Chapter 528 - 250: Xu Qingshan’s Relief, the Giant Spirit Assassin Comes Again, Jiang Che Breaks Through to the Fifth Layer of the True Master Realm

’As expected of the Black Gold Emperor Body!’

However, what he couldn’t figure out was why he had encountered someone with a Black Gold Emperor Body here.

’Could he be an illegitimate son of the Royal Family, cast out and forgotten?’

’Or is he some great lord lying in wait?’

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, but he quickly forced them all down.

’It doesn’t matter who he is. Even if he’s truly from the Royal Family...’

’Since we’re now mortal enemies, I have to kill him!’

"I don’t believe you have an Undying Body!"

The lead Assassin roared and charged forward again.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Deep in the dense woods, the two behemoths collided once more.

It was the most primitive, most brutal brawl!

No fancy moves, just a barrage of flesh-pounding fists!

Jiang Che’s Black Armor continuously shattered and reformed.

The lead Assassin’s body was also smashed to a pulp, only to heal again and again.

However, as time went on, the ferocious glint in the lead Assassin’s eyes was gradually replaced by terror.

He had discovered a despairing fact.

His regeneration was fueled by burning his Life Energy and sustained by a Secret Technique.

With every passing moment, his aura was weakening.

But the monster opposite him...

His recovery seemed to cost him nothing at all!

He only grew fiercer and more ferocious with every blow!

In those eyes, burning with crimson flames, there was only endless excitement and battle lust—as if he would never know fatigue!

’This Black Gold Emperor Body is too terrifying! I’m no match for him!’

The lead Assassin was afraid.

Truly afraid.

He felt as if he wasn’t facing a person, but a perpetual motion machine—a Weapon born for slaughter!

’This isn’t working... I can’t win!’

’If this goes on, I’ll die!’

Once the thought of retreat took root, it grew like a wildfire.

"ROAR!"

The lead Assassin threw a feint, then braced for one of Jiang Che’s punches, using its momentum to launch himself backward!

’Flee! I have to get this information back!’

"Trying to run?"

But from behind him came Jiang Che’s demonic whisper.

VWOOM!

A purple light flashed.

Purple Shadow Instant Kill!

As if crossing through space itself, Jiang Che’s figure instantly appeared above the lead Assassin’s head!

His pitch-black iron fist was raised high, the surrounding air compressed to its absolute limit by the terrifying force, letting out a sonic boom!

"NO!!!"

The lead Assassin looked up in despair and let out a final, desperate roar.

"It’s over."

Jiang Che’s eyes were cold as he threw his punch!

SPLAT!!!

It was like a hammer smashing a tomato.

Under that single punch, the massive head, along with half a shoulder, completely burst apart!

The headless corpse crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

The battle was finally over.

Jiang Che then deactivated his Black Armor Form.

A wave of intense weakness washed over him.

’It seems my current limit is the Ninth Layer Peak of the True Master Realm...’

He walked over to the Giant Spirit Assassin’s corpse, crouched down, and began to clean up the battlefield.

’That’s four Giant Spirit Martial Artists I’ve killed in total...’

’I guess I’ve eliminated a major threat to the Sect...’

After looting anything valuable, he took out the Corpse-Dissolving Water to destroy the body and erase all traces.

Once he had done all this, Jiang Che activated [Shadow Escape] and quickly left the battlefield, heading in the direction of the Sect.

After returning to Tingtai Garden, Jiang Che immediately sat cross-legged on the couch, his eyes slightly closed.

He appeared to be meditating, but in reality, his mind had already followed the spiritual bond he shared with the Shadow Iron Eagle, Xiaohei, and flown a thousand miles away.

In his field of vision, a sea of clouds churned.

Through Xiaohei’s sharp eagle eyes, Jiang Che could clearly see a slightly aged figure striding past a boundary marker.

That was the border between Lingzhou and the neighboring state.

Confirming that his master, Xu Qingshan, had safely left the Lingzhou territory with no strange auras in pursuit, the tension that had gripped Jiang Che’s heart finally loosened.

’It seems that after those two Assassins died, none of their accomplices went after Master.’

’Once he’s out of Lingzhou, he’ll be in the heartland of Great Chu, which should be relatively safer.’

’Besides, Master is a Fourth Layer of True Master Realm expert, after all. As long as he doesn’t run into a targeted assassination by the Great Yan Kingdom, common thieves won’t even be able to get near him.’

At this thought, Jiang Che felt reassured.

As long as his family and master were safe, he had no worries holding him back at the Sect. He could go all out!

...

「Meanwhile, deep within the Black Mist Wood.」

On the same spot that had just witnessed a brutal battle, a figure completely shrouded in a wide, black robe suddenly appeared out of thin air.

He looked at the devastated ground and the lingering, savage scent of blood in the air that had yet to fully dissipate.

His expression, hidden beneath the hood, was thunderous.

Just a moment ago, the two Lifebound Soul Tokens he carried had shattered into dust without any warning!

This meant that those two were also dead!

’Just who was it...’

The black-robed man looked at the deep craters littering the ground.

’This kind of pure, physical destructive power...’

’Could it be an expert from Coiling Dragon Peak?’

He pondered for a moment but couldn’t find a suitable answer.

’Forget it. Whatever the case, it’s definitely related to that brat, Jiang Che.’

’It must be the person backing him!’

However, the black-robed man knew this was not the time to dwell on the identity of the killer.

Having lost four elite members in a row, the original assassination plan was a complete failure.

Moreover, the fact that the enemy could intercept them repeatedly meant that this route through the Black Mist Wood was no longer safe.

’It seems my only option is to request reinforcements...’

The black-robed man took a special charcoal pencil and a piece of letter paper from his robes and began to write swiftly.

Then, he took out a special Bone Whistle and blew it.

FWEE—

FWEE—

FWEE—

A rhythmic whistling sound echoed through the woods.

Soon, a Peregrine Falcon—ash-white all over and exceptionally majestic—flew over and landed on his arm.