The towering crimson battle aura aimed straight at Zhang Wen’s heart, while behind him, a swirling golden-edged playing card surged closer in an instant.
Either one was more than Zhang Wen could easily handle!
It seemed like a certain death trap, especially since Zhang Wen had already been injured earlier.
But, at the most impossible moment, a faint smile flickered across Zhang Wen’s lips.
That subtle smile pierced Highlon’s heart like a blade, making his eyelid twitch and a sense of foreboding creep over him.
There was no time to think further. Just half a meter more and the battle energy would pierce Zhang Wen’s heart—Die!
Highlon roared silently in fury, a killing machine who wouldn’t blink after slaughtering tens of thousands—how could he fear a tiny ant like this! Before absolute power, die already…
Suddenly, a dazzling silver light erupted right in his face, making Highlon instinctively blink.
It was Zhang Wen’s long sword. No one could have imagined he had concentrated all his battle energy into the tip of the blade, causing a pinpoint spot the size of a grain of rice to erupt with blinding brilliance like the sun!
In the next instant, Zhang Wen spun impossibly fast, swinging his sword to meet the incoming golden card. The two surges of battle energy collided in an eerie silence, without any explosion. Zhang Wen spun his sword, catching the card and sending it whirling through the air. With a flick of his wrist, he redirected the card, now infused with his own battle energy, screaming toward Highlon’s throat.
Highlon, already slightly delayed due to the flash, barely opened his eyes before seeing the golden card hurtling toward him. Shocked, he couldn’t understand how his own attack had turned against him.
With no time to think, instinctively he thrust his hands forward, sending his crimson battle energy to intercept the golden card.
Highlon could never have imagined—
The card carried the combined might of two powerful warriors, and the power was multiplied!
“Boom!!”
The golden battle aura on the card erupted like flames, followed immediately by Zhang Wen’s silver springwater battle energy spreading like a net. Highlon’s crimson energy couldn’t break through it at once.
The three surges of battle energy clashed, forming a spiraling vortex of chaotic energy!
Behind him, the presences of Remi and Missya were rapidly approaching. Highlon’s hair stood on end. He had no time to deal with Zhang Wen anymore. Roaring furiously, he spat a mouthful of blood, his crimson claw-shaped battle aura suddenly surging outward, tearing through the golden card and enemy energy in front of him, and his body shot forward!
If he didn’t escape now, he really wouldn’t live!
Unfortunately, now that he wanted to flee, he still had to see if others would allow it. Zhang Wen was closest, already in battle mode. Seeing Highlon fleeing in disarray, the Chinese classical longsword in his hand suddenly emitted a gentle silver glow like spring water, rippling outward in waves. At the same time, the sword’s momentum surged toward Highlon like flowing water.
If it came to a direct confrontation, Zhang Wen might still be unable to withstand Highlon’s violent and bloody battle energy. After all, there was still a gap in their power levels. But now Highlon had no desire to fight, and it wasn’t difficult for Zhang Wen to hold him back for a while. The more Highlon wanted to escape, the more flustered and ineffective he became, giving Zhang Wen the perfect opportunity.
“Hiss!”
The silver sword moved like a nimble fish, sliding toward Highlon’s neck artery, attacking his most vulnerable point. Just as it was about to strike, it suddenly veered, curving impossibly toward Highlon’s right knee.
If he had time, Highlon would have torn Zhang Wen apart with his bare hands. This kid was cunning and tenacious! How had he ended up facing such an opponent? Refusing to fight head-on, he only attacked from the sides, targeting vital spots, yet impossible to ignore.
Roaring furiously, Highlon hastily raised his hand to guard his neck while expanding his crimson battle aura to protect his body. His energy had already erupted multiple times and was now at its limit. But what he didn’t expect was that the sword aimed at his neck suddenly turned toward his right knee. Such a vicious move—if his knee was pierced, he would be doomed!
Fueled by hatred, Highlon reacted quickly, his right hand slashing downward like lightning while curling his right leg and continuing forward at the same speed. He hoped the crimson battle claw from his right hand would smash and deflect Zhang Wen’s sword, just like last time.
But, Highlon’s hope was dashed once again.
Just as Highlon’s battle energy was about to strike Zhang Wen’s sword, the blade aimed at his knee suddenly rotated upward ninety degrees. With a “plop,” it pierced through Highlon’s elbow joint, the long tip protruding from his arm, a horrifying sight.
Before Highlon’s scream could even begin, Zhang Wen had already twisted the hilt clockwise, using the sword as an axis and lever, wrenching Highlon’s arm into a reverse joint behind his back. Zhang Wen’s body flashed forward, gripping the hilt tightly to control Highlon’s impaled right arm, while his elbow, charged with battle energy, slammed heavily into Highlon’s waist. His foot hooked around Highlon’s ankle and yanked.
