Upon hearing these words, Lee Tianhu, Zhang Yue, and Yun Kuan exchanged glances from afar, then each gave a cheery laugh and turned away, walking farther off.

Zhao Yan, being perceptive, hurried after them and left as well.

Xu Yang gave a faint smile, casting a deep look at Zhang Yue.

He sensed that Zhang Yue must have already guessed his identity.

After all, a Yang Realm cultivation, with such strength—across all of Daqian, there were but a handful of such figures!

A thought flashed by, and Xu Yang looked down at the two of them.

Wuo Yaofeng had already gotten up, his expression ferocious: “Do it!”

Helan Liuhuo clenched his teeth, his eyes brimming with unwillingness and despair!

But with Wuo Yaofeng by his side, he just couldn’t bring himself to kneel and beg for mercy.

“Where is Helan Xing?”

Xu Yang fixed his gaze on Helan Liuhuo and asked.

“Helan Xing?”

Helan Liuhuo was stunned, staring at Xu Yang in astonishment.

“Who… are you, really?”

Xu Yang grinned, and his expression suddenly shifted, reverting to his true appearance!

“Xu Yang!”

“So it was you, you bastard!!”

Helan Liuhuo, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, was utterly deranged, his face contorted with fury, eyes brimming with hate to the bone!

“That’s right, it’s me.”

“Guo Wenzhan and Helan Ying—I killed them too!”

“Surprised, aren’t you?”

“You—you actually killed Guo Wenzhan and General Helan too?” Wuo Yaofeng blurted out, unable to believe it!

Seeing this, Xu Yang raised an eyebrow—seemed the Barbarian Race already knew about it.

“Speak. Where are Helan Xing and the others?” Xu Yang’s face was showing impatience.

Helan Liuhuo suddenly let out a grim laugh: “Though your strength is impressive, you want to cause trouble for Helan Xing and the rest? You’re courting death! I’ll tell you, do you even dare to go?”

“What makes you think I wouldn’t?”

Xu Yang’s heart skipped with joy; could this fellow really know something?

“They should be returning to the rear encampment in the next few days!”

“If you have the guts, just go!”

Helan Liuhuo’s face was full of mockery.

At this point, he’d given up everything.

Even if it meant dying, so be it.

Asking him to beg Xu Yang for mercy?

This life or the next—never!

The rear encampment?

Xu Yang lifted his gaze toward the Northern Territory, then changed the subject: “Is anyone from the Celestial Travelers’ Commerce Association in the Northern Territory?”

“What Celestial Travelers’ Commerce Association?”

Seeing the confused, bewildered look on Helan Liuhuo’s face, Xu Yang mused—so not even someone of Helan Liuhuo’s rank knew.

“Since you don’t know, you have no value alive.”

Xu Yang flicked his sleeve.

Pu! Pu!!

Both Helan Liuhuo and Wuo Yaofeng shuddered, blood pouring from their mouths as they collapsed limply to the ground.

Their eyes were wide open—even in death, they could not find peace!

Xu Yang’s face changed, and he once again assumed the guise of “Huang Wu” before striding into the distance.

“Young Master!”

Seeing Xu Yang approach, Zhao Yan hurriedly bowed with utmost respect, his gaze darting nervously to the two corpses behind, making his heart pound and his lips dry.

“Lift your head.”

On hearing this, Zhao Yan quickly raised his head, looking at Xu Yang in trembling fear.

Just a single glance—he saw in Xu Yang an unfathomable coldness, and a sense of dread seized him, making him instinctively try to call out.

Yet as he opened his mouth wide, a sweet tang blocked his throat.

Spurt!

Zhao Yan toppled to the ground!

The words Xu Yang spoke to Zhao Yan before were nothing but deception!

Zhang Yue and the other two saw this and didn’t react at all.

The Zhao Family had pledged itself wholly to the Barbarian Race—there was nothing more to say!

“I’ll be taking Helan Liuhuo’s corpse.”

“The rest is up to you three!”

Xu Yang smiled faintly, flicked his sleeve to roll up Helan Liuhuo’s body, and strode away through the air.

The three watched with shocked faces.

Zhang Yue’s ear twitched, his eyes flashing with thought.

“The situation in Qingzhou is unstable—get back to the Zhang Family at once!”

This was Xu Yang’s message to him as he left.

Zhang Yue took a deep breath, having made up his mind—it had to be Mr. Xu!

Get back to the Zhang Family first, then talk!

