From Sword to Slaughter: Evolution

[Fifth-tier Martial Skill: Triple Wave Strike]!

In that instant, Huang Conghui let out a roar, gripping his long saber with both hands and slashing fiercely. A wave of blazing crimson fire surged toward Ren Xing like a scorching tidal wave.

"Hmph, just a cheap trick," Ren Xing scoffed coldly at the incoming attack.

His reflexes were lightning-fast. In a split second, he leapt out of the way, dodging the fiery blast.

Boom!

The terrifying force collided with the ground where Ren Xing had stood moments earlier, shaking the earth with a deafening explosion.

As Ren Xing landed on the other side, another, even more powerful wave of fire rushed toward him—the second strike of the Triple Wave Strike was much stronger than the first.

Ren Xing's eyes narrowed as he saw the fiery wave barreling toward him. He swiftly dodged again, his heart pounding slightly.

The speed of the incoming flames was too fast, making it hard to evade. Even as a fifth-tier warrior, taking a direct hit could cause serious injuries—or worse, it could be fatal.

"Ahhhh!"

Huang Conghui roared as the third and final wave of crimson fire surged forward. This last strike was far more intense than the previous two.

Ren Xing had no more room to dodge.

"What a useless technique!" Ren Xing bellowed angrily. He channeled his strength into the Demon-Slaying Sword, infusing it with dark energy. The sword emitted an eerie black aura, pulsating with sinister power.

Instead of dodging, Ren Xing swung his sword, unleashing an even more devastating fire-infused strike.

Nether Flame Soul Slash!

Boom!

The white flame from Ren Xing's sword clashed with Huang Conghui's attack, completely dissipating the crimson fire and continuing its path toward Huang Conghui.

Huang's eyes widened in shock. He hadn't expected Ren Xing to unleash such a terrifyingly powerful skill with a mere flick of his sword. The white flames were far more intense than anything he had conjured.

Unable to dodge, Huang quickly surrounded himself with a shield of energy, releasing every ounce of his power to protect himself.

Boom!

The impact of Ren Xing's Nether Flame Soul Slash sent Huang flying backward, crashing into a giant boulder in the courtyard. The stone trembled but did not break under the force.

Huang Conghui collapsed onto the ground, his face pale. He spat out a mouthful of blood.

Though his body showed no external burns, internally, he was gravely injured. The white flames had torn through his energy shield, leaving him depleted of all his energy.

The members of the Steel Mercenary Group rushed to Huang's side.

"Stay back!" Huang roared, forcing himself to his feet.

His eyes locked onto Ren Xing as the older man approached, a mix of fear and disbelief in Huang's gaze. Ren Xing had unleashed a power far beyond anything Huang had expected. The ease with which Ren Xing wielded such destructive force left Huang shaken.

"I won't kill you," Ren Xing said, his eyes gleaming with a strange light.

"Then… what do you want?" Huang asked warily. He knew he was no match for Ren Xing now and feared what the older man might demand.

"Become my subordinate," Ren Xing declared, a wicked smile spreading across his face as he glanced at the gathered mercenaries.

"No way!" Several members of the Steel Mercenary Group immediately shouted in protest.

They were proud members of the group. There was no way they would submit to Ren Xing, no matter the circumstances. Even if Huang Conghui had lost, they couldn't betray their leader.

"Continue," Huang said after a moment of silence. He stared at Ren Xing, sensing that there was more to the proposition.

Ren Xing's eyes gleamed. "There are benefits to following me," he said, narrowing his eyes at the group. "You've heard of the Lion Mercenary Group, haven't you?"

The mention of the Lion Mercenary Group caused a stir. The group was based in another city of similar size to Star City, dominating the surrounding mountain range and monopolizing its resources. The mountains were rich with beasts and even rumored to have untapped mineral deposits. The mere thought of it made everyone in the room envious.

"I plan to deal with them. Once I've taken care of that group, all the resources in that mountain range will be ours," Ren Xing declared with a smug grin.

"Are you serious? The Lion Mercenary Group has sixth-tier warriors…" Huang muttered, clearly skeptical. For him, sixth-tier warriors were an overwhelming force.

The difference between fifth-tier and sixth-tier warriors was vast—one misstep in battle, and even the strongest fifth-tier warrior could be easily overwhelmed.

"Sixth-tier warriors? So what? Do you think I can't kill them?" Ren Xing sneered.

With the power of the Demon-Slaying Sword in his hands, Ren Xing's confidence was soaring. He now had the strength to tackle things he previously wouldn't have dared to consider.

"You're serious?" Huang Conghui asked, suddenly intrigued.

The Steel Mercenary Group had exhausted the resources available in Black Forest. The idea of conquering a resource-rich mountain range, possibly brimming with ancient treasures, was hard to resist.

"Of course. Haven't you heard? There are rumors of ancient ruins in that mountain range," Ren Xing added, his eyes scanning the crowd, seeing the excitement building.

The thought of ancient ruins, filled with untold treasures and opportunities, made the mercenaries' eyes gleam with anticipation. Even Huang Conghui couldn't help but be tempted by the idea.