Magical Beasts Are Nature's Best Cosmetic Surgery. Thanks to "Volatile" for the Tip

"Retreat! Retreat!" Of the remaining nine black-robed assassins, two who were still in perfect condition immediately tried to flee when they saw things going wrong.

"Stop!" the black-robed captain roared. The others hadn't even noticed anything, and they were already running? Where did they think they could run?!

Bang! Bang!

The only response to the black-robed captain was two flashes of fire and two terrified screams.

It had to be said that the Magic Core Firearm was exceptionally effective for mowing down weak opponents within twenty meters. Hidden in the darkness, Jiang Lin stood beside a tree and glanced at the two black-robed assassins twitching on the ground in the dim forest. They were perhaps six- or seven-star Dou Zhes.

There was something terrifying about Jiang Lin's Spiritual Sense. Under normal circumstances, it only covered a range of ten meters. But when facing someone hostile, he could sense danger the moment that person glanced at him from a hundred meters away. And within a hundred meters, as long as someone looked at him, Jiang Lin could pinpoint their location. In this dark environment, every shot from the Magic Core Firearm seemed to expose his own position, but in truth, others were exposing theirs to him.

Moreover, the range of this Spiritual Sense would increase as Jiang Lin's cultivation realm improved.

After putting away the Magic Core Firearm that had used up all its Qi Breaking Needles, Jiang Lin silently watched the black-robed assassins' positions from the darkness.

His position was excellent. The invisible twenty-meter domain around him blocked off the black-robed assassins who had ambushed themselves atop the cliff for easier observation. There had actually been a lookout at the foot of the mountain as well, but Jiang Lin, who could see through the darkness, had quietly dealt with him.

The enemy appeared to have seven men left, but only four still possessed combat strength. The three black-robed assassins hiding behind cover, burned by the Magic Core Bombs, were undergoing a silent mutation in the Dou Qi within their bodies.

The group's captain, Li Yan, a Three-star Dou Master, quickly assessed the situation. They only had two Dou Masters: himself, a Three-star Dou Master, and a One-star Dou Shi. The rest were all seven- or eight-star Dou Zhes. If they jumped from this cliff, only the two Dou Masters could avoid injury. If Uncle Fu, the One-star Dou Shi below, stopped them, and that mysterious person caught up, Li Yan would have no choice but to face him alone. In the end, not a single one of them would escape.

Li Yan gritted his teeth and said to those beside him, "The enemy only uses ranged attacks. He must be trying to force us into a trap. There's another Dou Master below, so we can't fall for it. The seven of us will charge together. A coward who hides his head and shows his tail can't beat us!"

Li Yan's analysis had some basis. Jiang Lin had attacked only three times from beginning to end. First, he had thrown five Magic Core Bombs, blinding two and wounding one. Then, while they were still reeling, he used the Magic Core Firearm to shoot one dead. They had sought cover afterward, but two had tried to escape amid the chaos, only for Jiang Lin to activate the Magic Core Firearm again in the darkness. Two bangs, and they were taken out on the spot.

Once they entered cover, the enemy stopped attacking and showed no willingness to come closer.

From this, they could conclude that the enemy was merely putting on a show by relying on the advantage of his weapons. Close combat was perhaps his weakest area!

After Li Yan's analysis, the remaining six men—all except the one whose eyes had been blown out—nodded in deep agreement.

"Then listen to my command. We two Dou Masters will take the front with our Dou Qi Garments, while you four... five follow from the flanks! Don't even think about running. If we die, you won't escape that enemy's strange ranged attacks either!" Li Yan, hiding behind a large tree, looked at the nearby black-robed assassins watching him. Then he hardened his resolve. With a hum, Dou Qi surged around him and condensed into clothing as he charged toward the place where he remembered hearing the sound of mechanical metal turning!

The moment he rose, the five men behind him sprang up as well, following Li Yan from the flank. Even the black-robed assassin whose eyes had been blown out did his best to move closer to Li Yan by relying on his hearing.

