You promised steampunk martial arts, but you've got an internal combustion engine in your chest

Deep inside the warehouse, Baili Jing crouched down, pressed against the back of a huge cargo box, his ears twitching as he listened to the approaching footsteps.

rustling, rustling...

Judging from the sounds, there were probably three to five people, carrying knives and groping their way in this direction.

Baili Jing's eyes darted around.

He felt the surging blood and qi within his body, clenched and unclenched his fists, and finally suppressed the urge to rush out and smash these people away.

He swayed slightly, using the shadows as cover, and quietly slid away in another direction, continuing to hide deeper into the darkness.

A moment later, the Blackwater Hall disciples walked over carrying steel knives.

They looked around warily, but couldn't spot Baili Jing at all.

"Damn it, is this kid planning to stay a coward and sneak out?" a disciple in black muttered under his breath.

"Hmph, he can't get out even if he hides. Our people are guarding the gate. He thinks he can escape without showing his face? Dream on." Another person sneered in agreement.

As the conversation faded into the distance, Baili Jing raised an eyebrow in the darkness, remaining silent.

He continued to stealthily navigate the labyrinthine cargo containers, skillfully evading wave after wave of searches.

It wasn't that he was afraid, but rather that he hadn't yet seen Ding Yan's true trump card.

He had been hiding in the shadows and had seen "Boss Ning," but he didn't know what skills he had. As for the other two experts, he knew nothing about them either.

If I were to rashly confront the crowd head-on now, and get entangled by these dozens of people, and then be ambushed by those three fifth-realm experts, I would definitely suffer a great loss.

After going around in circles for a while, Baili Jing finally got his chance.

Those were two lone disciples dressed in black.

Baili Jingyin observed carefully from the shadows for a moment, confirming that the two guys did not have any signs of mechanical modification and were just ordinary low-level disciples of the Cao Gang. His eyes hardened, and he suddenly sprang up from the shadows!

Snapped!

A chop to the neck of the disciple on the left fell, and the man collapsed without even uttering a sound.

The man on the right was startled, but before he could even open his mouth to cry out, a large hand covered his mouth.

Immediately afterwards, Baili Jing's thick arm pulled back and tightened around the disciple's neck, causing the disciple's eyelids to roll wildly and the disciple to be strangled unconscious.

"Hey, that's good!"

Baili Jing chuckled, withdrew his hand, and dragged the two unlucky fellows into a hidden crevice between cargo containers.

Immediately afterwards, he swiftly stripped off one of the men's outer garments and belt, and also ripped off his straw hat, putting them all over himself.

The Blackwater Hall's standard black robes were loose-fitting, and although Baili Jing was burly, they barely fit him. He tucked his steel sword into his waistband and pulled down the brim of his straw hat.

The warehouse was already dark, and all anyone could see was black. At first glance, Baili Jing's attire was almost indistinguishable from that of other Blackwater Hall disciples.

"Hey, what expert, what hunt? So what if there are guards at the gate?"

Baili Jing swaggered out and walked unhurriedly toward the gate.

"With dozens of people scattered into such a large warehouse, how many can be left to guard the entrance?"

"I ate a full twenty catties of demon beast meat. As long as there aren't too many guards, I'll just cleave the gate open with a single stroke! No matter how many trump cards Ding Yan has up his sleeve, once I'm out of this warehouse, you won't be able to use them on me!"

Baili Jing made his way towards the gate, encountering three or four groups of Blackwater Hall disciples searching along the way.

Sure enough, those people left in a hurry, and even a few experts of the second or third realm passed by him, but none of them suspected this fellow disciple. They were all still "searching for Baili Jing" everywhere.

In no time, he arrived at a place only a dozen feet away from the warehouse gate.

With a quick glance, he took in the entire situation in front of the gate.

There were about ten black-clad disciples guarding the area, including one third-realm expert whose shoulders had been modified with fine steel, and three second-realm thugs whose arms were riveted with mechanical components.

"call……"

Baili Jing took a deep breath and slowly gripped the hilt of the sword at his waist with his right hand.

He pulled the brim of his straw hat down even lower, and strode toward the gate.

He calculated the distance in his mind: ten zhang, five zhang, three zhang... As long as he reached the burst range, he would unleash his full power, never lingering with these people, and directly cripple them with one move, then violently break down the door!

However, at that moment...

Snapped.

A hand landed on his shoulder without warning.

Baili Jing's skin tightened, and he was startled!

He slowly turned his head around.

A tall, thin man had appeared behind him without him noticing.

The man's face was expressionless, his eyes were covered by a white cloth covered with runes, and the steam piston at his spine was making a faint hissing sound.

It's that Boss Ning.

Baili Jing feigned composure and asked in a gruff voice, "What's wrong, Boss Ning?"

However, Ning Ji gave a mocking smile:

"Kid... you've already shown your true colors."

Baili Jing's pupils shrank drastically, and countless thoughts flashed through his mind.

