Chapter 960: Deadly Ambition in the Abyssal Lands

Step…
In the eerie darkness of the abyssal lands, no matter where one goes, there’s an innate sense of dread and horror. Whether strong or weak, walking through this place filled with ghostly lights and terrifying monsters always brings a feeling of unease.
Whenever movement is heard behind, one immediately becomes alert, trying to figure out whether it’s a person or a monster.
That night…
Kai Xin, as usual, left the training valley and searched everywhere for the demonic infants and poisonous insects that appeared randomly in various corners of the abyssal lands, striving to reach the ultimate level of the “Dongxu Step” as well as the tenth level of the “Mo Hong Mie Shi Jue”.
Dressed in silver robes, Kai Xin dashed through the narrow canyon passages of the abyssal lands. The sound of his clothes rustling through the air created an illusion of solitude, as if he were the only one in the canyon.
“…”
Suddenly!
Kai Xin stopped alertly, turned his head slightly, and glanced into the dark passage. His expression grew increasingly tense as he slowly turned back, focusing his gaze ahead.
“If you’re here, come out.”
The voice echoed through the silent night…
“…”
The canyon passage was empty, with no response.
Kai Xin’s voice echoed far and wide.
“What? Are everyone from the Blood Alliance so fond of hiding?” Standing firm, he smirked lazily at the empty space, mocking them by name: “Hmph! Ever since I woke up, I’ve heard many people say that the Blood Alliance, founded by the Blood-Clothed, has become a major gang in the Central Plains! They claim to have many skilled fighters who act ruthlessly and have killed countless people… Well, it seems they’re nothing special after all—just a bunch of cowardly scoundrels hiding in the shadows, setting traps and shooting arrows from afar…”
As he spoke, Kai Xin’s sharp gaze shot toward the valley entrance covered in darkness on the left.
Having reached the ninth level of the “Yijin Jing,” his senses were extremely sharp. His awareness of everything around him was on par with that of the “Jiuyang Shen Gong.” Within a ten-meter radius, he could detect even the slightest movement or breath. Naturally, he noticed that four or five valley entrances along the way were occupied by groups of people waiting in ambush.
There were over a hundred people blocking his path behind him…
Along the way, he hadn’t encountered a single spider or scorpion, not even a corpse. Twenty meters away, there were more than a dozen intricate traps set up. If Kai Xin hadn’t guessed that these people were waiting for him, he really should have stuck his head into the mouths of those demonic infants and poisonous insects for them to devour.

The most sarcastic remarks finally had some effect—as the sound of footsteps suddenly filled the eerie passage.
Huh!
Huh-huh!!
Dozens of people rushed out from both valleys at the same time, their imposing presence illuminated by a dozen torches; the hundred or so people behind them seemed to have received a signal and rushed forward as well, blocking the passage completely.
The numerous torches illuminated the passage, allowing Happy to clearly see the faces and numbers of these people.
“As expected of Happy. It took us almost two days to deploy people along this path, yet you still didn’t trigger our traps.”
From among the crowd, a man stepped forward, waving a fan made of blood jade. His steady steps suggested he might be a leader.
“I wasn’t sure to begin with.” “It’s all because of the person who set up the traps so obviously—placing them right in the middle of the path and luring all the monsters away. Who could be that clever? Please tell me so I can thank them in person.”
“…”
The disciples of the Blood Alliance all turned their gaze toward the man with the blood jade fan.
His tone froze as he saw Happy’s enlightened smile, and his expression darkened instantly. “No need for thanks. Since you’re here today, don’t even think about leaving alive!”
“Hehe.”
Happy chuckled lightly and glanced around. “The Blood Alliance still values me as always. To deal with an injured person like me, they even sent hundreds of people… Tsk tsk. Next time we meet, I’ll definitely thank them in person.”
“Hmph! You’re right. We indeed don’t need this many people to deal with an injured person!”
The man raised his blood jade fan high. “Brothers, clear the area!”
The disciples of the Blood Alliance stepped back, creating a wide gap in the canyon passage.
Seeing this, Happy finally showed a hint of surprise. The actions of the Blood Alliance members didn’t seem like they intended to “gang up” on him. Could it be…?
With a sudden insight, Happy looked up ahead…
“They’re here!”
“Third Elder!” “Seventh Elder!” “Thirteenth Elder!”
“Third Brother! Seventh Brother! Thirteenth Brother!”
Amidst the eager and respectful voices of the Blood Alliance disciples, the crowd parted, and first stepped forward a young man with a warm smile on his face. A green flute was tied to his waist, and he wore the same silver robes. With a heroic appearance and upright posture, he looked dashing and elegant.

When the second man emerged, the crowd parted significantly wider. He, like Sun Wukong at the end of A Chinese Odyssey, carried a spear nearly ten feet long, looking carefree with a sinister smile on his face. Chewing on a fruit, he leaped out while swinging his sharp spear head, forcing those around to dodge.

