34: Chapter 34 Have you forgotten that I'm the corpse collector of Eagle Soaring Pass?

The sky had darkened, and the surroundings were pitch black.

But under such nightfall, a Martial Artist could still see clearly.

The refinement and enhancement of one's physique brought about the first transformations and upgrades in eyesight and hearing.

Even if he couldn't see clearly, it didn't matter. Not far away, Zhu Ang and a personal guard were strolling over.

The guard beside him held a torch, illuminating the surroundings brightly.

"As a soldier of Yingyang Pass, running around wildly at night, aren't you afraid of being seen as a spy?"

Zhu Ang spoke softly, questioning Li Yuan, who was surrounded.

Li Yuan didn't respond, instead looking at them with some timidity.

Not hearing Li Yuan's reply, he wasn't in a hurry.

Instead, he turned his head to look at the personal guards beside him.

"Brother Xu, your vigilance has been lacking lately.

A mere soldier in the Military Camp approaches, and you were completely unaware. After returning, you must reflect upon this properly."

The one being held accountable, Zhu Xu, lowered his head and admitted his mistake.

"My elder brother's criticism is correct; this is my failing."

This Zhu Xu beside him was precisely that Seventh-Grade Great Perfection personal guard.

Li Yuan had also managed to ascertain the situation of these few individuals through this small setup.

After finishing with Zhu Xu, Zhu Ang's gaze fell upon Li Yuan once more: "Little brother, do you know who I am?"

Hearing this, Li Yuan continued to feign panic, shaking his head in denial.

"Hmm, if you don't know me, I could spare your life.

But I'm in a good mood today, and I particularly want to tell you my identity.

My name is Zhu Ang, the Protector General dispatched by the imperial court to Yingyang Pass.

Unfortunately, you know me now. I can no longer spare you."

After saying this, Zhu Ang turned around, no longer raising his eyes to look at Li Yuan.

His personal guards knew what to do.

Someone who eavesdropped on their conversation would certainly not be left alive.

"I won't punish anyone for today's incident.

But if such negligence occurs again in the future, don't blame me for not showing leniency!"

These words Zhu Ang spoke as he turned his head weren't meant for Li Yuan; they were directed at his personal guards.

In his eyes, Li Yuan was already a dead man.

What else was there to say?

However, after he finished speaking, aside from Zhu Xu giving some response, the three personal guards surrounding Li Yuan showed no reaction at all.

"Are you three deaf?

Not knowing to answer is one thing, but you don't even know to take action and deal with this?"

Zhu Ang was somewhat angered. These personal guards seemed a bit unreliable tonight.

Having just taken two steps forward, Li Yuan, who had remained silent all this time, instead stepped up to meet him.

"Protector General Zhu Ang, I've remembered your identity.

I'm also in a good mood today and very much want to tell you about my identity as well.

My name is Li Yuan, a Corpse Collector in Yingyang Pass's Military Camp."

Li Yuan said calmly.

Facing this sudden turn of events, Zhu Ang and Zhu Xu were clearly startled.

But after only a moment, both quickly regained their composure.

Li Yuan was too young. A young person couldn't inspire fear.

This Zhu Xu before them, having reached Seventh-Grade Great Perfection in his sixties, was already considered a Prodigy-level figure in Da Shun.

How old was Li Yuan?

Even if he were the most gifted Genius, he'd be Sixth-Grade at most.

With Zhu Ang having Zhu Xu, this strong expert, by his side, even if he encountered an Eighth-Grade Martial Artist, he was confident he could escape with his life.

"I didn't expect this Yingyang Pass Military Camp to be hiding a young expert.

What?

Now that I, Zhu Ang, know your identity, does that mean I won't live?"

As Zhu Ang spoke to this point, he couldn't help but let a smile appear at the corner of his mouth.

Beside him, Zhu Xu also smiled.

The instant the smile vanished from his face, the weapon in his hand shot out.

Li Yuan didn't evade at all.

