Chapter 7416
Using a borrowed knife to kill, luring the enemy into a trap
At this moment, Xiao Chen was simply like a demon born for slaughter! Decisive and ruthless, with unfathomable strength... This should have been the top assassin prospect that the Blood Demon Society craved most!
But now, Jiang Xueren doesn't even dare to entertain the slightest thought of recruiting them.
Some people are born to stand at the pinnacle and look down upon all living beings.
The Blood Demon Society's temple... is too small.
Let alone his western branch, even his headquarters in the capital city probably couldn't contain this god of war who has already shown his prowess!
After a short while, the main area of Qiyun Manor finally fell completely quiet.
The pervasive stench of blood was so thick it seemed impossible to dissolve, mixed with the smell of dust, that it filled everyone's nostrils.
Only a few scattered and faint groans of pain rang out intermittently in the deathly silence, making this place, which had just experienced a massacre, seem like a living hell.
In the arena, only Lü Zhuo, who was severely injured, vomiting blood, and with weak limbs, was left struggling to get up.
He stared intently at the tall figure approaching step by step, his hatred and madness long since swallowed by boundless fear.
Driven by the instinct to survive, he trembled as he pulled a palm-sized white jade token from the inner pocket of his robe.
The token was warm to the touch and had intricate cloud patterns carved on it.
The ancient and vigorous "武" (Wu, meaning martial arts) character in the center is written with flowing strokes, subtly revealing a majestic and awe-inspiring aura originating from a top-tier power!
"Xiao Chen! You...look carefully! What is this?!"
Lu Zhuo's voice was hoarse, yet it carried a hint of hysterical excitement, as if he had grasped at the last straw.
Xiao Chen paused slightly, his gaze sweeping lightly over the jade pendant. The jade was of superior quality, the carving exquisite, and even the cloud patterns concealed faint array fluctuations—it was no ordinary item.
"I don't know him." His tone was indifferent, revealing no emotion whatsoever.
As if provoked, Lü Zhuo roared out, his voice filled with a twisted hope and arrogance:
"This is the 'New Martial Arts Association Pardon'! The holder of this decree is protected by the highest level of the New Martial Arts Association! Such a person carries major secrets involving the core of the New Martial Arts Association and is under special protection! Seeing this decree is as if seeing an elder of the New Martial Arts Association in person!"
"Within the Dragon Kingdom, no one... has the right to touch me in the slightest! Anyone who violates this rule will be deemed to have challenged the supreme authority of the entire New Martial Arts Association!"
He held the jade token high, his eyes shining again... This token was personally delivered by a mysterious messenger sent by the headquarters of the New Martial Arts Association on his way back from Zhongnan Mountain.
The other party left only a cold warning: "If Xiao Chen wants to kill you, show this order, and you may save your life."
Although he still doesn't understand why the higher-ups of the New Martial Arts Association are taking such "care" of him, at this moment, this jade token is his life!
Xiao Chen looked at the jade token held high in his hand, then glanced at the several obscure auras around the manor that were subtly stirring but remained motionless, and a look of understanding flashed in his eyes.
He seemed to understand something in an instant.
The appearance of this jade pendant at this moment... is no coincidence.
This is clearly a trap deliberately set up by the New Martial Arts Association, or rather, by certain individuals within the New Martial Arts Association!
Revealing the pardon would essentially give him a charge of "defying orders and committing murder." At that point, the New Martial Arts Association would have a legitimate reason to mobilize more forces to completely eliminate him!
What a brilliant tactic of using someone else to do the dirty work! What a clever way to lure someone into a trap!
Would he let Lü Zhuo go because of this?
Absolutely not! Letting a tiger return to the mountain will bring endless trouble! If Lü Zhuo is spared today, he will surely become a sword hanging over his and those around him, waiting day and night to strike back!
As for the New Martial Arts Association's retaliation?
Even if they come in droves, what is there to fear?!
With his mind made up, there was no longer any hesitation in Xiao Chen's eyes.
He slightly twitched the Reverse Scale Sword in his hand, and the blade slashed forward with a light touch!
A sword aura, as condensed as silk yet exuding a chilling coldness, suddenly shot out!
"Clang!"
With a crisp, light sound, the tough white jade token, which contained a protective array, was precisely sliced in two by this seemingly weak sword energy!
Immediately afterwards, the token fragments turned into dust with a "poof" sound, falling down without leaving a trace!
At the same time, the sword energy that shattered the jade tablet had not yet subsided, carrying Xiao Chen's icy killing intent, and like a leech, it instantly pierced into Lü Zhuo's chest!
The sword energy entered his body but did not immediately erupt. Instead, it was like a living venomous snake, frantically darting and churning through his meridians and internal organs, destroying everything in its path!
"Ugh...!!!"
Lu Zhuo let out a shrill, inhuman scream that echoed throughout the entire manor!
His eyes bulged out, filled with ferocious blood vessels, and his body convulsed violently, every inch of his skin enduring excruciating pain!
He could clearly feel that his internal organs and meridians were being torn apart and crushed into dust inch by inch by that strange sword energy!
"Pfft...!!!"
The next second, countless tiny jets of blood shot out from the pores and orifices of his body! In an instant, Lü Zhuo transformed into a blood-soaked human form, resembling a demon!
His狰狞 face froze in extreme resentment and fear. His body trembled heavily, and he collapsed to the ground, completely dead!
The Lü family, a top martial arts family in the western region, has its core combat force... completely wiped out!
"Xiao Chen!"
Just as Lü Zhuo was about to die, an old man's fierce shout, filled with boundless rage and majesty, exploded like thunder, making everyone present's eardrums buzz!
"Your destruction of the Lü family was a personal grudge. The martial arts world has always been about settling scores quickly, and I have no right to interfere!"
"But! You dared to kill me even after Lü Zhuo revealed the 'Supreme Pardon of the New Martial Arts Association'! You blatantly trampled on the ironclad rules of the New Martial Arts Association! You disregarded the authority of the New Martial Arts Association! This is a heinous crime! An unforgivable crime!"
Before the shout had even finished, dozens of incredibly powerful auras, like a pack of wolves that had been lying in wait, suddenly shot up from the shadows outside the manor!
A chilling killing intent wove together into an impenetrable net, firmly locking onto Xiao Chen in the center of the arena, pressing down like an overwhelming tide, making the air itself seem to freeze!
Xiao Chen showed no surprise whatsoever; instead, a mocking smile of "I knew it" appeared on his face.
He leisurely surveyed the dozens of figures that appeared from all directions...
These people all had a deep and focused aura, sharp eyes like eagles, and were at least at the first level of the Celestial Realm. They were clearly the elites carefully cultivated by the New Martial Arts Association!
The New Martial Arts Tournament... I had anticipated this step.
The downfall of the Lü family was merely a perfect pawn they used to convict themselves and seize the opportunity to launch an attack!
"Xiao Chen!"
An elderly man, dressed in a dark purple robe embroidered with gold patterns, stepped forward from the crowd. He had a gaunt face, white hair and beard, piercing eyes, and a booming voice that carried an undeniable air of judgment.
"Even if you are the nominal head instructor of the Western Martial Arts Army! Even if you are exceptionally talented and brilliant! That is no excuse for you to be lawless and trample on the rules at will!" (End of Chapter)