At night, the Fengyue Building was brightly lit and bustling with activity.
A great victory by the Grand General of National Guardian had sent the entire Cangqiong Empire into a frenzy. The Imperial Capital, being the first to receive the news, was filled with joy. Consequently, as the capital's premier entertainment venue, business at the Fengyue Building was naturally booming.
Although not all the patrons who came here were fond of the Xu Family, they were still Cangqiong People and couldn't remain indifferent to such an event.
Unlike the excited crowd inside the Fengyue Building, Crystal was not happy at all.
Just a moment ago, a few important figures, emboldened by wine, had tried to invite Crystal out for a drink, but she had rejected them flatly.
'Are you kidding me? I'm furious, so why would I celebrate with them? A bunch of idiots, just like pigs. What good does this victory do them?'
A dark cloud hung over Crystal's delicate face as she said coldly, "It's as if they won the battle themselves. The mere thought of the Xu Family benefiting from this fills me with displeasure!"
"What can be done? The rise of the Xu Family is already unstoppable. Before this victory, it might have been possible to suppress them, but now… I'm afraid no one can halt their ascent," an old man sitting across from Crystal said in a heavy tone.
"How did Xu Luo and Xu Su suddenly become so powerful? To think that even a great expert at the Sword King Realm was scared away by them. Are we just supposed to watch helplessly as they grow stronger and help that master-disciple pair, Li Wenxi and Phoenix, sideline us?" a woman in a long white dress said indignantly.
The old man sighed softly. "Now that the Supreme Elder is in seclusion, there's practically only one voice left in all of Merak. Even the Grand Elder is powerless. If we let that little bastard from the Xu Family continue to rise, I'm afraid… we won't even be able to guarantee our interests in the secular world."
"He's too difficult to kill. I've been trying, but he's far too cunning. However, one day, I will find an opportunity to slay him! Once Xu Luo is dead, Li Wenxi and her master will lose their strong support in the secular world. Then, we'll eventually find a chance to kill them both."
Hearing such vicious words from a beautiful girl like Crystal gave off a sinister chill.
"It would be difficult to accomplish with our strength," the woman in the white dress said helplessly.
Crystal sneered, "Often, you don't need immense strength to kill someone…"
"Perhaps," a strange voice suddenly echoed in the room.
"Yes…" the old man replied subconsciously, then immediately realized something was wrong. Besides himself, there were only two women in this secret chamber. How could there be a second man's voice?
"Who's there?" Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Crystal's eyebrows shot up. She leaped to her feet, her face tense as she shouted.
The woman in the white dress and the old man also reacted, jumping to their feet and staring at every corner of the secret chamber in shock and uncertainty.
This secret chamber was located beneath the Fengyue Building. The room wasn't large, containing only a few tables and chairs, with nowhere to hide.
"I've come to kill you."
The indifferent voice sounded again in the secret chamber.
"Xu Luo!" Crystal's pupils contracted abruptly, her eyes filled with horror.
"That's right. You've plotted against me so many times. If I continue to let it slide, who knows how you'll scheme against me and my family next. So, I've decided to kill you and put an end to this once and for all."
Xu Luo's voice was faint, with almost no emotional fluctuation, as if he were speaking of the most ordinary matter.
"Xu Luo, stop playing tricks! Get the hell out here!" Crystal berated.
"As you wish."
As Xu Luo's calm voice faded, the door to the secret underground chamber exploded, turning to fine powder that rustled as it fell.
At the same time, the entire Fengyue Building trembled slightly, and some of the people drinking and carousing inside clearly felt it.
"What was that?"
"Did the ground just shake?"
"Was that an earthquake?"
"Why did it just tremble?"
The people in the Fengyue Building looked at each other in dismay, realizing it wasn't their imagination. They were all shocked and uncertain. Some of the more timid ones even began to flee outside.
However, when they realized everything had returned to normal, they all relaxed and went back to what they were doing—drinking what they were drinking and flirting with whomever they were flirting with.
In the secret chamber below, Crystal, the old man, and the woman in white all stared in terror at Xu Luo, who had just burst in.
"It must have been that bitch Phoenix who told you how to get into the Fengyue Building's secret chamber!" Crystal stared at Xu Luo with a venomous expression. "What do you want?"
"To kill you!" Xu Luo said. His figure blurred as he executed the Shaking Light Step, charging directly at Crystal without a shred of hesitation!
"You dare!"
The old man moved at the same time. A powerful aura erupted from his body as he blocked Crystal's path and threw a punch at Xu Luo.
The wind from the old man's fist formed a terrifying shockwave, heavy and powerful, like a mountain crashing down on top of him!
A cold smile touched the corner of Xu Luo's mouth. He raised his hand and unleashed the first of the Breaking Army Seven Kills—Broken Tendons and Bones!
Unleashing it now was completely different from in the past.
Having reached the Half-Step Sword King realm, every move Xu Luo made carried the air of a Grandmaster.
