"Yang Yang, be careful. The blade in this fellow's hand is rather peculiar," Ping Lu nodded, taking a step back. Apart from the strange sword the ninja held, this opponent was no match for Zhang Yang's genuine strength.
After stepping back, the old man released his energy outwards, enveloping the immediate vicinity in a protective barrier, sealing it off from the outside.
This ensured that whatever happened next would not allow even a whisper of energy to leak out, nor would it risk being seen by anyone who might accidentally wander into the alley.
"Jee-jee-jee!"
"Squeak-squeak-squeak!"
Flash and Shadow, the two small creatures, stayed close to Old Man Zhang Ping Lu. They didn't intervene but were instead squabbling amongst themselves, even placing bets on how many moves it would take Zhang Yang to dispatch this presumptuous ninja.
Outside Chang Jing City, the mysterious figure in the black robe suddenly frowned, while the two mysterious figures in silver robes beside him exchanged glances.
One silver-robed figure knitted his brow, seemingly unable to believe it, and exclaimed in astonishment, "It's an energy barrier, but it actually managed to cut off our perception?"
The other silver-robed figure lowered his head thoughtfully, quickly grasping the reason.
"Both of those individuals possess Great Perfection strength, and moreover, those three spirit beasts are already fourth-tier spirit beasts. Shielding our perception against such power is hardly surprising!"
The black-robed figure stood at the forefront, remaining silent throughout.
After a moment, he sighed, spoke a sentence to the two silver-robed men behind him, and then turned to leave.
"Let's go. There's nothing more for us here. That Japanese vagrant who foolishly snuck into our Huaxia has already perished."
Meanwhile, Zhang Yang stood before the Dark Ninja, his Cold Spring Sword in hand.
The Dark Ninja before him was indeed the most formidable ninja Zhang Yang had ever encountered, especially the massive, blood-red blade in his grasp, which radiated an unsettling strangeness.
"Ninjutsu = Shadow Clone!"
The Dark Ninja roared something incomprehensible in Japanese, making a sharp downward slash with the hand holding his broadsword. Suddenly, three identical figures materialized beside him!
"Energy Doppelgangers?"
Behind him, Zhang Ping Lu let out a soft sound of surprise. This Dark Ninja’s strength barely reached the initial stage of the fourth level of Inner Strength, yet the technique he was employing was clearly equivalent to the energy duplication only masters at the Great Perfection realm could use.
"No, this isn't an energy duplicate!" However, Zhang Ping Lu soon realized that this ninja’s clones were not like true energy duplicates. These were clearly phantoms conjured by some secret art, a technique inevitably linked to that gigantic, blood-red broadsword.
Apart from wielding the massive broadsword, the clones possessed virtually no individual strength; it could be said that the Dark Ninja's shadow clones were purely puppets controlled by the great crimson blades in their hands.
"Petty tricks."
Seeing the Dark Ninja suddenly split into three clones charging at him simultaneously, Zhang Yang snorted coldly. Facing the ninja directly, Zhang Yang had already discerned the trick behind the cloning. Nevertheless, he held it in utter contempt.
Zhang Yang raised the Cold Spring Sword, and the surrounding Heaven and Earth energy instantly gathered on the blade. As Zhang Yang began to wield the Cold Spring Sword, it transformed into countless streaks of sword light that swept toward the Dark Ninja’s shadow clones!
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The clash between blade and sword erupted countless times in a flash of electricity. For a moment, the Dark Ninja realized that none of his clone attacks had gained any advantage—the iron sword in the opponent's hand had not broken under the assault of his demonic blade!
Including the ninja’s shadowy clones, all four figures returned in vain. Zhang Yang retracted the Cold Spring Sword and stared coldly at the four Dark Ninjas before him.
After the brief exchange, Zhang Yang had fully grasped the enemy’s true capabilities, especially the peculiar nature of that blade.
The reason this Dark Ninja could hold off Old Man Zhang Ping Lu in the alley, and why he could now fight Zhang Yang to a draw, was entirely due to that bizarre, blood-red broadsword.
Ultimately, it was not his true strength. Compared to Zhang Yang, who had reached Great Perfection step-by-step by comprehending the Way of Nature, this ninja still posed no sufficient threat.
Seeing that he could not defeat Zhang Yang, the Dark Ninja had long since lost his initial composure. Right now, only the original was fighting, but if the old man joined in, defeat would be certain. And if even the three spirit beasts were to participate, he would likely die here in moments!
However, noticing that the old man and the three powerful spirit beasts behind him showed no intention of moving, a glimmer of hope surged in the Dark Ninja's heart.
If he could unleash his ultimate move right now, capitalizing on the moment when the opponent was fighting alone without coordination, perhaps escaping would not be impossible!
Without further hesitation, he retreated rapidly, suddenly raising the colossal blood-red broadsword in his hand. The blade detached from the Dark Ninja’s palm and hung suspended in the air before him!
