"Ah..."
The Second Guardian let out a soul-stirring cry.
The two arms that Chen Xiao had broken were his original limbs, unlike the other four which were merely formed from his vital energy.
The body was the greatest difference between a martial artist and a cultivator.
The ultimate goal of a cultivator was to eventually shed their mortal coil and ascend to immortality.
Conversely, the ultimate aim of a martial artist was to forge an incomparably powerful physical body.
This was why cultivators, upon advancing, would cultivate Nascent Souls and divine senses, while martial artists, after advancing, could only cultivate spiritual bodies and sacred bodies.
This meant that when the Second Guardian's arms were severed, he would inevitably suffer a severe blow to his vital energy, causing his cultivation to regress significantly.
The Second Guardian looked at the bleeding wounds on his shoulders, his eyes filled with terror.
His sacred body had been tempered to be indestructible, yet Chen Xiao had simply snapped his arms off with a single exertion of strength.
What kind of monstrous talent was this kid? Where did this monstrous strength come from?
However, as the Second Guardian cried out in pain, a figure appeared behind Chen Xiao like a ghost.
*Swish—*
The moment the figure appeared, it wielded two daggers, deeply slitting Chen Xiao's throat...
This person was, of course, the Fourth Guardian, who had been waiting for an opportunity.
"I'm sorry, Second Brother, but this was truly the best opportunity. Even though your arms were crippled, it was all worth it to avenge Third Brother!"
The Fourth Guardian said in a low voice.
When Chen Xiao's attention was focused on the Second Guardian, it was the perfect moment for him to strike... and he had seized that moment!
Seeing this, everyone's pupils dilated as if struck by an earthquake.
Was Chen Xiao really finished just like that?
He had, with a single move, obliterated the Third Guardian's head and crippled the Second Guardian's arms... and now he was so easily taken down by the Fourth Guardian?
It seemed the saying was true, what goes around comes around!
The Fourth Guardian let out a long sigh of relief, but before he could fully exhale, he suddenly felt something was amiss.
Because he had slit the throats of countless people with those daggers, but this time, the sensation was distinctly wrong.
*Bang...* The Chen Xiao whose throat he had just cut dissolved into a cloud of white smoke.
At the same time, he suddenly felt a chill down his spine, making his hair stand on end.
"You think you're the only one who can turn invisible?"
A voice echoed softly from behind the Fourth Guardian. His pupils rapidly dilated, and every hair on his body stood on end.
Although he hadn't fully grasped what had happened, he already realized he had fallen into a trap.
But it was clearly too late to realize this.
A large hand gripped his neck, and then, the Fourth Guardian's vision went black, and he lost consciousness.
And he would never regain it.
Because Chen Xiao had already snapped his neck.
All of this had merely been a minor stratagem by Chen Xiao.
Due to the limitations of his divine sense in this space, its coverage area was extremely small. Therefore, when the Fourth Guardian went invisible, Chen Xiao had no way of knowing his exact location.
However, this did not stump Chen Xiao. Although the coverage of his divine sense had shrunk, it was still possible for him to manifest it into a physical clone.
He used this clone as bait to lure the Fourth Guardian into attacking, while his true body, relying on the abilities of his Canglan Sacred Body, remained invisible and waited for an opportune moment.
This was a classic case of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind it... and the oriole, in turn, was unaware of the eagle perched above it!
Thus, the Fourth Guardian, the little cicada, could only perish under the eagle's talons.
All of this had happened in a mere few seconds, and hardly anyone present could comprehend what had transpired.
It had to be said that this clearly demonstrated the disparity between martial artists and cultivators.
If there had been only cultivators present, they would undoubtedly have recognized that Chen Xiao's clone was merely a manifestation of his divine sense.
However, the understanding of martial artists was ultimately limited. Coupled with their self-imposed isolation, with each ancient martial sect hidden away in their own small worlds, their knowledge had dwindled with each generation.
While their martial cultivation might not have been low, they were unaware that far more powerful individuals existed.
The leaders, elders, and hall masters of the Godly Hall were all utterly stunned. In their eyes, Chen Xiao was practically an invincible being!
Huangfu Yan was grinding his back teeth so hard they threatened to shatter. Since he had gained awareness, he had been a proud prodigy. Everyone he encountered had treated him with utmost care and flattery, making him truly believe he was the greatest genius under heaven.
Yet today, a secular individual he disdained had displayed strength far surpassing his own, something he found utterly unacceptable, nearly collapsing his worldview.
He began to deeply doubt himself... and after that doubt came a surging killing intent!
He glared hatefully at Chen Xiao, his thoughts in turmoil: "This brat must die, no matter what it takes!"
In the blink of an eye, three of the Four Guardians were gone. Although the Second Guardian was not dead, his two broken arms rendered him combat-ineffective.
The First Guardian was their last hope, and their greatest hope!
The First Guardian watched his third and fourth brothers die before his eyes, and his second brother crippled. He was so enraged that his eyes bulged, wishing he could tear Chen Xiao limb from limb.
At this moment, Chen Xiao's gaze also fell upon him.
"So, now it's just you left. I'll give you a chance to unleash your strongest attack!"
Chen Xiao said, his hands clasped behind his back, his demeanor as calm as ever.
"Brat, you will pay the price for your arrogance!"
The First Guardian sneered, "Originally, you had a chance to live. It's just a pity that you exposed your trump card too early!"
"Myriad Swords Return to Origin!"
"Today, I will let you taste what it feels like to be pierced by ten thousand swords!"
As the First Guardian spoke, the flying swords behind him spread out, appearing dense and obscuring the sky from afar.
A rough estimate suggested that, true to its name, there were at least ten thousand flying swords behind the First Guardian!
"God Slaying Sword Formation! Myriad Swords Return to Origin! Slash!"
The First Guardian roared with all his might, his eyeballs bulging, filled with bloodshot veins.
It was hatred that made his eyes red.
The dense flying swords shot towards Chen Xiao like a sudden storm!
The sword rain enveloped Chen Xiao from all directions, leaving no escape, his fate was to be shattered by these ten thousand flying swords!
Tie Xue shook his head and sighed, "Alas, Brother Chen is truly a hero of our time, but unfortunately, he was half a step behind. What a pity, truly a great pity!"
However, facing this sky full of sword rain, Chen Xiao let out a chuckle.
"I exposed my trump card too early? You think far too highly of yourself!"
"Are you few mere 'muddy chickens and broken dogs' worthy of me revealing my trump card?"