These three steps flowed seamlessly, swift as drifting clouds and flowing water. The sight was dazzling.
Missya, Remi, Mula, Agate, and others rushing in hadn’t even seen clearly what had happened before Zhang Wen had already subdued Highlon, the tyrant who had reigned for decades, to the ground.
With his left hand formed into a blade, Zhang Wen swiftly stabbed several vital points on Highlon’s neck and spine, channeling his battle energy into them.
Sealing Techniques!
The unique method of Springwater Combat Style ensured that even if Highlon had extraordinary abilities, he wouldn’t be able to use his strength for twelve hours.
“This is…”
Remi’s eyes gleamed with excitement. For the first time, he couldn’t fully grasp Zhang Wen’s abilities. Even if he himself faced Highlon, defeating him might be easy, but to subdue him so effortlessly and capture him alive—such a feat was truly rare.
Missya, the Northern Ruler, also had a flicker of surprise in her eyes. She had personally experienced Zhang Wen’s mysterious martial skills and sword techniques.
As for the others who witnessed the scene, words were unnecessary—the impact was real and undeniable.
From beginning to end, Zhang Wen had only been slightly stronger than an ordinary Saint-tier warrior. With such limited power, how could he cross tiers and capture the killing machine Highlon alive? No one would believe it if told.
Yet the facts were right in front of them, undeniable.
“The butcher! The executioner! You deserve to die a thousand times! Your flesh should be fed to dogs!” Agate, the Flame Demon, couldn’t control his emotions. His right hand, charged with fiery battle energy, slammed heavily into Highlon’s face, leaving it a bloody mess, even his hair burning from the energy, emitting curling smoke.
Unrestrained, Agate’s fists pounded repeatedly on Highlon’s head and back like pestles. If Missya hadn’t forcibly pulled him away, he would have beaten Highlon to death.
“Calm down, Agate!”
“Let go! You said you’d hand Highlon over to me for punishment!”
“Yes, but first, calm yourself. Highlon will be handed over to the Empire’s Judiciary for a public trial. Whatever the outcome, we will give you a proper resolution.” Missya held Agate down, using her mental energy to gradually subdue the nearly uncontrollable energy surging from him.
Zhang Wen retrieved his sword and handed Highlon over to Mula and the other Hawks for custody. Looking up, he saw that the minor commotion on Omega the Thunder God’s side had also ended. After being subdued by Omega, “Rofele’s” illusionary form was shattered, revealing the Queen’s cold face.
Zhang Wen wasn’t surprised by this outcome. Ever since he saw Gao Gan and Meng Nan, he had suspected the Queen was involved in this incident. Still, Zhang Wen felt some concern—“Where is the real Rofele?”
Omega casually tossed the Queen over to the Hawks and said to Zhang Wen with a calm tone, “Rofele is fine.”
Gelo scoffed beside him, “She was knocked unconscious from a blow to the back of her head and was found in the woods below. She really disgraced our teacher.”
“Mind your tongue!” Omega’s cold gaze swept over Gelo, who immediately shrank his neck and couldn’t utter another word.
Seeing Omega in such a vigorous state, Zhang Wen was somewhat puzzled. Earlier, when he shook hands, Omega had clearly suffered severe internal injuries—something impossible to fake. So how could he now seem completely unharmed? Zhang Wen knew better than to ask outright, so he simply kept his doubts to himself.
After the commotion finally settled, Zhang Wen walked over to Xiu Luo and the others, checked their injuries, and helped each of them up. Xiao Xi rubbed her sore bottom and bruised arm, whimpering in pain. Naturally, Agate rushed to his sister’s side first, the sister-obsessed brother fearing something was wrong. He fumbled around asking questions and trying to help, only making things worse.
Eventually, Zhang Wen couldn’t stand it anymore, walked over, bandaged Xiao Xi’s wound, and quietly pressed a point on her shoulder, channeling a wisp of Springwater energy into her to relieve the pain.
Zhang Wen’s Springwater Combat Style had finally broken through a level during his near-death epiphany earlier, which was why he could subdue Highlon so easily. His current strength would shock those familiar with him, but for now, it remained his secret.
Surveying the surroundings, the crater of the volcano had collapsed halfway from the battle energy blasts, spewing smoke and scorching sulfur fumes.
The entire ground was a mess, repeatedly torn apart by battle energy explosions, making the hilltop look like it had been plowed by an iron plow. Many rock fissures spewed boiling magma, glowing red and emitting hot smoke, a sight that made one’s scalp crawl.
