53: Only realizing it now? Too late!

Evening.

The sun was setting in the west.

A streak of blood-red light sliced through the sky, letting out a piercing sonic boom as it sped straight toward a grand skyscraper.

Chen Nian used his "Blood Fiend Incarnation" to fly through the air.

However, while he was still several kilometers away from the building, an invisible pressure rushed toward him.

The air temperature dropped abruptly, and a dense, foul, and eerie smell wafted into his nostrils.

It was a majestic Ghostly Qi, so powerful it was almost tangible, enveloping the entire Tianqiong International Building like a pitch-black dome.

The soaring Evil Qi stirred the winds and clouds, making that part of the sky appear gloomy and dark.

At the same time, a cold, mechanical voice rang out in his mind.

[Powerful Ghostly Creature detected—Youdu Corpse Emperor]

[Special mission triggered: Kill the Youdu Corpse Emperor]

[Mission reward: 20,000 points, acquire skill 'Nether Skeleton Impact']

Hearing the System's announcement, Chen Nian's eyes only flickered slightly.

His speed did not slow down in the slightest.

It seemed the Corpse Ghost Cult had already begun their move.

Furthermore, judging by this majestic, soaring Ghostly Qi, their plan was likely nearing completion.

But that was fine.

It had triggered a mission for him.

A full twenty thousand points, plus a bonus skill.

From the generosity of the rewards, it was clear that this so-called "Youdu Corpse Emperor" was likely not simple.

However, he was extremely confident in his own strength.

No matter how powerful the enemy, before his strength, they would ultimately just become vessels for points and rewards.

With a thought, the perception of his Prison Suppressing Divine Body spread out completely.

He clearly sensed an incredibly powerful energy source hidden deep within the building.

Moreover, that energy source was continuing to strengthen at an alarming rate.

Chen Nian did not hesitate for a second.

The blood-red light traced a sharp arc in the sky, plummeting toward the building's entrance like a meteorite.

"Boom—!"

Wild winds howled, and air currents swirled.

He descended directly from the sky, landing steadily in front of the Tianqiong International Group's main entrance, immediately drawing confused and curious gazes from the people around him.

He looked around and found that the situation here was somewhat different from the Xuanzhen Sect.

It wasn't entirely composed of Ghost Cultivators.

There were actually many ordinary people here.

No wonder they could stay hidden in Donghai City for so long.

The Xuanzhen Sect, known as a prestigious and righteous sect, was filled from top to bottom with Ghost Cultivators wearing human skins.

Yet, the Tianqiong International Group, the headquarters of the Corpse Ghost Cult, was mixed with so many oblivious humans.

What a great irony.

Chen Nian withdrew his thoughts, no longer dwelling on these meaningless matters.

He set off, walking straight toward the main entrance.

"Sir, do you have an appointment?"

At the entrance, two guards in black uniforms immediately noticed him.

They stepped forward quickly, reaching out their arms in an attempt to stop him.

However, Chen Nian didn't pay any attention to their question at all.

He just suddenly waved his hand.

His movement was so fast it exceeded the limits of human visual perception.

In just the span of a single breath.

"Bang! Bang!"

Two dull explosions rang out.

The two guards didn't even have time to scream before their bodies exploded, turning into two clouds of thick blood mist.

These guards were all members of the Corpse Ghost Cult.

The smell of blood and rot instantly filled the air.

The expressions of the ordinary people nearby instantly froze.

The next second.

"Ah—!!!"

Screams pierced the tranquility of the evening.

Chaos erupted.

People screamed and shoved each other like a frightened herd, scattering in all directions.

However, Chen Nian was deaf to the chaos around him.

He didn't even bother to look back.

He continued walking forward.

Just then.

*Clatter—*

Inside the building, more figures emerged.

They were all wearing uniform black outfits, their gazes cold, with a faint Corpse Qi emanating from their bodies.

Leading them were several men with noticeably stronger auras, wearing well-tailored suits, but that thick, evil aura could not be hidden.

Clearly, they were Cadres of the Corpse Ghost Cult.

They lined up, blocking Chen Nian's path.

"You must be Chen Nian."

The leading Cadre pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, his eyes behind the lenses flashing with a sinister light.

"To be able to wipe out the Xuanzhen Sect by yourself, you do have some skill."

His tone carried a hint of condescending scrutiny.

