My SSS-Rank Clone Talent: I Level Up Endlessly!-Chapter 113: Tragedy Again!

It was only a black flash of light, too fast for normal eyes to see.

In an instant, it shot cleanly through the old man’s head and struck the wall behind him, leaving countless cracks in its wake.

Thud!

With a sickening sound, the man collapsed to the ground.

Blood pooled beneath him, spreading like a river.

Jian Ruxue stood frozen, stunned, her mind still struggling to process what she had just witnessed.

Gang Ryeong could barely stay on his feet, violently coughing up blood.

His tattered clothes were soaked in it.

His world was dimming, awash in crimson and crimson alone.

He could see nothing beyond the red.

Just like that, the hunched old man died, without even realizing he was dead.

Gang Ryeong had kept his word.

Against all odds, in this wretched condition, he had done it.

He wanted to grin, but the moment he tried, his internal organs bled in protest.

Cough!

"Ahhhhh—" he turned his face to the ceiling and let out a roar, not of pain, but of triumph.

His regeneration had already begun, and soon, he would recover.

There had been times when his injuries were so severe that even his regenerative powers took too long to respond.

Only after catching his breath would the healing start.

His lungs now heaved rapidly, rising and falling with each precious gasp of air.

And finally, Gang Ryeong calmed down—after what felt like an eternity.

"Miss," one of the men who had spoken earlier stepped forward, swiping a finger across his neck as he pointed at Gang Ryeong.

Jian Ruxue’s brows twitched at the gesture. Without a word, she raised her hand and slapped him across the face.

Bang!

It was a resounding slap, one that echoed through the room, reverberating again and again.

And when the echo faded...

Silence followed.

"Miss?" the man asked, voice trembling. His eyes were filled with confusion.

The slap of a Second-stage Martial Artist was no small matter.

"Which faction are we from?" Jian Ruxue asked coldly.

"O-Orthodox..."

"Then are you saying we should kill this child over something so petty?"

"But... but..."

Another slap followed.

This one sent the man hurtling through the air, slamming into the wall with such force he was nearly plastered against it.

"We are from the Mount Hua Sect—one of the Ten Great Pillars of the Orthodox faction. If you ever dare to suggest killing a child again, you’re dead to me."

The man collapsed to the ground and hurriedly bowed his head.

"Y-Yes, Miss."

But Jian Ruxue paid him no further attention. Her gaze shifted back to the "child."

Her eyes widened.

"How is this possible...?"

The "child" who had been on the verge of death, barely clinging to life, was now slowly rising to his feet, steadily, and with barely any effort at all.

His wounds, ones severe enough to claim a life, had seemingly vanished.

As if erased from existence.

"So I did it," Gang Ryeong said with a cheerful, almost innocent smile.

Looking at him now, one would never believe this little boy had just killed a man, right in front of a Second-stage Martial Artist.

"You did it, kid."

Jian Ruxue smiled gently and rubbed his head, despite being the one who had tried to stop him, nearly killing him in the process.

But in the end, it had been his choice.

"Also... I want to ask you something."

Gang Ryeong instinctively took a step back from the pat, his eyes meeting hers.

"What is it?"

"Would you be willing to join our Mount Hua Sect?"

"Hm?" Gang Ryeong raised his brows at the offer, but quickly shook his head.

"No."

Jian Ruxue frowned slightly. "Why are you so quick to refuse? I could show you the might of our sect, how vast and far-reaching it is. With your talent, I’m sure the master would personally take you in as a core disciple."

"I see," Gang Ryeong replied calmly, "but still, no."

He shook his head again.

There was no need for him to join any sect.

Until he found a way to create his mana core and properly integrate it with this world’s Qi, taking unnecessary steps would only hinder him.

It would be counterproductive.

And for Gang Ryeong, that was simply not an option.

Besides, if his identity as a necromancer were to be revealed, it would bring him even more trouble.

This was the Orthodox faction. If they discovered the truth, who knew what consequences would follow?

As Gang Ryeong contemplated this in silence, the room remained still.

Then, without warning, the bodies of the old man and the young man lying on the floor began to twitch.

Their muscles jerked subtly.

And then, slowly, silently, they rose from the ground.

Step by step, they advanced toward Jian Ruxue and the others—moving so quietly that no one noticed until they were only a few meters away.

At that moment, Jian Ruxue’s instincts screamed.

She spun around, her body tense.

Something was very, very wrong.

She turned—only to see the two figures slowly approaching her.

"Hmm? You don’t have to worry," she said with a calm smile. "I’ve already saved you all. I’m one of the core disciples of the Mount Hua Sect."

But the two didn’t respond.

They just kept walking: silent, unblinking, unnatural.

That’s when Gang Ryeong’s eyes narrowed.

Something was off.

He could feel it.

The death energy in the room was thickening, gathering fast.

And with it, his heart began to race.

"Something’s wrong!" he shouted.

But it was already too late.

The two corpses were only five meters away from Jian Ruxue.

Then, in the blink of an eye—

They exploded.

Bang!

For a moment, the entire room was swallowed by an apocalyptic wave of devastation.

There was nothing but destruction.

Smoke, fire, and shattered debris filled every corner of the space, obliterating all traces of what had been.

Then, after what felt like an eternity, a single sword slash tore through the dust and chaos, slicing the haze apart and revealing the aftermath.

Jian Ruxue stumbled forward, violently coughing out smoke and ash.

Behind her stood Gang Ryeong, but at this moment his eyes were vacant, hollow even.

Everyone else...

Everyone except the two of them—

Had been completely annihilated.