Chapter 161: The Sniper

Inside the spacious hall of the Xingyue vessel, originally designed as a leisure area for noble passengers, the space had now been transformed into a martial arts training hall for warriors to spar and practice. Whether this modification had been made by Hassan beforehand was unknown, but currently, it served only as the battleground for Yasha, the captain of the Eagle Guards and the northern dominion ruler, and her deputy, Reimiu.

Within the hall, aside from Yasha and Reimiu, only the Eagle Guard deputy captain, Mula, and twelve elite guards stood watch around the perimeter. When Zhang Wen arrived, everyone gave a slight nod in greeting. Yasha smiled at him and said, “Mr. Zhang Wen has arrived.”

“Captain Yasha, I assume it’s not yet time to depart. I wonder what brings me here,” Zhang Wen said, glancing at the surroundings and quietly guessing her intentions.

Yasha didn’t keep him waiting. She replied naturally, “I invited you here because your swordsmanship makes you the ideal referee.”

“Hmm?”

“Reimiu insists on sparring with me, or else he will refuse to participate in any future guard missions. For the healthy functioning of the Eagle Guards, I, as the captain, have no choice but to oblige.” As she spoke, Yasha gently pulled on her mask, covering her face with a silver one. Instantly, she exuded a cold, sharp aura like a sword drawn from its sheath.

Zhang Wen nodded in understanding. Reimiu, a martial arts fanatic, was indeed an anomaly for having remained in the Eagle Guards for so long. If not for his extraordinary strength, his temperamental personality would have long been dismissed by the Empire. In fact, despite Reimiu repeatedly causing trouble for personal reasons—including secretly using shape-shifting techniques to impersonate someone else in the finals of the southern dominion competition—his true purpose wasn’t for the duties of the Eagle Guards, but rather to confront potential masters and experts, including the King and Yasha. If Zhang Wen hadn’t exposed his identity at the last moment, Reimiu might still be impersonating someone else.

Despite the trouble he caused, the Empire remained remarkably tolerant of Reimiu due to his strength, which rivaled or even surpassed that of a dominion ruler. He was also the only person thus far who had challenged the King and received verbal praise from him. According to Zhang Wen’s knowledge, no other challenger had survived an encounter with the King.

To dethrone the King as the strongest, one must first be prepared to face death and failure.

Understanding the situation between Yasha and Reimiu, Zhang Wen didn’t feign reluctance. He naturally took position opposite Mula, ready to witness the duel between Yasha and Reimiu. Such a rare opportunity to observe a clash between two powerhouses was also beneficial for Zhang Wen’s own cultivation.

The only concern was the destructive power of their battle. If they unleashed their full strength, the first thing to worry about would be whether the Xingyue vessel could withstand it.

However, Mula quickly dispelled Zhang Wen’s concern. He directed the Eagle Guards to bring in several large machines. Using pulleys, they connected groups of instruments around the circular hall, linking them with thick cables that twisted into a spiral circuit at the center of the hall. These were then connected to the Xingyue vessel’s native stone energy lines, and finally, a visualization device centered on a native stone was placed at the hall’s center.

Mula also kindly explained to Zhang Wen, “These are the Empire’s latest developments—Mental Combat Machines. By connecting different terminals, they project the opponents’ mental presence onto the same virtual platform for combat. This allows for a realistic simulation of a duel without causing any damage to the surrounding environment. As long as the signal can reach, even two people millions of light-years apart can engage in battle. Additionally, the combat can be projected through the native stone terminals for more people to watch.”

Zhang Wen was naturally familiar with the Mental Combat Machines. He had even tried one before aboard the spaceship, urged by Emily and the others. Thinking back, a realization stirred in his mind.

At that moment, Yasha seemed to sense something and turned her gaze toward Zhang Wen. Then, with both hands, she opened the hatch of one of the Mental Combat Machine terminals and lay down inside.

Reimiu, his eyes flashing with excitement and fervor, wore a mysterious smile. Although he regretted not being able to fight Yasha, the northern dominion ruler, in the real world, engaging in a virtual duel was still better than nothing. At least it could accurately reflect their true strength.

