170: A thrilling battle, with a hidden predator lurking behind.

Li Yao laughed proudly.

The look in his eyes when he saw Chen Yang was like looking at a dead man!

Chen Yang's heart sank!

A strong sense of crisis enveloped him.

Could it be... this was a conspiracy?

Kidnapping Bai Yuyan was just a cover.

Killing him... was the final goal.

Killing two birds with one stone?

Chen Yang subconsciously glanced around.

His nerves were stretched to the limit.

Whoosh!

Li Yao's punch came crashing over, fast and fierce!

This brat, he was truly cunning!

Launching a sneak attack!

Chen Yang hastily blocked.

One Palm Shatters the Heart.

It landed squarely on Li Yao's fist.

“Ugh!”

Li Yao groaned, his bones throbbing with pain.

He had suffered a hidden loss.

This reminded him of their last match.

Chen Yang had used this kind of strange palm technique to repeatedly injure his bones and muscles.

He had been forced to admit defeat.

Hmph!

This time.

It wasn't a fair match!

Li Yao was full of confidence.

While attacking, he shouted loudly.

“Guards!”

“Seize Bai Yuyan!”

“If Chen Yang moves even slightly, slash Bai Yuyan across the face.”

Hearing this.

Chen Yang and Bai Yuyan were simultaneously shocked!

This brat, he was truly insidious!

If he succeeded, it would be troublesome!

At that point, with Bai Yuyan in his hands, Chen Yang would be restrained by fear, so how could he fight?

Swish!

A cold light flashed.

Without knowing when, a long Japanese katana appeared in Li Yao’s hand.

He viciously stabbed it toward Chen Yang’s chest.

Chen Yang's pupils contracted sharply!

He didn't even have time to use Heaven-Treading Steps.

He instinctively twisted his waist to dodge.

Poof!

The clothes around his waist were sliced open.

The blade cut across the soft flesh of his waist, leaving a shallow wound.

Blood seeped out.

Blood droplets fell!

“Ah!”

Bai Yuyan saw this scene.

She screamed in fright.

“Brother Yang, are you... alright?”

Chen Yang lowered his head and touched the bloodstain.

He felt a chill beneath his ribs.

A cold feeling rose in his heart!

Holy crap!

Li Yao, this spy for the little devils.

Not only was his boxing skill impressive, but his Japanese blade technique was even more masterful.

If he wasn't careful, I might die right here!

He used Heaven-Treading Steps.

He carefully guarded against this son-of-a-bitch's sneak attack.

In his mind, however, he was summoning the system.

“Upgrade Star Plucking Hand, Heart-Shattering Life-Taking.”

[Ding!]

[The system detected that the host possesses 410 points.]

[You may consume 400 points to upgrade Heart-Shattering Life-Taking to Level 4: Perfected State.]

[Do you wish to upgrade?]

Huh!?!

Only 410 points?

Chen Yang had always been extremely frugal.

He was afraid that at a critical moment, he would want to use points but wouldn't have any.

Now was an emergency.

Fortunately, it was barely enough.

Otherwise, this would be the final episode.

The protagonist dies, and the show ends!

“Upgrade!”

His life was paramount.

No matter how stingy Chen Yang was, he had to spend it!

[Ding!]

[400 points consumed. "Heart-Shattering Life-Taking" upgraded to Level 4, Perfected State.]

[Reached Master Level!]

[Current remaining points: 10 points.]

In less than 0.000001 seconds, Chen Yang felt his whole body tremble.

One Palm Shatters the Heart.

He had new insights and new changes!

He wondered.

What level had his current strength reached?

“View personal information panel.”

...

[host name] Chen Yang

[Host Age] 22 years old

[Theoretical Lifespan] 120 years old

[system level] Level 2 (3 pieces of intelligence triggered yesterday + 1 piece of intelligence triggered today)

[Life Skills] Soul-Captivating Hand (Level 4 - Perfected), God-Level Driving (Level 3 - Proficient)

Beast Language (Level 4 - Perfected), Languages of All Nations (Level 4 - Perfected)

Sharpshooter (Level 4 - Perfected), Marvelous Brushwork (Level 1 - Beginner)

[Special Skills] Portable Space (Level 3 - 10-meter cube)

Golden Eyes (Level 1 - Scan Range: 1 meter)

Secret Sound Transmission (Level 4 - Transmission Range: 30 meters)

[Combat Techniques] Combat Technique (Level 4 - Perfected)

Empty Hand Skill (Level 4 - Perfected, Shadowless and Formless)

Heart-Shattering Life-Taking (Level 4 - Perfected, One Palm Shatters the Heart)

Star Plucking and Moon Grasping (Level 1 - Beginner, Dragon Capturing and Tiger Binding)

Heaven-Treading Steps (Level 2 - Minor Accomplishment, Grass Skimming)

[Cultivation Secret Arts] None

[combat power level] High-Ranked Soldier King (Speed Essence Liquid)

[strength evaluation] Relying on Star Plucking Hand and Heaven-Treading Steps, he can barely resist a Beginner Bright Martial Artist

...

