Chapter 41: What Kind of Monster Is This?

Xu Zhe turned his face slightly, his gaze drifting toward the second floor of the Changyun Inn.

Relying on the power of my divine sense, I was aware of the killers lurking nearby, but I had no intention of revealing this to anyone. Everyone knows the Celestial Secrets Sect deals in intelligence. If, because I keep quiet, these assassins begin to speculate and draw connections to the Celestial Secrets Sect, wouldn’t I then be dragging innocent people into trouble?

Fortunately, I am not that kind of man.

So, friends of the Celestial Secrets Sect, rest assured—I have already clarified the matter on your behalf.

Xu Zhe’s eyes lingered on the second floor of Changyun Inn, sending a reassuring look to the trio from the Celestial Secrets Sect hiding behind the window’s narrow gap.

Meanwhile, within the “Soulshock” assassins’ organization, the black-clad man who seemed to be their leader took out a jade tablet, apparently recording something.

Although Xu Zhe couldn’t see what he wrote, a satisfied smile curled his lips. Clearing the suspicions from the Celestial Secrets Sect was worth admitting I’d discovered these killers myself.

“Xu Zhe.”

The black-clad man tucked away the jade tablet, his gaze cold and indifferent as he displayed a token. The token was pitch-black, inscribed with a single blood-red character: “Kill.”

“Someone has issued a kill order for you. We’re not the only ones who took this contract, but since you’re surrounded by us, I advise you not to make any futile resistance.”

He put away the token and continued, “Previously, you boasted during the Soul-Suppression Night that you could fight fifty opponents alone. Whether true or not, ‘Soulshock’ still gave you the utmost respect—we dispatched two hundred men. Fifty are tasked with sealing off information, the remaining one hundred and fifty, including us here, will execute the kill.

So you needn’t struggle pointlessly. Instead, use this last precious moment to settle your affairs.”

He pulled a paper from his robe, densely written with text. “This is our latest ‘Soulshock’ end-of-life benefits package.

Since you are a prodigy of noble status, I recommend you purchase our Type-A package. It preserves your whole body, allows you to pass peacefully, and comes with our dedicated ‘Soulshock’ professionals to arrange your funeral. A grand mourning tour lasting forty-nine days will be held at major landmarks across the four continents.

If you buy the Type-A package during the promotional period, you’ll also receive a complimentary glass coffin and be buried in the Prodigy Valley.”

“…”

Xu Zhe stared in disbelief, nearly stunned into silence.

Is being an assassin really so tough these days? They’re actually trying to pitch this kind of service to their target?

Honestly, would anyone actually buy this?

“Xu, the Type-A package from ‘Soulshock’ is indeed a good deal. Its cost-effectiveness and professionalism are superior to other assassin groups.” At this moment, Liu Gaoqing’s voice came from the second floor of Changyun Inn.

Having spoken, he leaned against the wall, sat down, and sighed softly, muttering, “Alas, for the sake of our acquaintance, this is all I can do for you.”

Inside the Prodigy Tower, the black-clad man also looked at Xu Zhe and asked, “Well? Will you buy it?”

“I have no money.” Xu Zhe patted his empty sleeves, showing they were swept clean, and not a single storage ring adorned his fingers.

“Impossible! Other factions visited you recently—they should’ve gifted you plenty of treasures. As we know, the Jade Pool Sanctuary gave you a storage ring…” the killer spat coldly.

“You mean those pills? I threw them out ages ago. If you want them, go check upstairs—they’re probably still in the trash.” Xu Zhe pointed at the stairs, his expression calm.

“Absurd! Facing death and you dare mock us? Forget this contract. Brothers, move in!”

The black-clad man, livid, gave the order. Within and outside the Prodigy Tower, over a hundred assassins attacked simultaneously.

Their specialty was assassination with hidden weapons, but knowing Xu Zhe’s body was as tough as bronze, they abandoned projectiles for close-range daggers.

Each assassin moved with precise steps, and in an instant, four identical formations emerged—each with thirty-six killers, weaving and swapping positions to maintain interconnected arrays, gradually closing in on Xu Zhe.

“The Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Combined Array?”

Xu Zhe paused, recognizing the formation. Though the name was common enough, its power was real—it could easily confuse and entrap a target, leading them unknowingly into the array and certain death.

But…

It was easy to break.

“Bang!”

Xu Zhe stepped forward, his aura surging. Righteous energy swept out, forming a shield, and the floor cracked beneath his feet, spiderwebbed with fissures.

Whoosh!

At the same moment, dozens of cold, gleaming daggers flashed past Xu Zhe like lightning. A faint scent of decay and burning wafted through the air.

“They coated the blades with poison?”

Xu Zhe was startled—the killers were nothing if not professional.

