"Although we may have enmity with him, with the great enemy at hand, I believe we should form a temporary alliance," said a tall man. Chen Jinzhao recognized him as someone from Lucia, likely the superior mentioned by Tulafsky.
Indeed.
The man continued, "I am Xue Lang from the Lucia Wolf Army."
"Although I may not be in the top ten, I hold a position within the top fifteen. I humbly request guidance from the Black Blood Group."
Xue Lang!
Chen Jinzhao committed the man's codename to memory.
He then looked at another Asian man with darker skin, who smiled and said, "I am Nan Kang from Siam. I request guidance."
Nan Kang was a devout Buddhist. He wore only a single layer of clothing in the freezing snow, suggesting he was a hidden master from Siam.
The next moment.
Another strong individual stepped forward. His aura was slightly weaker. Chen Jinzhao guessed his strength was likely outside the top thirty or forty.
The man lamented, "It seems my strength is the weakest among all of you. I am Tie Xiniu from North Africa."
In a mere half a minute, Chen Jinzhao had gained four helpers.
Even as temporary allies, they would provide Chen Jinzhao with immense assistance, significantly alleviating his pressure.
Chen Jinzhao looked at Ling Nan.
The latter's expression was grave. He continued to stare at Burke Roos, saying, "Burke, do you know what you are doing? Our Black Blood Group has intricate ties with the Mitri authorities, as does your Roos family. If you ally with Chen Jinzhao, you risk incurring the wrath of Mitri's high officials and dignitaries."
Burke burst into laughter.
He shook his head and said, "Ling Nan, do you truly believe our Roos family exists solely dependent on Mitri? I don't fear telling you that the Mitri family's influence has long spread across the five continents and seven seas, rivaling your Black Blood in no small way."
"In certain matters, Mitri's officials must follow the arrangements of our Roos family."
"What is the mere Black Blood Group in comparison?"
Ling Nan's face darkened, and he said no more.
Chen Jinzhao's side had a total of five people, while Ling Nan's side only had four. By all appearances, Ling Nan's side was at a significant disadvantage.
A gust of wind blew, and everyone tensed.
The scent of gunpowder began to permeate the air. This unparalleled battle seemed inevitable.
Burke Roos looked at Chen Jinzhao and the others and said, "We've agreed beforehand. Our objective now is to defeat the Black Blood Group. If anyone falters once the fighting begins, the other four must join forces to eliminate them."
Everyone tacitly agreed to this rule.
"Sigh..."
Ling Nan sighed, his cold eyes suddenly turning sharp. "I had intended to bide my time and not reveal my strength, but you have pushed me too far. It seems this old man must also act and slay you all here."
As his words fell.
Chen Jinzhao and the others stared at him in shock.
The head of the Black Blood Organization's Asia-Pacific region tore open his training uniform, revealing bulging muscles beneath. A powerful and terrifying aura emanated from Ling Nan's body, pressing down on Chen Jinzhao and the others.
It was as if...
A demon from the abyss was awakening.
Nan Kang looked at Ling Nan in astonishment. "His blood energy, why is it so vigorous? This is unreasonable!"
Xue Lang also frowned, his expression solemn. "A man over fifty years old, yet he still maintains such vigorous blood energy. How can I feel like I am not his match? The Black Blood Group truly lives up to its reputation as the world's largest private organization; it is indeed terrifying."
Though Burke and Tie Xiniu said nothing, their expressions were equally shocked.
This was because Ling Nan had defied the natural order. Logically, their prime ages were between twenty-seven and thirty-five. After this period, blood energy would decline rapidly, an irreversible natural law. Yet, the strength Ling Nan displayed was that of the absolute elite!
"Could he have fallen from a higher realm?" Burke muttered to himself.
His words were immediately denied by the others.
"How is that possible?"
"Above S-class, there is only S+. Even S+ does not exceed the scope of S-class. How could there be a stronger realm?"
"Then how do you explain Ling Nan?"
"..."
Chen Jinzhao remained silent.
With his own strength, he could at most be considered S+. If Ling Nan had fallen from a higher realm, how terrifying had he been before?
Ling Nan burst into laughter. "Once I have severed all your heads, I will tell you why."
"You four, attack with me."
"Su Xiao, Chen Jinzhao is your responsibility. I may not be his match."
"Burke, your opponent is me!"
Before the words had even finished.
The two sides clashed. Chen Jinzhao charged at Su Xiao with his saber.
A faint smile touched Su Xiao's lips. As he evaded, he commented on Chen Jinzhao's techniques, "After so many years, your moves are still the same as before, without any novelty. How can such you be my opponent?"
"Too much nonsense," Chen Jinzhao snorted coldly.
Su Xiao did not use a weapon and sparred with Chen Jinzhao with a smile.
Chen Jinzhao was astonished to discover that Su Xiao's reaction speed and strength were on par with his own. He was, by far, the strongest opponent he had ever encountered.
Su Xiao's expression also quickly turned solemn.
Initially, he had thought Chen Jinzhao was at most an S-class. He hadn't expected him to be able to contend with him.
Bang!
Su Xiao's fist struck Chen Jinzhao's chest. Before he could even laugh, he was sliced across the cheek by Chen Jinzhao's saber in the next instant, blood gushing forth.
"Good saber!" Su Xiao roared.
"This saber should have belonged to me."
Chen Jinzhao sneered, "In your hands, this saber is at best only half a treasure."
"Why?" Su Xiao was taken aback.
Chen Jinzhao seized this fleeting opportunity and tore across Su Xiao's chest with another saber strike. Had Su Xiao not dodged in time, he would have had his heart cleaved open and died on the spot! Su Xiao retreated continuously, leaving a trail of deep red blood on the snow.
"Because—"
Chen Jinzhao's tone shifted as he attacked Su Xiao again. "Only in my hands can Tai Sui unleash its full strength. My heart and Tai Sui are already one! In your hands, it can only unleash about seventy percent of its power."
"Arrogant!" Su Xiao roared.
Chen Jinzhao narrowed his eyes and said with extreme disappointment, "Do you know that because of your betrayal, your wife and daughter are looked down upon? Because of this, your daughter can no longer hold her head up in school, as everyone knows her father is a traitor!"
Su Xiao was momentarily stunned again, and Chen Jinzhao's saber tore through his arm.
Ling Nan, engaged in combat with Burke, roared, "Su Xiao, what are you hesitating for? I've already promised you I'd get your wife and daughter out of the country! Your mission now is to kill Chen Jinzhao, to make his evil heart stop beating forever!"
Not far away.
Xikang Yongsheng also shouted at Su Xiao, "Su Xiao, kill him!"
"The Tai Sui in his hands was forged from Murasame Maru, a treasured national sword of our Eastern Isles. I want to reclaim our Eastern Isles' national treasure!"