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

At the same time, Chen Yang became one with his sword, and the Xuan Sword, carrying an indomitable momentum, transformed into a streak of azure lightning, piercing straight into the opponent's chest!

This sword strike was even more ruthless and decisive than the one used to attack the scarred leader!

The "Awakened One" was terrified and hurriedly used the energy cannon as a club to block it, while his armor shone brightly.

"Boom! Crack!"

The energy cannon's barrel was precisely struck at its weak point by the Xuan Sword, and a crack was actually cleaved in it by the sword energy! The sharp sword energy penetrated through the crack and the gap in the armor, and slammed into its body!
"puff!"

The "Awakened One" coughed up blood, his chest armor caved in, life quickly faded from his eyes, and his massive body crashed to the ground.

"Fourth!"

The other three, their eyes bloodshot with rage and fury, charged forward without regard for anything else.

Having landed a successful blow, Chen Yang didn't linger and immediately retreated, disappearing back into the forest. However, a trickle of blood escaped from the corner of his mouth—forcing himself to unleash his full power while moving had exacerbated his internal injuries.

The remaining three "Awakened Ones" went completely berserk, especially the scarred leader, whose eyes were bloodshot as he clung to Chen Yang. The other two also flanked him from both sides like mad dogs, their attacks even more ferocious and reckless than before, a fight of mutual destruction.

Chen Yang's pressure increased sharply, and he soon suffered several more wounds. Although they were not deep, they were burning with pain.

In a near-perfect encirclement by three people, Chen Yang was almost stabbed in the back by the metal claws. At the critical moment, he let out a low shout.

"Generate light!"

The subtle magical power within his body circulated along a mysterious path, and a faint, cool, and lustrous glow, like moonlight, suddenly appeared on his body surface!
This layer of radiance, though seemingly thin, was incredibly resilient. When the sharp metal claws gripped it, they produced a teeth-grinding scraping sound, and most of their force was deflected, leaving only a few shallow bloodstains on Chen Yang's back.

"what?!"

The clawed "awakener" was taken aback, not expecting Chen Yang to possess such a protective supernatural ability.

In that brief moment of distraction!
Despite the pain, Chen Yang swung his hand back, and a dark light shot out silently—it was the Soul-Splitting Black Iron Fork from the Underworld!
The black iron fork did not thrust straight in, but instead struck the side of the clawed "Awakener" with a chilling, soul-capturing force!

"what!"

The Claw Awakener let out a shrill scream, not entirely from physical pain, but also from a sensation as if its soul had been scraped by a cold iron hook. The pain was excruciating, its soul trembled, its movements froze, and its protective aura dissipated.

How could Chen Yang let go of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? He mustered his inner energy, swung his Xuan Sword back, and the sword light swept across his opponent's neck!
"Pfft!"

Another head flew up!
The second "Awakened One" is dead!

Chen Yang, panting heavily, retracted the Soul-Splitting Profound Iron Fork, feeling somewhat exhausted in his soul.

Having killed two people, he was greatly exhausted, and his internal injuries were even more severe.

"Ahhh! I want you to die!"

The scarred leader and the "Awakener" wielding two swords went completely berserk, acting like madmen. They abandoned all defense and used all their strength to attack, with flashes of swords and spears pouring down on Chen Yang like a storm!

The black-clad soldiers under their command, who had been following Chen Yang from a distance and constantly harassing him with special firearms and shoulder-fired cannons, also took the opportunity to open fire wildly. Energy bullets of various colors, physical projectiles, and even some shells emitting strange green smoke rained down on him!
Chen Yang was immediately in grave danger, and had to devote most of his energy to dodging and parrying the attacks of the two crazed "Awakeners". As for the soldiers' harassing fire, he could only rely on his agility and the remaining protective spiritual light to withstand it.

He soon realized something was wrong—after the shells emitting green smoke exploded, the smoke didn't dissipate immediately; instead, it lingered in the air as if it were alive, and he inevitably inhaled some of it.

As the smoke entered his body, Chen Yang immediately felt a slight dizziness and nausea. What alarmed him even more was that the flow of his magical energy began to slow down, his muscle strength seemed to be depleting, and even his reaction speed decreased slightly!
"Genomic toxins? Or inhibitory drugs?"

Chen Yang's heart sank.

The methods employed by this black-clad organization are truly endless!

This smoke was clearly developed specifically for cultivators, capable of suppressing spiritual energy activity and bodily functions through respiration and penetration through pores!

We must get out of these smoky areas as soon as possible! Chen Yang gritted his teeth, suddenly unleashing several sharp sword energies to force back the scarred leader and the dual-wielder. With a swift movement, he stopped trying to fight the two madmen head-on and instead charged towards the group of black-clad soldiers who were constantly firing jamming shells!

"Trying to escape? Stop him!"

The scarred leader roared.

