Chapter 45 - Slaughter

The silence was deafening!

Everyone watched slack-jawed at the unfolding event. No one there could’ve imagined a Qi Condensation kid blindsiding them, who were Bone Tempering experts, and even killing one in a single hit.

All the mockery and disdain they had for Zhuo Fan was now replaced with extreme caution.

Fatty was still out of it, staring at Zhuo Fan like his brain was on the fritz. It finally dawned upon him that it wasn’t him who held back the most in their duel, but Zhuo Fan.

“Kill the punk first!”

With a sudden shout, the men charged at Zhuo Fan together. They were now of one mind, no longer of a different opinion. They had to kill this dreadful and sinister punk first. If they were to leave him for later, they were sure they’d have to pay a steep price, even if they outnumbered him.

They had long forgotten their main objective and were now pointing their weapons at the punk who was holding Savage Moon and standing in a pool of blood.

Smiling wryly, Zhuo Fan snickered, “I wouldn’t have it any other way!”

The next moment, he jumped at the first enemy. The man was startled and rushed to retreat. Even if Zhuo Fan was just in the Qi Condensation Stage and unable to hurt him, the 3rd-grade demonic treasure would cut through him like butter.

Their leader got such a miserable death for underestimating Zhuo Fan and he wasn’t willing to make the same mistake.

With eyes fixed on Savage Moon’s trail, the killer grinned. He knew how to deal with Zhuo Fan. Since his speed was superior to Zhuo Fan, all he needed to do was pay attention to Savage Moon, and killing this kid would be a breeze.

However, just as he was about to jump into action, Savage Moon flashed a silver glow. The light wrapped around Zhuo Fan and then streaked by the killer’s body.

The killer had no idea what happened and was looking up as his upper half slid to the ground while his lower half stood there unmoving.

While he fell, he could still see Zhuo Fan’s grim face. Especially the eyes, cold and unfeeling.

Everyone sucked in a cold breath as they watched Zhuo Fan with dread.

If one were to say that killing their leader was from a sneak attack, this time around it was a fair fight and yet Zhuo Fan still killed a Bone Tempering expert in an instant.

When the silver light flashed again, he was so fast that none of the killers had time to react before Zhuo Fan felled another.

Such horrifying speed coupled with the sharp edge of the Savage Moon soaked the backs of the killers in a cold sweat.

“As you dared to come look for trouble in my domain…,” Zhuo Fan squinted at each man around him and trailed a finger across his neck as his eyes turned red, “…Your lives are forfeited.”

At that moment, all of them paled and stepped back. The fear they felt from his eyes mounted the dread they already had. Their roles began to blur as it became unclear who was the victim and who was the killer.

The hunter’s and prey’s role were now switched.

The fatty watched Zhuo Fan’s domineering gaze while being shell-shocked. Then, he was swept by a sudden familiar feeling, the imposing and grand feeling he felt only from his father.

But what he felt from Zhuo Fan was far more assertive. As if all who dared resist this man would find themselves dead beyond a shred of a doubt. 

The pressure Zhuo Fan’s power released was something that even made him shiver.

Seeing that they couldn’t contend with Zhuo Fan individually, a killer shouted, “Don’t be afraid, let’s attack together. He’s just a Qi Condensation punk relying on a 3rd-grade demonic treasure. If we surround him, he’s done for.”

The others nodded as fear eased from their faces, now that they had a plan, they found hope.

With a cry, the killers jumped at Zhuo Fan closing the net on him.

Sneering, Zhuo Fan rushed forward without fear as he held Savage Moon. His target swallowed dryly but didn’t retreat since he had men on each side releasing punch at Zhuo Fan.

If Zhuo Fan pressed on, the killer would die, but so would Zhuo Fan under the joint attack of two Bone Tempering experts.

But if he retreated instead, it would only work to tighten the net and his death would be just a matter of time.

Zhuo Fan didn’t plan on dying in this fight, or he would’ve fled a long time ago with the help of Savage Moon’s speed boost.

Whoosh!

With a flash of silver, Zhuo Fan vanished from their sights and the punches hit nothing but air. Zhuo Fan then landed right in front of the killer who was standing behind the other two.

Having not seen this coming, the killer was frightened but soon became elated seeing that Zhuo Fan was not facing him. He didn’t waste this chance and punched towards Zhuo Fan’s defenseless back.

