68: Chapter 68 Shadow Assassination Technique

Holding a soft sword, the tip pointing diagonally to the ground, he forced his way forward step by step. His movements seemed somewhat sluggish due to the paralyzing incense, but every step was filled with rhythm, sealing off all possible escape routes for Gao Feng.

Although the sneak attack failed to kill with one blow, his Face was filled with the confidence of a cat playing with a mouse.

Because he could see that Gao Feng was already injured, and not lightly.

And although he himself had been affected by the paralyzing incense, his hands and feet were somewhat weak and his combat capability was discounted, but in his view, dealing with a heavily injured person was still more than enough!

However, he miscalculated one point.

What he was facing was not an ordinary Martial Artist who would be dominated by pain and fear.

But a true Special Forces King who had crawled out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood!

Injury would only stimulate Gao Feng's most primitive and terrifying ferocity!

"Want to kill me?"

Gao Feng sneered and completely gave up on any reservations or probing.

He violently pulled out the short blade from behind his back, and a violent and ferocious aura erupted from him like a volcano!

Facing the enemy pressing in step by step, Gao Feng did not retreat but advanced, roaring, the short blade in his hand whistling as it tore through the air, like a fierce tiger descending from the mountain, slashing straight down!

He was actually going to attack with an attack, meeting hardness with hardness!

A flash of surprise appeared in Liu Chongshan's eyes.

As a killer who had wandered on the edge of life and death for many years, he had seen reckless men who were not afraid of death, but he had rarely seen someone who dared to launch such a crazy counterattack in such a disadvantageous position!

But he was, after all, an experienced killer. Facing this fierce and unparalleled strike, he did not block it head-on. With a flick of his wrist, the soft sword moved like a spirit snake flicking its tongue, drawing a strange arc, and precisely pointed at Gao Feng's wrist holding the blade!

Besieging Wei to rescue Zhao, attacking the enemy where they must save!

However, how could Gao Feng's combat wisdom be compared to an ordinary person's!

He seemed to have anticipated that the opponent would use this Move long ago. The momentum of his slash did not diminish, but his left hand reached out like lightning, actually grabbing directly at the soft and deadly sword body!

Using a flesh and blood body to hard-resist a divine weapon?!

A flash of horror and confusion appeared in Liu Chongshan's eyes. He had never seen such a crazy, such a death-defying fighting style!

Subconsciously, he wanted to change his Move and retreat. He made a living by assassination, and the thing he feared most was fighting someone head-on.

But it was too late!

Gao Feng's ruthlessness exceeded his imagination!

With a "chi" sound, Gao Feng's left hand was cut by the sword blade, creating a wound deep to the bone, but he forcefully clamped the sword body with his muscles, causing the soft sword's momentum to stall!

And this momentary pause was enough for him!

His short blade, carrying the momentum of thunder, had fiercely slashed into Liu Chongshan's left shoulder!

"Crack!"

The crisp sound of bone breaking was clearly audible!

Liu Chongshan let out a muffled groan, and his entire left arm hung down limply!

In one Move, both sides were injured!

"Madman!"

Liu Chongshan was both shocked and angry, enduring the severe pain to leap backwards.

He finally understood that what he was facing was not prey, but a prehistoric Vicious Beast that became even more violent after being injured!

He no longer had any contempt, and his eyes became extremely solemn.

Holding the sword in his right hand, his figure became erratic, like a ghost, quickly circling Gao Feng, looking for an opportunity for a fatal strike.

Gao Feng was not having an easy time either; the injury on his left hand was more serious than his shoulder, dripping with blood.

But he just breathed heavily, his eyes locked tightly on his opponent, like a hunting tiger.

He knew that what they were competing on now was not just strength, but willpower!

Whoever couldn't hold on first would die!

The two confronted each other for a moment and moved almost simultaneously!

Liu Chongshan's figure turned into a wisp of green smoke, and the soft sword in his hand shook out a sky full of sword shadows, virtual and real, covering all the vital points of Gao Feng's body!

