Assassination

The night was like water.

Soft moonlight bathed the earth.

At Lingyuan Temple, the woods behind the mountain lay utterly still.

Fang Xing leaned against a tree, a saber in one hand, watching the lights glow in Lingyuan Temple.

"Still nothing?"

Watching the temple, Fang Xing furrowed his brows.

An incense stick's worth of time had passed, and there hadn't been the slightest stir. That seemed a little odd.

In the silent night, with his Dark Force cultivation, he could hear even the faintest sounds.

Yet right now, he couldn't sense a thing.

"Could they have gone around to the front?"

Fang Xing narrowed his eyes, gripping the saber's hilt.

He didn't know what was happening inside Lingyuan Temple, but even if there was activity at the main entrance, his keen senses should have picked up at least some of it.

The lack of any sound meant Shen Ye hadn't made his move yet.

But they might be fighting in one of the temple's secret chambers.

After all, the dossier had described the situation clearly: Lingyuan Temple had several concealed chambers.

"Better stay at my post."

Putting aside his distracting thoughts, Fang Xing steadied himself and continued his watch.

No surprises would be best.

He wanted to earn more Enhancement Points, but the risks were high.

"Whoosh—!"

Just as Fang Xing waited patiently, a figure suddenly vaulted over the temple wall.

By the moonlight, Fang Xing caught a glimpse of a pale face.

The figure reeked of blood and looked injured.

"Here he comes!"

Fang Xing tensed. His body darted forward like a ghost, chasing after the figure fleeing the temple.

His steps were light, not making a sound as he moved.

Gale Step had reached its pinnacle, and the footwork technique was now showing its full effect.

In the time it took to draw a breath, Fang Xing had closed in.

The figure climbed over the temple wall and stumbled toward him. Fang Xing didn't rush to meet him head-on. Instead, he stopped when he was still several yards away.

Pressing himself against the tree trunk, he blended into the darkness.

One step, two steps...

Fang Xing silently counted the distance.

When fewer than seven steps remained, he sprang into action!

His saber cleaved through the air!

The blade's tip gleamed coldly as it shot forward like a venomous snake in the darkness, fast as lightning.

One saber strike, dazzling as a startled swan!

With a soft thunk, the sharp blade pierced the figure's chest.

His already pale face turned deathly white.

The thick stench of blood filled the air.

Agony surged through him!

He struggled to lower his head and look at the blade piercing his body. His throat burned, and blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

But in that instant, a hand shot out like a ghost, seized his neck, and twisted!

With a crack, his expression froze forever.

Fang Xing pulled out his saber, and the figure crumpled to the ground, blood pooling beneath him.

Under the moonlight, a pale face lay on the cold ground, eyes wide open.

Fang Xing looked at the corpse. As his gaze fell on it, a wisp of crimson light appeared and sank into his body.

Fang Xing instinctively checked the Crimson Panel.

Name: Fang Xing

Cultivation: Dark Force

Enhancement Level: One Star (22%)

Enhancement Points: 54

"Fifty points..."

"Feels good!"

Seeing his Enhancement Points soar, Fang Xing smiled faintly. He looked toward the temple wall, hoping a few more would come his way.

If a Bright Force martial artist was worth fifty points, how many would a Dark Force martial artist be worth?

The thought flashed through his mind. Fang Xing snapped back to attention and immediately dragged the corpse into the woods.

Then he resumed his watch.

The silent Lingyuan Temple was pierced by the sound of fighting.

Fang Xing didn't act rashly. He stayed at his post.

The inside of the temple was Shen Ye's responsibility.

Their job was to take care of any fish that slipped through the net!

If he ruined Shen Ye's plan, he couldn't bear the consequences.

As long as no one escaped from the area he was guarding, that was all that mattered.

The night's silence over Lingyuan Temple shattered.

Two figures fought in the temple courtyard.

An invisible wave of energy surged around them.

"Bang!"

A muffled sound rang out, and the two figures were thrown backward.

