He descended from the sky and, in full view of everyone, killed four leaders of the Martial Arts Association in under five seconds!

At this moment, the countless lights from the high stage fell upon the colossal figure. The guests stood frozen, gazing up at him.

The scene was reminiscent of worshippers at the foot of an altar, gazing up at a deity.

A god of wrath!

Business tycoons? Celebrities from all walks of life?

Before this immense power, rampaging like a great flood or a savage beast, they were nothing but dust in the wind. All they could do was stand below and watch!

Having done all this, Zhao Xuanqi’s gaze swept briefly over the crowd below.

Then, with a burst of power from his legs, he leaped high into the air and landed below the stage. His target was the Radiant Star Sect elder—wounded in the initial assault and not yet dead.

BOOM!!

His body descended, and blood flew. He stomped on the Radiant Star Sect elder, ending his life in an instant.

Then, without pausing for a moment, he pushed his footwork to its peak. Moving like a Fragrant Elephant Crossing the River, he charged straight out of the hall.

"Stop him! Quick, stop him!"

Only then, as if waking from a dream, did the crowd react. The guards from the surrounding Four Great Sects yelled as they rushed to intercept Zhao Xuanqi, but he plowed through them, sending them flying in disarray.

As for the ordinary people and lesser Martial Artists, none dared to stand in his way. They scrambled to get clear of his path, creating an open channel for his escape.

As he ran, Zhao Xuanqi pulled a rope from his clothes and hurled it toward the second-floor balcony of the National Martial Arts Hall. It caught on the railing, and with a single swing, he vaulted up to the second floor, a height of six or seven meters.

Next, his arms moved in a blur. His ten fingers, like steel needles, stabbed deep into the concrete with a burst of power from his Finger Technique. Moving like a gecko, he scaled the wall in a few quick movements, reaching a skylight over twenty meters up on the roof of the National Martial Arts Hall.

CRASH!!

He shattered the skylight with a single palm strike and slipped outside the National Martial Arts Hall in a flash, vanishing from sight.

WHEET! WHEET! WHEET!

Piercing whistles echoed faintly from outside the National Martial Arts Hall, accompanied by bursts of shouting, the clatter of chaotic footsteps, and the roar of concentrated firearms.

In an instant, it was as if the entire world had descended into chaos.

Only inside the National Martial Arts Hall did a deathly silence remain.

The shocking scene from moments before was still replaying in their minds.

Slaying the enemy commander in the midst of his army.

Killing a man every ten paces, never lingering for a thousand miles.

They had always thought such descriptions, found only in historical records and ancient poetry, were exaggerated. Yet today, it had happened right before their eyes.

After tonight, the name Zhao Qi would be known to every soul in Yuehai.

...

...

「Meanwhile, two blocks away from the National Martial Arts Hall.」

A black sedan was parked in a small alley.

Rong Zhenyu and Sun Yunyong were waiting inside the car.

"Will he really be alright?"

Rong Zhenyu took a deep breath. He had weathered many storms over the years and seen it all, but he still felt that Zhao Xuanqi’s plan for the night was utterly insane.

"If he’s the one who suggested it, he must be confident," Sun Yunyong said, shaking his head. "Of all the young Martial Artists in the Divine Land that I’ve seen and heard of, there are precious few who can compare to him. A man like that is not for us to worry about."

"Is he really that incredible?"

Rong Zhenyu was surprised by Sun Yunyong’s assessment.

"Yuehai, under the rule of the Giant Spirit Army, is not his stage. His stage is the entire Divine Land, perhaps even the whole world." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"After we return, I’m going to request a meeting with the Minister. We have to win a man like this over. Remember, we must do everything in our power to meet any of his demands. Though he may seem cold, and his methods are ruthless and domineering, he is actually a man of deep loyalty. Otherwise, he never would have gone to these lengths for the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall, a place he only joined a year ago."

"As long as the organization genuinely looks out for him, he will surely repay the favor," Sun Yunyong said in a grave tone.

"I understand."

Rong Zhenyu nodded, his expression solemn.

THUMP!!

As the two were talking, a figure suddenly leaped down from a nearby building, landing lightly beside the black sedan.

Startled, the two took a closer look. It was Zhao Xuanqi, already changed into a clean Zhongshan suit. They let out a collective sigh of relief and opened the car door for him.

"How did it go? Did everything go smoothly? Are you being followed?" Rong Zhenyu asked.

"You set up all those safe houses for me. Do you really think I could have been followed? Are you looking down on me?"

"Just drive. I expect the Giant Spirit Army will lock down the entire city again soon. If we don’t get out of Guangdong before that happens, it’ll just cause more trouble," Zhao Xuanqi said calmly.

"Don’t worry, we’ve made the necessary arrangements," Rong Zhenyu nodded.

"I owe you for this."

Zhao Xuanqi nodded.

His words may have been abrasive, but Rong Zhenyu and Sun Yunyong both knew that for a man like him, a promise was worth its weight in gold.

The engine started, and the car slowly drove out of the alley.

...

...

That night, news of the massacre at the banquet spread throughout Guangdong City, becoming known to all.

It was inevitable. The banquet wasn’t just attended by figures from the Martial Arts Realm; numerous Yuehai elites were also present. Upon returning home, they immediately spread the news, causing a massive sensation throughout Yuehai society.

Zhou Lie, a True Inheritance disciple of the Giant Spirit Sect, was brutally killed, his body thrown onto the banquet stage for all to see!

Four leaders of the Martial Arts Conference Committee, publicly assassinated!

This was a provocation!

This incident was no longer just a struggle within the Jianghu, nor was it merely a matter of the Martial Arts Association’s prestige. It now challenged the very authority of the Giant Spirit Army!

It was said that word of the incident reached the ears of the Giant Spirit Army’s Military Commander almost immediately, throwing him into a rage.

The Giant Spirit Army’s response was escalated dramatically once again.

「Guangdong. Giant Spirit Army Intelligence Division Building.」

Intelligence Chief Tao Jingxuan was fielding countless calls demanding answers. He was sweating profusely, looking completely overwhelmed.

’At this very moment, he wanted nothing more than to tear Zhao Xuanqi limb from limb. If it weren’t for Zhao Xuanqi, he wouldn’t be in this mess. Now, with this Martial Arts Association incident, if he failed to capture his target again, he feared he would lose his own position.’

THUD. THUD. THUD.

Just as he was contemplating his next move, a set of rapid, heavy footsteps echoed from outside the office.

BANG!!

Then, his closed office door was thrown open, and a tall man in a Giant Spirit Army uniform, who looked to be in his thirties, walked right in without any ceremony, his gaze cold.

Seeing this man, Tao Jingxuan’s pupils contracted slightly.

’A Colonel in the Giant Spirit Army’s Spiritual Martial Department, and a direct lineage member of the Giant Spirit Sect.’

’"Earth Spirit" Feng Zheng!!’

’Within the Giant Spirit Sect, anyone with a "title"—like "Hundred Rivers" Hong Yukun, who captured Zhang Hongyun—was a veteran powerhouse of immense strength. These so-called titles were not given lightly; they were forged in blood and bone, battle after brutal battle!’

’Only beings like him could truly be called the backbone of the Giant Spirit Army!’

Feng Zheng strode into the room, stopping before Tao Jingxuan.

"By order of the Military Commander, I am temporarily taking control of the Intelligence Division. I will be taking full responsibility for the capture of Zhao Qi from the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall."

He spoke to Tao Jingxuan, his voice cold and condescending as he looked down on him.