You, a living person, are telling me I've served in the underworld for ten years?

His pursuers could see his back and feel that they could catch up if they put in a little more effort, but they were always just a hair's breadth away from him. This infuriated the commander in the pursuing team, who yelled and urged his men to speed up and increase their firepower.

"Quick! Chase after him! He won't be able to escape once he enters the canyon ahead!"

The enemy's furious roar came through the communication channel.

Chen Yang's lips curled up slightly; this was exactly the effect he wanted.

He flashed forward and charged into the dark canyon that resembled the gaping maw of a giant beast.

Upon entering the canyon, the towering rock walls on both sides immediately create a sense of oppression and limit the field of vision and attack angles of aerial units.

The pursuers followed without hesitation.

Relying on their superior numbers and familiarity with the terrain, they believed that once Chen Yang entered the canyon, he would be trapped like a turtle in a jar.

However, they were wrong.

Just as most of the pursuers rushed into a relatively open area in the middle of the canyon, Chen Yang, who had been "fleeing" ahead, suddenly stopped and turned around.

Far from panicking, his eyes blazed with intense fighting spirit.

"Wind Control!"

With a low shout, the Wind Control Technique that had been brewing within him was instantly activated! It wasn't used to accelerate his escape, but rather to—control the airflow within this canyon!
In an instant, centered on Chen Yang, the chaotic air currents within the canyon seemed to be organized and controlled by an invisible hand!
A sudden gust of wind arose, but it was not chaotic; instead, it formed sharp, rapidly spinning wind blades visible to the naked eye, as well as countless tiny yet destructive cyclones, filling every inch of the canyon!
"Huhuhu——!"

The wind howled, and sand and stones flew everywhere! The first few lightly armed off-road vehicles were blown about by the gale, their windows cracking and splintering as the fine vortex of air and sand and gravel struck them.

Several small drones and manned aerial vehicles flying at low altitudes suffered even more. Like drunken butterflies in the turbulent airflow, their control systems issued alarms, and they successively lost control, crashing into the rock walls and exploding into fireballs.

The black-clad cultivators were also affected. Their protective auras fluctuated violently under the continuous cutting and impact of the dense wind blades and cyclones, making them unstable and halting their pursuit.

"It's now!"

Chen Yang moved! With the blessing of the Wind Control Technique, his speed increased dramatically, and his figure almost became part of the canyon's raging wind, elusive yet as fast as lightning!

He held the Xuan Sword in his left hand, and his right hand would occasionally point out sword-like fingers, unleashing sharp sword energy, or he would make hand seals to cause the pebbles above the canyon to fall like rain.

More importantly, the detector on his ear, like the most sophisticated battlefield analyzer, clearly fed back the location, movement trajectory, energy strength, and even pre-attack signs of every enemy around him into his mind!
He was like an assassin with a god's-eye view, always able to evade multiple attacks at the last second and appear beside or behind an enemy who had exposed a weakness while resisting the strong wind.

"puff!"

The Xuan Sword nimbly pierced the back of a black-clad cultivator who was struggling to stabilize himself, and with a burst of sword energy, it severed his life force.

"laugh!"

A condensed finger strike pierced the goggles of another black-clad soldier who was raising an energy rifle, penetrating his skull.

"boom!"

A huge rock that Chen Yang skillfully knocked down crushed an off-road vehicle below, along with its occupants, as it attempted to swerve.

Chen Yang's figure flickered amidst the sandstorm and chaos, each appearance accompanied by the fall of an enemy.

He perfectly combined his cultivation, Taoist techniques, and combat experience with the super battlefield perception provided by the detector, achieving a killing efficiency far exceeding the norm.

The canyon instantly transformed into a one-sided battlefield of carnage! Screams, explosions, the twisting of metal, and the clatter of collapsing rocks mingled together, and a thick stench of blood began to permeate the air in the howling wind.

The pursuers who rushed in from behind were stunned by the sight before them.

In the open field ahead, their own men and horses were lying in disarray, their bodies strewn about, and their vehicles were burning. Meanwhile, that figure, as swift as the wind and as ghostly as a ghost, was still moving freely through their ranks, reaping lives!
"Retreat! Get out of there quickly! He's lying in ambush!"

Someone shouted in terror.

But getting in was easy, getting out was difficult. The strong wind blocked their retreat, and the chaotic formation caused them to bump into each other. Chen Yang would not let this opportunity pass, and he pursued them even more closely.

"Trash! A bunch of trash!"

Outside the canyon, the higher-ranking commanders who witnessed this scene through the footage transmitted by the fleeing soldiers were furious.

"Second and third squadrons, advance! All 'Awakened' squads, move out! At all costs, surround him and kill him in the canyon! Activate 'Stinger' plan, seal off both ends of the canyon!"