"But our Corpse Ghost Cult is different from those stagnant old fogeys of the Xuanzhen Sect."

"Crushing you is as simple as crushing a bug."

"I advise you to get lost right now; perhaps you'll be left with an intact corpse."

"Otherwise, this will be your burial ground!"

They seemed full of confidence in their own strength.

However, the only response they received was a contemptuous curl of Chen Nian's lips.

"Delusional."

He calmly spat out the word.

Then, he simply gave a light wave of his hand.

*Swish, swish, swish!*

In an instant, countless crimson threads erupted from his fingertips out of thin air.

These threads carried a heart-palpitating power, sweeping toward the crowd ahead at a speed that transcended thought.

"Not good! Get out of the way!"

The faces of those Cadres changed drastically; they felt a fatal threat from those red threads.

Their hair stood on end as they instantly exploded with their full power, frantically dodging to the sides.

Their reaction was certainly not slow, and they managed to barely dodge the attack of these threads.

But those ordinary members with lower cultivation were not so lucky.

Their faces still held fierce expressions, and their pupils had only just reflected the red glow when their bodies were sliced in the next instant.

*Puchi, puchi, puchi—!*

There were no screams.

Even a proper sound was absent.

Only a series of fine noises, like a sharp knife cutting through rotten wood, could be heard.

Those low-cultivation cult members' bodies were instantly decomposed into countless fragments, falling to the ground like trash.

Watching their colleagues turn into chunks of meat in an instant,

those Cadres and members who were lucky enough to dodge stopped all movement, their faces filled with unspeakable horror.

"This... what kind of technique is this?"

One Cadre's voice trembled, his teeth chattering.

"Instantly... instantly killed so many of us?"

"Such terrifying power... what kind of monster is this!"

"If those red lines touch you, you'll definitely die! Definitely!"

"It's over, we can't possibly be his match!"

Panic spread among the survivors like a plague.

The way they looked at Chen Nian no longer held the previous contempt and arrogance, only a fear as if looking at a god or demon.

This guy was simply not an existence they could contend with.

Chen Nian only smiled contemptuously, watching their panicked and unsightly state.

"Realizing only now?"

His voice was cold and cruel.

"Too late!"

The moment the words fell, he flicked his hand again.

This time, the red threads that erupted were even more numerous, denser, and faster than before!

The crimson light almost obscured everyone's vision, like a net of death falling from the sky, sealing off all paths of retreat.

Looking at the overwhelming red threads, despair appeared on the faces of all the survivors.

They realized they couldn't dodge at all.

This was an attack that could not be resisted no matter what.

Before absolute power, all their struggles appeared so laughable.

They seemed to accept their fate, not even bothering to dodge anymore.

The next second.

*Kacha! Kacha! Kacha!*

Accompanied by a series of scalp-numbing, chaotic, and noisy slashing sounds.

Everything around, whether it was the hard marble pillars or the heavy metal decorations, was instantly sliced into the smallest fragments.

Even the walls and the floor were slashed with countless deep, terrifying marks, with rubble flying and dust filling the air.

As for those members of the Corpse Ghost Cult,

they were directly sliced into the finest minced meat, mixed with the dust and rubble, leaving not even a slightly larger piece of remains.

The entire hall was completely cleared.

However, Chen Nian did not kill everyone.

Those sky-filling red threads, in the process of slaying everything, precisely avoided one man.

It was precisely that leading Cadre of the Corpse Ghost Cult wearing the gold-rimmed glasses.

He didn't die.

But at this moment, he wished he were dead.

When the dust settled, looking at the hellish scene before him, the mess on the ground, and the thick scent of blood in the air, his carefully maintained elite image completely collapsed.

His eyes were wide, his pupils dilated, and his body trembled like a sieve.

A warm liquid flowed down his pant leg, pooling in a small puddle by his expensive handmade leather shoes.

He was scared out of his wits.

"Ugh... Ah..."

His throat let out meaningless rasps.

His legs gave way, and he could no longer support his body, falling directly to his knees with a "thud."

He kept kowtowing to Chen Nian, begging for mercy incoherently.

"Don't... don't kill me! Please! Don't kill me!"

"As long as you don't kill me, I'll tell you everything, I'll do anything!"

Chen Nian only gave a contemptuous smile, slowly walked up to him, raised his foot, and stepped on his head.

"Lead the way."