But wait! Five men?!

Li Yan, who had already charged some distance ahead, instantly realized that one Dou Master was missing from beside him!

Zhao Si, I'll fucking kill you! Li Yan cursed inwardly. Before he had time to think further, he suddenly sidestepped while running, dodging a Magic Core Bomb flying out of the darkness. Then he rolled, evading another one. These thrown weapons were useful against Dou Zhes, but they were not quite enough against Dou Masters.

Damn it, that Jiang Lin really did obtain the mysterious Artifact Forging Legacy. But who is this mysterious person? Someone from the Myriad Medicine House? Or a mercenary like us, responsible for secretly protecting Jiang Lin? Still, my analysis was right. That person really is somewhat afraid of close combat. He must be a Dou Zhe, or perhaps a One-star Dou Shi who has only just entered the Dou Master realm. That bastard Zhao Si—once I get back, I'll definitely—

Bang! Bang!

The firelight of Magic Core explosions erupted behind Li Yan. Wearing his Dou Qi Garment, Li Yan slowly came to a stop with a stunned expression. By the light of the explosions, he finally saw what the mysterious person standing before him was.

That burly body made Li Yan's scalp tingle even beneath the concealment of a black robe. Especially beneath the metal faceplate under that black conical hat, those indifferent eyes watched him quietly. The Black Armored Warrior stood silently in the shadows, like an imposing mountain that could never be crossed.

Behind him, the five Dou Zhes who had been following him all suffered varying degrees of Dou Qi disorder as they used their Dou Qi, collapsing to the ground and twitching without cease. The Magic Core Bombs carried Magic Core Dou Qi that could interfere with Dou Qi.

Now, only Li Yan, dressed in black robes and a black face covering, remained standing before the Black Armored Warrior.

"You're just bluffing!" Li Yan shouted as blazing flames ignited in his hand. He pushed off with his feet and threw a punch directly at Jiang Lin.

Jiang Lin's eyes flashed. Firelight flickered in his hand as he answered with the same flaming fist!

Bang!

The flaming fists collided, erupting into a ball of fire that illuminated Li Yan's shocked eyes. Then the Black Armored Warrior, whose body had only swayed slightly, drove him back head-on!

"Impossible!" Li Yan roared in disbelief and attacked Jiang Lin again.

But this time, firelight flashed around Jiang Lin's legs. A beautiful flaming whip kick sent Li Yan flying. The Dou Qi Garment around Li Yan dimmed somewhat as he rolled several times across the ground. He instantly steadied himself and crouched low, giving Jiang Lin a complicated look before his feet exploded with force. A muffled thunderclap rang out!

Explosive Step!

Jiang Lin lowered his body, drew back his right fist, and flames burned around it as he punched forward like crashing thunder!

Explosive Flame Fist!

Firelight instantly swallowed Li Yan, who had transformed into a black shadow!

Shhk!

Jiang Lin suddenly tilted his head. Sparks flew, and a white mark appeared on his faceplate. Meanwhile, Li Yan was sent flying like a torn sack, rolling across the ground as the weapon in his hand was flung into a tree nearby.

Expressionless, Jiang Lin stepped forward and picked up the weapon: a black single-edged dagger, Yellow-grade intermediate, without the Young Qilin mark.

He silently walked over to Li Yan. Li Yan seemed to have come to terms with it. After coughing a few times, he smiled freely. "Cough, cough... Qingshan Town's pond is too small... That person has ties to Mu She... Be careful."

Clang!

The silent Black Armored Knight drew his greatsword. Dou Qi activated the blade, golden light flashed, and life vanished in an instant.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

At that moment, the lingering echoes of the Magic Core Firearm sounded in the distance.

Amid those echoes, the Black Armored Knight wordlessly finished off the other assassins twitching on the ground, then cleaned up the traces of the Dou Artifacts and turned to leave.

As for the corpses?

Magical beasts were nature's best cosmetic surgery.