C28 Becoming the Boss

The sound of clashing metal rang out, "Ding, ding, ding!" For several minutes, the group struggled against the nine opponents, gradually losing ground. Yet Fei Liang was not among those faltering.

As the minutes ticked by, the ninja at the Profound Level Late Period grew increasingly anxious in his duel with Fei Liang. Far from being at a disadvantage, Fei Liang seemed to gain strength with every exchange, a fact that filled his adversary with dread.

With a swift "Chi!" Fei Liang, emboldened by battle, seized a moment of distraction to wound his opponent with his blade.

"Baka!" The ninja roared in rage, incensed at being injured by someone he deemed so beneath him. Unforgivable. In his frenzied state, his strength surged, and Fei Liang was undoubtedly pushed back.

Yet, Fei Liang remained composed. He knew that anger could bolster strength but also lead to mistakes. Patiently, he waited for the perfect moment to deliver a decisive blow.

"Die, vermin!" A sharp cry cut through the air as a streak of light flashed forward, and with two swift palm strikes, two more ninjas were sent flying.

"Ms. Ningyu!" Lyu Liya exclaimed, her face lighting up with joy.

"Old Zuo!" Lee Shanfeng's eyes also caught the shadow trailing behind Mao Ningyu—it was Yuv Henn.

"Your opponent is me!" Mao Ningyu was ready to continue her assault when a chilling voice interrupted her, its owner's gender ambiguous. The slight figure of the ninja blocked her path.

"Take him down!" commanded the slender figure clad in black. At his behest, one of the two at his side lunged towards Yuv Henn.

Yuv Henn felt the pressure mount instantly; despite the unassuming appearance, his attacker was a formidable Profound Level Middle Period master.

"So, Mao Ningyu, the time has come to resolve our conflict," the thin man said with icy detachment, dispatching his underling.

"Very well, today I shall stand and fight!" Mao Ningyu's eyes narrowed with resolve as she accepted the challenge.

The trio made their way into the distance, leaving the fray behind. It seemed that both parties had secrets they couldn't risk exposing.

Mao Yuntian gazed at the retreating figure of the slender black-clad ninja, a sense of familiarity tugging at him. He was sure he had seen this person somewhere before.

The battle had reached a stalemate once again, thanks to Mao Ningyu's earlier intervention. Despite this, the ninjas maintained the upper hand, particularly because the one clashing with Yuv Henn was a seasoned ninja in the middle stage of the Profound Level. Or rather, a middle-stage ninja of the Earth Level. Yuv Henn might stand a chance against an average martial artist at the same stage, but against this ninja, his disadvantage was clear.

A stifled grunt escaped Yuv Henn as he sustained an injury.

Meanwhile, Mao Ningyu's confrontation with the skinny ninja was heating up.

"Mao Ningyu, rumors claim you've reached the early stage of the Earth Level. I'm here to put that to the test. But even if you were at the middle stage, today you'll meet your end!" The gaunt man in black sneered, unleashing a vicious assault on Mao Ningyu.

"So you're an upper-stage ninja," Mao Ningyu remarked coolly, unfazed by the attack. "Is that the source of your confidence?" She held her own effortlessly against the skinny ninja, even as a high-stage ninja nearby tried to distract her, Mao Ningyu remained in control.

"Damn it!" Fei Liang cursed under his breath as the battle turned increasingly dire.

"It looks like we have no other choice. Meier, activate the protective shield!" Fei Liang bellowed, "Die!" He faced the high-stage ninja's onslaught head-on, his blade cleaving through the air.

"Die, you foolish foreigner!" The ninja mocked, his cruel smile widening as he saw Fei Liang seemingly disregard his attack.

But to his shock, his strike couldn't penetrate the barrier around Fei Liang, who then thrust his blade straight into the ninja's heart. With a look of profound resentment, the ninja collapsed lifelessly.

"Kill!" Without a moment's hesitation, Fei Liang turned his deadly focus to the middle-stage ninja battling Yuv Henn.

As he was on the verge of defeating Yuv Henn, the middle-aged ninja sensed imminent danger. Terrified, he felt as if his soul was about to flee his body and hastily dodged to the side. Despite his efforts, he couldn't avoid getting injured.

