Cross-Border Mission: Kill Rob

Before they even drew near, several arrogant, brutal shouts rang out.

"Anyone uninvolved, get the hell out! The Sand Mercenary Group is conducting business! If you don't want to die, get the fuck out of here!"

At the sight of the vicious-looking mercenaries, the quick-witted shopkeepers along both sides of the street immediately shut their doors tight.

The passing pedestrians also hurriedly retreated far away. After all, the middle-aged man surrounded by dozens of aggressive mercenaries was none other than Rob, Stone Desert City's renowned Da Dou Shi.

Rob drove the massive mountain-cleaving saber resting on his shoulder into the ground. At once, a crack burst across the street tiles.

The cold gleam of the blade illuminated the pale faces around it, and those people quickly backed away in fear.

The Sand Mercenary Group could practically be considered Stone Desert City's number one mercenary group. Its tremendous reputation had almost entirely been upheld by Rob alone.

That murderous mountain-cleaving saber of his had long shaken the region. Few dared meet its edge; its fearsome reputation had been forged with blood and lives, and no one knew how many bloody heads it had severed.

"Heh, that brat killed Mo Xing. He's probably at the Dou Master level too. Too bad the captain is personally taking action. No way he'll last long before becoming another ghost beneath the blade."

"Hmph, he was courting death to begin with. How could the Sand Mercenary Group be so easily provoked? Once we slaughter him, we'll hang his head from the banner and spread the Sand Mercenary Group's prestige."

"It's been a long time since we last saw the captain fight personally. How long do you think that brat can hold out?"

"I bet his head will be rolling on the ground within ten exchanges."

The Sand Mercenary Group members swiftly retreated a great distance, afraid that they might accidentally be caught in the battle's aftermath.

That would truly be a disaster falling from the sky, leaving them nowhere to cry.

Rob first looked at Qing Lin beside Mu Chen. A flash of delight passed covertly through his eyes, but he controlled his expression well and immediately put on a vicious look.

"Hmph, brat, Mo Xing acted under my orders and even used my name. Yet you dared kill him. Are you saying you don't hold me in any regard?" Rob said savagely, one hand gripping his saber hilt while the other pointed at Mu Chen. His aging eyes were filled with sharp malice.

The Sand Mercenary Group was a mixed bag. Aside from himself, a four-star Da Dou Shi, Mo Xing had been the only Dou Master and the second-in-command. But now he was dead.

If conflicts arose with other mercenary groups in the future, would he have to rely on a bunch of Dou Zhe subordinates and end up with no one useful to call upon? He could not possibly handle every matter personally as the captain.

More importantly, there was the opinion of outsiders. Mo Xing, his subordinate, had had his head chopped off. If he, the captain, did not publicly execute the murderer, how could he command respect? Others might even secretly mock Rob for being old and useless.

"How ridiculous. Why should I hold you in any regard?" Mu Chen glanced sideways at Rob. This man really thought far too highly of himself.

"I hadn't even gone to your mercenary group to find you, yet you delivered yourself right to my doorstep."

Mu Chen gently patted Qing Lin's little head and smiled. "Little Qing Lin, a fight's about to start. Move back a little. Don't worry about me—watch me beat them flat."

Qing Lin obediently nodded, then retreated to the side of a stall and crouched down. Her bright, watery eyes watched Mu Chen anxiously.

Then she gathered her courage, raised her little fist high, and cheered, "Go, Young Master!"

Seeing Mu Chen's actions, Rob was first stunned. Then a cold expression crossed his face, and his eye twitched as he said with a mocking smile, "Brat, you've got guts. No wonder you dared kill Mo Xing.

"But judging by you, are you planning to kill all of us?"

Mu Chen bared his teeth, a dangerous curve forming at the corner of his lips. His smile was icy as he first looked at Rob, who had revealed his aura, then at the dozens of mercenaries behind him.

He licked his lips and said in a dry voice thick with killing intent, "Congratulations. You got it right."

"Brat, you're arrogant. You're nothing more than a mere Dou Master, yet you dare act so wildly. No wonder you had the nerve to kill my subordinate, but you've let your pride get the better of you.