His Broken Tendons and Bones punch, though launched second, arrived first. With no fancy flourishes, it broke through the shockwave from the old man's fist and collided violently with it.
The old man felt as if his fist had struck an indestructible steel wall, followed by the terrifying sound of shattering bone.
"AHH!"
The old man let out a blood-curdling scream and retreated hastily.
Xu Luo's punch had directly shattered the bones in the old man's hand. That incomparably powerful force surged up from the fist and into the old man's arm.
It crippled the old man's entire arm in an instant!
PFFT.
The old man spat out a mouthful of blood, his face deathly pale, his eyes filled with horror.
He couldn't believe that despite his strength as a Tier Six Sword Venerable, he couldn't even withstand a single punch from his opponent!
But Xu Luo gave him no chance to react. Using the Shaking Light Step, his figure moved like a phantom, appearing before the old man and striking him in the chest with his palm.
"Great Mountain Collapse!" Xu Luo spat out the cold words.
CRACK!
With a crisp snap, the old man's sternum was directly shattered.
His entire body slammed into the wall of the secret chamber, then slid down it like a discarded sandbag, falling to the ground, dead on the spot.
It all happened in the blink of an eye, so fast that Crystal and the woman in the white dress barely had time to react before the old man was already dead.
With a cold expression, Xu Luo looked at Crystal. "Your turn."
"Xu Luo… you—you really dare to kill people? Aren't you afraid my sect will seek revenge and kill your entire family?" Crystal's voice trembled slightly as she made the hollow threat.
"Kill my whole family? If your sect truly has that ability, then let them come." As he spoke, Xu Luo strode toward Crystal.
"No, you can't kill me! If you kill me, my sect will absolutely not let you go! Xu Luo… I'll tell you the truth. The Supreme Elder is not the most powerful person in my sect. There are two old ancestors who have been in seclusion for many years. One of them is my grandmaster! If you kill me, she will never forgive you!"
Crystal's face was tense. She could now clearly feel the killing intent radiating from Xu Luo, and her heart was filled with terror. She had no choice but to reveal her sect's greatest secret.
"That's right, Xu Luo, don't bring ruin upon yourself! We can discuss this. Don't be rash!" The woman in the white dress had also recovered her senses. She looked at Xu Luo in terror and said, "The two reclusive ancestors in my sect are powerful beyond your imagination! If you kill us, they will not let you go!"
"Our sect has many hidden powers you can't possibly imagine. Xu Luo, if you let us go this time, we promise we will never be your enemies again!" Crystal looked at Xu Luo nervously, making a vow.
"Never be my enemy again?" A sarcastic smile spread across Xu Luo's face, and his voice turned cold. "Years ago, to frame my father, your master collaborated with Wei Feng to orchestrate the Wansong Town massacre, causing the tragic deaths of thousands of Cangqiong Warriors. I, Xu Luo, had no quarrel with you, Crystal, yet you secretly sent assassins after me multiple times. You even used a Military Heavy Crossbow…"
Xu Luo looked at Crystal. "Don't you think it's a little late to be saying this to me now?"
"You… you listen to my explanation! That bitch Phoenix was lying to you! She's the one who really wants you dead, not me…" Crystal's face was pale. She never expected Xu Luo to already know the truth about everything.
But even now, she was still trying to argue her way out of it, hoping to divert Xu Luo's attention.
At that moment, the woman in the white dress suddenly attacked!
Her figure was as fast as lightning as she lunged at Xu Luo!
Her slender, fair palm, sparkling like jade and nearly transparent, suddenly erupted with killing intent. Her face was an icy mask.
"Die!"
At the same time, Crystal also launched her attack. Two pink daggers appeared in her hands as she stabbed viciously at Xu Luo's body!
BANG!
An almost tangible True Essence Aura instantly formed around Xu Luo. With the Shaking Light Step underfoot, he unleashed the Breaking Army Seven Kills and smashed his fist into the white-robed woman's palm.
The white-robed woman screamed in agony. Her entire hand shattered, like a piece of jade dropped on the floor!
An immense force sent her flying like a discarded sandbag, and she slammed violently into the wall.
Nearly every bone in her body was shattered. She spat out a mouthful of blood and died on the spot.
Crystal's pink daggers struck Xu Luo's Protective True Essence, creating two ear-piercing screeches. They actually managed to pierce his Protective True Essence but failed to reach his body.
SLAP!
Xu Luo's speed was incredible. He viciously slapped Crystal across the face.
Crystal's translucent, jade-like cheek immediately became red and swollen.
"Ah, I'll fight you to the death!" Crystal let out a crazed roar, once again erupting with immense power. Overflowing with boundless killing intent, she prepared to fight Xu Luo with her life on the line.
Six months ago, Xu Luo would have found it truly difficult to kill Crystal. But the current Xu Luo had already reached the Half-Step Sword King Realm. With his tyrannical combat strength, he could even fight on par with a Low-Tier Sword King. Crystal… was no longer his match by a long shot.
"It's over." Xu Luo gave Crystal a deep look and spoke softly.