Paul’s wrist blades were impossibly sharp, like a tiger’s fangs, commanding immediate respect.
Paul swung his blades left and right, up and down, his attacks raining down on Shen Lang like a storm.
Yet, facing Paul’s onslaught, Shen Lang remained calm and collected. Each time, he managed to evade just milliseconds before Paul’s blades could touch him.
Consequently, after three minutes of relentless attack, Paul had not only failed to injure Shen Lang but had also exposed numerous openings in his defense.
"I know your skills. You cannot kill me."
As Paul steadied himself, preparing for a fatal blow, Shen Lang spoke coldly to him. "You have one more chance to attack, but this will be the last one you ever make."
"Arrogant—"
Upon hearing Shen Lang's words, Paul roared in anger, then leaped up, raising his wrist blades and slashing down ferociously towards Shen Lang.
"Fool—"
Watching Paul leap and strike, Shen Lang sneered. "Do you know that people are most vulnerable in mid-air? In my eyes, you are nothing but an opening right now."
With that, Shen Lang rapidly closed the distance. Before Paul's wrist blades could descend, Shen Lang struck swiftly, landing a heavy punch on Paul's abdomen. With savage force, he shattered Paul's dan tian. He followed up with another punch, shattering Paul's heart, and finally, with an incredibly powerful third punch, he struck Paul's throat.
In less than a second, Shen Lang delivered three consecutive blows.
The first punch shattered Paul's dan tian.
The second punch shattered Paul's heart.
The third punch shattered Paul's throat.
The next moment, Paul was sent flying as if hit by a cannonball, soaring over ten meters before crashing heavily to the ground, lifeless.
Paul's death was gruesome. His eyes bulged, filled with terror, unable to believe until his last breath that such a formidable person existed.
"Paul…"
Seeing Paul's tragic death, William's face contorted, and he choked out the name.
William had intended to wait for Paul to attack Shen Lang, and as Shen Lang dealt with the onslaught, he would expose an opening. Then, William would seize the opportunity to strike and end Shen Lang.
Despite all his calculations, Paul never imagined that Shen Lang would not show any weakness under his attack. Instead, while attacking Shen Lang, Paul was caught in an opening by Shen Lang, subjected to Shen Lang's brutal assault, and killed on the spot.
The trio, once together, was now reduced to just William. Enraged, he raised his right hand, and a poisoned crossbow bolt shot rapidly towards Shen Lang.
Hidden in William's right hand was a specially made miniature crossbow. Though small, its explosive power was terrifying. Paired with its specially crafted bolts, it could pierce a two-centimeter thick steel plate within ten paces.
Even more horrifying than the bolt's formidable penetrating power was the potent poison coating its tip. It was the latest concoction developed by the Killing Way Society, capable of killing even the strongest martial artist with a mere scratch, and it had no antidote.
Paul had been searching for an opportunity to fire the bolt, but none had presented themselves. Now, seeing Shen Lang relax his guard after his victory, Paul knew his chance had arrived.
Paul was a gambler, and gamblers were masters of seizing opportunities. Even with a one percent chance, he would act without hesitation.
At such close range, Paul believed Shen Lang couldn't possibly evade the bolt.
However, Paul's confident smile quickly froze, transforming into sheer terror.
The bolt shot towards Shen Lang, reaching within a hair's breadth of his throat before it could advance further. This was because Shen Lang's right hand had, at some unknown moment, been raised, his palm directly gripping the base of the crossbow bolt, preventing it from moving any closer.
"Oh, a crossbow bolt made of Deep Sea Cold Iron. This material is unusual. I suspect even a steel bar would be easily pierced by this," Shen Lang mused, examining the bolt in his hand. "Hmm, and the tip is coated with poison. I imagine a mere scratch would be fatal."
"Swish—"
As Shen Lang spoke, his gaze turned icy, and he then sent the crossbow bolt flying back.
"What?"
Paul was utterly astonished that Shen Lang would return the bolt. He tried to dodge, but the bolt was too fast, faster even than when fired by his crossbow.
He couldn't avoid it. His pupils constricted into needles as he watched the bolt rapidly approach, closer and closer, until it finally whistled through the air and pierced his forehead.
"Bang—"
In less than a second, Paul spat out a mouthful of blood and died instantly.
"Paul…"
Seeing Paul dead, Boynton and his remaining four subordinates turned ashen-faced, shouting his name.
Boynton had expected this mission to be completed with ease. They were facing mere villagers from a primitive settlement, and they themselves were martial arts powerhouses equipped with terrifying modern weaponry.
The disparity felt like a nation with missiles versus a nation with only eggs – a foregone conclusion.
Indeed, the mission had proceeded as Boynton and his men anticipated, smoothly, almost beyond their expectations.
However, no one had foreseen that at the critical juncture, an unknown young man named Shen Lang would emerge and effortlessly kill three of their comrades.
Neil, Paul, and William were all elites within their organization, yet Shen Lang had eliminated them all in under two minutes. This left everyone else in shock.
"Esteemed guest…"
The villagers of Taohua Village, along with Ma Yi, were all startled by Shen Lang's terrifying martial prowess. But their shock soon turned to joy.
With Shen Lang's presence, they would no longer face danger.
"Inviting the next victim."
At this moment, Shen Lang looked at Boynton and sneered.
"Boy, do you know the Killing Way Society?"
This time, instead of letting his subordinates attack Shen Lang in a fit of rage, Boynton spoke to Shen Lang calmly. "I am Boynton of the Killing Way Society. Do me a favor today, and the Killing Way Society will reward you handsomely afterward."
"The Killing Way Society? I know of it."
Shen Lang replied to Boynton, "Last time, a woman from your Killing Way Society named Alice, with over a dozen people, came to South Ling Film City to kidnap hundreds. Their objective was to rescue a man called Hyena. I killed her, thwarted her plan, and even stabbed Hyena. I wonder if he survived his surgery?"
"What?"
Boynton had intended to intimidate Shen Lang with the name of the Killing Way Society. However, he was met with a shocking revelation from Shen Lang. Utterly stunned, he asked, "You are Shen Lang?"