Duan Lang had been praised by Ye Fan as the rising star of the Heavenly King Hall. So long as he continued his ascent, he was destined to surpass the older generation and was an object of the Hall’s strongest support. No one had expected the ever-loyal Duan Lang to betray the Heavenly King Hall. The one who found it hardest to believe was Black Fog, for he was the one who had personally mentored the man. Duan Lang’s current status and strength were entirely a result of Black Fog’s efforts. He had regarded Duan Lang as his most beloved disciple, yet that same disciple had now run him through with a sword.

"It was you, you little bastard!" Di Que roared.

Duan Lang sneered, "That’s right. It was me."

"Why did you betray us?" Black Fog asked, his voice strained.

Duan Lang’s face twisted with resentment. "I’m the most hardworking person in the Heavenly King Hall, and the most talented! I’ve fought for the Hall for so long! My contributions are hardly less than yours! So why am I not given any real authority? With my strength and ability, my status should be at least on par with yours, yet I have to answer to you for everything! I got into this life to make a name for myself, and you’ve denied me that right. Since I’m not valued here, why shouldn’t I join the stronger Divine Dragon? At least there, I’ll be given important roles, I’ll make a name for myself, and I can better pursue the peak of the Martial Arts Realm!"

At these words, Black Fog’s heart ached. "Unfair to you? Has the Heavenly King Hall been unfair to you? Your talent is undeniable, but don’t you forget, would you be where you are today without the Hall? When you were at the very bottom, it was I who broke the rules to recruit and train you, allowing you to rise so quickly! The Chief himself personally instructed you! We poured our best resources into you, making you one of the highest commanders. In the Chief’s eyes, you were the future—the one meant to carry the banner of the Heavenly King Hall! But now... now you betray the very institution that taught you, that gave you your strength... Duan Lang... I was so wrong about you!"

Black Fog shouted in anguish, seeming to age ten years in that instant. Duan Lang’s betrayal cut him to the core, but what pained him even more was the realization that he was the one who had brought this calamity upon the Heavenly King Hall. If he had not promoted Duan Lang, they would never have fallen into their current state.

Duan Lang’s expression was grim. "Men strive to move upwards, just as water flows downwards. You taught me that. Everyone has their own ambitions. The Heavenly King Hall was nothing more than a stepping stone for me!"

"I’ll kill you!" Nangong lunged forward, ready to strike Duan Lang down. With his strength, killing the traitor would have been a simple matter.

"Wait!" Black Fog stopped him immediately.

Nangong looked at him, confused.

Black Fog’s voice was hollow. "I brought this disaster into our ranks. Now, let me be the one to end it. Commander Nangong, I’ll leave the battle over there to you and your men."

"Alright!" Nangong nodded, then led Di Que’s forces to charge into the fray, soon to clash head-on with the Hidden Killing Building.

Black Fog walked toward Duan Lang step by step, already plunged into despair and wanting only to eliminate this traitor quickly.

Duan Lang stood his ground. "You may have taught me most of my martial arts, but my strength is no less than yours. And now that you’re grievously injured, you’re no match for me!"

"Draw your sword," Black Fog said calmly. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"Heh, very well," Duan Lang jeered. "You’re destined to die by my sword!"

He charged toward Black Fog, who met the attack by swiftly wielding his dagger. Their fiercest battle began. Black Fog ignored the wounds on his body; the physical pain was nothing compared to the agony in his heart. As Duan Lang pressed his ferocious assault, Black Fog countered with swift, desperate strikes, and their fight raged intensely.

Meanwhile, with the addition of the Hidden Killing Building, the Divine Dragon’s army grew even more formidable. Their combat power was already immense; if not for the vast numbers of the Heavenly King Alliance, they would have been unstoppable. Now, with the mysterious Hidden Killing Building joining them, the Divine Dragon’s power had effectively doubled. The Heavenly King Alliance seemed unable to hold them back any longer.

Ye Fan fought furiously, his battle with the Master of the Grey Dragon reaching a fever pitch. After unleashing his three-move combination, the Master of the Grey Dragon had grown steadily weaker. Ye Fan’s only thought was to slay him and reinforce the Heavenly King Alliance. Otherwise, the entire alliance might be annihilated.

Just then, the Master of the Grey Dragon declared, "You have lost!"

"How can I lose when you aren’t dead yet, Grey Dragon?" Ye Fan retorted angrily.

"Is that so?"

A shadow suddenly lunged. Ye Fan reacted in an instant, striking out, but he was a step too late. The shadow’s blade wounded him, and he dropped to one knee, on guard against two opponents.

"You’re late, Hidden Killing Building Master!" the Master of the Grey Dragon said with a hint of displeasure.

The Hidden Killing Building Master replied, "I only strike at the critical moment. That was our agreement. So this is the little brat who beat you into this state?"

"That’s right. Do not underestimate him," the Master of the Grey Dragon warned immediately.

"I never underestimate anyone," the Hidden Killing Building Master declared. "With the two of us, his death is certain!"

"My thoughts exactly!" the Master of the Grey Dragon agreed. They flanked Ye Fan, cutting off any chance of escape.

"Attack!"

They struck with savage force. Ye Fan had never expected another opponent. He had to admit that this time, he had miscalculated.

"Return to Origin!" Ye Fan roared.

"Pathetic!" In the blink of an eye, the Hidden Killing Building Master was before him. He thrust his eerie dagger forward, sinking it into Ye Fan’s chest.

"UNGH!"

It wasn’t over. A kick from the Master of the Grey Dragon sent Ye Fan flying, pinning him in place. He spat out a mouthful of blood, utterly exhausted. While the Hidden Killing Building Master was not as strong as him, the man was clearly a master of combat tactics, striking at his moment of absolute weakness. Ye Fan was at his most vulnerable, seemingly on the verge of death.

"Decapitate him!" the Hidden Killing Building Master commanded, moving to strike.

But Ye Fan just growled, "You have reinforcements... and so do I!"

"Oh? And what reinforcements could you possibly have now?" the Master of the Grey Dragon asked with contempt.

"You’ll see soon enough," Ye Fan promised.

The Hidden Killing Building Master was a shrewd man. He scanned the area but saw no one suspicious. He started walking toward Ye Fan. However, just then, a tremendous roar echoed from the distance as a snow-capped mountain collapsed.

"What is this?!"

Both the Hidden Killing Building Master and the Master of the Grey Dragon were stunned. They hadn’t anticipated such a development. The fighting across the battlefield ground to a halt as an avalanche thundered down. From within the cascade of snow, ferocious beasts began to rise.

Led by a gigantic Grassland Bear, these beasts charged forward.

"Damn it, it’s a beast tide!"

The men from the Divine Dragon and the Hidden Killing Building panicked. Faced with such an overwhelming tide of beasts, their courage failed them. There were at least a thousand of them—the most savage creatures imaginable. Never mind the ferocious beasts that possessed a sliver of intelligence—even the ordinary wild animals in the horde were enough to fill them with terror.

At the forefront, the sentient Grassland Bear, clearly a Spiritual Beast, commanded countless ferocious beasts and wild animals to sweep forward, devouring scores of their enemies in an instant.