"You should know that standing before you is a Da Dou Shi!"

As he spoke, Dou Qi surged from Rob's body and gathered over his surface before countless envious gazes, forming a suit of earth-yellow Dou Qi Armor.

Unlike that useless Ha Lang, the Dou Qi Armor on Rob's body was extremely solid, almost like real armor. It gleamed with a metallic sheen, with wisps of Dou Qi woven across its surface, giving off an imposing and domineering presence.

A grave look appeared in Mu Chen's eyes. Though he had spoken contemptuously, he knew full well that Rob was absolutely a troublesome opponent.

Rob's Dou Qi possessed the rare Earth-Rock Attribute. This kind of Dou Qi had always been known for its powerful defense and unceasing endurance. In the original story, Rob had even survived a simplified version of the Furious Buddha Lotus.

Mu Chen drew in a breath of dry air mixed with dust and sand. His eyes turned cold as both hands reached behind his back.

Clang! Clang!

The blades left their sheaths, and two black swords glowing with a chilling light appeared in Mu Chen's hands. He slightly raised his palms, and the pitch-black sword bodies reflected all the sunlight falling from the sky.

The reflected light shone upon Rob's face, where rapid breathing, astonishment, and greed were all plainly visible.

Rob glanced at the mountain-cleaving saber that had accompanied him through countless battles and instantly found it far less appealing.

Compared to the weapons in that brat's hands, this is nothing but scrap metal.

Mo Xing's death was worth it after all. I happened to encounter this brat, and once I obtain those two divine swords in his hands, my strength will rise another level.

Just as Mu Chen shifted his feet slightly, the system's voice sounded in his mind.

"Detected that the host is about to engage in a cross-realm battle. Mission triggered: kill four-star Da Dou Shi Rob.

"Reward: Flame Luminary Transformation."

Mu Chen was stunned. This was already the second time the system had suddenly issued a mission. He muttered softly, "Uh, there's actually something this good? 'Flame Luminary Transformation'! It sounds like some kind of secret technique.

"I've fought a cross-realm battle before, haven't I? Damn... Ha Lang must have been too useless. The system probably didn't even count him as a Da Dou Shi," Mu Chen complained inwardly.

"Hahaha, brat, you actually possess weapons like these! Too bad—they'll soon be mine."

Rob burst into laughter, gripping his mountain-cleaving saber in reverse. He stomped down, and his seemingly clumsy body instantly shot forward.

The broad blade in his hand dragged across the ground as he moved, scattering a trail of sparks.

"Not a bad idea, but I'm sorry. I have to take your life today."

Mu Chen had intended to kill Rob from the start and eliminate any future trouble. The system's mission only deepened his desire to kill Rob; at this moment, Rob looked to Mu Chen like a secret technique scroll that could run around on its own.

Seeing Rob charge at him with killing intent, Mu Chen thrust forward the black sword in his hand, a cold smile tugging at his lips. Then, like an arrow loosed from the bowstring, he shot toward Rob as well.

While still in mid-charge, veils of Fire Attribute and wood-attribute Dou Qi emerged over his body. Those almost-solidified veils made the watching mercenaries gasp.

Even they could see that Mu Chen's Dou Qi Veil would definitely become armor with just one more step forward. The men who had shouted that Mu Chen would not last ten exchanges all fell silent.

"You've got guts, but I'm a Da Dou Shi. You're destined to die by my hand."

Rob laughed loudly, a cruel expression appearing on his face. The saber in his hand spun at high speed, and several Dou Qi blade lights flashed out, reaching Mu Chen in the blink of an eye.

Dou Qi projection! A technique exclusive to Da Dou Shi.

Mu Chen glanced slightly to the side, yet neither dodged nor avoided. The Inkshadow Twin Swords in his hands, already dyed deep yellow by Fire Attribute Dou Qi, slashed out dozens of times in rapid succession.

The sharp blades collided head-on with the saber lights, producing a rapid series of metallic clangs. The several blade lights were forcefully shattered beneath Mu Chen's dense barrage of strikes.

"What's so great about a Da Dou Shi? It's not like I haven't killed one before!"