Chapter 155: Anthony’s Secret

Even Batuli, who was continuously unleashing streams of battle-energy bullets, did not expect anyone to dare charge head-on through his bombardment.

Glancing with mild surprise at Zhang Wen, who was diving downward with his head lowered, Batuli smirked. Glancing sideways at Batengping, who was slightly behind him, he said, “So this is the Zhang Wen you mentioned? Doesn’t seem like much.”

With a casual wave of his hand, he launched another wave of battle-energy.

“What kind of super-tier strength could he possibly have? He can’t possibly stand against both of us, right? Didn’t we chase Agate the Flame Demon away in total defeat earlier?”

But when Batuli cast a mocking glance at Jiatengping, he noticed an unusual seriousness on his temporary ally’s face. Even when they had faced Agate the Flame Demon and another super-tier opponent on the road, Batengping had never looked this focused.

What did that mean?

Before Batuli could figure it out, Batengping’s boyish face, usually smiling subtly, turned grim. He gave Batuli a cold, serious look and said in a calm but firm tone, “We’re working together for now, so let me give you a sincere warning—don’t underestimate Zhang Wen, or you’ll definitely regret it.”

What the hell? Who do you think you are, talking to me like that?

Batuli’s expression darkened instantly. The temporary alliance between the two was already showing new cracks.

“Let’s deal with that kid Zhang Wen first. I’ve heard he’s got some skill, but his luck just ran out. And don’t get too cocky, Batengping. I’ll take you down too when the chance comes!” Batuli thought darkly, his eyes flashing with murderous intent.

But when he turned his gaze back to Zhang Wen, he was unexpectedly startled.

The narrow mountain path was barely wide enough for one person to pass. There was absolutely no way to dodge the frontal assault of battle-energy bullets. But Zhang Wen did it!

Facing the battle-energy unleashed by the super-tier warrior Batuli, Zhang Wen suddenly twisted his body sideways. In the same instant, his right hand summoned a steel blade, and he thrust his sword forward.

He didn’t aim for the center of the energy sphere, but rather at the three-quarter mark of its round shape.

A silver-white battle aura flowed like starlight from his hand along the blade. Before the astonished eyes of everyone present, Zhang Wen lightly flicked his sword, as if manipulating a lever, causing the energy sphere to veer off its original trajectory and fly diagonally away.

The “Unburdening Technique” of the Spring Water Method!

Like rolling river water washing away silt, like a spinning top deflecting external force.

Though it may seem slow when described, it all happened in an instant. With a single sword strike, Zhang Wen deflected Batuli’s battle-energy bullet. Not only did his speed not decrease, but it doubled, and he charged downward with even greater ferocity.

Batuli gasped, his eyes nearly popping out of his skull. Only now did he believe Batengping’s warning, but it was already too late.

Zhang Wen had the advantage of elevation, charging downward with natural speed. Now at full sprint, he was like thunder and lightning, covering more than twenty meters in the blink of an eye.

“Roar!”

Batuli roared, his battle-energy erupting like a bomb. The humiliation of underestimating Zhang Wen and ending up in such a predicament burned inside him, fueling his rage. He was practically ready to tear Zhang Wen in two.

At the same time, Batengping also poured out his battle-energy. The two super-tier warriors stood side by side, unleashing their full power. Brilliant star-like battle-energy surged into the sky, creating a spectacular scene.

Time seemed to freeze in that moment. On the mountain, Marien, Shura, Xiao Xi, and Lofrei watched in stunned disbelief as Zhang Wen deflected Batuli’s battle-energy and kept charging downward.

Such swordsmanship was something they had never seen before, not even heard of! Could someone really deflect the battle-energy of a super-tier warrior with just a sword?

Zhang Wen wasn’t even a super-tier yet, and he was already this strong. If he reached the super-tier level, how powerful would he become? He might even be able to challenge a King!

A few Saint-tier and Tenth-tier warriors trailing behind Batuli and Batengping also stood with their mouths agape. In their eyes, Batuli, the super-tier warrior, was like a god. How could he be unable to stop this man? How could his battle-energy be deflected with a single sword strike?

