Bang!

A moment later, a massive black shadow flew backward, crashing into a tree so large it would take several people to encircle, breaking it in half. The Black Wind Panther, now rolling to the ground, was in an extremely weakened state, and its panther eyes were filled with fear.

The Black Wind Panther couldn't help but be terrified. Originally, it intended to use its physical strength to bridge the Meridian Qi gap between them, hoping to seize an opportunity to strike down the human youth with a single paw.

Yet, unexpectedly, the physical strength of the Black Wind Panther, which had always been unrivaled against human cultivators, was utterly powerless in the hands of this human youth. With just two punches, it was severely injured and reduced to such a miserable state.

At this moment, in the heart of the Black Wind Panther, the rough-clad youth on the other side seemed more like a Vein Demon, while it felt more like the human cultivator with weak physical strength, a thought it could not comprehend.

What the Black Wind Panther couldn't comprehend was why a human in the Early Stage of the Origin Seeking Realm possessed physical strength far surpassing some Eighth Rank Low Level Vein Demons. At least, against Eighth Rank Low Level Vein Demons, it could withstand a few moves.

In fact, Yun Xiao's current physical strength indeed rivaled that of an Eighth Rank Middle Level Vein Demon. It was precisely this extraordinary physical strength that allowed him to fight across ranks and bring down some cultivators at the Middle to Late Stage of the Origin Seeking Realm.

Only, this was the first time the Black Wind Panther encountered Yun Xiao. How could it know the details? If not for Yun Xiao's mercy, it might have lost its life already.

In such a situation, it could only watch as the rough-clad human youth glanced casually at it, then walked towards the treasure it had guarded for years.

Yun Xiao turned behind a large tree, where there lay a thicket of brambles, and within these thorns, there was a glimmer of green light, indicators Yun Xiao had discovered earlier.

"Sure enough, it's you, the Earth Rank Low Level 'Green Thorn Wood Saliva'!"

When Yun Xiao took out a jade bottle and collected the green liquid, resembling saliva, inside, he sensed it again, confirming his find, and exclaimed joyfully.

The so-called Earth Rank Low Level Green Thorn Wood Saliva was indeed one of the ten herbs listed by Qian Sanyuan. Unexpectedly, in less than a day, Yun Xiao had found one, naturally lifting his spirits.

"Hey big guy, don't look at me so forlornly. I left you a bit. In a few years, it'll grow back."

Seeing the Black Wind Panther lying on the ground, glaring helplessly at him, Yun Xiao sealed the bottle, turned, and smiled slightly, his words easing some of the panther's resentment.

The lifespan of a Vein Demon is exceedingly long, and a few years is but a brief period in the life of a Black Wind Panther. As long as this terrifying human youth didn't uproot it entirely, much of its anger and heartache dissipated.

In truth, this Earth Rank Low Level Green Thorn Wood Saliva held little practical value for Yun Xiao now. If not for completing his assessment task, he would have disdained to contend with the Seventh Rank Advanced Black Wind Panther for it.

Swoosh!

However, just as Yun Xiao's words fell and he was about to place the jade bottle into his Waist Storage, a sudden sound of wind-cutting came from the side. A chilling light flashed by, targeting his right wrist gripping the jade bottle.

Though the ambush came rapidly, Yun Xiao immediately discerned that the cold light was, in fact, a short sword, appearing extremely sharp. If cut across him, his right hand might be severed in an instant.

At this moment, Yun Xiao understood that he was being watched. The assailant must have awaited in hiding for him to defeat the Black Wind Panther and collect his spoils before emerging to snatch the prize.

Under such a surprise attack, if it were an ordinary Early Stage Origin Seeking Realm cultivator, there was a high probability of having their wrist severed. The person behind it was as skilled as the assassins of the Killing Heart Sect.

But unfortunately, for such an impressive ambush, one that seemed certain to succeed, it encountered the more extraordinary Yun Xiao. Despite being caught off guard, Yun Xiao's reflexes far surpassed those of an ordinary Early Stage Origin Seeking Realm cultivator.

In this critical moment, Yun Xiao's feet remained still, yet his body shifted half a foot to the left, allowing his right hand holding the jade bottle to narrowly avoid the approaching blade.

This was clearly a rarely used Zombie Body Technique of Yun Xiao's. It was through this technique he shone brightly during the Jade Pot Sect's Outer Sect competition. It indeed was a highly practical movement technique.

Chh!

A soft sound was heard, it was during Yun Xiao's side step that, while his wrist wasn't cut by the short sword, his right sleeve was inevitably lifted.

