Ren and the Prefect would fight on the Pulebu Plain in ten days. The news spread through Liang'an City at lightning speed. Even the large and small tribes in the surrounding area heard about it, and countless ordinary Gods immediately made their way to the Pulebu Plain.
In a secluded courtyard in a residential district of Liang'an City, a cute girl with her hair tied in little braids sat cross-legged on the ground, a faint glow surrounding her. After a long while, she opened her eyes, her expression full of dejection.
"This isn't working. I can't find a point of compatibility at all. Fusion Profound Mysteries are so difficult. At this rate, when will I ever be able to help my brother?"
The girl was Nisi, Salomon's younger sister. With a troubled frown, she stopped cultivating and rested her chin in her hand, muttering to herself. Worry and helplessness lingered between her brows.
Although she had always been under her brother's protection, she knew full well what her situation was. Even though her brother always seemed perfectly at ease whenever he came to visit, she could sense the hatred and helplessness in his heart.
But Nisi's cultivation talent was simply too poor, far worse than her brother Salomon's. She couldn't even manage to fuse two basic Mysteries. To her brother, the Boyd Clan, and her brother's teacher, Electra, she could only be a burden.
"Bang!"
The courtyard gate suddenly flew open, and a young man rushed inside with a grave expression. The girl jumped in surprise.
"Brother, why did you come all of a sudden?"
Looking at Salomon's troubled expression, Nisi asked anxiously.
By custom, her brother Salomon visited her regularly, but it wasn't time for his next visit yet. If he left without permission now, he might anger his teacher.
"Nini, we have to leave. We can't stay here anymore. My teacher is dead."
Salomon grabbed his sister's hand and hurried outside without giving her a chance to object.
Nisi had been stunned by his sudden arrival, but when she heard him say his teacher was dead, she froze. It took her a moment to come to her senses. Then she hurriedly sent him a telepathic message. "Brother, what happened?"
Salomon hurried along with his sister as he explained the whole story. As he spoke, his expression grew complicated.
"Th-that Mr. Ren is really that strong? I... I can hardly believe it," Nisi murmured after hearing Salomon's explanation.
Salomon gave a bitter smile. He felt the same way. Even now, he still couldn't quite believe it—that old bastard was really dead.
At first, when his teacher failed to return on time, he'd found it a little strange but hadn't thought much of it. The old man had a bizarre, unpredictable temperament. Who knew, maybe he'd come across some young man he took a liking to again.
But not long afterward, an informant he'd paid with Inkstones in Liang'an City came to tell him that Electra was dead.
Salomon had been stunned. He'd prayed for the old bastard's death more than once, but now that it had really happened, he didn't know what to make of it. Then he quickly came to his senses. This wasn't the time to think about that. They had to flee at once, before news of the old bastard's death spread widely.
The old bastard might have had peculiar tastes, but he was still powerful. While he was around, the Boyd Clan's matriarch had at least been willing to show him some respect. But now that he was dead, Salomon and his sister would be in grave danger.
So he had to leave Liang'an City with Nisi, and preferably get out of Liang'an Prefecture as soon as possible, beyond the Boyd Clan's sphere of influence. They might even have to return to the Zijing Continent.
The eerie purple moon hung high above the Pulebu Plain, and a bitterly cold wind howled through the air. Crowds of spectators filled the area all around.
A thousand-mile-wide expanse in the center had been left clear by tacit agreement. The Bifu Army patrolled the perimeter, and no one tried to cross the line. Most people knew that the shockwaves from a full-power battle between Asura experts could kill them with ease. They weren't willing to risk their lives just to watch.
Even those few who were willing to sacrifice a clone for a closer look at the battle between top experts wouldn't send one in from the start. They would wait until the fighting grew intense, then go in and record it with a Floating Projection. Even if the clone died, the money they could earn by selling the recording to the Fiend Castle would more than make up for it.
Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.
Ren sat quietly in the middle of the plain. The wind and murmuring voices in the air seemed to have no effect on him. His eyes remained closed as he calmly waited.
"Who do you think will win?" someone in the middle of the crowd asked.
"I think it'll be the Prefect, of course. He's been famous for so many years," a clear young voice replied.
"Not necessarily. The Prefect is certainly powerful, but Lord Ren is strong too. I watched his previous battles. He was incredible!" A girl spoke up, her voice full of admiration.
"Little girl, what do you know? You think Ren is strong because you're ignorant and haven't seen anyone stronger. You can't even begin to understand the Prefect's power," a brown-haired old man sneered.
"Come to think of it, why hasn't the Prefect—"
Before he could finish, Ren suddenly rose to his feet and opened his eyes, looking toward the sky. A streak of purple lightning shot down like a meteor, then transformed into a purple-haired middle-aged man who slowly descended onto the plain.
"You're here early. You seem to be looking forward to this fight. I don't personally dislike battle-loving geniuses like you. If it weren't for what happened with Electra, I might have considered sparing your life. But he was my subordinate, after all. You killed him, so you have to die today."
Alfred spoke with a trace of regret, but there was no less killing intent in his eyes.
"The Prefect seems very confident. But strength is proven in battle." Ren smiled faintly, and an ice-blue sword appeared in his hand.
"Go ahead. Don't say I didn't give you a chance."
Alfred crossed his arms over his chest and glanced at Ren's Ice-Blood Sword, speaking with cold indifference, as if he could snuff Ren out with a wave of his hand.
"Since you're being so generous, Prefect, I won't stand on ceremony!"
Ren smiled. He moved, and in the blink of an eye appeared above Alfred.
"Hm? His speed? What's going on?"
Alfred immediately sensed something was wrong. In that instant, Ren's speed had suddenly increased several times over compared to their previous battles. It even seemed to surpass his own. Ren's figure blurred slightly—and then he was already right in front of him.
Ren appeared above Alfred. The Ice-Blood Sword that had been in his hand was gone, replaced by a pale green spear. As it swung, it let out a series of roars like the wind.
"Boom!"
Green currents of air swirled around the spear. In the blink of an eye, its tip appeared before Alfred's eyes. A rushing sound tore through the air as the currents became wind blades, and the space around them shattered.
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