Returning to the Mysterious Era-Chapter 509 - Arrogant Extreme Combat Artist

It was July 16, the second day after the Treatment Ward arrived in East Sea County.

The early morning air felt clean, and the morning mist had just dispersed. At what used to be the Treatment House in East Sea City, one burly man after another, clad in clear combat attire, was practicing their daily morning training. Heavy footsteps stomped on the ground, leaving deep boot prints and sending sand flying.

Some of the doctors from the Treatment Ward located a fairly quiet spot, either sitting cross-legged or assuming a horse stance. They looked utterly focused, with deep breaths that forcefully expelled air from their nostrils. From time to time, the rhythms of their heartbeat, breathing, and blood reached a special frequency, stimulating the Golem Seeds within them.

One after another, varying intensities of life magnetic fields emanated, stacking on top of each other. Birds, ants, snakes, and insects all kept their distance, scurrying away from the area.

Another group of Treatment Ward doctors took up a more open area. They removed their upper garments to avoid damaging them, revealing row upon row of bronze-hued, well-built torsos under the morning sun. They looked like bodybuilders who had spent decades training, with muscles as firm as rocks.

Moreover, they all had black tattoos that exuded a sinister yet peculiar aura. From afar, these clearly resembled the totems of some primeval, savage tribe. They gave off a wild, ancient, and blood-soaked sense of formidable power.

In the middle of that band of what appeared to be the most valiant warriors of a tribe, over a dozen scrawny "bean sprouts" stood, trembling as they surveyed their surroundings.

They were led by a thin youth named Laixi, who pressed his lips together and walked slowly. All at once, he heard a series of loud thuds beside him and turned to see two burly men exchanging blows just over ten meters away. It was as if two massive black bears were colliding, their bear-like paws sending sweat flying. Their shoulders crashed and slammed into each other with such force that the ground around them shook, leaving small stones bouncing in their wake.

"What a brutal spar... isn't that basically a life-or-death match?" Laixi's eyelids twitched as he glanced around at the other Treatment Ward doctors. He realized in shock that those two burly men had been holding back significantly to fight in a polite and restrained manner. Most of the doctors sparring around them displayed an even more intense level of combat, like battering rams slamming into each other's bodies.

One could clearly see the impact from punches meant for the chest exploding out through the back. Shadows of their fists flickered in the air as though aiming to kill. Some fights even escalated to drawing blood. One man sported five-fingered scratch marks ripped across his chest. Half of someone else’s face was swollen and bruised, and blood was streaming from another’s eyelid. Worse, some had their fingers snapped mid-blow, flailing around as clots of red and white became visible. From time to time, fragments of broken bone flew to the ground.

"Do they actually want to kill each other?!" Laixi shivered and felt a terrible foreboding surge in his heart. "Surely the so-called training for us won't be this, right? Please, no. That'd kill people—truly kill people... that'll definitely kill us..."

However, some matters were not subject to human will. All of the original doctors stationed at the East Sea County Treatment House were subjected to a complete overhaul, given Golem Seeds and Golem totems, then absorbed into the main group for training so that the menacing, savage aura of the larger force could envelop them.

Cassius did not want a pack of followers who would fight as a collective pack of wolves to hunt down formidable monsters. That was, in his eyes, a sign of weakness. Cassius sought for each underling to become a monster in their own right. One that was more ruthless, more vicious, and more berserk than any foe.

Only then would those forces in the shadows learn true fear.

Naturally, this had both upsides and downsides. While the Treatment Ward instilled terror in the dark creatures, the people they were fighting for would also feel intimidated. They might even become avoidant or mistrustful of the Treatment Ward as an institution.

That might somewhat impact the public image of the Treatment Ward. However, that hardly mattered. Fists were always harder than face, and that was the truth.

As the minutes ticked by, the morning training neared its end.

Outside the Treatment House, several men in the Hunters' Association uniforms were walking inside, guided by a former East Sea County Treatment House staff member. Rumor had it that the East Sea County Treatment House had undergone certain changes the previous day. People from headquarters had arrived, so they needed to coordinate with the Hunters' Association's East Sea County branch and possibly cooperate in upcoming operations.

Seconds later, they reached the courtyard entrance, and the former East Sea County Treatment House staff member opened the door. The core members of East Sea County's Hunters' Association branch looked up to see a scene from hell.

