Chapter 44

Sai Baiwei was taken aback when he heard the name "Tian Dao Alliance."

He had never heard of this organization.

"Is it your group that attacked the Golden Saber Sect?" the leader of the black-clothed men asked.

"So what if it is?" Sai Baiwei, hearing the young voice of the other party, felt a hint of disdain, "Do you want to come to the rescue of the Golden Saber Sect?"

"All those who wield knives in the world are under the protection of our 'Tian Dao Alliance.'" The black-clothed man said arrogantly, "The Golden Saber Sect has long joined the alliance. You dare to attack a subordinate sect of the 'Tian Dao Alliance'? That's quite bold!"

"Ha ha ha ha..." Sai Baiwei, hearing the young man's audacious words, couldn't help but laugh, "I've heard that all swordsmen in the world revere the 'Heavenly Sword Manor,' one of the seven holy sites. But I've never heard of a 'Tian Dao Alliance.' It's just a poor imitation, a laughable and arrogant attempt!"

"Ignorant fool, you haven't heard of us because you're too lowly." The black-clothed man said coldly, "If our 'Tian Dao Alliance' wanted to compete for that title, there would already be an eighth holy site in the world."

Upon hearing this, everyone present was shocked. Holy sites held a high status in the hearts of the people, and it wasn't something to joke about lightly.

Could there really be such an organization of knife wielders? Even Sai Baiwei couldn't help but wonder.

Zheng Gongming had initially thought the newcomers were reinforcements from Qingfeng Mountain. Now, hearing the black-clothed man's words, he began to recall whether his sect had ever joined this so-called "Tian Dao Alliance."

"What do you want?" Sai Baiwei's tone was noticeably more polite than before.

"Offending the Tian Dao Alliance means death!" The black-clothed man's voice was cold and resolute.

"Remember, the people of the Golden Saber Sect are still in my hands. If you insist on fighting us, I can't guarantee their safety." Seeing the other party come to rescue the Golden Saber Sect, Sai Baiwei planned to use the hostages as leverage.

"Ha, what does the life or death of the Golden Saber Sect have to do with me?" To his surprise, the black-clothed man was completely unmoved, "Being captured by you is their own incompetence. I am only responsible for maintaining the dignity of the Tian Dao Alliance. As for these useless ones, let them live or die as they will."

Sai Baiwei's face changed. The other party's cold and ruthless demeanor was indeed reminiscent of a major force.

"Arrogant and ignorant!" Zhang Cheng, a Dizhun expert behind Sai Baiwei, could no longer hold back, "No matter what your 'Tian Dao Alliance' or 'Earth Dao Alliance' is, show your skills first before you talk!"

With that, he brandished his long sword and leaped out, thrusting it at the black-clothed man.

"Short-sighted." The black-clothed man shook his head, raised his long knife, and slashed.

As soon as they engaged, a chorus of gasps erupted from the crowd, including the black-clothed men behind their leader.

The black-clothed man's knife technique was truly astonishing.

His movements were incredibly fast, yet powerful. Each slash was unpredictable, and every strike exuded a force like a tidal wave.

Facing the black-clothed man, Zhang Cheng felt as if he were fighting a Tianzhun expert, completely overpowered.

After just three moves, Zhang Cheng was retreating, struggling to keep up, and looked utterly miserable.

"What terrifying knife technique!" Zheng Gongming watched in awe, genuinely impressed.

In his youth, he had accidentally obtained a silver-grade knife technique, which he cherished and practiced diligently. By the age of forty, he had become the top expert in Fufeng City, founding the Golden Saber Sect and considering himself a master of knife techniques.

However, after witnessing the black-clothed man's knife technique, he suddenly found his title of "master of knife techniques" rather laughable.

This is true knife technique. I must learn from him! Zheng Qiyuan, watching from the side, was deeply moved and could hardly contain his excitement.

Compared to the shock and admiration of the crowd, Zhang Cheng was in deep distress.

He felt the black-clothed man's knife technique like a surging tide, wave after wave, leaving him no room to resist. In a daze, his long sword was knocked away, and then his body felt light as his entire right arm was severed, blood splattering everywhere.

"Ah! My arm!" Zhang Cheng only felt the pain after a moment, turning to see that he had lost his arm. The physical and mental shock made him scream in agony.

"You are truly ruthless." Sai Baiwei's face changed dramatically, and he couldn't help but speak up.

"Next!" The black-clothed man ignored him, coldly challenging.

Seeing the numerous black-clothed men, the Yinhuan Guild didn't dare to attack in a group.

