Within Wushuang City, inside the War Clan’s meeting room, Hei Qi sat at the table, radiating sinister Dark Energy. Even while motionless, he exuded a pressure that made others recoil.

Gan Xiangyu studied his problematic little sworn brother. Why was he so obsessed?

“Hei Qi, we already have Han Wu’s report. When the legendary Armament Spirit appears, he will definitely join the contest. You can kill him then.”

“Why reveal yourself now?”

Both Gan Xiangyu and Gong Jun were trying to persuade him.

“Three days, and another three days, and another three days, and yet another three days. It’s been half a month, Brother Xiangyu! Letting him live any longer is a humiliation to me!” Hei Qi shouted, his voice thick with bloodlust.

Gan Xiangyu frowned. He was having a headache. He had indeed sent someone to assassinate Han Wu after discovering his location, but circumstances had changed. The War Clan had become core members of the team representing Wushuang City.

Wushuang City had two aces. Gan Xiangyu was the public face and official leader, while Hei Qi was the hidden card. If the latter acted now, he would reveal their second ace in advance. That would be unwise.

Moreover, they had learned that Han Wu was the team leader for Everlight City. If Hei Qi went there to kill him, Everlight City’s city lord would not sit idly by. If the city lord killed Hei Qi in retaliation, Gan Xiangyu would have no grounds to plead for mercy!

“Hei Qi, listen to me. Wait a few more days for the legendary Armament Spirit to appear. You can kill Han Wu then, and I won’t stop you,” Gan Xiangyu promised.

“No, I’ve decided. No one can stop me, not even you.” Hei Qi stood, turned into a blur of shadow, and vanished.

Gan Xiangyu sighed. Due to the contract with the evil god, Hei Qi was stronger than him now. The only reason Hei Qi remained in the War Clan was the faint sliver of conscience that compelled him to heed Gan Xiangyu’s words.

Now, even that seemed to have been washed away by hatred. The evil god’s bloodlust had turned him into a mindless war machine.

“Gong Jun, take nine men and follow him in secret. Try to bring him back if the situation turns bad,” Gan Xiangyu instructed.

“Gan Xiangyu, you think too highly of me. Do you really believe nine of our best men and I can bring down Hei Qi?”

The core members of the War Clan all knew that Hei Qi was the strongest among them.

Gan Xiangyu sighed. “As long as he kills Han Wu and his grudge is settled, his reason will probably return. You can bring him back then.”

Gong Jun opened his mouth to argue, but Gan Xiangyu growled, “This is an order!”

Gong Jun turned serious and replied in a firm, military tone, “Yes, sir!”

As students of Warfare College, they were all soldiers at heart, and soldiers followed orders. No matter how hard the mission, they had to stake everything to complete it.

“Go, and be careful,” Gan Xiangyu instructed before leaving the meeting room.

The other core members followed. Gong Jun sighed and slammed the table, but he still gathered the men and silently trailed after Hei Qi.

***

Wushuang City wasn’t far from Everlight City. With Hei Qi’s strength, he arrived after running through the night and into the half day. His desire for revenge and his desire to wash his humiliation away filled his body with power.

“Kill Han Wu. Kill Han Wu. Kill Han Wu!” he murmured repeatedly. The obsession clung to him like a lingering grudge he could not release.

The Everlight guards spotted Hei Qi from afar and immediately reported the dangerous figure to their higher-ups.

One of Everlight City’s generals arrived and sensed the evil aura emanating from Hei Qi. His heart skipped a beat. This man is unquestionably evil!

“You, who are you? What are you doing here?” he demanded.

Hei Qi ignored him and unleashed his blade pressure toward the city gates. His 8-Star God-grade blade had consumed his other Divine Weapons and carried numerous powerful effects. This Divine Weapon was on par with those in possession of the city lords of the four strongest cities.

The blade pressure left a twenty-centimeter deep gouge on the city wall. A few more blows would shatter it completely.

The general felt his scalp go numb. He had known that the man was dangerous, but not to this extent. Even the gate made of solid Adamantine Wood couldn’t hold him back. How could flesh withstand such power?

“Quick, call the city lord!” the general shouted, then ordered the soldiers to ready their bows. They had to delay Hei Qi with long-range attacks.

Jin Buhuan received the report and immediately rushed over. He saw the shattered city gate and the fallen guards. A demonic black figure was charging through the streets of Everlight City.

Hei Qi cut down everyone in his path, shouting, “Han Wu, come out! If you don’t come out, I will keep killing!”

Hei Qi’s black blade killed many civilians, which angered Jin Buhuan. The reason no longer mattered. Attacking Everlight City’s citizens in broad daylight was an outright insult.

“You barbarian! How dare you attack Everlight City? Die!” Jin Buhuan summoned his Divine Weapon, and immense pressure enveloped Hei Qi.

Hei Qi felt as if thousands of tons pressed down on him. His movements slowed and dulled. Even lifting his blade became difficult. Under that pressure, his blood streamed from his nostrils, and his senses started to fade.

As he was about to be crushed to death, a deceptive voice rose from the depths of his heart. “Understand me. Accept me. Become me, and I will lend you my power. With overwhelming power, you won’t have to fear anyone. All will look up to you. Become me. Become me...”

Hei Qi couldn’t resist the alluring voice and slowly succumbed to the temptation. “Give me power. Give me power!”

His senses quickly returned, and a blood-red eye opened on his black blade. Black gas burst from the weapon and flowed into his body. At the same time, sharp bone armor formed over him, and a demonic mask grew across his face. His aura intensified, and the pressure surrounding him dissipated.

Hei Qi swung his blade. Even without channeling additional energy, the sheer force of it caused the walls to crumble.

The sudden power-up alarmed Jin Buhuan. He felt the looming threat of death and went all out.

“Armament Baptism!” Jin Buhuan shouted, and his eight Divine Weapons appeared, forming an array around Hei Qi.

The pressure intensified severalfold, and Hei Qi buckled. This was the strongest level of pressure that Jin Buhuan could achieve. He had once used this technique to crush ten powerful criminals into paste.

Unfortunately, it was useless against Hei Qi. Instead, he started absorbing the energy from the black blade at a faster rate. His bone armor grew menacing, and he slowly adapted to the pressure. He endured until the force weakened, then released a powerful blade pressure in response.

An explosion erupted. Jin Buhuan and his Divine Weapons were blasted backward, and he crashed hard onto the ground.

Hei Qi instantly appeared beside him, stomped down on his head, and asked sinisterly, “Where is Han Wu?”

Jin Buhuan suspected that Hei Qi had spared him only because he believed Jin Buhuan knew Han Wu’s whereabouts.