“Welcome, Batman,” Zhuo Bufan greeted, having overheard Nie Zheng and Broly’s conversation with his internal energy. “I’m Zhuo Bufan, their leader.”
Nie Zheng clapped appreciatively while Bu Qingyun remained seated on the deck, meditating with an icy demeanor. Zhang Ye stood leaning against the mast, hands tucked into his sleeves, appearing half-asleep.
Zhuo Bufan felt a headache coming on. These two weren’t giving him any face. He took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to curse them.
Broly first glanced at Zhuo Bufan, then focused on Zhang Ye. His enhanced perception, honed further by the Nine-Turn True Martial Art, told him that this Taoist seemed to be the strongest among them.
Zhang Ye’s previously dull eyes sharpened momentarily as he met Broly’s gaze, then returned to their sleepy state.
“You were the one attacking the Ten Rings recently, weren’t you?” Zhuo Bufan asked after a cough.
“I was hired to assassinate Tony Stark. Unfortunately, I checked several Ten Rings bases and couldn’t find him,” Broly replied bluntly.
Zhuo Bufan coughed violently. He had assumed Broly, dressed as a superhero, was attacking the Ten Rings out of a sense of justice. He had prepared a pitch to persuade Broly to join their fight against Fire Cloud’s Evil God.
Who would’ve thought Broly was an assassin targeting Tony Stark? All of Zhuo Bufan’s carefully crafted arguments were wasted.
Moreover, Broly’s attacks on the Ten Rings had been anything but stealthy; he had brazenly confronted them.
“How much would it cost to hire you to kill Fire Cloud Evil God?” Zhuo Bufan asked offhandedly.
“Fire Cloud Evil God is very strong. I’m not his match right now,” Broly admitted. Though his strength had increased, he knew he still couldn’t match Fire Cloud Evil God wielding the Stellar Tribulation Sword.
The first three levels of the Nine-Turn True Martial Art were foundational and didn’t provide significant power boosts. The Stellar Tribulation Sword, however, could exponentially enhance its wielder’s destructive power.
He paused, then added, “You’d have to pay extra for me to take him down.”
Bu Qingyun, who had her eyes closed, suddenly opened them, scrutinizing the mercenary Broly.
Broly was unfazed. He wasn’t Fire Cloud Evil God’s match now, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t be in the future. By then, killing Fire Cloud Evil God would be as easy as picking up money.
He still remembered the malice from Fire Cloud Evil God. Though he didn’t understand the exact plot, he wouldn’t forget the enmity.
“Five million dollars. You don’t need to kill him, just give it your all when we fight him. How about that?” Zhuo Bufan offered. The Divine Spear Bureau had ample funds for this mission, and paying five million wasn’t an issue.
“Of course, it won’t be that easy. I need to test your skills to see if you’re worth that fee,” he said, glancing at Nie Zheng, who was ready to spar with Broly.
“Naturally,” Broly grinned, releasing his internal energy.
He had leveled up his Oolong Transformation Technique to lv10, allowing him to use his ki without restraint.
[Oolong Transformation Technique lv7: Memory Theft – In transformed state, can steal recent memories of the person being transformed, maintaining transformation during combat and utilizing 50% of the original’s power.]
[Oolong Transformation Technique lv9: Ability Mimicry – Can mimic some abilities of the person being transformed, maintaining transformation during combat and utilizing 90% of the original’s power.]
Powerful internal energy surged from Broly like a tidal wave, spreading in all directions.
“This is reckless! But his internal energy is indeed overwhelming,” Zhuo Bufan noted, signaling Nie Zheng to attack.
Nie Zheng unsheathed his Snow Drinking Knife, preparing to engage Broly with his leg techniques.
Suddenly, a figure stepped in front of him.
Zhang Ye, leaning on his sword, still looked lazy, but the sword emitted a sharp aura, and his internal energy was hidden but potent.
Though puzzled by Zhang Ye’s action, Zhuo Bufan didn’t intervene.
“Here I come!”
Zhang Ye leaped forward, almost instantly closing the distance to Broly. His sword flashed silver, forming a dense net of sword qi aimed at Broly.
The sword’s edge shredded Broly’s external energy, fragmenting instantly.
“This is the Wudang Tai Chi Sword’s Spiral Style! Zhang Ye is using such a lethal move right from the start?” Zhuo Bufan recognized the technique immediately. Many masters had died to this move when facing Wudang swordsmen. Broly, barehanded, would struggle to counter the sharp blade.
But Zhang Ye wasn’t as optimistic. His sword strikes felt ineffective; he had struck twenty-eight times in an instant but failed to land a single blow.
“Impossible!”
Though the sword qi was dense, it wasn’t simultaneous. Broly, with his superior perception and reflexes, evaded the sword net and countered with a punch.
Zhang Ye’s pupils contracted as he formed a sword circle with his iron sword, absorbing Broly’s punch. The fierce punch was dissipated by the Tai Chi Sword Circle, and Zhang Ye slashed, combining the absorbed force with his own internal energy.
“Thunder Strike!”
The sword qi erupted like a thunderbolt, striking at Broly.
“Clang!”
Broly’s punch met the sword’s spine, releasing a burst of Nine-Turn True Martial Art’s internal energy. The iron sword rang like a bell, raised high by the impact. Broly, enduring the sword’s qi, caused a slight tremor in the Nuwa Star Ferry.
Zhang Ye was thrown into the air, landing gracefully and sheathing his sword.
“Pass.”
He resumed his sleepy demeanor, leaning against the wall with his sword.
“Don’t sleep! Get up and keep fighting!” Broly protested, eager to continue the fight.
Zhuo Bufan gave Nie Zheng a look, who immediately stepped forward, putting an arm around Broly’s shoulders.
“Haha, Batman, you must be hungry. Let’s get you some food.”
He half-dragged Broly into the cabin.
“Did you use lethal force just now? What’s going on?” Zhuo Bufan asked Zhang Ye.
“He used the Nine-Turn True Martial Art,” Zhang Ye replied, suddenly serious.
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