Such swordsmanship was clearly beyond the capabilities of an ordinary person. Even the legendary sword techniques of the Northern Realm’s Overlord might not be able to achieve such a feat! How powerful could this person be, to surpass even a Realm Overlord?

In that instant, Zhang Wen became an unfathomable and terrifying figure in their minds.

In just a single breath, Zhang Wen collided head-on with Batuli and Batengping, who had unleashed their full battle-energy.

“Boom!!!”

…

The crater of the volcano was a massive, dark, bottomless pit. Faint red light flickered from within, and acrid smoke, thick with the stench of sulfur, continuously rose from the hole, twisting into a dark column.

The crater sloped at a thirty-degree angle, and already, warriors from various teams lay scattered across the ground—some too severely injured to move, some lifeless, and others who had chosen to withdraw after being wounded.

At this moment, only one person remained standing—

The blue-clothed Anthony!

No one would have guessed that he would be the last one left! The competition for the Southern Realm’s Overlord was filled with powerful warriors, including ten super-tier fighters. Logically, Anthony’s strength should not have been the strongest, let alone capable of withstanding repeated attacks from various teams.

But the fact was—he did it.

Apollo the Sun God was pinned to the ground by the neck, barely able to breathe. This low-key super-tier warrior’s face was flushed red from suffocation, his eyes wide with disbelief.

“An… Anthony, are you insane? Even your own people—cough—how could you do this?” Apollo struggled to speak, unable to believe what was happening. Though he was low-key, his strength was definitely not weak. Few knew that his power was even close to that of Omega the Thunder God. How could he possibly lose to Anthony? He was nothing more than a dog under Hassan—where did he get such strength?

“Fool, who the hell do you think is on your side? There’s only one Southern Realm Overlord position. Step aside for your brother!” Anthony said, raising his free left hand and clenching his fingers. Instantly, brilliant battle-energy lightning surged between his fingers—a pressure only someone at the peak of the super-tier could emit!

“You… where did you get this… strength… impossible…”

Apollo’s words were abruptly cut off as Anthony pressed his palm into his chest, unleashing a torrent of violent battle-energy. Accompanied by a thunderous explosion of battle-light, curling black smoke rose briefly, and after a few seconds, Anthony reappeared. His blue robe was soaked in blood, his face twisted and grotesque, like a vengeful ghost.

“Apollo, didn’t you know there’s something called ‘Zero Formula—Ancient Reagent’ in this world?” He looked around at the ruined battlefield, chuckled coldly, and casually sat down on a rock by the crater’s edge, one knee raised on the stone, as if he had just ascended a throne.

Looking around, there were no enemies left.

…

The moment Zhang Wen collided with Batengping and Batuli, a violent surge of battle-energy erupted like an aurora!

But Batuli and Batengping quickly realized they had been deceived again by Zhang Wen! Even though Batengping had some understanding of Zhang Wen, he never expected that Zhang Wen had still hidden his true speed, causing both super-tier warriors to miscalculate.

In a flash, Zhang Wen used the “Ghost Step,” the fastest technique he had. In what seemed an impossible situation, he slipped through the narrow gap between the two super-tier warriors. This was made possible by a subtle psychological error in their coordination. Though powerful, the two were not true allies. Even while fighting a common enemy, they maintained a small safety distance between them.

Zhang Wen exploited that tiny gap. First, he lured them into a false sense of security with a slightly slower speed, then suddenly accelerated and forced his way through their connection point.

It was a risky move, but also the only way to survive!

By the time Batengping and Batuli realized what had happened and turned to glare at him, Zhang Wen had already used that split-second advantage to place his sword at the enemy team’s necks.

Dual swords! One in each hand, pressing against the necks of four people. These four Saint-tier warriors, the strongest under the two super-tier fighters, were instantly subdued by Zhang Wen in an instant. It was something that should have been absolutely impossible—but it happened. It could only be said that Zhang Wen’s hidden tactics had been too successful. Even the two super-tier warriors had been deceived. How could these Saint-tier warriors, weaker than the super-tier, have imagined that an enemy could suddenly appear right in front of them?

