Chapter 409: The Hunt Had Begun

After spreading his senses over more than half of the city, Liam rose into the sky.

He knew that the assassins are still in the city and that they would be positioned between a location close to Master Han store, and the inns he had stayed in. And as their luck would have it, those locations were within range of Liam’s senses.

The reason why Liam flew into the air was to make a statement and attract the attention of the assassins. He knew that they will definitely react when they sense someone spreading their senses over the city, and if they are to see him floating in the air, openly announcing his presence, they will come out of their hiding holes and attack him.

Liam’s action of spreading his senses over the city was disrespectful and would offend other cultivators, but he really doesn’t care, as it’s the only way he can achieve what he want.

Just as Liam had predicted, the effect of his spiritual pressure rippled through Blackstone City. Nearly every cultivator within range felt the oppressive weight settle over them, an uncomfortable sensation that made even routine activities feel suddenly difficult.

The weaker cultivators couldn’t pinpoint the source. They simply felt uncomfortable, anxious, as if a storm were approaching that only they could sense. Many stopped what they were doing and looked up at the sky, searching for the cause of their unease.

As for those in mid-to-late Foundation Establishment, their cultivation allowed them to trace the pressure back to its origin, and when their eyes found Liam floating in the afternoon sky, most immediately looked away.

They recognized danger when they saw it. The Mad Demon God’s reputation had spread through the city like wildfire, and anyone with sense knew that attracting his attention was a quick path to an early grave. At least, that’s how they all feel.

Liam noticed these glances but paid them no mind. They weren’t his targets. His attention remained focused on scanning the city, watching for the specific reactions he was waiting for.

Then he felt three distinct presences, stronger than everything else in the city, each one emanating the unmistakable aura of Golden Core realm cultivation. They’d been hiding their strength to blend in with the general population, but the moment his pressure washed over them, their instinctive defenses had flared to life.

Liam’s eyes tracked their positions. Two were together, probably maintaining surveillance from a shared location. The third was alone, positioned to provide a different angle of observation.

All three turned their attention toward him almost simultaneously. He could feel their spiritual senses probing outward, confirming what their instincts were already telling them—that the pressure blanketing the city came from the teenager floating above it like some kind of avenging deity.

And then, just as he’d anticipated, they moved.

Three figures launched themselves into the sky, their movement techniques carrying them upward. They rose to meet him, positioning themselves in a loose triangle formation that would allow them to attack from multiple angles if necessary.

The one who spoke first appeared to be the eldest of the three, perhaps in his early forties, with a lean build and features that suggested years of hard living. His expression carried a smirk that didn’t quite reach his cold eyes.

"Well, well, well," he said, his voice carrying easily across the distance between them despite the wind. "If it isn’t the Mad Demon God himself." His smirk widened into something approaching a sneer. "You know, for someone with such a fearsome title, I was expecting something more... impressive. More fierce, perhaps. But honestly, looking at you now, all I see is a kid still wet behind the ears."

The other two assassins chuckled at their companion’s words, clearly enjoying what they perceived as dominance in this confrontation. They’d probably killed dozens of people who’d seemed dangerous from a distance but proved disappointing up close. In their minds, Liam was just another entry on that list.

Liam’s expression didn’t change at the taunting. His voice remained calm, almost conversational, as he asked his question. "Which one of you broke Master Han’s hand and leg?"

The simplicity of the question seemed to catch them off guard. They exchanged glances, confusion mixing with amusement on their faces.

The assassin who’d spoken first tilted his head slightly, his smirk never faltering. "Master Han?" He made a show of thinking, tapping his chin with one finger. "Can’t say the name rings any bells. Are you sure you have the right people? We meet so many masters in our line of work, you understand. Hard to keep track of them all."

The other two laughed openly at this, clearly pleased with their companion’s wit. To them, this was entertainment. They’d come up here expecting a fight, maybe even a challenging one, but instead they were getting to mock the infamous Mad Demon God to his face. The story they’d tell back at headquarters would be legendary.

Liam didn’t say anything. He simply raised his right hand and reached out with his telekinesis.

The assassin who’d been speaking suddenly jerked backward, his smirk vanishing as an invisible force wrapped around his throat like iron fingers. His hands flew up instinctively, clawing at his neck, trying to pry away something that wasn’t physically there.

His eyes widened in shock and the beginning of fear as he realized what was happening. He struggled, pouring spiritual energy into a defensive technique meant to dispel external forces, but it accomplished nothing. The invisible grip tightened instead of loosening, cutting off his air supply.

The other two assassins reacted instantly, their entertainment forgotten as survival instincts kicked in. They activated their techniques in perfect synchronization and vanished from their positions.

To a normal observer, they would have simply disappeared. But Liam’s enhanced senses tracked their movements as clearly as if they’d walked rather than employed advanced stealth techniques.

One circled to his left, ascending higher to gain an altitude advantage. The other descended below his position, preparing to attack from beneath.

They moved into position and launched their attacks simultaneously, their weapons materializing from spatial storage as spiritual energy flooded their bodies in preparation for killing strikes.

Liam didn’t move. He simply released his racial aura, enhancing it with the full pressure of his cultivation level.

The effect was instantaneous and total, as both assassins froze mid-attack, their weapons still raised but their bodies suddenly unable to complete the motions they’d started.

The crushing weight of Liam’s aura pressed down on them like a physical force, making every breath a struggle, every thought clouded with the primal understanding that they stood before something far beyond their ability to challenge.

The assassin caught in Liam’s telekinetic grip fared even worse. Already struggling to breathe against the invisible hand around his throat, the addition of the crushing aura made his situation desperate. His face was turning purple, his struggles becoming more frantic and less coordinated as oxygen deprivation began affecting his judgment.

Liam looked at the three assassins with an expression of mild curiosity, as if observing interesting insects caught in a jar. "Let me ask again," he said, his voice carrying effortlessly despite the spiritual pressure filling the air. "Which one of you broke Master Han’s hand and leg?"