[Your head is mine, kid.]

But a silver light flashed by and the man froze.

In the moment of impending doom, Zhuo Fan swept Savage Moon around him and jumped from their tight circle.

As for the man behind Zhuo Fan, he watched wide-eyed as his body hit the ground in two pieces, blood and guts spilling everywhere.

Another one!

Even under their joint efforts, Zhuo Fan came out unscathed and robbed them of another comrade. Fear in their eyes mounted higher and higher.

They had some hope before, wishing to kill him with numbers. But that hope was now lost.

“What kind of freak is he? When did the Seven Noble Houses have such a person?” A killer cursed as he felt his knees trembling.

Secretly sneering, Zhuo Fan squinted his eyes and bathed the world with the killing intent they contained.

These killers were routed, they lost their nerve and were no longer a threat. Now was the perfect time to end them.

Zhuo Fan rushed forth with a savage grin.

Silver light flickered as Zhuo Fan brandished Savage Moon and sent limbs flying with each passing. The killers cried during their futile attempts to evade, having lost any and all will to resist.

Zhuo Fan was like a wolf among sheep, taking his fill of slaughter and carnage. For the occasional spirited and still brave souls among them, Blood Infant would enter their body and seal their movements. Thus priming them for Zhuo Fan, only to leave them mangled.

If it was any other day, with Zhuo Fan’s strength and Blood Infant’s help, he could only fight with a single Bone Tempering expert. If another joined, he’d have a hard time reacting to their attacks, let alone killing a dozen.

But luck had it he got Savage Moon off Elder Yun, whom he killed a month ago.

This gave him newfound confidence. Savage Moon was just as deadly as Blood Infant was on Bone Tempering experts, perhaps even more. Especially when taking its ability to increase one’s speed into consideration. And all of this was added to Zhuo Fan who already had the skills to skip stages.

Now that he thought about it, he really ought to thank Hell Valley for throwing such a nice toy in his lap.

Hearing the Bone Tempering experts’ miserable wails, watching heads and entrails flying about, the fatty remained lifeless from shock. He stood there witnessing the gruesome dance Zhuo Fan was performing with Savage Moon. For these killers to cry and beg for their lives was something unheard of.

He could hardly believe that the man he recognized as a love rival, the man he challenged, was strong to this degree.

Recalling their duel, it seemed more like a joke now.

The Bone Tempering experts were butchered like animals in front of the fatty. [I, a 7th layered Qi Condensation cultivator, dared to issue a challenge, and still was lenient with him while preaching fairness.]

“Sigh, Yuwen Cong, your lenient act and fairness preaching was meaningless.” The fatty shook his head, feeling mournful.

He had seen many peers among the seven houses who were geniuses and even if he wasn’t stronger than them, he believed their strength wasn’t far from his.

But Zhuo Fan showed him today what the saying ‘a man above man, and a sky above a sky’ meant.

Those geniuses were nothing but trash by comparison. Furthermore, the gap was so huge at such a young age…

Long Kui covered her mouth experiencing the greatest shock she ever felt.

This was the first time she saw Zhuo Fan fighting. She had heard of him killing two Profound Heaven experts, but doubt still existed. This notion was far too outrageous for anyone to believe.

But watching him fight today, left this young miss stunned.

The cruelty, the overbearing eyes, it was as if a demon had descended, one which was capable of scaring and overpowering even Bone Tempering experts.

Whoosh!

When Zhuo Fan finally stopped, Savage Moon in his hand was dripping blood. The dry earth around him had become a wide pool of blood.

A killer shivered as he watched the Savage Moon’s fall with dread. His legs were severed, but the pain wasn’t registered as begging was all that was left on his mind.

Not sparing him a glance, Zhuo Fan asked coldly, “Who sent you?”

Zhuo Fan’s eyes didn’t reflect an ounce of pity towards any living creature in this world, only coldness.

The killer looked around to see his dead brothers and fear swept his heart. He didn’t know where to begin describing the savagery and cruelty of this youth before him. This youth was, in all sense of the word, a demon.

The killer’s heart was in shambles.

“I-it’s…”

But a sudden whistling sound was heard and the killer’s eyes lost its light.

“Killing with intent, a Radiant Stage expert!”

Zhuo Fan drew a cold breath. His bottomless and cold eyes now showed a ripple of panic…