Chu Lingtian sneered slightly, having been prepared.
He deftly shifted his body, easily evading the attack.
The white-haired elder thrust his long sword forward again, his speed even greater than before.
*Swish!*
Another cold glint flashed, swift as the wind, but Chu Lingtian dodged it once more.
The white-haired elder's killing intent intensified, and he brought his sword down from above, slicing towards Chu Lingtian's nose.
Had Chu Lingtian reacted a fraction slower, his nose would have been severed.
"I thought you were so formidable? Turns out you're just a good-for-nothing!"
The white-haired elder said with a cold laugh, "How long do you think you can keep dodging? Just wait for your death!"
As his words faded, the white-haired elder lunged at Chu Lingtian again, his long sword shifting positions incessantly, unleashing wave after wave of sharp sword energy through the air.
Chu Lingtian made no move, only evading constantly.
*Crackling!*
The sword energy instantly shattered the tables and chairs in the shop, scattering debris everywhere.
Suddenly, Chu Lingtian took a step forward, fists clenched, his eyes blazing with an incredibly fierce killing intent.
At this moment, a chilling aura emanated from Chu Lingtian, one that struck fear into the hearts of others.
His earlier hesitation to engage the white-haired elder was not due to fear, but to gauge the man's skill.
Once he had a grasp of the white-haired elder's techniques and confirmed that the elder wasn't feigning weakness or harboring hidden intentions, it was time for his own counterattack.
*Whoosh!*
The white-haired elder saw a dark silhouette flash past his eyes and immediately brought his sword down.
Just as the sword descended, he felt a surge of killing intent from behind him.
The white-haired elder's other hand shot backward, attacking the person behind him with incredible speed, but it was easily dodged.
Simultaneously, the killing intent from behind him continued to grow, escalating rapidly.
"Your speed is too slow, truly too slow!"
As he spoke, the white-haired elder felt a powerful fist descending upon his back. By the time he realized it, it was too late to raise his hand to block.
He was a seasoned fighter himself, reacting with lightning speed.
He redirected his long sword backward, a blur of motion.
Even if he were heavily wounded, he wanted Chu Lingtian to pay a price.
*Clang!*
An incredibly powerful force struck the blade, immense and potent, almost forcing the white-haired elder's sword from his grasp.
The white-haired elder's heart leaped in surprise, and he instinctively increased his grip, managing to hold onto his sword.
Immediately after, a *bang* sounded!
The white-haired elder was heavily struck in the back with a kick, sending him flying forward and crashing into a table, which shattered instantly under his impact.
*Pfft!*
The white-haired elder spat out a mouthful of blood, his expression turning exceedingly grim as he slowly got up from the ground.
One kick!
It was just one kick!
The white-haired elder was already severely wounded, his face deathly pale.
He stared at Chu Lingtian in utter shock, seemingly unable to comprehend Chu Lingtian's formidable power.
Chu Lingtian, however, remained composed, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"You attacked me with your sword so many times, it's only fair that I kick you once, isn't it!"
Chu Lingtian appeared as harmless as a lamb, nothing like a master of extraordinary skill.
The white-haired elder looked at Chu Lingtian and asked coldly, "Who exactly are you?"
"Your question is so unprofessional. You came to kill me, and you don't even know who I am?"
Chu Lingtian shook his head. "No wonder you're all just a bunch of rabble. You don't even know the identity of your target, and you dare to come and assassinate someone?"
"Aren't you afraid of killing the wrong person?"
The white-haired elder sneered, "We assassins never ask about identities. As long as the money is right, even the King of Heaven can be killed!"
With that, the white-haired elder charged at Chu Lingtian once more.
His long sword instantly split into two short swords, one in each hand, as he advanced with menacing fervor.
The white-haired elder combined his dual swords, his swordsmanship appearing even more ferocious than before.
A flurry of sword shadows enveloped him.
Chu Lingtian paid it no mind, calmly retreating backward, his gaze serene.
He swiftly moved back, evading the fierce onslaught of the short swords, and vanished from the white-haired elder's sight.
The white-haired elder's expression shifted when he realized Chu Lingtian had disappeared. His eyes scanned his surroundings warily, but he still couldn't find Chu Lingtian's trace.
Chu Lingtian let out a cold chuckle. "Have you got senile dementia? I'm standing right behind you, and you didn't even notice?"
The white-haired elder felt a tap on his back. The moment he turned his head, a fist shot out and struck him directly in the face.
*Bang!*
The white-haired elder flew backward, crashing heavily against the wall again before slumping to the ground.
He struggled to rise, but Chu Lingtian darted forward and pinned him down with a foot, rendering him immobile.
The white-haired elder thrashed for a moment, his face paling with despair, his eyes dimming.
Chu Lingtian's foot felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, like Mount Tai pressing down on him.
"Speak! Who sent you to kill me?"
Chu Lingtian said unhurriedly, "Think carefully! My patience is limited. Don't waste my last shred of mercy!"
The white-haired elder let out a cold laugh and looked up at Chu Lingtian.
"Kill me or flay me, as you wish. But I cannot reveal anything else!"
"If you kill me today, someone will come for revenge tomorrow. The more people you kill, the more trouble you'll have!"
The white-haired elder sneered, "You can't kill all of us assassins from Tian Sha Di Jue!"
Tian Sha Di Jue?
Chu Lingtian frowned slightly upon hearing the name.
He thought for a long time but couldn't recall it.
"I say, you are all specters and monsters, and you dare to be an assassin? You'd be better off staying home to babysit, killing people is a bit beyond your capabilities!"
The white-haired elder glared at Chu Lingtian with blazing fury, his eyes almost spitting fire.
A scholar can be killed, but not humiliated!
The same applied to assassins; they would rather die than be insulted by Chu Lingtian like this.
Chu Lingtian chuckled. "Don't look at me like that. It's not my fault your organization is obscure!"
"Tian Sha Di Jue? The name sounds formidable, but with skills like yours, you can't possibly kill everyone. You might as well kill yourselves!"
The white-haired elder struggled to speak, "You will... you will definitely regret this!"
"Alright! Even if you're right, you won't live to see it!"
He wasted no more words. He increased the pressure of his foot, and a visible indentation appeared on the white-haired elder's chest, his heart crushed instantly.
"Rest in peace! Be a good person in your next life!"
Chu Lingtian turned his gaze to the other individuals, who, terrified, immediately knelt on the ground, repeatedly kowtowing to Chu Lingtian.
"We were just doing it for money, we don't know anything else!"