After dinner, Su Xiao walked out of the Zoldyck family’s ancient castle and started wandering in the courtyard. After paying a commission, the Zoldyck family didn’t make Su Xiao wait long.

Maha Zoldyck’s entrance was devoid of any mystery, nor was there any amazing aura. He was just an old man wearing a loose purple robe, about 1.4 meters tall, skinny to the bone.

The only special thing about Maha Zoldyck was his big head. With his wrinkled skin, some would believe he was an alien.

"Young man, I’m here to fulfill your request."

Maha Zoldyck’s figure was gaunt, his hands behind his back, and his pale lips were full of cracks.

"The Zoldyck family’s efficiency is impressive."

Su Xiao drew the long knife from his waist. Inside the ancient castle not far away, several pairs of eyes were closely observing the situation outside, belonging to the younger generation of the Zoldyck family.

"These old bones of mine can teach you some things, but fighting is out of the question."

Maha Zoldyck’s eyes were cloudy, devoid of any luster.

"..."

Su Xiao said nothing, a faint red aura spread around him.

"So young, it would be a pity to die. At my age, life is the most cherished thing."

Although Maha Zoldyck said this, a jet black Nen surged from his body.

Upon sensing this black, ink-like Nen, Su Xiao felt his hair stand on end. It wasn’t fear but an instinctive warning.

Generally, Nen abilities are milky white or colorless, with rare ones being gold or purple, like with the Hero or Feitan.

This black Nen was something Su Xiao had never seen before. Regardless of the color, Nen always gives a feeling of vitality because Nen is life energy.

The black Nen that Maha Zoldyck possessed, however, was different. It lacked any vitality and seemed to represent death.

Su Xiao had a feeling that this old man should have died long ago, but somehow, he managed to sustain his life.

Su Xiao thought of Yaluga Zoldyck, the fourth child of the Zoldyck family. Perhaps it was that thing that helped Maha Zoldyck extend his life.

Yaluga Zoldyck himself isn’t frightening, but what’s scary is the other thing inside him, some unknown ’creature’ from the Dark Continent. The known information is that the thing is female and named Naniga, sharing a body with Yaluga Zoldyck. They coexist symbiotically, not parasitically.

Whoosh~

The faint red aura around Su Xiao condensed, while a wisp of ’black smoke’ floated from Maha Zoldyck, giving a thick, filthy feeling.

At this moment, within the ancient castle, Coate Zoldyck, the cross-dressing man, stood by the window watching the battle.

"What is that thing?"

Coate’s expression was somewhat dazed because, in his vision, two unknown things appeared above Su Xiao and Maha Zoldyck.

Above Su Xiao was an entirely blood-red beast with fangs, while above Maha Zoldyck was a black skeleton that was laughing.

"Is it an illusion?"

Coate rubbed his eyes. Indeed, the beast and skeleton disappeared.

Thud!

A loud bang spread across the courtyard, waves of air expanding outward. The grass around was swept as if by a typhoon, flying horizontally in large swathes.

With a crack, all the windows of the castle shattered. The oncoming airwave and broken glass forced Coate to take several steps back.

"I can’t get close. Even getting caught in it would mean death."

In the courtyard, constant booms resonated, dirt flying, dust covering most of the courtyard, with faint blue blade aura occasionally slashing out from the dust.

Within the dust, Su Xiao stood holding his knife. Dozens of counter shields floated beside him, half of which were full of cracks and could shatter at any moment.

Blood dripped from Su Xiao’s fingertips; his left arm was injured. It wasn’t from a direct attack by Maha Zoldyck but from grazing against his Nen energy.

Maha Zoldyck was also in the dust. At this moment, he no longer resembled a human, his entire body wrapped in black Nen ability, representing evil and death.

Su Xiao and Maha Zoldyck had exchanged blows three times. Neither side’s power was overwhelming, and Su Xiao could even contend with Maha Zoldyck head-on without being at a disadvantage quickly.

Maha Zoldyck is an enhancer. During his long life, he hadn’t developed any astonishing techniques. His combat method relied purely on strength and speed, along with an almost terrifying combat experience.

This old guy has battled all his life. How could his combat experience not be rich? Moreover, his combat skills are well worth learning.

Tap, tap, tap...

Maha Zoldyck walked toward Su Xiao. His steps weren’t fast, but they left shadows behind him.

Do not think these shadows are just for deception. Any shadow could be Maha Zoldyck’s real body, and Su Xiao was hurt by this trick before.

Su Xiao immediately leaped back, moving agilely.

Whoosh!

A sharp sound of air suddenly attacked from the front. Su Xiao immediately turned his head, and a withered fist brushed past his ear.

Splatter.

Blood sprayed, and three blood marks appeared on Su Xiao’s cheek as if clawed by a wild beast. The wounds burned with a fiery pain that was difficult to endure. The skin and flesh nearby felt like they were slowly ’withering,’ thankfully Su Xiao had Blue Steel Shadow energy inside him to immediately annihilate the invading Nen.

As Su Xiao leaped back in mid-air, Maha Zoldyck’s other hand reached toward Su Xiao’s face. The timing and angle of this grab were so perfect that dodging was impossible.

Dozens of counter shields stood in front of Su Xiao. With a crack, the counter shield shattered on impact. Maha Zoldyck’s hand had transformed into claws, a unique body technique of the Zoldyck family.

The sharp nails touched Su Xiao’s forehead, leaving small blood marks.

At that moment, Su Xiao suddenly vanished.

Splatter.

Blood sprayed from Maha Zoldyck’s back, yet the old man remained expressionless. His arms swung backward. With a crack, both arms bent entirely against normal physiological curves, breaking at the shoulders.

Arms twisted to this degree should droop lifelessly, but Maha Zoldyck’s arms remained highly agile, hands wrapped in black Nen energy reaching for Su Xiao’s long knife. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

With a tearing sound, Dragon Slash cut through the outer layer of Nen energy on Maha Zoldyck’s hand and sliced into his palm. Though this old man’s body was thin, it was exceptionally tough. Dragon Slash only broke through the Nen ability at first, unable to sever his hands immediately.

At this time, Maha Zoldyck had his back to Su Xiao. Another crack sounded as his neck made a 180° turn, facing backward at Su Xiao. This horrifying scene often appears in horror movies.

Su Xiao’s expression remained unchanged. He executed a perfectly standard side kick.

Bang!

Maha Zoldyck was directly kicked away by Su Xiao. Given Maha Zoldyck’s height of 1.4 meters, it was a normal outcome.

Maha Zoldyck landed bent over, his old face finally showing expression — one of pain, as Blue Steel Shadow energy eroded his body.

Clearly, neither Su Xiao nor Maha Zoldyck was the type to hold back during a fight. Once they began fighting, there was a high chance one would end up dead.

"Father, something’s not right."

Silva also saw it. Both fighters in battle were of the type who showed no mercy. A spar? That simply isn’t possible.