The middle aged man for the first time in his career as an assassin felt fear grip his heart after hearing Gu Shang's voice.
He had been in countless dangerous situations where he had been surrounded by enemies on all fronts.
Never during those times, did he ever feel fear, he had always braced through those times calmly.
"I've been close to death so many countless times, but never has an opponent invoke such fear and awe in me at the same time.
You truly live up to your reputation" The middle aged man said as he calmed his racing heart.
"You are the hall master and leader of the legion of assassins, aren't you?
If I remember correctly, you are known as the messenger of death through out the realm, You've never missed a target before.
I've faced many assassinations attemps from your legion, but I never knew I would have the honor to draw you out, Legion master" Gu Shang said is a calm voice.
"Your Heavenly eye network must be really good like the rumors suggest, but that won't save you tonight.
You must be really confident about your strength? To dare to come face me alone is not a very smart thing to do, for someone like you considered a genius strategist" the middle aged man said as he licked his lips.
Though he didn't know Gu Shang's true cultivation level, it was speculated that he should be in the second stage of the immortal king realm.
He on the other hand was at the fourth stage, besides he also has the night as cover.
As an assassin, his biggest ally and advantage was the darkness, this was because he knew a few tricks which boosted his chances in the darkness.
He was certain that today would be the day he got rid of Gu Shang.
The Legion of Assassins, were sort of an unorthodox Sect. They specialized in the dark arts of assassination and concealment.
They were one of the hardest people to fight because of their concealment techniques, they never fought directly, only from the shadows.
They were probably one of the most hated group of people in the realm because of how cunning they were, not only that but they could also be hired at a price.
Throughout history, they've caused a lot of mayhem, by assassinating very powerful people which had led to many wars.
Tonight seemed like one of those situations.
Gu Shang had really been a thorn in the Legions throat, though he's not actively pursued them, he had made their reputation suffer huge damages.
There's been more than a dozen commissions to take off Gu Shang's head, but none of the assassins they sent had succeeded, but recently a huge commission had been placed to kill Gu Shang.
This commission was too shocking to fail, thus forcing him to make a move himself.
Gu Shang who saw the excitement in the Legion master's eyes couldn't help but narrow his eyes as well.
"Legion master Fu, aren't you forgetting something?" Gu Shang voice sounded so chilling.
Legion master Fu heart almost stopped beating again, "This..How do you know my name?" He said trembling. He was surprised because, no one knew his name, not even his closest subordinates and disciples knew of his name.
Infact everything about him was a secret that no one knew, the reason why he hid his identity so deeply was because he had people he wanted to protect.
He might have been a horrible person who's causes a lot of deaths and deserved to die a thousand times over. But despite all that, he still wanted to protect those he loved.
"Now I have another reason to kill you!!" Legion master Fu said as he prepared to attack.
"You are still not getting the point, are you? You not the hunter tonight, you are the prey here!"
Gu Shang started walking towards the Legion master, "Tell me who commissioned my assassination, and I promise I'll stop with only your life, refusung to do otherwise would cause the destruction of the entire Legion of assassins.
I'll hunt each and everyone of your subordinates and disciples one, by one and put an end to them.
This is not a threat, besides the realm would be a more peaceful place without you lots, so don't tempt me!!" Gu Shang said coldly looking like a demon.
Today's assassination attempt on him was a big reminder that, he was not omnipotent like he was on the battlefield.
On the battlefield, no one could touch him because he knew how to defend himself, but now its different.
He was on a different battlefield and unlike the past, he had a mother, a wife and a family to protect, all this had become weaknesses to him.
People who were as skilled as the Legion master could really hurt his family, even if they were surrounded by an army of hundreds thousand Dragon Claw troops, his elite troops. The legion of assassins can still hurt them.
Legion master Fu saw the killing intent in Gu Shang's eyes and knew that, Gu Shang was indeed not playing around.
"The Legion of assassins, never give information about those who commission us, we might be assassins, but we still have principles," Legion master Fu said as he took in every detail in his surroundings which could be used to his advantage.
