Chapter 63: The Xiong Family vs. The Ma Family (Part Two)

In the blink of an eye, Mr. Zhao, dressed in a black, cross-collared shirt, surged forward like a phantom, charging straight at Ma He.

With one hand curved into a claw, his five fingers hooked like talons, he lunged for his opponent’s chest. As his claw swept through the air, five distinct gashes seemed to appear in the very atmosphere, accompanied by a sharp, piercing whistle that sent chills down the spine of all who heard it.

Ma He, recognizing the danger, dared not be careless for even a moment. He twisted his torso, clenched his iron fists, and hurled them toward Mr. Zhao’s clawed arm.

Mr. Zhao’s lips curled in a cold sneer. With a deft flick of his arm, he effortlessly dodged Ma He’s attack and, following the momentum, his five fingers closed around Ma He’s right arm.

A vicious tearing sound split the air.

A blood-curdling scream tore from Ma He’s throat as his body was flung aside like a severed kite, crashing heavily to the ground.

His face was ashen, beads of cold sweat rolling down his brow, his expression twisted in unspeakable agony. Five deep wounds, so deep they exposed the bone, gouged his arm. They were like furrows plowed by an iron blade, the flesh mangled and tendons severed, blood spurting forth and staining the ground beneath him.

That arm was completely ruined.

Opposite him, Mr. Zhao’s lips twisted into a bloodthirsty smile, his hand dripping crimson, Ma He’s flesh still clinging to his vulture-like fingers.

He darted forward, leaving a trail of afterimages in his wake, heading straight for Ma He once more.

“Director Ma, look out!” came a startled cry.

A security guard, nearby, rushed to shield Ma He’s fallen form.

With a sickening squelch, Mr. Zhao’s five fingers, sharp as steel blades, pierced the guard’s heart and emerged from his back, blood streaming down.

Seeing this, Ma He’s eyes nearly burst from their sockets, anguish overwhelming him. With a furious roar, he leapt up, using his good arm to strike at Mr. Zhao, desperate for vengeance for his fallen comrade.

“Director Ma, let us help you!” shouted five security guards and martial artists, converging to attack Mr. Zhao.

But Mr. Zhao seemed utterly unconcerned. Suddenly, he opened his mouth and let out a strange sound: “Hong~~~”

Instantly, the five guards and fighters seemed bewitched, frozen mid-stride in their advance.

“You… you’re a Mind Adept?” Ma He gasped.

Mind Adepts were mysterious figures who cultivated spiritual power. Their abilities were supernatural—some were strong enough to control the minds of others, or even manipulate phantoms and malevolent spirits to kill.

The Ma family’s ancestral patriarch had once been a Mind Adept.

Ordinary martial artists stood no chance against such an enemy.

As these words fell, Ma He dared not engage any longer. He fully understood the strangeness of Mind Adepts and immediately retreated at speed.

Mr. Zhao merely cast him a cold glance and did not give chase. With a casual flick, he hurled the security guard’s corpse, easily over 150 pounds, into the crowd of Ma family members, knocking several to the ground and causing multiple casualties.

Then, in a flash, he darted past the five guards and martial artists still paralyzed by his spiritual assault.

He reappeared, a sneer on his lips. Behind him, each of the five guards and fighters had a thin red line across their necks. Blood spurted out violently as, stimulated by the sudden pain, they finally regained their senses.

They clutched at their throats in panic, but the scarlet blood still gushed through their fingers. Eyes wide, their lifeforce faded rapidly…

Within seconds, all five collapsed to the ground, dead.

The surrounding Ma family members, seeing their own people slaughtered so ruthlessly, were inflamed with rage.

“Ma Tian, gather ten men and use our Ma family’s joint attack formation—trap Mr. Zhao!” Ma He, gravely wounded and retreating to the side, shouted urgently. “If we can’t hold him until Grandmaster Chen arrives, we’ll all die by his hand!”

Against a Mind Adept skilled in both martial and spiritual arts, only a half-step grandmaster or a true grandmaster could subdue such a foe.