…

Northern Territory, Hammer City!

This was the great city pressed right up against Qingzhou, precisely the rear encampment Helan Liuhuo and Zhao Yan had spoken of.

Garrisoned here were over ten thousand Barbarian Race soldiers, along with numerous warlords and other powerful figures!

It was a very important strategic stronghold!

Hugely threatening, yet exceedingly hard to eliminate!

Xu Yang quietly appeared on the wildlands outside Hammer City, gazing at the metropolis from afar, its outskirts lined with sprawling encampments.

Naturally, he had no delusion of wiping out this stronghold all by himself!

Even if it were possible, with Daqian’s imperial court making no move, it certainly wasn’t his place to act.

“Kid, I see your guts grow bigger every day.”

The voice of Gu Jun came from within the Cyan Jade Yin Yang Pendant.

Xu Yang offered a helpless smile: “Disciple’s courage, is it not thanks to Teacher?”

Gu Jun burst out laughing.

“If you want to go, go. To be honest, I’m rather curious about this Celestial Travelers’ Commerce Association too!”

“Things in Daqian are far too strange. I keep feeling there’s some huge secret behind all this—if we can figure it out, all the better. Otherwise, muddling along as someone else’s chess piece is no way to live!”

Right now, he lacked the power to escape the chessboard and act as a player. Whether he could recover in the future depended entirely on Xu Yang, so he naturally hoped Xu Yang could uncover the truth.

The Barbarian Race and the Celestial Travelers’ Commerce Association?

Song?

“Even if I can’t figure it out, if I get the chance to kill Helan Xing and the rest, it’ll be worth it.”

Xu Yang licked his lips. Though the danger was immense, excitement surged within him.

But he was also confident enough!

With Bone Melting Transformation Skill, Breathing Skill, and all manner of techniques, his disguise was nigh perfect.

Even Late Stage of Myriad Manifestation Realm, or perfection itself, might not easily see through him!

“Helan Liuhuo!”

Xu Yang glanced at Helan Liuhuo’s corpse, then struck with his palm, reducing the body to dust inch by inch.

After a few dozen breaths, it turned into a sphere of radiant energy painted with thick Barbarian totem marks and bloodline aura.

Xu Yang’s body trembled as boundless suction surged from his limbs and bones, drawing the orb into himself.

The orb enveloped his body, swiftly merging with his flesh and bones!

In an instant, Xu Yang became Helan Liuhuo!

Having finished, he nodded contentedly, camouflaged his cultivation at Middle Stage of Myriad Phenomena Realm, and then, looking battered and desperate, sped towards Hammer City.

At the city gate, Barbarian Race soldiers stood watch.

“Young Master Liuhuo?”

The soldiers stared in surprise at Helan Liuhuo, whose aura was weak and whose injuries were obvious!

Xu Yang kept his face dark, glared at the soldiers, and walked straight into the city!

Upon seeing this, the soldiers realized trouble was afoot. Who would dare block and court Young Master Liuhuo’s wrath?

Thus, Xu Yang swaggered openly into Hammer City!

Inside the city, the majority were Barbarians!

Only a few Daqian Martial Artists hurried past, faces full of alarm!

Since the Barbarian Race had seized the Northern Territory, it was impossible for them to slaughter all Daqian Martial Artists. To those who couldn’t flee, obedience was the only choice!

Though their lives were spared, it was clear their days were anything but easy!

After scanning the city conditions, Xu Yang had a general sense of things, and headed straight for the Barbarian headquarters: the City Lord’s Mansion!

Outside the mansion, the guards were tight—pure Barbarian brutes, armored in spirit gear, shrouded in Evil Qi, cultivations at least at Yang Realm level.

As he approached, all the guards respectfully saluted: “Young Master Liuhuo!”

This was the status of one of the Barbarian Race’s ten Blood Generals!

Just as, say, a figure like Huang Hua or Huangfu Qing would receive the highest honors wherever they went in any of Daqian’s major factions.

Xu Yang kept his face grim, saying nothing, and strode into the mansion.

“Helan Liuhuo?”

As he crossed the threshold, a suspicious voice called out from behind: “Weren’t you outside? Why have you come back in such a sorry state? Don’t tell me you got bullied by one of those Daqian prodigies?”

The second half of the voice dripped with undisguised mockery.

Xu Yang’s form shuddered, a touch of joy blooming on his face.

“What luck—to run into this fellow the moment I arrived!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep