Boom!
A deafening sound erupted, and Sean exploded on the spot.
The center of the explosion seemed to have transformed into an energy storm of thunder and fire, like a black hole drawing surrounding objects towards its core.
Lin Yao, caught in the epicenter, was instantly swallowed by the energy storm.
Mu Yuanying, watching from afar, felt a pang of anxiety and looked worriedly at the explosion's center.
Su Fan frowned, hoping Lin Yao was truly alright.
He had actually lied to Mu Yuanying. It was too late to intervene now. Not only would he be unable to save Lin Yao, but Mu Yuanying might also be in danger.
Su Fan could only try to calm Mu Yuanying and pray that Lin Yao could withstand the opponent's self-destruction.
The self-destruction of an SS+ level expert was comparable to an SSS-level attack. Could Lin Yao truly survive it?
Su Fan was unsure.
However, Su Fan could sense that Lin Yao's current strength was at least SSS-level. Even if he used all his power-boosting methods, he couldn't reach that level. With all his methods employed, he could now reach the late stage of the Yuheng Realm, infinitely close to its peak.
That was SS+ level strength.
As everyone watched with bated breath, the energy storm finally dissipated.
Lin Yao's figure emerged from the center, lying on the ground, her life or death unknown.
Her clothes had been shredded into tatters by the energy storm, leaving her naked and covered only in dirt.
"Yaoyao!"
Mu Yuanying rushed forward immediately, checking Lin Yao's condition.
The first thing she did was check Lin Yao's pulse.
Mu Yuanying breathed a sigh of relief. There was still a pulse; Lin Yao was alive.
Finally, Mu Yuanying's anxiety subsided.
Su Fan walked over and took off his outer jacket, covering Lin Yao.
"Let's take her back first,"
Su Fan said to Mu Yuanying.
He then looked at the two from the Dongfang family and Fang Yunzi and the others.
"Thank you all for your hard work today. Upon our return, the Martial Alliance will present each of you with five Breakthrough Pills as a token of our gratitude."
Su Fan was not stingy. They had helped him immensely, virtually annihilating the Assassin's Alliance. Su Fan was certainly willing to reward them.
"Nephew, you are too kind."
Fang Yunzi said politely, his smile uncontainable.
The two from the Dongfang family were no different, their smiles never ceasing.
"Grandson-in-law, we are all family, no need for such formalities,"
Dongfang Xiong said to Su Fan with a smile.
Within the Dongfang family, Su Fan also held the identity of Dongfang Tingyin's boyfriend. Dongfang Tingyin had not yet revealed this, so in Dongfang Xiong's eyes, Su Fan was their Dongfang family's son-in-law, practically family.
This was why Dongfang Tingyin had readily agreed when she asked them to help Su Fan.
Su Fan felt a bit awkward, merely smiling without saying anything.
The group, carrying the unconscious Lin Yao, began their return journey.
Along the way, Su Fan glanced at the corpses of the Assassin's Alliance members. They were all thoroughly dead.
Figures like Yan Shen and Yuan Ling didn't even have complete bodies; one was blown to pieces by Lin Yao's punch, and the other had self-destructed, leaving nothing behind.
Su Fan didn't bother with their corpses, letting them lie where they were.
Shortly after Su Fan left, a golden beetle, the size of an egg, flew out from the mountaintop and burrowed into Thor's corpse, devouring his flesh and blood. It then flew down the mountain and consumed Kate's corpse as well.
...
Within the Assassin's Alliance's manor, the leader had been waiting for their return with Thor, but there was no news.
The young man took out his phone and made a call.
"Investigate what happened to Yan Shen and the others."
He contacted his informant in China and gave the order.
"Yes!"
A heavy voice responded from the other end.
Soon, the young man's phone rang again. The informant had news.
"Yan Shen and the others have all perished, leaving no trace. The culprits are from the Martial Alliance."
A cold glint flashed in the young man's eyes.
These were core members of the Assassin's Alliance. Losing them instantly reduced the alliance's overall strength by one tier, from a top international force to a first-class one. This was unacceptable to him.
"What happened? Their strength shouldn't have been so easily overcome, should it?"
Although filled with rage, the young man still needed to understand what had transpired.
"It's unclear, but based on the combat traces at the scene, they seem to have been ambushed. During the fight, Thor and Yan Shen used a combined technique, but they were still no match for the opponent. Yan Shen was forced to self-destruct. No enemy bodies were found at the scene, indicating the opponent's strength was likely very high."
The informant didn't know the specifics, only deducing from the combat evidence.
The young man's breathing quickened.
Thor and Yan Shen's combined lightning-fire technique couldn't defeat the opponent? Could it be an SSS-level expert? How was that possible!
The young man found it hard to believe his own conjecture.
China had lacked even two SS-level experts in the past few years, consistently being at a disadvantage. How could so many experts have emerged in such a short time?
SS-level was one thing; after all, China had many experts who had consistently been at S+ strength, and a breakthrough wasn't impossible. But SSS-level was not so easily achieved.
"Alright, I understand."
The young man hung up the phone and dialed another number.
"Go to China and investigate the core personnel of the Martial Alliance thoroughly. I want to know who this SSS-level expert is!"
The young man's expression was grim. The Assassin's Alliance, which he had founded, was being overthrown by a newly risen minor force? He found this utterly unacceptable.
"It's just a few deaths. I told you to come back long ago, but you insisted on staying with this insignificant Assassin's Alliance. And now? You're finally willing to return, aren't you?"
A shapely European woman walked in with a seductive gait.
The young man frowned slightly.
"I didn't expect you to come in person."
The young man clearly knew the woman well.
The sexy woman smiled faintly.
"If I didn't come, I was afraid you'd do something rash and provoke the Martial Alliance. Don't underestimate them. Rising to prominence in just a few months means they aren't simple. It's better to return if you want to deal with them. The Psionic Alliance is your home."
The sexy woman advised the young man.
"Alice, do you know why I haven't returned?"
The young man looked at the woman and said softly.
"I know. You're afraid I'll eat you."
Alice licked her sexy red lips and said.
"Heh, I'm afraid of those lunatics. I don't know when those lunatics will set their sights on me. For my own safety, I'd rather stay away from them. I'm not like you; my strength is enough to crush anyone."
The young man sneered.
"Bright, I'll keep an eye on them. They won't do anything to you. Come back."
Alice said to Bright earnestly.
"No, I'll deal with this Martial Alliance first, and then we'll talk."
Bright didn't appreciate Alice's good intentions. He valued his own life more, and he wasn't sure Alice could keep those people in check.