*Pop~*
It sounded like a cork suddenly pulled from a wine bottle.
After that crisp sound, the frozen silence seemed shattered by the blow of a ten-thousand-ton sledgehammer, and all the world's noises rushed back to the mortal realm.
Midair, the Corrupted had no time to scream before shattering into countless sparks that scattered in all directions. Most flickered feebly, then died out in silence.
However, tens of li away, a quietly floating flame abruptly expanded. A terrified face emerged from within, followed by a reconstituting body that hovered dimly between existence and nonexistence.
Heavily wounded.
In this hyper-velocity clash far outstripping normal human neural reflexes, not even a tenth of a second had elapsed—merely an instant.
Only now did he finally have time to look back.
Then he saw his pursuer.
Alas, it was no pretty girl.
It was a stubble-chinned middle-aged tourist in a palm-tree shirt and floral shorts. That smirking, annoying face made one itch to slap him twice across the cheeks.
Yet seeing that smile now sent a chill through the Sin-Bearer's entire being!
One of the contemporary Two Fingers of the An family!
Like his younger brother, cursed with a ridiculously long name: "How-Can-I-Lower-My-Brow-and-Bend-My-Waist-to-Serve-the-Rich-and-Powerful."
Pronouncing that wretched name wasted half a jin of spit. What on earth was your father thinking back then?
The moment that thought crossed his mind, his body exploded into thin air once more.
He hadn't even had time to realize the other had struck.
The instant he saw An Neng's finger flick, he was gravely wounded again!
"You know, having a longer name actually has its perks."
With his hands behind his back, An Neng strolled through the void as if taking a walk. Pointing fingers as if counting off soldiers, he snuffed out the sparks the foe had scattered one by one, saying placidly, "For instance, with more syllables, whenever an opponent thinks about it, their brain takes just a fraction longer to process. That creates extra idle thoughts and distractions to interfere with them."
Even if it was just a tiny sliver!
A fleeting window of less than a thousandth of a second was all Hunting Finger: Flying Light needed to calmly aim, lock on, gather power, and project—executing a consummate kill!
Just like right now...
Treading on empty air, he doggedly pursued that streak of speeding lightning, refusing to let go.
Though he lacked any Blessing that granted direct flight, consummate skill overcame the limitation—just like Xiao An being flown like a kite by Ji Jue in the sky back then.
Now he didn't even need a string.
A wisp of cloud or a droplet of water was enough to drift with the wind.
Thus, with an effortless, leisurely stride, he chased thunder and lightning.
Relying solely on his own speed, he clung to the energy-form Youshuang Sin-Bearer's heels, closing in step by step. Every strike snuffed out the sparks used for rebirth or deception before the foe could even react, until after a few short seconds, the Youshuang Sin-Bearer broke down completely, roaring in fury.
Malice and savagery surged within the circulating spiritus: "The Annihilating Flame is about to erupt! Are you really going to ignore those people's lives?!"
An Neng advanced indifferently, completely unmoved.
The answer: *What the hell does that have to do with me?*
*I'm a White Stag; I don't do bodyguard work.*
*Besides, it's not like that dog Ji Jue hired me. Why should I give a damn if he lives or dies?*
In response, he finally drew his weapon, aiming from afar at the terrified, flickering Sin-Bearer.
Projection was a versatile discipline without strict media requirements. As long as one mastered the skill, picking a blade of grass, plucking a flower, or catching a dewdrop sufficed to achieve the goal.
Hence, practitioners usually had their own personal preferences when choosing weapons. An Ran favored razor-sharp iron slips, while An Ning preferred hairpins, stickers, or badges and gachapon toys from blind boxes.
As an elder, An Neng couldn't be so childish; he needed something grand, dignified, and high-class.
So he favored an iron hammer.
A solid iron hammer with a head as large as two human heads combined!
"Want to make a bet?"
An Neng grinned, offering a pleasant suggestion. "Next, you can dodge left, or you can dodge right. Bet on which side I'll pick."
He said, "I bet your life."
The Youshuang Sin-Bearer roared, pushing out a vast tide of lightning to intercept while his body abruptly shattered into ten thousand motes of light, scattering in all directions to flee.
What a pity; he refused to bet.
