Just as Zhao Gao thought he had everything under control, the situation suddenly changed.
In a flash, the "bandits" he had dismissed as insignificant ants revealed their true might.
The Six Sword Slaves who had gone in to kill them were now the ones being surrounded.
Deadly killing intent filled the air, densely packed in every direction.
It was as if they had walked right into a mysterious formation.
The roles of hunter and prey had suddenly reversed.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Countless sword lights shot out from all directions, aiming straight for the Six Sword Slaves.
"Not good, we've fallen into a trap!"
"These people came prepared. Their true target is Lord Zhao Gao!"
The Six Sword Slaves were the top killers of the Net Trap, known for their combined assault technique.
When united, their power was nearly unmatched.
Even the highest-level Great Grandmasters might not be able to overcome them.
Unfortunately, their opponents today also possessed a joint combat formation.
And more importantly, they had planned ahead.
Caught off guard, the Six Sword Slaves instantly fell into disadvantage and were at risk of being killed at any moment.
"Lord Zhao Gao, it's too dangerous up ahead. We must leave at once!"
One of Zhao Gao's men quickly reported.
"No rush. Keep watching. I want to see who dares be so bold as to provoke me."
"Remnants of the Six Kingdoms? The Yin Yang School? Or people from another dynasty?"
Zhao Gao showed no fear. On the contrary, a trace of cruelty flashed in his eyes.
He had always been the one to provoke others. Now someone dared target him?
They were courting death.
No matter who was behind it, they would face his wrath.
He was confident.
As long as a Land Immortal didn't appear, he was unbeatable.
Pfft!
Ahhh!
A bloodcurdling scream pierced the air.
One of the Six Sword Slaves, Zhan Gang, was decapitated by a single sword strike.
Their combined technique was instantly broken.
Their momentum collapsed.
Their strength plummeted rapidly.
The "bandits," seeing this, surged with even greater power.
Their sword energy grew even more terrifying and swift.
Zhao Gao's expression changed. He hadn't expected his enemies to go this far just to kill him.
So many strong fighters?
The Six Sword Slaves were his finest weapons.
Now that one had been lost, he couldn't afford to lose the remaining five.
In a flash, a blood-colored shadow streaked through the air.
Zhao Gao entered the battlefield himself.
He intended to finish the "bandits" off personally.
However…
Just as he prepared to launch his attack, the formation shifted once again.
This time, the target changed from the Six Sword Slaves to Zhao Gao himself.
"I knew you'd fall for it."
A raspy voice came from the "bandit leader."
Then, his aura surged again.
"I'll deal with Zhao Gao. The rest of you, kill his men."
The bandit leader let out a cold laugh and rushed toward Zhao Gao.
Without hesitation, he unleashed a terrifying punch.
Boom!
The strength of a Great Grandmaster exploded in full.
"You... who are you? I don't recall ever offending you!"
Zhao Gao barely blocked the deadly blow, his former confidence now replaced with shock and panic.
"Nothing personal. I just don't like the look of you."
The bandit leader scoffed.
He didn't even consider Zhao Gao a threat.
Ahhh!
At that moment…
The remaining five Sword Slaves cried out in pain.
Under Zhao Gao's horrified gaze, all were killed.
The infamous Six Sword Slaves, always known for hunting others, had now been hunted and killed themselves.
A cruel twist of karma.
"Six Sword Slaves!"
Zhao Gao was shaken.
To him, while the Sword Slaves might not have been the strongest individually, their united power was overwhelming.
Only the top Great Grandmasters had a chance of surviving against them.
He had used the Six Sword Slaves to eliminate countless enemies.
They had been his most reliable killing tool.
And now, they are all dead.
Who were these "bandits"?
What terrifying force did they belong to?
Why had they targeted him?
His heart burned with rage and unwillingness.
"You deserve to die!" Zhao Gao growled.
"Zhao Gao, whether you live through today is still uncertain!"
The bandit leader launched another ferocious attack.
Boom! Boom!
Pfft! Pfft!
"How... how is this possible?"
Zhao Gao looked at the bandit leader in horror, utterly shocked.
These so-called bandits had shattered all his expectations at every step.
From the very beginning, he had fallen into their trap.
Their strength was far beyond anything he imagined.
It felt like they had no limits.
No, from the start, they had been playing the fool. Pretending to be weak.
"What is your true strength?"
"Aren't you just a Great Grandmaster?"
"Wait, you are a Great Grandmaster… then how are you so strong?!"
Zhao Gao had always considered himself one of the top Great Grandmasters.
Yet now, before another Great Grandmaster, he was being crushed.
No!
He couldn't even fight back.
The bandit leader had hidden his true power all along.
Pfft!
Zhao Gao spat out another mouthful of blood.
His left arm was shattered by a single punch.
"This is bad. I have to run!"
Seeing that the bandit leader had no intention of letting up…
With one arm destroyed, he knew staying any longer meant death.
He didn't want to die. He still had important plans.
He couldn't die here.
He turned into a black shadow and fled.
"You want to run?"
The bandit leader sneered.
He pulled out a talisman from his robe and tore it.
In the next moment…
A phantom-like purple dragon appeared in the air.
With lightning speed, it struck Zhao Gao.
"Aaahh!"
"This... this is Yin Yang School's curse magic! You're from the Yin Yang School?!"
"Six Soul Curse?!"
"No... this is even more vicious than the Six Soul Curse. Eastern Sovereign Tai Yi… You've hidden so well!"
"Aaaahhhh!"
His scream echoed in despair and disbelief.
It was as if Zhao Gao was experiencing unimaginable pain.
He used his last escape technique and vanished into the distance, fast and desperate.
Strangely, the bandit leader didn't pursue.
Instead, he watched with a strange expression.
A sneer slowly spread across his lips.
"My lord, are we really going to let that eunuch run?"
"Wouldn't it be better to kill him now and be done with it?"
"That eunuch is a venomous snake. If he bites back one day, we'll regret it."
Zhao Gao's remaining men were all killed within seconds.
Not one left alive.
Seeing their lord let the biggest target escape made them feel uneasy.
"Zhao Gao can't die yet."
"Letting him die now would be too easy."
"Besides, he still holds great value. Until that's exhausted, he must stay alive."
"Heh… I'd say right now, he's probably wishing he were dead."
"Six Soul Curse? That's underestimating us."
"Without our dispel, he'll live in endless pain and despair."
"Given his nature, who knows what terrifying things he'll do next?"
"Let's go. Clean up everything. We're leaving Qin for good."
"Even if Ying Zheng investigates, he won't trace it to us."
"And if he does… so what? You think we're afraid?"