The last man was more somber, serious, and solemn. Holding an axe upside down and clad in thick armor, he followed behind step by step, his deep eyes fixed intently on Kai Xin.

The three of them stepped out of the crowd like door gods and stood opposite Kai Xin.

“Kai Xin, although the members of our Blood Alliance are ruthless, we would never mobilize hundreds of people to deal with just one injured kid like you.”

Seeing the three arrive, the man with the Blood Jade Fan slowly waved it leisurely as he said, “We came here today because our three elders heard that you could fight ten men alone and defeat over a dozen top fighters from the First-Class Hall, so they came specifically to seek your advice…”

“Stop talking nonsense!”

Without giving the man with the Blood Jade Fan a chance to continue blathering, Kai Xin cut him off coldly, “You want to fight without setting up any traps? Do you even deserve it? Let’s start! No matter how many come, I’ll take them all!” His long sword was drawn, and a gentle gust of wind blew through the canyon passage.

Flames flickered!

The three elders of the Blood Alliance immediately felt the oppressive aura emanating from Kai Xin across from them.

“Hmph.”

“Elder Seven, Elder Thirteen, our trio has been underestimated. What do you think we should do?” It was a young man with a warm smile who spoke. The flute tied to his waist had somehow ended up in his hand, and his tone turned slightly cold.

Before he could finish speaking, the sinister man suddenly threw away the half-eaten fruit in his hand and charged at Kai Xin, his carefree demeanor vanishing instantly, replaced by a barrage of spear attacks like those of a black dragon…

A dense swarm of black spear heads erupted instantly, engulfing Kai Xin like a torrent!

When a master shows off his skills, it’s clear whether he’s good or not.

The sinister man’s attack sent alarms ringing in Kai Xin’s mind… He was undoubtedly the strongest opponent Kai Xin had encountered since returning to the martial world! His spear techniques were a mix of real and feint moves, fluid and unrestrained, unlike those he had faced before, whose moves were purely based on martial arts manuals—alternating between real and feint, yet still revealing weaknesses.

A sharp, piercing light rushed toward him!

This man’s spear techniques were full of deception, and relying on his long weapon’s greater attack range, he moved cautiously, displaying a calm and efficient composure that seemed impervious to disruption.

“No wonder Blood Cloak was willing to let those three come…”

“Those with the title of elder must be the finest elites in the Blood Alliance! True masters!!” In an instant, a myriad of thoughts flashed through Happy’s mind, yet he remained calm as water, moving with his spear, stepping forward with the “Dongxu Step,” bypassing traps and retreating swiftly. “Run?” The man revealed a sinister smile, twisting his spear—hooking and lifting—it lifted several traps on the ground. Boom!! The traps exploded mid-air! Countless sharp projectiles instantly covered an area of dozens of meters, with relentless whistling sounds. Happy and the sinister man were both enveloped by the projectiles. After triggering the traps, the man spun his spear like the wind, with the incoming projectiles hitting it like hitting an indestructible wind-fire wheel, producing a series of crackling sounds and sparks, yet none managed to penetrate it; his skills, tactics, and strength were all on full display. Compared to the sinister man, Happy seemed far more passive. Buzz!! Almost as soon as the projectiles arrived, a golden shield burst forth, scattering them just in time. “Hmph, not bad. I wonder how many times you can use the secret technique of the Golden Bell Shield.” The man smiled sinisterly, suddenly thrusting his spear again, lifting more traps… “It never ends.” In mid-air, Happy snorted coldly, his figure flashing—the distance between them, less than ten meters, shortened by half in an instant. Sword light rained down from above, striking the tip of the man’s spear like lightning. “Ugh!” The sinister man trembled, lifting his head with disbelief in his eyes: “Your swordsmanship…” He exclaimed in shock, yet he didn’t dare slacken his grip on the spear. Whoosh!! The Black Dragon turned. The spear spun rapidly between them like a dragon turning over, emitting an astonishing aura that fiercely blocked Happy’s attempts to close the distance. Whoosh! Whoosh! The man released his spear and quickly raised his arms, firing six poison needles, seemingly expecting Happy to use the Dragon Seizing Hand. In an instant, Happy’s breath hitched—forced into a difficult situation by the opponent’s astonishing moves—he had to turn around, using his sword to deflect the needles. The members of the Blood Alliance thought Happy was forced to turn back for self-defense by the Seventh Elder, but when they saw the Seventh Elder retreating with his spear, their cheers died down, replaced by expressions of confusion.

Mingming’s happiness was already showing through clearly; with just a little more pressure, she could have achieved her goal. Yet, the Seventh Elder chose to give up at such a critical moment.
Amateurs watch the excitement, while experts see the underlying strategy.
Only the Third Elder and the Thirteenth Elder, who hadn’t intervened yet, showed solemn expressions. One raised his flute to his lips; the other picked up his axe.
As soon as they were ready, Mingming cast a more wary glance at the strange man.