Chapter Thirty-Two: The Hanging Eye

The moonlight was bright, making the two figures stand out starkly. Cloaked in black robes with bamboo hats atop their heads and long swords in hand, they were indistinguishable from the assassins and killers of the martial world.

Chen Jiu did not make any rash moves, nor did he turn his head directly. On his forehead, the "Heavenly Eye" quietly parted a narrow slit.

A soft breeze rustled through the surrounding woods.

Suddenly, one of the figures gripped his sword horizontally and then slowly drew it.

A clear, ringing sound of steel filled the air.

Sweat immediately beaded on Chen Jiu’s brow.

They were here! The assassins from the Ascendant Tower had finally come for him.

At that moment, the swordsman leveled his gleaming blade and spoke coldly: “Chen Jiu, styled Nian’an, disciple of the Mysterious View, aged twenty, cultivation inferior to the First Floor of the Immortals, no notable killing techniques, only colluded with the Tushan fox demon to seize the Ascendant Tower’s treasured artifact…”

Hearing these words, Chen Jiu’s heart sank into the abyss.

It seemed they had thoroughly investigated his identity.

He withdrew his hand into his sleeve, quietly forming a sword seal with his fingers.

Then the other "Suspended Eye" spoke: “Tell me, where is the Tushan fox demon?”

Though his tone was calm, not threatening, at the sound of another sword being drawn, Chen Jiu’s expression grew even grimmer.

Today, his prospects looked dire indeed…

Moments passed, but Chen Jiu remained silent.

The first swordsman sneered, “Do you think a dying man would speak the truth?”

The other nodded slightly. “You are quite right, sir.”

Then, a rush of wind sounded.

Suddenly, the two black-robed men atop the trees vanished.

In that instant, Chen Jiu, still with his back to them, let his “Heavenly Eye” on his brow flare with golden light.

“Mountain Fiend!” he commanded silently.

Immediately, a towering golden figure, over ten feet tall, materialized behind him.

At that very moment, the two "Suspended Eyes" appeared eerily behind Chen Jiu as well.

With twin hums, their swords flashed. Sword light and energy swept forth, but instead of cleaving Chen Jiu, the deadly force was wholly blocked by the Mountain Fiend!

A crackling sound resounded as fissures rapidly spread across the golden figure’s body. In moments, it shattered, scattering as countless points of light that flew back into Chen Jiu.

The Mountain Fiend was destroyed by the twin blades, and as Chen Jiu was spiritually connected to it, he suffered a fierce backlash.

Blood welled in his throat; he spat it out in a crimson spray.

Pale-faced, he formed another sword seal and cried, “Go!”

With a sharp whistle, the magic sword soared into the sky, hurtling toward the two "Suspended Eyes."

But each black-robed man unleashed a beam of white light, effortlessly knocking the sword aside.

“Petty tricks,” one of them scoffed.

Then, the two figures began to twist and blur in a bizarre fashion, vanishing from sight as if half-invisible.

“Come, let’s see what you’re capable of, little Daoist,” a chilling voice echoed around him.

Chen Jiu never turned his head—his “Heavenly Eye” was already revealed, and there was no time to look back.

Even after just one exchange, Chen Jiu knew clearly that his foes were cultivators of higher skill, with strange footwork and the power to hide their presence.

Whether he would survive tonight remained uncertain.

He fled swiftly, inwardly shouting, “Tiger Minion!”

Gold light flashed and extinguished on his brow, and a massive white tiger with fierce, hanging jowls appeared out of thin air.

With a roar, Chen Jiu vaulted onto its back.

“Go!”

The tiger leaped mightily, plunging into the endless fields of wheat.

Though the beast looked enormous, with each landing, golden light shimmered under its paws, so it never touched the ground but bounded through the air.

“Interesting,” the icy voice sounded again.

The tiger’s speed was astonishing—just a few bounds covered dozens of yards.

Yet Chen Jiu felt not the slightest relief.

That icy presence remained at his back, meaning his pursuers were just as fast!

Suddenly, a sense of mortal danger flashed through him.