Without hesitation, Reimiu entered another Mental Combat Machine. Powered by the immense mental energy supplied by the Xingyue vessel’s native stone energy chamber, the machines were activated. A faint glow of energy flowed along the cable circuits, eventually stimulating the imaging system at the center of the hall, displaying the virtual combat platform throughout the vast space.

Observing the virtual imaging technology reminiscent of his own era, Zhang Wen sighed inwardly while confirming a suspicion. It seemed that the person he had defeated in the Mental Combat Machine on that occasion—on behalf of Emily and the others—was none other than Captain Yasha. Should he consider himself lucky or unlucky? Perhaps it was from that moment that Yasha had started paying attention to him.

The Imperial Inherited Sword Technique was said to be the strongest sword art in the Empire, traditionally reserved as a martial legacy for the royal guards. Only the most loyal and powerful warriors of the royal family could learn it, passing it down through generations.

A thousand years of传承 had turned this sword art into a martial sect, specifically developed to protect the Imperial family—becoming the sect of sword masters.

Translation:

A thousand years of inheritance had transformed this sword technique into a martial arts sect, meticulously cultivated to safeguard the Imperial family—ultimately becoming the revered sect of sword masters.

To attract the attention of the current inheritor of the Inherited Sword Technique naturally meant drawing the Emperor’s attention as well. With that in mind, the subsequent events were easy to predict. With the Empire’s power, identifying the person who defeated the Empire’s strongest sword master through the Mental Combat Machine was not as difficult as imagined.

No wonder Yasha had appeared at the underground arena in Casares. Her true purpose was likely to witness Zhang Wen’s sword skills firsthand. This special recruitment of Zhang Wen to the Imperial capital as a martial advisor for the Eagle Guards was, more likely than not, because he had already fallen under Yasha’s—and the Imperial family’s—watchful eyes long ago.

The more he thought about it, the more complex everything seemed. Since he couldn’t change things, dwelling on them was pointless.

…

The powerful updraft from the ascending Xingyue vessel blew leaves, dry grass, and small stones into the air. Amid swirling heat waves, the Xingyue vessel rose vertically into the sky and soared toward the horizon.

Amid the swirling dust and mist, a giant scorpion burst from beneath the ground. Sitting atop its vividly colored carapace was Hilena, the fifth dominion ruler of the Infinite Arena, kneeling with a cold expression.

She stared at the shrinking silhouette of the Xingyue vessel, her phoenix-like eyes flashing. In a voice barely audible to herself, she murmured, “You think you can escape? I swear on my name as the Red Scorpion, you won’t escape my grasp—whether you are Andre or Zhang Wen…”

After the Xingyue vessel entered its designated orbit, the Eagle Guards departed aboard a specialized life ship, heading in a different direction. Soon, the life ship docked with a pre-prepared Imperial stealth battleship and was absorbed into its hull.

From this point on, Zhang Wen would begin his journey to the Imperial capital. The future ahead was filled with uncertainty.

Although Zhang Wen knew that Yasha valued him highly, he couldn’t help feeling uneasy. This was his first time leaving behind the familiar people and surroundings, traveling aboard an unfamiliar starship to an unknown capital. What awaited him there?

Zhang Wen had a vague feeling that something might happen, but he couldn’t yet discern what. New environments always meant unpredictable situations, and for things he couldn’t control, Zhang Wen’s nature was to avoid them as much as possible. This was also why he had always kept a low profile.

Unfortunately, this time he had fallen into the sights of both Yasha and the Emperor. When it came to the government’s coercive and powerful institutions, Zhang Wen knew his stance—if he didn’t cooperate, the only alternative was destruction. He had no choice.

Although he felt a bit resentful, this was the reality. The world did not revolve around his will. Even as a transmigrated soul, he had no real advantage over the people of this world. Those who failed to adapt only drew more attention to themselves.

So far, Zhang Wen had done his best to blend into this world, avoiding standing out too much. He had succeeded in not drawing the attention of the Empire’s upper echelons, and he believed this time would be no exception.

If they were only interested in his swordsmanship and martial skills, cooperating with the Empire would be acceptable, allowing him to gain greater value and influence.

In the private room arranged for him by the Eagle Guards, Zhang Wen pushed aside useless emotions and began recalling the intense duel between Yasha and Reimiu displayed through the Mental Combat Machine.

