Chapter 93 - 90: Annihilate Root and Branch

Chapter 93: Chapter 90: Annihilate Root and Branch

Before the words even faded, he slammed his feet down on the stone stage!

BOOM!

Amidst the thunderous noise, the surface of the arena, built from hard bluestone, was shattered by the force of his stomp, sending shards of rock flying!

He shot into the air like a cannonball, swinging the Red Gold Copper Rod in his hands in a wide arc.

The rod cut through the air, letting out a low, terrifying whistle.

It was as if even light itself would be torn apart by this immense force.

The power of this strike had far surpassed the realms of Skin Refining, Muscle Training, and Bone Cultivation, brazenly stepping into a terrifying new level of might!

Far below the stage, Chen Xuan’s eyes narrowed abruptly, a cold glint flashing within them.

Even Black Bear tensed every muscle in his body.

Lu Jing’an faced the attack that had locked onto him, a blow like a toppling mountain range.

A grave expression flickered across his face, yet he showed no sign of panic.

What was even more shocking was that he didn’t retreat.

Instead, he took a step forward, moving to meet the devastating shadow of the rod!

This abnormal action sent a shock through all the onlookers, especially the Li Family’s forces hidden in the shadows, who watched in disbelief.

But Chen Xuan understood instantly.

’The Young Master is signaling me with his actions. The time has come. I have to move.’

"Black Bear, as soon as the Young Master succeeds, get up on the stage immediately with our men and protect him!"

Chen Xuan hissed urgently, his figure already drifting back like a phantom, silently melting into the shadows of the crowd and shacks.

"I get it!" Black Bear grunted in reply, his pair of large, bell-like eyes fixed intently on the stage.

In mid-air, the assassin—who was burning his own life and vitality in exchange for supreme power—saw Lu Jing’an advance instead of retreat. The last shred of doubt he had forcibly suppressed rippled through his heart once more.

But the arrow had already left the bow. All that remained was the kill!

The distance between them closed to zero in a flash.

The Red Gold Copper Rod, carrying the power to shatter mountains and crack stone, smashed down viciously toward Lu Jing’an’s skull!

The next instant.

There was no dull thud of a cracking skull, no gruesome sight of brains splattering.

The Copper Rod, powerful enough to shatter monuments, came to an abrupt halt just three inches from Lu Jing’an’s head!

It was as if it had struck an invisible, intangible, yet absolutely impassable barrier.

A clear rebound force traveled up the rod, tearing open the web of the assassin’s thumb and sending blood streaming down his hand.

His face twisted, and with a wild roar, he frantically poured all his remaining strength and life force into the strike.

The Copper Rod even bent slightly under the immense force, letting out a groan as if overwhelmed.

But that three-inch gap remained as impassable as a chasm, unyielding!

[Absolute Guardian]!

The entry’s ability activated: for three seconds, absolute Defense.

Lu Jing’an felt the violent power, just inches away, being effortlessly blocked.

’This entry’s effect is truly heaven-defying,’ a trace of awe flashed through his mind.

’It’s a shame it can only be used once a day, and for only three breaths each time.’

In the instant his opponent’s focus wavered, stunned by this physics-defying scene,

Lu Jing’an moved.

He slid sideways like a slippery fish, moving around the frozen Copper Rod.

With a sweep of his right hand, a foot-long dagger with a reserved edge was already in his grasp.

A cold glint flashed like autumn water as they passed each other, and in that instant, he drew the blade lightly across his opponent’s neck.

Time seemed to freeze for a moment.

"Hkk... Hkk..."

The assassin’s eyes flew wide open, and the Copper Rod in his hand fell to the stone stage with a CLANG.

He futilely raised a hand to clutch his neck, but a thin red line was already widening rapidly.

Blood gushed out like a fountain, dyeing the shattered arena red.

He opened his mouth but could only produce a gasping sound like a broken bellows, his gaze quickly losing focus.

CLANG. Another sound as the Copper Rod rolled to one side.

Lu Jing’an, his expression calm, bent down and picked up the still-warm Red Gold Copper Rod.

He casually tossed it to Black Bear, who had already charged swiftly onto the stage.

Black Bear caught the Copper Rod as several other Guards rushed forward with him.

They formed a tight circle around Lu Jing’an, aiming their guns at the crowd below as a deterrent.

"Re... Release... my... chi..."

A blood-soaked hand, using its last ounce of strength, trembled as it reached toward Lu Jing’an.

One of the Guards standing beside him coldly kicked the hand away.

Lu Jing’an looked down and carefully rolled his cuffs back down.

He refastened the gold-plated cufflink, then smoothed the hem of his greatcoat, every movement meticulous.

Only after finishing all this did he raise his eyes to look at his opponent, who was twitching in a pool of blood. His voice was flat, devoid of emotion:

"Release him? So he can come and take revenge when I’m too old to lift a blade?"

Hearing this, the assassin’s body shuddered violently.

His outstretched hand finally fell limp, and the last spark of light in his eyes faded completely into Nirvana.

In chaotic times, being merciful to your enemies is being cruel to yourself.

Even a Bodhisattva’s heart requires the methods of a Vajra to act.

[A refinable/repairable Divine Soul has been detected. Collect it?]

The familiar prompt appeared.

[Collect]

[Refine]

[Refining... Estimated time to completion: 8 hours.]

’Eight hours?’

Lu Jing’an’s heart stirred.

The time, far exceeding his expectations, surprised him slightly.

Refining an ordinary Martial Artist, even a powerful one, shouldn’t take this long.

’Is it because he died at the absolute peak of his life? Was his Divine Soul temporarily elevated and solidified by some power?’

Lu Jing’an speculated internally, feeling it was the only possible explanation.

At this moment, the area around the stage was terrifyingly silent.

There was only the whining of wind through the cracks of the shanties and the faint sound of distant barking.

A dozen dark gun muzzles held everyone in check.

Although most of the onlookers were desperate fugitives, they were now as silent as cicadas in winter.

But the tense atmosphere was like a fully drawn bowstring, ready to snap at any moment.

BOOM!!!

Just then, a sudden change occurred!

About fifty meters from the stage, the entire adobe wall of a low, thatched hut suddenly collapsed inward, sending up a cloud of dust and debris!

A figure was sent flying backward out of the opening like a broken sack.