From Sword to Slaughter: Evolution

The mounts they rode were not ordinary horses but beasts that resembled horses in appearance, known for their exceptional speed.

Under Ren Xing's leadership, they quickly set off in the direction of Sand Desolation City.

"Damn it, fewer and fewer merchants are coming this way lately," a scar-faced warrior grumbled inside Sand Desolation City.

"I've heard they've found a new trade route," another replied.

"A new route? Then we'll just send the brothers there to block the merchants. Kill them all and teach them a lesson."

As they chatted, the desert bandits scattered around the city cursed and laughed, discussing their next raid.

"Alert!" a lookout suddenly shouted from the watchtower.

"What's going on?" the others immediately stood up.

"What's the commotion?" a man reclining on a redwood chair asked lazily.

He was a middle-aged man with a bushy beard, wearing a black headscarf.

This was Tian You, the Desert Bandit King.

"Someone's coming! About a dozen men riding on Bloodhoof Horses," one of the bandits reported.

"Kill them all," Tian You replied indifferently, his eyes still closed as if resting.

"Yes, sir."

"Seeking death," Ren Xing muttered as he approached the gates of Sand Desolation City.

On the city's walls, many bandits were already taking aim with special crossbows, their bolts infused with source energy. Once fired, these arrows would travel at supersonic speeds, making them difficult to dodge for most warriors.

"This is Sand Desolation City?" Ren Xing surveyed the area.

The surroundings were desolate, nothing but sand and barren rock. The city itself looked dilapidated, with the bandits hiding within its ruins.

"Exactly. Sand Desolation City houses over a hundred bandits, all of them fourth-tier warriors or higher. Their leader, the Desert Bandit King Tian You, is said to have reached the peak of the seventh tier," Tiger Brother explained. He had already gathered all the intelligence before arriving and shared it with Ren Xing.

"Stay here and wait for me," Ren Xing ordered coldly.

"We're not going in?" Huang Conghui asked, confused by the command.

"If you want to die, you can follow me," Ren Xing responded harshly.

Without another word, he urged his Bloodhoof Horse forward, charging toward Sand Desolation City.

"City Lord Ren's strength seems to have increased again," Tiger Brother noted, watching Ren Xing ride off.

"It's definitely increased," Huang Conghui added. His astonishment was clear. The speed at which Ren Xing's power was growing was unbelievable.

Was he about to break through to the eighth tier? Huang Conghui shuddered at the thought. How could anyone grow so strong in such a short time?

He knew Ren Xing wielded a demonic sword, but he had never imagined that the sword could enhance its master's power so drastically.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

As Ren Xing charged on his Bloodhoof Horse, a barrage of arrows rained down upon him, each infused with source energy and flying at incredible speeds.

It was as if the sky was filled with arrows, all aimed at him.

"Watch out!" Huang Conghui shouted in alarm, pulling back on his reins as he and the others retreated. They narrowly avoided the storm of arrows that had nearly reached them.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Ren Xing drew Soul Cleaver, his sword flashing through the air as he effortlessly deflected the incoming arrows, splitting them in half.

"Hmph!" Ren Xing snorted, spurring his Bloodhoof Horse forward with greater speed. His sword danced in the air, deflecting any arrows that came near.

"He's charging in!" one of the bandits atop the wall shouted in disbelief.

Before anyone could react, Ren Xing was already inside the city.

The moment he entered, gleaming blades flashed before his eyes.

"Fools," Ren Xing sneered. With a single horizontal slash of Soul Cleaver, the incoming blades were cut in half, and the heads of the bandits who wielded them rolled to the ground.

[Killed fourth-tier warrior, gained 400 evolution points]

[Killed fourth-tier warrior, gained 400 evolution points]

[Absorbed fourth-tier warrior's blood energy, gained 0.4 energy points]

[Absorbed fourth-tier warrior's blood energy, gained 0.4 energy points]

Watching his stats climb steadily, Ye Fan remained unimpressed.

"Still too few points from low-tier warriors," he sighed.

"High-tier warriors are where the real progress lies," he muttered. To encounter them, he'd have to head to the larger main cities.

"Kill!!!" The bandits hidden within the city walls surged out, their large sabers gleaming as they charged at Ren Xing with ferocious intent.

"All of you are nothing but trash," Ren Xing said coldly. Without changing his expression, he swung Soul Cleaver in a flurry of attacks.

Clang, clang, clang!

The sound of metal clashing echoed through the air as the bandits' weapons were shattered. Their bodies fell one after another as Ren Xing cut them down with ease.

For a warrior at the peak of the seventh tier, wielding the power of Soul Cleaver, slaughtering these bandits was no more difficult than crushing ants.

"What's happening?" Tian You, the Desert Bandit King, furrowed his brow. He stood up, drawing his prized saber before heading outside.

As soon as he stepped out, he saw his men being slaughtered by an elderly man in the distance.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

High above, bandits hidden on the walls continued firing arrows at Ren Xing. But with each swing of Soul Cleaver, he deflected the arrows and pressed on.

With a single slash, a wave of white flames burst forth from his sword.

Boom!

The walls above exploded as several bandits were thrown from their hiding places, their bodies engulfed in flames.

"So, you've finally shown yourself, Desert Bandit King, Tian You," Ren Xing said with a wicked grin, locking eyes with his new target.