Chapter 1152: Killing Intent Intensifies

"If you intend to block my path, show yourselves at once. Do not resort to such sneaky tactics. Any maneuvers are pointless in my presence. If you lack the courage, then disperse and rest."

Xu Yang's voice was soft and low, yet it effortlessly enveloped every corner of the Skillful House. All the powerful individuals hidden in the darkness opened their cold eyes at that moment.

In an instant, whooshing sounds filled the air as over a dozen figures shot out from various directions in the courtyard. Unbeknownst to many, more than half of these individuals were esteemed guests of the Skillful House who had already accepted the gold-lettered bounty.

"I must admit your strength is considerable, but no matter how powerful you are, you must abide by the rules of the Skillful House. This is An Yang City, not a place where just anyone can act presumptuously. The Skillful House has its own regulations: we do not receive anyone after 4 PM. Regardless of your status, you must adhere to these rules, otherwise, you are not qualified to come here for tasks."

Xu Yang burst out laughing, "I said it before: these rules are set by you, and naturally, they are for people like you to follow. I, however, am not bound by any rules in this world."

The moment Xu Yang finished speaking, the dozen dark figures attacked simultaneously, each releasing an incredibly powerful aura of killing intent. Clearly, they were deeply displeased by Xu Yang's offensive actions and words, having resolved to defend their honor with their own strength.

"Very well. Since you've decided to band together and attack me, I won't hold back either. You had best unleash your strongest abilities to determine your fate."

With a light stomp, Xu Yang unleashed an incredibly cold aura that instantly erupted. Countless sword glints materialized in the surrounding void without warning. Each sword edge, conjured by a divine sword, flew towards a different target, and Xu Yang made no other superfluous movements throughout the entire process.

Yet, these void sword glints alone imposed immense pressure on the dark figures. Xu Yang roughly gauged their strength, noting that these dozen figures were mostly at the peak of the Blue Tier to the early stages of the Purple Tier.

These were the kind of individuals who would be easily defeated by the Glorious Dragon Riders, so how could they gain any advantage against their leader? Even if hundreds or thousands of people with such strength attacked simultaneously, they wouldn't be able to harm Xu Yang in the slightest.

The two sides were as different as heaven and earth. However, to maintain a low profile as much as possible, Xu Yang didn't display any powerful techniques or cultivation methods. He simply used the most straightforward means to silence these presumptuous individuals.

"Heh, if this is all the strength you possess, I advise you to remain calm and absolutely refrain from any reckless actions. Otherwise, I genuinely fear I might accidentally take your lives with just a little more effort."

As he spoke, Xu Yang lightly snapped his fingers in the void. In an instant, the countless jade-bone divine sword glints floating around him shattered completely. The sword aura emanating from each shattered glint converged above the Skillful House, forming a colossal halo of sword energy that descended with a thunderous roar.

This concentrated burst of power instantly shattered the resistance team formed by the dozen dark figures, sending all of them flying simultaneously.

After Xu Yang displayed his strength, the dozen dark figures, scrambling back to their feet in disarray, no longer dared to make any presumptuous moves. They all approached Xu Yang respectfully, treating him with utmost deference. Clearly, they had been completely subdued by Xu Yang's recent display of power.

"It was our oversight; we were blind. Given your prowess, you must also be here at the Skillful House for gold, correct?"

Xu Yang nodded calmly. "I wish to meet the person in charge." Just as he finished speaking, the entrance to the highest mansion ahead slowly opened, and a man in splendid robes with an unremarkable face emerged.

This man was no great lord of an era, yet his aristocratic demeanor clearly indicated he was accustomed to dealing with the imperial family of the Central Domain. In the jianghu, he was known as Fifth Master.

As they spoke, Xu Yang gained some understanding of this Fifth Master. He had been in the escort business in An Yang City for many years, and this time, it was the Sixth Prince's estate steward who entrusted the gold-lettered bounty task to him.

However, three full months had passed, and Fifth Master still hadn't managed to assemble a complete team for this escort mission. Only these dozen dark figures had passed his test.

"Your skills are extraordinary. You have already proven your strength to everyone in our team. Now you only need to pass one more assessment to join us."

Xu Yang offered a calm smile. "You don't need to know my identity or background. If you trust me, then with just one more person—me—we can depart immediately. As far as I know, this consignment is destined for the Third Prince's villa, a place rife with mountain bandits and various local factions. Therefore, this escort mission is exceptionally perilous. Even if you continue to wait, it won't significantly improve the overall strength of your team. You only need to accept me, and I guarantee this consignment will be safely delivered. Of course, my commission will be fifty points higher than others. If you are willing to pay this additional fee, we can set off at any time."

Fifth Master, twirling two jade dragon pearls in his hand, gazed at Xu Yang with a smile for a long moment. Finally, he nodded gently. "Alright. Once you sign this life-and-death pact, the price is negotiable. We can depart tomorrow."

The other dozen dark figures naturally dared not raise any further objections. After all, they held great respect for Fifth Master, and moreover, Xu Yang's power was immense. They had just witnessed it. With Xu Yang's strength, even common mountain bandits and marauders would be utterly ineffective.

The next day, Fifth Master, along with the eleven other escorts including Xu Yang, departed from An Yang City with the secret consignment of silver, heading directly for the Splendid Villa under the Third Prince's command, hundreds of miles away.

According to Fifth Master's plan, the entire journey would take approximately six days. The first three days of travel proceeded smoothly. Wherever the convoy passed, no one dared to challenge its might. Although there were many mountain bandits and marauders in the vicinity, upon hearing Fifth Master's name and realizing that this consignment of silver involved the influence of a princely power, those lacking sufficient strength dared not even consider attacking the shipment.

However, on the fourth day of the escort journey, the quiet atmosphere was abruptly shattered. After passing through a valley, the team encountered a massive band of mountain bandits and marauders, numbering a full two thousand. Furthermore, according to Xu Yang's observations, this group's members all possessed strength above the Blue Tier on average, making them arguably the most powerful faction in the nearby mountainous region.