In terms of raw power, Reimiu clearly had the upper hand. Even in martial techniques, he seemed slightly superior to Yasha. However, in the virtual duel, Yasha held her own. She cleverly showcased her sword art’s strengths, using the environment to minimize Reimiu’s power while maximizing the effectiveness of her inherited sword technique. Ultimately, the match ended in a draw.

Although it was a stalemate, the battle had seen multiple reversals. Each reversal made the spectators believe the outcome was decided, but both Yasha and Reimiu displayed astonishing resilience and strength, always managing to muster a final burst of power at the last moment to turn the tide.

Through this clash between two mighty warriors, Zhang Wen gained some insights into the application of his own strength and combat experience.

Fortunately, the duel had taken place through the Mental Combat Machine. Otherwise, even several starships might have been reduced to scrap metal.

The more he thought about it, the more puzzled Zhang Wen became. Although he had certain advantages in combat techniques and swordsmanship over Yasha and others, in terms of raw power and overall strength, he was still far from the level of dominion rulers like them. Was it really worth Yasha and the Eagle Guards paying such attention to him?

Shaking his head, Zhang Wen temporarily pushed aside these doubts and focused on his internal condition. Regardless, striving to improve his strength was never a mistake.

Since his previous intimate encounters with the women, the Spring Water Technique had entered a new stage, bringing Zhang Wen unexpected delight. Now, even without relying on underground native stone veins, he could barely handle a super-tier opponent alone. Anyone who learned of his rapid progress would be horrified.

Locked alone in the room, even the corridors outside were patrolled by guards and monitored by miniature cameras. This lack of freedom made Zhang Wen very uncomfortable, but he had no other options. Perhaps this was simply how military life was.

Unavoidably, he thought of Emily, Iniel, and wondered how Lofray was doing.

The long journey made time seem to stand still. It was said to take at least a week to reach the capital from this star system. Zhang Wen found even a day or two of this life unbearable. Fortunately, his strong willpower allowed him to endure even this monotonous isolation.

On the third day of the journey, the starship reached the Darmir star system in the Empire’s central region. They made a brief stop at the resource transfer planet Tenuw for necessary supplies and a half-day rest. Zhang Wen was finally granted special permission to leave his room, escorted by Eagle Guards, to step onto the planet’s surface for a brief walk.

Perhaps Yasha didn’t want to give Zhang Wen the impression of being overly harsh.

As Zhang Wen stepped out of the starship’s corridor, he watched some Eagle Guards head to nearby energy stations to arrange for replenishing the native stone energy consumed during the journey. Some female Eagle Guards went to the nearby market to purchase food and daily necessities. Accompanied by two Eagle Guards, Zhang Wen wandered around, feeling rather bored, before turning to the two behind him and saying, “I’d like to take a look at the market.”

One of the guards was a tall, sturdy man with a square face and golden hair named Watt. The other was a thinner man with blue hair named Siffer. They exchanged hesitant glances upon hearing Zhang Wen’s request. Finally, Siffer contacted their superiors using a small communication device and said to Zhang Wen, “If Mr. Zhang Wen wishes to visit the market, Watt and I will accompany you. However, time is limited—we must return within half an hour.”

Zhang Wen estimated the distance from here to the market. A round trip would take about ten minutes, leaving barely enough time to see anything in half an hour. He inwardly chuckled at Yasha’s stinginess but said nothing. After three days aboard the starship, even a brief glimpse of the market and its people was a relief.

He nodded, and after Watt and Siffer changed into civilian clothing, the three of them walked toward the nearby market.

Tenuw Planet was a resource transfer planet specially established by the Empire along interstellar trade routes, serving both official and civilian purposes. According to Imperial legend, the name Tenuw came from an ancient god of balance.

Due to the frequent passage of starships, the planet was highly developed with a large population. Entering the market, Zhang Wen saw people from various countries and star systems—Federals, Imperials, and Alliance members—all contributing to the bustling atmosphere.

Zhang Wen noticed that the market was built along a long street, about twenty meters wide and several kilometers long. On both sides were various shops, lined up closely, selling all kinds of common or rare goods and trinkets. Such a lively market was unlike anything he had seen before.