The order was given, and more men in black poured out from all over the hills and rushed toward the canyon.

Among them, several squads whose auras were distinctly different from those of ordinary soldiers and junior cultivators stood out. They moved as nimbly as cheetahs, with cold and sharp eyes.

The spiritual pressure emanating from them, whether strong or weak, was always accompanied by a chilling aura. They were the core combat force carefully cultivated by the Black Organization and enhanced with gene-enhancing drugs—the "Awakeners"!
Chen Yang, inside the canyon, sensed the suddenly increased pressure outside and the several powerful auras rapidly approaching, knowing that the real tough nut had been cracked.

He remained calm, continuing to use the terrain and his wind manipulation techniques to clear out the remaining ordinary pursuers while simultaneously connecting to Liu Yu's communication channel.

Elder Liu, how is the situation on your end?

Chen Yang's voice remained steady amidst the intense background noise.

"metropolitan!"

Liu Yu's voice came through, carrying concern and a hint of excitement.

"We've attracted about one-fifth of the enemy, and we're at a stalemate. The pressure is considerable, but we're holding on! Luanhuang just sent back an encrypted clip; they seem to have successfully obtained a portion of the enemy's core genetic research data! They're attempting to copy and download it!"

"it is good!"

Chen Yang's spirits lifted.

"Tell Luanhuang to hurry up! Once you have the data, immediately evacuate via the backup route. Don't be greedy! I'll try my best to catch the remaining big fish!"

"Sect Leader, please be extremely careful! We have detected at least three 'Awakened' squads and more than two companies of regular troops closing in on you! Director Su has also warned that they may use heavy or special weapons to blockade the canyon!"

Liu Yu anxiously reminded them. "I know, I understand. Proceed according to plan and be careful."

After Chen Yang finished speaking, he ended the call with Liu Yu.

Almost simultaneously, Jiang He's communication request also came in.

"Chen Yang! You've made quite a stir! The pressure on my side has eased considerably. Those bastards have deployed a lot of their elite troops to deal with you!"

The sound of the river was mixed with the sounds of intense gunfire and explosions, but it sounded very energetic.

"We've completed our planned feint and are now retreating under cover! How are you doing? Do you need us to move closer and create an opening for you?"

"Need not!"

Chen Yang resolutely refused.

"Minister Jiang, you should withdraw according to plan and preserve your strength! I can still handle things here. If you come any closer, you'll easily get surrounded. I have my own way of escaping!"

"You little rascal... alright! Take care! Remember, safety first! We'll be waiting for you at the outer rendezvous point!"

Jiang He didn't mince words; he gave a brief instruction and then cut off the communication.

Immediately afterward, Su Meng's call came in, her tone filled with worry.

"Sect Leader Chen! Energy monitoring shows a sharp increase in energy activity at both ends of the canyon! They may have activated a large energy barrier or explosive containment! In addition, at least seven targets with energy activity levels of B+ are rapidly approaching you! Should we activate the emergency response plan?"

"Being not!"

As Chen Yang answered, he swung his sword and sent the last black-clad soldier who had tried to ambush him flying.

"Director Su, your people just need to be ready to meet Elder Liu and Minister Jiang. As for me, once Luanhuang succeeds, I'll find a way to leave. Right now... I'm really enjoying the fight!"

As they spoke, the seven powerful auras rushed into the canyon first, ignoring the still raging winds, and formed a fan shape to subtly surround Chen Yang in the center.

Each of them wore specially made black bodysuits with dark red energy patterns flowing across them, and each carried a different weapon, all of which radiated a dangerous light.

Their eyes were cold, carrying an inhuman indifference and bloodlust, clearly indicating that they were elite "Awakened" who had used higher-level drugs.

At the same time, a muffled rumble echoed from the canyon's entrance and depths, and strange runes lit up the rock walls on both sides. A semi-transparent energy barrier, crackling with electricity, began to slowly close, clearly intending to completely seal off the canyon. Outside, more armed personnel set up heavy weapons, their cannons aimed at the interior of the canyon.

Faced with this seemingly hopeless situation, Chen Yang showed no fear. Instead, he slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, his eyes burning with the fiercest fighting spirit.

He glanced at the faint but stable signal from the Luanhuang team on the detector and knew that the most critical moment was about to arrive.

"Come on, let me see just how much you so-called 'elite' troops, built up with drugs, really are!"

With a flick of his wrist, a small metal box appeared in his palm, containing three potions that Su Meng had given him earlier—Swiftness Type I, Strength Type II, and Spirit Gathering Type III.

Without the slightest hesitation, he opened the box and injected the three vials of medicine into his jugular vein in turn!
"Well--!"

