Jiang Youyou saw Xiang Ning’s transformation from a calm cat into a fierce tiger. His face was filled with confidence. Something tugged within her heart as her pulse beat faster.

The man frowned. Jiang Xuan, the second son of the Jiang family, was by no means weak, but Xiang Ning’s aura was strong to the extent that even someone like him was slightly suppressed. This brat was definitely not simple! He had underestimated him.

“Zi Luo,” Jiang Xuan called out.

“Master, I don’t have absolute confidence in taking him down.” Zi Luo nervously looked at Xiang Ning. She wasn’t a hundred percent certain that she could take him down. If they were to fight, there was a thirty percent chance that she would fail. She would usually pounce if the success rate was above sixty percent, but something about Xiang Ning caused her to hesitate. She couldn’t see through him; especially that bioweapon, which was greatly suppressing her strength. Even if she was a lackey, she still followed someone important. Naturally, she knew a lot of things, even about how fearsome bioweapons were. That was one of the reasons she was hesitant.

Still, her master was here, so she must at least try.

Like a venomous snake, her body twisted as she lunged forward. She twisted her body in a certain method that allowed her blood to flow into her heart at a higher rate, increasing her explosive strength. Her first attack was meant to end Xiang Ning.

He sensed her attack and frowned. He was just putting up a show to intimidate them, but to think that they would actually fight! There was a difference between their combat experience—even with his aura, his experience didn’t match up to hers. Still, he had no choice but to face it head-on. As long as it wasn’t an attack from someone like Lei Zhongyuan, he should be able to repel it.

He couldn’t hide his strength against an opponent like this. He used his Mental Power and sent flying knives through the air before homing in on Zi Luo from three different directions.

Zi Luo was surprised. She didn’t know that he was a spiritual cultivator, but the attacks were inconsequential. They were lethal, but she could easily nullify them. The three flying knives were knocked away. As she swung at the last flying knife, Xiang Ning suddenly appeared in front of her. 

“Mountain-Splitting Slash!”

The attack had no blind spots. She could either dodge or block it. Even when Xiang Ning had been sparring against Wu Rui, he could only either block or dodge Wu Rui’s Mountain Crash and could only counterattack only after the attack was over.

Zi Luo clearly felt great destructive power from Xiang Ning’s sword. How could she block it? Even if she had the strength to do so, her weapon would break! Xiang Ning was using the Devourer!

His attack missed Zi Luo, as he expected. Just as he was twisting his body for another attack, his Combat Instinct warned him of impending danger but it was too late. Jiang Xuan’s fist had landed on his body.

His fist landed squarely on Xiang Ning’s body, sending him flying. Xiang Ning finally realized that Jiang Xuan’s strength was only second to Zi Luo's. To think that he was hiding it so well under the suit he was wearing. 

Xiang Ning smiled as he saw the Experience Points.

Experience Points +877

Tier four, two-star martial artist (1342/60000)

Mental Power: Tier four, two-star spiritual cultivator

Current Status: Tier five, one-star martial artist

He slowly stood up and grinned.

Both Zi Luo and Jiang Xuan were surprised to see Xiang Ning stand up as if nothing had happened. Normally their opponents would either be heavily injured or knocked out by a joint attack from them, so they couldn’t have stood up so fast. And that smile was provoking Jiang Xuan even more.

Truly angered, his patience had finally run out. He wouldn’t kill Xiang Ning today but swore to knock him out cold on the streets!

“Zi Luo, go!” Jiang Xuan commanded. 

She nodded, as she understood that while Xiang Ning was strong, there was still a certain gap between them. She was a tier five, four-star martial artist, while her master was a tier five, three-star martial artist. She had sensed that Xiang Ning’s strength had only achieved tier five from their clash just now. As for why it was so strong, there were two parts to the explanation. One was that he was using a bioweapon. The second was because his mastery of the Mountain-Splitting Slash had reached Peak Mastery. Thanks to both factors, she felt that his attack was unstoppable.

“Be careful, master. His martial technique is strong, and he’s even wielding a bioweapon. Don’t face him straight on,” Zi Luo warned.

Jiang Xuan nodded. He was aware of it, too. That was why he had sent Zi Luo to scout out Xiang Ning’s strength first.

Jiang Youyou saw the two of them ganging up on Xiang Ning. She was anxious, but there was nothing she could do. She was too weak!

Charging Toss! Triple Slash! Mountain-Splitting Slash!

Xiang Ning’s attacks were relentless as he bulldozed them. Both Jiang Xuan and Zi Luo were unable to get close to him.

“Shit! Why does he have so many martial techniques above the Awakened rank?!” Jiang Xuan was angered when he was pushed back. He was both envious and furious!

Fury Points +666

Zi Luo squinted and seized the moment while Jiang Xuan was complaining. Her dagger flew through the air as she took another out from her waist and lunged at Xiang Ning.

Jiang Xuan was complaining, but he was also prepared for any situation. How could he miss an opportunity to follow up after Zi Luo’s attack?

Xiang Ning was hit again and again as he racked up Experience Points. It was exhilarating! He was enjoying the despair-filled faces of Zi Luo and Jiang Xuan as they saw him stand up again and again. The effect of his healing potions was amazing! But even so, he looked extremely disheveled. Jiang Youyou’s heart was burning with fear and anxiety.

“Master, he’s almost done.”

Jiang Xuan nodded at her and said, “Good job.” He patted her shoulder. 

Zi Luo’s face relaxed a bit before becoming fierce once again, and Jiang Youyou sensed that something was up as she saw the scene. “No! I’ll go with you!” Jiang Youyou gritted her teeth and rushed to block them. Zi Luo and Jiang Xuan were faster, and they reached Xiang Ning first. Jiang Youyou was too slow, and Xiang Ning was preparing a large attack.

Still, his attack might affect her from this range and he was left with no choice. It looked like he wouldn’t be earning any more Experience Points today. He used Keen Observation to barely avoid the incoming attacks as he carried Jiang Youyou out of their battle. “Sigh, don’t you have any confidence in me? Just wait.”

“Eight Gates! Gate of Resolution, Open!”

He had temporarily attained a cultivation of tier five, four-star!

TL note: The current status is his strength after using Eight Gates. Just to clear the confusion away.

Never in their right mind would they realize that the MC gets stronger by being beaten.