Reflexively, Chen Jiu rolled off the tiger’s back.

The instant he hit the ground, two streaks of sword light slashed through the night sky.

The tiger’s huge body paused midair, then shattered in an instant.

Once again, countless points of light flew into Chen Jiu.

Wounded anew, he spat a mouthful of blood and swiftly retracted his “Heavenly Eye.”

Despair and helplessness flooded his heart.

He lay battered in the deep wheat field, while the two “Suspended Eyes” appeared beside him.

“How do you control those monsters?” the higher-ranked “Suspended Eye” suddenly asked.

Chen Jiu’s thoughts raced; he beckoned the man closer, as if to whisper.

The other “Suspended Eye” warned, “Sir, be careful! This Daoist is cunning, it could be a ruse!”

At the warning, the man’s gaze turned sharp. “Are you teaching me how to do my job?”

“I wouldn’t dare!”

Then he looked at Chen Jiu and smiled coldly. “Don’t worry, tell me and I’ll leave your body whole.”

Chen Jiu’s energy was in turmoil, his spirit depleted—he could barely speak.

Moments passed; the man’s smile faded and he brought his sword down in a merciless strike.

These assassins were vicious and ruthless to the extreme.

Chen Jiu’s expression changed drastically.

As the sword flashed, a metallic clang rang out—it was the sound of steel meeting armor.

Chen Jiu’s robe was sliced open, revealing a suit of soft armor underneath, deeply dented by the blow.

“Oh? You’re wearing this soft armor? Seems you did steal your share of treasures,” the man said coldly, then stomped down on Chen Jiu’s chest.

As the man poured his magic into the strike, the pressure on Chen Jiu grew unbearable, as if a barrel of water were crushing his chest.

The man meant to stomp him to death.

Sensing that the armor’s protection was failing, rage boiled in Chen Jiu’s heart.

Utter humiliation!

As the armor finally tore, its protective power vanished.

With a sickening crunch, the man’s foot crushed Chen Jiu’s chest, caving it in.

Agonizing pain shot through him, and, unable to contain it, Chen Jiu spewed out not blood, but a gush of rich, fragrant liquor!

As the liquor vaporized on contact with the air, it enveloped the two “Suspended Eyes.”

“Damn! That’s liquor!” one shouted, recoiling as the black robe he wore began to corrode in the alcoholic mist.

“Sir, the ‘Fog Garment’ is dissolving in the liquor!”

Seeing their momentary distraction, Chen Jiu’s heart leaped—this was his chance.

With lightning speed, he snatched five yellow beans from his tunic.

“Go!”

With a command as forceful as law, the beans exploded with a crackle, billowing thick white smoke.

Using the smoke to separate himself from his attackers for just an instant, Chen Jiu thrust his hand inside his robes, summoned all his remaining strength to pull out a Concealing Talisman, slapped it onto himself, and dove headlong into the endless wheat field.

Both “Suspended Eyes” thrust out their palms, sending a fierce wind that scattered the smoke in an instant.

As the smoke cleared, calm returned to the field.

Under the moonlight, the wheat fields were tranquil, the night breeze stirring waves of grain.

“He used a Concealing Talisman…” the leader said, his expression grim.

“Exactly. Even the ‘Qi-Seeking Compass’ can’t find him,” the other replied, holding a wooden disk engraved with directions and a spinning needle at its center—obviously unable to pinpoint the target.

“He can’t have gone far. He’s hiding somewhere nearby,” the leader said coldly, scanning the field.

“That damned liquor ruined our ‘Fog Garments’ and botched the job—infuriating!” the black-robed man fumed.

But then he reconsidered. “Since the Daoist is cowering here, why don’t we just destroy the place so he can’t escape?”

The leader shot him a glare. “Fool! This is Jingyang County’s territory under the jurisdiction of the County’s Peacekeeping Bureau. If we cause trouble here, do you think they’ll let it go?”

Chastened, the man fell silent, face ashen.

In the distance, sparks began to rise from the wheat fields, accompanied by many footsteps.

“Let’s go. We failed to kill that Daoist today, but next time, he won’t be so lucky…”