And Gao Feng abandoned all defense, pouring all his power into the short blade in his hand, executing the most domineering Move "River-Turning and Sea-Overturning" from the Flood Dragon Overturning Sea Saber Technique, and his whole person, along with his weapon, turned into a death tornado, crushing straight towards the densest area of the sword shadows!

No technique, no dodging!

This was the purest collision of power and willpower!

"Ding ding dang dang!"

A series of dense metal clashing sounds rang out, and sparks flew everywhere!

Finally, a dull sound like a beating drum!

"Bang!!"

The blade broke through all the sword shadows and slammed fiercely into Liu Chongshan's chest!

Liu Chongshan's chest visibly caved in.

The horror on his Face solidified forever.

The soft sword in his hand also fell powerlessly to the ground.

Even in death, he could not understand.

Why was this prey, who seemed to have been completely calculated by him, even more ruthless, crazier, and more fearless of death than he, the killer, was!

Watching the slowly falling corpse, Gao Feng couldn't help but kneel on one knee, gasping for air.

The wounds on his body burned with pain; that desperate strike just now had almost exhausted all his strength.

But he dared not stop for a moment. Enduring the severe pain, he immediately stepped forward and began to search the corpse.

Soon, he found a barely perceptible seam on the other's Face.

He reached out his hand and peeled it gently, and a human skin mask as thin as a cicada's wing and incredibly lifelike was peeled off!

Under the mask was a completely unfamiliar young Face!

Although this Face could be considered handsome, the eyes were as sinister and vicious as a poisonous snake.

It was somewhat similar to the "Thousand-Faced Thief" with lively eyes in Yan Beigui's portrait, but upon closer inspection, it was completely different!

Gao Feng's heart sank, and he immediately realized that things were even more complicated than he had imagined!

He searched for a while and found a secret compartment under the bed in the room.

Opening the secret compartment, a few things were lying quietly inside.

A set of neatly folded green tight-fitting clothes, a cold token made of unknown metal, with two ancient seal characters engraved on it—"Ghost Thirteen".

And a primitive Secret Manual with a yellowed cover!

On the cover of the Secret Manual, five large characters full of killing aura were written in a dragon-flying and phoenix-dancing style—"Shadow Assassination Art"!

Gao Feng opened the Secret Manual and just took a few rough glances, and his heart was shaken!

This Secret Manual was extremely complete, containing a detailed record of a complete Legacy including movement techniques, footwork, breath-holding methods, and a set of extremely strange short-blade assassination techniques!

According to the description in the Secret Manual, this was actually a top-tier assassination wonder technique that could be cultivated up to the Late Stage of the Fourth Tier!

If practiced to Major Achievement, with surprise tactics, it could even threaten Fifth Tier experts!

Green Clothes Tower!

A legendary name instantly appeared in Gao Feng's mind!

This was the most mysterious and fearsome killer organization in the Jianghu!

This so-called Flying Dragon Gang leader Liu Chongshan was actually a killer from the Green Clothes Tower!

He was lurking in this small Qinghe County, and it was definitely not as simple as being a Gang leader!

A huge sense of crisis, as if a storm was about to arrive, instantly enveloped Gao Feng's entire body!

Trouble!

Huge trouble!

Only these two words remained in Gao Feng's mind.

He had no doubt that once the people from the Green Clothes Tower knew that he had killed their killer and taken their Secret Manual.

What awaited him would be endless pursuit, and the kind that would not stop until death!

He dared not delay at all.

He took the set of green tight-fitting clothes, the token, the Secret Manual, and the soft sword, and put them all away.

Then, he took out a fire starter from his bosom.

He set fire to this bedroom filled with conspiracy and the aura of death.

The raging flames instantly swallowed everything and covered up all traces of his visit.

Taking advantage of the fire and the chaos, he left the Flying Dragon Gang headquarters quietly.

He did not return to the Golden Sand Gang, but left Qinghe County overnight.

This place of right and wrong, he did not want to stay for even a moment longer.

The next day.

The news that the Flying Dragon Gang headquarters had been burned and the leader Liu Chongshan had been buried in the sea of fire shocked the entire Qinghe County like a magnitude 12 earthquake!

