Chapter 200: The Final Crisis

The Final Crisis

Fresh blood splashed before their eyes, and the severed corpse scattered in an instant. But no one, including Yin Fengzhan who was closest, saw how the opponent had moved!

For a moment, everyone present was stunned. The previously incessant sounds of fighting ceased abruptly. Yin Fengzhan was the first to regain his senses; he flashed forward, blocked Nie Jinxuan, and roared at Shui Yun behind him.

"Go!"

With that shout, Shui Yun finally snapped out of it, grabbed Nie Jinxuan, and leaped to a corner not far away. Yin Fenglian saw this, flashed over, and stood guard, looking ahead with a grave expression.

The surroundings remained very quiet... no, it should be deathly silent. It was only then that everyone realized that standing on the carriage was a man in black martial attire!

It was him!

Staring at the man, Yin Fengzhan's pupils shrank reflexively. He looked at the man's face and froze.

The man was tall, with handsome features. Although middle-aged, he stood as straight as a pine. His sharp, cold eyes were like those of a messenger from the underworld, making one tremble at a single glance!

Standing this close, Yin Fengzhan could feel the murderous aura emanating from him, so intense it was hard to breathe!

Staring at the man in black, Yin Fengzhan pursed his lips. Sensing Yin Fengzhan's gaze, the man turned his eyes slightly, but didn't linger on Yin Fengzhan's face, turning instead to the martial artists around them!

His eyes were icy cold. Being stared at by those eyes, the martial artists couldn't help but tremble. But these people were all heinous villains who had been wreaking havoc in the martial arts world for years, and they had the arrogance to match. After a brief moment of fear, one of them chuckled coldly.

"Hmph, I thought it was some sacred being, but it's just a bug wanting a share of the spoils~!"

"Hahaha~! Right!"

"Hehe... yeah, what? Black-face, you want to steal our food too?! Too bad, this prey was spotted by us first. If you want it, I guess you're out of luck~!"

"Hehe... you?!"

The martial artists laughed and mocked, their voices filling the air. Yin Fengzhan didn't relax, because he knew these people, while experts, were absolutely no match for this man in black!

Yin Fengzhan remained silent, not moving. Hearing the laughter and mockery, the man in black didn't seem annoyed; his expression didn't change at all. He just watched the faces of the martial artists, pursed his lips, and reached into his bosom.

The martial artists were stunned, but when the man in black revealed what he had taken out, they burst into laughter.

"Hahaha... I thought it was some legendary divine weapon! It's just a mask..."

"Haha, exactly! A mask..."

"Yeah, a mask, and a black one at that~! Yo~, why isn't it a beauty's..."

"Haha..."

Lewd laughter filled the air. But among the martial artists, one person's eyes widened upon seeing the mask, and he pointed at the man in black in fear.

"You... you... how... Under... Under..."

The martial artist was clearly quite old, his body hunched, his temples bulging, his wrinkled face filled with bright eyes! But at this moment, those eyes were filled with infinite fear, and his mouth was agape, unable to make another sound!

He was the only one among the martial artists acting strangely. Someone noticed his abnormality and called out.

"Yo~, Old Ghost~, what's wrong with you? Look how scared you are, what? Did you really see a ghost~?!"

"Haha~ yeah, saw a ghost!"

"Haha~"

Xing Gui, known in the martial arts world as the 'Cannibal Ghost.' He had joined the Huashan Sect as a child and was a rare martial arts genius. By twenty, he was already a top expert of the younger generation, a leader in the martial arts world. But he had poor character, and after violating sect rules again, he was expelled. Since then, Xing Gui had been roaming the martial arts world, acting recklessly, killing and robbing, with enemies everywhere, yet few dared to seek revenge. This showed his martial arts were truly masterful!

But at this moment, such a figure was so terrified and lost, unable to even speak. The martial artists around him didn't understand, thinking the old man had seen a ghost!

The mocking laughter continued. But Xing Gui had no time to care. He turned and fled as if for his life! But before he could fly a yard, a dark shadow followed, a scream rang out, a flash of red bloomed in the air, and Xing Gui's body fell to the ground, split in two!

It happened in a flash. The 'Cannibal Ghost' Xing Gui, who had been notorious in the martial arts world, was dead. Everyone was stunned, and a coldness they had never felt before spread through their hearts.

