Killing Li Yao

Liu Yun abruptly retreated, using the momentum to deflect the tremendous force behind Li Yao's War Blade. At the same time, he stamped both feet against the ground, kicking up a cloud of sand, then sprang back like a hunting leopard. His fists whistled through the air, striking straight at Li Yao's face with a sharp crack. Li Yao sneered and spun his blade. Its flashing edge wove a dense net that blocked every one of Liu Yun's attacks.

The two of them had been testing each other, but Liu Yun was actually far stronger than Li Yao could imagine.

Yang Xiaolong and the others were stunned. What on earth was going on? Why had someone suddenly attacked Liu Yun?

Li Yao wasn't hiding, so they could all see clearly that he was the notorious Invincible War God, Vulture. The two Councilors behind Vulture, however, still hadn't made a move.

Yan Hai and the Mysterious Elder might step in, but that would depend on their mood. At least for now, Liu Yun didn't seem worth their attention. He was only a War God.

"War God Li Yao, what are you doing? We're all Martial Artists of the HR Alliance. How can you attack us?"

In the firelight, Xueni's delicate face became strikingly vivid with anger. Her eyes were like two blazing flames as she stared straight at Li Yao.

"War God Li Yao, do you know what you're doing? We're all members of the HR Alliance. As one of the Alliance's own, you're openly breaking its rules and attacking your comrades. You've gone completely mad! My family won't let you get away with this. Or are you challenging the authority of my family?"

Li Yao's lips curled into a cold smile. There was not a trace of hesitation in his eyes; if anything, he looked even more crazed.

"Weiss Xueni, you're far too naïve. In this world, where the strong prey on the weak, rules are nothing but toys made by the strong. I, Li Yao, have never let anyone or any rules bind me. My son died because of Liu Yun. This vendetta can never be settled. Killing him is only right!"

His words carried an unquestionable arrogance, as if the whole world trembled beneath his feet. He paused, swept his gaze over the people around him, then continued, "As for settling this afterward? Hmph, you think I'm afraid? If I, Li Yao, dare to kill, then I can deal with whatever consequences follow. Neither the Alliance's rules nor any of you can stop me from getting my revenge!"

The main reason was that Liu Yun hadn't truly joined the HR Alliance. He was only an Outer Member and had always refused Glinda's attempts to recruit him. Liu Yun had influence now only because he was powerful. Once Li Yao killed him, who would stick their neck out for a dead man? Even if Liu Ling were killed then, no one would say another word.

Liu Yun stood to one side, his gaze cold. He knew there was no avoiding this fight, but he wasn't afraid of Li Yao. It was the two Councilors behind him that made Liu Yun wary.

Councilors not only possessed formidable combat strength; the forces behind them were also deeply entangled. Killing one could bring disaster. Besides, the Machine Race Clone had expended too much energy and had temporarily fallen asleep. Liu Yun really was struggling to hold on.

Fortunately, he still had the Venom Battle Suit to help him fight. Meanwhile, the Beast King was only hiding—it hadn't disappeared.

"You can kill me, but let my friends go!"

Liu Yun had an idea and said this to test the people he supposedly fought alongside.

Li Yao's lips curled into a cold smile. It held both contempt for Liu Yun's overestimation of himself and a hint of cruelty.

"Liu Yun, at least you have some backbone. But do you think you're still in a position to bargain? My son's death was a consequence you brought on yourself. Today, you'll pay for it."

Li Yao was really just trying to scare them. He wouldn't dare casually make a move against the Elite Training Camp of the Limit Dojo! If Hong investigated afterward, he'd be in serious trouble. Nor would he touch Weiss Xueni, a Core Member of a great family. He only had to kill Liu Yun, and that would settle everything.

"Those of you from the Flying Man Squad and the Four-Color Squad, leave! I used up all my strength controlling the monsters just now, and they've fled. If you can still get away, go now!"

Liu Yun was testing them. To avoid becoming the second Captain You, he said this, terrifying the group. He Lan's voice even changed.

"What... the Beast King ran away...?"

She'd thought Liu Yun could usher in a new era. Who could have known he'd be dead so soon? She turned and fled without hesitation.

Wang Tianba and the others looked at Liu Yun, then roared, "Li Yao, how dare you attack someone from the Limit Dojo? Members of the Limit Dojo's Elite Training Camp are all in Australia! I'm telling you, Liu Yun is our brother. If you dare lay a hand on him, I—"

Wang Tianba was deeply loyal and valued what he considered honor, so he didn't leave. But Yan Hai beside him snorted, blurred forward, and punched Wang Tianba flying.

