Chapter 121 – A Sudden Shift in the Situation

“————”

The intense, chaotic battle instantly froze the moment Gao Xu made his appearance.

The tense atmosphere took a sharp turn for the worse.

The expressions of everyone led by Xu Qianqian completely darkened.

However, Xu Qianqian did not surrender to Gao Xu as he had demanded. Instead, she swiftly retreated, creating distance between herself and Xu Yanyan, raising her weapon toward Gao Xu.

Her cold expression and resolute refusal to compromise didn’t cause any change in Gao Xu’s demeanor.

“It seems Young Miss Qianqian intends to resist to the end,” Gao Xu spoke indifferently.

Clearly, to him, whether Xu Qianqian resisted or surrendered made no difference.

Surrendering would be best, allowing Gao Xu to complete this mission without bloodshed.

Resistance was also acceptable—the outcome was already predetermined.

Of course, Xu Yanyan still wanted to state her position.

“Mr. Gao, you can just watch from the sidelines,” Xu Yanyan said with a cold laugh, seemingly unwilling to let Gao Xu intervene, as if to prove her own capability. “I’ll personally deal with my dear little sister.”

She was very confident about this.

So what if she took drugs?

What did it matter if she had more resources?

After all, Xu Yanyan had already graduated from the Academy. Not only had she been the top student at the Hunter Academy, but she had also debuted as a Two-Star Hunter. Having struggled in the professional circle for three years, she was now a Three-Star Hunter. Even ordinary Three-Star Professionals were no match for Xu Yanyan, let alone a drugged-up Xu Qianqian, who at most had barely stepped into the Three-Star range.

With her strength, capturing someone like Xu Qianqian would be effortless.

That was what Xu Yanyan thought.

Unfortunately, Gao Xu’s direct appearance at this moment was not without reason.

“After all, there are other Professionals in this area, and Phantom Demons are also active here. There’s no telling when they might show up,” Gao Xu said calmly. “To avoid complications, I want to resolve this quickly.”

Hearing this, Xu Yanyan fell silent.

Indeed, what they were doing couldn’t be exposed. They needed to finish it quickly to prevent other Professionals from stumbling upon them.

It was important to note that they had deliberately chosen this moment to act so they could pin Xu Qianqian’s death on the Phantom Demons.

Otherwise, if the Xu Family Head discovered that family members were killing each other, that someone was targeting their own kin for status and power, damaging the Family’s interests, then Xu Yanyan would undoubtedly face consequences, and even her father would likely be expelled from the Xu Family, becoming a social outcast.

Therefore, Gao Xu’s stance was correct—they had to eliminate Xu Qianqian before anyone intruded, leaving behind unnecessary clues or exposing their presence.

“I understand,” Xu Yanyan replied, feeling somewhat unwilling and resentful but having no choice. She nodded and said, “Then please take action, Mr. Gao.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the first to react were none other than the private army under Xu Qianqian’s command.

“Don’t even think about it!”

Lie and Yin had somehow closed in on Gao Xu, appearing on his left and right sides simultaneously.

Without hesitation, the two lunged at Gao Xu, their weapons transforming into lightning-fast strikes accompanied by sonic booms as they attacked the formidable enemy before them.

In response…

“Foolish.”Gao Xu remained expressionless, as if he had grown an invisible eye and had long detected Lie Heyin’s presence. He lifted his foot and stomped down heavily.

Boom!

With a muffled explosion, the ground beneath Gao Xu’s feet shattered under the force of his stomp.

A shockwave, mixed with countless debris and rubble, erupted and slammed violently into Lie and Yin, sending them flying backward.

“What…!?”

Lie Heyin couldn’t believe what was happening to them, crying out in disbelief.

Only then did Gao Xu move.

He reached out, grabbing Lie and Yin by their heads amidst the shockwave—one in each hand—preventing them from flying away. As if clutching two dolls, he slammed them fiercely into the ground.

Boom—!

Amid the intense explosive sound, Lie and Yin were brutally smashed into the underground, their bodies buried beneath the soil and rocks.

“Lie!”

“Yin!”

The members of the Private Army were horrified, then their expressions hardened with resolve as they charged toward Gao Xu.

Their intent was simple: to overwhelm Gao Xu with numbers, eliminate this most fearsome enemy, and buy Xu Qianqian a slim chance of survival.

As long as Xu Qianqian could live, they were willing to sacrifice their lives without hesitation.

However, in this world, some things cannot be overcome by sheer will and determination alone.

“Commendable courage.”

Gao Xu’s voice echoed across the scene.

“Pity it’s courage without strategy.”

As soon as the words fell, Gao Xu moved again.

He stirred up a dust-laden wind, generating sonic waves, and shot forward like a Roaring Blast. His figure blurred completely, and in an instant, he appeared before one of the men.

Boom!

His not particularly muscular arm struck like a hammer against the man’s abdomen, eliciting a dull thud as it sent the man flying backward. He crashed into the rocky ground nearby, shattering the surface to pieces.

The others failed to react in time.