Time passed, and the sky grew brighter. But no one dared to move. After a while, one of the bolder martial artists raised an eyebrow and shouted.

"You... who are you?"

His voice was filled with hidden fear. The man in black looked at him coldly, flashed, and landed on the ground.

"You don't need to know!"

As he spoke, the man in black put on the black mask and said word by word,

"This deal is mine. And you all deserve to die!"

With that, not waiting for them to react, the man in black kicked up a weapon that had fallen to the ground and held it in his hand.

Every martial artist had a weapon that belonged only to them. It was their symbol, their dignity. But this man in black had casually picked up a weapon from the ground, clearly not regarding the martial artists before him at all.

Every martial artist had pride. Although they were afraid, this had completely ignited their rage. In an instant, the martial artists were stunned, then rushed toward the man in black together!

Seeing this, Yin Fengzhan's eyes flashed, and he gave Yin Fenglian a look. Yin Fenglian nodded in understanding, turned to Shui Yun and Nie Jinxuan, and said,

"Go!"

Yin Fenglian led the way, intending to take Nie Jinxuan and Shui Yun away. But before he could take two steps, a scream rang out. He turned reflexively and froze at the sight.

Just as the group of martial artists attacked the man in black, a flash of light from his blade appeared, followed by scattered sparks. Before anyone could see what happened, blood mist filled the sky, and with screams, bloody corpses were thrown out like puppets!

The man in black, wearing the black mask, was like a death god in the dark night, flashing through the shadows, slaughtering the top-tier martial artists in an instant!

In the blink of an eye, the surroundings returned to silence. A deathly silence, mixed with the pungent scent of blood and spreading crimson, stimulated everyone present, making them feel as if they had stopped breathing!

The man in black walked out from among the corpses, his cold eyes behind the black mask remaining as still as a mountain. He turned his gaze toward Nie Jinxuan.

In an instant, meeting the man's cold gaze, Nie Jinxuan, who was blocked by Shui Yun and Yin Fengzhan, froze. A sense of indescribable fear spread from the bottom of her heart, but on the surface, Nie Jinxuan remained calm, boldly meeting his gaze.

Seeing this, the man in black's eyes moved, but Yin Fengzhan flashed forward, completely blocking his view!

The man in black looked at Yin Fengzhan and suddenly spoke.

"Are you Yin Fengzhan?"

"Yes!"

"Hmm, I've heard of you!"

The man in black's tone didn't change, but Yin Fengzhan was stunned and his gaze darkened.

"I won't let you complete this deal!"

"Oh? You?"

Yin Fengzhan spoke with certainty, but the man in black raised an eyebrow behind his mask. Yin Fengzhan said,

"Yes! Me!"

"Hmph! Is that so!"

He stepped back, threw the weapon he had grabbed aside, reached for the object wrapped in black cloth on his back, and gave it a shake.

In an instant, everyone heard a 'clang,' and the black cloth scattered. A pitch-black sword appeared before them!

It was entirely black, exuding a strange, netherworld-like luster. The style was simple, without complex patterns, but it was filled with a bloody aura that made one shudder!

At this moment, no one knew the name of the sword, but everyone knew it was a rare, peerless weapon!

Seeing this, everyone swallowed, fear rising in their eyes... The man in black just looked at Yin Fengzhan and said coldly,

"Someone mentioned you to me, saying you were quite good. So I won't insult you. Come!"

Clearly, the man in black wasn't one for many words. Yin Fengzhan lowered his gaze, but before he could act, a figure flashed and stood before him.

"I'll do it!"

It was Mo Yujue. He pushed Yin Fengzhan aside and faced the man in black.

"Mo Yujue, I'll take the challenge!"

He flashed forward, his silver spear dancing with light as he thrust toward the man in black!

Mo Yujue was as fast as lightning. But the man in black narrowed his eyes, flashed, and dodged the attack!

Clearly, Mo Yujue's skills were top-tier, and his silver spear was far superior to the martial artists just now. But after a few rounds, Yin Fengzhan realized Mo Yujue was no match for him. He turned cold and joined the battle with his sword!

Just then, after Mo Yujue had exchanged ten moves with the man in black, he felt a dark shadow flash before his eyes, heard a 'clang,' and was struck in the chest!