One of them was Shen Ye.

The other was a white-bearded monk.

Shen Ye's expression was cold, his body surrounded by a vast aura. Blood trickled from the white-bearded monk's mouth, and his face was pale.

"Heh. The Heavenly Supervision Bureau really is impressive. But you're alone, and you won't be leaving today." The white-bearded monk's eyes were icy as he broke into a chilling smile.

"Come out!"

The white-bearded monk barked.

Several monks wielding long staffs stepped out of the night and formed a battle formation around Shen Ye.

"Form ranks! Kill him!" The white-bearded monk grinned viciously. The monks charged at once, their staffs tearing through the air as if they could rip it apart.

"A bunch of rats hiding in the dark think they can turn the world upside down? Dream on!"

A cold voice rang out. As the words left Shen Ye's mouth, blue light gathered around him.

The temperature in the air plummeted.

"Whoosh—!"

Before the staffs could fall, his figure vanished.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

In the next instant, several monks were blasted backward, coughing blood. Their staffs snapped and crashed heavily to the ground.

The white-bearded monk's pupils contracted. Red light spread between his palms.

A red palm print shot toward Shen Ye.

The air seemed to scorch and blacken.

Shen Ye's expression remained unchanged. Blue light gathered in his palm, and a bone-chilling aura burst forth as he met the attack.

"Boom!"

A muffled sound rang out as the two figures collided, and a powerful shockwave swept through the area.

"Pfft..."

The white-bearded monk was thrown back several yards and spat out another mouthful of blood.

"Old man, it's time to end this."

A chilling voice drifted over, and a pale blade of light slashed toward the white-bearded monk.

The blade of light came at him.

The white-bearded monk's expression changed drastically. He dodged at once, but he was still a step too slow.

"Pfft—!"

Blood spurted as an arm flew through the air and landed on the ground.

"Ugh...!"

The white-bearded monk's face turned pale. He groaned as he watched Shen Ye charge at him again, then immediately hurled a black bead.

"Boom!!!"

A deafening blast erupted. Thick dust rose, and the entire temple shook.

The ground blew apart. Billowing smoke swallowed Shen Lang's figure.

The white-bearded monk vanished into the smoke.

Shen Ye emerged from the dust, covered in grime. His expression darkened as he looked in one direction, his gaze icy. Then he darted away and disappeared.

"That was a huge commotion."

Hearing the explosion from Lingyuan Temple, Fang Xing was startled.

Had they used gunpowder inside the temple?!

That blast had been earth-shaking!

Silent until it erupted, then shaking the heavens!

Looking at the tall temple wall, Fang Xing badly wanted to see what had happened.

A clash between Transformation Force experts!

That was a rare sight.

"The one who fought Shen Ye must have been the abbot of Lingyuan Temple."

Although Fang Xing hadn't seen what was happening inside the temple, he could make a reasonable guess.

The dossier clearly stated that the temple's abbot was a genuine Transformation Force expert.

He was one of the top figures in Qingshan County.

He was also the leader of the Fire Worship Cult's local outpost.

"Hmm?"

"He's here!"

Just as Fang Xing was waiting expectantly, a figure vaulted over the temple wall.

He immediately tensed, the Demon Subduing Force in his body ready to erupt.

The figure scrambled over the wall and hurried toward him.

"He's badly injured. Perfect, another chance."

Fang Xing's eyes shone as he gauged the distance.

When the figure came within ten steps, Fang Xing vanished in an instant.

His saber cleaved through the air, thrusting out like lightning.

"Pfft—!"

The sharp blade pierced the figure's body, and blood welled up!

But in that instant, the figure he had stabbed suddenly spun around and thrust out a hand.

It was as fast as lightning, terrifying force surging toward him.

"Not good!"

Sensing the danger, Fang Xing's scalp prickled. He twisted sideways, and the powerful force grazed past him.

With a blast, a one-foot-thick slab of bluestone shattered into powder.