Inside the Golden Sand Gang, everyone cheered, thinking it was Heaven opening its eyes, sending down heavenly fire to burn that wicked thief to death.

Only the leader Heavenly Hero and the Second-in-Command Sun Qian looked at each other, both seeing a trace of deep doubt and lingering fear in each other's eyes.

They thought of that man who had also mysteriously disappeared last night.

They were even more glad that they had not harbored any improper thoughts about that God of Killing back then.

And Silent, after learning that Gao Feng had left without saying goodbye, although his heart was full of loss.

But more than that, it was an infinite yearning for the strong.

He secretly vowed that he must become stronger!

In the future, like Mr. High, to be happy and vengeful, and to roam the Jianghu!

...

After leaving Qinghe County, Gao Feng did not rush on his journey.

He first found a hidden cave, entered the spirit spring space, and spent several days using the magical healing ability of the spirit spring water to completely heal the injuries on his body.

Although the battle with "Ghost Thirteen" was dangerous, it gave him a deeper understanding of the battle at the Late Stage of the Third Tier, and his Qi and blood seemed to have become more refined after breaking and then establishing.

Half a month later, he finally arrived at his destination—Hanyang City.

This state capital, towering on the banks of the Han River, was far more prosperous and magnificent than a small place like Qinghe County.

The towering city wall, ten zhang high, was built of huge green stone strips, covered with the traces of time from sword cuts and axe chisels, exuding a solemn and majestic atmosphere.

On the main street, wide enough to accommodate eight horses side by side, the crowd was like weaving, and the traffic was like a dragon.

The shops lining both sides, from restaurants and teahouses to silk and cloth shops, from weapon shops to medicinal herb stores, had everything one could expect to find.

The sounds of peddling, shouting, and rolling wheels were endless, forming a prosperous movement full of vitality and vigor.

Holding the letter of recommendation sent by Sun Qian via fast horse, Gao Feng very smoothly found the branch of the "Four Seas Merchant Guild" in Hanyang City.

It was a five-courtyard mansion occupying a vast area, with two mighty stone lions guarding the entrance.

Above the vermilion gate, a golden plaque with "Four Seas Branch" inscribed by a famous master was hung, highlighting its strong strength and status.

However, when Gao Feng handed over the letter of recommendation and explained his intention.

The middle-aged man who received him, dressed in silk and satin and looking like a steward, showed a look of undisguised contempt and impatience on his Face.

"Golden Sand Gang? A small Gang in Qinghe County?"

The steward curled his lips and threw the letter of recommendation casually on the table.

"Our Four Seas Merchant Guild is not a place that just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can enter."

"Looking at your sturdy build, how about this: the backyard is short a Menial Laborer for chopping firewood. If you're willing to stay, we'll pay you two taels of silver a month."

His words were filled with a condescending tone of charity.

Gao Feng's gaze instantly turned cold.

He finally understood that the bit of Face the Golden Sand Gang had was completely worthless here.

It seemed that if he wanted to be taken seriously, he would ultimately have to rely on his own fists.

Just then, a voice as crisp and melodious as an oriole in the valley, yet tinged with a lazy charm, drifted out from behind the screen.

"Steward Li, do not be rude."

"Since this gentleman came with a recommendation letter, he is a guest of our Four Seas Merchant Guild."

As the voice faded, a beautiful woman with a graceful figure and infinite charm slowly walked out from behind the screen.

She appeared to be only twenty-five or twenty-six years old, wearing a well-tailored purple brocade robe that accentuated her curvaceous and fiery figure to the fullest.

Her delicate, oval-shaped Face was adorned with elegant makeup.

A pair of peach-blossom eyes shimmered with a gaze that seemed to possess the magical power to bewitch souls.

She was none other than the true power holder of this Hanyang City branch, the Branch Master, Su Meiniang.

She was a widow.

A legendary woman who, despite her young age, relied on extraordinary methods and intelligence to firmly control this important branch of the Four Seas Merchant Guild.

Her gaze fell upon Gao Feng, sweeping over him from head to toe.

