The Assassin Was Done For...

[ Ding! The host's arm has been attacked. The damage-reduction effect of the Thirteen Grand Protectors Horizontal Training Technique has been triggered. Physical damage from enemies will be reduced by one-tenth for the next incense stick (two and a half minutes). ]

Xian He thrust his dagger straight at One-Eyed Dragon's chest, but to his surprise, One-Eyed Dragon dodged and kicked him in the wrist.

If Xian He hadn't been gripping the dagger so tightly, that kick would've knocked it right out of his hand.

"One-Eyed Dragon's kick really packs a damn punch! My Force Dissipation is 470, and he still managed to leave me open. His force must be at least 570. Force is equivalent to strength, which means One-Eyed Dragon is a Five-star Azure Obsidian martial artist?" Xian He thought as he backed away.

They'd actually sent a Five-star Azure Obsidian martial artist to assassinate him. It seemed the mastermind was dead set on taking his life.

Luckily, with the system's help, he'd raised his strength to 470. Otherwise, that hit wouldn't have merely left him open; it would've injured him outright.

In fights between martial artists, strength was the deciding factor. Force was equivalent to strength. Whenever the attacker's force exceeded the defender's Force Dissipation by 100, each attack would leave the defender open. Striking an opening granted an additional 100 force to the attack.

When the attacker's force exceeded the defender's Force Dissipation by 400, each attack would inflict one level of external injury. Once a body part had sustained six levels of external injury, it was crippled. Any further damage would sever it.

Seeing Xian He calmly retreat with the dagger in hand, Du Feng furrowed his thick brows, alarmed and bewildered. "He took my kick and still managed to hold on to his dagger. Is he really only Two-star Azure Obsidian?"

If Xian He were only Two-star Azure Obsidian, Du Feng's kick should've left him with at least three openings. He wouldn't be acting as if nothing had happened.

The intel was wrong. Xian He wasn't Two-star Azure Obsidian!

Still, the fact that Du Feng had nearly kicked the dagger from his hand proved Xian He's Force Dissipation was lower than Du Feng's force. Du Feng still had a pretty good chance of killing him.

"What the hell are you looking at? Bring it on!" Xian He rolled his injured wrist and crooked a finger at One-Eyed Dragon.

One-Eyed Dragon might have greater base force and be able to leave him open, but Xian He had his dagger. It added a massive amount of force, enough for him to leave One-Eyed Dragon open too—or even inflict external injuries.

Besides, the dagger was coated in poison, giving his attacks even more bite. He had no reason to fear One-Eyed Dragon.

Provoked by Xian He, Du Feng flew into a rage. "You little punk, you're asking to die!"

Du Feng's legs moved like steel whips, his kicks a furious barrage as he attacked Xian He.

Xian He didn't back down. Gripping the dagger tightly, he stabbed at One-Eyed Dragon's thigh.

But his fighting skills were far inferior. He missed with his first stab and was kicked several times by One-Eyed Dragon instead.

[ Ding! The host's shoulder has been attacked. The damage-reduction effect of the Thirteen Grand Protectors Horizontal Training Technique has been triggered. Physical damage from enemies will be reduced by two-tenths for the next incense stick. ]

[ Ding! The host's lower abdomen has been attacked. The damage-reduction effect of the Thirteen Grand Protectors Horizontal Training Technique has been triggered. Physical damage from enemies will be reduced by three-tenths for the next incense stick. ]

[ Ding! The host's forehead has been attacked. The damage-reduction effect of the Thirteen Grand Protectors Horizontal Training Technique has been triggered. Physical damage from enemies will be reduced by seven-tenths for the next incense stick. ]

The system's alerts rang out one after another.

Xian He's muscles began to ripple and harden, until they were as tough as steel.

"Hmph! Even if One-Eyed Dragon were a Yellow Obsidian One-star martial artist, after his physical damage was reduced by seven-tenths, he'd only have 300 force left. There's no way he could break through my 470 Force Dissipation. And he's not even White Obsidian One-star." Xian He curled his lips into a cruel smile.

He stopped defending and went all-out on the attack.

Seeing Xian He abandon his defense and stop hunkering down, Du Feng seized his chance and raised a leg, kicking viciously between Xian He's legs.

"Die!"

Unexpectedly, Xian He wasn't fazed at all. He simply clamped Du Feng's lower leg between his own.

"The one who's going to die is you!" Xian He raised his dagger and plunged it viciously into One-Eyed Dragon's thigh.

"Shhk!"

A stream of blood sprayed out, splattering Xian's face.

It was Xian He's first fight to the death, and adrenaline coursed through him nonstop. Even with blood covering his face, he felt no discomfort.

"Fuck!" Du Feng cursed through the pain.

He braced himself with both hands, twisted his powerful waist, and swept a leg behind him, kicking Xian He in the neck. Xian He fell to the ground, and Du Feng managed to break free.

Xian He rolled his neck and got back to his feet, completely unharmed.

He held the dagger in a reverse grip and stared coldly at One-Eyed Dragon, as if looking at a dead man.

"Don't come any closer! Get away!" Du Feng was terrified. Clutching his thigh, he limped backward.

He'd injured a major artery. The blood wouldn't stop; it gushed out between his fingers.

Xian He was as hard as steel. There was no way to hurt him!

Watching Xian He approach one step at a time, Du Feng cried out in a trembling voice.

"Don't come any closer!"

"Stop! Don't come any closer!"

"I'm talking to you! Are you deaf? Quit moving forward, damn it!"

Xian He paid him no heed and kept closing in, unhurriedly.