The night in the warzone was unnaturally quiet.
Even the wind dared not stir.
Moonlight hung pale above a valley choked in mist — a place few dared to enter. Legends said it was cursed, where the souls of the fallen screamed beneath the fog.
Tonight, that legend was about to claim a new name.
A lone figure walked through it, his steps unhurried, his sword strapped to his back.
Lin Feng.
He had received reports of a hidden supply route used by the Devil Sect and Ouyang family — but the deeper he walked into the valley, the heavier the air became.
The mist coiled around him like snakes, whispering faintly.
"Lin Feng… Lin Feng…"
His eyes narrowed, golden light flashing for an instant.
"Assassination Hall," he murmured.
---
He had expected this.
After the fall of Mo Xuantian, Lin Feng's name had thundered across the continents. Every sect, every clan, every hidden force knew of him now.
For the Ouyang family, he was no longer just a threat — he was an existential curse.
---
The mist shifted.
A faint scent of blood tinged the air.
A whisper echoed behind him.
Then — silence.
Lin Feng drew his sword halfway. "Three of you. God Realm, all at peak stage."
He looked up into the mist. "Come out."
A soft laugh answered.
From the shadows emerged three figures clad in black, their faces hidden by bone masks.
The first spoke, his voice deep and cold. "Lin Feng. You have cost our clients more than three million spirit crystals in losses. They offered us double for your head."
The second's tone was mocking, almost lazy. "Killing a God Realm prodigy with multiple divine intents? Heh. Not bad for a night's work."
The third said nothing — but the air around him distorted. His killing intent was so sharp it felt like blades of wind cutting through the fog.
Lin Feng exhaled slowly, unsheathing his sword fully. "Three assassins from the Hall… Ouyang family must be desperate."
He tilted his head slightly. "Tell me — which one of you dies first?"
For a heartbeat, silence.
Then — chaos.
---
The mist exploded.
The first assassin vanished, reappearing behind Lin Feng with a blade of black qi aimed for his spine.
At the same instant, the second assassin's shadow rippled forward, attacking from beneath Lin Feng's feet.
And above, the third descended silently, his spear coated in venom that could rot a saint's flesh.
Three killing moves, perfect synchronization — death from every direction.
But Lin Feng did not move.
He simply closed his eyes.
Clang!
His sword flicked once. A ring of golden light burst outward — the Dragon Domain erupted, swallowing the fog whole.
Within its reach, the air itself became divine, vibrating with the hum of sword intent.
The assassins froze as the pressure struck.
The first one's blade shattered. The second's shadow form was forced into flesh. The third's spear slowed midair.
Then — Lin Feng opened his eyes.
"Too slow."
---
He moved.
The Azure Sword howled, cutting a crescent of light that tore the valley apart. The first assassin screamed as his arm was severed — the divine flame within the sword devouring his qi veins instantly.
The second assassin darted back, leaving afterimages, but Lin Feng's divine sense followed him effortlessly.
Boom!
A flash of golden light — the man's chest exploded, blood scattering into the mist.
The third assassin, realizing the difference in power, bit his tongue and roared, igniting his bloodline. His aura soared, his killing intent merging with the mist until it became a sea of blades.
The valley trembled. For a moment, it felt as though the heavens themselves were being cut apart.
"Blood Mist Annihilation!"
Thousands of spectral daggers materialized, surging toward Lin Feng like a storm.
He didn't dodge. He simply raised his sword — his aura deepening, divine light flickering in his eyes.
Then, a calm whisper escaped his lips.
"Azure Sword Art — Sixth Stance: Immortal Severing."
The world fell silent.
A single line of light swept through the mist.
Every dagger disintegrated.
Every ripple of killing intent vanished.
And when the light faded, the last assassin stood frozen — a line of blood running down his mask.
He tried to speak, but his voice failed.
Lin Feng stepped past him, his sword dripping faint golden essence.
As he walked, the assassin's body split cleanly in half and fell into the mist.
---
The valley was silent again.
Only the whisper of wind returned.
Lin Feng stood still for a long moment, his divine aura slowly fading. His breathing remained steady, though the sharp gleam in his eyes didn't fade.
He could feel it — the fight wasn't over.
He turned his head slightly.
A faint ripple — almost imperceptible — appeared several hundred meters away. A presence colder than the three assassins combined lingered there.
"Come out," Lin Feng said quietly. "I know you've been watching."
A chuckle answered him, low and amused.
From the thickest part of the mist stepped a man draped in gray, his face pale and elegant, eyes like two pools of still water.
"Impressive," the man said softly. "To notice me through three overlapping concealment formations… you're not ordinary."
Lin Feng's fingers tightened around his sword hilt. "You're not from the Hall."
"No." The man smiled faintly. "You could say I'm… their guarantor. The Hall moves when I say so. My client wanted confirmation of your death. I suppose I'll have to deliver your corpse myself."
"Who sent you?"
The man tilted his head. "You already know."
Lin Feng's golden eyes flashed. "Ouyang Family."
The man nodded once. "Indeed. They call me the Silent Viper. Remember that name — it's the last one you'll hear."
He vanished.
A faint tremor in the air, and Lin Feng's instincts screamed.
The next instant, the world turned black — the fog condensed into a vast illusionary realm. Inside it, Lin Feng's senses were severed, his divine energy suppressed.
The Silent Viper's voice echoed from all directions.
"Let's see how long your legend lasts, Lin Feng."
Lin Feng's sword pulsed faintly, divine runes appearing across its blade.
"Legends don't last," he whispered.
"But my sword does."
And he struck — the Azure Sword igniting once more, cutting through illusion and shadow alike.