“This poison, once it touches a wound, will rot the entire body. Xu Zhe, there’s still time to buy the package and at least preserve your corpse,” one assassin sneered.

“No need. You’re far too troublesome.”

Xu Zhe frowned, stepping again, fist clenched.

Within his dantian, golden spiritual energy billowed violently; its flood surged through his meridians, transforming into immense power.

His divine sense poured forth, compressing and condensing before him.

Spirit and energy united in an instant.

“Break the Delusion!”

True self remains; all delusions are false—my fist will shatter them!

“Boom!”

His punch tore through the air, generating a thunderous sonic boom.

Ahead, dozens of assassins weaving their positions were swept up like paper by an invisible wave, smashing through the Prodigy Tower’s wall and crashing into the ground, leaving deep craters in the earth.

“What?”

The remaining killers were shocked, eyes wide as saucers, witnessing their comrades lying twisted and disfigured in pools of blood. Their minds reeled in disbelief.

“Boom!”

Another sonic blast—Xu Zhe struck again.

Dozens more assassins, caught off guard, were hurled into the air, coughing blood mid-flight, dying outright upon hitting the ground.

“Good lord…”

Everyone hiding nearby, including the cultivators in Changyun Inn, were dumbfounded.

Earlier, Xu Zhe had crushed Qi Ming in single combat—everyone knew he was strong.

But that was still single combat, and the Three Thousand Cold Crow Army had been nearly obliterated by the warship—hardly a benchmark.

Now, facing over a hundred “Soulshock” killers, each at late Foundation Establishment stage, with some suppressing their cultivation to enter this place, everyone thought Xu Zhe was doomed.

Yet, with a single punch, dozens died on the spot.

With a second, more fell.

What kind of monstrous power was this?

Even a Golden Core cultivator would struggle—no, not even a Golden Core could withstand such a blow.

Since when did physical cultivators possess such might?

“He’s at Foundation Establishment—he broke through!”

Suddenly, someone cried out.

Xu Zhe’s spiritual energy was finally noticed.

Everyone then sensed his aura—and their faces turned pale.

Foundation Establishment!

But wasn’t he walking the path of the physical body?

How did he reach Foundation Establishment so soon?

No—he awakened only five days ago. Now you’re telling me he’s at Foundation Establishment?

“Retreat, retreat! The intelligence was wrong—go demand compensation from the Mo family!”

A black-clad leader shouted, leading his men to break formation and flee.

Bronze body, Foundation Establishment cultivation, Golden Core power!

How are we supposed to fight that?

Of our hundred-plus men, half have been killed by two punches—another one or two and we’d all be wiped out.

We are assassins, but this man is a god of slaughter!

“I can still throw one or two more punches. Would you stay, so I can verify whether my estimate of one against two hundred was accurate?” Xu Zhe called after them hurriedly.

Damn it!

The assassins cursed inwardly. One or two more punches? One against two hundred?

Didn’t you previously claim one against fifty?

As killers, nothing disgusts us more than those who give false information and misleading claims.

Shameless!

In an instant, the remaining assassins scattered and vanished.

Clearly, besides their skill in stealth, their escape arts were second to none.

A few, however, fled up the Prodigy Tower in panic—only then remembering that Sky River City was under a flight restriction.

Resigned, they had no choice but to leap from the window.

But as they landed, they suddenly found Xu Zhe standing before them.

“Kill!”

They glanced at each other, spirits high, shouting in unison.

With overwhelming momentum, they sprang from the ground, then… fled in all directions.

Xu Zhe watched calmly, neither stopping nor pursuing.

Only when they vanished completely did he reach into his robes and pull out a Universal Jade Tablet.

“Luckily this item isn’t broken, or else I’d have lost the image of that mad old man from earlier. If I can’t confront Chu Xiaotong with it, I won’t be able to get justice for that old man.”

Xu Zhe murmured, put away the jade tablet, and turned to head back to the Prodigy Tower.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, from deep within the street, dozens of piercing sounds split the air.

On the empty avenue, dozens of masked men in blood-red robes, reeking of blood, surged forward like the wind.

“Hahaha! Searched high and low, and here you are—Blood Robe Tower is about to strike it rich!” their leader laughed loudly in the night.

The group leaped, landing swiftly before Xu Zhe.

“Xu Zhe, someone paid for your head—” the leader started, but abruptly halted.

Seeing nearly a hundred “Soulshock” killers’ corpses strewn across the ground, his gaze grew blank.

“Not for sale,” Xu Zhe replied, shaking his head with indifferent finality.

“Very well, thank you, boss! Farewell!” The blood-robed leader hesitated, then bowed and smiled obsequiously, turning to lead his men in a hasty retreat.

…