Leave None Alive!

The reason he had lain low here in the past was nothing more than his lack of strength. Even protecting himself had been a problem, much less leaving.

But things were different now. With the cultivation of a Fighter, the Fire Spirit Physique, and a guard at the peak of the nine-star Dou Emperor realm, remaining here any longer would only waste time.

Su Zhao had already made plans for his cultivation. The Fire Spirit Physique was the master of all flames, and the fastest way to increase his strength was naturally to devour fire.

The stronger the flame, the faster the Fire Spirit Physique would grow, and the more rapidly his cultivation would advance. It could be said that he had been born with the Flame Mantra.

And as far as he knew, deep within the Tagor Desert, there was a Heavenly Flame—the Green Lotus Core Flame!

Of course, he did not dare set his sights on that Heavenly Flame just yet.

After all, it was a genuine Heavenly Flame. Even with the Fire Spirit Physique, he needed at least the strength of a Dou Shi before seeking it out. Otherwise, he would simply be courting death; even if he found it, he would not be able to absorb it.

But before that, there was one more matter he needed to handle.

Su Zhao suddenly stopped, a glint of coldness flashing through his eyes.

"Su You."

"Your subordinate is here."

"Come. We're going to the eastern part of the city. Some debts need to be settled."

Su You did not ask any questions. He merely answered softly, "Yes, Young Master."

Then, he placed a hand on Su Zhao's shoulder. Green Dou Qi stirred faintly, and the two turned into blurred shadows as they shot toward the eastern part of the city.

East City, the Black Wolf Mercenary Group's headquarters.

This was the largest mercenary group in Black Wind City. It had occupied the eastern district for more than a decade, with several hundred members from top to bottom. Its leader was even a Dou Shi-level expert, a local overlord within the city.

They had long bullied merchants, oppressed the common folk, and committed all manner of atrocities. Yet because of their strength, few in the city dared provoke them.

The walls of the headquarters were lined with black flags bearing wolf heads, snapping loudly in the wind and sand. Even from afar, they exuded a vicious air.

On a wooden watchtower in the compound, two mercenaries leaned lazily against the railing, staring boredly at the street below.

"This damned weather is roasting me alive."

A stubbled mercenary tugged at his collar and cursed as he wiped sweat from his forehead.

The thinner man beside him chuckled. "Once we're done standing watch today, let's go have some fun at Spring Delight House. I hear they've got a few new girls—fresh as flowers."

"Give it a rest. You still haven't paid Old Zhang back for last time's wine. Where are you getting money for fun?"

"Ha, put it on credit. I'm from the mighty Black Wolf Mercenary Group. You think I'm scared of a few copper coins?"

As the two traded jokes, a terrifying pressure suddenly descended from the sky without warning!

The pressure came fierce and abrupt, like a mountain crashing down upon them. In an instant, it enveloped the entire Black Wolf Mercenary Group headquarters!

The smiles on the two mercenaries' faces had yet to fade when their legs gave out. With two thuds, they dropped to their knees, their faces drained of color. Even breathing became difficult.

The mercenaries within the compound, whether training, drinking, or gambling, also collapsed under the sudden pressure. Some could not even hold onto their cups, which fell to the ground and shattered into pieces!

The entire Black Wolf Mercenary Group headquarters fell deathly silent.

Outside the compound, two figures approached at an unhurried pace.

Su Zhao walked in front. His dark robe fluttered lightly in the wind and sand. Neither fast nor slow, he wore an indifferent expression as his calm gaze settled upon the tightly shut ironwood gates ahead.

"Leave none alive."

He softly spoke four words. His voice was not loud, yet it clearly reached the black figure behind him.

Su You's body trembled. The next instant, he transformed into a streak of black light and shot into the Black Wolf Mercenary Group headquarters!

Boom!!

A violent hurricane erupted around him. Green Dou Qi turned into wind blades that shredded and swept away every tent, wooden shed, and banner in the compound. Wood chips and scraps of cloth filled the sky, as though an invisible hand had violently ground the entire world to pieces.

The mercenaries sprawled on the ground did not even have time to scream before the wind blades minced them into clouds of blood mist. Crimson droplets swirled and sprayed through the gale, splattering every inch of the compound.

From deep within the compound, a figure suddenly charged out. He was a burly middle-aged man, his Dou Qi erupting with full force—the leader of the Black Wolf Mercenary Group.

His face was filled with terror as he stared at the black figure in the air, green Dou Qi wings spread behind his back. His pupils contracted sharply.

"Dou... Dou Wang?!"

His voice was hoarse, and he was scared out of his wits.

In a tiny place like Black Wind City, even a Dou Shi was considered a powerful figure. A Dou Wang... what kind of concept was that?

How many Dou Wangs were there in the entire Jia Ma Empire?

The pair of green wings behind Su You gently flapped as violent winds howled around him. Under his control, the Black Wolf Mercenary Group headquarters had become a hell ravaged by storms.

Buildings collapsed, walls crumbled, and rubble and broken timber were pulverized in the wind. Mercenaries who tried to flee were caught by the wind blades one after another, falling where they stood, their screams swallowed by the roaring gale.

And amid the sandstorm and the blood-red haze, Su Zhao walked forward step by step.

The gale howled, and the stones and wind blades it carried whistled around him, yet as though they had eyes, they deliberately curved around his body.

Five years ago.

Back then, when he had just transmigrated and taken over the body of this ten-year-old child, the fragments of memories lingering in his mind had stabbed at his head like sharp knives, causing splitting pain.

Those images came in fragments: black figures breaking through the door in the dead of night, his parents lying in pools of blood, the searing agony as the original owner's heart meridians were shattered by a palm strike... and the despair of watching everything happen without the strength to resist.

The original owner had died that night. He had died at the hands of the Black Wolf Mercenary Group.

And Su Zhao had survived by taking over his body.

Over the past five years, Su Zhao had not failed to consider revenge. But at the time, he had only just begun sensing Dou Qi. Forget the Black Wolf Mercenary Group—even any random Fighter could have pinned him to the ground and beaten him senseless. So he chose to lie low, to endure, to survive first and worry about the rest later.

But now.

Su Zhao stopped atop the ruins in the center of the compound. The violent winds gradually calmed, and the air was thick with the scent of blood mixed with sand.

Su You had already landed behind him. Not one of those mercenaries who had once swaggered about remained standing.

Su Zhao closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

The knot that had always faintly clogged his chest seemed to completely dissolve at that moment. The lingering obsession in the original owner's body, the unwillingness, the bone-deep hatred—all vanished with the destruction of the Black Wolf Mercenary Group.

He could feel that this body had never been so light. The invisible restraints that had once bound him had completely shattered at that moment.

"You can go in peace now."

Su Zhao spoke softly and slowly opened his eyes.

"From this day on, there is only Su Zhao."

He clenched his fist, feeling the scorching power within him. A faint smile slowly curved his lips, carrying the high spirits unique to youth.

"I... am destined to stand at the peak of the entire continent!"