Several of these core members briefly stopped breathing and started to edge backward in small steps.

In the courtyard, nearly a hundred black-clad behemoths turned their heads in unison upon sensing the commotion. Their eyes, rimmed with streaks of red, all locked on these newcomers, causing a faint sting across their skin. A perilous sense of oppression settled over them as if the very air had become a massive hand pressing down on their shoulders, sending a mild chill through their spines.

"This..."

For a moment, the Hunters' Association core members at the entrance hesitated. It appeared they had no wish to step into the ring of hungry gazes from the towering men in black. Noting their strained expressions and even suspicion, it was clear they suspected a trap and feared being lured into an ambush.

Suddenly, a rapid whoosh cut through the air. A metal token shot forth from deeper within the courtyard like a bullet, embedding itself into the wall of the entrance in a spray of stone fragments.

Clang!

A few Hunters' Association members stepped back in fright, glancing at one another before moving forward to examine it carefully. It turned out to be a shield metal token with studded stone edges. It was about half the size of a palm, as well as cold and heavy to the touch. A demonic face was carved upon its surface, giving off a fierce aura like some kind of savage spirit.

At the top of the metal token was a single numeral.

2

The number 2. It was... a Shadow Hunter badge. The Number Two Shadow Hunter!

At once, the core members of the Hunters' Association straightened, realizing a powerhouse from headquarters was indeed in East Sea City. The Number Two Shadow Hunter belonged to the true upper ranks of the Hunters' Association. Merely showing that badge granted him temporary authority over the entire Hunters' Association branch.

In contrast, the Treatment Ward, though important to the Hunters' Association, was not completely unified and rather functioned as a parallel entity. Hence, the Hunters' Association could support the Treatment Ward, but could not be governed by it. That would essentially invert their roles.

From somewhere within the courtyard came a cold, grave voice.

"I am temporarily taking over your East Sea County branch. Is that all right?"

"No problem at all, no problem," the members quickly responded.

"Good. Now, bring me all the information your East Sea County branch has gathered over the past decade. That includes information on the Eclipse Society, the Totem Temple, Black Rain Manor, along with any recent news in the Eastern Covert Martial Arts community about the exchange tournament, and any sign of the Gate Organization..."

The cold voice paused briefly, then continued. "In addition, find a place here in East Sea County where my hundred men can station themselves, preferably an abandoned estate or a villa."

"Understood!" The members nodded at once. They retrieved the Shadow Hunter badge from the wall and headed back to their Hunters' Association branch to carry out orders.

On July 17, the grounds of the abandoned Ivy Manor in the outskirts of East Sea County were being reconstructed. A large group of black-clad men set about cleaning the manor, clearly intending to use it as a long-term base while they awaited further events.

Meanwhile, members of the East Sea County Hunters' Association branch came and went within Ivy Manor, transporting large amounts of supplies. Some were for daily use while some was related to the intelligence that Cassius needed.

Clearly, given the presence of the Number Two Shadow Hunter, the East Sea County Hunters' Association branch dared not slacken one bit.

On July 18, torrential rain poured down from a gloomy sky.

A gaunt figure in a black cloak appeared through that world of raindrops and mist at Ivy Manor's gate and opened it without hesitation.

Hermit had traveled beneath the stars and braved the elements, relying solely on his formidable body to hurry along. He had practically crossed more than half of the Hongli Empire. He had even notified them of his arrival.

It was all because Cassius's message had hinted that he might impart a Covert Martial Arts technique, and who would not be excited by that prospect? Hence, Hermit had pushed himself relentlessly, traveling without rest. At last, on the fourth day after the Treatment Ward's arrival in East Sea City, he, too, had arrived.

On July 19, the weather was clear, with pleasant sunshine and gentle breeze.

The four commanders of the Treatment Ward were all present.

The three Southern Dipper fist techniques Cassius had invented in the Howling Canyon of the underworld also made their debut. One was the Azure Wind Fist, incorporating spiral properties; the second was the Fire Stone Fist, containing explosive force; and the last was the Ripple Fist, employing a shock trait.

In particular, while devising the Azure Wind Fist, he integrated the Azure Wind Flow Secret Technique as part of its foundational framework. It fulfilled a vision Cassius had held for quite some time.

