At this moment, Melissa stood to the side, her expression still dazed, as if she hadn’t yet come to her senses.

She knew full well how powerful Zhou Lie was after using the Giant Spirit Sect’s Secret Technique—it was a power that bordered on a Superpower. And yet, even with that, he had been defeated so quickly.

However, the shout snapped her back to her senses. A playful smile touched the corner of her lips. "Zhou Lie, I never thought I’d see the day you’d beg for my help."

Even facing an opponent as formidable as Zhao Xuanqi, she still held a powerful sense of confidence.

If it were a one-on-one fight, she would have been wary of Zhao Xuanqi. After all, her abilities weren’t well-suited for single combat.

But now, with several other Martial Artists on her side, and Zhou Lie, who, despite his serious injuries, hadn’t lost the ability to fight—this was her home turf!

WHOOSH!!

Her body shot forward like a pouncing panther. Her frame, though not heavily built, displayed incredible explosive power.

Her movements were agile, her Stepping Technique unpredictable.

However, none of that was what mattered most.

As the daughter of the Jili Empire’s Director-General of the embassy in the Divine Land, and a bearer of the Royal Family’s bloodline, Melissa had undergone the baptism of the most core royal Secret Medicine. She possessed an incredibly uncanny ability that was almost a Superpower!

As Melissa’s Body Technique flickered, Zhao Xuanqi’s mind suddenly jolted, as if it were being corroded by some strange force. The scene before him began to flash, his surroundings blurred, and everything warped into a bizarre phantasmagoria.

The ceiling began to ooze blood, cracking open as masses of flesh spilled out and spread.

The figures before him blurred, trailing afterimages and making their positions impossible to pinpoint.

’This is...’

Zhao Xuanqi narrowed his eyes.

Illusion Fist!

Melissa’s Secret Medicine Ability was the rarest of the rare. Her enhancement was related to the brain!

She could release brainwaves to positively or negatively affect the brainwaves of others.

A positive influence could link the brainwaves of several people, granting them a temporary telepathic connection. This would dramatically improve their combat synergy, making them more than the sum of their parts.

A negative influence, on the other hand, could destabilize an opponent’s brainwaves. This would throw their senses into disarray, conjure swarms of illusions, and drastically weaken their combat effectiveness.

This was the terrifying power of Melissa’s Illusion Fist.

Even someone like Zhou Lie, if he weren’t facing Melissa one-on-one, would have no choice but to use his Secret Technique and flee.

This was the source of Melissa’s pride!

"What are you waiting for? Attack!"

Seeing the confusion clouding Zhao Xuanqi’s eyes, Zhou Lie roared, gritted his teeth through the pain, and charged.

The others seemed to realize something as well and prepared to follow Zhou Lie’s charge. If both Zhou Lie and Melissa fell, they too would be in grave danger!

’He’s strong, alright, but he’s still just a dumb brute...’

A smile touched the corner of Melissa’s lips.

But in the next instant.

ROAR!!

An utterly terrifying bestial roar suddenly erupted inside her mind. A brutal, horrifying killing intent threatened to devour her consciousness whole.

In an instant, her pupils trembled violently. Blood sprayed from her delicate nose, and her mind went completely blank.

She couldn’t describe what she had just perceived.

Her ability was shattered in an instant, and the backlash struck.

’It was as if a terrifying, world-devouring creature lived inside that man’s mind.’

’What kind of monster is this man?!’

Meanwhile, clarity instantly returned to Zhao Xuanqi’s eyes. He looked at the coordinated attack from Zhou Lie and the others, a cruel smile spreading across his face.

Lying on the floor, her mind reeling from the concussion and her consciousness hazy, Melissa could vaguely hear bloodcurdling screams echoing through the first-floor hall.

Just as her consciousness began to clear, she felt a grip tighten around her neck. Her body went light as she was lifted into the air, and it became difficult to breathe.

As her vision cleared, her eyes met Zhao Xuanqi’s terrifying, smiling face, and her very soul trembled.

WHOOSH!!

At the same time, the wind howled as a massive fist rapidly filled her vision.

BAM!!

The terrifying impact struck her beautiful, elven face dead center.

CRACK!!

Her nasal bone instantly shattered and caved in. Her facial bones fractured, and several teeth flew out, knocked straight down her throat. Her face became a gruesome mess—even the Jili Empire’s Director-General wouldn’t have been able to recognize his own daughter.

"Using a Spiritual Secret Technique on me? Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

Zhao Xuanqi sneered.

"Don’t... kill me. I’m the daughter of the Jili Empire’s Director-General in the Divine Land. I can be useful to you..."

Melissa struggled to speak. With several teeth missing, her once-perfect Divine Land accent was now slurred and whistling. Her words came in a rush, tinged with a sob.

Where was the calm, composed, and superior woman from moments before?

She was terrified. He might actually kill her. His utter ruthlessness and cruelty had already carved an indelible shadow into her heart.

CRACK!!

AAAAH!!

Melissa let out a piercing scream as intense pain shot through her limbs. Zhao Xuanqi had twisted them backward, snapping them one by one.

Seemingly annoyed by her screaming, Zhao Xuanqi grabbed her by the neck and slammed her entire body onto the floor.

THUD!!

Melissa’s head hit the floor with a dull thud. The violent impact silenced her screams as she lost consciousness completely.

Having dealt with everything, Zhao Xuanqi glanced back into the hall.

It was a scene of utter carnage.

The soldiers were all dead, their bodies violently broken. Nie Hong’an and Qi Shurong were slumped against a wall, their status unknown.

As for Zhou Lie, he was covered in blood, his limbs twisted backward just like Melissa’s. He was unconscious, but the rise and fall of his chest proved he was still alive.

Zhao Xuanqi had his reasons for this. It would have been simple for him to kill everyone and leave. He could have vanished into the crowds, and with his skills of concealment, the Giant Spirit Army would never have found him.

However, he couldn’t just walk away.

Weng Xiaolin had shown him kindness. More importantly, this incident would have wide-reaching consequences. The entire Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall, including his sister Zhao Qin, would be implicated. He couldn’t just abandon them.

Therefore, he had to make the necessary preparations. At the very least, he needed some bargaining chips.

Zhou Lie was a True Inheritance disciple of the Giant Spirit Sect; the sect couldn’t possibly ignore his safety. As for Melissa, the daughter of the Jili Empire’s Director-General, she might, in some ways, be even more useful.

These two could be the bargaining chips he needed.

’In any case, it was better to be prepared. If they turned out to be useless, it would make no difference to slaughter them later.’

’The only thing he needed to consider now was that once word of this got out, he would immediately become a wanted man. The Giant Spirit Army would be searching the entire city for him. He needed a place to lie low, and he needed information and intelligence. He couldn’t handle this situation alone.’

’He was a stranger in Guangdong. Every official power was connected to the Giant Spirit Army, so none of them could be trusted.’

’Except for one.’

’It looks like I’ll have to meet with the National Salvation Association today, whether I want to or not.’

Zhao Xuanqi narrowed his eyes.