Chapter 375 - It's Worse than Killing Me

"Facing five opponents, exchanging hundreds of moves, yet emerging without a single scratch! His physique... is the most formidable I've ever witnessed among all combat artists," murmured one of the elders observing from afar, his pupils betraying a hint of undisguised shock.

The other elders wore similar expressions. Most also had a trace of astonishment on their faces. Initially, they thought that the Golem Sect Master, after executing his ultimate secret move, would be weakened, leaving him vulnerable to the five combat artists of the Eastern Nine Sects. But the tables had turned in an instant, revealing that the fierce battle everyone thought they were witnessing was merely a warm-up in the Golem Sect Master's eyes.

He had maintained control from beginning to end, never needing to use his full strength. Some might say he had deliberately limited his strength to hone his fist techniques. To put it bluntly, he had toyed with them, like a cat playing with mice, effortlessly taunting the five from the Eastern Nine Sects.

Once he was tired of the game, he could easily dismantle his toys with a casual blow. The entire situation was firmly in his grasp.

This dominance stemmed mainly from his overwhelmingly strong physique, which was capable of enduring the explosive force of combat artist-level secret techniques. He even withstood the cross sword of the Soul-Breaking Sword Elder. In essence, the Golem Sect Master possessed a high degree of tolerance for error and extraordinary survivability in any battle—abilities most combat artists could only dream of.

Generally, combat artists focused on offense and had relatively lackluster defenses. The killing power of Qi combined with secret techniques far surpassed mere physical strength. So, if the five Eastern Nine Sects combat artists had faced any other top-tier combat artist, that artist would have had to dodge their offensive, as both sides could break each other's defenses.

Even a top-tier combat artist hit by an all-out ultimate move from an ordinary combat artist would still suffer serious injuries, unless they used superior Qi techniques to counter the force or skillfully evaded it. If any other top-tier combat artist had been in the Golem Sect Master's place, they would have found the situation highly challenging, which was the source of the five combat artists' confidence.

Unfortunately for them, Cassius had strengthened his Qi and physique to astonishing levels. After opening the Gate of Physique, he could match top-tier combat artists with sheer physical strength alone.

Taking a few hits from lesser weapons was hardly an issue for him. Only a comparable opponent could hope to break his defenses.

In short, Cassius was like a low-level assassin killer. Unless he stood completely still, making no effort to protect his vital points, it would take all five combat artists striking with full force to have a chance of killing him.

Meanwhile, on the first floor of the Black Pupil Tower, on the outskirts of the main hall, the five Eastern Nine Sects elders were now using secret techniques to suppress their injuries and force themselves back into fighting shape.

Directly in front of them, a powerful, imposing Cassius began charging forward, accelerating with every stride. His momentum was so overwhelming that anyone who tried to block him would be crushed.

Aro, the Star Ring Fist Elder, inhaled a bloody breath through his nose, spread his limbs, and took a combat stance. He unleashed an explosive secret technique, and his entire body became broad and upright. His formerly shrunken muscles swelled and firmed, limbs flexing with nimble, robust strength. His gaze sharpened, resembling that of an eagle.

"Roy, I'll hold off the first wave of his offensive; go for his vital points with everything you've got! Everyone else, harass him from the sides!" Aro swiftly laid out the plan to the Soul-Breaking Sword Path Elder beside him.

"Understood!" Roy’s eyes narrowed as he focused.

Though crude, the plan was clear and practical. Aro was the only one among them who could exchange a few blows with Cassius, while Roy, wielding the sharpest weapon, possessed the highest burst on the field.

If there was any hope of defeating Cassius, it would lie with the two of them.

"Attack!" Aro roared, and the five surged forward.

Cassius charged forward like an unstoppable tank. His cold, fierce eyes locked onto Aro. Even from afar, the forceful, vicious aura he emitted struck them head-on, like the gaping maw of a beast about to roar.

Cassius strode forward with long, powerful steps, each one leaving a deep footprint in the marble floor. He could sense their scheming but didn't care. The strength surging within his fists was daring anyone brave enough to come and face it.

Boom!

In one final burst, he accelerated, shattering the solid stone beneath his foot.

Cassius's massive figure seemed to compress the very air as he tore through the air to create a passageway. His eyes seemed to burn as he looked down at his opponents. He threw a punch at Aro, who was the tip of the formation.