Crowds of merchants and tourists from all over filled the wide street, creating a continuous flow of people.

The sounds of enthusiastic vendors hawking their wares filled his ears, with various accents and languages. Bargaining voices, the laughter of provocatively dressed beauties, the mingling aromas of spices and slight sweat, and the scent of exotic wines all contributed to a fresh and vibrant atmosphere.

Zhang Wen was fascinated by this unfamiliar environment, constantly glancing from side to side as he walked. Watt and Siffer followed half a step behind him, acting like bodyguards, vigilantly scanning the surroundings.

However, none of the three noticed that over a thousand meters down the street, on the third floor of a tall building, two pairs of eyes filled with hidden hostility were coldly observing Zhang Wen as he moved through the crowd.

“Is that him?”

“There’s no mistake,” the man on the right replied. Dressed in a gray trench coat, he wore a fedora hat even under the sun, casting shadows over his expressionless face. He nodded at the person beside him, confirming the target.

The man on the left was clad entirely in black, including a pair of dark sunglasses that made him look like a cold, emotionless machine. After observing Zhang Wen from a distance, he skillfully opened a suitcase beside him and quickly assembled several cylindrical components into a complex device in just three seconds.

If one had to describe this device, it would resemble a sniper rifle from another world. In fact, if any Eagle Guards saw this device, they would surely cry out in alarm.

A banned Imperial assassin weapon—known as the Long-Range Mental Energy Rifle. The long, black cylindrical barrel, combined with a complex native stone amplifier circuit, could amplify the assassin’s mental energy tenfold, finally triggering the stored combat energy within the native stone and unleashing an unstoppable, piercing energy beam.

The most terrifying aspect was its speed—capable of firing twice in just one-third of a second, with absolutely no warning beforehand.

If wielded by a top-tier assassin with professional training, it could easily hit a target the size of a fly from a kilometer away.

Precisely because of its terrifying effectiveness, the Long-Range Mental Energy Rifle had been strictly banned by the Empire. Anyone found possessing one would be arrested and executed without mercy.

Yet, like any law, there were always loopholes or those who defied it. Despite repeated bans by the Imperial high command, the weapon still circulated secretly in the black market. However, due to the extreme complexity of its craftsmanship and the rarity of assassins skilled enough to use it effectively—only one in a hundred thousand could accurately strike a target a kilometer away, requiring not only sharp vision but also steady hands and instinct—the weapon remained rare despite being banned.

Even through the black market, such a device was difficult to obtain, and even more difficult to find someone who could use it properly.

The black-clad assassin before us was an exception.

A top-tier assassin ranked among the top three in the Empire’s assassin rankings, known as Shadow Phantom—the greatest ace in the Black Viscount’s hand. Capable of silently killing super-tier warriors from a kilometer away, he relied on this Long-Range Mental Energy Rifle. As long as the target didn’t detect him beforehand, in less than one-third of a second, a silent sniper shot would end their life.

It was precisely because of this ace up his sleeve that the Black Viscount had become such a headache for the Imperial high command. His numerous shocking acts of sabotage had angered the Imperial elites while instilling a sense of fear.

Now, this ace was in action once again.

Target—Zhang Wen!

The same Zhang Wen who had repeatedly ruined the Black Viscount’s plans, the same Zhang Wen who had destroyed his final scheme. Even the Black Viscount, known for his calm demeanor, felt a surge of anger. Like a gambler who had lost everything, like a trapped beast, he was preparing for a final, terrifying retaliation.

Since you won’t give me a way to survive, I will destroy you first!

From the Imperial capital onward, the Black Viscount had begun orchestrating a series of terrorist attacks.

The first target—undoubtedly the most hated Zhang Wen.

The black rifle extended silently from the window, not reflecting a single glint of sunlight.

The dark barrel pointed steadily at Zhang Wen’s forehead, mental energy slowly flowing in. The so-called King of Assassins, Shadow Phantom, locked onto his target with a cold, cruel smirk curling his lips.

At this very moment, the protagonist of this unfolding drama remained completely unaware, leisurely strolling through the market, utterly oblivious to the deadly sniper shot about to come his way.