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nTranslator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

nIf asked which organization in Chaotian was the most mysterious, many people would mention the Curtain Rollers.

nIf asked which place in Chaotian was the most terrifying, many people would mention the Underworld.

nIf asked which group in Chaotian was the most terrifying and mysterious, there was only one answer:

nThe Old Ones.

nThe Old Ones were a group of assassins who would assassinate anybody – merchants and vendors, royal families and relatives, treacherous ministers or loyal heroes – for the right price. Even if you asked them to assassinate a swordsman of the Broken Sea State, the Old Ones would still give it a try. It was rumored that they had done so successfully before.

nIt was unknown who had founded the Old Ones, where they were located, or how many members they had.

nYet people knew one fact: if one became their target, he could look forward to staying the same age forever, because he would be dead.

nThe man in black didn’t deny it.

nFor orthodox sects like the Green Mountain Sect, the Old Ones were an evil group and a deviant heterodox sect that had to be purged.

nZhao Layue lowered her head a bit more, covering more of her face with the conical hat.

nThe man in black didn’t feel surprised, as he had seen many so-called evildoers, and they would feel uncomfortable when they first learned he was with the Old Ones.

nThe uncomfortable feeling came from fear or even poor self-esteem when facing true evil.

n“If you’re willing to join the Old Ones, anything is possible.”

nHe spoke to Zhao Layue, smiling, his voice growing hoarser but more charming.

n“Want crystal stones? No problem. Want precious drugs? No problem either. Even if you want fame and status in the Cultivation world, we can help you achieve them.”

n“But you can’t give me what I want,” said Zhao Layue.

nThe man in black stopped smiling. “I appreciate what you have done in the last two years,” he said coldly. “That’s why I’ve come to meet you. It looks like you still don’t have the courage to step into a world of truth that can be witnessed only by a qualified few. I shall come find you again when you get caught by the Pure Heaven Bureau and can’t stand the torture anymore.”

n“I’m not afraid of threats,” snapped Zhao Layue.

n“You’ve really got the attitude of the disciples of a major sect,” said the man in black. “But no matter which sect you are fleeing from, since you have offended the royal concubine, you have absolutely no chance of going back to your sect. And you shouldn’t hope to return to the Cultivation circle either. There is no future there for you.”

nAs he stood to the side listening to this exchange, Jing Jiu was sure the man in black was merely a rank-and-file member of the Old Ones. “Hurry up,” he told Zhao Layue, losing his patience.

nIn the past two years, when he had accompanied Zhao Layue in her adventures of purging demons and killing evildoers, the new experience had brought him some excitement, but after a while they had become boring, so he often urged her to hurry up.

nThese encounters had happened so many times, and she had heard these two words so often that Zhao Layue acted without much thought.

nThe ocean wind rushed into the broken temple, brushing past her hair, and her sword will was suddenly agitated, ready to shoot out of her body.

nThe man in black, as an assassin of the Old Ones, had always mounted sneak attacks on his enemies. He didn’t remember ever being ambushed by others!

nHe was surprised, but moreover he was furious, summoning seventeen small black flags as quickly as he could to circle around his entire body.

nThose small black flags exuded an air of cold despair, as if countless sorrowful souls were trapped inside. These flags were not ordinary objects. They were special treasures employed by the Mysterious Dark Sects to counterattack the Sword Sects, called the “Banner of Falling Swords”.

nThe Banner of Falling Swords was made of seventeen rare materials, extremely sensitive to magic swords. It could determine the direction of flying swords and exert force upon the swords, interfering with the routes of the flying swords once they had left their owners’ hands.

nIf there was a big difference between Cultivation states, the Banner of Falling Swords could be used by its owner to cut off the connection between the flying sword and its master.

nThe man in black was certain that his Banner of Falling Swords could at least block his opponent’s flying sword, even if it couldn’t knock down her sword. Then he could take the opportunity to get under the Ocean-God Temple to activate the pre-arranged Formation, finishing off his opponent.

