The vast ancient village was deathly silent.
A falling needle could have been heard.
The thick stench of blood permeated the wilds.
Everyone's faces were filled with terror as they frantically retreated, unable to believe it.
So many of them had charged forward just now, yet so many had been slain in an instant?
It had happened too fast!
[You killed a Martial World villain who kidnapped others. Merit Points +120]
[+100]
[+100]...
In the blink of an eye, he had gained 900 Merit Points.
Lu Chen's face was cold as he looked at the terrified crowd before him, already cowed by fear, and strode forward.
As he advanced, everyone before him retreated swiftly in unspoken accord.
It was as if they feared he might suddenly erupt into action.
They only wished they could get as far away from Lu Chen as possible.
Liu Jinglan tightly grasped Cui Qingqing's hand, gathered his courage, and followed behind Lu Chen.
"Y-you mustn't be arrogant. The Twin Evils of Yin Mountain are nearby. They'll definitely stop you."
One of the martial artists suddenly shouted.
"That's right, the Twin Evils of Yin Mountain are here!"
"Those who know what's good for them, stop at once!"
"We won't harm that girl. Leave her behind!" The crowd shouted in succession.
"Ten breaths. Anyone who still dares remain here will die!"
Lu Chen ignored their threats and spoke coldly.
"You!"
The crowd's hearts trembled, and they shivered.
They did not doubt Lu Chen's strength in the least.
Because he truly had the means to do it.
"Is that so? Then what if we've arrived? Can you kill us in ten breaths as well?"
A sinister, hoarse voice rang out.
Everyone hurriedly turned around, overjoyed.
"The Twin Evils of Yin Mountain are here!"
"Wonderful!"
"Stop them! That's Heartless Blade Lu Chen!" "Leave that Lu Chen behind too!"
Two figures leaped swiftly over from behind. Both wore cold expressions and possessed formidable auras, clad in identical black robes. One stood to the left and one to the right, their gloomy eyes sweeping toward Lu Chen.
A powerful Seventh Rank cultivation erupted directly, bearing down on them.
Liu Jinglan's face instantly turned deathly pale, and he nearly despaired.
The Twin Evils of Yin Mountain!
It really was them?
Now they were finished!
They were both Seventh Rank cultivators...
How could Lu Chen possibly stop them?
"Young Hero Lu..."
Liu Jinglan's voice was tense as he hurriedly looked at Lu Chen. "Heartless Blade Lu Chen?"
The man on the far left was huge and powerfully built, with a dark complexion and a black wart on his mouth. His face was grim as he coldly swept his gaze toward Lu Chen. "You trained for less than seven days, yet you slew mid-stage Sixth Rank Yu Tianli with your blade. The outside world is spreading word that you possess some secret. Both the righteous and wicked paths of the Martial World want to capture you and see it for themselves. Yet we happened to encounter you today. Heaven truly favors us. Will you hand over your secret yourself, or force us to act?"
"Why waste words with him? Words alone cannot persuade this sort of genius. Only absolute methods, shattering his proud bones, can force him to submit step by step!"
The man on the left said with a savage grin.
Yet Lu Chen remained unmoved. His expression was still cold as he stepped forward. "If you survive one strike from my blade, I lose!"
Liu Jinglan was shocked, and he hurriedly looked at Lu Chen.
At a time like this, Lu Chen was still saying that?
What gave him such confidence? Had his blade technique truly reached the realm of perfection?
"Courting death!"
"Arrogant!"
The Twin Evils' eyes turned cold. Without hesitation, they immediately let out long howls and pounced together, launching a savage assault at Lu Chen. Their cultivation was formidable, and their combined attack techniques were even more profound.
They first used their long howls to shake the surroundings and confuse Lu Chen's mind. Then, while his mind was unguarded, they brazenly unleashed their strongest attack. Their two pairs of sharp claws, like eagle talons and wrapped in streams of air, viciously clawed toward Lu Chen.
Heavenly Demon Great Grasping Force!
Clang!
Suddenly, an ear-splitting blade cry rang out, and illusions filled their vision.
