–Not bad, not bad—you know how to slap an unwarranted racial tag on someone you don’t like,– Yang Zicang commented approvingly.
The people on the ground scrambled to their feet and scattered in all directions. Though knocked down in one move, they trusted that the Chief would deal with any demon.
For the Chief was the Earth Walker of the Undying King. He had the Undying King’s watch and protection. He wielded mystical power, capable of sealing demons within weapons.
This guy was doomed!
–Go ahead and flaunt it now, because soon you won’t have the chance. The Undying King is going to seal you into a holy sword and use your power to annihilate your own kind!–
–Is that so? I can’t wait.–
Yang Zicang let go of his arms, dropping the Lances with a clatter to the ground. In an instant, his body turned into a whirlwind and vanished from the spot.
Since he had taken up martial arts, his speed had soared. Though lacking the skill of Qing Gong, the manifold acceleration abilities of the Moxel had nearly turned him into a legendary figure who could scale walls and sprint a thousand miles a day.
An old man named Subana was the fastest runner in the city, outpacing even the young by a considerable margin. As he sped down the main street at top speed, a figure suddenly appeared beside him.
–Are you off to summon reinforcements from the temple?–
–Ah!–
The old man jolted in fright.
That demon had actually caught up with him! And judging by his tone, it was as if he was out for a leisurely stroll.
Then the old man suddenly felt his soles hanging in the air, his running steps never touching the ground.
–Too slow.–
Yang Zicang hoisted him up and sped off into the distance.
This place was built by me bit by bit, and I could find that so-called sanctuary even with my eyes closed—that boulder castle had its foundation laid by my own hands.
The two swept into the stone hall like a whirlwind; after a brief tremor, Yang Zicang darted around a few times and came to a halt before Zaguda, who was sitting with his eyes closed in meditation.
Amid a few shrill cries from the maidservants around, the bewildered Subarna was thrown to the ground.
–Are you the team leader of this generation?–
Yang Zicang looked at the old man, who raised his eyes to meet his gaze.
Team leader?
This archaic title… Zaguda froze for two seconds before snapping out of it.
Faced with this suddenly appearing hairless man, his heart gave a violent jolt, and then he let out a sigh that was both regretful and relieved at the same time.
Not that legendary immortal old man—the age doesn’t match up.
Warriors from various corners of the temple charged into the hall with weapons drawn, pointing their blades at this oddly fast intruder.
The chief regained his dignity.
–Who are you?–
–I come on behalf of the Undying King to see how his Cleanup Squad Captain is faring. He was quite pleased that you were able to eliminate the nightmare’s birth during the last Jiazi Term, as it proves you have the ability to face disasters on your own.–
Upon hearing –Undying King,– Supana, who had been about to lodge a complaint on the ground, instantly prostrated himself before the middle-aged man.
He pressed his hands to his forehead, burying his face in the earth, not daring to harbor the slightest trace of disrespect.
He had no doubt that only a servant of the Undying King could possess the power to be unafraid of holy relics.
–A messenger of the King…?–
Zaguda trembled. The Undying King? No, how could this man be a servant of that existence…
The old man found it hard to accept.
If the Undying King truly appeared, with his youngest son’s poor martial skills, he would certainly never become the captain.
Lost in thought, he momentarily forgot to respond to the words of this supreme being.
Around them, more people crouched down, lowering their heads; some warriors hesitated, their hands on their Lances, while a few sheathed their weapons.
–All of you, rise. Your Undying King is the most annoyed by such formalities, isn’t that so?–
Zaguda’s pupils dilated.
He recalled that the previous Chief Follower had indeed said such words: The Immortal King disliked excessive formalities; he treated others like close friends, with no distinction of high or low.
Zaguda stood up, his throat moving, but another emotion rapidly occupied his heart.
–No, you liar!–
The old man didn’t know how he managed to point his finger and utter those words.
When he heard his own voice, he snapped back to reality, scaring himself half to death. But since things had come to this… he had to keep up his strong front—perhaps only then could he handle the crisis before him.
He made a quick decision.
–Unless the Immortal King arrives in person, no one else can impersonate him! Guards, put this liar to death!–
Ding~
A small, pale-gold object, radiating a phantom-like glow, traced a graceful arc through the air before landing steadily on his raised fingertip.
Surbena, who was drawn by the leader’s accusations, happened to look up and witness this scene, instantly daring not to breathe.
Such precision… it was not a technique a human should possess.
The warriors nearby, who were about to act, erupted into clamor. Some were ready to carry out the order, while others dropped to their knees, bowing their heads to the ground.
Yang Zicang said with a faint smile: –You’ve worked hard all these years—this is a reward from the Undying King, for how well you handled the last disaster.–
–This, this is…–
Zaguda sensed a strange aura from the delicate creation between his fingers.
It seemed as though it didn’t belong to this world.
The old man cautiously cupped his other hand over it, as if fearing it might flutter away like a butterfly.
A mysterious voice appeared directly in the chief’s mind.
[You have gained 60N.]
–What?–
The old man stepped back in shock, staring at the coin in his hand—adorned with exquisite patterns, so beautiful that in the moment he received it, he felt as if he had obtained the rarest and most invaluable treasure in the world.
But what did that voice in his mind mean? He looked up at the man across from him.
