The Ming Mie Summons!
The moment Yan Zhiyun issued the summons, all the assassins were in an uproar.
As the number one on the assassin ranking, she was elusive, and no one had ever had any news about her.
But this time...
For a bounty of ten billion, Wu Ming had indeed come.
And, for the first time, he had used the Ming Mie Summons.
It seemed this mission was a sure thing!
Many assassins immediately followed the call, rushing to the location specified by Yan Zhiyun.
Half a day later.
In the appointed valley.
The assassins arrived one by one.
But when they saw Yan Zhiyun with her back to them, they were all stunned.
She was still wearing that black skin-tight suit.
Although her back was to these assassins, her willow-like waist revealed her gender.
They were all dumbfounded.
The elusive, countless-killer, never-before-seen, never-failed number one on the Ming Mie rankings was actually a woman?!
At that, many assassins narrowed their eyes, their minds stirring with new thoughts.
Soon.
Most of the expected attendees had arrived.
An assassin stepped forward and coldly shouted, "Wu Ming, gathering us all here so ostentatiously is not in line with your usual style."
A cold glint flashed across Yan Zhiyun's face beneath her veil.
Her icy voice instantly emerged, accompanied by a chilling killing intent that swept through the area. "What, are you doubting my identity?"
As her words fell.
She opened her right hand, on which lay a token representing slaughter and glory.
It was the Ming Mie Summons.
This was the identity token awarded to Wu Ming by the Ming Mie organization, and it represented the utmost honor in the assassin world.
Seeing this token, and feeling the pervasive killing intent around him, the assassin's mouth twitched fiercely, and his tone softened considerably.
"May I ask what matter Lord Wu Ming has summoned us for?"
This was also the sentiment of everyone present.
At that, the assassins' gazes all fell upon Yan Zhiyun's face.
Yan Zhiyun swept her gaze across them, her eyes sharp as knives and swords.
"You..."
"You've been eliminated. You can leave now."
Her words were decisive.
The crowd, after an initial shock, changed their expressions.
Wu Ming's intention...
Was undoubtedly to keep this mission for herself.
A reward of ten billion...
Even after the Ming Mie Alliance deducted some fees, at least several billion would end up in her pocket, enough for them to squander for the rest of their lives.
In fact, many had come with the intention of retiring after completing this mission.
Hearing her words now, they were naturally furious.
"Wu Ming, we respect your strength, but your high-handedness, do you really think you can handle all of us alone?!"
"Wu Ming, missions from the Alliance are for everyone, whoever completes it gets it."
"Wu Ming, you've made us travel all this way, and now we have to return empty-handed... Impossible, absolutely impossible!"
"Wu Ming..."
One by one, filled with righteous indignation, they confronted Yan Zhiyun.
Individually, they indeed dared not provoke Wu Ming, the number one. But united, they were not afraid of her.
"How..."
Yan Zhiyun's eyes reflected an icy expanse, a frozen landscape formed by condensed killing intent.
Her voice was like it was coming from the depths of hell!
"Don't you want to live anymore?"
A tremor ran through everyone's hearts.
Wu Ming's strength had been proven through countless astonishing feats.
The targets she had killed...
Whether they were heavily guarded state leaders or powerful martial arts masters, each one had been dealt with with utmost caution, and they were all exceptionally tricky existences.
Yet, she had still managed to kill them.
Facing her now, it was impossible not to feel apprehensive.
But to give up just like that was absolutely unacceptable.
The assassin who had spoken earlier snorted coldly, "Wu Ming, it's not impossible for us to leave."
"According to the rules of the Alliance, as long as you can defeat all of us, we will willingly retreat."
His words were quickly met with a chorus of agreement.
"Right!"
"If you want us to leave, you must defeat all of us first."
"Wu Ming, come on, let us see your true strength!"
"Everything will be done according to the rules!"
"..."
The assassins, inherently arrogant and supremely confident,
Fueled by the immense temptation of profit, they had all decided to risk it all at this moment, preparing to fight Yan Zhiyun.
Yan Zhiyun was somewhat annoyed.
The best-case scenario she had envisioned was that everyone would be intimidated by her reputation and leave.
But the current situation...
Was the worst-case scenario she had anticipated.
The assassins feared her, but they were even more blinded by profit and unwilling to retreat easily.
Then she would have no choice but to kill all those who dared to challenge her, to instill fear and dread in those who followed, and make them leave.
This was a last resort.
