Chapter Fifty-six: Zhou Yi Awakens

After a long silence, the air around was so still that one could hear a pin drop. No one spoke; the atmosphere suddenly grew dense and heavy. Everyone could only hear the beat of their own heart, accompanied by the pulse in their veins, each lost in their own thoughts.

“Let’s go!” After who knows how long, the man in purple took a deep breath and spoke softly.

It was truly unwilling—having come this far, only to give up now, it was simply too...

“Then let’s go!” The woman in gauze smiled, looking at the man in purple, then at the old man with white hair.

What other choice was there?

“If that’s the case, let’s at least take a look!” The old man with white hair also smiled, taking the first step and breaking the oppressive silence. Having come all the way here, whatever the outcome, going back like this felt unacceptable; they had to see for themselves, otherwise their hearts would never rest.

Though the old man appeared young, he was actually close to a hundred and thirty years old. He had survived a calamity of magic by sheer luck, and after coming so close to death, he had learned to take things as they came.

Besides, age was catching up with him. Although his deep cultivation kept his appearance at that of a fifty-year-old, he had no idea how much time he had left. Now, rather than return home to wait for death, it was better to take a chance—who knows, he might get lucky!

The old man was the first to walk toward Song Hai and Zhou Yi. The man in purple and the woman in gauze hesitated briefly, but eventually followed.

Seeing the trio move, the others joined in as well.

They didn’t know Song Hai’s terrifying strength but had faith in the trio’s abilities. Seeing them move forward, they assumed it meant confidence in success, and their own hopes rose. Eager to muddle through, they hurried after them.

...

In front of Zhou Yi, as the crowd approached, Song Hai continued walking as casually as before. He raised his eyes and glanced at the approaching group with calm indifference, then continued on, as if he hadn’t even noticed them.

Their pace was not fast, but with the distance so close, soon the group emerged from the clusters of houses, appearing like bamboo shoots after rain.

As they appeared, Song Hai’s hand tightened on his blade, a surge of killing intent nearly bursting forth. Then, as if noticing something, his hand remained on the hilt, but the explosive energy faded away.

“Hai!” Behind him, Zhou Yi slowly stood up, calling softly to Song Hai, then turned to face the newcomers.

There was no need for words; Zhou Yi immediately understood their purpose.

Without doubt, they had come for the heads of the two. There could be no other reason.

Without further delay, Zhou Yi’s figure blurred, vanishing from his place.

Boom!

With his strength greatly enhanced, Zhou Yi’s speed had soared. There was no sign of him, but the air around was torn with roaring sound.

The crowd, following the trio and hoping to take advantage, suddenly heard thunderous booms. Before their minds could grasp what was happening, they saw a figure break through space, stepping forward, hand raised, cold gleams flashing.

Though it was merely a hand, it felt to them like a blade, sharp and chilling, radiating murderous energy.

Startled, they instinctively tried to channel their internal energy for defense, only to discover in terror that an invisible pressure crushed down instantly. Their vast internal power was pinned like a mountain; though present, it could not be wielded.

Before them was a wind like a blade, cold and hungry for blood. Within, their internal power lay silent as stagnant water, utterly unusable.

Unable to use their energy, relying solely on martial techniques was useless in such circumstances. For a moment, they all seemed to fall into a desperate plight.

Fortunately, before coming, many had reported to their sects about retrieving immortal treasures, just in case.

Instantly, thoughts whirled, and all sorts of items appeared before them—some banners, some swords, some fans, some towers...

A jumble of immortal relics appeared as if costless, forming a barrier before them, blocking the killing hand.

Boom!

As they summoned the treasures and blocked the attack, feeling a moment’s respite, the deadly hand suddenly moved.

A blue light flickered in the palm, shining brilliantly. An unimaginably vast power burst forth, instantly shattering the immortal treasures before them, falling upon their chests before their incredulous eyes.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

...

Banners ripped apart, fans split into ribs and leaves, swords broke at the hilt and blade, towers crumbled layer by layer...

The immortal relics were destroyed in an instant, and the wind from Zhou Yi’s hand, sharp as blades, fell upon the crowd, shredding their bodies into pieces. The force of the blades, countless and varied, made a qualitative difference.

Zhou Yi’s blurred figure suddenly became clear. From the moment the crowd appeared to Zhou Yi’s rising and striking, not even the blink of an eye had passed!

The man in purple, the woman in gauze, and the old man with white hair stared in stunned silence at Zhou Yi returning to his place. The sound of bodies bursting echoed in their ears, blood scattered across the ground, and the wind swept away the remnants, but none had any desire to look back. They simply gazed at Zhou Yi, their expressions dazed.

What had just happened?

This question rose in all their minds. They didn’t need to look back to understand: those who followed the trio had, in that fleeting instant, been annihilated by this seemingly harmless young man with a single strike.

Understanding was one thing; accepting it was another. Faced with what had just occurred, they found it impossible to accept. It had happened in the blink of an eye—so brief, so sudden!

The young man before them had slaughtered everyone, leaving only the three of them. Such strength, such speed, such resolve—it seemed almost hallucinatory.

Judging by Zhou Yi’s face, he looked no older than sixteen, so young—but precisely because of that, their shock was greater. At such an age, to strike so ruthlessly—how cold must his heart be?

They knew that behind them were not just one or two people, but more than twenty, representing over twenty major sects in the martial world. Even setting aside their strength, just their influence alone meant that by killing these twenty, he had offended the entire martial world.

How could he dare? How could he have the heart?

These thoughts filled their minds, shock unmasked in their expressions, regret lurking deep in their eyes. If only they hadn’t been so stunned and had acted to help, perhaps those behind would not have died!

But from the bottom of their hearts, they never believed Zhou Yi would dare to risk offending the whole martial world. At most, he would seriously injure them, but not kill. Yet they were wrong, and that moment’s hesitation was all it took; now it was too late for anything.

“How dare you?”

All their thoughts condensed into this single question. The three stared at Zhou Yi, their expressions fierce with shock and hatred, and demanded in a cold voice, “How dare you?”