Black Qilin's martial prowess wasn't particularly exceptional, roughly on par with Gao Jianli. However, their infiltration abilities were unparalleled. Almost no place in Central Plains was beyond their reach, thanks to a transformation ability that far surpassed the transformation techniques from Naruto. While those techniques could mimic appearance, they struggled to replicate essence. Even Chelsea's Teigu, Gaia Foundation, from Akame ga Kill—which was superior to basic transformation techniques—could only deceive ordinary people who relied mainly on visual cues.
True experts, however, discerned a person's identity through subtle details such as behavior, posture, and aura. For instance, Chelsea once impersonated Gozuki but was easily recognized by the Four Rakshasa Demons due to the discrepancies in her demeanor, stemming from her weaker combat capabilities.
"You must admit, your ability is extraordinary—flawless, even. Your mimicry of heartbeats, breathing, and walking rhythms is impeccable," Daniel Davis remarked with an air of intrigue.
As a top-tier assassin, Black Qilin naturally avoided such rookie mistakes. Their transformations were seamless, reproducing not just appearances but also movements and subtle nuances. It was this mastery that allowed them to impersonate Tianming and attack Gai Nie undetected.
For anyone else—even Gai Nie—it would have been challenging to notice anything amiss. Unfortunately for Black Qilin, Daniel's heightened perception far exceeded Gai Nie's. In a crowded setting, Daniel might have missed the anomaly, but in a one-on-one scenario, his sharp instincts immediately picked up on the faint sense of discord.
Given his current strength, such irregularities couldn't escape Daniel's notice. Combined with his advanced Observation Haki and spiritual awareness, he quickly discerned the servant's abnormality.
"However," Daniel continued, "your killing intent gave you away. You may think you've concealed it well, but even the most hidden killing intent remains detectable. Against others, you might have succeeded, but against me, you chose the wrong opponent."
He gazed at Black Qilin with curiosity. Black Qilin's true identity had always been a mystery. Was this individual male or female? Tall or short? Their voice, too, was an enigma known to very few.
Black Qilin fell silent at Daniel's words. This was the first time their killing intent had been detected during a mission.
"Let me ask first: is she unharmed?" Daniel inquired, referring to the servant whose identity had been impersonated.
"What if she is? What if she isn't?" Black Qilin responded calmly.
"If she's been harmed, I'm afraid you won't leave here alive. If she's unharmed, I'll allow you to leave, out of respect for Wei Zhuang and his companions."
"To think that the Grandmaster of Qin would care about the life of a mere servant," Black Qilin said, seemingly surprised. Whether this reaction was genuine or feigned, only they knew.
"I may not control the lives of others, but to me, even a servant's life isn't something to be trampled upon without cause."
In this era, servants and slaves were often treated as disposable. However, Daniel's residence was an exception. Although he had killed many, he never arbitrarily executed anyone under his care.
As Daniel spoke, he tapped his index finger lightly on the table before him. An invisible force filled the room, plunging it into a dull gray hue. This was the Daoist Heaven Sect's Heaven and Earth Dimmed. With Daniel's current strength, the technique was inescapable for even the most skilled swordsmen like Gai Nie or Wei Zhuang, let alone Black Qilin.
"She's unharmed. She's in her room," Black Qilin confessed, sensing the overwhelming force that enveloped the room.
"Good. You may leave." Daniel withdrew the oppressive force and gestured for Black Qilin to leave. Persuading individuals like Wei Zhuang or Zhang Liang, who were resolute in their beliefs, was futile. Qin's current strength made resistance from the remnants of the six states meaningless.
As Daniel dismissed Black Qilin, their appearance shifted. They became a cloaked figure, their exposed hand bearing faint, scale-like markings. This was why Daniel suspected they hailed from Baiyue—a region where individuals like Tianze possessed similar traits linked to inherited bloodline powers.
---
Outside the town, Wei Zhuang stood on a hill, his white hair fluttering in the breeze as he rested his hands on the hilt of the Sharktooth Sword.
"You failed, Qilin," he remarked as a shadow appeared behind him.
"He discovered me. I didn't expect him to show any regard for old ties," Black Qilin responded without speaking aloud, their thoughts seemingly understood by Wei Zhuang.
"What now, Lord Wei Zhuang?" Black Qilin inquired.
"It's too late for Wei and Zhao to resist. We'll head to Yan."
Wei Zhuang's Flowing Sand group had intended to assassinate Wang Jian during Qin's campaign against Wei. However, they never found an opportunity. As a master strategist and warrior, Wang Jian was heavily guarded. Like Bai Qi and Li Mu, he was also a martial arts prodigy on par with Gai Nie and Wei Zhuang. Combined with the protection of his army, assassinating him was nearly impossible.
Their next target was Daniel, Qin's Grandmaster. His contributions to Qin's dominance were well understood by the six states. Eliminating him on the battlefield would severely disrupt Qin's plans.
---
Meanwhile, the dam constructed by Wang Jian's forces broke, unleashing a torrent of water upon Daliang. The flood roared like a beast, carrying debris and devastation toward the city.
Daliang, situated on fertile plains, was chosen as Wei's capital due to its favorable location. However, its low-lying position made it vulnerable to flooding—a risk the Wei rulers had never anticipated when relocating there.
As Daniel observed the flood ravaging Daliang, he sighed softly. While the flood significantly reduced Qin's casualties, it also brought immense suffering to Wei's civilians. This was an unavoidable consequence of unification wars.
Once the waters receded, Qin launched an assault on Daliang. Wei's soldiers, demoralized and disorganized, offered little resistance. Only a few pockets of desperate defenders remained, notably at the collapsed city gate, where a lone warrior stood as an impenetrable barrier.
"What a warrior. Truly a matchless champion," Daniel commented.
The defender was Dian Qing of the Pi Jia Sect, renowned for his ironclad body and unmatched strength. Wielding twin sabers, he slaughtered countless Qin soldiers.
Eventually, Qin deployed their mechanical beast, Po Tu San Lang, against him. Even then, Dian Qing's mastery of Pi Jia Gong rendered him nearly invulnerable. His iron-like skin and bones could withstand even the sharpest blades.
Riding alongside Wang Jian, Daniel decided to intervene. Watching the mounting Qin casualties, he realized Dian Qing would never surrender.
Taking a spear from a nearby soldier, Daniel modified it with a swift stroke, slicing off its crossbar. "Dian Qing!" he shouted, his voice echoing across the battlefield.
Startled, Dian Qing turned toward him, only to see a black spear flying at incredible speed. Unable to react in time, he instinctively crossed his twin sabers to block. The spear shattered his weapons, pierced his ironclad body, and pinned him to the city wall.
As the Qin army roared in triumph, the remaining Wei defenders lost their will to fight. Many surrendered immediately, their spirits crushed by Dian Qing's fall.
For Daniel, there was no room for hesitation in eliminating such a formidable foe. He had no personal connection to Dian Qing, unlike with Wei Zhuang or Zhang Liang. This decisive act also removed a potential threat to Qin's future.
---
Meanwhile, Zhao was similarly defeated, though not through flooding. Internal betrayal and the assassination of Li Mu, Zhao's greatest general, by his own king led to chaos. Without Li Mu's leadership, Zhao's forces crumbled, their defeat sealed when Qin infiltrators opened the gates to Handan.
The six states were falling, one by one. The unification of China was within reach.
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