Page 115

Generally speaking, these sand bandits who operate outside the major factions often lack powerful figures commanding them. They are mostly warriors of Black Iron and Bronze levels, targeting small groups with few members. Higher-level experts are unwilling to suffer in the desert. As for unifying all the sand bandits, intimidating others, and plundering passing merchants, one would first need to ask Levis, one of the Seven Great Sword Saints stationed at Star Shattering Abyss, known as "Heaven-Burning Flame Saint," whether he agrees or not. Therefore, a Silver Warrior is enough to repel dozens of sand bandits.

"If they truly are sand bandits, I don't mind you testing your skills. However, I doubt you're prepared to face twelve Gold Warriors, four Sword Heroes, and a Sword Master." I waved away the bewildered Bahrain and turned to address the high-level experts disguised as sand bandits, shouting loudly: "The most formidable dark mercenary group in Fasin Kingdom, no, in the domains of the Four Guardian Kingdoms—the Crimson Moon Troupe. It's a pleasure to meet you. Since leaving the mountains, I've never encountered a group of experts worthy of a full fight. I hope you won't disappoint me."

"I didn't expect you to have intelligence sources we were unaware of, able to learn about the Guild's information and our whereabouts. But this won't change your fate. Those marked for death by the Crimson Moon Troupe never escape." The leader, a Sword Master, spoke. He assumed that my knowledge of their identities came from intelligence, as they hadn't hidden their tracks while accepting the mission and rushing here. In reality, I deduced their identities only moments ago. When rescuing Shaman Romeo and fighting Old Hake, I couldn't discern a warrior's level; I could only sense their danger vaguely. However, after multiple battles with experts, especially after undergoing the spiritual baptism trial by Leimen, I could now estimate opponents' levels through my spiritual perception. Once I saw through their concealed strength, I combined it with rumors to guess their identities.

"Killing me is simple if you have the power. By the way, may I know your name, Leader?"

"Dead men need not know much. Considering you are a Sword Master, I'll grant you the dignity of a fair duel. It's better to be killed by me than torn apart by blades. Don't even think of escaping; with your level of Sword Master, you can't outrun my pursuit." The leader shouted menacingly.

"Demonic Ice Shield!" Ignoring the leader's threats, I suddenly summoned the companion spell "Demonic Ice Shield" to protect myself. A scream echoed from the opposing group, and a person clad in long black robes fell off their horse, causing a commotion among the dark mercenaries. "Proposing a challenge while using magic to ambush—Leader of unknown name, you disgrace the rules of duels between warriors!"

Though I had transformed into a human body, my senses remained sharp. Under the bright sun, I could see the actions of the dozens of people opposite me clearly. The black-robed figure hiding behind gave me a great sense of threat, yet his riding posture revealed he lacked martial protection. So, I kept an eye on him. While the shameless leader distracted me with loud noises, he quietly chanted a spell to ambush me. Although I couldn't hear what he said, I could tell it was a spell from the rhythm and cadence. Naturally, I used the "Demonic Ice Shield" to reflect his silent, invisible magic attack back at him.

"You dared to hurt my brother, die!" Seeing the ambush fail and losing an important mage, the leader rushed forward in a fit of rage. The other members spread out in a surrounding net, charging towards me. As a Sword Master, the leader naturally opened his moon attribute—a fire-based ability. Dozens of red, scorching crescent-shaped light blades danced around him. From the heat emitted and their spinning speed, they could cut through steel, rivaling the power of my blade energy. This was why they dared to seek me out after seeing my battle reports. However, equal power doesn't mean equal strength. Judging from their flight speed and changing forms, the leader couldn't precisely control all the crescents simultaneously. To injure me during combat, he needed to catch up to me first.

"Bahrain, protect yourself; I don't want to hire another guide." As I spoke, I leaped off the sand beast, wielding the legendary treasure blade "Heaven Snake Fang" in my left hand against the leader's greatsword, while holding Jin Luosha in my right arm, plunging into the crowd. Jin Luosha was also one of their targets, so I couldn't leave her elsewhere. Swinging the long blade, combining the speed and movement changes of "Yellow Spring Phantom," I dodged the experts, evaded the leader's red crescents, and prioritized killing the Silver and Bronze Warriors. "Ten Thousand Blades Divide the Sea" proved immensely powerful in such chaos. These individuals' combat abilities were similar to the half-beast guards I faced when I single-handedly entered the ruins of the Half-Beast Temple. Now, with greatly improved strength, I planned to annihilate them all to avoid future troubles.

First, I eliminated all those below Gold level to prevent them from scattering and causing trouble. Then, I charged towards the unnamed leader. The leader finally realized my strength far exceeded that of a mere Sword Master and quickly tightened the formation, gathering all survivors to defend. The red crescents rapidly spun around the survivors, preparing to resist my attack.

"Ha ha, huddling together to let me test my moves? Then take this—'One Hundred Blades Crush Mountains'!"

Unlike "Ten Thousand Blades Divide the Sea," which focuses on the combination of blade techniques, and unlike "Thousand Blades Slash Clouds," which uses blade energy to wound from afar, "One Hundred Blades Crush Mountains" focuses on accumulating immense power to form a blade aura like a massive axe, capable of crushing any obstacle. It's a technique that breaks through skill with brute force. Now, enhanced by the fierce power of Aura, burning with blazing moon flame aura, it transformed into a white-golden blade several feet long, delivering dozens of earth-shattering blows. The red crescents offered no resistance, and the Crimson Moon Troupe's defensive formation crumbled. The leader, a Sword Master, and the four Sword Heroes were all killed, and a few Gold Warriors at the edges who tried to flee wounded were pursued and slain by my blade energy.