Underneath the sharp short sword, a piece was silently cut away, just a hair's breadth away from losing his hand entirely.

"Oh?"

This stealth attack only managed to cut off a piece of sleeve. The attacker couldn't help but let out a surprised sound, clearly finding it incredible that the opponent could dodge such a sneak attack.

Yun Xiao turned around, naturally with a sullen face. But looking at the short man across from him, who seemed to be in his thirties or forties, Yun Xiao felt quite unfamiliar, clearly not someone he knew.

"Are you from the Killing Heart Sect?"

With preconceived notions in mind, Yun Xiao asked directly with a gloomy face. Because as far as he knew, aside from the assassins of the Killing Heart Sect, who were proficient in stealth and assassination techniques, probably no cultivator of an Earth Rank level could have previously concealed their presence from him.

"Killing Heart Sect, huh? Someday, I'll go there!"

However, this time Yun Xiao guessed wrong. When the short man said this, there was even a trace of venom in his voice, clearly not an assassin from the Killing Heart Sect.

In fact, assassins from the Killing Heart Sect generally wouldn't come to such gatherings. After all, they excel at lurking in the shadows to launch sneak attacks. Once their identity is revealed, and people become wary, it would be greatly detrimental to their assassination techniques.

It turns out this short man, named Qing Yang, bears a deep-seated vendetta against the Killing Heart Sect. His father was killed by a Killing Heart Sect assassin's attack, so he resolved to find that assassin and kill them to avenge his father.

It is due to this hatred that Qing Yang has secretly studied stealth and assassination techniques for many years, having now acquired some of the style of Killing Heart Sect assassins.

He plans to use these methods to avenge his father in the future by using the enemy's favorite techniques against them when he finds his father's murderer.

Qing Yang not only studies the means of the Killing Heart Sect but also, by sheer luck, activated a fire attribute Ancestor Vein, becoming a genuine Spirit-grade Advanced Meridian Refining Master.

He knows he doesn't have a strong background and, should he actually kill a Killing Heart Sect assassin, he would likely be hunted to the ends of the earth by that sect. So, after achieving success in the Meridian Refining Technique, he came to participate in the Refining Cloud Mountain disciple assessment.

Qing Yang had indeed been hiding in the dark observing the battle earlier. Although he was shocked by Yun Xiao's method of defeating the Hei Feng Leopard, he considered that with his half-step Origin Seeking Realm cultivation, along with the assassination techniques he had studied for years, he had a great chance of success in a surprise attack.

It was one of the ten medicinal ingredients, certainly worth the risk for Qing Yang, and it was with this confidence that he finally couldn't resist making a move. However, the result was clearly unexpected for him.

"Since you wish to take my hand, then leave your own hand behind!"

Yun Xiao is not someone who shows mercy. Whereas before, when he took action first to grab the items from the Hei Feng Leopard, he held back, but this person was hiding in the shadows to launch a sneak attack, which had greatly angered him.

So, just as Qing Yang was contemplating whether to retreat for a moment, Yun Xiao's figure suddenly appeared before him—this speed even exceeding the assassination speed he had studied for years.

Swoosh!

A black light swiftly slashed down, but when Qing Yang saw it was just a wooden sword, he was considerably relieved. He raised his right hand, holding a short sword, directly meeting the descending wooden sword.

Qing Yang's short sword had already reached the Earth Rank Middle Level, a weapon he acquired after painstakingly assassinating an Origin Seeking Realm Early Stage expert. In his view, the unimpressive wooden sword in the opponent's hand would surely be cut in two by his Earth Rank Middle Level weapon.

Slash!

However, things never developed as per Qing Yang's script. As soon as his short sword made contact with that wooden sword, a faint sound followed, and then he felt a lightness in his hand; his Earth Rank Middle Level short sword now only had half of it remaining.

"Not good!"

Upon discovering that his Earth Rank Middle Level weapon was so vulnerable, Qing Yang couldn't even grieve for his weapon.

He realized that the Black Wood Sword did not pause after slicing through his weapon, but continued directly toward his right wrist.

Recalling the cold shout from earlier, a wave of fear surged in Qing Yang's heart. He didn't believe his right wrist could be harder than an Earth Rank Middle Level weapon and certainly couldn't withstand the swipe of that wooden sword.

Unfortunately, although these thoughts raced rapidly in Qing Yang's mind, the wooden sword in the opponent's hand seemed to come even faster. Just as he had the thought to evade, the Black Wood Sword had already swept across his right wrist, not even leaving him with a hint of pain.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye!