Will You Be Showing Off Your Swordsmanship?

Whoosh!

Suddenly, someone appeared in the distance where Xia Heng and the others were. A pitch-black vertical eye stood on his forehead.

He looked over, and a faint glimmer burst from that third eye, shooting straight into Wu Zhong's body.

Wu Zhong was horrified. From so far away? This had to be the deputy leader, Matsutake, right?

He was highly alert, yet he felt nothing at all.

Arborvitae, however, didn't know that. He trusted his captain. Once that third eye had been used, even top-tier Awakened Ones would be affected by the illusion.

So he charged in decisively, throwing a heavy punch straight ahead.

"Die!" In his mind, Wu Zhong shouldn't even have been able to see him attack.

Even if he sensed it, his vision would be misaligned, making it impossible to block accurately.

But he was clearly wrong. Wu Zhong raised a hand, locked onto him precisely, spread his five fingers wide, and fired a stream of purple plasma!

Whoosh!

The purple projectile shot out. Though its trajectory was visible, it was barely slower than a bullet.

"Huh?" Arborvitae reacted quickly, dodging while a layer of red light enveloped his body.

Yet he still failed to avoid it completely. The Purple Molten Bomb pierced through his right chest and blasted out through his back!

The purple plasma corroded like sulfuric acid, smoking as it ate away at him. Arborvitae screamed and staggered back repeatedly.

He was clearly wearing a skin-changing suit. Now that it had been damaged, his handsome male-model face vanished, replaced by a thick beard, a leopard-like head, and ringed eyes.

"Hiss... that damned light cannon."

Arborvitae hadn't expected Wu Zhong to shoot so accurately even while being constantly assaulted by the captain's three-eyed illusion technique.

Seeing him injured, Wu Zhong was overjoyed. This armguard was seriously powerful.

What else was there to say? He had to press the advantage.

A second Purple Molten Bomb followed immediately.

Splat! A small cloud of blood mist exploded.

Arborvitae's left arm shattered on the spot, its entire lower half gone.

"Arborvitae—" The masked man's eyes nearly split with rage.

Gripping a wooden staff, he leaped into the air, stepped on the front of a car, and kicked off again, shooting forward like an arrow!

His airborne movement seemed light and weightless, yet he was incredibly fast, the wind howling around him.

Swish!

With a sweep of the wooden staff, a three-foot sword aura burst from its tip with a piercing whistle!

"Hiss, sword aura..." Wu Zhong thought. Was this guy some martial arts master?

A blazing white arc flashed through the air, slicing the Purple Molten Bomb apart. The scattered plasma sprayed everywhere, burning several small pits into the ground.

"That's a Purple Molten Bomb from a Void Exosuit. It specifically counters biological energy. Even with blood energy protecting your body, you can't take it head-on! You have to dodge!" the masked man warned sternly, holding his sword-like staff across his body to shield his teammate.

The sword aura before his wooden staff had dimmed, stained purple. He flicked off a section of it, then activated it again, restoring it to normal.

Yet Arborvitae, despite being saved, cursed, "No shit! Damn it, did you think I didn't want to dodge? That thing's a fucking cannon!"

As he spoke, he clutched his chest. He was ruthless enough to pull out a small knife and dig into the wound, trying to cut away all the flesh infected by the purple plasma.

However, after stabbing the knife in and cutting for quite a while, all it did was leave him drenched in cold sweat and pale as death from the pain. It was completely useless.

The flesh surrounding the puncture wound was hard, with a little elasticity but not much.

The sharp knife could cut and divide it, but he simply couldn't tear it off. The bloody flesh was mangled, yet abnormally stubborn!

"Urgh..."

Pain, pain, pain! Though the wound had become tough and strangely resilient, it was still his flesh. The sensation of pain had not vanished.

After cutting into his own flesh for so long, even a tough man like him couldn't endure it anymore.

He took out a tube of unlabeled ointment and sprayed out a large amount of foam over the wound.

But it was useless. The wound showed no sign of healing, while the corrosive purple plasma continued dissolving more flesh.

"What's going on? This wound can't be healed! Aaaah!"

Arborvitae bared his teeth. "Feipeng, get in there! With your speed, there's no way he can hit you!"

Feipeng hesitated. His exposed eyes kept studying Wu Zhong. "A mind-resistant..."

"Who are you?"

Their original plan had been to use illusions to control the situation, then find Wu Zhong and take him away.

But it had fallen apart the moment they arrived. An unexpected complication had appeared.

Although this guy's strength and speed were merely average, even weaker than Arborvitae, he had mind resistance and had inflicted an unhealable wound on Arborvitae. Who knew what other strange traits he possessed?

"You ambushed me and don't know who I am?" Wu Zhong growled, purple light glowing from his right palm.

