Chapter 56: Encountering Encirclement (Part 2)

"So, your strength isn't weak. No wonder you're so arrogant!"

Master Mo Yang was initially stunned to see "Old Fourth" sent flying with a slap. Then, his expression turned even more menacing. He waved his hand with an air of complete control, declaring, "However, your good fortune ends here!"

After speaking, he turned to the stall owner beside him. "Finish him quickly. We have more important matters to attend to!"

"Understood!" The stall owner nodded and stepped forward.

Before he even made a move, his aura erupted, vast as a mountain and deep as the ocean. If one were to close their eyes and perceive it, they would clearly sense over a dozen acupoints on his body pulsating with spiritual energy, shining like stars.

"An Aperture Realm expert?" Zhang Xuan was momentarily taken aback.

A martial artist at the sixth level, Aperture Realm, opens the body's acupoints to actively absorb and refine the spiritual energy of heaven and earth for their own use. Reaching this cultivation level significantly boosts both strength and reaction speed. In Hongtian Academy, such a person would be considered an elder! It was beyond his expectations that a mere swindler possessed such a high level of cultivation.

"Scared now, aren't you? If you're scared, then kneel down and apologize immediately, and compensate for the losses our brothers suffered because of you! Otherwise, you're dead!" Seeing Zhang Xuan's surprise, the stall owner mistook it for fear of his power. He let out a long hiss and stepped forward, like a deity controlling life and death.

"Kneel and apologize? Compensate your losses?" Zhang Xuan shook his head. "I'm not so idle as to apologize or pay compensation to a swindler. If you have such a hobby, you can certainly kneel to me and compensate for the losses from your ambush today. That way, I might even consider letting you go!"

"What did you say?"

"Is this kid out of his mind?"

Master Mo Yang, the stall owner, and the others all thought the young man had gone mad.

There are so many of us, including an Aperture Realm expert, and you, a mere youth, expect us to kneel? What kind of bravado is this? And compensate for the ambush? What losses did you even suffer? It's our Old Fourth whose head is still stuck in the ground. If anyone's suffered losses, it's us, isn't it?

"Stop wasting time with him. Just kill him!" Master Mo Yang gestured.

"Understood!" The stall owner nodded, no longer wasting words. He stomped his foot, spread his fingers, and pounced on Zhang Xuan.

The wind howled. Before he even got close, the whistling wind preceded him. It was like an eagle swooping down on a rabbit, creating an overwhelming and irresistible sense of pressure.

"That's Old Second's martial art, 'Eagle Soaring Ten Thousand Miles'!"

"This martial art is quite formidable even among mid-tier mortal-grade techniques. Isn't it overkill to use it on a mere youth?"

"Heh heh, it's not overkill at all. This kid managed to slap Old Fourth away, which means he has some strength. However, facing Old Second's 'Eagle Soaring Ten Thousand Miles,' his good luck is definitely over!"

Seeing the stall owner immediately employ such a powerful technique, everyone nodded to themselves.

'Eagle Soaring Ten Thousand Miles' was considered one of the top mid-tier mortal-grade martial arts. Once unleashed, it commanded immense power, like a hawk preying on a rabbit, creating a sense of overwhelming might that left no room for counterattack. Even Master Mo Yang, their leader, would have to temporarily evade its edge and wouldn't dare confront it directly.

"'Eagle Soaring Ten Thousand Miles'?" As the opponent unleashed his martial art, a book materialized in Zhang Xuan's mind, densely filled with the stall owner's life history and weaknesses. With a mental scan, he imprinted this information into his mind. Suddenly, Zhang Xuan's face took on a peculiar expression.

There was no time for further thought; the stall owner, having unleashed his martial art, was already upon him.

Martial arts allow one to better utilize the body's strength and reach higher levels. As an Aperture Realm expert who had opened over a dozen acupoints, the stall owner was already formidable. Coupled with the mid-tier mortal-grade martial art he employed, his power was overwhelming, and his aura surged.

"Die..." A sinister smile blossomed on his face, brilliant like a flower. However, before this "flower" could fully bloom, his eyes suddenly constricted, and he let out a ghostly shriek: "Argh!" A piercing scream tore through the night sky, as miserable as a dog's ear caught in a millstone. It was truly horrific.

"What happened?" Master Mo Yang and the others had initially expected Zhang Xuan to be instantly killed by the stall owner's formidable move. They didn't expect such a horrific scream from the latter. They quickly looked over, and upon seeing the scene, they all recoiled, almost fainting.

The young man, seemingly unfazed by the charging stall owner's might, sent him flying. The next moment, without the slightest pause, the stall owner flew out like a kicked ball. He slammed into a nearby wall, splayed out. He might have had grander aspirations, but it seemed he would never get the chance to achieve them now.

"Impressive!" Seeing the Aperture Realm stall owner, who was even using a martial art, sent flying with a single light kick, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but nod.

Although his physical body was significantly stronger than the opponent's, the opponent was skilled in martial arts and swift. To cripple him would still require considerable effort, at least dozens of moves. However, with the Library of Heaven's Path, seeing through the opponent's flaws and weaknesses and exploiting them made it extremely simple. A dignified Aperture Realm expert was virtually crippled, if not outright dead.

"This kid is strange, everyone attack him together!" Seeing Zhang Xuan slap Old Fourth away, Master Mo Yang, no matter how foolish, knew he was no ordinary person. His previous disdain turned into solemnity.

Hearing his command, the remaining few, despite feeling cold sweat break out and their legs go weak, still dared not disobey and surrounded Zhang Xuan.

"Attack!" With a roar, the remaining few immediately closed in. Various powerful attacks rained down as if they cost nothing. True Qi rippled, and energy surged in all directions.

These individuals, like the earlier Old Fourth, were all peak experts of the fifth level, Dingli Realm.

Although they were numerous, it was nothing to Zhang Xuan, who could instantly discern others' weaknesses and possessed the combat power of a peak Aperture Realm expert.

"Wait, why are only these few attacking?" Blocking their attacks, Zhang Xuan was suddenly puzzled.

The stall owner, who was just "Old Second" among their group, had already reached the Aperture Realm. This fake "Master Mo Yang" must surely be stronger. Why wasn't he attacking with the others? If he were to attack, it might not be so easy for him to handle...

As he wondered, he saw a figure already fifteen meters away. The figure was walking away, shouting, "You kill him! I'll be right back..."

"What?" Hearing this, all the attackers staggered. They didn't need to guess; their leader, seeing the situation was unfavorable, had abandoned them and fled.

"Shameless!" Zhang Xuan and the few stooges snorted in unison. One moment, he was full of righteous indignation; the next, he turned and fled, abandoning even his own subordinates. No wonder the Scarlet Jade Kingdom's wanted posters hadn't managed to catch him – he was truly too shameless!