Bang!!!

The sound of a sonic boom mixed with an explosion echoed as Aro, who had grown to nearly two meters in height, took the hit. His muscles shuddered, as his shirt shredded itself in an instant, torn to pieces by the overwhelming force.

In the next second, Aro's entire body was hurled backward, carving a straight line through the air like a missile as he crashed through the door.

Hold off the first wave of attacks? He couldn't even withstand the first punch!

"Red Arm Fist—Crimson Ring!"

"Void Sun Fist Mark—Phantom Demon Palm!"

"Heart Tiger Sect—Devouring Claw!"

Three combat artist elders from the Eastern Nine Sects launched their attacks on either side. Each unleashed a combat-oriented secret technique from their respective sects.

They had struck just before Aro was blasted away. However, Cassius's sudden acceleration meant he sent Aro flying with a single punch, and all three attacks missed their mark by a fraction.

The elder of the Red Arm Fist lunged forward. His forearm turned a deep, blood-red hue that was so intense that it seemed like he was bleeding. The Void Sun Sect's middle-aged fighter moved faster, striking with a palm that blurred into overlapping dark shadows. Meanwhile, the Heart Tiger Sect elder leaped like a tiger hunting prey, his clawed hands ripping through the air with precision.

Three attacks. Three secret techniques. Three distinct fist techniques.

They struck Cassius simultaneously from different angles.

Bang! Pow! Hiss!

Their fists, palm marks, and claw shadows collided with his towering body. The Qi and force crashed into him with a terrifying momentum that was meant to tear or even obliterate him.

In response, Cassius's iron-tower-like figure stumbled forward a few steps, each footstep shattering the hard tiles beneath him. He turned his head, spotting the three who continued their attacks.

He had a hint of irritation on his face. These three were not causing any real pain, only minor discomfort, yet they buzzed around like flies that refused to leave him alone. He was quickly growing weary of it.

Whoosh!

The elder of the Heart Tiger Sect lunged with incredible speed, appearing beside Cassius in an instant. His arms spread wide, and his claw-like grip seized Cassius's shoulder and elbow. He was ready to execute a joint lock!

The Heart Tiger Sect wasn't originally native to the Eastern region; it had moved to Hongli Federation from overseas a century ago. Because of this, its techniques were distinct from the Eastern Covert Martial Arts world, with a unique level of mastery. Especially notorious for their fierce joint-locking techniques, they could, if given the opportunity, allow the weaker to overpower the stronger or even cripple opponents outright. It was certainly a formidable martial art sect.

The elder's hands coiled around Cassius's joints like a pair of iron cables, bracing with his own bones to form a leverage structure. Using principles similar to a lever, his power surged and doubled.

"Attack his right side! His left arm is pinned by my—"

The Heart Tiger Sect elder twisted his arm like an iron chain. His explosive tensile strength was potent enough to crush steel, but he was startled to find that he couldn’t make Cassius's left arm budge in the slightest.

He tried again, still ineffective. One more attempt—snap!

It worked, except the bone that fractured wasn't Cassius's but his own. His right arm had suffered a stress fracture from the excessive force of his own joint technique.

"Hey, are you trying to give me a massage?"

A low, booming voice came from above. Cassius, who had held back the two elders from the Void Sun Sect and Red Arm Fist with just one arm, now had time to glance mockingly at the Heart Tiger Sect elder trying to subdue him with joint techniques.

Cassius wasn't concerned about joint locks; you couldn't twist a thigh with mere arm strength. His arm now was thicker than an average person's leg.

His muscle density was five times that of a combat artist!

What did that mean? An ordinary combat artist's bones might not even be as resilient as Cassius's muscles. At this point, his arm was practically a solid alloy, but this Heart Tiger Sect elder, with his comparatively feeble limbs, thought he could execute a joint lock? It was suicidal!

Cassius grinned viciously when he saw his opponent deliver himself into his hands. He grabbed the elder's arms and, with a mighty heave, twisted the elder's two dark, bruised arms until they tangled into a bloody mess.

Shwing!

Suddenly, a sharp sword light streaked through the air, precisely targeting the back of Cassius's neck.

Finally, the elder of the Soul-Breaking Sword Sect had made his move. He had been waiting and storing power for the perfect moment. His Qi ignited, focused into a single point, erupted like a compressed bomb as he poured all its force into this strike.