In Yang Zicang’s mind, Moxel flickered briefly, making contact with Morris, who was practicing martial arts in another city.
{Mr. Yang, have you already found someone to practice martial arts?}
[No, but soon. Come, help me activate that commemorative coin infused with sixty years of life.]
{Alright.}
The curious onlookers watched the fragile golden object with a faint white glow pinched in the fingers of the aging chief.
The white radiance suddenly merged into the chief’s hand.
Then all the maidens and warriors witnessed a breathtaking miracle! The sagging, wrinkled skin on the aged Chief’s body rapidly plumped and smoothed! The Chief stared at his own hands—they were becoming unfamiliar, yet so familiar.
–Ah~–
Zaguda was so startled that he fell heavily into his chair.
Raising his hands, he let out unconscious, excited cries from his throat.
He felt his heart beating more vigorously; he experienced the long-lost vigor of decades reborn within him, and his spine involuntarily straightened.
His eyes grew blurry.
With a clattering sound, weapons were dropped to the ground in unison.
Everyone prostrated themselves. The aged Chief Zaguda had actually regained his youth—this was something they had never even dared to imagine.
The Undying King could only be the Undying King!
Not only was He immortal Himself, but He could also bestow immortality upon others!
Zaguda sobbed as he slid from his chair and knelt to the ground with a thud, his face streaked with tears and snot.
He repeatedly knocked his forehead against the floor, expressing the ineffable gratitude, excitement, and remorse within his heart.
–Rise, all of you.–
The crowd looked up, but no one dared to truly stand.
Subana knelt beside Yang Zicang, his hands clasped and face lifted upwards, mouth slightly agape as he gazed upon him without shifting his eyes, as if beholding a deity.
[This man is awed by my authority; he has developed an unchanging reverence for me.]
[More are shaken by my authority; they hold an unshakable veneration for me.]
[The captain of the cleanup team trembles at my miracle and authority; he has lost his will, and my image is rooted in his heart.]
–Please, please forgive my folly.–
The Chief spoke with a young man’s voice, prostrate on the ground, pressing a coin against his forehead with both hands.
–It’s normal that you don’t recognize me. But you shouldn’t carelessly attack your own kind.–
–Yes, yes, we know our wrongs.–
Only after Yang Zicang’s repeated demands did the crowd finally rise, but the look in their eyes had changed.
–Besides this matter, I have another more important task to attend to during my visit here.–
–Please give your orders, sir—by the way, what shall we call you?–
Zaguda asked excitedly, eager to offer some assistance and show his worth.
–You don’t need to know my name. I am merely the King’s servant.–
Yang Zicang turned to look at these people, especially the strong, vigorous boys with burning eyes—they were all top candidates for martial training.
Originally, he had intended to select just a few dozen from among these people to perfectly complete the task, but now he had changed his mind.
–I have two types of martial skills here; you can take a look. If anyone wants to learn them, tell me when I come back tomorrow. Of course, there is a price—once you start, you cannot stop.–
A sharp-eyed young woman stepped forward, holding a relatively delicate set of clothes, kneeling down and raising it high.
Zaguda recognized those as his own clothes—garments worn only during festivals and ceremonies.
And the person holding them was none other than the young wife he had just acquired two years ago.
–Thank you, but no need.–
The onlookers, upon hearing of the martial skills, revealed looks of longing, for this was a gift brought by the Undead King’s emissary.
They couldn’t help but recall the ancient legends: the Undead King would always appear in different places, teaching the people there all kinds of miraculous techniques.
This time—he had brought martial skills!
Breathing grew heavy, and the air was thick with an impatient, eager scent.
Zaguda knelt again, this time on one knee, and said solemnly: –Please, Lord Emissary, bestow upon me these martial skills. I will take new life from this and practice them all my days in service to the King!–
This was exactly what Yang Zicang had intended. The captain of each generation of the cleansing team was always the strongest warrior, let alone having decades of combat experience; for him, learning these would be easier.
But at this moment, Yang Zicang shook his head.
–You are not qualified.–
Zaguida’s body trembled as he lifted his head.
Could it be that the Undying King had detected his ulterior motives and therefore would grant no new rewards?
–You have already received your boon. These martial skills, I shall give to others.–
Was it truly so? Zaguida quickly suppressed his thoughts.
–In the coming days, you must not interfere with my actions, nor act differently toward me. Treat me as an ordinary person.–
Having said this, Yang Zicang unbuckled the small hemp cloth bag hanging at his waist and placed it into the hands of the kneeling woman beside him.
As the Undying King’s attendant departed, the warriors swarmed in.
–All of you, withdraw!–
Zaguida waved his hand with authority, and the crowd promptly stepped back a few paces.
Drawing a deep breath, he walked over to his youngest wife and cast a glance at her beautiful eyes.
She was a hairless human he had brought back from a distant, faraway tribe. Her face was unlike those of ordinary women; every part of her exuded a fatal allure to the rough and coarse men around.
And now, she has taken on a sacred mission with her sharp intelligence; it is time for me to grant her a different identity.
–Come, let me see what this lord has left behind.–
Blaze Blade Dao, Thousand-Fist Art
The more he flipped through the pages, the heavier his breath grew, fine beads of sweat seeping from his forehead.
–T-this, it is…–
Are such formidable martial techniques truly within human grasp? These are moves that should only be a privilege for the position of chief…
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