Beginner Bright Martial Artist?

Chen Yang was extremely satisfied!

Although it was just barely resisting, the gap between each major level was enormous.

Crossing from the War General Level to the Bright Martial Artist tier.

Many people could never achieve this in their entire lives.

Yet Chen Yang could easily reach it.

His actual combat power.

He finally achieved a qualitative leap.

He believed the threat before him could no longer be considered much of a threat.

Glancing at Li Yao opposite him.

Chen Yang gave a faint smile.

Taking a step, he proactively attacked.

With the blade in hand, Li Yao’s momentum was soaring, suppressing Chen Yang.

Seeing him foolishly offer himself up, Li Yao smiled.

“Die!”

The long blade chopped down vertically, carrying immense power.

It swept toward him with a gale force.

Chen Yang lowered his body.

He slipped through the gap.

With a backhand strike, he slammed a palm onto Li Yao’s ribs.

Crack!

“Ouch!”

Li Yao clutched his waist; one of his ribs had already been shattered by the shock.

Chen Yang was secretly pleased.

The Master Level One Palm Shatters the Heart was truly extraordinary.

Not only was the speed faster and the angle more tricky, but the destructive power was subtly devastating, making it unbearable.

Forget bones.

Even a piece of steel could have internal cracks vibrated into it!

Li Yao was sweating profusely from the pain.

He couldn't understand.

Just now, Chen Yang wasn't his opponent and was being suppressed.

How did he suddenly become so powerful?

Could it be... he was pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger all along?

Trying to lure me in?

Damn it!

This brat doesn't look like a good person!

He's always scheming against me!

Li Yao's eyes darted around wildly.

But Chen Yang didn't give him any chance.

Heaven-Treading Steps rushed forward, suppressing him with attacks.

In less than three minutes, Li Yao had five broken ribs and had taken a palm strike to the back.

If it weren't for his profound strength, having reached the peak of Advanced War General, those few strikes might have taken his life.

However, Li Yao was not having an easy time now either.

The hand holding the Japanese katana had begun to tremble.

His steps were unsteady.

He was at the end of his rope and could collapse at any moment.

Chen Yang felt completely settled.

“Li Yao, drop the blade.”

“I can temporarily spare your life...”

Swish!

Swish!

Swish!

Three hidden weapons shot in through the window.

They were aimed separately at Chen Yang’s glabella, throat, and heart.

The speed was astonishing!

In the blink of an eye, they were already one meter in front of Chen Yang.

The dense blue-green light made people feel a shock in their hearts!

These were poisoned hidden weapons.

They killed upon drawing blood!

Swish!

Chen Yang’s hair stood on end.

All the muscles in his body instantly tightened.

The fear of death stimulated every nerve.

Adrenaline surged!

Heaven-Treading Steps was like a stroke of genius.

With a slight movement, he narrowly avoided the three hidden weapons.

At this moment, Chen Yang had no time for joy.

Heaven-Treading Steps had clearly broken through.

Although it hadn't crossed from the first realm, “Grass Skimming,” to the second realm, “Water Walking,” it had reached the peak of the Level 2 Minor Accomplishment realm.

“Who is it?”

Chen Yang used Dragon Capturing and Tiger Binding, flipping Li Yao onto the ground.

Clang!

The long blade fell to the floor, and Li Yao curled into a ball.

He had completely lost the ability to fight.

With a fish leap, Chen Yang slipped out through the window.

The person who released the hidden weapons was an expert; if he didn't kill or drive them away, they would always be a threat.

An enemy hiding in the dark is always more threatening and worrisome than an enemy in the open.

He saw a dark shadow in the distance, flashing away.

“Holy crap!”

“He runs quite fast!”

Chen Yang’s tightly strung nerves relaxed.

“Ah!”

A sudden cry of surprise came from the room!

Oh no!

It was Bai Yuyan!