"I'll go!" Li Guang from Sai Baiwei's side stepped forward.

Li Guang was at the eighth level of Dizhun, the highest among the Yinhuan Guild present. His ghost-head knife wielded with great force and authority.

The black-clothed man seemed to be at a lower level than Li Guang. He moved with agility and grace, and despite Li Guang's powerful strikes, he couldn't land a single blow, only wasting his strength.

As the saying goes, the first strike is full of energy, the second wanes, and the third is exhausted. After a few failed attempts, Li Guang's momentum weakened. The black-clothed man seized the opportunity, suddenly changing his stance and unleashing his powerful knife technique. With a series of rapid strikes, Li Guang was left floundering, struggling to keep up.

"Got you!" The black-clothed man suddenly changed his stance, and Li Guang, caught off guard, had his right hand holding the knife severed, the ghost-head knife clattering to the ground.

Not good!

Li Guang was shocked and retreated hastily. However, in a knife duel, momentum is crucial. His retreat only emboldened the black-clothed man, whose long knife moved like a surging tide, each strike faster than the last. On his ninth strike, Li Guang had nowhere to hide and was split in two from head to toe, his body falling to the sides, blood splattering everywhere, a gruesome and terrifying sight.

"Next!" The black-clothed man's cold eyes turned to Sai Baiwei.

"Sir, is there any room for negotiation?" Sai Baiwei, seeing his strongest ally Li Guang fall, was terrified, losing all the dignity of a Dizhun expert, only thinking of saving his life. "Sai is willing to release the people of the Golden Saber Sect and provide compensation."

"I've already said, the life or death of the Golden Saber Sect is none of my concern." The black-clothed man's voice was devoid of emotion, "Offending the dignity of the Tian Dao Alliance means death!"

"Sir, for offending the 'Tian Dao Alliance,' Sai deeply apologizes and is willing to offer a large amount of spirit crystals to gain your forgiveness." Sai Baiwei's legs trembled, his mouth dry, and he pleaded with a trembling voice.

"How much are you worth in spirit crystals?" The black-clothed man approached Sai Baiwei, staring at him with a fierce gaze.

"Three... no, five hundred!" Sai Baiwei, sensing a slight softening in the black-clothed man's tone, quickly shouted, "Sai offers five hundred spirit crystals."

"Five hundred spirit crystals can only buy your life." The black-clothed man said calmly.

"Then I'll offer two hundred more for his life." Sai Baiwei pointed to the only Dizhun cultivator who hadn't joined the fight.

"Executive Sai!" Zhang Cheng's face changed dramatically, not expecting to be abandoned after losing his arm for Sai Baiwei.

The other Dizhun cultivators were even more shocked and terrified.

"Are you sure?" The black-clothed man asked.

Sai Baiwei glanced at Zhang Cheng and the others, his face showing a fleeting hint of guilt. He gritted his teeth and said firmly, "I am sure."

"Deal." The black-clothed man turned to his followers, "Kill the rest!"

"Yes!" The black-clothed men responded, revealing their cultivation levels, all of which were at the Dizhun level.

What followed was a one-sided massacre in the training hall. Zhang Cheng, with his arm severed, was no match for the numerous Dizhun cultivators. The other Dizhun cultivators were like chickens and dogs, offering no resistance. Within a short time, the "Tian Dao Alliance" had wiped out the Yinhuan Guild, leaving only Sai Baiwei and a Dizhun fourth-level follower trembling in fear.

"Sir, please accept this." Sai Baiwei, no longer daring to have any other thoughts, carefully took out the spirit crystal ticket and handed it to the black-clothed leader, fearing that a single misstep might anger the other party and lead to a change of heart.

"Don't worry, the Tian Dao Alliance is not one to go back on its word." The black-clothed man took the spirit crystal ticket, his eyes showing disdain, "Go."

"Yes, yes, thank you, sir, for sparing my life." Sai Baiwei and his follower quickly left the Golden Saber Sect's training hall.

Zhao Tianming and the other disciples who had betrayed the Golden Saber Sect tried to leave but were stopped by the black-clothed men. They lowered their heads, feeling both ashamed and terrified, unsure of what to do.

"Thank you for coming to our rescue." Zheng Gongming, seeing the black-clothed leader approach, felt the voice was familiar but couldn't recall who among his acquaintances had such high knife skills. "But I don't remember ever joining the 'Tian Dao Alliance.'"

"Old Zheng, you've forgotten me so quickly?" The black-clothed leader's cold voice suddenly became light, and he pulled off his mask.

Zheng Gongming saw the familiar face of Zhong Wen.