Chapter 1172: Seconds Kill

Upon hearing his boss's words, he was momentarily stunned. He never imagined that the boss, who seemed the most reliable, would push him directly into a pit of fire at such a crucial moment!

Little did he know, Xu Yang was actually doing this for his own good. The scout's body was nearly invulnerable to weapons, water, and fire, meaning his life wouldn't be threatened by the opponent's power. Furthermore, Xu Yang's perception was incredibly sharp. He could accurately judge the relative strengths of each enemy without them even making a move.

The large man who had just provoked the scout, despite appearing extremely formidable, was actually the weakest among the enemy's swordsmen. Choosing the scout as an opponent posed no threat to the young man. Xu Yang, with a comprehensive understanding of the situation, decisively chose to throw the scout into the battle.

This was an opportunity for the scout to develop sufficient courage; otherwise, he would become a liability to the Eight Gates team in the future. Feeling abandoned by his own leader and disheartened, the scout had no choice but to roll around the battlefield like a ball, constantly evading the large man's attacks.

Meanwhile, every other member of the Eight Gates team also entered their own fights, each selecting their preferred opponent and engaging in combat.

Only Xu Yang delayed in choosing his opponent. It was at this moment that the silver-haired enemy captain finally focused on him. "I didn't realize it until now, but you are truly the most noteworthy presence in this entire team."

The silver-haired captain had deduced this from the subtle detail that when Xu Yang decisively threw the scout into battle, the scout didn't seek help from those closer to him. Instead, he immediately headed to Xu Yang's position at the back of the group. This detail alone proved that, in the scout's mind, Xu Yang was the most trustworthy person.

If the most trusted person in a team was not yet qualified to be the captain, then that team undoubtedly had a significant problem. Thus, the silver-haired swordsman leader decisively concluded that Xu Yang was the most indispensable presence in the team!

"You've finally revealed your true identity. I'm very curious: what makes you worthy of leading this Eight Gates team?"

Xu Yang couldn't help but smile, shaking a finger at the silver-haired elder before him. "Do you truly want to know the answer? It will cost you your life!" As the strongest member of the entire swordsman team, the silver-haired elder dismissed Xu Yang's warning as mere boasting and didn't raise his guard sufficiently.

"I trust my own eyes. The energy fluctuations from your body aren't even as strong as the top-tier 'King Souls' that have fallen by my sword. What makes you think you can show off in front of me? Perhaps you possess an extraordinary mind and a good combat intellect, but these cannot compensate for the vast gap in raw power between us. In the face of absolute strength, any so-called wisdom appears utterly powerless."

Xu Yang was usually the one to utter such statements, and this was the first time he had heard his opponent say something similar to him. He couldn't help but shake his head with a bitter smile.

"You old fool, you truly refuse a toast only to drink a forfeiture. I genuinely didn't intend to eliminate you so quickly, but you've repeatedly challenged my bottom line. In that case, there's no other way; you will have to face your predetermined end — annihilation! I will only strike once, and I will personally end your life with the very sword you hold!"

Xu Yang's words also caught the attention of the four other swordsmen behind the silver-haired captain who hadn't yet found opponents. After all, the Eight Gates team had fewer members than their adversaries, and there were still a few young, inexperienced swordsmen on the enemy's side who hadn't joined the fight. All of them now fixed their gazes on their captain and Xu Yang.

"Heh heh, Little Ba, did you see that? You've only just joined the team. Someone like that guy, so arrogant and contemptuous, will surely be torn to pieces by the captain! The sword in the captain's hand has already been stained with the blood of thousands of top experts! This fellow will undoubtedly be the next target consumed by this blade."

The person who spoke was ranked seventh among the eleven swordsmen. He also had another identity: he was the silver-haired leader's last and only disciple in the team.

He almost worshipped his master without limit. However, just as he proudly offered this explanation to his newly joined junior disciple, the smile on Xu Yang's face vanished, and at that very moment, he made his move.

A sharp sword hum sliced through the air just as the seventh-ranked swordsman's words ended. Everyone assumed this hum was from their silver-haired captain. However, a chilling, blood-red flash appeared before them, and at that very instant, time and space froze.

What appeared next, a scene that utterly shattered their perception, was the silver-haired elder's head detaching from his body without warning. It rolled calmly to the seventh-ranked swordsman's feet, blood gushing freely from the neck. The hand that gripped the silver sword loosened, and his body crashed to the ground.

Indeed, everyone believed this was a scene that could only occur in a dream, yet it unfolded right before their eyes. With an unbelievable move, Xu Yang instantly killed the silver-haired swordsman captain, making all of the captain's previous haughty pronouncements seem utterly pathetic. He had become a mere joke in Xu Yang's hands.

"No! This is impossible! I must be trapped in an illusion! My master is one of the top swordsmen chosen by the Central Domain's Royal Family; how could he be instantly killed by that person?"

The seventh-ranked swordsman collapsed on the spot, his face a mask of disbelief as he tried to process what had happened. Unfortunately, what he saw next was Xu Yang walking towards him with a cold expression, and then he finally realized this was no dream!

"Young man, I understand how you feel right now. In your perception, your master must have been the strongest swordsman in the world. Unfortunately for him, he encountered me, and now he is nothing more than an insignificant ant."

Xu Yang's words were utterly chilling, a stark contrast to his understated demeanor before the fight began. Once in combat, his killing intent would involuntarily erupt, transforming from intangible to tangible. The aura of killing intent he had cultivated had now reached an entirely new level!

"A devil! This guy must be a devil! How did he do that? We didn't even see him move! The captain is dead!"

"What else can we do? There's only one path before us now: fight to the death with this guy. If we back down now, the only outcome awaiting us is complete annihilation. What more is there to say? Everyone, let's charge together and avenge our master!"

The seventh-ranked swordsman's eyes were filled with hatred. On one hand, he was furious and grief-stricken because his master had been instantly killed by Xu Yang. On the other hand, his own life was now threatened by Xu Yang's terrifying presence. He had to unleash his strongest power at this critical juncture, or the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Hahaha, I advise you to quickly abandon that idea. With your current strength, you're less significant to me than a crushed ant."