Outside world.
Black clouds pressed down on the city.
A weight hung over everyone's hearts.
Only Jiang Jun laughed and said, "By now, that Netherworld King should be dead, right?"
On the Hidden Dao Academy's side—
The Sword Hall Elder's eyes narrowed, and he shouted, "What have you done?!"
Dean Ru also moved his cold gaze from the book in his hand to Jiang Jun, his eyes icy to the extreme!
But Jiang Jun acted like nothing happened, ignoring the oppressive aura of two Water Overflow Realm peak experts. He released his own cultivation, resisting the pressure.
He spread his hands and smiled, "Our purpose in coming this time was for Netherworld King. Otherwise, for a mere Blood Prison Mystic Realm, why would the Sunset Dynasty bother coming to this Southern Barbaric Land?"
Before this—
They too had wondered why anyone from the Sunset Dynasty would show up.
After all, in the Northern Region there were plenty of trial grounds like the Blood Prison Mystic Realm.
There was no need to come all the way to the Southern Region!
Now, the truth was out.
The Sunset Dynasty's real target was Netherworld King!
Sword intent swirled around the Sword Hall Elder, his eyes filled with murderous resolve. He already gripped his sword tightly!
"If anything happens to Netherworld King, Hidden Dao Academy will not let you go."
Dean Ru had always been calm, but this time, he did nothing to stop the Sword Hall Elder's words.
After all, the feeling was mutual.
Jiang Jun sneered, "The way of martial arts is paved with life and death. If Netherworld King couldn't measure up and fell, is that anyone else's fault?"
"Besides… do you Hidden Dao Academy folks really dare start a war with my Sunset Dynasty? Your main academy probably wouldn't agree, would they?"
The Hidden Dao Academy's branches stretched across the Four Regions, but above them was a supreme main academy.
The purpose of the Academy, after all, was to spread the Dao to the world, not to wage war against other powers.
Jiang Jun continued to mock, "If it were your main academy, perhaps my Sunset Dynasty would have some reservations. But just you lot?"
Jiang Jun didn't finish his sentence, but everyone understood his meaning.
The Sword Hall Elder's anger exploded and he stepped forward, but Dean Ru stepped in to stop him.
"Don't act rashly. Let's watch first."
At those words, the Sword Hall Elder backed down.
In his eyes, Netherworld King's talent in the Sword Dao was of critical importance to the Hidden Dao Academy.
If he survived, Netherworld King would become a sword cultivator famed throughout the Four Regions!
That was why the Sword Hall Elder was so furious.
"Let's hope Netherworld King survives this crisis…"
...
At the same time—
Within the Blood Prison Mystic Realm.
Netherworld King was speeding across the blood-red wasteland.
His other hand clutched a medicinal pill, siphoning off its power to quickly restore his spiritual energy.
This pill had come from Lu Chang'sheng.
The effects were naturally extraordinary.
Soon, the spiritual depletion from using the Fourth Sword of the Nine Heavenly Demon Sword in succession had already recovered halfway!
At Netherworld King's current strength—
He could unleash the Fourth Sword now.
But to use it back-to-back would still leave him terribly drained!
This was why Netherworld King had to retreat first.
He glanced behind him.
There, three black-clad figures still pursued relentlessly, refusing to let up!
Behind the black-clad trio came the four armored men; Chou Libei brought up the rear!
He wanted to watch Netherworld King die with his own eyes!
Only then would he rest easy.
"No, he's recovering his spiritual energy."
Suddenly, one of the black-clad figures warned: "Time for action."
"What kind of medicinal pill lets him run and recover, and recover this fast?"
"Quit the chatter. Burn your blood essence, unless you want things to change when he recuperates!"
When these words came out, the other two stayed calm and showed no dissent.
As if this was all too routine!
This was why Shadow Kill was called a pack of lunatics.
For the mission, they'd do anything!
Even dying together, or burning their blood essence!
They'd even sacrifice comrades…
As long as the target died—
There was nothing they wouldn't do!
With that, blood-red auras rose simultaneously from all three!
Their blood essence blazed.
Their auras exploded in an instant!
For a moment, their speed surged as they shot toward Netherworld King!
Seeing this, Netherworld King's eyes tightened.
They were willing to burn their blood essence just to kill him.
It showed their resolve.
Netherworld King halted, having finished absorbing the medicinal pill; his strength returned once again to its peak!
The three black-clad men circled Netherworld King.
Forming a triangle!
Of course, they felt Netherworld King's strength return as well.
But as assassins—
They wouldn't waste breath on pointless talk.
So what if his strength was back?
Netherworld King was still their target.
Too many words would be a mistake.
Speak too much and you slip up.
This was a killer's creed.
They would never make a trivial mistake that cost them the mission!
And then—
The three of them simultaneously formed an ancient mudra, and a killing array instantly surrounded Netherworld King!
Within the array, waves of thick fog spread out, cloaking Netherworld King inside!
The killing array activated.
All three figures vanished from Netherworld King's sight.
Not just the three—
The surrounding scenery and the aura of the world—
All gone!
The four armored men and Chou Libei caught up.
Watching it all, they laughed: "Shadow Kill's Hidden Fog Killing Array—this formation is unleashed by burning their blood essence. Netherworld King has absolutely no way out now."
"Trapped in this Hidden Fog Killing Array, Netherworld King's senses are cut off—he probably won't even know how he dies."
Clearly, all four armored men were quite wary of this Hidden Fog Killing Array as well.
At that moment, inside the array, Netherworld King frowned slightly.
He couldn't locate a trace of the three assassins' auras.
But he knew—they must be lying in wait within these mists!
This was far superior to the illusion arrays used at the last Academy Tournament…
Suddenly, a black shadow lunged from behind Netherworld King!
Netherworld King's expression shifted; with a roll, he dodged the lethal strike.
But his shoulder was still ripped open!
The wound was so deep the bone showed!
If Netherworld King had reacted a moment slower, he'd be dead already.
In the dark, one black-clad man was stunned.
He hadn't expected his kill strike to miss.
Netherworld King's gaze was grave as he scanned the surroundings; the formation revealed no flaws!
All he saw was endless mist!
If his eyes couldn't help…
Netherworld King shut his eyes, standing firm in the fog.
Abandoning sight!
Abandoning senses!
Abandoning all perception!
Feeling with his heart.
See with the heart!
To pierce all things with Heart's Eye!
"Tricks!"
Before the words had faded, a dagger stabbed toward Netherworld King's heart!
Yet Netherworld King kept his eyes closed.
But the sword in his hand swung toward the dagger!
Clang!
The sound of metal striking metal!
The dagger was cleaved away and vanished into the fog!
This was a special mental technique from the Primordial Sword Scripture!
Heart's Eye!