Seventh-Grade Great Perfection was indeed no ordinary level.

But the Li Yuan of today had no fear of them.

Zhu Xu attacked swiftly, but not with full seriousness.

He felt his own strength didn't require him to exert his full power.

Yet, in an instant, his figure fell under Li Yuan's blade.

One more inch, and he would have been wounded.

Zhu Xu hastily employed his movement technique to dodge. This small test of skill had instead tested him.

Looking again at the three who had just surrounded Li Yuan, they were now lying on the ground, seemingly lifeless.

Zhu Xu seemed to be realizing something.

This young man before him truly couldn't be judged by his age!

There wasn't much time for thought. As he evaded the Qi, Li Yuan advanced with his blade.

Employing the Langhe Cloud-Treading Steps, his figure was as light as a ghost, adding a touch of menace under the night sky.

This was also what Li Yuan wanted—not only to take action and eliminate them

but also to make others think it was a retaliatory strike by a strong expert from the Jin Kingdom.

Zhu Xu also realized at this moment that the Moves Li Yuan used followed the Jin Kingdom's style.

The edge of the blade continuously danced around his side.

To the side, Zhu Ang prepared to flee.

He could already see that Zhu Xu, the personal guard the Zhu Family had nurtured with all their resources, was now fighting with all his strength.

Yet, he was still no match for this minor Corpse Collector.

The situation was still entangled; he still had a chance to escape.

If he delayed any longer, escape would become impossible.

Li Yuan also discerned Zhu Ang's intention and wasted no more time.

The blade momentum of the Heavenly Thunder Blade swept out, and with the aid of the Tai Xuan Divine Art, it seemed to have transformed even further.

The Heavenly Thunder power within it was precise and terrifying.

The blade hadn't wounded Zhu Xu, but it left his entire body numb and paralyzed.

Trying to control his limbs felt distinctly unnatural.

This Heavenly Thunder Blade Cultivation Technique clearly held a significant hierarchical advantage over the Martial Skill Zhu Xu practiced.

How could he compare to a Martial Skill and Cultivation Technique favored by a Ninth-Grade Mortal Immortal?

Zhu Xu wasn't a direct descendant of the Zhu Family either.

The Zhu Family did have a Ninth-Grade expert, but the methods that expert practiced wouldn't be passed on to him.

There was another point: Li Yuan possessed the martial experience of a Ninth-Grade Mortal Immortal.

Even if others obtained the Heavenly Thunder Blade, it would take them forty or fifty years to reach Li Yuan's current level of practical skill.

Under the Heavenly Thunder Blade, countless openings appeared.

The blade no longer gave him a chance, taking Zhu Xu's life.

Protector General Zhu Ang, who had originally fled some distance, now halted his steps.

He wasn't a fool; he knew in this current situation, escape was already useless.

For someone capable of killing Zhu Xu, what difficulty would there be in catching up to him?

Watching Li Yuan approach, Zhu Ang's breathing grew heavier.

"I beg the Esteemed One's forgiveness. I am the son of the Zhu Family's patriarch. Spare my life, and the Zhu Family will surely be grateful and repay you..."

Zhu Ang spoke of the benefits of not killing him while gasping for breath.

"Esteemed One, if you kill me, the Zhu Family will know immediately.

Moreover, I possess a secret treasure on my person. When I die, this treasure will shatter.

The Esteemed One will be tainted by this object, and my Zhu Family can detect it through a secret method.

Whoever kills me will certainly follow me to the grave!"

Such secret treasures indeed existed; Li Yuan had seen them in the experiences of those powerful martial experts.

Many large Family powers equipped their descendants with such treasures as a form of threat.

Yet, hearing this, the smile on Li Yuan's face grew even wider.

"General Zhu, have you forgotten I'm a Corpse Collector in Yingyang Pass's Military Camp?

Is it strange that I, collecting your corpse, would get tainted by some secret treasure?

And the most important point, you said it yourself.

Since you already know my identity, how can I possibly leave you alive any longer?"