Five-Ultimate Elder flew into a rage and shouted, "Today I shall take your dog's life!" In his heart he knew the chance to settle the blood debt of that day had finally arrived. Nangong Yan, cunning and vicious, cried sternly, "Wu Tong, nine of us are here to take your life — you cannot escape this calamity!"
Wu Tong frowned slightly, shook his head, and sneered coldly. "Not quite. Old hag, you must step in as well."
At these words Nangong Yan's heart trembled; she froze for a moment before flaring up in anger. "Nine people are going to kill you — is that still not enough?"
Wu Tong strode forward with overwhelming presence, his cold eyes flashing like lightning. "The King of Hell has just convened his court and checked the register of life and death. Your name, Nangong Yan, is already on the list. You cannot flee at the last moment."
Though fear surged within her, Nangong Yan could not retreat. "Since you speak such wild nonsense, I will disregard my status and grant your wish. Ten of us against you alone!"
Everyone present was shocked. Wu Tong standing against ten foes — such heroic audacity was rarely seen in the world. Yet relying on the Wolong Saber in his hand, he seemed to look down upon the entire gathering. Calm and unhurried, he strolled toward them, upright and magnanimous, full of heroic spirit. "Come!"
Nangong Yan raised her sword and shouted fiercely, "Everyone, attack together!"
But no one responded. No one dared to launch the first strike. Wu Tong stood firm and immovable like a towering mountain. His eyes suddenly shot forth two chilling beams of killing intent. He said coldly, "Do not be afraid. It is rare for the ten of you to gather together and journey to the Yellow Springs. Today my blade is swift — I shall send you on your way."
Nangong Yan glanced toward the assassins of the Sword-Fiend Sect and Saber-Fiend Sect and cried, "Did you not come to kill Wu Tong? Then hurry and attack!"
Those assassins knew well how fast Wu Tong's blade was — they had fought him only days before. At that moment Liu Yun suddenly drew her treasured sword and declared loudly, "With me guarding here, not a single one of you will escape. Today we shall catch turtles in a jar — much simpler this way!"
Nangong Yan cast a glance at the Five-Ultimate Elder and shouted again, "Five Ultimates, you go first!"
But the Five-Ultimate Elder was no fool. He always struck only when the moment was right — otherwise how could he have once caught Wu Tong off guard? He said in a low voice, "Old hag! Do not ruin my plans. If anyone is to strike first, it should be you."
Wu Tong roared, "Enough dithering! When I count to three, I will attack!"
To strike first is to gain the initiative; once lost, the weaker side becomes even more passive, and the odds of victory plummet. Wu Tong said, "One… two…"
Before he could utter "three," the assassins of the Sword-Fiend and Saber-Fiend Sects suddenly launched their assault. Eight figures flickered like ghosts. This battle was clearly no trivial affair. The north wind howled under the gray, murky sky as the eight killers split into two groups, attacking from both flanks. Blades and swords flashed as they charged straight in.
Wu Tong had not moved — until he suddenly drew his saber.
In a flash like lightning and flint, his body moved like a phantom. Saber light flickered once — and screams rang out instantly. It was horrifying beyond words. One did not even need to look — all eight assassins had already fallen, sprawled in pools of blood. Everyone present stood dumbstruck.
Though those killers were far from mediocre, before the incomparably swift Wolong Saber technique their attacks were simply too slow. Moreover, their formation was cramped. Once the saber art unfolded, each strike came faster than the last — every blow perilous, every move lethal. Like a tiger bursting from its cage, it swept all before it with crushing force, clean and decisive. In the blink of an eye Wu Tong had already sheathed his saber again, without the slightest pause. Eight assassins lay dead beneath his blade. It was astonishing.
Wu Tong's expression did not change. He walked forward leisurely and said coldly, "You two — come together. One-on-one you have no chance at all."
The Five-Ultimate Elder gripped his broadsaber, cold sweat pouring down his back. He could not find a single opening. Eight assassins had perished in an instant. Nangong Yan looked toward him, realizing that "things do not happen more than three times." Today they were truly doomed.
Once may be forgiven as ignorance. Twice may still be tolerated with warning. But the third time is the limit — there will be no compromise.
Wu Tong had already resolved in his heart that he would never let her go.
The Five-Ultimate Elder said grimly, "Old hag, you strike first. I will follow. That is the only chance."
Nangong Yan trembled with rage. "Why don't you go first?!"
"I will wait for the moment he makes his move. Besides, you are going to die anyway — it makes no difference," he replied.
Terrified of death, Nangong Yan dared not act. Turning back, she saw her disciples Ouyang Jing, Yu Xian, Wei Hong and others, and could not help shouting, "Disciples of the Immortal Empress Palace, attack!"
Liu Yun immediately rebuked them. "Listen well! The eight assassins of the Sword-Fiend and Saber-Fiend Sects are already dead. Do not let this old hag use you. Why throw away your lives for nothing?"
Hearing this, the Immortal Empress Palace disciples instinctively stepped backward.
Wu Tong then declared loudly, "None of you may run. If you run — who will stay behind to collect Nangong Yan's corpse?"
His words were like an invisible blade piercing straight into Nangong Yan's heart. Her mind was in complete turmoil, filled with bitter regret. Gritting her teeth, she glanced at the Five-Ultimate Elder and said, "Why not attack from both wings together? I will strike first with one sword — agreed?"
Wu Tong stood like an unshakable peak and mocked them. "The Hall of Yama is waiting for you both."
The Five-Ultimate Elder's beard and brows bristled. Though murderous intent shone in his eyes, sweat beaded on his forehead. "Very well."
The tension in the field was suffocating. Nangong Yan faced Wu Tong, her venomous hatred beyond description. She drew her sword. A flash of cold light streaked forth as she assumed an extremely bizarre opening stance. Any expert could see her swordsmanship had reached a terrifying level. Though a woman, her internal power was profound — she was truly a formidable foe.
Suddenly she darted forward like a phantom. With a clear shriek she slashed out a lightning-fast strike.
The Five-Ultimate Elder followed with a thunderous roar, shattering the deadly silence. His saber cleaved the air. Sword and blade joined forces to strike Wu Tong — their power unimaginable. Everyone present was seized with extreme dread.
Then suddenly came an explosive shout. The clash of weapons rang out. Two arcs of saber light tore across the sky — fierce and swift. Where the blade passed, the two attackers were cut clean in half at the waist. Their bodies fell to the ground, severed, blood gushing like fountains. Four mangled masses of flesh scattered in all directions. Even more horrifying, their bodies continued to twitch.
The young women captured by the Yan soldiers screamed in terror, covering their faces, unable to bear the sight. The battlefield was soaked in blood, thick with the stench of death.
There was no need to say more. The Five-Ultimate Elder and Nangong Yan lay dead.
Wu Tong sheathed his saber and sighed. "Disciples of the Immortal Empress Palace, deal with the aftermath. Let us go."
As the bleak north wind blew past, everyone present could smell the overwhelming reek of blood. Their eyes trembled. Completely shaken by the gruesome scene before them, they stood frozen like wooden statues, their shock beyond words — beyond imagination.