Prestige of the King of Assassins . . .
A deafening collision, marked by a resonant - Boom! - reverberated through the night. Boundless Saint, after the exchange with Ning Biluo, staggered backward, retreating ten meters to regain his footing. As he did so, he deftly sidestepped the fierce attacks launched by the other six assassins from Boundless Lake.
In the midst of this frenetic combat, Ning Biluo rolled like a lithe rainbow, his sword emitting a dazzling radiance that resembled a frozen pillar of light. With the swiftness of the wind, he surged toward Ling-Bao Hall, leaving a trail of vanquished adversaries in his wake. Those assassins who had perched atop the wall or attempted to scale it found themselves obliterated by the relentless onslaught.
Ning Biluo had orchestrated this devastating maneuver while simultaneously engaging Boundless Saint in combat, a testament to his remarkable combat prowess. His actions were nothing short of astounding. The area around the house bore witness to the consequences of his audacious maneuver, as it suffered the onslaught of his ferocious swordplay.
For a brief, exhilarating moment, the pressure on Liu Changjun's group was significantly alleviated. Every second of respite was a welcome reprieve, and the members of Ling-Bao Hall seized the opportunity to counterattack with newfound zeal. The defenders were filled with elation, their resolve invigorated as they successfully repelled their foes.
Amidst the clash, Boundless Saint, after being compelled to retreat dozens of steps during his confrontation with Ning Biluo, finally regained his footing. Gazing upon Ning Biluo, who was methodically eliminating adversaries around the house, Boundless Saint's face flushed with humiliation.
"You've taken this too far!" he seethed.
While Boundless Saint and his subordinates had sought to engage Ning Biluo, the King of Assassins, in combat, Ning Biluo had astutely seized the opportunity to inflict significant casualties in another location. The implication was clear - Ning Biluo didn't consider Boundless Saint a worthy adversary. This blatant disregard stung Boundless Saint, and he was determined to exact vengeance.
"Good move, King of Assassins. However, you underestimate me!" Boundless Saint growled. "Prepare to savor the taste of regret!"
With these words, Boundless Saint swiftly lunged forward, ready to confront Ning Biluo once more. In his mind, Ning Biluo's audacious area attack, following their earlier encounter, indicated that the King of Assassins was nearing exhaustion. Although Boundless Saint himself had expended some energy during those few seconds, he had managed to recuperate fully. He was now in peak form and prepared to confront his esteemed adversary.
Boundless Saint's decision to attack wasn't solely motivated by anger; it was a calculated attempt to seize an opportune moment and secure victory over Ning Biluo. However, events took an unexpected turn, exceeding Boundless Saint's initial expectations. Ning Biluo, undeterred by his earlier exertions, executed a swift ascent into the sky, descending upon Boundless Saint like a thunderbolt, prepared for a fierce showdown.
"Do you truly believe you can halt me?" Ning Biluo's voice emanated from within the radiant swordlight. "You lack the capacity to overcome me. In your presence, I am free to indulge my arrogance."
Boundless Saint, his countenance concealed behind a mask, reddened with fury in response to Ning Biluo's taunts. Nevertheless, Ning Biluo was presently in a state of fusion with his sword, his most formidable form. Realizing the futility of his earlier strategy, Boundless Saint was compelled to alter his course of action.
Should he persist in a direct collision, it was evident that Ning Biluo would not be as fatigued as he had initially surmised. On the contrary, he would be an unstoppable force, operating at peak performance, and combatting him in such a state would amount to a suicidal endeavor.
Nevertheless, Boundless Saint remained undeterred, employing his exceptional agility to move with ghostly swiftness. His rapid movements made him appear as an ephemeral wisp of fog, swirling around Ning Biluo. In his wake, projectiles were launched into the air - a relentless barrage of needles that sought to incapacitate his adversary. The needles pierced the atmosphere with a rhythmic - Shoot, shoot, shoot - sound, making them challenging to evade.
In the midst of this maelstrom, Ning Biluo had melded with his sword, enveloping himself in a luminous cocoon of swordlight. When the needles met the radiant barrier, they shattered into fragments. Ning Biluo's own pace matched the speed of Boundless Saint's evasive maneuvers, allowing him to persistently press the attack. Boundless Saint, vulnerable to the slightest lapse in his defense, risked grievous injury and even instant demise if he faltered.
Observing their master's predicament, five of Boundless Lake's elite assassins intervened to lend their aid, once again launching a coordinated assault on Ning Biluo. Nonetheless, Ning Biluo's swordplay remained unwavering, impervious to harm even in the face of six formidable assailants. His rapid, torrential strikes disoriented and separated the six assassins, preventing them from engaging as a unified force.
In the heat of battle, each assassin was compelled to confront Ning Biluo on his own, or so it seemed. The situation bore a semblance of Ning Biluo single-handedly surrounding them, expertly manipulating the battlefield to disperse his adversaries and fragment their unity.
Observers marveled at the unfolding spectacle, commending the King of Assassins for his remarkable prowess.
"What a marvel, the King of Assassins!"
"Faced with Boundless Saint and his five golden-label assassins, Ning Biluo seizes the upper hand in the skirmish. Just look at them now - the men from Boundless Lake are being harried and assailed by Ning Biluo alone!"
"Something peculiar is happening today... I heard that Boundless Lake's golden-label assassins nearly dispatched Ning Biluo just a few days ago, and Boundless Saint didn't even participate. Why, then, are the six of them unable to subdue Ning Biluo today?"
"Pah! Almost killed Ning Biluo? You're ignorant of the truth! They had previously poisoned Ning Biluo, that's all... Otherwise, several golden-label assassins wouldn't even come close to being capable of eliminating Ning Biluo. Ending their own lives would have been an easier task!"
"Ah, I understand now. I was perplexed as to why Ning Biluo suddenly exhibited such incredible strength today. It appears the King of Assassins has always been that formidable..."
"Ning Biluo has always been this potent. You're only realizing it now! Stop making a fuss!"
...
As the discussions continued, Ning Biluo's actions grew increasingly unpredictable. He had become nearly impervious to defense. With his radiant sword in hand, he wounded two of the golden-label assassins. Ning Biluo unleashed more than a dozen sword breaths that swept toward them. A slight delay in their reactions, and they would have been lifeless, potentially torn to shreds.
It was at this point that Boundless Saint decided to confront Ning Biluo personally. He was aware of the deep-seated enmity between them.
It was Boundless Lake that had forced Ning Biluo's assassination group into retreat on a prior occasion. While Ning Biluo could pardon many transgressions, he harbored an enduring grudge against Boundless Lake.
Boundless Saint, in particular, was someone Ning Biluo would never forgive.