Free Web NovelChapter 25: Chapter 25: Assassination
The night was like still water.
Gentle moonlight bathed the land.
At the back of Lingyuan Temple, the forest was deathly silent.
Fang Xing leaned against a tree, one hand on his saber, his gaze fixed on the lit-up Lingyuan Temple.
"Still no movement?"
Watching Lingyuan Temple, Fang Xing frowned slightly.
An incense stick’s worth of time had passed with no sign of activity. This seemed a little too strange.
In the quiet night, with the Perception of his Dark Force Cultivation, he should have been able to hear even the slightest stir.
But right now, he couldn’t detect a single thing.
’Did he go to the front?’
Gripping the hilt of his saber, Fang Xing narrowed his eyes.
He didn’t know the situation inside Lingyuan Temple, but even if there was a commotion at the main gate, he should have been able to hear something with his Perception Power.
No movement meant Shen Ye hadn’t made his move yet.
Then again, the fight might be happening in one of Lingyuan Temple’s secret rooms.
After all, the report had described it clearly: there were several hidden chambers within Lingyuan Temple.
’I should just focus on my post.’
Pushing aside his stray thoughts, Fang Xing calmed his mind and continued his watch.
No surprises would be for the best.
Though he wanted to get more Enhancement Points, the risks were also great.
SWOOSH—!
Just as Fang Xing was waiting patiently, a figure suddenly burst over the temple’s courtyard wall.
In the moonlight, Fang Xing’s sharp eyes caught sight of a pale face.
The man reeked of blood; he was clearly injured.
’He’s here!’
His spirits instantly lifted. With a flicker of movement, he glided like a ghost toward the figure who had fled the temple.
His body was light, and he moved without a sound.
Having cultivated Gale Step to the Peak of Perfection, this Body Technique Martial Arts was truly showing its effect.
In the space of a breath, Fang Xing was close.
After vaulting the temple wall, the figure scrambled miserably in his direction. Fang Xing didn’t meet him head-on; instead, he stopped when there were still several yards between them.
Pressing his body against the trunk of a large tree, he seemed to melt into the night.
One step, two steps...
Fang Xing silently calculated the distance.
When the man was less than seven steps away, he moved!
His saber cut through the air!
The tip of the blade was chilling, lunging forward like a venomous snake from the shadows, as fast as lightning.
A flash of Jing Hong!
PSCHT! The sharp blade pierced through the man’s chest.
His already pale face turned even more ghastly.
The thick stench of blood filled the air.
A wave of excruciating pain washed over him!
He struggled to lower his head and look at the blade piercing his body. A sweet taste rose in his throat, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
But in that same instant, a hand shot out like a phantom, grabbed his neck, and twisted!
CRACK! His expression was frozen forever in that moment.
Fang Xing pulled out his saber, and the body before him collapsed to the ground in a pool of blood.
Under the moonlight, a ghastly white face lay on the cold ground, eyes wide open.
As Fang Xing stared at the corpse, a crimson thread emerged and flowed into his body.
Fang Xing subconsciously checked the crimson panel.
Name: Fang Xing
Cultivation: Dark Force
Enhancement Level: One-Star (22%)
Enhancement Points: Fifty-four
"Fifty points..."
"Nice!"
Seeing the sudden surge in Enhancement Points, a smile touched Fang Xing’s lips. He glanced toward the temple wall, hoping for a few more to come his way.
’Fifty points from one Bright Force Martial Artist. How many would a Dark Force Martial Artist be worth?’
The thought flashed through his mind before he snapped back to reality. He quickly grabbed the corpse and dragged it into the forest.
Then, he resumed his wait.
From the silent Lingyuan Temple, the sounds of a fight finally broke out.
Fang Xing didn’t act rashly and continued to hold his position.
The battle inside the temple was Shen Ye’s to handle.
Their mission was to clean up any fish that slipped through the net!
The consequences of ruining Shen Ye’s plan were not something he could bear.
As long as no one escaped from his post, everything would be fine.
At Lingyuan Temple, the silent night was shattered.
Two figures were locked in combat in the temple’s clearing.
Invisible waves of energy rippled out around them.
BANG—!
With a dull thud, the two figures were knocked back.