When she saw Gao Feng's mountain-like, upright stature and those deep eyes that remained as calm as an ancient well even when facing her,

a trace of imperceptible brilliance flashed in her eyes.

"How should I address this brave warrior?" she asked with a smile, her voice bone-meltingly seductive.

"Gao Feng."

"Brave Warrior High, you have traveled a long way; thank you for your efforts."

Su Meiniang covered her mouth and chuckled, "Steward Li has eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai; please don't take it to heart."

"Our Four Seas Merchant Guild has always judged talent solely by strength."

She changed the subject, seemingly offhandedly saying, "As it happens, our branch's head of the guard, Instructor Wang, has been complaining lately that his subordinates are not resilient and are quite weak."

"How about you and Instructor Wang have a casual spar?"

Gao Feng sneered inwardly, but on the surface, he nodded calmly.

"Very well."

Soon, the so-called Instructor Wang was brought over.

He was a burly man, as sturdy as an ox, with a Face full of flesh, and his cultivation was impressively at the Late Stage Third Rank.

Looking at Gao Feng, his eyes were filled with provocation and disdain.

"Kid, I heard you want to join our Four Seas Merchant Guild?"

"Take three of my punches first, then we'll talk!"

Before he finished speaking, he let out a sudden roar and threw a heavy, powerful cannon punch straight at Gao Feng's Face!

The surrounding merchant guild guards let out gloating laughter.

They were all waiting to see this ignorant outsider get beaten until his teeth were scattered all over the floor by Instructor Wang's punch.

However, facing this fierce punch, Gao Feng didn't even blink; he simply raised his hand.

Then, he struck after, yet arrived first.

Before anyone could react, he slapped Instructor Wang across the Face!

"Smack!" An incredibly crisp sound of a slap!

Instructor Wang's ox-like body spun three times on the spot like a kite with a broken string!

Then, with a "thud," he fell to the ground.

Half of his Face swelled up visibly, and blood mixed with a few broken teeth flowed from the corner of his mouth.

He had been slapped unconscious with a single blow!

The entire scene was deathly Silent!

Every Face was frozen with an expression of unbelievable shock!

Even Su Meiniang, in those charming peach-blossom eyes, flashed a hint of intense shock!

She knew Gao Feng wasn't simple, but she hadn't expected him to be this strong!

One Move! Just one Move! He had instantly defeated her most capable Late Stage Third Rank expert!

What on earth was this man's background?!

"Now, do I have the qualifications to join?" Gao Feng retracted his hand, asking in a flat tone as if he had just swatted a fly.

Su Meiniang was the first to react, her Face instantly filled with an even brighter and more sincere smile.

"Yes! Of course! With Brave Warrior High's strength, let alone joining, even serving as our Guest Elder is more than enough!"

Her attitude took a 180-degree turn instantly.

Gao Feng naturally accepted; he was hired as a Guest Elder of the merchant guild and stayed in a quiet courtyard in the back of the branch.

He was not in a hurry to take on any tasks, but instead used the excuse of going out to purchase supplies and familiarize himself with Hanyang City to begin his true objective.

Hanyang City was indeed a major provincial hub, and its abundance of resources far exceeded his imagination.

Gao Feng first went to the city's largest medicinal herb shop, "Hundred Herbs Hall," which not only had common medicinal herbs for healing but also many rare auxiliary herbs used for Alchemy.

He calmly spent a large sum of money to purchase, in batches, a large quantity of medicinal herb seeds, as well as a set of small Pill Furnace and jade pestles and other tools, preparing to bring them back to Panshi Stockade for Uncle Sun to try, and also to prepare for his own future study of Alchemy.

Subsequently, he wandered through all the major bookstores and general stores in the city, buying a map of the world that was a hundred times more detailed than the one in Qinghe County, as well as a large amount of miscellaneous notes and rumors about the local customs and Martial Forest powers of various places.

This information would allow him to have a deeper and more macroscopic understanding of this world.

During this time, Su Meiniang was very attentive to him, often sending people to deliver precious supplements or inviting him for a few drinks under the guise of discussing business, with a hint of subtle flirtation always present in her words.