He was completely baffled. What was wrong with his disguise? Where had he given himself away?

But the current situation leaves him no time to think about it.

Since our whereabouts have been exposed, we have no choice but to make a desperate attempt!

A fierce glint flashed in Baili Jing's eyes. Without another word, the steel blade at his waist was drawn, carrying a scorching wave of air, and swept out in a fierce arc of light!

This strike was powerful and heavy, as if it could split the air in two!

However... it didn't work out.

The steel blade sliced ​​through the air, only managing to shred a wisp of residual exhaust gas.

Baili Jing's breath hitched. He turned his head and saw Ning Ji's figure shift like a ghost, standing three steps away without him noticing.

Ning Ji "looked" at Baili Jing through the white cloth, slowly shook his head, his voice hoarse and cold:

"Too slow."

The next second, the blue bricks beneath his feet shattered with a bang, and his figure transformed into a black afterimage, flashing towards Baili Jing.

Baili Jingdi tried to twist his body to dodge, but something strange happened.

Ning Ji seemed to have the ability to foresee the future. Just as Baili Jing had the thought of dodging and before he could even move, Ning Ji changed his punching style and delivered a powerful punch from a tricky angle, slamming it into Baili Jing's lower abdomen!

"Hmm!"

Baili Jing was forced back three steps by the blow, and a surge of blood and qi churned in his abdomen.

The commotion instantly alerted all the Blackwater Hall disciples in the surrounding area.

In an instant, countless people shouted:

"Bai Lijing is here!!"

"Help! He's wearing our clothes!!"

"Surround him! Don't let him get away!!"

In an instant, thugs in black from all directions swarmed towards them like a tide.

On the high platform.

Hua Xiangrong's expression tightened:

"How foolish! Ning Ji has a talisman on his eye, so he can probably see through the flow of qi and blood. Young master, this disguise and stealth move is no different from being naked in Ning Ji's eyes! We're in trouble now!"

Baili Jie remained silent.

The boy simply pursed his lips, gripping the high wooden railing with both hands, staring intently down below.

On the battlefield below, in no time, Baili Jing and Ning Ji had exchanged seven or eight blows.

However, this fight was incredibly frustrating.

Every time Baili Jing swung his sword or kicked, his attack intentions were seen through by his opponent. Ning Ji was always able to strike first, before Baili Jing could change his moves, leaving fist marks and footprints on his body.

Moreover, those fearless Blackwater Hall disciples had all surrounded them.

Amidst the flashing blades and the glint of swords, Baili Jing found himself locked in a fierce battle.

He wasn't afraid of these ordinary disciples, or even the second and third realm steam cultivators; he would just kick them a few more times.

But this guy wrapped in white cloth is so annoying!

Whenever Baili Jing was about to force his way out, this guy would suddenly appear and hit him, interrupting his charge.

The key is that the other party can see through what he's going to do in advance!

This isn't just a matter of reaction time and speed anymore... what are we supposed to do?!

While pondering, Baili Jing was momentarily distracted, and Ning Ji struck him again in the chest with a heavy blow.

He took two steps back and fell into the center of a circle of dozens of people.

All around him, countless gleaming steel blades were slashing down, seemingly intent on chopping him into mincemeat.

"Damn it... since I can't hide it anymore, I might as well not hide it at all today!!"

Baili Jing made a snap decision, ripped off his bamboo hat, and grinned cruelly.

"Get the hell out of my way!!"

He had originally planned to rush out quickly, hide again, and find another opportunity, but since that was no longer an option, then...

Beat them all down!

With a roar, he abandoned all defense, gripped the steel blade with both hands, and swung it wildly and violently in all directions, using his body as the axis!

Since we don't know any tricks, let's just do a big windmill!

One force can overcome ten techniques!

As he turned, he created a white steam hurricane in the air, the scalding steam causing the surrounding disciples to scream in agony.

At the same time, the steel blade pierced through their bodies, instantly striking the seven or eight black-clad disciples in the innermost circle. They screamed and flew backward, smashing the encirclement behind them to pieces!

However, Baili's move was wide and sweeping, and at this moment, his old strength had just been exhausted and his new strength had not yet been generated.

Ning Ji's lips curled into a smile.

"Prepare to die."

He lowered his body and glided along the ground like a ghost, instantly closing in on Baili Jing. Then he leaped into the air and stomped heavily on Baili Jing's throat!

That stomp was no small feat.

Baili Jing groaned in pain, staggered back four or five steps after being kicked, and slammed his back against a cargo box before regaining his balance.

He felt a suffocating sensation and a burning pain in his throat, and he couldn't help but bend over, clutching his neck and coughing violently several times.

Fortunately, his blood and energy were at their peak at that moment, so the kick only caused him pain but did not actually damage his throat.

Baili Jing slowly raised his head.

He stuck out his tongue and licked the blood from between his teeth, his eyes bloodshot as he fixed his gaze on Ning Ji.

"Looks like... I'll have to deal with you first, you blind guy with cheat codes."