing in, he leaped back several paces.

"Brother Yi!" Fatty Lin called out weakly, his face deathly pale, and then he fainted completely.

"Fatty!" Yang Yi's aura of cold malevolence intensified.

"Dragon Lord, rest assured, he is fine. Just severely injured, but his life isn't in danger." Just as Fatty Lin collapsed, Long Yi appeared behind him. Looking at the sinister coldness and blood-red glint in Yang Yi's eyes, Long Yi’s heart clenched as he spoke.

"Take him for treatment immediately!" Yang Yi commanded coldly.

"Yes!" Long Yi responded instantly, helping Fatty Lin up and moving toward the exit.

"Quick! Stop them! Don't let them leave the Jingdong Hotel!" Tang Shen roared.

"Hmph!" Yang Yi casually flung a dagger, intercepting a man in black trying to block Long Yi. With a twist of his hands, a five-foot soft sword suddenly extended. "If you want to die, then everyone dies."

"Ten Army Generals, Black God Guard, Six Paths of Reincarnation, hear my command!" Yang Yi’s soft sword seemed to tremble!

"Yes!" Though the fighting continued, all those who heard Yang Yi’s voice responded with perfect synchronization.

"Eradicate them all. Leave no one alive. If a single one escapes, bring me your heads!"

"As you command!" Hearing this, the entire group seemed injected with adrenaline. They tightened their grips, their eyes filled with the intent of death, and the aura of fatality instantly spread.

This was different from moments before. Now that Yang Yi had issued an ultimatum, it was either their death or his. No one would willingly accept dying in this hedonistic world before enjoying a few more days and a few more beauties. Thus, the Black God Guard, the Ten Army Generals, and even the Six Paths of Reincarnation exerted every ounce of their strength!

"Kill!" A roar erupted, as tremendous and sudden as mountains collapsing and the earth splitting.

The enemy numbered thirty. Logically, Yang Yi's side should not have been at a disadvantage. Even if two fists are no match for four hands in an equal fight, the situation had now completely reversed, making the ensuing battle ferociously intense.

Yang Yi stared fixedly at the assassin who had injured Fatty Lin. A murderous intent flashed in his eyes, and his cold, grim aura grew exponentially stronger. He swung his soft sword with massive force, instantly making the entire blade rigid.

"Your life is forfeit!"

...........