Moreover, Zhang Wen’s speed far exceeded anyone’s expectations. Even Zhang Wen himself hadn’t expected it to go this smoothly. It seemed that after being with the girls, his Spring Water Method had indeed improved. This time, he had brought an extra piece of Mind Steel as a precaution, and now both pieces formed dual longswords. The four Saint-tier warriors were instantly subdued and taken hostage.

Even though Batengping and Batuli were furious, they now had to be cautious.

As Zhang Wen thought this, Batuli suddenly roared, stepped forward, and his killing intent solidified into a tangible force, his aura rapidly rising. He was about to unleash a devastating attack! Batuli’s personality was not calm—he was overwhelmed by frustration and humiliation, and he was ready to kill Zhang Wen at all costs.

Fortunately, there was still someone calm—Batengping. His deep eyes flashed with thought. From Zhang Wen’s dual swords holding four Saint-tier warriors hostage, with two in front and two behind as shields, he could tell that Zhang Wen had already prepared for the worst. If it came to a fight, it would end in mutual destruction.

Zhang Wen would certainly not escape the wrath of the two super-tier warriors, but if Batengping’s team lost all their Saint-tier warriors, how could they compete for the Southern Realm Overlord at the summit? Looking at the lightning and battle-energy flashing at the peak, it was not hard to imagine an even more difficult battle waiting there.

Thinking this, he grabbed Batuli, who was almost out of control, and said, “Wait!”

“What are we waiting for?” Batuli glared at him, barely holding back from attacking Batengping himself.

On Zhang Wen’s dual swords flowed dazzling silver light—a unique transformation from the fusion of Spring Water Method and battle-energy. It not only carried the destructive power of battle-energy but also the enduring, flowing nature of the Spring Water Method. A faint smile played on his lips as he slightly adjusted his swords, pressing the blades deeper against the carotid arteries of the four Saint-tier warriors, causing them to shudder and break into a cold sweat.

Even as Saint-tier warriors, they were completely helpless against such a fast and unfathomable opponent holding a sword to their necks. All they could do was silently pray that he wouldn’t be too ruthless and leave them a chance to survive.

“You’re still the calm one, Batengping,” Zhang Wen said casually, praising him. “I know I can’t beat the two of you. If you really want to fight to the death, I’ll definitely lose. But…” his tone shifted, his face still calm and smiling, “if that happens, I guess I’ll have to mourn for you first.”

His eyes swept over the hostages. The four Saint-tier warriors felt indignant. In their own lands, they were respected elites, always surrounded by followers. Now, they were reduced to this humiliating state.

Though filled with resentment, they dared not show it on their faces, forcing out smiles that looked more like grimaces, silently begging for mercy.

Seeing the pitiful state of his subordinates and their spineless expressions, Batuli nearly exploded with rage. But his mind became strangely calm. His bloodshot eyes darkened as he said coldly, “What do you want?” Vowing silently that no matter the outcome of this final match, he would find a way to kill Zhang Wen. Otherwise, the humiliation would never leave him.

“You two can kill me and wipe out my entire team. But I’m not some soft target you can just crush. At the very least, I’ll take your four Saint-tier warriors with me.” Zhang Wen shrugged, still appearing indifferent. “And you’ve seen my speed. Maybe I’ll kill all your team before you even kill me!”

“You! Bastard! Do you really want to die?” Batuli clenched his fists so hard they cracked, his eyes nearly shooting fire at Zhang Wen. “Don’t you fear that I’ll sacrifice a few to take your head?”

Even Batengping felt that Zhang Wen had gone too far. What benefit was there in humiliating two powerful warriors like this?

“I’m just stating the facts. Besides, my team still has three Saint-tier warriors. Combined with my strength, it would take you more than ten minutes to eliminate us all. Oh, we’ve probably already spent two or three minutes talking. You’ve got seven minutes left. If you go over time, the Arbitration Committee will disqualify you. Want to bet on it?”

As he spoke, the silver battle-energy on his dual swords suddenly flared, vibrating with a “buzz” and drawing blood from the necks of the four Saint-tier warriors.

“Ahh! You…”

“Be careful! Let’s talk this through calmly.”