"Hmph, hurry up and get lost!"

Yan Hai sneered. Wang Tianba survived because Yan Hai had shown Hong the utmost respect. If he said another word, Wang Tianba would die.

"Enough, Tianba! I know you're loyal. Just go!"

Liu Yun was genuinely afraid Wang Tianba would be killed, so he said this. With a heavy sigh, the Flying Man Squad's captain vanished into the wilderness.

Only the Four-Color Squad remained. Liu Yun would remember every move Yang Xiaolong and the others made. The four women glanced at one another, but none of them left.

"Liu Yun, earlier you said you accepted us as your teammates. So we accept you too! We're members of the same squad. No matter what, we'll face life and death together!"

Yang Xiaolong said this as Blacka drew her Straight Blade and pointed it at Li Yao. Ruby stood to one side. Several exquisite throwing knives danced at her fingertips, then spun around her like living things, forming a silver barrier. She didn't leave either.

The Rose Rapier in Xueni's hand gleamed even more sharply. She pointed its tip at Li Yao and rebuked him.

"War God Li Yao, I, Weiss Xueni, swear here in my family's name: if you dare harm Liu Yun in the slightest, the Weiss Family will pursue this to the end, whatever the cost!"

At the sight of this, Li Yao's contemptuous smile deepened, but a trace of caution flashed in his eyes. He thought he'd have to slaughter them all tonight.

Yan Hai frowned. Apart from Xueni, it would be best to kill everyone else.

"Go after the squad that ran off and wipe them out. Don't just let people get away! How would the Limit Dojo find out we killed anyone?"

His reasoning was sound, but it also meant the battle would become terrifying. They weren't even going to spare the bystanders.

"Hmph, barely passable!"

Protected by the four women, all standing ready for battle, Liu Yun suddenly sneered. Once tamed, the Beast King would remain his puppet forever. How could it have run away?

Just as the tension reached its breaking point, the Tyrant Dragon King, Tiger King, and Wild Ape, the three Beast Kings, descended from the sky at once. Their massive bodies loomed in the night like three moving mountains, surging toward Li Yao and his group with the power to destroy the world.

Wild Ape led the charge. Its enormous fist, covered in skin as hard as rock, swung with a roar of wind, as if it could tear space apart, and slammed straight into Li Yao's chest. Li Yao's expression changed dramatically. He had never expected the Beast Kings to join the fight. Caught off guard, he could only just manage to raise his blade to defend himself.

"Boom!" A deafening crash rang out as Wild Ape's fist struck the War Blade. A blinding flash and powerful shock wave sent sand and stones swirling into the air. Li Yao felt an irresistible force rush toward him. He flew backward like a kite with its string cut, crashed heavily to the ground, and sent dust billowing everywhere.

This was the full-force blow of a Planetary Stage 2 expert. Even with his battle suit protecting him, Li Yao died on the spot, his life extinguished. He had spent all that time seeking revenge, only to meet such an end.

Meanwhile, near the laser cannon, a large group of Black Panther Beasts and Ape Beasts surrounded the generals under Li Yao's command. Liu Yun had known from the start that Li Yao would come. His watch had the highest level of access, allowing him to monitor any HR Alliance Martial Artist at any time.

He'd done all this to test the people around him. In the end, He Lan's ugly side had truly shown itself. At least the test hadn't been for nothing.

Yan Hai and the Mysterious Elder changed expressions at the sight of this. They quickly shifted their stances, preparing to face the three Beast Kings' assault. But the Tyrant Dragon King and Tiger King were already right behind them. They each unleashed their signature moves, turning the desert into a battlefield. The Tyrant Dragon King's claws tore through the air, slashing straight at Yan Hai. The Tiger King became a blur as it pounced on the Mysterious Elder, and the two immediately clashed.

"You... You can command these Beast Kings!" Yan Hai's voice trembled with anger and shock. But how could he survive when he faced the Planetary Stage 3 Tyrant Dragon King, with the Tiger King backing it up?

The Tyrant Dragon King unleashed Dragon Emperor Dimension, blasting Yan Hai away. At the same time, the Tiger King landed a solid Black Tiger Steals Heart on him, leaving him unable to fight back.

The Mysterious Elder let out a long howl, and an even greater aura erupted from him. He was the strongest of them all, with the strength of a Planetary Stage 3 Peak expert, enough to change the color of the sky.