When Yang Kai said that, even the typically even-tempered Kang Zhan let out a cold snout. "What arrogance!"
Agreeing to his proposal was nothing more than not wanting to antagonize him. In Kang Zhan's view, he was doing Yang Kai a favor, giving him face—yet the other party actually claimed it was for their own benefit.
Such shameless ingratitude naturally infuriated him.
Kang Zhan chose not to dwell on it. He waved his hand. "Brother Xiang, Brother Nan—send your people out."
Xiang Chu and Nan Sheng nodded. In the next instant, two streaks of cyan light shot out from the crowd.
Their speed was astonishing. In the blink of an eye, they had already rushed up to Yang Kai and the others. One hailed from the Xiang family, the other from the Nan family—both were peak Shenyou Realm oldsters.
If Xiang Chu and Nan Sheng hadn't desperately pleaded with their families for reinforcements, the Xiang and Nan families would never have sent them to participate in the battle for succession.
Without any courtesy, the two went straight for Shadow Nine.
Fierce attacks came crashing down like a deluge, intent on grievously wounding Shadow Nine in a single strike.
When two peak Shenyou Realm powerhouses struck simultaneously, the result was truly extraordinary. In an instant, the Lingxiao Pavilion cultivators felt as though the sky was crumbling and the earth splitting apart.
That incomparably fierce force erupted outward, generating a vortex that seemed to pull their very lives into it.
Everyone was terrified, their faces drained of color. Under such overwhelming pressure, the Lingxiao Pavilion crowd couldn't even muster the will to resist.
Nan Sheng and Xiang Chu glanced over with cold, triumphant smiles, secretly anticipating the moment Shadow Nine would be forced to unleash his Blood Tyrant Art.
Shadow Nine's expression remained indifferent. Just as the berserk attacks were about to reach him, he vanished without a trace.
The Xiang and Nan family powerhouses froze, instantly losing sight of their target. A split second later, an unpleasant feeling surged through their hearts.
They hastily retreated—but behind them, killing intent had already crept close.
A figure too fast for the naked eye to follow brandished two daggers glinting with cold light, striking from the rear.
Shadow Dance Kill!
The void was filled with rampant energy churning wildly, ripples spreading outward like waves disturbed on the surface of a lake, expanding ring after ring.
The triumphant expressions on Xiang Chu and Nan Sheng's faces froze instantly. Their eyes trembled violently as they stared up at the sky in disbelief.
Kang Zhan and Qiu Ziruo were equally dazed.
Everyone trembled at the formidable strength Shadow Nine had displayed!
Yang Kai let out a soft chuckle and said calmly, "Senior Brothers, you should retreat a bit with the others."
"Oh." The senior disciples snapped out of their stupor. In the midst of a battle between three peak Shenyou Realm fighters, they realized in an instant that joining in would accomplish nothing beyond adding to the body count. Without hesitation, they hurriedly led everyone back.
Only Yang Kai and Su Yan remained standing side by side where they were.
A breeze swept through, stirring Su Yan's long hair and partially veiling her face. She turned her head, exchanged a glance with Yang Kai, and the two shared a knowing smile.
Swish, swish, swish…
In the sky, the three combatants separated, facing each other across a stark divide.
Shadow Nine looked just as before—expression cold, not a scratch on his body.
The Xiang and Nan family powerhouses, on the other hand, had gone pale with anger. Their clothes bore multiple tears, and though they showed no visible wounds, this brief exchange made it abundantly clear to everyone that Shadow Nine was no longer the same Shadow Nine as before!
It also drove home just how terrifying the combat prowess of the Yang family's Blood Guards truly was!
Invincible among peers of the same realm, and regularly crossing realms to fight—such were the Yang family's Blood Guards!
"Two. Not enough." Shadow Nine held a dagger in each hand and shook his head at the two family experts with an air of cool indifference. He was a man of few words, impossibly cool about it.
Those words stung, making the two look even more miserable!
"Brother Kang, Shadow Nine seems to have reached the ninth level of the Shenyou Realm!" Qiu Ziruo had noticed the situation was going badly. In their original plan, having two peak Shenyou Realm fighters pin down Shadow Nine would suffice—once this powerful support was removed, the rest could take down Yang Kai no matter what. But now, Shadow Nine at the ninth level of the Shenyou Realm had thrown their plan into disarray.
"If two aren't enough, then send more." Kang Zhan had also been briefly stunned. After recovering, he spoke in a cold voice.
Qiu Ziruo nodded and signaled to several powerhouses in their ranks. Those figures immediately flew up and positioned themselves behind the Xiang and Nan family experts.
Two at the eighth level of Shenyou, two at the seventh level!
Combined with the two peak Shenyou fighters from before, a total of six now faced Shadow Nine alone. Yet Shadow Nine's expression hadn't changed one bit. If anything, it was the four newcomers who looked uneasy and apprehensive.
"Still not enough." Shadow Nine shook his head. "If you want to keep me occupied, send more."
Kang Zhan and Qiu Ziruo's faces turned cold, secretly thinking that this Shadow Nine was being far too arrogant. Even if he was a Yang family Blood Guard, even if he was at the ninth level of Shenyou—he was still only one man.
"Blood Tyrant Art!" Shadow Nine suddenly bellowed. His vital force and blood power surged wildly, and his true yuan fluctuated violently.