But no matter.
Adults liked having it all!
The instant the Flying Light iron hammer vanished from An Neng's hand, countless phantom hammers manifested from the cosmic gloom like meteors, locked on, and rained down!
*Boom!* Ten seconds earlier, Xinquan.
When that wisp of Annihilating Flame fell from the heavens, a figure abruptly emerged beside Ji Jue, reached out, and pulled off a cloak of invisibility to reveal his presence.
Though an Embers, he possessed knotted muscles, clad in weathered bronze armor and hulking like a giant.
His aged face was lined with wrinkles, completely impassive, filled only with cold indifference.
One hand dragged an exaggeratedly large flamberge, while the other bore an ancient round shield. Raising the shield, he met the plunging Annihilating Flame.
Intricate spiritus circuits and flashes of Blessings flared from it, and the towering phantom of a fortress city rose over all of Xinquan, cloaking the earth.
Circulating spiritus erected a precipitous wall out of thin air.
A dual-Blessing chain intertwined and coalesced into one—a Heavenly Work straddling the two paths of Tianyuan and Desolate Ruins!
There was no earth-shaking crash or explosion; not even a sound could be heard. The moment the Annihilating Flame struck the phantom shield, it vanished like raindrops into a pond, swallowed by the city phantom within. One could faintly see buildings shattering in an instant as flames surged, but as if sealed in a bottle, nothing affected the outside. Soon, as the flames subsided, the phantom city began to regenerate, returning to its original state!
In less than a few seconds, the Annihilating Flame capable of reducing Xinquan to ash vanished without a trace.
When the newcomer lowered his shield and gazed coldly down at the stunned Pacquiao below, Pacquiao froze in place, utterly incredulous—*Sneaky! You're so fucking dirty!*
*It was bad enough that I brought an Exaltation-tier teammate to ambush you, but you brought two Exaltation-tier teammates to ambush me back!*
*Who's the real monster here?!*
And as for the newcomer...
Seeing the long golden beard and braided hair beneath the horned helmet, he was completely dumbfounded.
Northern-style armor, a North Wind Workshop Heavenly Work, golden hair and beard, and a fucking Exaltation-tier Embers!
Only one person in the world matched all four descriptions.
The contemporary Master Overseer Craftsman of the legendary North Wind Workshop, courtier and alchemical consultant to the Grand Lord of the Northern Realm, logistics officer of the Dragon Bone Fleet, Exaltation-tier Embers master...
—Yellowbeard!
"Looks like there won't be any more variables," Ji Jue sighed softly, glancing down at Pacquiao. "I'll have to trouble you with this one, so an upstart junior like me can witness the grandeur of the Northern Realm."
Yellowbeard looked back at him, cool and perplexed. "How did Ye Xian ever produce a shameless student like you?"
"In this world, only the thick-skinned get to live comfortably, don't they?" Ji Jue grinned, unbothered. "If I were you, old sir, I'd hurry up. If the cooked duck flies away, you won't just lose the wings—you won't even get a feather."
As he spoke, explosive rumbles sounded continuously.
Vibrations traveled through the sewer pipes across Xinquan. Driven by high-pressure, superheated crucibles, massive clouds of vaporized metal erupted like iron walls rising from the ground. Then, ravenously gorging on all free spiritus, it solidified, erecting towering walls that severed inside from out.
Though such an obstacle was merely a kick's worth of effort to an Exaltation-tier powerhouse, would anyone give Pacquiao the chance to kick?
"Run?" Yellowbeard sneered. "With what?"
*Clang!*
A colossal metallic crash rang atop the building.
Yellowbeard swung his flamberge like a sledgehammer, slamming it hard against his shield, sending out a resonant ringing.
Clashing spiritus circuits and intersecting Blessings bolstered one another, activating simultaneously!
The shield's vibration summoned the city phantom once more, layering over Ji Jue's foundation to turn Xinquan into a sealed death trap.
Meanwhile, the sword's howling shrieked like a war horn, high and far-reaching.
With every strike, deep within the earth came a low rumble like roots sprouting through soil and rock. After three strikes, three grotesque towering trees burst from the ground, growing, blossoming, and withering into ash.