"Kill!" Seizing the moment of weakness, Fei Liang wasn't about to let this prime opportunity slip away and pressed his attack.

"Chi!" The ninja made a desperate attempt to escape, but Fei Liang struck again, exacerbating his wounds.

"Bah!" Fei Liang's blow not only deepened the ninja's injuries but also provoked his wild nature. Abandoning flight, the middle-aged ninja lunged at Fei Liang head-on.

"Bring it on!" Fei Liang roared, his blade arcing through the air as he stepped forward. A flash of steel, and a head the size of a large fruit soared through the air—the middle-aged ninja met his end.

Like the one before him, he died never understanding why his attacks had no effect on Fei Liang.

"Hmph, looks like it's time to unleash my real power," Mao Ningyu muttered to herself. Although she was handling the situation with relative ease, she couldn't break through the enemy's defenses. Concern for Lyu Lishi's safety gnawed at her, fueling her urgency.

"I've been ready for you all along, release!" The slender black-clad ninja barked an order, prompting a swift response from his comrade.

"Self-detonation!" Mao Ningyu's face fell. She hadn't anticipated their possession of such a forbidden technique. Typically, only those at the Golden Core Stage could self-detonate, and others, lacking rare and nearly extinct secret techniques, would not be capable. Yet here they were, and Mao Ningyu was forced to respond by unleashing her full might.

"What? Earth Level Late Period!" The ninja's voice pierced the air, revealing her gender. Mao Ningyu found the voice strangely familiar.

With a thunderous "Boom!" the middle-aged ninja self-detonated. Mao Ningyu deftly sidestepped the blast and delivered a crushing palm strike to the chest of the slender ninja.

"Pfft!" Blood sprayed from the ninja's mouth as Mao Ningyu's blow sent him flying. He hit the ground and within moments, vanished without a trace.

Mao Ningyu frowned, dabbing away the trickle of blood at her mouth, then turned to leave. She knew better than to pursue a defeated foe; saving Lyu Lishi and the others was the priority. Still, it seemed she hadn't completely escaped the ninja's self-destructive final act.

Upon returning to the previous location, Mao Ningyu was shocked to find several bodies on the ground. They were all black-clad ninjas, while Lyu Lishi and Fei Liang were tending to their injuries and wrapping their wounds.

It turned out that Fei Liang's elimination of two ninjas had decisively ended the stalemate. Except for two clever ones who managed to flee despite their injuries, the rest were slain by Fei Liang and his companions.

After listening to Lyu Lishi's account, Mao Ningyu looked at Fei Liang with newfound admiration.

Once they had rested, the group made their way back to camp. Yuv Qianer was visibly relieved to see everyone return in one piece. Despite the injuries, they were all accounted for, which was a small mercy. Yuv Qianer was particularly astonished upon learning the full extent of their encounter.

Yuv Qianer wasn't the only one taken aback; even Fei Liang, who had sensed the complexity of the situation, hadn't anticipated a confrontation with Japanese ninjas. A later arrival could have spelled disaster.

With no appetite for a barbecue, everyone retreated to their tents. Shortly after Fei Liang settled into his, Lee Shanfeng and two others entered.

"Old Zhang, what's this about?" Fei Liang asked, confused by their presence.

"Third Brother, we've come to a unanimous decision after some discussion. We believe you're the most fit to lead us," Lee Shanfeng declared.

"There's no need for you to speak. Just hear me out. In the world of cultivation, strength commands respect. Third Brother, you're the strongest among us, and you've saved Old Zuo. The role of leader is rightfully yours," Mao Yuntian chimed in.

Fei Liang turned to Yuv Henn, who nodded in agreement. After a moment of contemplation and seeing the unwavering resolve in their eyes, Fei Liang accepted the role with a nod.

The conversation continued for a bit longer before the three men departed. Yuv Henn stayed behind, leaving ten Heaven Return Pills that boosted Fei Liang's Boundary Energy by 350 crystals. Fei Liang's Boundary Energy now totaled 1342 crystals.

The next day, as the group made their way back, it was unclear by what means Lee Shanfeng and his companions had managed it, but Heavenly Rock Mountain seemed untouched by any event, as though the previous night had been nothing more than a dream.