Zhang Dali, Li Min, and Wang Hu, who were hiding behind a boulder in the distance, were already stunned and terrified by the series of sudden changes that had occurred before their eyes.
From Xiao Han's proactive attack, instantly killing the Lizard King, to his head-on clash with the ambush from the cliffside, the entire process was so fast that they could barely react.
Only now did they truly understand just how vast the gap was between themselves and Xiao Han.
That was a battle on a completely different level! At the same time, Xiao Han was also sweating bullets; these men in black who suddenly appeared were clearly up to no good.
"Tsk tsk, what an unexpected surprise!" The leader, a burly man in black with a hoarse voice, had his eyes, hidden behind a black cloth, fixed on Xiao Han and the faintly visible phantoms of the Chaos Green Lotus and the Eternal Night Monarch Martial Souls behind him.
His eyes were filled with undisguised greed and fervor. "Kid, your Twin Martial Souls are of pretty high quality! Taking you down is far more valuable than any of that bullshit secret in this crappy canyon!"
Xiao Han brushed off non-existent dust from his sleeves, his gaze calmly sweeping over the uninvited guests. His tone was icy and mocking. "You bunch of cowardly rats, do you think you're worthy to covet my things?"
Just then, the familiar system notification sounded in Xiao Han's mind again:
[God-Level Choice activated!]
[Option 1: Sensing the danger, lead Zhang Dali, Li Min, and Wang Hu to immediately break out of the encirclement and seek the protection of the school instructor. Reward: A life-saving talisman [Escape Talisman] (can instantly escape thousands of miles, and is difficult to track under King Wu).]
[Option Two: You choose the path to hell, choosing the path to heaven! Fight back against all the ambushers and extract the secrets of the Red Ridge Mountain Range Canyon from them. Reward: Special Eye Technique [Illusion-Breaking Spirit Eyes] (can see through illusions, perceive energy nodes and enemy weaknesses; highly effective against formations and restrictions), [Red Ridge Canyon Core Area Map Fragment].]
Looking at the two options presented by the system, a cold glint flashed in Xiao Han's eyes. Break through? That wasn't his style. Wouldn't it be a waste not to accept all these resources that were offered to him so readily?
"I choose option two," Xiao Han silently recited to himself.
Almost the instant he made his choice, a powerful confidence and soaring fighting spirit burst forth from him.
"Since you're so eager to stay, then stay here forever!"
Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Han suddenly moved! The power of the Eternal Night King Martial Soul was quietly activated, and an invisible Domain Prototype spread rapidly from him, like ink dripping into clear water.
The canyon, already somewhat dim due to the cliffs blocking out the light, seemed to have been completely stripped away in an instant, plunging it into absolute darkness where you couldn't see your hand in front of your face!
Xiao Han's figure blended perfectly into the darkness he had created, and his aura completely disappeared.
The next moment, a chilling killing intent suddenly locked onto the burly leader who was at the Seventh Level of the Martial Master Realm!
Within the canyon, the real carnage has only just begun!
Within the canyon, the moment the light is stripped away, it transforms into a one-sided slaughterhouse.
The absolute darkness created by the Eternal Night King Martial Soul was nothing short of apocalypse for these Blood Fiend Hall assassins who were accustomed to relying on sight. Their senses were suppressed to the extreme, and their hearing and sense of smell became dull and unreliable amidst the chaotic energy fluctuations and the thick smell of blood.
"Ah! My eyes! I can't see anything!"
"Help! Where is he?"
"Pfft!"
Screams, the clash of weapons, and the screech of blades piercing flesh rose and fell in waves.
Xiao Han was like a death god blending into the darkness; each flash of "A Step to the Ends of the Earth" was accompanied by the fall of an assassin. His figure flickered erratically in the darkness, and the assassins' chaotic attacks couldn't even touch the hem of his clothes.
In just a few breaths, apart from the two leaders who were at the Seventh Level of the Martial Master Realm, all the other men in black had died, and the thick stench of blood permeated the canyon.
"Damn it! Come out and fight me fair and square if you dare!" the black-clad leader roared, wildly swinging his battle sword, sending gusts of wind flying, but it was all in vain.
The other leader, Martial Master at the seventh level with a slightly more effeminate aura, appeared more composed. A strange dark red blood-red protective shield appeared on his body, firmly protecting him as he vigilantly sensed his surroundings.
"Upright and honorable? Why bother with such formalities when dealing with you shady Rats?" Xiao Han's icy voice seemed to come from all directions at once.
The next moment, the effeminate leader felt an extremely sharp force lock onto him.
He felt a chill run down his spine and was about to react when several extremely condensed cyan sword energies, like living fish, silently emerged from the darkness. They bypassed his supposedly foolproof defense at an incredible angle and precisely struck several key points of his blood-light shield.
The first move of the Green Lotus Sword Song – Lotus in Motion!
"Snap!"
The tough blood-red shield shattered instantly, and the effeminate leader's expression changed drastically as he spat out a mouthful of blood.
Before he could catch his breath, a fist imbued with the power of Return to the Ruins was already imprinted on his dantian.
"Bang!"
Annihilation Divine Fist!
The Yin-Yang leader was struck as if by lightning. His dantian was instantly destroyed by the terrifying Annihilation power, and all his cultivation vanished. He collapsed softly to the ground, his eyes filled with despair and resentment.
At the same time, Xiao Han's Shadow Avatar entangled the burly leader, and although he could not defeat him, he also kept the leader busy.
After Xiao Han dealt with the Yin-Yang leader, he appeared behind the burly leader in a flash, delivering a devastating blow with the same "Annihilation Divine Fist," severely injuring and killing him.
[Ding! God-Level Choice quest completed!]
[Rewards: Special Eye Technique [Illusion-Breaking Spirit Eyes] (automatically fused), [Red Ridge Canyon Core Area Map Fragment] (already sent to system space).]
As the system notification sounded, Xiao Han felt a cool sensation in his eyes, and then the world before him seemed to change completely.
The darkness remained, but he could clearly see the free-floating energy particles in the air, sense the subtle energy fluctuations of objects, and even perceive the chaotic blood and qi and the violent emotional ups and downs within the captured Yin-type leader.
"Speak, who are you? What are you doing in this canyon?" Xiao Han walked up to the effeminate leader whose cultivation had been crippled, his voice devoid of any emotion.
The effeminate leader coughed up blood, a venomous glint in her eyes. "We are from the 'Blood Fiend Hall'! A 'Earth Vein Spirit Marrow' has been born deep within this canyon. Those who know what's good for them will get lost, or else..."
Xiao Han's [Illusion-Breaking Spirit Eyes] clearly detected that the other party's emotions did not fluctuate much when he mentioned the Earth Vein Spirit Marrow, which was obviously true.
"What else?" Xiao Han pressed.