A flicker of undetectable doubt flashed through the old Tang Sect Leader's single eye. He looked at Ian, then scanned the group of "Magnetic Field Sect" disciples behind him, each radiating a different aura, yet all unified by a sense of overbearing tyranny.
"What the Sect Leader says... this old man finds somewhat difficult to understand."
The old Sect Leader's voice remained low, carrying the raspy tone of one weathered by time.
"The way of assassination emphasizes secrecy, timing, and a single-strike kill, followed by a quiet escape."
"Observing the members of your noble sect, your presence is majestic and your power is externalized, like the scorching sun in the sky. This..."
He paused, weighing his words carefully.
"How can this achieve a silent approach to the target?"
"Forgive my bluntness, but this seems to run somewhat contrary to the philosophy of assassination passed down through my Tang Sect for centuries."
Though the surrounding Tang Sect experts did not speak, the expressions on their faces clearly mirrored the Sect Leader's skepticism. They were hunters of the shadows, accustomed to holding their breath and merging into the darkness. Every person before them looked like a humanoid lightning storm; by no stretch of the imagination did they look like they could handle "delicate work."
Hearing this, a meaningful smile played on Ian's face. He didn't answer the old Sect Leader's question directly. Instead, he turned around and lightly patted Zhang Chulan's shoulder.
"Come, Chulan. Put on a show for the seniors."
"Let them see for themselves the 'professional' assassination techniques of our Magnetic Field Sect."
Zhang Chulan froze. The calm expression he was struggling to maintain nearly shattered.
'Are you serious, Brother Ian? Don't mess with me! When did I ever learn assassination?'
'I only know how to head-on clash! How am I supposed to demonstrate this?'
He complained wildly in his mind, but he still had to force a smile onto his face. Just as Zhang Chulan's mind was racing, wondering how to perform, Ian's voice rang directly in his head.
'Kid, don't let me down.'
'The assassination of our Magnetic Field Sect emphasizes three things: Fast, Ruthless, and Absolute!'
'See that uninhabited mountain peak in the distance?'
'Use your strongest power—don't hold back—and level it for me with one punch!'
'Remember, as long as you kill the target, everyone who saw the target, and everyone who might have seen us, along with any cover they might have used... that is the most perfect assassination!'
Zhang Chulan: "..."
'This... this is what you call assassination?!'
The corners of his mouth twitched slightly, but feeling Ian's gaze, he could only brace himself and step up.
Hearing that an "assassination" technique was about to be demonstrated, everyone in the Tang Sect, including the perpetually worried Head of the Zhao Family, grew interested. They crowded around, their curious gazes fixed on Zhang Chulan. They wanted to see what kind of world-shaking assassination skill these "Magnetic Field Sect" outcasts, with their strange clothes and terrifying strength, would produce.
Zhang Chulan took a deep breath and walked to the edge of the martial arts field, facing a barren mountain peak roughly a hundred meters away.
The Tang Sect disciples began to whisper.
"What is he trying to do?"
"Is he going to use Qi to throw some special hidden weapon from a distance?" a young disciple guessed.
"Doesn't look like it. Look where he's standing; he has no intention of using stealth at all," another disciple shook his head.
"What is he doing facing that mountain? Is he going to use the rocks to simulate the assassination process?"
Various guesses arose among the Tang Sect disciples, but none could have imagined what happened next. Even the Head of the Zhao Family held his breath, a sliver of expectation in his eyes.
Zhang Chulan ignored the chatter. He slowly assumed his stance. Within him, the 30,000 Horsepower Magnetic Field power that had just stabilized began to rotate frantically.
Vroom—
An indescribable, violent, and scorching aura suddenly erupted from his body. The ground beneath his feet began to vibrate slightly, and fine dust was pushed away by an invisible force. The surrounding air seemed to be ignited, becoming distorted and parched.
Crackle! Crackle! Small electrical arcs jumped and flowed across his skin. This rapidly climbing presence caused the hearts of all the watching Tang Sect experts to skip a beat.
What powerful strength! Could this really be coming from that somewhat lazy-looking young man?
Zhang Chulan's eyes widened, and all his power converged into his right fist.
"Yeah!" Zhang Chulan roared as he threw a punch through the empty air!
A concentrated fist-force, so refined it seemed to compress infinite energy, instantly tore through the air and smashed violently into the mountain peak!
A split second later.
Crack... Crunch...
Under the horrified and disbelieving gazes of everyone present, that mountain peak, at least dozens of meters high, abruptly disintegrated and shattered, turning into a cloud of dust that filled the sky!
The elevation of the Tang Sect's surroundings dropped by dozens of meters because of this single punch.
The entire Tang Sect martial arts field fell into a deathly silence. One could hear a needle drop. Only the howling night wind blew across the empty field, swirling a few fallen leaves with a rustling sound.
Every Tang Sect disciple, including the experienced old Sect Leader and the Head of the Zhao Family, stood dumbfounded. They stared foolishly at the distant mountain, now a whole section shorter with a smooth, sheared surface. Then they mechanically turned their heads to look at Zhang Chulan, who was retracting his fist, panting slightly, with a look of pure innocence on his face.
This... this was an assassination?!
They must have some misunderstanding of the word "assassination!" This was fucking grinding the target into ash along with their ancestral mountain! This simply wasn't a power humans were supposed to possess!
At this moment, Ian nodded in satisfaction and stepped forward with a smile. He walked up to the petrified old Tang Sect Leader and asked in a gentle tone:
"So, Sect Leader Tang? Is the 'assassination' method of my Magnetic Field Sect professional enough?"
"Efficient enough?"
He paused, glanced at Zhang Chulan who was still catching his breath, and added:
"Actually, Chulan has only just entered the gateway. His strength isn't that great, his control is poor, and the power isn't concentrated enough. Please don't laugh at him."
"..."
The corners of the Tang Sect members' mouths twitched in unison. This was "not concentrated enough"? If it were concentrated, would the Tang Sect itself have disappeared?
Ian seemed to feel this wasn't quite enough and changed the subject. The terrifying aura he had briefly shown earlier, which was enough to suffocate the old Sect Leader, began to permeate the air once again.
"If everyone feels that the assassination Chulan demonstrated isn't professional enough..."
"Then, how about I personally demonstrate?"
"I guarantee you will be satisfied!"
Before Ian could finish his sentence, the old Tang Sect Leader snapped out of his trance with a violent shudder, his face turning pale instantly. Feeling that terrifying pressure and looking at the "assassinated" mountain in the distance, he had no doubt that this unfathomable Sect Leader of the "Magnetic Field Sect" absolutely had the ability to raise a hand and "professionally" kill the Tang Sect's thousand-year legacy along with the entire mountain!
"That's enough! It's enough!"
The old Sect Leader practically scrambled to speak, waving his hands repeatedly as cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
"The Sect Leader's divine power is unrivaled! Unrivaled divine power!"
"This young brother... no! This Grandmaster's 'assassination' technique has already reached the pinnacle! It is perfection itself!"
"This old man is in awe! I am truly floored!"