nAs an experienced assassin of the Old Ones, he conceived a watertight counterattack strategy in the shortest time period in the face of a sudden attack.

nHowever, he underestimated his opponent.

nHe didn’t know his opponent was the youngest peak master of the last fifty years at the Green Mountain Sect.

nMore importantly, Zhao Layue had tested her sword many times in the last two years, so her awareness of sword fighting was at its peak.

nShe didn’t pull out her sword, but instead turned herself into a sword.

nHer short hair moved with the wind, becoming messy again, and she disappeared from the original spot.

nWhen she reappeared, she stood right in front of the man in black.

nIn an instant, Zhao Layue had covered a distance of over ten yards, passing through those small black flags.

nTwo visible wounds appeared on her shoulder and earlobe, the black colored blood trickling out.

nIgnoring her injury, Zhao Layue hit the chest of the man in black with her palm.

nThe man in black didn’t have enough time to retrieve his black flags, and with an odd yell, he raised up his right hand to intercept her palm.

nHis palm looked quite bony and inhuman, emitting a pitch black glint on its edge, which might have contained some kind of devilish magic.

nSmack!!!

nThe two palms met each other.

nA crimson red sword shot out of Zhao Layue’s palm.

nClink!!!

nThe sword pierced through the palm of the man in black with ease, thrusted forward, and punctured his chest.

nThe bloody red tip of the sword emerged from the back of the man in black.

nThe red tip was either the original color, or it had been stained by the man’s blood.

nDrip!!! Drip!!!

nHis blood dripped onto the ground of the broken temple.

nThe man in black knelt slowly to the ground and dropped dead.

nIn his eyes was a look of disbelief and despair.

nThe ocean wind was suddenly howling.

nThe peeling wall coverings were turned into dust by the gusts of wind, dancing in the air.

nThey could sense the intimidating sword source in the night sky getting nearer.

nZhao Layue lifted her head, looking up at the sky above the broken temple.

nThe pair of distinctive black and white eyes under the conical hat were full of aggressive sword will and tremendous fighting intention.

n“Can’t beat him,” Jing Jiu told her. “Maybe you can win ten years later.”

nXiao He felt bewildered, her eyes wide open.

nShe couldn’t understand what she had just witnessed.

nIt looked like they had been negotiating. Why did Zhao Layue suddenly attack and kill the man?

nThis was inconceivable.

nWhile she thought about it, Xiao He suddenly felt a chill in a part of her body.

nLowering her head to check, she found an iron sword piercing through her right shoulder.

nThe iron sword had gone through her body and pinned her to the wall of the broken temple.

nThe blood was flowing out from her body, dripping along the iron sword.

nXiao He sensed her body getting colder, and then felt excruciating pain, her face becoming completely ashen.

nLifting her head and looking at Jing Jiu, she was shocked, speechless.

nThe iron sword was in Jing Jiu’s hand.

nShe had guarded herself against Zhao Layue, doing so in absolute fear.

nThe Old Ones knew exactly how many demons and humans she had killed and how she had done it, and they knew better than the Pure Heaven Bureau.

nShe hadn’t found out Zhao Layue’s true capabilities when they met in the hotpot restaurant.

nBut she had never dreamt Jing Jiu could be so heartless.

nShe hadn’t even noticed Jing Jiu pulling out his sword before it had pierced her right shoulder.

nThe waifish Xiao He looked miserable, especially as she was pinned to the wall with a large iron sword.

nThe expression in Jing Jiu’s eyes was genuinely calm and merciless, without a hint of artifice.

nJing Jiu looked at her as if she were a common stone, or a momentary wave in the Western Ocean.

nXiao He knew his Cultivation state was not much higher than hers, and he might not have been able to defeat her if he hadn’t mounted a sneak attack.

nHowever, looking into his eyes, she felt an extreme fear which extinguished any feeling of confrontation she had.

nBecause Xiao He knew this was true ruthlessness.

nAbsolute ruthlessness.

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