C15 Qing Shi Town

The War Cloud Sect lay a few thousand kilometers beyond the outskirts of Heavenly Cloud City. With Ye Chen's current level at the second tier of the Martial Soul Stage, even with a swift horse, it would take him at least three days to reach the sect.

Having said goodbye to his father, Ye Chen departed from Heavenly Cloud City and set out for the War Cloud Sect.

...

Greenstone Town.

A secluded little town near the War Cloud Sect.

The town was modest in size, lacking any opulent inns or even a branch of the Treasure Pavilion, which spoke volumes about its desolation. There weren't many warriors or influential forces to speak of.

Approaching Greenstone Town, Ye Chen began to ease the pace of his horse.

"I haven't had a proper rest since leaving Heavenly Cloud City, and my provisions are nearly depleted. It would be wise to resupply and rest here for a day before continuing on to the War Cloud Sect."

Observing his Wuchong Horse's fatigue, Ye Chen shook his head and spoke to himself.

Two days had passed since his departure from Heavenly Cloud City. He had traveled relentlessly, finally nearing Greenstone Town, which was close to the War Cloud Sect.

"First, I'll take a break inside."

Upon entering Greenstone Town with his Wuchong Horse, Ye Chen took a moment to survey his surroundings.

The conditions in Greenstone Town were far from ideal, verging on deplorable. The autumn rains had turned the streets to mud, and the shops appeared neglected and worn. Clearly, they hadn't been maintained in quite some time.

In comparison to Heavenly Cloud City, this town was decidedly underdeveloped, not even in the same league.

However, Ye Chen wasn't concerned about the town's lackluster environment; he only planned to stay the night and would depart at dawn.

The liveliest spot in Greenstone Town was the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, a tavern that seemed to be a popular rest stop for the warriors and traders passing through, likely due to its location at the crossroads.

Inside the tavern, Ye Chen selected a premium room with a window view on the second floor. He ordered a plate of Demon Beast meat and a jug of wine, settling in with a sense of contentment.

Compared to the meager dry rations and roughing it outdoors over the past couple of days, the Drunken Immortal Pavilion was a haven of comfort. In fact, Ye Chen found himself thoroughly pleased with the establishment at that moment.

But his contentment was short-lived.

Just as Ye Chen had settled into a moment of relaxation, a hulking brute swaggered up to his table, plopped down unceremoniously, and began wolfing down the Demon Beast meat and swigging the fine wine with abandon.

"Interesting... You must be the assassin the Shen family or Qin family sent, huh? But tell me, don't you know it's a deadly mistake to ruin someone's good time?" Ye Chen's eyes narrowed as he observed the man's savage aura, and after a brief pause, he addressed him coolly.

All along his journey, Ye Chen had been aware of someone tailing him at a discreet distance.

The martial artist shadowing him had been exuding a subtle but unmistakable aura of malice. To someone as keenly attuned as Ye Chen, the murderous intent was as clear as day.

"You wretched boy, your end is nigh, right here. It would be a shame to let this fine wine and meat go to waste... But since I'm in a good mood, why don't you choose? Either take your own life or let me do the honors and claim your head for my bounty," the burly man taunted, laughing heartily as he eyed Ye Chen with a mix of amusement and contempt.

The Shen and Qin families had put up a hefty sum of five hundred thousand silver taels for Ye Chen's life. And if one were to bring back his limbs and head, there would be an additional two hundred thousand silver taels as a bonus!

"Considering the decent wine and meat you've chosen, I'll fill you in. The Shen and Qin families have put a price of five hundred thousand silver taels on your head through Blood Hand Hall. As for me, they call me Blood Nine, and I'm the man who'll be collecting your head for that reward," Blood Nine said with a cold sneer, as a surge of killing intent erupted from him, firmly targeting Ye Chen.

"Blood Hand Hall?" A sharp glint flashed in Ye Chen's eyes as he murmured to himself, contemplating his next move.

If my memory serves me right, Blood Hand Hall is a fearsomely powerful force of assassins in the Low Martial Field, rivaling even the might of the War Cloud Sect and other formidable sects.

Within Blood Hand Hall, there are three distinct ranks.

The most powerful among them are the Tu Wei, followed by the mid-level Dark Guard, and the weakest, the blood guards!

Clearly, this Blood Nine before me is one of the latter—the weakest blood guards!

"To think that Blood Hand Hall would send just a lowly blood guard to face me. That's quite the insult... Moreover, I doubt someone of your caliber will be able to hold me back today."

Ye Chen looked at Blood Nine with a cold smile, his face brimming with amusement.

"You impudent whelp, your strength is laughable, but your arrogance knows no bounds. Lightning Sword Art!"

Blood Nine responded to Ye Chen's taunt with a sinister laugh. His seventh-level Martial Soul power surged as he conjured a massive sword, its blade glinting with five yellow flashes, and viciously swung it towards Ye Chen.

In a flash, a sword light as thick as a water barrel sliced through the air, streaking towards Ye Chen with the speed of lightning, leaving onlookers in awe.

Then, with a thunderous boom, an explosion rocked the space.

Wood splinters flew in all directions within the Drunken Immortal Restaurant, and the spot where Ye Chen had been sitting was now a gaping hole several meters wide, revealing the astonished faces of the patrons below.

Clearly, none of the warriors and merchants inside had anticipated such a confrontation.

As for Ye Chen, to the crowd, he appeared to be beyond dead, with not even a trace of his body left.

The sheer force of that lightning sword light was utterly horrifying!

"Haha... To defy Blood Hand Hall is the height of arrogance. Yet this boy was so feeble that he couldn't withstand a single blow from me, reduced to nothing but a smear on the ground!"

Blood Nine was momentarily taken aback by the absence of Ye Chen's body, then he scoffed coldly.

However, a twinge of regret nagged at him.

Now that Ye Chen had been obliterated, not even a corpse remained to be found. He feared that even upon completing his mission, he'd only receive about half the bounty. What a bitter loss.

The numerous warriors and merchants on both floors were visibly shaken.

It was beyond their imagination that the assassins from Blood Hand Hall could be so formidable. Not even a warrior with Level Two Cultivation in the Martial Soul Stage could endure a single strike from the assassin known as Blood Nine!