Chapter 16: Flight Between Life and Death

Lin Fan was about to strike down the ambusher with overwhelming force when his pupils suddenly constricted. The Flaming Scale Sword he had swung abruptly froze mid-air. With a sharp tap of his toe on the ground, his figure retreated like a ghost several yards back.

A hiss!

As he stepped back, a piercing cold light flashed. Lin Fan felt a slight sting on his cheek. When he halted, a faint blood streak had already appeared on his handsome face.

That was the work of a sharp blade.

The youth's heart sank in secret. If he hadn’t instantly sensed the opponent’s sudden surge of spiritual power far surpassing the peak of the Celestial Pill realm, this strike would have been fatal.

“Celestial Pill Realm!” Lin Fan’s gaze was icy as he stared at the other party, speaking in a low, grave voice.

No sooner had his words fallen than, just as the assassin prepared to attack again, several figures suddenly emerged around them. These five figures quickly surrounded Lin Fan, positioning him at the center. Their expressions were solemn as they scanned their surroundings.

“Unexpectedly, those bastards actually managed to hire the Blood Oath Organization,” one said. “Young master, be careful.”

The Blood Oath Organization!

Lin Fan’s heart sank deeply. As the top assassin guild in the Southern Wasteland, how could he not have heard of them?

Rumor had it that as long as the price was right, even the sect masters of the Eight Great Divine Sects were fair game for their assassination attempts.

Whether or not they succeeded was another matter; the mere audacity to try was a different story. And to still stand dominant in the Southern Wasteland after an assassination attempt was yet another.

Their most notorious feat was seventy years ago when they targeted the sect master of the Jade Purity Sect, one of the Eight Great Divine Sects.

Though the attempt failed, it left the sect master gravely wounded, who then passed away three years later.

This achievement cemented the Blood Oath Organization’s terrifying reputation—an entity that could rival the Eight Great Divine Sects.

Moreover, their headquarters remained a mystery to this day. It was only known that their assassins spanned the entire Southern Wasteland—from the divine sects’ lands to the empire’s frontier.

The speaker was none other than the Grand Elder. After discerning the assassins’ strength, they appeared immediately to prevent Lin Fan from harm.

Yet, even the Grand Elder and his peers dared not be careless against the Blood Oath’s killers.

“There are six in total, all Celestial Pill Realm warriors,” the Grand Elder said. “I will hold off two of them. You four each take one. Make sure to keep them engaged to buy time for the young master to escape.”

“Yes!”

The four elders nodded solemnly, determination flashing in their eyes. Their strength was slightly inferior to the Grand Elder’s. Facing assassins of equal realm, a single misstep could mean death on the spot.

Yet, none entertained any thought of retreat.I'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.