Most importantly, looking at the countless fallen warriors, the weakest among them at least at Tier Ten, with many Overlords and even Saints among them—so many elite warriors of the Empire had perished here. Was it worth it? Was this battle still about the position of Southern Ruler? Who, in the end, was the true winner?
Zhang Wen gazed at the scarred battlefield, silent for a long time.
“Zhang Wen, I know you must have many questions, and I also have something to say. Let’s go back to the Star Moon and talk in detail,” Missya approached Zhang Wen, patted his shoulder, and walked down the mountain path with Remi accompanying her. Mula directed the Hawks to rescue the wounded on the ground, including the seriously injured contestants.
Half an hour later, aboard the Star Moon.
In the spacious meeting hall sat Missya, Remi, Zhang Wen, and Thunder God Omega.
“First, let me introduce myself…” Missya stood up and gently removed the mask that had always covered her face, revealing a stunningly beautiful visage. Most surprisingly, she looked no older than in her early twenties, yet she was already the ruler of a region—something hard to believe if told.
Her eyebrows and hair carried a faint silver hue, her calm and deep eyes reflecting quiet wisdom. Her long nose subtly revealed a hint of determination in her character. Especially her luscious red lips, tightly pursed with strong personality, and her lifted chin exuding the aura of a leader.
“My first identity is that of the Northern Ruler, which you already know.” Missya leaned on the table, her eyes shining brightly. “At the same time, I am also the inheritor of the Empire’s premier sword school, a legacy of sword techniques. This identity isn’t directly related to what we’re discussing now, so I won’t elaborate further. Besides these two identities…”
“Oh, women can be so verbose,” Remi, standing aside, smiled and stepped back, highlighting Missya’s position. “The Northern Ruler’s other identity is the Commander-in-Chief of the Empire’s Hawks.” He added, “I took the liberty of speaking for you. Hope that’s okay.”
Zhang Wen and Omega exchanged glances, both thinking, “So it’s true.” They had long suspected that Missya’s identity was more than just a regional ruler. How else could she command the Empire’s Hawks and officers like Remi and Mula? Only the Commander-in-Chief of the Hawks could wield such authority.
Missya slightly frowned, gently brushing a strand of silver hair from her cheek without responding. She turned back to Zhang Wen and Omega, continuing, “You two already know part of what happened, but not the full story. Both of you have made great contributions to the Empire’s operation, and you will be of further importance in the future, so it’s necessary to explain everything clearly.”
Zhang Wen and Omega remained silent, knowing this was the time to listen.
“This matter began with the struggle for the Southern Ruler. Initially, the Empire didn’t pay much attention, as underground factions have their own rules. As long as they didn’t touch certain fundamental boundaries, the Empire had no intention of interfering. However, as the situation developed, our intelligence department within the Hawks received some unusual information. Someone was secretly escalating this event. Through layers of tracking, we finally traced it back to Lord Black and the Federation. So we decided to play along.”
Looking at the attentive Zhang Wen and Omega, Missya continued, “Once we gathered all the intelligence and finalized our plan, there were only two days left before the competition. Fortunately, we arrived just in time, and the situation didn’t spiral out of control.”
Zhang Wen thought for a moment before asking, “I saw Anthony kill many of the Empire’s elites in the final match. Wasn’t that a huge loss?”
“Since it’s you asking, there’s no need to hide anything,” Missya smiled slightly. “Anthony is actually a double agent. Initially, he was recruited by Lord Black to gather intelligence on the finals, but later, after some ‘persuasion’ from our Hawks, he had a change of heart and began working for us.”
That makes it even stranger. If Anthony had already sided with the Eagle Guards, why would he still resort to mass killings?
As if sensing Zhang Wen’s confusion, Mithya said in a calm tone, “In this contest for the southern dominion, besides the involvement of Lord Hei and the Federation, some short-sighted nobles and senior officials within the Empire also wanted to seize the opportunity for personal gain… Anthony’s actions were ‘very measured.'”
Such a cold-blooded remark was typical of the commander of the Eagle Guards, the undisputed northern overlord.
In that moment, Zhang Wen saw true indifference in her eyes, and a chill ran through him.
This plan was ruthless and dark enough—it not only ruined Lord Hei and the Federation’s schemes, but also took the chance to silently eliminate certain internal threats. Then they could easily pin everything on Anthony, who could then be conveniently blamed on Lord Hei. Raimi killing Anthony at the volcano was simply a way to eliminate a loose end for the Eagle Guards. The plan was so tightly woven that no trace was left behind.
Of course, someone in Mithya’s position would never reveal all the truth to Zhang Wen. For instance, someone high up in the Empire had directly taken charge of the operation midway through. Or how the Eagle Guards had already dealt with Hassan as well. Or how Omega had been critically injured but miraculously recovered at the last moment—these were all secrets of the Eagle Guards.