Feipeng frowned. He wasn't afraid of Purple Molten Bombs, but he feared the unknown.

"Heh, definitely some nobody," Arborvitae sneered.

Wu Zhong stared at him. "After all these years, are there still people in the Calamity Realm who judge strength by reputation?"

"There are countless examples of top experts dying to nobodies. Buddy, you're not cut out for the Calamity Realm scene."

The man froze, his face flushing with suppressed anger, but there was nothing wrong with what Wu Zhong had said.

At that moment, he kept activating his ability to heal himself. He had emptied two bottles of medicine, yet the hole in his chest still wouldn't close.

His entire body was covered in foam. He practically looked like he was taking a bubble bath!

Feipeng's gaze turned cold. "You're right. Even someone like Lu Guangqi could fall at the hands of a newcomer..."

"So you're Wu Dong, the master of gods and ghosts?"

Wu Zhong said coldly, "I'm no master of gods and ghosts."

Though it was a denial, those words were practically an admission that he was Wu Dong.

Yet Arborvitae shouted, "Don't believe that crap! Feipeng, why the hell are you even asking? Just because he says he is, he is?"

"The one in the female skin is Wu Dong! Without the help of gods and ghosts, she's unbelievably weak. A newcomer like that is trash even if she's a Calamity holder."

Yang Chunsha lay on the ground, dumbfounded. "Huh? Me?"

Arborvitae continued, "These two were unconscious together in Endless Summer's car. One was Wu Dong, and the other was a substitute there to take the hit."

"Endless Summer took both of them into hiding, thinking he could shake off Gourd's surveillance. He put the man in women's clothes and the woman in men's clothes, thinking that would fool us."

"Cough, cough... little did he know, Gourd saw everything."

Wu Zhong suddenly understood. The gloomy young man who had driven the refrigerated truck earlier was probably the one codenamed Gourd.

So that was the misunderstanding. They didn't know that he and Yang Chunsha had switched skins again at the hospital.

Of course, if these people stripped Yang Chunsha's clothes off, they would know she really was a woman.

They simply hadn't done that yet. On one hand, they were shocked by his strength, and the situation was too tense for them to spare the thought.

On the other hand, Yang Chunsha's combat ability was simply too pathetic.

Her constitution was completely ordinary. Once she had been taken down first, she couldn't cast spells, which meant she was basically useless.

Meanwhile, he, the real newcomer, had an exosuit armguard and the physique of the Madblood Clan. As long as he didn't panic, he really didn't look much like a newcomer.

Of course, he couldn't pretend to be some big shot either. He had already exchanged a direct blow with Feipeng earlier and been sent flying several meters away.

Feipeng shook his head gravely at his teammate. "No, Wu Dong is a super newcomer. He fought 985 at Five Old Peaks, commanded eight hundred gods and ghosts to slaughter their way through Mount Lu Base, and even seriously injured Lu Guangqi."

"It would be normal for him to possess mind resistance. This man fits better."

Arborvitae spat out a breath of foul air. "I don't believe it. I don't believe it! Who doesn't know there's something wrong with that story?"

"If the Ghost-God Mark were really that good, why didn't Endless Summer kill him and take it? Why protect him instead?"

"Lu Guangqi getting wrecked by some newcomer? I don't buy it. Even if it happened, it was only because he relied on the home-field advantage of having all the gods and ghosts gathered at Five Old Peaks."

"Now that he's left Mount Lu, he only has the Day-and-Night Patrol Gods."

Feipeng said in a deep voice, "No, no. Endless Summer's actions don't prove anything. He has his own path. Maybe he doesn't need that thing."

"Besides, the Ghost-God Mark must come with a price. That's why the captain said Gourd should take over."

The two each stuck to their own view. They actually had no idea who the target was.

But that basically represented the two attitudes within their circle. One believed the rumors, while the other questioned them.

Yet regardless of which side they took, both believed the Ghost-God Mark existed, and both believed the gods and ghosts of Mount Lu could be commanded.

Wu Zhong felt deeply frustrated. Frowning, he said, "Where the hell are the gods and ghosts? If I could command them, wouldn't I have summoned them to beat the shit out of you already?"

Arborvitae breathed heavily. Half of one lung had been severely damaged.

Yet he could still speak. "Cough, cough... heh... Since we temporarily crippled your Ghost-God Mark, you're playing dumb now?"

"You sent out the Day Patrol God to stop us while planning to deal with Gourd here, hoping to shake us off."

"If the Day Patrol God hadn't still been weak, you might have actually pulled it off."

Wu Zhong was startled. "You've already fought the Day Patrol God?"

Arborvitae grinned. "You didn't know? Sure enough, the one in the female skin is Wu Dong. We've already temporarily crippled his Ghost-God Mark."