Chen Yang was extremely fast, and although affected by the smoke, his short-range burst of speed was still astonishing.

He charged into the group of black-clad soldiers like a tiger among sheep. His sword flashed, and wherever it passed, severed limbs flew up, accompanied by endless screams.

He didn't simply kill; instead, amidst the chaos, he silently opened the entrance to the Sumeru Space. Taking advantage of the moment when the soldiers were obstructing their vision and senses, he swept several soldiers who looked like minor leaders or carrying special equipment, along with several boxes of unfired green shells nearby, into the Sumeru Space!

His movements were as fast as lightning. Even the other soldiers who were standing close by didn't see how their comrade disappeared. They only thought that Chen Yang's sword was too fast.

A small area was cleared in an instant, and the artillery fire was momentarily halted.

Chen Yang dared not linger and immediately withdrew, while quickly taking out several healing and recovery pills from the Qingwei Sect from his pocket and swallowing them without even looking at them.

The pill transformed into a warm current, temporarily suppressing the injury and dispelling some discomfort, but the feeling of sluggish power did not completely disappear.

"Is all you can do is run away? All you can do is bully our subordinates? Is this all the courage the Qingwei Sect Leader has?"

When the scarred leader saw Chen Yang running off to kill soldiers again, he was so angry that he started cursing and trying to provoke him with words.

The soldiers in black also came to their senses. Seeing Chen Yang step back and hearing their leader's mockery, they began to clamor as well.

"Exactly! Why don't you challenge our family to a one-on-one fight!"

"You good-for-nothing who only knows how to run away! Where did your bravado from last night go?"

"Haha, look at his pathetic state, he looks like a stray dog!"

Laughter and insults were heard incessantly.

Chen Yang rested behind a boulder, and upon hearing this, he let out a cold laugh, his voice clearly echoing throughout the mountains and forests.

"A one-on-one fight? The four of you are taking on me, and you've brought so many of your men to harass me with this cheap poison gas. You have the nerve to suggest a one-on-one fight? Are all the people in your Black Organization this shameless? Or did your so-called 'Holy Master' only teach you to bully the weak and to talk big?"

His words immediately silenced the clamoring soldiers, who were somewhat embarrassed. Indeed, they outnumbered the soldiers and their methods were not exactly honorable.

The scarred leader, his sore spot touched, became even more enraged and shouted angrily.

"Shut up, all of you! Don't let him bewitch you!"
He's stalling for time, waiting for reinforcements from the Special Administration Bureau!
"Everyone, listen to my command! Charge at all costs! Pile him up and kill him!" With the scarred leader's order, the last few dozen black-clad soldiers, led by the two remaining "Awakened Ones," roared wildly and launched a desperate charge from all directions towards the boulder where Chen Yang was hiding!
A barrage of energy rifle bullets, rockets, and poison smoke grenades rained down like a storm, instantly covering the boulder and its surrounding area!

Chen Yang was like a lone wolf forced to the edge of a cliff, with no way out!
He had to start again, his figure becoming a blurry afterimage as he struggled through a hail of bullets and the smoke and dust of explosions, facing constant danger.

His clothes were torn by flying shards and shrapnel, and several more bloody marks appeared on his body. The green poisonous smoke was even more pervasive, making his magical power flow more and more sluggish, and his movements slowed down.

"Hahaha! What kind of bullshit sect leader is this!"
All you do is run away like a rat! If you've got the guts, stop and fight me one-on-one!

Seeing Chen Yang in such a sorry state, a black-clad henchman loudly mocked him.

"Exactly! Weren't you so impressive last night? Killing so many of our brothers!"

Why are you acting like a coward now?

Another person joined in the commotion.

While trying his best to dodge, Chen Yang retorted with unsteady breath.

"One-on-one? You bunch of trash, relying on your numbers and these cheap poisons, you dare to talk about one-on-one? If you're so capable, let those two cowardly leaders next to you come out and fight me one-on-one!"

"I'll twist their heads off and use them as footballs!"

These words struck a nerve with the scarred leader and the dual-wielder, and also enraged many of the black-clad soldiers. However, they had clearly received strict orders: no matter how Chen Yang mocked them, they would only continue their attack relentlessly, never stopping, and certainly not agreeing to a one-on-one duel. The scarred leader even issued a stern warning.

Don't listen to his nonsense!

He's stalling for time!

Everyone, maintain suppressive fire and limit his movement! Wear him down!

Chen Yang cursed inwardly. The other side had clear instructions and was not easily provoked. This was troublesome.

He felt his body growing heavier and heavier, as if filled with lead, and his lungs burned from inhaling the toxic fumes. He had to find a breakthrough as soon as possible, or... take advantage of the environment!
He quickly scanned his surroundings and suddenly noticed a mountain stream that was not very wide but had a rapid current not far to his side and behind him!