Now, Ma He’s only hope was to buy time, to trap Mr. Zhao and await the Immortal Chen’s arrival.

As for killing Mr. Zhao—he dared not even dream of it.

Ma Tian, well aware of Mr. Zhao’s ferocity, shouted, “Ma Shan, Ma Yu, attack Xiong He! Ma Shuyu, Ma Longyi, Ma… you all, come with me—we’ll use the joint attack formation!”

“Ma Tian, tonight is your last! The Ma family is finished! Stop your futile resistance—your so-called joint attack is nothing to Mr. Zhao. And you’re still spouting nonsense about Grandmaster Chen—what a joke! Hahaha!” Xiong He, locked in battle with Ma Tian, laughed maniacally, still unwilling to believe the Ma family had a grandmaster.

Ma Tian ignored him, unleashing his most powerful techniques to force Xiong He back, then joined nine other Ma family experts to surround Mr. Zhao.

Xiong He was held back by Ma Shan and Ma Yu, unable to interfere further. Yet he remained unconcerned; Mr. Zhao was so formidable, the Ma family couldn’t possibly withstand him.

The Ma family’s joint attack formation, once unleashed, could produce power far greater than the sum of its parts—ten experts working together could exert strength beyond their individual limits.

Led by Ma Tian, the ten dark energy masters formed a special pattern, launching coordinated attacks at Mr. Zhao.

Clad in black, Mr. Zhao watched them advance, a cold smile playing on his lips. He murmured to himself, “A flock of headless chickens—this so-called joint attack is worthless.”

With those words, his form blurred, leaving countless afterimages within the Ma family’s encirclement.

Ma Tian struck at the “Mr. Zhao” before him, only to find his iron fist passed through an afterimage.

Suddenly, a sense of mortal danger washed over him…

Soon, amidst thunderous crashes and anguished screams, all ten participants in the joint attack formation were sent flying, vomiting blood.

Only Ma Tian remained conscious, barely able to stand. The other nine could not move, their fighting strength lost.

Mr. Zhao stood unharmed where he began, the same cruel smile on his face.

A dozen minutes later.

Ma Tian, Ma He, and more than twenty of the Ma family’s strongest fighters were all bound with ropes, forced to kneel before Xiong He, Xiong Ding, Mr. Zhao, and their men.

Xiong He shouted to the still-resisting Ma family members, “Everyone from the Ma Group, listen up! Your strongest have all been captured. If you keep resisting, this is what awaits you!”

With a boom, Xiong He smashed his palm down on a Ma family martial artist’s head. Blood sprayed; the man died with a scream.

“Xiong He, you’ll die a dog's death!”

“Xiong He…”

Ma Tian, Ma He and the others glared in fury, cursing him.

Xiong He paid them no heed, addressing the remaining Ma Group members: “Submit to the Xiong family or resist and die. The choice is yours!”

Clang! Clang!

One after another, the ordinary Ma family members threw down their weapons with crisp, ringing sounds.

With the core members captured and facing execution, the lesser members had neither the strength nor the will to resist further.

“Haha, very good. The wise know when to yield!” Xiong He laughed. “Join the Xiong family, and you’ll eat and drink well!”

“Father, should we finish off the Ma family’s core members now, to prevent any future trouble?” asked Xiong Ding.

Xiong He nodded, then ordered his men, “Step forward—prepare to execute these Ma family dogs!”

“If you dare kill us, Grandmaster Chen will wipe your Xiong family from the earth!” Ma Tian cried desperately.

“Grandmaster Chen? Haha, Ma Tian, you’re hilarious—still with this ‘Grandmaster Chen’!”

“Grandmaster Chen is nothing but a joke!”

“I’m so scared—ooh, a grandmaster! Hahaha—”

The upper ranks of the Xiong family, Xiong He, Xiong Ding and the rest, burst into wild, arrogant laughter.

They simply did not believe the Ma family had a grandmaster.

Just then, a taxi rolled through the deepening night, pulling up to the edge of the Ma Group’s plaza.

A young man with a close-cropped haircut stepped out, a small black cat cradled in his arms.