Wu Zhong blinked. "Crippled it? You can cripple a Ghost-God Mark?"

The other man raised his head. "That brat's Day Patrol God caused a landslide and mudslide, burying two of our brothers. It then fought desperately, harassing and tying us up for half an hour..."

"Now, I've beaten the Day Patrol God until its form and spirit were destroyed! It's dead and back at Mount Lu."

"The vortex at Five Old Peaks has also been sealed by 985. During the day, aside from the Day Patrol God, no other gods or ghosts can emerge."

"Mount Lu is fifteen hundred kilometers away. Who can save him after a round trip like that?"

Wu Zhong drew a deep breath. So they had already fought.

The gods and ghosts had been causing trouble somewhere he couldn't see, attacking the people who came looking for him.

But in everyone else's eyes, that naturally meant Wu Zhong had commanded the gods and ghosts to protect himself. No amount of explanation would help. Unless they killed him and saw whether they could inherit it.

With utter sincerity, he said, "You bunch of fucking idiots, letting ghosts use you as guns!"

Arborvitae's expression darkened. "Feipeng, stop talking to him. Let's take him together and kill him."

Feipeng's exposed eyes continued assessing him. "If he's the master of gods and ghosts, wouldn't I inherit the Ghost-God Mark if I kill him?"

"Capturing someone with unknown traits alive is the easiest way for things to go wrong. I suggest we withdraw."

Arborvitae barked, "Then inherit it! The benefits definitely outweigh the drawbacks! What the hell are you scared of?"

"Lots of factions are looking for this. We found him first. If we miss this chance, there won't be another!"

"This guy can't possibly be your match, Feipeng! We're already here!"

Feipeng neither agreed nor disagreed. "Fine. You deal with the woman. Leave this mind-resistant one to me."

"One of them is the master of gods and ghosts anyway. Capture them both and let Gourd kill them."

He was cautious by nature. The moment something unexpected happened, he wanted to retreat. That was his survival rule.

But though he spoke coldly, he was actually gentle with his own people and easily persuaded.

His teammate had a point too. Wu Zhong's combat strength was poor; he had already seen that through his teammate's probing.

Although Arborvitae was badly injured, if the Purple Molten Bomb was Wu Zhong's only method, Feipeng was confident he wouldn't be hit even once. There was no need to be so timid.

Boom! Wu Zhong decisively struck first!

The purple light flowing around his armguard earlier, shining brilliantly, hadn't been for show.

It had been concealing the gathering purple plasma in his palm. He had charged a Purple Molten Bomb long ago without firing it, just as he had used the same trick to ambush Arborvitae earlier.

Now he suddenly raised his arm, aimed with eyes and hand as one, spread his five fingers, and instantly unleashed the energy!

A precise direct hit!

But Feipeng swung his wooden staff like lightning and knocked the Purple Molten Bomb away in midair.

Whoosh—beep! The projectile skimmed past a car's side mirror and flew away.

The car's side mirror exploded, its edges irregularly corroded, while the projectile's landing point in the distance left behind a crater.

"Hiss..."

Wu Zhong's pupils contracted. He knew this man was dangerous, and he inwardly groaned. Feipeng was the strongest of them.

He might even be more threatening than the hidden captain, Matsutake. Wu Zhong was completely immune to illusions; what he feared were close-combat monsters like this!

Bang, bang, bang!

Wu Zhong turned and ran, firing Purple Molten Bombs with every step as he looked back, focusing completely on suppressing and obstructing him.

"Hmph!" Pride showed in Feipeng's exposed eyes.

"Firearms of this level are meaningless against me."

Bang, bang, bang!

Wu Zhong ran and fired, slapping out three more purple blasts at him.

But Feipeng's movement technique was extraordinary. He shifted through the air, dodging every single projectile, then used his wooden staff as a sword and closed in before Wu Zhong's eyes.

At this distance, Wu Zhong's projectiles hadn't stopped. There was no way he could dodge them now, right?

Yet Feipeng struck once with his wooden staff, knocking another Purple Molten Bomb away.

A thunderous boom rang out in midair, the air itself exploding at the point of impact, while the wooden staff remained completely unharmed.

Then came a second strike, a third, a fourth...

Crackling wildly, sword shadows blocked like the wind, too fast to see clearly.

This guy's hand speed was even more terrifying than his movement technique.

And that wooden staff seemed indestructible. Combined, just as he had said, firearms of this level were meaningless against him.

"This!"

Everything happened too fast. No number of blasts could stop him.

In the blink of an eye, Wu Zhong found the sword aura and searing heat right at the tip of his nose!

"Damn!"

Every hair on Wu Zhong's body stood on end, his mind nearly blank. His instinctive reaction was to roll sideways like a lazy donkey.

