Chapter 67: I wasn’t joking...

"Adam, don't take it too seriously. Just make sure you win."

The white soldier and Xiang Nan made their way to a wide-open area.

From among the squad, someone called out:

"Adam, don't go overboard. Just winning is enough."

The white man came to a stop, then directly asked Xiang Nan:

"Can we start?"

"Anytime."

Xiang Nan replied succinctly.

Whoosh!

As soon as Xiang Nan spoke, the soldier abruptly hunched and lunged forward.

When he rushed up to Xiang Nan, he abruptly halted his charge, as if to switch up the tempo and catch Xiang Nan off guard. The arm he'd raised in a punch opened sideways, transforming into a slicing motion. His entire arm was like a sharp curved blade, with his clenched palm as the blade's tip, slicing through the air, aiming for Xiang Nan's neck.

Yet it seemed as though his attacking rhythm and feint had been fully foreseen by Xiang Nan—like a mere child's play.

Xiang Nan simply used his speed to slip under the soldier's arm, making his windbreaker flare.

Then, in a flash, he reappeared behind his opponent.

The flapping tail of his windbreaker slowly fell back down.

The white soldier's arm remained frozen in mid-air, his entire body stock-still.

"When attacking, your Nen manipulation was so sloppy that you instinctively channeled most of your aura into your arm. This led to a lapse in basic Ten—your whole body's defense was uneven, with some parts heavily defended and others left vulnerable. From an enemy's perspective, those unguarded spots become easy kill points."

"You fail."

Raising a blood-stained scalpel in his hand, Xiang Nan calmly gave his verdict.

Behind him, the motionless soldier's waist suddenly burst with blood.

Immediately afterward, he collapsed heavily to the ground.

"…"

All over—just like that?

A one-move kill?

Seeing this, the other soldiers' hair stood on end, a chill coursing through them.

"Hurry, help him!"

Out on the sidelines, one of the high-ranking officers finally came to his senses and shouted.

A Nen-user soldier was, after all, a valuable asset to the army.

"No need—his abdominal cavity was completely cut open by me, and his internal organs have been destroyed. He can't be saved."

Xiang Nan spoke in a light, breezy tone, words that to others were deeply horrifying.

"I already mentioned… this is a fight to the death. I wasn't joking."

Still wearing that faint smile, Xiang Nan scanned the faces before him, all clearly stunned.

"Alright then, who's next?"

"…"

Silence—like the grave—answered him.

"What's wrong? Where's that spirit you all had just moments ago?"

Xiang Nan kept his smile, though his tone turned chilling.

"I'll give you a chance. You can come at me two at a time, even three at a time… as long as, during your fight with me, you display an ability that satisfies me, I might consider… sparing your lives."

Gulp.

Hearing this, someone couldn't help swallowing hard.

It's different—completely different!

Their usual missions might have pitted them against random Nen users, but clearly those were not the same level.

Or maybe this man before them wasn't even the same type of being.

From the start, they sensed Xiang Nan's aura seemed very ordinary—somewhat loose, not at all like that of a top fighter.

But now, as Xiang Nan spoke, that aura, imbued with bloodthirst, crashed down upon them like a dark wave, so potent that several among them felt their mental defenses buckling.

How could they possibly win?

Let alone kill him…

"I… I quit…"

"I forfeit!"

Suddenly, someone yelled in panic.

The chilling aura radiating through the air was too menacing—like a mass of darkness, saturated with negative energy.

On the sidelines, several senior officers wore grim expressions—partly in shock at Xiang Nan's strength, partly in disappointment at their own nurtured Nen soldiers. The fight had barely begun!

Yet at the same time, they felt a hint of excitement and hope stirring in their hearts.

No one had expected Xiang Nan to be this formidable.

Even as ordinary humans, those officers clearly saw the immense disparity.

"Without my order, no one leaves. If you must die, you die here!" one of the higher-ups abruptly roared.

"Kill him… That is my command!" he bellowed at the now-terrified soldiers.

But even with that order, several of the thirteen found it impossible to muster any will to fight.

Typically, these soldiers had robust psychological fortitude, but in the face of an overwhelming Nen aura, they abruptly became fragile.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

In the next instant, several aura-laced scalpels—like knives—whistled through the air, striking the foreheads of a few who were panicking, snuffing out their lives on the spot.

Xiang Nan lowered his arm again.

"You all have studied Nen far too shallowly. 'Nen' is not just about the body; it also concerns the brain—i.e., the mind. In basic Nen training, there is something called Ren. Ren relates to one's spiritual strength. Once activated, in addition to temporarily boosting your aura, it can elevate a Nen user's will. Meaning, if your mental discipline is tempered, you can channel your spirit with your Nen aura, whether as intimidation, killing intent… or even benevolence. Which mental imprint it becomes depends on your heart."

"As long as your Ren is sufficiently developed, you can carry your own consciousness along with your aura to intimidate those around you."

"Similarly, you can resist another's mental suppression and maintain composure."

"But unfortunately, not one of you demonstrates that. In your heads, you treat these 'techniques' as trivial, not worth polishing. And wanting to strengthen your mind through normal practice alone is nowhere near enough; you need real-life encounters, battles on the edge of life and death… nothing hones a person's will like dancing with death."

"Your minds fixate on the physical aspect, on how to channel Nen… but without a solid mental core, no matter how you train, it's all chasing shadows."

Finishing, Xiang Nan gave the scalpel in his hand a gentle twirl, glancing at the eight remaining soldiers still standing.

"In other words, you have failed to meet my standards."

"From now on, you'll fight me while enduring the spiritual pressure I exert."

"Consider it… special training."

"As for how many of you survive… that's up to you."

"…"

Those eight soldiers felt a chill envelop their entire beings.

At last, they realized just how dire the situation truly was.

~~~

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