Above the Sky Screen, the images shifted with crystal clarity.
Billions of eyes across Douluo Continent were fixed on a furtive figure.
Swallowed Star world.
In the spacious corridor of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall headquarters in Jiangnan Base City, Dai Mubai wore a loose black waterproof trench coat, his iconic golden hair completely hidden beneath the hood.
He carefully avoided the surveillance cameras around the Extreme Martial Arts Hall and hurried through the dark alleys.
After circling through the city seven or eight times and confirming that no one was tailing him, he finally stopped before a dimly lit café in a secluded location.
As he pushed open the glass door, the bell gave a crisp chime.
Dai Mubai lowered his brim and headed straight for a concealed private room at the very back of the café.
When he opened the door, three burly, composed men were already seated inside. They wore matching dark-purple training uniforms, with a striking emblem of two crossed lightning bolts embroidered on their chests.
People from the Thunderbolt Martial Arts Hall.
Seeing Dai Mubai enter, the scar-faced middle-aged man seated in the center pointed to the empty sofa opposite him, signaling for him to sit.
"What do you want with me?"
Dai Mubai instinctively lowered his voice. Over the past half year, he had learned everything there was to know about the entire Base City.
The Extreme Martial Arts Hall and the Thunderbolt Martial Arts Hall appeared cordial on the surface, but they were constantly locked in secret conflict. For people from the Thunderbolt Martial Arts Hall to approach him privately, it could not possibly be for anything aboveboard.
The scar-faced man chuckled. "Our time is valuable, so I'll get straight to the point."
"Our Thunderbolt Martial Arts Hall has taken an interest in that Spirit Master prospect by your side, the one named Cuihua."
Dai Mubai had only just sat down when his breathing instinctively halted for a moment at those words.
But he concealed it well. No great surprise showed on his face. He merely picked up the ice water before him and took a sip, masking the turmoil in his heart.
The scar-faced man leaned forward slightly and added, "In just half a year, she rose from an ordinary person who had not even touched the threshold of becoming a Martial Artist to the peak of Junior Spirit Master."
"Our Thunderbolt Martial Arts Hall is very interested in talent like that."
"As long as you are willing to hand over information about her, the Thunderbolt Martial Arts Hall will not treat you poorly."
As he spoke, the scar-faced man waved a hand. One of the men beside him lifted an exquisite silver metal combination case from beneath the table and pushed it in front of Dai Mubai.
The case automatically sprang open. Inside were five glass vials emitting a lustrous blue glow, along with a contract bearing the seal of the Thunderbolt Martial Arts Hall's highest authority.
"These are five high-grade Gene Serums of the highest purity, enough to force your physical abilities up by a major level."
"Beyond that, the martial arts hall will custom-make a set of the finest Martial Artist equipment for you."
"Well?"
The generous offer lay plainly on the table.
Dai Mubai stared at the five Gene Serums gleaming with alluring light, as well as the lavish conditions, and he nearly felt stunned senseless!
He wanted strength too desperately.
Dai Mubai closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
He did not reach for the case right away. Instead, he slowly leaned back against the sofa, forcing his voice to sound steadier.
"This is too risky."
"Cuihua's teacher is one of the upper ranks of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall. If word gets out, I won't be able to remain in Jiangnan City."
Dai Mubai opened his eyes, his gaze flickering uncertainly.
"Seniors, I need time to consider this carefully."
The scar-faced man was not surprised by that answer. He pointed at the contract in the case.
"You don't need to worry about security. As long as you sign this contract, we'll immediately arrange for you to transfer to the Thunderbolt Martial Arts Hall."
"Also, if you truly transfer to the Thunderbolt Martial Arts Hall, we'll provide you with five times the cultivation resources you currently receive at the Extreme Martial Arts Hall!"
The offer had been raised once more.
Dai Mubai said nothing.
After waiting for a moment, the scar-faced man smiled, rose to his feet, and reached out to pat Dai Mubai on the shoulder.
"Being cautious is a good thing."
"But remember, the doors of the Thunderbolt Martial Arts Hall will always be open to you."
With that, the three men from the Thunderbolt Martial Arts Hall pushed open the private room door and strode out of the café.
The door to the private room closed again.
Dai Mubai was the only one left in the room.
The face that had been relatively calm a moment earlier twisted and collapsed completely.
Bang!
Dai Mubai slammed his fist onto the table, his face horrifyingly vicious.
"Why? Why the hell?"
"It's Cuihua again!"
"Those people from the Thunderbolt Martial Arts Hall came to me and offered such a high price, not because they valued my talent at all, but simply because I was close enough to Cuihua!"
"Why does a lowly village girl who once sold her body in Suotuo City get to live better than me in this world?"
Gritting his teeth, Dai Mubai's mind replayed scene after scene from the past six months.
When they had first formed their alliance, Cuihua had known nothing.
Faced with all those high-tech devices and the martial arts hall instructors, she had always been timid and afraid, barely daring to speak loudly.
Back then, she had needed Dai Mubai's knowledge and courage to rely on. She obeyed his every word and followed behind him meekly.
But what about now?
Cuihua had become a lofty peak Junior Spirit Master!
Her voice had grown louder, her attitude more casual. Sometimes, even the way she looked at him carried a faint arrogance from on high!
That look!
He knew it all too well.
It was the look nobles gave commoners.
But he was the noble. That should have been the look he used on that commoner, yet now that commoner dared to look at him that way!
Could he really still be considered Cuihua's ally?
Dai Mubai suddenly raised his head, his eyes locked on the chandelier overhead. A chilling ruthlessness filled his gaze.
"I must become stronger!"
No matter what it takes!
Over the following period, the viewers of Douluo Continent witnessed a textbook betrayal unfold upon the Sky Screen.
First, he secretly contacted the Thunderbolt Martial Arts Hall and divulged everything: Cuihua's cultivation progress, even the exact route and times she traveled to and from the martial arts hall each day.
Then, exploiting Cuihua's trust in him as a fellow villager, Dai Mubai smoothly deceived her into granting him authorization to manage her daily life and cultivation resources.
"Cuihua, you are now a key cultivation target of the martial arts hall. You should devote all your attention to cultivating Spiritual Force. Leave all those complicated matters and resource allocation to me. I guarantee I'll handle everything properly for you."
Looking at Dai Mubai's incomparably sincere smile on the light screen, countless people across Douluo Continent felt a chill run down their spines.
After gaining authorization, Dai Mubai began frantically lining his own pockets.
He secretly intercepted the resources the Extreme Martial Arts Hall issued to Cuihua each month, switched out her Gene Serums, and pocketed her cultivation materials.
He even went so far as to take Cuihua's set of high-grade Alloy Flying Daggers from the weapons vault and replace them with defective substitutes!
Having done all that, Dai Mubai felt the time was ripe.
Before you continue