Where the trees had stood, three six-to-seven-meter-tall giants now loomed!
North Wind Workshop's secret creation: Hero's Seed!
Unlike the half-finished product Frederick used in the exam, these three pre-planted specimens were perfected creations cultivated over a lifetime by Master Overseer Craftsman Yellowbeard, having accompanied him through two Battles of the White River and countless slaughters!
[Farbauti], [Hymir], [Surtr]!
In an instant, the hues of lightning, frost, and fire erupted from the earth. The spirits of three Exaltation-tier heroes awakened and drew their swords without hesitation.
They swarmed forward!
Earth-shaking spiritus fluctuations erupted. Even miles away, the chill and ferocity pricked Ji Jue's skin, opening his eyes!
Yellowbeard glanced back, noticing Ji Jue sneakily taking notes, and sneered mockingly: "Understand any of it? Want me to give you a lecture?"
*Stealing techniques from under my nose? Utterly brazen!*
*If this were North Wind Workshop, I'd gouge out one of your eyes first, you ungrateful brat!*
"Not much, just a bit," Ji Jue replied honestly, asking curiously: "During the soul-gestation phase of the Hero's Seed, does it rely on an aether record or Heart Pivot imprints? Mind expanding on that?"
"..."
Yellowbeard fell silent, struck dumb.
His face turned worse than if he had swallowed a fly, his eyelid twitching—*Fuck, he actually understood?!*
*If this were North Wind... wait, he's not at North Wind!*
*What if...*
Yellowbeard's thoughts turned: *A hero doesn't care about origins. Why not take advantage of Ye Xian not looking, kidnap the kid, and cook the raw rice into porridge?*
*Didn't the Northern Realm rise through pillage and plunder anyway? What's there to be shy about?*
*His temper suits my taste, his talent is undeniable, and his skin is thick enough. Once branded with the North Wind sigil, I can go kowtow to the Plowsmith and ask the old man to mediate. Done deal!*
Alas...
After a moment's hesitation, he reluctantly gave up.
Seeing this kid's dog-hearted, dog-faced look, he probably couldn't be tamed even if captured. It would offend people for nothing and risk Ye Xian's wrath. Forget it, forget it.
Better to take down that three-faced fence-sitter below first to avoid future troubles!
The moment cold ruthlessness flashed in his eyes, he raised and hurled his flamberge again.
It flew into the hand of Giant Surtr. Instantly, metal melted and raging fire erupted, transforming it into a genuine sword of fire.
In the soaring flames, Surtr shrieked and slashed down.
Cracks appeared on Domain: Eternal Dark Charnel Abyss, and the giant leaped into the fray, launching a fearless, lethal assault!
Pacquiao finally took a step back.
From within the siege, he shot a hateful glance toward Ji Jue's position.
Things had come to this; nothing more could be done. Retreat was the only option.
As for the water ghosts he had incited and coerced, who cared if they all died!
Where there's life, there's hope. As long as his foundation at sea remained, he could rebuild the Blood Cleansing Fleet sooner or later and wash away today's disgrace!
What a waste of so many sacrifices.
A twinge of regret flashed across his face, and without hesitation, he triggered Blood-Bone Reincarnation!
*Snap!*
His body exploded into thin air like a bomb, bloody flames shooting into the sky. His soul streamed forth, riding the ritual's resonance back toward his home base on the boundless sea.
He escaped!
Or did he?
Hardly.
The instant his body burst and the secret ritual activated, the rituals bound to Strumpet Town and another secret location both lost resonance at the same time!
Gone!
In his momentary daze, the three giants surrounded him and stabbed him multiple times. Reconstituting his body in wretched disarray, he instinctively looked back toward the ocean.
Strumpet Town...
No, from today on, Strumpet Town was no more.
In that flash of realization, he finally understood why Yellowbeard, logistics officer of the Dragon Bone Fleet, was here!
He couldn't help roaring in agony, practically weeping blood!
Outside Xinquan, Ling Shuo, holding the token, stood under the watch of Wild Gathering Celestial Chosen. He wore manacles to display his harmlessness. Hearing the roar, he looked back, whistling in lingering dread.
What could be more delightful than seeing someone else plunge into hell while escaping unscathed?