“Don’t move your hands… Boss Batuli…”

“Captain Batuli!!”

The four Saint-tier warriors cried out in unison, panic evident in their voices. None of them wanted to die, and it was clear that the opponent was open to negotiation.

Batuli nearly charged forward, but hearing the pleas of his own men, he hesitated. His face turned red with rage, and with a low roar, he swung his right fist. A massive battle-energy flame, five to six meters tall, swept outward, instantly vaporizing the rocks and molten lava on the left side of the mountain path.

“Zhang Wen, you’ve got guts! Tell me your conditions…” Batuli growled, his eyes locked on Zhang Wen. Never before had anyone made a super-tier warrior like Batuli suffer such humiliation. He would repay this hatred tenfold, a hundredfold!

“My demands are simple,” Zhang Wen said, slightly frowning at Batuli’s near-loss of control. “I just want you and your team to go ahead, and don’t harm my people. Of course, these four will have to stay with me a little longer. I’ll release them once I confirm you’ve left.”

Batengping exchanged a glance with Batuli. “We don’t have time to waste.”

Batuli let out a heavy growl and turned away.

“This time, you win!”

Batengping waved for the others to follow him, bypassing Zhang Wen. The mountain path had been blasted wider by Batuli’s earlier attack, making it much more spacious.

Before leaving, everyone cast complex, hard-to-describe glances at Zhang Wen. They felt deeply humiliated—so many powerful people, yet they were all manipulated by a single man.

But the facts were clear. Zhang Wen was like a hard little stone—if you wanted to kick him aside, you’d have to pay an unbearable price.

Everyone remained silent, following the furious Batuli and Batengping toward the volcanic crater. Batengping believed Zhang Wen would release the four Saint-tier warriors. Unless Zhang Wen truly wanted to provoke both super-tier warriors into hunting him down, he wouldn’t do anything foolish like breaking an agreement.

As they passed the stunned Shura, Marien, and others, Batuli still couldn’t let go. He glared at them, his battle-energy flickering restlessly. Fortunately, Batengping managed to calm him with a few words.

After Batengping and his group had walked dozens of meters away, Zhang Wen finally joined up with Lofrei, Xiao Xi, and the others, releasing the four Saint-tier hostages along the way.

Watching the four Saint-tier warriors flee in disgrace, Xiao Xi stuck out her tongue and gave Zhang Wen a thumbs-up. “Zhang Wen, you’re amazing!”

Lofrei didn’t say much, but her eyes held deep thoughts. Marien approached, surprised that Zhang Wen had survived. She had thought he would be defeated, but没想到 he possessed such skills. His value was far greater than she had imagined.

Thinking this, she gazed at Zhang Wen with a gleam in her eyes.

Shura patted Zhang Wen’s shoulder, unable to say anything more. He had seen too many surprises from Zhang Wen in the arenas of Kasaress, and he was almost numb to them.

This guy is truly a monster!

Shura muttered inwardly. But thinking again, if the Northern Realm’s Overlord was indeed that female swordsman who had once caused chaos in the arena, then Zhang Wen had actually defeated the Northern Realm’s Overlord before. Compared to that, holding four Saint-tier warriors hostage and threatening two super-tier warriors didn’t seem that shocking.

In short, this guy was definitely a monster!

Shura finally made that judgment in his heart.

“Alright, we’ve been here almost ten minutes. If we don’t move soon, we’ll be disqualified. Let’s go.” Zhang Wen didn’t bother wasting words with these strangely staring people. Thinking back, he felt it was more of an instinctual impulse—he just had to do it, so he did. Reflecting on it now, managing to find a flaw in two super-tier warriors and subduing four Saint-tier warriors was mostly a matter of luck. It wasn’t something that could be repeated.

But if he hadn’t taken that risky gamble at that moment, the result might have been that everyone was wiped out. Though the process was thrilling, the outcome was ultimately good.

Looking at the suddenly quiet summit, Zhang Wen had a faint, strange premonition. He shook his head, temporarily pushing the feeling aside, and quickened his pace toward the peak with Shura and the others.

No matter what awaited at the top, they would know once they reached the crater.