As Qin Yushan and Zhou Hanwen battled fiercely, the ninth-rank warriors of the Jinyiwei were not standing idle. Armed with grenades and superior coordination, they swiftly annihilated the remaining assassins of the Blood Moon Tower.
At this point, Zhou Hanwen stood as the last remnant of the Blood Moon Tower's leadership.
Lu Chen leapt down from the rooftop, landing silently on the ground. He strolled over to the martial arts training ground and took a seat by the flowerbed, calmly watching the duel between Qin Yushan and Zhou Hanwen unfold.
A Jinyiwei Qianhu approached and asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, shall we not intervene?"
Lu Chen waved his hand casually and replied, "No. I want to witness what a battle between Grandmasters truly looks like."
He had never personally observed two Grandmasters clashing, nor did he have a clear sense of their full capabilities.
By watching this battle with his own eyes, Lu Chen could better gauge a Grandmaster's combat effectiveness—and more importantly, evaluate whether modern firearms could truly suppress such individuals.
Sooner or later, he would face Grandmasters on the battlefield—especially among the barbarian cavalry. And there would likely be more than one. Understanding their strength now would allow him to prepare thoroughly.
At this moment, Qin Yushan was launching a relentless offensive, slashing at Zhou Hanwen with unmatched ferocity. Zhou Hanwen was left with no choice but to dodge repeatedly, unable to muster any effective counterattack.
His arms trembled uncontrollably from the force of each parried blow. It was then he realized that the Blood Demon Mad Blade's fearsome reputation had not been exaggerated. One misstep, one moment of hesitation—and he'd be dead.
Then Zhou Hanwen's gaze landed on a young man seated in the distance.
He didn't recognize Lu Chen's face, but the deference the surrounding Jinyiwei showed him told the whole story.
Zhou Hanwen suddenly understood—the man who had entered Baihua Tower earlier had not been the King of the North at all.
This calm, composed youth before him… he was the true King of the North.
They had been deceived from the very beginning.
The realization brought a surge of rage, but Zhou Hanwen could only grit his teeth in frustration. He was being crushed by Qin Yushan. Escape was already uncertain—how could he possibly assassinate the King of the North in his current state?
Was this truly how it would end for him? Brought down by this cunning brat?
The thought stirred unwillingness deep within him.
Since assuming command of the Blood Moon Tower, his assassination missions had been flawless. Especially those he personally led—they had a perfect success rate.
He had never imagined being defeated today, outmaneuvered by a prince others dismissed as useless.
The more he thought about it, the more furious he became.
With a snarl, Zhou Hanwen's internal energy surged wildly. Crimson energy began to seep through his skin, a sign that he had activated the forbidden Blood Burning Technique.
Qin Yushan's brows furrowed upon seeing this ominous transformation.
Zhou Hanwen suddenly flicked open his iron fan—and from it, a shower of fine needles shot forward like a storm.
Qin Yushan immediately retreated several steps, raising his blade to block the incoming barrage.
But Zhou Hanwen wasn't using the needles to escape.
The instant he launched them, his body shot forward like a meteor, charging straight toward Lu Chen.
Qin Yushan's expression changed drastically. "Not good! Your Highness, get out of the way!"
Zhou Hanwen roared as he closed the distance, "Brat, if I'm dying today, I'm dragging you to hell with me!"
Lu Chen, however, remained seated.
He offered a faint smile and made no move to dodge.
Now is the perfect time to test modern firearms against a Grandmaster.
This was Zhou Hanwen at his most dangerous—blood burned, inner energy protecting his body, moving at blinding speed. The perfect test subject.
Lu Chen slowly raised his hand, and with a flick of his wrist, a sleek, black weapon appeared out of thin air—a Barrett sniper rifle, its long barrel gleaming under the sunlight, muzzle aimed directly at Zhou Hanwen's chest.
Zhou Hanwen hesitated mid-charge, his eyes widening at the bizarre sight.
Where had this weapon come from?
It hadn't been on Lu Chen a moment ago. Even Qin Yushan and the Jinyiwei were briefly stunned. Was this sorcery? A hidden technique?
But Zhou Hanwen didn't stop—his momentum couldn't be halted.
Seeing the weapon in Lu Chen's hand, he mocked, "You're trying to stop me with a stick? How laughable!"
He prepared to strike.
Then—
BOOM!
A deafening explosion tore through the air.
The recoil made Lu Chen's shoulders jerk backward slightly. Even as a ninth-rank warrior, the Barrett's kick was considerable.
But his aim was flawless.
At such close range, even a blind man could have landed the shot.
The bullet left the barrel with supersonic force. Though Zhou Hanwen was a Grandmaster, the speed of the projectile far surpassed anything he could dodge.
In the split second before impact, Zhou Hanwen caught a glimpse of a small black dot hurtling toward him. He instinctively lifted his fan to deflect what he assumed was a hidden weapon.
But the moment the bullet touched the iron fan, it shattered the metal defense like wet paper.
Then it pierced through his protective qi.
And then through his chest.
There was no pain—only a sharp, numbing chill.
Zhou Hanwen looked down in disbelief. A gory hole had opened in his chest. His pupils contracted, his expression twisted into shock and terror.
How? He was a Grandmaster. His inner qi protected his body. His fan had blocked countless fatal blows over the years.
How could this strange weapon tear through him so effortlessly?
Before the answer could come, his world faded.
His knees buckled.
His body fell.
From a distance, Qin Yushan inhaled sharply. A bloody hole in Zhou Hanwen's chest told the whole story.
He whispered in awe, "It seems… the era of warriors is truly coming to an end."
He had joined the Jinyiwei for many reasons—but even he hadn't known Lu Chen possessed such terrifying power.
Now, he understood.
This young man, armed with these weapons, would one day rule the world from above.
Nothing would be beyond his reach.
---
Meanwhile, Mu Changtian and Chu Yuqin were rushing back to the Northern Palace after receiving news from Wang Qingci that the Blood Moon Tower had launched their attack.
As they traveled, Mu Changtian glanced at Chu Yuqin's calm demeanor and couldn't help but ask, "Madam Chu, aren't you at all worried that something might happen to His Highness?"
Chu Yuqin countered with a question of her own, "Is General Mu hoping something does?"
Mu Changtian quickly shook his head. "No, no. I'm just… worried. The Blood Moon Tower is formidable. If they succeed, the prince could be seriously harmed."
He had just arrived in Beijun. If something happened to the King of the North, it would spell disaster for his entire family. His concern was genuine.
But Chu Yuqin's composed expression made him hesitate.
Was the Northern Palace truly so confident? Facing a Grandmaster and an elite assassination squad… and they weren't even slightly panicked?
Soon, the two arrived at the gates of the Northern Palace.
Mu Changtian rushed inside, prepared to leap into battle.
But what greeted him froze him in place.
Bodies in black clothing littered the floor—assassins from the Blood Moon Tower, all dead.
The massacre was already over.
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