"If I don't get the names I want, then I'll have to destroy your legion along with those principles, do you really want that?"
"Do your worst!" Legion hall master Fu voice began to fade as he shrunk into the darkness.
Gu Shang stood in the Middle of the woods alone, he was surrounded by trees more than forty meters tall, a silent breeze whistled through out the woods, causing the leafs on the tress to gently flatter.
Slash! Slash! Slash
Sword lights appeared from the void and surrounded Gu Shang on all four directions, several large trees were cut down by this sword lights but instead of the power behind the force decreasing, it multiplied ten folds instead,
Growing bigger and more powerful, the sword lights blazed everything within its path. Gu Shang felt a powerful energy of destruction within the attack.
Gu Shang was impressed, but to him that attack was useless. Though the attack was powerful, it did not serve as any threat to cultivators in the immortal king realm.
They could just dodge it if they wanted, besides Gu Shang saw an opening in the encirclement, but didn't take it.
"What a crappy technique" he thought.
The four sword lights approaching him from four directions suddenly blinked and disappeared.
Gu Shang as if feeling something immediately narrowed his eyes, as he stretched his middle finger forward and gathered all the surrounding qi infront of his finger tips, a large ball of energy formed on the tip of Gu Shang middle finger [Light of the Nirvana] As if on Que, the four swordlights appeared just two meters away.
Before it could explode, Gu Shang released his [Light of Nirvana] A large purple beam shot towards the sword lights, which also exploded the moment the [Light of Nirvana] was fired, the best form of defense was offense.
Two huge explosion clashed together, causing a tidal wave of explosion which swept across every direction razing and disintegrating everything within its path.
The tidal wave of explosion expanded three thousand miles within a single breath, wiping away all the vegetation.
......
The imperial domain and capital were in a frenzy as large troops of purple Qilin Cavalry soldiers gathered infront of the city gates fully armed to the teeth.
In the imperial palace, the emperor was also awaken by the mobilization order fired in the sky.
"What's going on?! What's that brat up to?!" The emperor questioned the chief eunch as servants helped him change his robes.
"Your majesty, we don't know what going on either, but the purple Qilin Cavalry are gathering infront of the city gates, but the Prince of the North is still nowhere to be seen .
The situation in the capital have become very chaotic, the nobles and aristocrats are ordering their private forces to be ready to march into the capital. The chief eunuch reported.
"Summon the commander of the royal guards and send word to snow dragon mountain, We must not delay.
As the chief eunuch turned around to follow the emperor's command, a large purple light shot from a few thousand miles away,
The purple light was so blinding that it covered the entire night sky in purple lights, before disappearing leaving behind a large cloud of smoke.
The entire capital seemed to have paused because of the blinding lights, this purple light was more powerful than the previous one. They could feel the frightening power within the light which seemed to want to consume everything it touches.
What the hell was going on tonight????
At the palace, the emperor and the chief eunuch looked into the sky in a trance, the emperor had a look of bewilderment, but the chief eunch couldn't help but squint his eyes.
" Impossible!!! T..T..This is the [Vajra sword technique]!" The eunch shouted in shock.
"It's been eight hundred years since this technique was used!"
The emperor frowned, " Your majesty do you know the reason for the formation of the United Imperials?" The old eunch asked.
"Wasn't it to counter the Alliance of Sects" the emperor answered with a raised eyebrow.
The old eunch shook his head, "The United imperial was actually founded long before the alliance.
"Actually the United Imperials were founded during the chaotic age!'' the eunuch answered.
The chaotic age was a period of war between the high tier empires, because of an assassination, many middle and lower tier empires perished during this age.
"What does this has to do with the chaotic age?" The emperor confusedly asked.
"Your majesty, the man that caused the chaotic age was an assassin from the Legion of assassins, he used this move to obliterate the Song empire's capital, which held important members of royals from across the entire realm attending the signing of a peace treaty.
The assassin was never seen after that, but his sword technique marked the beginning of an age of blood and war.
The [Vajra Sword Technique] would never be forgotten" The eunch said looking at the sky.