After the green smoke bombs exploded, some shrapnel and smoke drifted to the vicinity of the stream. He vaguely noticed that the smoke that fell into the water seemed to dissipate particularly quickly, and the air near the water surface seemed to be cleaner.

"Could it be that water can suppress or dilute this toxic fumes?"

A thought flashed through Chen Yang's mind like lightning.

In a life-or-death situation, there is no time for hesitation!

Chen Yang immediately changed direction, no longer fleeing in a straight line, but began to move in a roundabout way towards the mountain stream, while continuing to show that he was powerless and his speed was getting slower and slower. He even deliberately let a few non-lethal stray bullets graze his body, adding to his "disheveled" appearance.

"He's not going to make it! Quick! Move him to the riverbank! Don't let him go into the water!"

The scarred leader, being experienced, seemed to have sensed Chen Yang's intentions and that the water might affect the poisonous smoke. He immediately ordered his men to block the route leading to the mountain stream.

But Chen Yang endured another glancing blow from the energy beam, and suddenly accelerated, breaking through the loose blockade like an arrow, plunging headfirst into the icy mountain stream!
"Pfft!"

Water splashed everywhere.

As soon as Chen Yang entered the water, he immediately felt the difference! The icy stream water washed over his body, quickly removing the toxic fumes that clung to his skin and clothes. More importantly, when he breathed in the air above the water, the sluggishness and dizziness were significantly reduced!
Although the stream is not deep enough to completely block the toxic smoke in the air, it does greatly reduce its effectiveness!

"He's in the water! The poison smoke effect has weakened! Cover the water surface with physical munitions and energy weapons! Don't let him surface!"

The scarred leader roared in exasperation, and together with the dual-wielder, rushed to the riverbank, raised their weapons, and opened fire fiercely on the area where Chen Yang had fallen into the water!
"Boom boom boom!"

"Shhhhhh!"

The water surface was blasted into columns of water, and the energy beams evaporated the stream water into large patches of white mist.

Chen Yang hid underwater, using rocks and the rushing water for cover, and struggled to evade the attacks.

He knew that simply hiding wasn't the solution; he had to fight back!
He quietly moved downstream for a distance, then suddenly emerged from the water behind a large rock, coughing violently, his face "pale," looking extremely weak, and even somewhat unsteady on his feet, barely supporting his body with his Xuan Sword.

He's injured!
There it is! Quickly!

The soldiers in black on the shore were overjoyed, thinking that Chen Yang had finally given up. They turned their guns and fired wildly at Chen Yang's "weak" figure. Many of them even excitedly rushed to the riverbank, wanting to claim the credit for "killing the powerful enemy".

The scarred leader frowned, sensing something was amiss. Chen Yang's burst of energy before entering the water didn't seem like he was exhausted.

But before he could even speak to stop them, the black-clad soldiers at the front had already stepped into the knee-deep stream and pointed their guns at Chen Yang, who seemed powerless to resist.

It's now!

The weakness in Chen Yang's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a chilling killing intent and a sudden burst of power!
With a flick of his wrist, the Xuan Sword transformed into a streak of azure light, swiftly skimming across the water's surface!

"Puff puff!"

Blood splattered, and the soldiers at the forefront didn't even have time to scream before collapsing into the stream, clutching their throats or chests, their blood instantly staining the water red.

"Oh no! We've fallen for their trap! Retreat!"

The scarred leader screamed in horror.

But it was too late! Chen Yang leaped out of the stream like a dragon emerging from the water, water droplets splashing all over his body and reflecting a cold light in the sunlight.

He completely ignored the soldiers coming ashore and aimed directly at the double-swordsman who had slightly broken formation and was standing a little forward because his subordinates had acted rashly!
Seeing Chen Yang suddenly attack, the swordsman was both shocked and furious. He wielded his twin swords like wheels, trying to block the thunderous blow.

However, Chen Yang had briefly dispelled the effects of the poisonous smoke in the water and had also taken a pill, so he was now in a state of peak condition, as if he were experiencing a final burst of energy before death! The Xuan Sword, carrying the force of wind and thunder, clashed head-on with the enemy!
"Clang! Clang! Snap!"

After two ear-piercing clangs of metal clashing, the longsword in the left hand of the dual-swordsman was actually shattered by the Xuanjian!

His hand was split open, he turned pale with fright, and hurriedly retreated.

Chen Yang pressed his advantage relentlessly, his sword strikes like a surging tide, relentlessly pursuing the enemy. The scarred leader roared and lunged to his rescue with his spear, but was forced back half a step by a sharp sword aura from Chen Yang.

In that split second, the Xuan Sword, like a venomous snake spitting its tongue, pierced through the gap in the broken blade that the double-swordsman had hastily parried, and stabbed into his shoulder blade!

"Ah!" (End of Chapter)