Chapter 362 - 216: Assassin 5

Chapter 362: Chapter 216: Assassin 5

Faced with such blatant provocations, the Spring Rain Building organized several roundups. Although they had some effect, they never managed to strike at the core of this mysterious and powerful assassin organization. It would always lie low for a time before making a comeback.

For decades, the Autumn Wind Building’s reputation in the underworld of the Great Li had been at its zenith. Their strength was indeed formidable; as long as the target wasn’t completely outrageous, their success rate was over ninety percent. They even had several successful assassinations of Grandmasters on their record.

Judging by his methods, this terrifyingly strong Assassin was clearly a Celestial Tier Assassin from the widely-known—or rather, infamous—Autumn Wind Building. In other words, a killer at the Third Transformation Realm.

One couldn’t be designated a Celestial Tier Assassin simply by reaching the Qi Blood Third Transformation Realm. To earn that title, one had to have assassinated at least several powerful Third Transformation Realm Martial Artists.

In Situ Qin’s expert opinion, this killer was most likely a Celestial Tier Assassin from the Autumn Wind Building. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have displayed such effortless and consummate skill.

Xie Yuan walked over to Situ Qin, his gaze still fixed vigilantly on the river’s surface. He slowly let out a breath.

"An opponent at the Third Transformation Realm... is truly this difficult to deal with."

Situ Qin didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

"Master Xie, even I wouldn’t dare underestimate a Martial Artist of the Qi Blood Third Transformation Realm. No matter how weak they are, they have still undergone three transformations. Even within the same realm, the differences in Qi and Blood levels and the distinction between early, middle, and late stages are already difficult to overcome, let alone a major realm gap. ’A new realm, a new mountain to climb’—that’s no empty saying."

But her beautiful eyes immediately scanned Xie Yuan up and down, filled with no small amount of astonishment.

"But Master Xie, this is the first time I’ve witnessed the power of your axe technique. I truly don’t understand it... But never mind that. How did you counter the Assassin’s final sword strike? You actually managed to injure a Celestial Tier Assassin one-on-one. What is your cultivation level? You’ve only just broken through to the Second Transformation Realm! If you told anyone, they wouldn’t believe it! Forget anyone else, if I hadn’t seen it with my own two eyes, I wouldn’t believe it either!"

Xie Yuan had no intention of hiding it from Situ Qin.

"I had a bit of an epiphany at Sword Peak. When facing sword techniques, I often get a flash of insight that allows me to turn the tables."

Situ Qin froze when she heard this. She seemed lost in thought for a moment, then murmured:

"Could it be... the power of the Sword Heart?"

Xie Yuan was surprised that Situ Qin had named the ability so precisely.

"You know about it? I thought... I thought it was rare."

"It is rare. I’ve only heard that some legendary Swordsmen possessed it, and... my father did, too. But besides you, I haven’t heard of anyone else in this generation who has this ability."

Xie Yuan was slightly surprised again. ’I guess... you could call this a kind of fate, couldn’t you?’

Situ Qin pondered for a moment, then a smile spread across her face.

"Still, the two of us joined forces and actually drove off a Celestial Tier Assassin! And what’s more, you were the one who wounded him and scared him into retreating!"

She clapped her hands, looking exhilarated.

"A Celestial Tier Assassin succeeds nine times out of ten, yet he met his match here. Those people really are willing to spare no expense... But he came so quickly."

Situ Qin’s brow furrowed slightly.

Xie Yuan now had a profound understanding of how terrifying the Celestial Tier Assassin was. Repelling him had been anything but easy.

But he kept his eyes on the water. The two of them silently moved farther and farther from the banks of the Wu River. After they had walked a good distance, Xie Yuan finally spoke.

"Let’s head back first. We can talk more there. This time, I’ve truly learned that the great families are not to be trifled with."

Situ Qin nodded silently.

"So, do you regret it?"

"It just means next time, I’ll hit harder and make sure no one gets away."

Xie Yuan said with a smile.

Situ Qin smiled faintly.

"Of the eight great families, the Qian family are the best at running away. They value their lives above all else, which makes their members the hardest to catch. When my mother dealt with them back then, the Qian family also suffered the lightest losses."

Xie Yuan nodded, a wave of exhaustion gradually washing over him.

He had expended a great deal of energy and had been relying on a Small Returning Pill and a Great Strength Vajra Pill to recover. Although both came from ancient ruins and possessed miraculous effects seemingly beyond this world, the effects of the Great Strength Vajra Pill were now gradually fading. Xie Yuan felt a growing emptiness inside him, and his pace slowed.

’My cultivation is still too low... The Second Transformation Realm is just the minimum requirement. To truly become a force to be reckoned with, I have to keep training.’

Xie Yuan thought to himself.

He walked along the main road, the sound of the Wu River’s waves faint in his ears. As he recalled the events of the past two days, his expression slowly grew somber.

Suddenly, Xie Yuan froze, his footsteps halting.

’The Wu River is calm. Where would waves be coming from?’

He suddenly realized the sound of water seemed to be coming from nearby... It seemed to be right beneath his feet.

"Watch out!"

A woman’s sharp cry rang out.

BOOM! A large hole erupted in the main road. A geyser of muddy water shot skyward, and mixed within it was that faint, indistinct shadow.

It thrust a lightless blade at Xie Yuan. Anticipating the move a split-second early, Xie Yuan’s eyes widened as an inverted golden bell flared into existence around him—the Golden Bell Shield!

However, the hastily summoned Golden Bell Shield couldn’t block the Assassin’s full-powered strike. It only halted the blade for an instant before shattering into a sky full of dream-like, illusory golden light.

The shortsword stabbed toward Xie Yuan’s chest. With a flash in his eyes and a low shout, Xie Yuan disregarded his own safety and thrust his own Long Sword toward the Assassin’s heart.

The Assassin’s blade struck first. Xie Yuan felt a searing heat on his chest as the Jade Buddha Statue shattered instantly, unleashing a clear light that helped him block the blow.

Xie Yuan felt a tightness in his chest but was uninjured. However, the shadow evaded his Long Sword with an uncanny, boneless twist of its body.

The shadow slightly retracted its shortsword, ready to strike again in the next breath. But a sudden gale blew between them, causing the shadow to pause. It then abruptly retreated, diving back into the hole in the road and vanishing in an instant.