"This is my only chance!"

Suspended mid-air, the sword master swung his long sword with all his might.

CLANG!!!

A massive fist rocketed around and smashed into the blade. The Soul-Breaking Sword elder's mind went blank. His hand was split open at the purlicue, and his arms went numb with a sharp, jolting pain up to his shoulders. For a moment, he couldn't grip his sword, allowing Cassius to easily snatch it away.

He cried out as he spat blood and stumbled back. When he looked up, Cassius was holding his prized crossguard longsword of over twenty years, a twisted smile playing on his face.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Cassius's fists hammered down on the sword, starting at the tip and bending it, punch by punch. The once-rigid, durable alloy sword curled up, ending as a twisted, spring-like mess. The only intact part of it was its crossguard.

This humiliating spectacle unfolded just ten meters away as the Soul-Breaking Sword elder stood powerless, unable to prevent Cassius from desecrating his beloved sword! He felt even worse than if he had been killed himself.

Ding!

Cassius casually tossed away the ruined cross sword. The elder's eyes were bloodshot, and his breathing heavy, resembling a bull ready to charge. His gaze at Cassius was one of pure hatred, as if he had suffered a grievous loss—not of a sword but of a lifelong partner.

"You...destroyed my beloved sword of twenty years!"

"I'll kill you! I'll tear you apart!"

He charged madly, completely disregarding his lack of a sword. This was a renowned sword master, yet he rushed at Cassius empty-handed. Predictably, Cassius kicked him away with ease.

Afterward, Cassius shook his head, criticizing, "Your temperament is lacking. You're too impulsive. That sword was merely twenty years old, and you lost control. I know another guy whose sword has been with him for thirty or forty years. It's even a rare combat artifact. But he didn’t lose his mind when I took it from him. That's the difference in level between you two."

Indeed, even the Eye Devil didn't react like this when he lost his cherished companion of half a lifetime. And yet, a mere twenty years with this mediocre sword was enough to make this combat artist fall apart? It's no wonder Eye Devil was a top-tier combat artist while this one was stuck as a veteran. This was how Cassius saw it.

In reality, the Eye Devil was also nearly driven to vomit blood with anger, but the shock of the situation, combined with the immediate threat of dying, had kept him from losing composure. He had been teleported away before he could display such a pitiful, frenzied side.

"Retreat!"

While Cassius was busy with the Soul-Breaking Sword elder, the elder from the Red Arm Fist and the middle-aged man from the Void Sun Sect were sprinting for the exit, attempting to escape. The gap was simply too wide; they could barely resist him.

The two figures quickly crossed half the hall. They had aimed for the back exit of Black Pupil Tower since Cassius was stationed at the front; breaking through there was simply out of the question.

Swish!

A figure suddenly appeared in their path.

It was Simone, who had been observing the fight. Emerging from the shadows, he attempted to block their escape. Since the Red Arm Fist elder was nearer, he focused his offensive on him.

The elder cursed under his breath, attempting to muster his remaining strength to repel Simone. However, he had already been severely injured by Cassius’s Reverberating Force, and although he had temporarily suppressed the injuries, his strength had significantly declined.

It only took Simone a few exchanges to tie him down. Meanwhile, the Void Sun Sect middle-aged man immediately abandoned his companion.

After all, he had harbored some grievances against the Red Arm Fist elder, and their cooperation earlier had been forced by the threat of a formidable foe.

Now that escape was at hand, self-preservation took precedence. The middle-aged man flexed his legs and shot forward, a blur hurtling towards the exit.

He was overjoyed to see no one pursuing him

But in the next moment—

bang

! His face slammed into a solid, unyielding barrier. His nose nearly broke from the impact. Dazed, he looked up, only to realize the "wall" was Cassius's broad, muscular chest.

Cassius blocked the back exit, his golden hair swirling wildly around his handsome, chiseled face. He had a lion-like aura of dominance as sunlight slanted over his shoulder.

"Get back!"

He planted a swift kick in the man's abdomen. The middle-aged man soared into the air, his spine bending like a lobster's tail, forming a contorted, broken angle.

Whoosh! Bang! Bang! Bang... Hiss—

The man crashed through a series of objects, including the barricades and seats in the audience area. Finally, he landed limp on the metal netting of the second ring, arms and legs dangling like a broken puppet.

They swayed slightly, looking as if they were swings.