1003: Chapter 102 Shadow Guards!

At the same time, the surrounding space rippled like a calm lake disturbed by a pebble.

Four figures, entirely shrouded in darkness, appeared silently at some unknown moment, surrounding Li Wuji.

It was one of them who spoke; the person was like a ghost, their gaze as sharp as a blade, appearing ready to strike at any moment, while the other three were also poised for action!

"Shadow Guards of the Black Cloud Empire? Such concealment techniques are indeed worthy of their reputation!"

Rumor had it that there were fewer than a thousand Shadow Guards, but every single one was a powerhouse above the Fourth Order, possessing extraordinary strength.

On the surface, Li Wuji's expression remained unchanged, but in his heart, he couldn't help but feel a bit surprised.

This was because all four of them were at the Fourth Order, with the leader being a powerhouse at the Fourth Order Late Stage, even stronger than most of the Star Envoys on the planets along the way.

"Since Your Excellency knows of us, then surrender peacefully. Once everything is investigated, my Black Cloud Empire will make its decision and provide Your Excellency with an explanation!"

Hei Ce, the captain in the lead, suddenly unleashed his aura. A powerful pressure bore down on Li Wuji. They had to investigate any outsider who entered the Black Cloud Empire without authorization, no matter who they were!

"Hehe, and what if I refuse?"

Before Li Wuji's voice even faded, his figure instantly vanished from where he stood. The pupils of Hei Ce and the other three Shadow Guard members suddenly constricted.

For they actually couldn't track his movements. One had to know that this was their specialty, yet they were now far inferior to the man before them.

Hei Ce's pressure instantly intensified, but he did not panic; instead, he immediately released a thick shroud of black Qi to defend himself.

"Watch out!"

Hei Ce's warning blurted out, but it was already half a beat too late.

The Shadow Guard chosen as Li Wuji's target felt a chill at his back as an irresistible devouring force instantly seized all his life force and energy.

He even lacked the time to make any reaction as his body withered at a visible rate. The vast Darkness Dao Mark surged into Li Wuji's body like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea.

Li Wuji's palm, like the sharpest blade, easily pierced through the defense the guard had hurriedly condensed, emerging from his chest.

"Puchi—"

The faint sound was almost inaudible in the deathly silent starry sky, yet it struck heavily against the hearts of the remaining three Shadow Guards.

A powerful Fourth Order comrade had been killed in a single encounter, unable to put up even a decent resistance!

"Bastard!"

Hei Ce's eyes nearly split from rage, filled with both shock and fury.

He was shocked that the opponent's strength far exceeded their estimates and that his methods were so bizarre and ruthless.

He was furious that the opponent dared to openly kill an elite Shadow Guard of the Empire near its core Star Domain!

But as an experienced captain, he knew he couldn't let himself get flustered now.

While shouting his warning, he unhesitatingly crushed a pitch-black rune hidden in his sleeve.

An invisible ripple instantly crossed through space, traveling toward the depths of the Empire at speeds exceeding light—the highest-level distress signal had been sent!

"Form the array! Trap him! Reinforcements will arrive in an instant!"

Hei Ce roared, the black Qi around him surging and transforming into countless tough tentacles that coiled toward Li Wuji.

The other two Shadow Guards also reacted instantly, suppressing their fear of their companion's sudden death. Their figures flickered as they formed a triangular encirclement with Hei Ce.

Their powers linked together, and a massive net composed of pure dark energy suddenly appeared. Runes flickered between the meshes, emitting an aura of imprisonment and corrosion as it descended toward Li Wuji.

This "Shadow Heavens-Prison Array" was a combined attack secret technique of the Shadow Guards. Once formed, it was enough to trap a Fourth Order Peak powerhouse for a moment.

They didn't seek to wound the enemy, only to delay him and wait for the arrival of the Empire's stronger experts.

However, faced with this combined attack that would make experts of the same rank turn pale, Li Wuji didn't show the slightest panic. Instead, a meaningful curve tugged at the corner of his mouth.

He had just absorbed and refined the power of a Fourth Order Shadow Guard. Besides boosting himself, it was also to obtain more detailed information about the Black Cloud Empire.

As for the desperate struggle of these three, in his eyes, they were nothing more than sharpening stones delivered to his doorstep.

"Well come!"

Li Wuji laughed heartily and, without dodging, proactively met the massive dark net.

His aura was restrained, showing no grand display of power, but with every movement, space itself slightly distorted.

He pressed his fingers together like a sword, a speck of faint light condensing at the tip. The light wasn't dazzling, but it possessed an extreme sharpness capable of piercing all things and shattering all laws.

"Chila—!"

Like a hot knife through butter, the seemingly indestructible net of dark energy was easily sliced open with a massive gash by Li Wuji's finger-sword.

The dark energy forming the net seemed to have met its nemesis, emitting a "zizi" wail as it rapidly dissipated.

"What?!"

The faces of Hei Ce and the other two changed drastically. Their combined attack was actually so fragile?

Furthermore, the aura Li Wuji displayed during the battle was only at the Fourth Order Middle Stage, yet his combat strength was this formidable.

"Who exactly are you? With your strength, it's impossible for the Shadow Guards to have no information on you!"

But no one answered Hei Ce's question. Having broken through the blockade, Li Wuji turned into a streak of light, moving at extreme speed and appearing directly in front of the Shadow Guard on the left.

That Shadow Guard reacted extremely quickly, crossing his arms as dark energy condensed into a thick shield before him.

"Shadow Shield!"

Li Wuji's eyes were indifferent as he delivered another simple hand-blade strike.

"Kacha!"

Shield shattered! Man dead!

After the hand-blade shattered the Shadow Shield, its momentum remained undiminished as it sliced right through the Shadow Guard's body.

The horror in the latter's eyes froze as his body, along with the energy core inside, was split in two!

Before the dissipating energy could explode, it was drawn into Li Wuji's palm like a whale swallowing water.

In the blink of an eye, another was slain!

Now, only Hei Ce and the last Shadow Guard remained on the field.

Looking at the invincible, demon-god-like Li Wuji, the sole surviving Shadow Guard finally showed a hint of despair, yet he did not retreat in the slightest.

"Captain, you go first...!"

Before he could finish, Hei Ce interrupted him with a roar.

"You retreat first!"

He knew the battle was lost, but the pride of the Empire's Shadow Guards did not allow him to back down.

The strength of the enemy before them could not be measured by his surface aura; if they stayed any longer, their entire squad would surely be wiped out!

He immediately burned his essence blood, causing his aura to skyrocket to the Fourth Order Peak. He turned into a pitch-black meteor, carrying a will for certain death as he charged at Li Wuji, attempting to create a slim chance of survival for his companion.

Otherwise, they wouldn't even be able to send out a shred of information about the enemy, which would be a total disgrace to the Shadow Guards!

"Commendable courage, but unfortunately... it's meaningless."

Li Wuji shook his head slightly. Facing Hei Ce's life-risking strike, he raised his right hand for the first time, fingers slightly spread, and then gently clenched them.

Boom!

The surrounding space seemed to freeze instantly. Hei Ce felt as if he had fallen into an invisible quagmire, his speed plummeting.

Immediately after, a giant hand composed of pure energy appeared out of thin air, clutching him firmly in its palm.

"Ugh... ah..."