Gao Feng was well aware of this; this woman was casting a long line to catch a big fish. He didn't expose her, but remained neither humble nor arrogant, playing along and maintaining a delicate balance.

One afternoon, Gao Feng was in the courtyard, practicing the Moves of the three-pointed, double-edged blade with a heavy piece of ironwood.

He did not use Internal Energy, but purely relied on his physical strength and exquisite technique to wield the hundreds-of-pounds ironwood with such force that it whistled with a dull roar.

He was immersed in this ultimate control of power, and with every swing, he could feel the subtle changes in his muscles and bones.

Just then, the courtyard gate was slammed open with a "bang!"

Su Meiniang's most trusted confidant, the branch's head steward, Uncle Fu, rushed in with a panicked expression, his Face covered in anxious sweat, not even bothering with formalities.

"Guest Elder... Guest Elder High! It's bad! Something has happened!"

Uncle Fu gasped for breath, pointed toward the south of the city, and said urgently, "Something happened at the 'Four Directions Gambling Den' in the south of the city! A Barbarian who appeared from nowhere is going crazy inside! The brothers at the gambling den have suffered heavy casualties, and even... even the presiding Venerable Wang has been severely wounded by his axe! Now, no one can stop him! The Branch Master has ordered you to go and suppress him immediately!"

The Four Directions Gambling Den was the Four Seas Merchant Guild's largest money pit in Hanyang City, as well as an important source of wealth and intelligence, so it could absolutely not be lost.

Hearing this, Gao Feng frowned slightly; to be able to severely wound a Late Stage Third Rank Venerable with one axe, this person's strength could not be underestimated.

He didn't ask further, casually tossing the ironwood in his hand, which landed with a "thud," embedding itself half a foot deep into the bluestone floor.

He grabbed the three-pointed, double-edged blade wrapped in oilcloth from the side and said in a deep voice, "Lead the way."

Before Gao Feng had even arrived at the Four Directions Gambling Den, he could hear the deafening roars and sounds of intense battle from afar.

He looked into the distance and saw that the gambling den's gate had long been smashed to pieces, and several thick load-bearing pillars were covered in deep axe marks.

Dozens of merchant guild guards were forming a loose encirclement, holding swords and spears, but their Faces were filled with fear, and they hesitated to step forward.

In the center of the encirclement, a figure was raging wildly like a beast that had broken into a flock of sheep!

It was a man who, although not very tall, was exaggeratedly sturdy.

He was bare-chested, his bronze skin covered in strange tattoos filled with primitive wildness.

The muscles on his body were not the lean, well-defined muscles of ordinary Martial Artists, but lumps of flesh bulging like granite, full of explosive, most primitive sense of power.

He held two giant battle-axes the size of door panels, and every swing whipped up a tooth-aching, whistling gale!

"Roar!" He let out a sudden explosive shout, stamped his feet heavily on the ground, and his whole body spun at high speed like a spinning top!

The two giant axes turned into a whirlwind of death, instantly dragging three guards who couldn't dodge in time into it!

Accompanied by the crisp sound of shattering bones and shrill screams, the three guards were sent flying back like broken sacks, clearly not going to survive.

Gao Feng's pupils constricted slightly.

He could tell that this person must be a Barbarian who had walked out of the deep mountains and old forests.

His martial arts could be said to be extremely crude; over and over, it seemed he only had those few Moves, with no methodology to speak of.

But it was precisely these simple "three axes," combined with his strength that was terrifyingly inhuman, that caused this devastating scene before him!

Occasionally, when swords or blades struck his body, they only sparked, leaving a shallow white mark; they could barely even break his skin!

What made Gao Feng's heart shudder even more was that he could feel this Barbarian had practiced a very unique type of hard-body cultivation.

His Qi was perfectly fused with his own flesh, blood, and bones, forming an indestructible whole.

This made him not only immensely strong but also tough-skinned and thick-fleshed, with astonishing defensive capabilities.

His strength was solid Third Rank! And among the Third Rank, he was the most unreasonable and difficult-to-deal-with type of strength-based Martial Artist!