The three Treatment Ward commanders underwent a Qi infusion from Cassius from morning until nightfall, rapidly learning these three fist techniques through a special shortcut. As a result, Cassius expended considerable energy and had to rest for quite some time. If it took such a toll on someone at the Qi level of an extreme combat artist, that brutal infusion technique was clearly not something ordinary combat artists could handle.

Bright sunshine greeted everyone on July 20.

The three commanders, having absorbed their new Covert Martial Arts techniques, were in their adaptation phase, so they were eager to fight. Coincidentally, Cassius discovered a branch of the Eclipse Society near East Sea City, offering an ideal target for them to sink their teeth into.

So, he ordered not three, but four commanders and their squads to sweep through it outright. They were tasked with destroying that branch of the Eclipse Society, which lacked any Moon God statue.

He had anticipated that the Treatment Ward would need only half a morning to finish them off. Unexpectedly, the operation stretched from early morning until late into the night.

The large group of Treatment Ward doctors finally trickled back around eleven o'clock or so. The four commanders bore looks of exhilaration, as though it had been a satisfying experience. Along with them, they brought some captured spoils of war.

When Cassius saw them, he thought, Wait, isn't that Dead Blood? What happened?

After a detailed explanation from Fog Man, he learned it was all a coincidence.

The Treatment Ward had gone out in full force to tackle the Eclipse Society branch, only to find the Blood Spirit Society nearby. As it happened, several top members of the Blood Spirit Society had been visiting the Eclipse Society branch, seemingly seeking certain supplies or trading intelligence. Thus, they too suffered the misfortune of getting swept into the fray.

Once the new wave of Treatment Ward doctors began killing, they turned into mad dogs that could not be leashed. The more enemies they faced, the happier they became! The stronger the foes, the more delighted they were!

In short, the scene then was too gruesome to watch. Though outnumbered two to one, the Treatment Ward tore through them like a sharpened scythe through wheat. The Eclipse Society's branch tried multiple tactics, but each was promptly subdued.

The leader of the Blood Spirit Society branch even formed an Amalgamation, only to be burst apart in a combined assault by Hermit, Nine Serpents, and Fog Man. Odo, another commander who had to coordinate the doctors' battle, found himself with no role to play, so he vented his frustration by brutally punishing the top members of the Eclipse Society.

When it ended, only a small handful of remnants had escaped; most of the enemy was annihilated. Some of the stronger captives were taken back to Ivy Manor, as the four commanders intended to exploit the Dead Blood's notable regenerative capacity to practice their fist techniques, repeatedly testing the specifics of their special force.

Put simply, they had found themselves a self-healing punching bag.

Cassius was left speechless. The Blood Spirit Society had simply been minding its own business, only to be struck by tragedy out of nowhere. It was like sitting at home enjoying hotpot and music, yet suddenly fucked by a pack of gangsters. Sometimes, destruction befell for no real reason.

On July 21, the sky was overcast and the temperature was pleasantly cool.

Two figures emerged outside Ivy Manor. One wore a billowing black robe, while the other was garbed in glimmering metallic armor. Their auras were tightly contained.

It was Ghost-Man and Iron Knight.

Cassius had been waiting for their arrival, and after some discussion, the three left East Sea City in the morning, apparently with pressing matters to attend to. It was not until late on July 22 that Cassius returned. Meanwhile, the bottle of fake-death pill he kept in his arms was more than half used up.

On July 23, the seventh day since Cassius came to East Sea City.

The exchange tournament, long promoted and prepared by the Eastern Covert Martial Arts community, finally began. Masters and prodigies from Covert Martial Arts sects across the nation could enter simply by virtue of belonging to the Covert Martial Arts community.

No invitations or formal letters were required, only a certain level of strength. They could observe the exchange tournament, or even compete. The Eastern Covert Martial Arts community openly welcomed Covert Martial Arts sects both near and far.

No actual matches took place during the first three days, since they were mostly focused on interaction among elders and disciples from various sects. The atmosphere was relatively mild and cordial.

It wasn't until July 26, when an ocean-faring vessel from the south arrived at East Sea City that things changed. Covert Martial Arts masters from the United States of Yana disembarked at the pier.

Their leader glanced at the Eastern Covert Martial Arts reception party, gave a frigid chuckle, and uttered arrogantly. "So this is all the Covert Martial Arts of the Hongli Empire can offer? What a disappointment..."

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