For an instant, the Twin Evils seemed to arrive at a twilight where river and sky were one color. Before their eyes was a lone wild goose, its cry mournful, while heaven and earth held no one but themselves. It was as though heaven and earth had forsaken them, as though all living beings had forsaken them.
Then it was as though they had suddenly returned to their childhood, their most miserable memories stirred awake.
They had not had enough to eat or warm clothes to wear. Their parents had died early, and they had depended on each other for survival.
They had suffered the bullying of children their own age and the oppression of landlords...
Helplessness, despair, pessimism—they trusted no one...
Puff! Puff...
Blood sprayed, and the vision shattered.
Two fine heads flew into the air in an instant, their eyes wide open, unwilling to rest even in death.
Lu Chen's face was cold as his long blade returned to its sheath in an instant.
"You lost too!"
He stepped forward and continued walking.
[You killed two Martial World villains who had wreaked havoc for many years. Merit Points +450!] Hiss!
The remaining people all sucked in sharp breaths, their faces filled with terror as they hurriedly turned and fled.
"It has nothing to do with me! I was only hired!"
"It has nothing to do with me either..."
"I won't take the job anymore..."
Puff! Puff! Puff!
Blood sprayed, and heads rolled.
Lu Chen's blade showed no mercy, like a reaping god of death.
One Martial World figure after another died miserably.
Invisible Merit Points rapidly rose before his eyes...
Liu Jinglan watched in shock, his heart roaring.
The Twin Evils of Yin Mountain, both Seventh Rank cultivators, had been killed in one strike as well!
That just now was... blade intent! The same blade intent that had killed the Four Fiends of the He Family!
"Young Hero Lu, these people were merely hired by someone else. Their crimes do not warrant death..."
Liu Jinglan hurriedly said.
"If I don't kill them, our tracks will be exposed, and endless pursuers will surely come!"
Lu Chen gave him a cold glance. "Or do you think they're good people?"
Would good people allow themselves to be used by others to kidnap someone?
"I..."
Liu Jinglan was left speechless.
Lines of text appeared before Lu Chen's eyes once more.
[... Merit Points +110]
[+120]
[+120]...
In the blink of an eye, they had increased by 1,500 points.
Lu Chen walked over and began searching their bodies one by one.
Behind him, Cui Qingqing's face was deathly pale, filled with fear as she looked at Lu Chen.
It was the first time the young girl had seen someone as baleful and vicious as Lu Chen.
Even when she had been abducted before, she had not been as frightened as she was now...
"Let's go. Leave this place!"
Lu Chen said.
"Alright!"
Liu Jinglan searched the village for horses. The three mounted up and immediately departed through the night.
Just after they had left.
In a distant region, within the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion.
Upon the mysterious, ancient mirror.
At this moment, it began flickering on its own again, lines of text emerging upon it.
[Heartless Blade Lu Chen trained in martial arts for only ten days. Tonight, at Dark Cloud, he slew the Twin Evils of Yin Mountain, the Four Fiends of the He Family, and the West Mountain Nest of Ghosts with his blade. In a single battle, he exterminated dozens of renowned experts. The refinement of his blade technique and the speed of his cultivation shook the world. He is ranked sixty-fourth on the Kirin Ranking!]
Several elders guarding the ancient mirror sensed something unusual from it and immediately turned their eyes toward it.
The moment they looked, their hearts shook in disbelief.
The Kirin Ranking had changed again!
How many days had it been?
It was Lu Chen again!
This was far too fast!
"He slew the Twin Evils of Yin Mountain with his blade? Hiss!" "The Twin Evils of Yin Mountain were both early Seventh Rank cultivators!"
"He did not draw down lightning, merely slew them with his blade. This means he no longer needs to borrow lightning's power. How is that possible?"
"A monster. He's a monster!"
The elders were all stunned.
What kind of cultivation speed was this?
Training in martial arts for ten days, then killing Seventh Rank experts!
"Quick, copy it down and spread it across the world!"
"Heartless Blade Lu Chen is destined to shake the Martial World once more!"
Before you continue