One of them was, of course, Shen Ye.
And the other was the Beard Monk.
Shen Ye’s expression was grim, a powerful aura swirling around him. A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of the Beard Monk’s mouth, his face pale.
"Heh heh, a man from the Observatory. Impressive, as expected. But you’re alone. You won’t be leaving today," the Beard Monk said, his gaze icy as he cracked a cold smile.
"Come out!"
The Beard Monk roared.
From the shadows of the night, several monks stepped out holding long staves. They formed an array, surrounding Shen Ye.
"Form up and kill him!" the Beard Monk sneered. The monks charged forward, their staves cutting through the air, seeming to rip the very atmosphere apart.
"A pack of rats skulking in the shadows thinks they can overturn the heavens? Wishful thinking!"
A cold voice rang out. As the words fell, a blue light coalesced around Shen Ye.
The temperature of the air dropped suddenly.
SWISH—!
Before the staves could land, his figure vanished.
BANG! BANG! BANG!!!
In that instant, the monks were sent flying, spitting blood. The staves in their hands snapped and crashed heavily to the ground.
The Beard Monk’s pupils shrank. A layer of red light spread between his hands.
A red Palm Seal shot toward Shen Ye.
The air seemed to scorch.
Shen Ye’s expression remained unchanged. Blue light gathered in his palm, and with a burst of chilling energy, he swiftly met the attack.
DONG!
A dull boom echoed as the two figures collided, sending a powerful shockwave sweeping outward.
Blech...
The Beard Monk was thrown back several yards, spraying another mouthful of blood.
"Old man, it’s time to end this."
A chilling voice drifted over as a ghostly white blade light slashed toward the Beard Monk.
The blade light descended.
The Beard Monk’s face changed drastically. He tried to dodge, but he was a step too slow.
PSPLURT—!
Blood gushed out as an arm flew into the air and landed on the ground. frёewebnoѵēl.com
"Nngh...!"
The Beard Monk, his face pale, let out a muffled groan. Seeing Shen Ye charge at him again, he immediately threw out a black bead.
BOOM!!!
A massive explosion erupted. Thick dust and smoke billowed up, and the entire temple trembled.
The ground cracked open, and rolling smoke engulfed Shen Ye’s figure.
The Beard Monk’s figure vanished into the thick smoke.
Covered in dust and grime, Shen Ye stepped out of the smoke, his face dark. He glanced in one direction with an icy stare, and with a flicker, his figure vanished from the spot.
...
"What was that huge noise?"
Hearing the massive boom from Lingyuan Temple, Fang Xing was startled.
’That sounded like they set off gunpowder in there!’
A noise that loud was earth-shattering!
It was either complete silence or a thunderous roar!
Staring at the high temple walls, Fang Xing really wanted to see what was happening.
A clash of Neutralizing Force!
That was a rare sight.
’The one fighting Shen Ye must be the Abbot of Lingyuan Temple.’
Although he couldn’t see the specifics, Fang Xing could make an educated guess.
The report had clearly stated that the temple’s Abbot was a genuine Neutralizing Force master.
In Qingshan County, he was considered a top-tier existence.
He was also the leader of this Fire Worship Sect stronghold.
"Hm?"
’Here comes another one!’
Just as Fang Xing was getting his hopes up, a figure vaulted over the temple wall.
He immediately went on high alert, his internal Demon Suppressing Power gathering, ready to be unleashed.
The figure scrambled over the wall and fled frantically in his direction.
’Heavily injured. Excellent. Another opportunity.’
Watching the panicked figure, Fang Xing’s eyes gleamed as he judged the distance.
When the figure was within ten steps, Fang Xing’s own form vanished in an instant.
His saber cut through the air, stabbing out like a bolt of lightning.
PSCHT—!
The sharp blade pierced through the body, and blood welled up!
However, in that same instant, the figure he had just stabbed spun around violently and thrust out a hand.
It was lightning-fast, and a terrifying Power surged toward him.
’Not good!’
Sensing the danger, Fang Xing’s scalp tingled. He twisted his body to the side, and the immense Power grazed past him.
With a loud CRACK, a foot-thick bluestone slab shattered into dust.