"Who among you will come up first to die?"
Yan Zhiyun scanned everyone coldly, her killing intent undisguised.
Everyone took a collective step back.
"I will come and experience the strength of the number one on the rankings!"
It was the assassin who had previously questioned Yan Zhiyun.
He had thought of many things.
Wu Ming's conduct this time was very peculiar; perhaps she was injured.
Furthermore, with so many assassins behind him, even if he lost, Wu Ming might not dare to kill him.
Thirdly, if his guess was correct and he defeated Wu Ming...
This would undoubtedly be an opportunity to rise to fame!
Even if he gained nothing from this mission in the end, this trip to Daxia would certainly not be in vain!
*Swish!*
Yan Zhiyun moved.
This time, her speed was several times faster than last night.
In the blink of an eye, only an afterimage remained in her original position; she had already reached the assassin.
A cold glint flashed.
Yan Zhiyun stopped three steps away, a dagger now held reverse grip in her right hand.
Traces of blood still clung to it.
Everyone was startled and looked at the motionless assassin.
A thin red line suddenly appeared on his neck, and he fell to the ground, lifeless.
A clean, direct kill!
Such speed!
Everyone's hearts tightened. Her strength was indeed formidable.
Yan Zhiyun's icy voice rang out, "You can still leave now if you want."
Since the assassins had chosen to resist, they would naturally not be easily scared away. Another one stepped forward.
"This time, let me!"
As he spoke, the assassin pushed off the ground, causing the stones beneath his feet to explode. He leaped into the air, dual-wielding two sabers, and slashed down with the force of Mount Tai.
Yan Zhiyun let out a cold snort and suddenly vanished from her spot.
The attacker lunged, only to find empty air. As he vigilantly scanned his surroundings in surprise, a section of a dagger emerged from his chest, and he died on the spot.
The deaths of two consecutive individuals did not make the assassins retreat.
Instead, it ignited the bloodlust within them, and one by one, they charged forward recklessly.
The third, the fourth, the fifth...
Few assassins could last more than a few rounds against Yan Zhiyun, but as she fought, her heart grew increasingly alarmed.
She was employing a blitzkrieg tactic.
She wanted to kill the first few with lightning speed to intimidate the rest.
However, the assassins before her were all elites on the Ming Mie rankings. Each kill consumed a significant amount of her internal energy.
By now, her internal energy was dwindling precariously.
"I'll do it!"
The sixth assassin charged forward with a cold look in his eyes.
Yan Zhiyun had no choice but to press on.
If she retreated now, her junior disciple would truly be in danger.
Moreover, these were desperate men. If they discovered her exhaustion, they would likely attack her en masse, and that would be her true doom.
Yan Zhiyun's face was icy as she launched quick attacks, hoping for a swift victory. However, this assassin proved to be incredibly resilient, and it took her great effort to kill him.
And Yan Zhiyun's remaining internal energy was almost depleted.
"Wu Ming, I apologize!"
The seventh assassin seemed to have noticed something amiss and attacked with a cold laugh.
*Swish!*
As his words fell, he threw a throwing knife.
Under normal circumstances, Yan Zhiyun could have easily dodged it, or even caught every single one.
But now...
At such close range, coupled with her depleted internal energy, she was willing but unable.
Despite her utmost efforts to dodge, she was still struck in the arm by a throwing knife, causing her delicate body to tremble and blood to gush out.
The numerous assassins' eyes lit up.
Yan Zhiyun knew this was likely the most dangerous moment.
She had to kill this assassin with lightning speed, or she might very well perish here today.
However...
Seeing that the throwing knife had hit its mark, the assassin let out a sinister laugh and did not press his attack. Instead, he retreated to the side.
The next moment.
Yan Zhiyun's powerful strike landed where he had been standing.
She missed!
Yan Zhiyun inwardly cursed her misfortune.
*Swish, swish, swish!*
A few more throwing knives flew at her, carrying boundless killing intent.
This time...
Yan Zhiyun no longer had the strength to even dodge.
It was over.
Despair flickered in her bright eyes.
Junior disciple...
I'm sorry, I'll protect you in the next life.
Just at the critical moment.
Specks of white light suddenly appeared, and with a *ping-ping-pong*, all the throwing knives were knocked down.
The assassin, bewildered, suddenly saw a flicker of terror in his pupils as his head was wrenched off.
A white figure appeared behind him like a phantom.
It was Bai Zihe!