The man in black had immense internal power, and the palm strike sent Mo Yujue flying a yard away. Fortunately, Mo Yujue was skilled, so he managed to stop, but he still clutched his chest and spat a mouthful of blood onto the ground!

Seeing this, Yin Fenglian was startled.

"Old Mo!"

Yin Fenglian and Mo Yujue were close friends. Seeing Mo Yujue severely injured, he was furious and wanted to rush over, but thinking of Nie Jinxuan behind him, he had to grit his teeth.

Mo Yujue felt as if his chest were on fire. After spitting blood, he felt slightly better, but when he looked down, he froze... His silver spear was gone, only the shaft remained, the head having been cut off and lying on the ground not far away!

Mo Yujue was annoyed, threw the shaft aside, and looked at the man in black.

But looking at him, he was shocked—not by the man's unfathomable martial arts, but by the fact that Yin Fengzhan was actually fighting the man in black to a draw!

Mo Yujue was shocked. It wasn't strange that Yin Fengzhan knew martial arts, but no one knew to what extent. Yin Fenglian was also stunned, but then he frowned.

Yin Fengzhan's martial arts were good, but his weapon was clearly not as sharp as the opponent's. This forced Yin Fengzhan to dodge the sword's edge, because if they clashed, his weapon would be shattered!

Besides the weapon disadvantage, although Yin Fengzhan could fight the man in black to a draw for a short time, the man clearly wasn't using his full strength. Yin Fenglian was worried and wanted to help, but feared he would only make things worse.

Just then, the man in black turned his sword, flashed, kicked Yin Fengzhan's sword away, and threw his own peerless weapon aside!

The force was immense; the pitch-black weapon was thrown, burying itself into the ground, leaving only the handle sticking out!

Everyone was shocked, but Yin Fengzhan understood. He pursed his lips and attacked the man in black with his fists!

Clearly, this time, the man in black didn't want to tangle with Yin Fengzhan anymore. After a few moves, he feinted and struck Yin Fengzhan hard in the chest with his palm!

'Bang—'

A muffled sound rang out, and Yin Fengzhan was sent flying a yard away! Just as he landed, he turned in the air, used a guard's head for leverage, and rushed at the man in black again!

Yin Fengzhan's target was always the man in black. He knew that as long as the man in black didn't die, the matter wouldn't end. Seeing this, the man in black's cold eyes narrowed, he flashed, and struck Yin Fengzhan again!

Including the first strike, this was the third. If it were anyone else, they would have died long ago. Even top experts in the martial arts world couldn't survive three strikes from this man.

So this time, Yin Fengzhan finally collapsed. Yin Fenglian rushed over to support him. But Yin Fengzhan's eyes remained fixed on the man in black, then landed on Nie Jinxuan!

Yin Fengzhan couldn't even speak. He just stared at Nie Jinxuan. Looking at his face, at the blood-stained corners of his mouth, Nie Jinxuan could only shake her head, then turned to the man in black.

"I know I have no leverage, but I hope you will promise me that no matter what happens in the future, you will not touch him!"

Nie Jinxuan knew Yin Fengzhan's personality too well. If she died, even if he lost to the man in black today, he would definitely hunt him down in the future! That would be suicide, so she wanted a promise that he wouldn't touch Yin Fengzhan!

Of course, Nie Jinxuan also knew that Yin Fengzhan, who had great self-esteem, would resent her for this. But she couldn't care about that now; she just wanted him to live, to live well!

Understanding Nie Jinxuan's intentions, the man in black glanced at Yin Fengzhan and nodded at Nie Jinxuan.

"Thank you."

Nie Jinxuan smiled, feeling relieved. She looked at Mo Yujue, Yin Fenglian, and finally Yin Fengzhan, then raised the sword to her own neck!

In an instant, the world seemed to stop, and Yin Fengzhan roared! But just at this critical moment, the man in black's eyes flashed, and he struck the sword in Nie Jinxuan's hand with his palm!

'Clang—'

The sword fell to the ground with a crisp sound.

At this moment, everyone was stunned, staring at the man in black, unable to say a word!

No one would have thought that at the last moment, the man in black would strike the sword from Nie Jinxuan's hand! Didn't he want her life? But now...

Everyone was dumbfounded!