190: They traveled a thousand miles to the capital, their blood staining the official road!

Clang! Clang! Bang! Bang!

The crisp sound of clashing weapons instantly echoed throughout the entire mountain forest!

The strength of those Men in Black assassins was far beyond anyone's imagination!

Every single one of them possessed at least the cultivation of the Condensing Essence Realm!

The few leaders had even reached the Meridian Opening Realm!

Their attacks were vicious, every move lethal, and their coordination was flawless, clearly showing they had undergone the most rigorous training!

Although the hundred Elite Guards sent by City Lord were also considered battle-hardened.

They were all in the Body Refining Realm, and some were even great masters of the Late-stage Condensing Yuan Realm.

But in front of these true killing machines, they seemed so utterly vulnerable!

In a single exchange!

Over a dozen guards were killed on the spot!

Blood stained their armor and the ground beneath their feet!

"Damn it!"

That Imperial Guards expert was tightly entangled by three Men in Black of the Meridian Opening Realm, unable to break free!

Although he was powerful, already at the Peak of the Meridian Opening Realm.

Among the three Men in Black, one was at the Peak of the Meridian Opening Realm, and the others were at the Late Stage.

They were inherently evenly matched.

Furthermore, the three had joined forces, forming a strange Killing Formation, leaving him barely able to defend himself for the moment!

"Xiao Chen! Take the children and run!"

His eyes were bloodshot as he roared toward the carriage!

The mission assigned by the Marquis meant these people were definitely important to the Marquis.

Inside the carriage.

Xiao Chen's heart sank to the bottom!

He looked through the carriage window at the tragic scene outside, which resembled an Asura Hell, his body trembling slightly from fear.

The children were even more terrified, their faces pale, huddled in the corner, shivering.

Run!

Must run!

He knew that staying here was meaningless, serving only to get himself killed!

He yanked open the carriage door and shouted sharply at the petrified children, "Get down! Follow me! Quick!"

He pulled the two youngest children and was the first to rush out of the carriage.

The rest of the children quickly followed suit.

"Go from the back! Into the woods!"

Xiao Chen pointed toward the dense forest behind them, his voice hoarse with urgency.

However.

Just as they had run less than ten meters.

A black silhouette, like a maggot clinging to bone, silently broke away from the chaotic battlefield.

Then, with a ghostly speed, it chased after them!

That person was also dressed in black, wearing a cold, featureless Iron Mask on his face.

In his hand, he held a long, narrow Black Long Saber, like a poisonous snake's tongue.

No powerful aura emanated from his body.

But the moment Xiao Chen saw him, he felt as if his heart had been fiercely grasped by an invisible large hand!

An extreme coldness and fear, originating from the depths of his Soul, instantly consumed him!

This person is very strong!

Terrifyingly strong!

Even more terrifying than Duan Tianba of the Jingtao Martial Arts School, whom he had met!

"You guys run first! Quick!"

Xiao Chen's brain made a decision in an instant!

He abruptly pushed the two children he was holding forward.

Then, he turned around, alone, facing the black silhouette that was rapidly approaching like the God of Death.

He pulled a Dagger from his sleeve.

It was for self-defense.

He held the Dagger horizontally across his chest, his still slightly childish face filled with determination and a resolve to die!

He knew he was no match.

He wouldn't even be able to withstand a single move from the opponent.

But, he could not retreat!

Behind him were the children who regarded him as an elder brother and Big Brother Li as a deity!

He would use his life to buy them even a sliver of time to escape!

The Man in Black stopped.

He stood quietly, three meters in front of Xiao Chen.

The eyes hidden beneath the mask calmly watched the youth attempting the impossible.

There was no mockery.

No pity.

Only stillness.

He was a professional assassin; mercy was not part of their organization!

"Get out of the way."

A cold, hoarse voice, devoid of any emotion, slowly emerged from beneath the Iron Mask.

Xiao Chen's hand gripping the Dagger was slick with cold sweat due to tension.

He stared intently at the Man in Black before him, gritting his teeth, and said word by word, "Unless you step over my corpse!"

"Ant!"

The Man in Black seemed to have lost his last bit of patience.

He simply took one step forward.

Then, he raised his right hand.

He pressed his Fingers Together Like a Saber and swung them remotely at Xiao Chen.

Fast!

Extremely fast!

Xiao Chen couldn't even fully see his movement!

He only felt an indescribable, irresistible, terrifyingly sharp burst of Powerful Qi instantly tearing through the air in front of him!

It tore through his insignificant protective Qi and Blood!

And then, it solidly struck his body!

"Pfft—!"

Xiao Chen felt as if his body had been violently struck by something!

A piercing pain erupted from all corners of his body!

Under this incomparably tyrannical Saber Qi, the Meridians inside his body were as fragile as dry branches!

In an instant, they snapped inch by inch!

His Dantian, which had only recently condensed and was filled with hope, was directly shattered by this power!

"Ah—!!!"

A mournful scream burst from Xiao Chen's mouth!

He could no longer hold the Dagger in his hand; it dropped to the ground with a "clatter."

His entire body, like a puppet whose strings had been cut, slumped softly onto the ground.

Blood gushed out frantically from his mouth, nose, and ears, like a spring!

Crippled.

He could clearly feel that his entire cultivation base, all his hope, had been completely severed at this moment!

He had become a complete and utter cripple!

Pain!

The physical pain was far less than the despair in his heart at this moment!

However.

That Man in Black didn't even bother to look at him again.

He simply took a step, calmly walking past Xiao Chen.

His target was not him.

"No..."

"Don't..."

Xiao Chen lay paralyzed on the ground, letting out a desperate roar as he watched the God of Death-like figure walking toward the children.

He struggled, trying to pull himself up from the ground.

He reached out, wanting to grab the other party's pant leg.

But he couldn't.

Now, he didn't even have the strength to move a single finger.

He could only watch helplessly.

Watching that Man in Black walk step by step toward the children, who were already petrified, huddled together, and shivering.

"No! I beg you! Spare them!"

"They are just children!"

"I beg you!"