When Inzaghi arrived at the God King Hall, his face showed a look of shame and unease.
Four days ago, his martial arts progress began to stagnate. Even though the power of the elements in the Sky City was exceptionally rich, and even though he received a rare divine medicine from Sun Fei to stimulate his potential, it still had no effect. It was as if he had suddenly encountered some kind of bottleneck. No matter how diligently he practiced, he could not break through it. On the contrary, he became more and more impatient, and his martial arts mental state was on the verge of collapse.
Sun Fei's bright eyes scanned Inzaghi for a while, as if he could see right through him.
"I remember more than half a year ago, I passed through the Hot Springs Pass slum and met you, old York, and the lovely little Tina. I never imagined that in the end, because of me, nearly a hundred of you would be harmed by the spoiled brats of Hot Springs Pass. Even today, thinking about it, I still feel guilty." Sun Fei suddenly spoke up, recounting the past.
"Master, it's not your fault. It's that young master Kulun was too cruel and vicious, utterly inhuman..." Inzaghi clenched his fist.
"Yes, you have been learning from me for more than half a year now, and your Dou Qi realm has soared to the Seven-Star Class. Combined with your innate abilities and the assassination Concealment killing techniques you have mastered, your strength is sufficient. As long as you are careful, there is nowhere within the Zenit Empire that you cannot go. Therefore, I can rest assured that you can go to Hot Springs Pass to kill your enemies and settle the knot in your heart." Sun Fei nodded.
As he spoke, His Majesty the King couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion and pride.
When I first met Inzaghi, this handsome and thin young man was just a mercenary who hadn't even developed any Dou Qi. In just half a year, Inzaghi has become handsome and refined, with an elegant demeanor and strength that has even surpassed my own back then. I, as his master, have finally not misled him.
"Ah? Master, you mean I can go..." Inzaghi was overjoyed upon hearing this.
"Yes, your martial arts progress has stagnated these past few days precisely because you haven't resolved your long-standing inner conflict and your mind is unstable, making it difficult to advance further. Moreover, the art of assassination requires honing in actual combat. Only through battle and the test of blood can one truly reach mastery. So, go, personally avenge Uncle York and Little Tina." Sun Fei paused, then continued with great fervor, "Go forth and act freely. Remember, my disciples never need to worry about anyone."
An indescribable feeling of gratitude welled up in Inzaghi's heart.
He didn't say much, knelt on one knee to pay his respects, and then turned and walked out of the God King Hall.
Hot Springs Pass.
The northern frontier of the Zenit Empire, the capital of Ernst Province, and one of the empire's ten most famous names.
This magnificent war fortress, like a giant black pincer, firmly clamped the gate to the vast southern land of the continent of Chambord City. Regardless of whether they were traveling from the north or south, any merchant or traveler wishing to reach Chambord City had to resupply here and obtain a travel permit, and thus inevitably faced heavy taxes.
In the early morning, the air was thick with the mist of dawn.
The eastern horizon was just beginning to lighten, and Hot Springs Pass, like a languid woman who hadn't yet woken up, remained tightly shut. Only banners on the watchtowers fluttered weakly in the morning breeze, and no patrolling soldiers could be seen behind the battlements. The entire city was eerily quiet in the early spring mist.
A clear, resounding sound of horses' hooves echoed from the thin mist.
Soon, five lithe, silent knights in black robes on black horses arrived at the city gates. Their riding skills were astonishing. Like five black clouds, they moved lightly and ghostly. They reined in their horses and paused for a moment. The leader, a handsome and refined young knight, waved his hand, and all five dismounted and waited at the city gates for the gates to open.
Five people, five horses.
There wasn't a single sound; the silence was terrifying.
As time passed, the number of people at the city gate began to increase. There were residents who came from nearby farms, vegetable farmers who delivered vegetables, passing caravans, mercenaries returning after completing their missions, and wandering poets. All sorts of people gradually gathered and waited at the city gate, anticipating the time when it would open.
Among everyone else, these five black knights stood out as completely out of place.
They exuded a chilling aura; ordinary people who approached within ten meters would feel a chill run through them, shivering uncontrollably, and would all keep their distance, staring at the five young and handsome knights with extremely strange eyes, pointing and whispering. They could tell that these five knights were different from ordinary people, but recently many delegations and warriors from Hot Springs Pass, so they were very curious about what these five people were doing Hot Springs Pass.
As the first rays of sunlight pierced the morning mist, the gates of Hot Springs Pass finally opened.
Soldiers, dawdling and yawning, emerged from the city and stood crookedly on either side of the city gate, beginning to collect entry fees. Those waiting outside were already used to it, lining up one by one to pay and enter the city.
The five black knights, who had remained silent, mounted their warhorses and headed towards the city.
Several soldiers guarding the city originally wanted to stop the knights and collect an entry fee, but for some reason, when the young and handsome knight in the lead glanced at them, their bodies froze on the spot, as if they were being stared at by a wild beast. They dared not move or even breathe, and only gradually came to their senses after the five black knights had gone far away and disappeared into the crowd.
"Who are these people? They're terrifying, like the Grim Reaper. Just one look from them made me feel like my soul was about to shatter."
"Yes, I feel the same way, it's terrifying!"
"They've entered the city, nothing's going to happen, right?"
The soldiers guarding the city gate looked at each other in horror, breaking out in a cold sweat. Just a glance from the extremely handsome knight in charge made each of them feel as if a knife was held to their throats, and the hairs on their bodies stood on end.
Hopefully nothing bad will happen today!
Inside the city lord's mansion.
Kulun, the most hated and most controversial young master in the entire Hot Springs Pass, got up early for the first time in a rare occurrence. Surrounded by a dozen lackeys, he excitedly headed towards the slums in the city, his face beaming with barely concealed excitement.
"Did you guys really see clearly? That Chick's back?" Young Master Kulun's eyes gleamed with lewdness.
"Hehe, young master, don't worry. We saw it clearly. That mercenary Chick entered the city as soon as the city gates opened this morning. By now, she's definitely back in the slums taking care of those lowly commoners. If you go there at this time, you'll definitely catch her. Hehe, have a good ride on this little wild horse, do whatever you want with it." A young man with a pointed face and monkey-like cheeks replied with a sly smile.
"Good, hahaha, this little wild horse really makes my heart itch. I really want to see what she looks like when she's stripped naked and moaning. Is she still as fierce as usual? Wahahaha!" Imagining that lewd scene, Young Master Kulun couldn't help but laugh lewdly.
The group quickened their pace, like wolves and tigers, fiercely driving away pedestrians on the road, and rushed towards the slums.
at the same time.
"Let's go check out the slums first. More than half a year has passed; I wonder what they've become."
After entering the city, the five black knights were clearly very familiar with the streets and alleys of Hot Springs Pass. The knight in the lead, who was as handsome as a hero from a myth, looked at the familiar scenery before him and seemed to have thought of something, and suddenly spoke.
The five people parted the crowd and followed the alley, soon arriving at the edge of the slum.
"We're back in this familiar place."
In that instant, every Black Knight had this thought involuntarily pop into their minds: just six months ago, they were children who couldn't even control their own destiny, risking their lives every day to survive. Living in this place full of violence and crime was like living in Hell.
And today, they're back.
Today, they are powerful warriors, possessing formidable strength, and supported by a rising martial arts elite who makes the entire empire tremble.
Third update.
I'll be providing commentary on the game in a bit. If you're watching, feel free to come and listen!