"Who are you..." Ye Jingyu said coldly, looking at the man in the black robe, while tightening his grip on the iron saber...

"Miao..." A low voice came from within the black robe...

"Meow?" Ye Jingyu raised an eyebrow. What a funny name... For a grown man, why would he choose a name like that?

"Miao, as in the vastness of floodwaters..." As if sensing Ye Jingyu's thoughts, the dark-clothed man's voice sounded again, low and cold...

"Heh, then Mr. Miao, what brings you here?" Ye Jingyu spoke with a faint smile playing on his lips, but his heart was clenched tight down to the bone...

"To take your life..." Miao’s voice remained as indifferent as ever, like a robot...

"Oh? And why?" Ye Jingyu was momentarily stunned. This fellow was certainly direct, but he also knew that the person before him was absolutely the strongest he had ever encountered; even Huangfu Buyue couldn't compare. This must be a master who had long since reached the Grandmaster realm. Why would such a master come to kill him?

Could it be one of the four Grandmasters from the Eldest Young Master’s mansion? But the data he obtained from the Third Young Master indicated no expert named Miao resided there.

"No why. If you are strong, I die. If I am strong, you die. It’s that simple..." Miao didn't elaborate, merely repeating the exact words Ye Jingyu had spoken to Tang Yang earlier...

"Is that so?" Though Ye Jingyu sensed no killing intent emanating from the opponent, he was certain that the slightest misstep would invite an overwhelming, stormy attack...

"Die then..." Miao seemed to lose patience for conversation. His figure vanished abruptly from his spot, reappearing instantly before Ye Jingyu, launching a palm strike directly at him...

This palm strike looked deceptively soft and weak, far removed from the overwhelming might of Tang Yang’s previous blow. Yet, Ye Jingyu felt an irresistible pressure, as if what struck him wasn't a palm but a colossal tidal wave, leaving him a mere skiff beneath the surge, poised to be capsized at any moment...

Acting purely on instinct, Ye Jingyu raised both arms to shield his face. Miao's palm struck his forearms without mercy. Immediately, Ye Jingyu felt a power beyond comprehension surge through his arms, akin to being struck by a locomotive. His entire body was flung backward, his arms screaming with excruciating pain, completely numb—he couldn't tell if they were broken.

He crashed heavily against a wall behind him, causing the masonry to spiderweb with cracks. A searing pain shot through his back, and bright red blood trickled from the corner of his mouth...

Despite this, Ye Jingyu forced himself to stand, refusing to collapse. His eyes were filled with infinite horror. While he knew the man's strength surpassed his own, he hadn't expected such a vast gulf. Who exactly was this person?

"Not bad. To withstand my Cloud-Overturning and Rain-Drenching Palm and still live. You have reason to be proud..." Seeing his single blow fail to shatter Ye Jingyu's body, Miao’s cold tone carried a hint of a smile—part praise, part mockery...

"Cloud-Overturning and Rain-Drenching? You, a creature that shuns the light, dare speak of overturning clouds and drenching rain? You dream while awake!" Though deeply shocked internally, Ye Jingyu’s tongue remained sharp...

"It matters not what you say. You are fated to die today..." Miao paid no mind to Ye Jingyu’s barbs, his voice remaining placid as he advanced step by step toward Ye Jingyu. His gaze was filled with utter disdain, as if he were about to slay not a man, but an insect...

Feeling the encroaching pressure, Ye Jingyu’s heart felt heavy, yet his eyes held no trace of fear. He still had his soul power attack, and he still possessed the all-powerful Overlord Origin Force. He might not lose, but using the terrifying destructive power of the Overlord Origin Force in his current state was too much to bear. He would absolutely not resort to that world-shaking finger technique unless absolutely forced...

"Before I die, can you tell me who sent you?" As Miao closed the distance to within five paces, Ye Jingyu suddenly spoke...

"When you slaughter a pig, do you tell it why you are killing it?" Instead of answering, Miao countered with a question...

"You..." Ye Jingyu bristled with anger...

"Die now... Sky-Shattering Eruption..." Miao snorted lightly, his figure accelerating violently as he unleashed a punch...

In that instant, strands of azure light flared at his fist's tip, and a terrifying fist shadow shot forth, hurtling directly towards Ye Jingyu...

This was not a mere fist shadow condensed from Innate True Qi; it was formed from True Essence Power, which was far superior to Innate True Qi. Its might was several times greater than the latter. Sensing the immense power contained within this strike, even the bold Ye Jingyu couldn't help but change countenance repeatedly...

Without hesitation, a flash of silver in his eyes—the Savage Overlord Battle Mark instantly unleashed, a pale gold energy blossoming completely...

"Crack, crack, crack..." The pale gold ripples collided violently with the azure fist shadow. The pale gold ripples shattered entirely, while the azure fist shadow merely faded slightly before continuing its trajectory toward Ye Jingyu, slamming directly into his chest. The sheer force hammered a clear fist print into his sternum...

He opened his mouth wide, vomiting a torrent of blood, mixed with fragments of what looked like internal organs...

"Concentrated Thought Attack? I didn't expect you to have reached the Soul Condensation Realm. That makes it even more imperative that you perish..." Seeing Ye Jingyu employ the Concentrated Thought Attack, a technique only utilized by Soul Masters of the Soul Condensation Realm, a flicker of surprise crossed Miao's eyes, which was quickly replaced by an expression of cold finality...

Ye Jingyu felt as if his very body was about to break apart. His strongest attack, short of the Overlord Origin Force, had been so easily shattered by this man. Just what level had this opponent reached? Had he achieved the Great Grandmaster realm?

Did he truly have to use his ultimate trump card, the Sky-Shaking Finger, regardless of his injuries?

Ye Jingyu knew too well the agony induced by using the Sky-Shaking Finger. If he used it and still failed to kill the opponent, all hope would vanish. Even if he succeeded, if anyone else were nearby, he wouldn't need an expert—even an ordinary person could easily kill him. What was he to do?

The agonizing pain in his chest nearly caused Ye Jingyu to pass out, but he fought through it, agonizing over whether to unleash that final, desperate skill...

At that very moment, he heard Miao speak again, and saw Miao’s figure lunge towards him once more. In his hand, Miao now held a dagger—a pitch-black blade that reflected no light—aimed precisely at Ye Jingyu’s heart...

Distance seemed to vanish; almost no time elapsed before the short blade reached Ye Jingyu’s sternum. Helpless, Ye Jingyu was about to risk everything and execute the Sky-Shaking Finger when a ripple passed through the empty air. Then, a sharp "clang" sounded, and Miao's dagger was deflected...

Both he and Miao displayed expressions of shock—one of pleasant surprise, the other of furious disbelief...