They couldn’t even comprehend what had just happened.

With speed faster than lightning, surpassing the reaction capabilities of all the elite Hunters present, Gao Xu launched a terrifying assault, like a fierce tiger charging into a flock of sheep.

Boom!

A punch landed on a chest.

Boom!

An elbow strike hit a back.

Boom!

A kick connected with a side.

Boom!

A palm strike smashed into a head.

Gao Xu didn’t perform any particularly incredible feats; each punch and kick was direct and straightforward, devoid of any technique or mystique. Yet, with every movement, he sent the Hunters of the Private Army flying one by one.

His speed was astonishingly fast, his strength terrifyingly powerful. His actions appeared so simple and direct, yet he batted away elite Hunters like they were balls or kites. Each attack was accompanied by a heart-wrenching dull impact that resonated all around, revealing the immense force behind his seemingly effortless motions.

The Private Army members roared in fury and shock, but it was utterly futile.

Before Gao Xu, they were like the weakest of children. Even with their strength enhanced by alchemical potions, Gao Xu dealt with them as if it were no effort at all.

“You should be grateful I haven’t drawn my Saber.”

By the time Gao Xu made this declaration, he was already standing amidst a field of fallen bodies, his expression calm, his tone indifferent.

“Da… damn it…”

“Damn…”

“Agh…”The members of the private army struggled painfully on the ground, wailing as they tried to rise but remained utterly unable to do so, appearing thoroughly wretched and miserable.

“Gulp…”

Someone swallowed hard.

The reaction came from the Xu Family Hunters.

Witnessing the private army so effortlessly dismantled, they were filled with profound shock. Opponents they had fought with such difficulty were rendered so fragile and powerless in Gao Xu’s hands—how could they not be astounded?

Only Xu Yanyan found this outcome entirely expected.

“They’re merely a group of lower-rank Professionals. How could they possibly pose any real challenge to Mr. Gao?”

Xu Yanyan wasn’t flattering Gao Xu but stating a simple truth.

The gap between Upper-Rank and lower-rank Professionals was precisely this vast.

The former had honed their Bloodline to its limits, broken through the shackles of the flesh, and ascended to a superhuman Realm.

The latter hadn’t even come close to touching half of this Realm. Without fully mastering their Bloodline or refining it to its peak—let alone breaking physical constraints—how could they possibly stand against the former?

If ten One-Star Professionals could overcome a Two-Star Professional through numbers, and ten Two-Star Professionals could do the same to a Three-Star Professional, that was normal.

But a hundred Three-Star Professionals, unless among them existed individuals with unique anomalous abilities or those who had refined their Bloodline to its limit, could never defeat a single Four-Star Professional in direct confrontation.

This was why Upper-Rank Professionals were revered as true powerhouses.

They had transcended the human category, entering a superhuman Realm.

Only with such strength would they be entrusted with the critical task of guarding an entire Defense Line.

In truth, for this operation, Xu Yanyan’s true reliance wasn’t her own strength, nor that of the many Family Hunters around her, but Gao Xu.

He alone was sufficient.

Just as Xu Yanyan confidently believed the mission held no further suspense, she suddenly realized Xu Qianqian was no longer in her original spot.

“Escaped?”

Startled, Xu Yanyan immediately retrieved a remote-control-like device and pressed a button.

“Vroom!The air trembled slightly, and the surrounding ground shattered in response, revealing stone pillars engraved with intricate runes.

A shimmering light flowed across the pillars, conjuring a thin, transparent barrier that sealed off the entire area.

This was a trap the Xu Family had laid here—an Alchemy Device specifically designed to prevent Xu Qianqian’s escape.

The delicate transparent barrier couldn’t be broken by ordinary means; only an attack of Upper-Rank Professional caliber could breach it.

“Zap!”

At one corner of the barrier, a figure flickered into view as if electrocuted, involuntarily revealing itself.

“Over there?”

Xu Yanyan reflexively threw the small Saber in her hand, transforming it into a supersonic projectile that shot straight forward.

“Thud!”

The next moment, the electrified figure was pierced through by the Saber.

“Zap, zap…!”

A series of crackling, electric-like sounds erupted, causing the figure to collapse to the ground, unable to rise again.

“It’s over.”

A faint smile touched Xu Yanyan’s lips.

Only Gao Xu, observing the figure, frowned and suddenly spoke up.”That’s not right, that’s an alchemical tool used by a decoy.”

As soon as Gao Xu’s voice fell, an unexpected incident occurred.

Another figure suddenly appeared behind Xu Yanyan as if materializing out of thin air.

“…!?”

Xu Yanyan noticed something and her expression changed.

But before Xu Yanyan could take any action, a dagger was already pressed against her neck.

“Don’t move.”

Xu Qianqian’s cold, merciless voice sounded in Xu Yanyan’s ear.

“If you move, I’ll kill you.”

These words made Xu Yanyan’s body completely stiffen.

Gao Xu narrowed his eyes.

The situation on the scene had abruptly changed.

(End of Chapter)