"Good thing this old geezer jumped ship fast."
Price? You couldn't agree on price.
Business? You couldn't get it done.
In that case, don't blame Ling Liu for selling out a teammate. Either way, a pig had to be slaughtered—what difference did it make whose throat got cut?
The two Wild Gathering Dragon Heads, who once drew daggers against each other, had long struck a secret alliance!
Not just Ling Liu, but also North Wind Workshop, brought into the fray by Ji Jue's exam acquaintance Frederick!
The Northern Realm had a massive estate, but even wealthy landlords ran short of grain!
Besides, the ambitious new Grand Lord wanted to push beyond the White River belt. During months of life-and-death struggle, these roving water ghosts had constantly tripped them up—especially Pacquiao, who played all sides and drove up prices. Who knew when these scoundrels might put on uniforms and turn into regular troops...
When Ji Jue made a single phone call, it went straight to Frederick's teacher, Master Overseer Craftsman Yellowbeard, and they hit it off immediately.
In just a few days, guided by Ji Jue, various factions intertwined at Xinquan, divided their spoils, and struck a friendly deal.
Ready for the feast!
As for... the Security Bureau?
When Ji Jue discovered Pacquiao's plan, he practically laughed out loud: *You've got to be kidding. Do I really need to call in the Security Bureau just to deal with a water ghost chief?!*
At that very moment, a thousand li away from Xinquan... On the Sea of Hesitation late at night, flames reached into the sky.
Riddled with holes, Strumpet Town slowly collapsed and sank amid the blaze.
A scene of desolation.
The pirates' haven, built upon pillage, finally met its end through pillage.
Relying on Grey Port's secret transit pass, disguised as a relief convoy, and aided by inside operatives to bypass the natural fog belt, the Dragon Bone Fleet had driven straight in. Smashing through defenses with full firepower, they broke into small units and began a massive plundering spree.
Making money wasn't shameful; when it came to pirates, the Northern Realm was the original ancestor!
"That old dog Pacquiao hoarded quite a bit of coin," on the deck, the captain chuckled merrily as he overlooked the burning town and listened to the reports. He looked at the young man beside him with increasing approval.
"Well done, Fred!"
Frederick wore a complex expression. Hearing this, he couldn't help but sigh: "In the end, I was still used by that guy."
"Aren't all allies just people using each other? In this day and age, even having that kind of relationship is rare and precious." The captain waved dismissively, then asked, "What price did you agree on?"
"Fifteen percent," Frederick answered, bowing his head.
"Give him twenty."
The captain patted his shoulder. "Tell him you secured it for him personally."
"Wh—"
Frederick blinked, then realized, lowering his head in gratitude.
Ji Jue drew aggro, creating an empty, defenseless Strumpet Town for the Dragon Bone Fleet to wipe out Pacquiao's roots and reinforcements.
Now, the deal was done.
The fleet could easily turn around and deny it: *Fifteen percent? Never heard of it. Frederick made that up on his own; it doesn't count.*
*We're far away in the Northern Realm anyway—what can you do, bite me to death?*
In fact, if they didn't pay, Ji Jue couldn't exactly show up at their door demanding it. He'd probably just grit his teeth and swallow the bitter pill.
What else could he do? Hang himself from a beam to score points for the Pathetic Squad?
Unfortunately, while that plan had a thousand and one benefits, it had one fatal flaw... You'd have to kill Ji Jue on the spot and bear the consequences.
Otherwise, this bastard had people, land, technology, backing, channels, and capability. He held grudges like his life depended on it, never left room for compromise, and always operated on a complete package of grinding bones and scattering ashes.
If he got pissed and went all-out on production, within a few months, you'd see standard Federation munitions flooding the armies of the northern cities at cost price or practically given away...
Ruining such a great cake and getting targeted by such a dog over a little money was simply not worth it.
Better to share a bit more wealth and keep the friendship alive. Besides, the Northern Realm was currently blockaded by Thousand Islands Trade and desperately short of supplies anyway, wasn't it?
"The weather's turning cold," the captain murmured, gazing at the falling ash and dew on the deck before walking away with his hands behind his back.
By now, Pacquiao was probably turning cold too, wasn't he?
Chapter 423