The Black Book: Seven Deadly Sins

Is this still the same spineless waste who used to take everyone's abuse?

Everyone exchanged looks. Although they didn't understand what had happened, the deep-rooted contempt quietly dissipated, and they instinctively adjusted their attitudes, not daring to show any blatant disrespect.

Unknowingly, they finally began to regard Li Lin as a superior, rather than a pathetic fool everyone could bully.

Noticing the shift in the audience's attitude, Zhu Haomiao's lips curled slightly as he looked at the serious-faced Yan Yunsheng.

"Yan Doutou, are you ready?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Yunsheng respectfully clasped his fists and bowed.

"Reporting to the Inspector, I am ready."

"Really? Seventy percent of your martial skills rely on the blade, yet you want to fight me barehanded?"

Yan Yunsheng furrowed his brows with difficulty, glancing at the youth's thin and slender figure. He explained neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"Blades have no eyes; I fear injuring the Inspector."

"That won't do. Otherwise, if you lose, you'll blame me for bullying the young, for winning without honor!"

These words caused everyone to change their expressions subtly, puzzled by where Li Lin got the confidence to speak so brazenly.

Just then, Zhu Haomiao raised a finger to the weapon rack at the side of the arena, giving it a light flick.

Clang~

A large saber from the rack instantly bounced up, tracing an elegant arc as it flew accurately towards Yan Yunsheng.

His pupils contracted slightly, and Yan Yunsheng instinctively caught the saber, gripping the hilt tightly, looking up slowly in disbelief at Zhu Haomiao.

This ability to manipulate objects from afar, regardless of its strength, was a hundred times more refined than his in terms of realm and technique.

In an instant, the jealousy and resentment in Yan Yunsheng's heart surged like waves.

As a child from a poor family, he had no profound legacy; he had reached this stage through hard practice of a few simplistic martial arts for decades.

Yet that pampered fool opposite him was born with countless top-class secret techniques at his disposal, displaying with ease inscrutable skills beyond his understanding!

Over the years, how much hardship had he endured, how much blood had he shed, finally climbing to the position of Great Captain, nearly getting promoted, only for this guy to patently parachute down and snatch the Inspector position!

A boy half his age, what right did he have to lord over him?

Just because of his good family background?!

Old grievances and new hatred surged together, and even with Yan Yunsheng's disposition, he couldn't help but show a trace of bitterness.

On the other hand, Zhu Haomiao nodded almost imperceptibly in satisfaction.

Although the First Layer Heaven's basic forces had been downgraded and weakened, their intent and realm were still profound.

It's like the skeleton is there, but the flesh isn't fully developed, unable to exert its full power.

Yet the supernatural tricks that come with the Flying Brilliance·Star Fall are quite intimidating with just a slight display.

Since this isn't something brute force could achieve, without profound inherited secret techniques, no matter how strong you are, you can't manipulate objects from afar.

Then, sensing Yan Yunsheng's fluctuating emotions, Zhu Haomiao's lips curved as he raised his hand to make a grabbing gesture. A long sword on the weapon rack bounced up with a swish, transforming into a gleam of light and landing accurately in his hand.

Swoosh, swoosh~

With a customary twirl of the sword, Zhu Haomiao pointed it at Yan Yunsheng, his lips rising in a mocking smile.

"Be careful not to die, okay?"

With that, watching Yan Yunsheng's rapidly changing furious eyes, Zhu Haomiao started walking towards him steadily.

Unable to suppress his emotions any longer, Yan Yunsheng raised his saber and slashed.

However, he retained his rationality, using only thirty percent of his full strength so he could retract at any time, preventing him from actually killing his superior with one strike.

Yet, facing the opponent's fierce and powerful chop, Zhu Haomiao's supernatural combat intuition "Spiritual Rhinoceros" silently activated, and he lightly rotated in a leisurely walk to dodge the edge, with his longsword snapping like a venomous snake, precisely striking the numbing point on Yan Yunsheng's wrist.

Snap~

Though struck with the back of the sword, Penetration Force and Sealing Demon Power instantly seeped through the skin. Their sinister and peculiar power surged up along the wrist, spreading into his internal organs.

In an instant, Yan Yunsheng felt as if struck by a thunderbolt. Half his body was numb and stiff, and the Inner Breath flowing through his meridians was sealed by a mysterious force, making it impossible to break through the constraints!

But in that brief moment of stiffness, a sharp sword blade was already pressed against his throat.

"Tsk tsk, you think you can be an Inspector like this?"

"Still an Eighth-rank Warrior?"

"Given the chance, but you couldn't use it effectively..."

Facing the youth's deliberate, humiliating banter, Yan Yunsheng's eyes were bloodshot as he lost his composure and roared.

"I refuse to accept this!"

Knowing that the other was genuinely careless earlier, cautious of his identity and hesitant, Zhu Haomiao withdrew his sword and nodded with a smile.

"Alright, then I'll give you one more chance."

If he wanted to establish his authority, he had to beat him thoroughly, leaving no room for any excuses or stubborn pride.

It's best to provoke him into genuine anger!

With a gentle twirl of his sword, Zhu Haomiao took three steps back, continuing to look at Yan Yunsheng with a teasing smile that could cause a cerebral hemorrhage.

"Lose again, and there'll be no excuses."

Confronted with the youth's mockery, Yan Yunsheng did not respond. Instead, he gripped his long saber tightly, his Qi Force radiating, presenting a faint, invisible spirit light.

Simultaneously, a clear, sharp glint appeared on the saber blade in his hand.

Even though it was a blunt practice weapon, it showed a razor-sharp edge, seemingly capable of slicing through iron like mud in Yan Yunsheng's grip.

Discarding any emotion of disdain, Yan Yunsheng stared intently at Zhu Haomiao, placing himself in the position of a challenger, viewing him as a stronger mortal enemy!

Sensing that his opponent had adjusted his demeanor from head to toe, with his powerful Qi Force emanating, Zhu Haomiao secretly found this a bit tricky.

In fact, he initially intended to knock the long saber from his opponent's hand; however, Yan Yunsheng's Body, Strength, and resistance far exceeded expectations.

A sword strike at the numbing point only stiffened him momentarily without disarming him.

From that brief encounter, Zhu Haomiao realized there was still a significant hard power gap between him and a genuine Eighth-rank Warrior.

However... in terms of soft power, the gap reversed.

His opponent, though having a solid martial foundation, didn't have profound cultivation techniques. In terms of Extraordinary Power, he was far inferior to his own Eight Basic Forces, not to mention the untouched Original Sin Authority.

Therefore... he had nine ways to play him to death...

Nine ways!

Clarifying his thoughts, Zhu Haomiao looked at Yan Yunsheng not far away and smiled, beckoning with his finger.

Confronted with the youth's provocation, Yan Yunsheng, though inwardly burning with rage, remained calm and cautious, probing rather than launching a reckless attack initially.

And through this detail, Zhu Haomiao also observed that the mental barrier strength of the Second Layer Heaven was a magnitude higher than the First Layer Heaven.