"Ah!"
The young masters of the Chen Family all screamed in terror.
The blood spraying from the severed necks of the two household servants was blown by the mountain wind, splattering on their faces and bodies.
Smelling the thick scent of blood, and feeling death so close, the three pampered young masters managed not to faint on the spot, which was already considered strong-willed.
Yet the intense fear in their hearts made them simultaneously retreat.
Among them, the eldest young master of the Chen Family retreated while hysterically shouting, "He's a martial artist!"
Zhang Xiong had once told this young master that Zhang Yuan was not an ordinary person.
He was a martial artist who had reached the Entering Force stage.
Previously, Eldest Young Master Chen did not quite believe it.
But now the bloody reality told him.
This country bumpkin he despised, Zhang Yuan, truly had the power to decide his life and death!
Eldest Young Master Chen's mind went blank.
His father, however, was much more composed, and immediately roared, "Master Lu!"
Before Landlord Chen finished his sentence, a robust middle-aged man had already charged towards Zhang Yuan.
This Master Lu was the Chen Family's protective entourage.
The Chen Family originally had two martial artists as protectors, but one named Nurse Sun had a bizarre accident, leaving only Master Lu.
Originally, Landlord Chen hired Hunter Gao to act as the household instructor to fill the gap in protective strength.
But Hunter Gao also encountered an incident.
As for Zhang Xiong, who was invited from the county, he was nominally an honored guest elder of the Chen Family, but in reality, Landlord Chen could not command this powerful martial artist, as the former had his own mission.
Because of this, the only person Landlord Chen could rely on now was Master Lu!
Master Lu wore a solemn expression, and even before reaching Zhang Yuan, the long blade in his hand had already swept out, bursting forth with layers of fierce saber light, striking towards the vital points of the latter's chest and abdomen!
Zhang Yuan immediately felt a murderous aura assault him head-on, and seeing the opponent's saber light flash, he was greatly shocked.
The protector of the Chen Family clearly excelled in saber techniques, his direct attack as swift as thunder, with an unstoppable momentum that was heart-stopping!
Though Zhang Yuan was already a martial artist of Entering Force, and was also infused with the Jade Mantis's sword mastery ability.
Yet facing Master Lu's attack.
His lack of martial arts training and severely insufficient combat experience were immediately exposed without a doubt.
Helpless, Zhang Yuan could only fly backward to evade the opponent's sharp edge.
However, Master Lu was experienced, and upon discovering that Zhang Yuan did not dare to face him head-on, he immediately pursued like a maggot following a bone.
The saber momentum became even more ferocious and sharp.
As if he meant to cut Zhang Yuan in two with a single stroke!
Zhang Yuan retreated again and again, completely falling into a disadvantage, appearing somewhat embarrassed.
Seeing this scene, Master Lu couldn't help but sneer: "Die, you little thief!"
Suddenly, the blade's edge turned, fiercely striking towards Zhang Yuan's face.
This strike was powerful and decisive, showcasing considerable masterful proficiency in saber techniques.
Yet, this must-succeed strike resulted in missing.
At a critical moment, Zhang Yuan abruptly dodged aside, with a speed much faster than before.
Despite narrowly dodging the opponent's killing move, Zhang Yuan still broke out in a cold sweat.
If not for consistently maintaining the Golden Grasshopper's double agility ability, he would likely not have dodged that strike!
Having just narrowly escaped death, Zhang Yuan not only felt no fear, but a murderous nature deep within was completely aroused.
The next moment, he activated the power of his first host, the Black Giant Ant!
The extraordinary abilities of the Divine Nest Host could be simultaneously activated, but with abilities stacking, the consumption of Qi blood also greatly increased, and could not be sustained for long.
Once the Qi blood was exhausted, he'd be reduced to fish on the chopping block.
But facing life and death at this moment, Zhang Yuan cared little for such concerns!
He only felt a darkness before him, then a surge of new power flowed into his body, causing all his muscles to simultaneously swell, with his joints resounding in unison.
The extraordinary abilities of the Black Giant Ant, Jade Mantis, and Golden Grasshopper, all infused simultaneously, brought Zhang Yuan's physical endurance to its limit.
Blood dripped from his nose, eyes, and ears, and his skin turned scarlet red.
"Kill!"
Zhang Yuan no longer retreated, and facing the rapidly approaching Master Lu, he swung his long blade.
This blade of his was obtained from Hunter Gao.
Though not a divine weapon, it was indeed a lethal killing tool!
This was Zhang Yuan's first counterattack since his duel with Master Lu.
Though lacking in saber techniques.
It embodied the courage and determination to cut through anything!
Master Lu was taken aback.
In this seasoned martial artist's eyes, Zhang Yuan seemed like a completely different person, and felt utterly unfamiliar.
This Zhang Yuan was like a fierce beast cornered to the edge, suddenly erupting with a terrifying, formidable aura.
He hesitated, even halting his steps.
The older one becomes in the martial world, the more cautious he gets. Intuition told Master Lu that if he engaged in a frontal clash with Zhang Yuan, while he had confidence of cutting down the latter,
He'd also have to bear a heavy cost!
Was it necessary to engage in a deadly struggle with a fearless young opponent?
His salary was just a few pieces of silver!
Master Lu felt a retreating urge and his body instinctively responded faithfully.
Retreat!
Yet, as the tides changed, Zhang Yuan, who had been completely disadvantaged, suddenly had a surge in his counterattack momentum.
Blade followed blade, as he launched a storm-like assault on Master Lu.
Every strike exerted his full strength!
Master Lu had never encountered such an opponent, retreating step by step as he dodged and leaped, afraid to confront Zhang Yuan directly even once.
He didn't believe Zhang Yuan could maintain such a strong state for long, and expected that once the latter's strength waned, it would be his moment of victory.
Master Lu was not short on patience.
But this veteran of the martial world didn't realize that at this moment, Zhang Yuan had entered a profound and mysterious state.
He felt as if he had turned into a mantis.
A newly-hatched juvenile, driven out to survive alone before receiving enough protection.
To survive, he hid and hunted in the forest full of countless dangers.
Gradually growing.
Failing again and again, persisting again and again, starting from the smallest, weakest prey, then facing increasingly formidable opponents, his blade legs became harder and sharper.
Also more ferocious and ruthless!
Until one day, he encountered a black-and-white Silver Ring Snake.
This was an unprecedented formidable enemy.
Yet Zhang Yuan had no fear at all.
Instinct from his genes told him that defeating this enemy would lead to a transformation of life!
Zhang Yuan fiercely swung his blade.
Kill! Kill! Kill!
His mind was filled with just one thought.
To kill the opponent before him.
This was a life-and-death struggle, a belief that either you die or I perish!
In this moment of Zhang Yuan.
He suddenly comprehended a trace of true saber essence.