Mithya didn’t spell it all out, and Zhang Wen was smart enough not to ask.
Actually, Mithya revealing this much was already quite open with him.
In the end, the entire contest for the southern dominion turned out to be a ridiculous farce. Some people thought they were the main characters, tried secretly to rewrite the script, only to find themselves outmaneuvered—like the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. The true winner was the Empire. The Emperor, who sat high above, was truly formidable, having created and controlled such a terrifying organization as the Eagle Guards.
“Alright, forget everything we just discussed. Now let’s talk about what comes next,” Mithya said with an enchanting smile. “First, Mr. Omega, the Thunder God, you’ve made a great contribution to the Empire. After discussions at the highest level and the Emperor’s decree, you’ve been appointed the new Overlord of the Southern Dominion.”
Omega, the Thunder God, gave Mithya a calm nod. Zhang Wen could see in his flickering violet eyes and the slight tremble of his hands that he was far from calm.
This was the Empire’s so-called ‘hands-off’ approach to the southern underworld? Forget it—politics is the most unreliable thing in the world.
Perhaps Omega had already reached a secret agreement with the Empire and the Eagle Guards. Although the Thunder God had always been a lone wolf, he had been famous for fifty years, and his reputation and strength had already reached the peak of his martial career. If he had any further ambitions, it was probably the position of Overlord of the Southern Dominion.
So it wouldn’t be too surprising if he finally chose to align with the Empire. History was full of powerful warriors who were free-spirited in their youth, but as they aged and their physical strength and combat prowess plateaued, they eventually joined the Empire. The only exception was probably “The King.”
If everything had been prearranged, then why would Omega agree to cooperate with Zhang Wen? It seemed unnecessary.
Zhang Wen felt a vague sense of confusion but knew better than to ask such a question aloud—it was something he had to keep to himself.
“Now, let’s talk about Mr. Zhang Wen,” Mithya said, her gaze shifting to him with a charming smile. “I’m very curious—where did you learn such extraordinary swordsmanship? I’ve never seen anything like it in the Empire. It even surpasses the sword techniques passed down in my lineage.”
The three people in the meeting room turned their eyes to Zhang Wen, creating an invisible pressure.
These three were all top-tier powerhouses of the world. Mithya was the Overlord of the North and commander of the Eagle Guards. Raimi was nearly at the divine level, second only to the King himself. Omega had been famous for fifty years and was the newly appointed Overlord of the South. If even these three were astonished by Zhang Wen’s sword skills, it was no wonder others were as well.
For the first time, Zhang Wen felt that he had perhaps been too showy, drawing the attention of the upper echelons—something he had never wanted. Given his unique background, he had always preferred to stay under the radar.
Silence filled the room as Zhang Wen thought about how to explain himself to Mithya. Could he say he once met a beggar as a child who tricked him into buying a book of sword techniques with all his pocket money? Come on, that plot was too cliché. And these people weren’t fools—commanders of the Eagle Guards were certainly not lacking in intelligence. Lying would be an insult to their intelligence.
The atmosphere grew heavy for a moment, and seeing that Zhang Wen remained silent, Mithya lightly tapped the table, shifting everyone’s attention.
“Never mind. Everyone has their own secrets. I have no intention of prying into where you learned your sword techniques. But your skills have certainly intrigued me—and others. Therefore, the Eagle Guards have reported to the Emperor and decided to invite you to serve as our swordsmanship instructor. If you’re willing, we can even offer you a suitable position.”
Hearing Mithya’s words, Zhang Wen’s shoulders slightly trembled as he gave a bitter smile. “May I say no?”
Of course not!
Now that he had already caught the attention of the Empire’s elite, being treated with courtesy first was already a stroke of luck. If he didn’t follow their orders, Zhang Wen knew all too well what the consequences would be.
Thus, his journey back to the capital with Mithya and the rest of the Eagle Guards was set.
…
“He agreed?” Inside the main control room of the Starlight, Hassan had already been sent away.
Mithya, the commander of the Eagle Guards, stood before the long table, reporting to the operation’s director, who had been personally dispatched by the Emperor.
“Your Grace, as previously analyzed, Zhang Wen is a smart man,” Mithya said.
“Good.” The elderly, white-haired Duke slightly narrowed his eyes, a flicker of satisfaction crossing his face.
“He doesn’t suspect our true intentions, does he?”
“Not at all. He would never imagine that the real purpose of this operation, beyond eliminating Lord Hei’s forces, was actually him!”
At the other end of the Starlight, Zhang Wen was just about to push open the door to his room when suddenly he felt as if he were being watched by something dangerous, and a chill ran through him.
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