Along with the three shadow clones, four blood-red broadswords quietly hovered in the air.
"Ninjutsu = Muramasa Demon Blade!"
After roaring this out, the Dark Ninja’s body suddenly dissolved into nothingness, his figure becoming dim and transparent!
The four blood-red broadswords merged into one in the blink of an eye!
Clang!
The Dark Ninja’s figure completely vanished, having directly merged with the blood-red broadsword. The blade instantly seemed to possess a life of its own, trembling slightly and emitting a faint, clear ringing sound.
"So it is the supreme treasure of Japan, the Muramasa Demon Blade!" A look of shock crossed Zhang Ping Lu’s face. At this moment, he finally recognized the origin of that strange demonic sword—it was the Muramasa, famous since the early history of Japan!
"Yang Yang, be careful!" Zhang Ping Lu couldn't help but issue a warning to Zhang Yang.
Zhang Yang let out a cold snort, suddenly rigidifying his body. The Cold Spring Sword shot from his hand!
"Trying to run?"
Zhang Yang saw the Dark Ninja’s true objective at a glance. The purpose of summoning the Muramasa was not to engage in a life-or-death battle with Zhang Yang, but rather to cleave through the energy barrier sealing the surroundings.
Clang!
The Cold Spring Sword shot straight toward the Muramasa, pinning the massive, fiery-red blade suspended in the air, preventing it from lifting its edge!
Zhang Yang raised one hand, pointing it at the Muramasa, and a beam of white light instantly shot out!
First Form of the Heaven-Shaking Sword: Energy Solidification!
Puchi!
The Muramasa, firmly suppressed by the Cold Spring Sword and facing the incoming white light, let out an earth-shattering scream. Then, a spray of blood instantly drenched the blade of the Muramasa. The Dark Ninja, who had merged with the sword in his ethereal state, was forcefully driven back into his original form!
For the first time, the ninja’s face contorted into an expression of utter terror. He collapsed onto the ground, unable to utter a single word as he stared at Zhang Yang!
Drenched in crimson blood, the Dark Ninja lay on the ground, clearly incapacitated, like a ruined shell of a man.
Zhang Yang completely ignored him, instead walking slowly towards the Muramasa, which was struggling fiercely under the restraint of the Cold Spring Sword.
As Zhang Yang approached, the Muramasa struggled even more violently. A sharp glint flashed in Zhang Yang’s eyes, and he let out a heavy snort!
Clang!
The Cold Spring Sword suddenly let out a crisp sword chime, sounding like a dragon’s roar. The red light emanating from the Demon Blade beneath it flared intensely again as it resisted bitterly.
Zhang Yang reached out and grasped the hilt of the Muramasa Demon Blade!
"Roar! Roar! Roar!!"
The moment Zhang Yang touched it, the Muramasa erupted with a sound of ghostly howls and wolf cries, as if countless wronged spirits were screaming simultaneously. The blade shook violently, and then, it calmed down!
Even the mournful cries vanished completely.
The Muramasa Demon Blade had completely given up resistance. Seeing the blade cease its struggle, the Cold Spring Sword returned to Zhang Yang's hand.
The Muramasa, now held in Zhang Yang’s palm, gradually saw the blood-red glow on its body fade. The massive blade seemed to regress, shrinking slowly until its original, plain form was revealed.
The true Muramasa Demon Blade was, in fact, no different from the common Japanese katana carried by ordinary ninjas.
"Puff..."
As the Muramasa completely reverted to normal, the Dark Ninja suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. He stared fixedly at Zhang Yang, his body rigid, his expression a mask of despair mixed with unbelievable shock.
He died with his eyes wide open.
"He is dead," Zhang Ping Lu finally walked a few steps forward, standing beside Zhang Yang. While examining the Muramasa, he asked with confusion, "Yang Yang, what exactly happened here?"
Zhang Yang put away the Cold Spring Sword and the Muramasa, then turned to the old man and said, "Old Man, let’s head back to my place first. I’ll tell you everything on the way."
Zhang Ping Lu nodded, pulled out a small vial from his robe, and poured a single drop of clear liquid onto the Dark Ninja's body. He then paid the corpse no more attention and followed Zhang Yang home.
Behind them, as the drop of clear liquid touched the Dark Ninja’s body, it immediately hissed. Then, his corpse vanished strangely in the alley, leaving not a trace behind moments later.
Back at Zhang Yang's villa, Mi Xue, Qu Meilan, Yan Liangfei, and the couple Yan Yefei and Li Juan were all waiting for Zhang Yang. Qiao Yihong and Qiao Hu waited nervously on another sofa, completely silent.
When Zhang Yang returned, Mi Xue was the first to stand up and rush to the door to open it for him.
Opening the door, Mi Xue immediately threw herself into Zhang Yang’s arms. It was then she noticed Old Man Zhang Ping Lu standing right beside him.
Mi Xue instantly flushed deeply. Although they were an established couple, showing such intimacy in front of a family elder made her feel embarrassed.