A trace of disdain flashed through Feipeng's eyes. His sword dipped, changing moves in an instant as it sliced toward Wu Zhong's shoulder.

Slash!

Wu Zhong had already raised his arm to block, but it wasn't as fast as the sword.

The blade scraped past the armguard in a shower of sparks, then ultimately carved a burst of blood mist from his shoulder.

The arm wrapped in the armguard flew high into the air, severed cleanly at the shoulder!

"You think you're worthy of exchanging blows with my Songyang Iron Sword?"

Feipeng finally bared his fangs. His eyes were sharp and fierce, carrying a soaring pride, no longer the cautious figure he had been before.

"You..."

Wu Zhong had lost his right arm. His eyes were bloodshot, his face pale as gold paper, sweat covering his face.

His sense of pain escalated in waves. Feeling the warm wooden sword resting against his neck, he finally understood the immense gap in strength between them.

In a single exchange, just one sword strike had crippled him.

Even with physical abilities twice those of an ordinary person and a nano armguard on his hand, he was no match for this veteran mercenary from the Calamity Realm.

At first, Feipeng had merely lacked information about him and had not dared to rush in recklessly.

Now that he was getting serious, both his movement techniques and swordsmanship surpassed Wu Zhong's imagination. He also exuded the murderous aura of someone who had fought and killed through blood and storms for years.

Expressionless, with killing intent blazing around him, he was overwhelmingly oppressive, like an unrivaled master. Wu Zhong felt the threat of death... No, he wouldn't die.

Wu Zhong's pupils suddenly contracted, and his mind cleared. He won't kill me...

He knew full well that Feipeng believed he was Wu Zhong and wanted to capture him alive. Otherwise, he would not have merely severed an arm—he could have gone straight for his head.

This guy had no intention of directly inheriting his "Ghost-God Mark." He had already found an heir and intended to leave Wu Zhong for his teammate to kill.

His emotions settled, and at the same time, he sensed a faintly connected tremor.

His arm! He glanced toward the arm that had fallen several meters away and found that the armguard was still active; it had not deactivated because of this.

"Well done! An arm for an arm! Hahaha—cough, cough, cough... Bleurgh!"

Arborvitae laughed in satisfaction, but the hole in his chest leaked air. The pain made bloody bubbles spill from his mouth as he coughed repeatedly.

"I'll punch a hole through you too!" Breathing with difficulty, he gripped a small knife and strode over through the bubbles of medicinal liquid covering his body.

Judging by their expressions, both of them believed victory was already theirs.

"Tch!" Wu Zhong's gaze sharpened as he suddenly slammed his neck against Feipeng's wooden sword.

From the look of it, he intended to let the sword light pierce his throat and kill himself.

Without the slightest hesitation!

"Huh?"

The sudden turn caught Feipeng completely off guard. He had never expected Wu Zhong to have that kind of courage.

What did this mean? Was he trying to set me up?

His first reaction was to withdraw the sword light, lest Wu Zhong die.

Without the sword light, it was nothing more than a fire poker.

Wu Zhong gripped the wooden rod with his remaining arm, leaned back, and threw all his strength into yanking it.

At the same time, following that momentum, he gathered every ounce of strength in his body and explosively kicked Feipeng in the crotch.

"I'll kick you to death!"

"Pfft!"

Wu Zhong's kick was vicious beyond measure. It struck Feipeng squarely in the perineum, crushing it into a mangled mess.

Feipeng's face instantly twisted. His limbs went weak, cold sweat pouring down his body.

"Ogogogogo..." All that came from his throat was a spasmodic, trembling whine.

Even someone as strong as him had no choice but to loosen his grip, and the wooden rod immediately fell into Wu Zhong's hand.

However, he truly was a tough man. Even after taking such a devastating blow and dropping to his knees, he still had fighting strength. A terrifying aura erupted from his body.

Without the wooden rod, he would use his palm as a sword!

With a hum, sword light bloomed from his palm. One hand braced against the ground while the other swept upward at an angle, ready to slice Wu Zhong apart.

"Whoosh!" Wu Zhong had enhanced physical abilities too, and he had long since planned his next move.

Still clutching the rod, he performed a rolling scramble. Ignoring how his severed arm was ground bloody and mangled, he rolled behind Feipeng.

The front end of the wooden rod was pointed—a half-finished sword shape.

Without hesitation, taking advantage of Feipeng's slowed movements while bent over, Wu Zhong violently thrust the wooden rod in from behind, straight through his ass!

"Stuff it in and die!"

Wu Zhong used all his strength. "You think you're the only one who knows swordsmanship?"

Arborvitae jumped in shock at the counterattack. "Feipeng—"