The moment the medicine entered the body, an indescribable, explosive torrent of power swept through the entire body! Muscle fibers swelled and strengthened with a hissing sound, bones made a slight popping sound and became denser, and the golden core in the dantian spun wildly at an unprecedented speed.

He was compressing and purifying his magical power, and the torrent of magical power surging through his meridians was almost bursting his blood vessels! At the same time, his nerve reaction speed was increased to the extreme, and everything around him seemed to slow down!
"Roar--!"

Chen Yang couldn't help but let out a deep roar, and his aura exploded, the shockwave even shattering several nearby rocks into dust!
The Special Administration's light armor on his body seemed to sense the change in its host. Its surface shimmered rapidly and emitted a slight hum, with the power amplification module and energy shield activating at full power!
At this moment, Chen Yang felt better than ever before. His strength, speed, reaction, and mana output had all increased dramatically! Although he knew that this state wouldn't last long and would inevitably have strong side effects afterward, it was enough to deal with the current situation!
The seven "Awakened Ones" clearly sensed the terrifying aura that suddenly erupted from Chen Yang, and for the first time, a look of solemnity and a hint of... surprise and doubt appeared in their eyes. The leader, a burly man with an exceptionally robust build and wielding a double-edged battle axe, spoke in a hoarse voice.

"You're at your limit! How long can you last by forcibly boosting yourself with potions? Surrender, hand over your secrets, and perhaps the 'Holy Lord' will grant you a quick death, or even... allow you to join us and gain true power!"

Another woman with a voluptuous figure, holding a pair of poisoned short daggers, also giggled.

"Young man, why risk your life? Look at us, we have power, wealth, and a future. If you just nod, everything from before can be forgiven."

Chen Yang shook his arm, which was swollen from the surge in strength, pointed his Xuan Sword diagonally at the ground, and sneered.

"Give me your presidential seat, and I won't even bother sitting there. Enough talk, let's fight! All of you come at me at once, save some time, I'm in a hurry to demolish your stronghold!"

"Insanity!"

"court death!"

When their attempts to persuade him to surrender failed, the seven "Awakened Ones" were filled with murderous intent. Without saying another word, they moved in unison and launched a siege against Chen Yang from different angles, using all sorts of tricky and ruthless moves!
Axe shadows were like mountains, stabbing shadows were like venomous snakes, blade light was sharp, and fist wind was fierce... The seven people cooperated perfectly, and their attack was like a storm, instantly engulfing Chen Yang!

Chen Yang let out a long roar, neither dodging nor avoiding, but actually taking the initiative to meet the attack! With the dual enhancement of the potion and armor, his speed was extremely fast and his strength was astonishing! The Xuan Sword transformed into a blue light screen, clashing head-on with the battle axe, parrying the poisonous thorns, and deflecting the longsword. The clash between his fist and sword produced a dull thud!

“Ding-dang-dang-dang—!”

The intense clanging of metal against metal was so loud it made your teeth ache, like popping beans! The force of the energy ripped through the air, carving deep trenches into the ground and leaving deep sword and axe marks on the rock walls!

Chen Yang fought seven opponents single-handedly and held his own in no way! His swordsmanship was expansive and powerful, yet also possessed the agility and ethereal quality of the Qingwei Daoist arts. His strength was on par with the burly man wielding the axe, and his speed was unpredictable, making the woman wielding the poisoned daggers difficult to anticipate.

What's even more terrifying is his terrifying combat instinct and reflexes, which always allow him to narrowly avoid fatal attacks and even seize the fleeting openings in the opponent's coordination to launch a fierce counterattack!

"puff!"

A black-clad man wielding a knife was a fraction of a second too slow, giving Chen Yang an opportunity. Chen Yang deflected the longsword with his sword and struck the man's chest with his left palm, which carried the force of wind and thunder. The blow dented the man's armor, and he was sent flying backward, spitting out blood. He crashed into the rock wall, his fate unknown.

But the remaining six attacked even more fiercely! They realized Chen Yang's condition couldn't last, and they wanted to wear him down. Their attacks were no longer aimed at a fatal blow, but rather like a pack of wolves, constantly harassing and wearing him down, restricting his movement, waiting for the moment he was exhausted or the effects of the potion wore off.

Chen Yang fought and retreated, and wounds began to appear on his body. The energy shield of his armor finally shattered after repeated blows, and a cut was made on his left shoulder by a poisonous spike. Although his magic suppressed the wound, he still felt a tingling sensation. His right leg was also hit by the strong wind from the battle axe. Although it did not break through his defenses, it still ached faintly.

"This is not the way to go."

Chen Yang's mind raced; while parrying attacks, he subtly communicated with the remnant spirit of the woman within the Sumeru space. (End of Chapter)