Chapter Six: The Fierce Battle for Supremacy

Chapter Six: The Fierce Battle for Possession

When Ye Bai returned to the outpost, night had already fallen. He sat cross-legged on the ground, propping his head with one hand as he gazed at the weapons laid out before him.

The particle knife needed to be recalibrated and adjusted, aiming to reach its maximum vibration setting. The magnetic pistol had to be checked to ensure there was enough ammunition. As for the flash grenades, he decided to keep them in the outer pocket. He squeezed some juice from the green mugwort and smeared it on the blade, boiling the rest and keeping it close to his body.

That day, Ye Bai had noticed that although there were many people around the Wood Spirit Flower, most were merely spectators, with no intention of fighting for it. Only those three at the peak of the Body Tempering stage seemed prepared to contest it, or perhaps a few others hidden in the shadows harbored similar intentions.

Among the three, Ye Bai recognized the one wielding a blade—a veteran Body Tempering expert whose potential was nearly exhausted, likely only able to break through to the entry level at best. Still, his reputation was not to be underestimated. They said that in his youth, he had slaughtered his way through Green Forest Fort, spending an entire day killing all that moved within its walls, emerging drenched in blood before collapsing unconscious. His inability to break through in subsequent years was due to issues of temperament, but after so many years at this level, he surely had some deadly tricks up his sleeve.

Ye Bai had never heard of the black-faced man or the one with the gauntlets, but to have reached the peak of Body Tempering, neither was likely to be an ordinary opponent.

Alone in his room, Ye Bai’s thoughts ran wild—one moment excited, the next fearful—until he finally drifted into a deep sleep.

The next morning, just as the outpost surfaced from underground, Ye Bai set out for the Wood Spirit Flower’s location and lay in wait. He chose a spot at the border between the southern and western zones, close to the area infested with mutant beasts. Digging a deep pit, he donned the concealing cloak he’d bought at the outpost, then slipped inside.

Time passed slowly as he waited, and more and more people arrived. The first to appear were, as expected, the three peak Body Tempering experts, each standing in the same position as the previous day. By the time sunlight trickled through the forest canopy, the area was packed.

With every ray of sunlight piercing the trees, the atmosphere grew more tense, a chill settling over the crowd. Finally, under the sunlight, the last stamen of the Wood Spirit Flower gradually turned yellow. The three masters exchanged glances; the clearing was about to begin.

“Everyone, this Wood Spirit Flower is of great importance to me. Those without sufficient strength should leave now, lest they fall victim to stray blades when the contest begins,” the man with the gauntlets declared to the crowd.

A young man at the advanced stage of Body Tempering stepped forward angrily. “Why? Treasures belong to those who can claim them! What right do you three—”

Before he could finish, a sickening sound split the air as the Butcher’s Blade cut him down. The crowd hadn’t even seen how the blade was drawn.

“Enough noise. Anyone else want to speak? If you’re dissatisfied, consider his fate.” The Butcher’s Blade looked down contemptuously, raising his weapon. “You have three minutes to disappear from my sight. Stay, and you’ll have only yourselves to blame for what happens next.”

No one had expected someone to die before the Wood Spirit Flower had even matured. Frightened, the crowd retreated a few steps. Those who knew they were outmatched began to leave, though some lingered on the outskirts to watch.

Suddenly, with a crisp sound, the last petal of the Wood Spirit Flower unfurled. At the same moment, howls erupted from the southern mutant beast zone, and the trees began to shake violently.

Seeing this, the last of the onlookers vanished.

Hidden in the earth, Ye Bai congratulated himself on his foresight. He had known that a clearing would happen that day—none of the main contenders would allow outsiders to profit from the chaos. His concealing cloak masked his presence and supplied him with air, ensuring he would not suffocate underground.

After days of waiting, the most tense moment had arrived. Ye Bai watched everything unfold, palms damp with sweat.

The commotion subsided. Two Green-Crested Pythons, each thicker than a barrel, dangled from the treetops, eyes fixed on the Wood Spirit Flower. The branches creaked under their immense weight.

“Gentlemen, let’s take care of these beasts first, then fight for the flower on our own merits,” the gauntleted man said, yellow light flickering over his fists.

Ye Bai was startled. That yellow glow—could it be the outward manifestation of elemental power? He was just a step away from the entry level.

“Agreed. I’ll take one; you two handle the other,” the Butcher’s Blade said, drawing his weapon, which shimmered with a red-green light.

The black-faced man said nothing, charging straight for the second python, the gauntleted man following suit with a roar.

Ye Bai watched from his hiding place, tense.

The Butcher’s Blade leapt into the air, bringing his weapon down at the python’s head. The snake met his attack with a flash of cold intelligence in its eyes, tongue flickering, its tail whipping toward the man’s waist. He twisted midair, turning his blade from vertical to horizontal, slicing a gash into the python’s tail.

Elsewhere, the black-faced man was hacking at the other python with an ordinary particle knife, leaving only pale scars, while the gauntleted man, empowered by his elemental force, managed to dent the python’s scales with each blow.

Meanwhile, the first battle neared its end. The python facing the Butcher’s Blade was drenched in blood. The blade flashed with scarlet light; in a motion swift as teleportation, he drew it across the python’s vital point. The snake crashed to the ground, blood pouring from its mouth.

Sheathing his blade, the Butcher’s Blade turned to watch the other fight. Soon, the second python fell dead as well.

“Haha, impressive skills, gentlemen! Now, let’s see—” Before the gauntleted man could finish, only a human skin remained where he stood.

Ye Bai was stunned. He hadn’t expected such a bizarre and sudden death.

“Hm?” The Butcher’s Blade frowned. This method looked familiar… Yes, it was the work of the Fallen.

He narrowed his eyes, resting his blade. “Are you one of the Fallen?”

A mocking voice replied, “Not bad—you’ve got a sharp eye.” In fact, the black-faced man had known his identity was exposed the moment the gauntleted man fell, but he had decided that the Wood Spirit Flower was worth the risk. He flicked the blood from his hand and continued, “That fool only knew how to attack head-on. He never even realized I’d poisoned him. No wonder he died so soon. If he hadn’t used elemental force, he might have lasted longer.”

“You must have used up a lot of energy killing that python. So, will you hand the Wood Spirit Flower over to me, or will I have to kill you for it?” Black mist coiled around him as he advanced.

The Butcher’s Blade gave a cold laugh. “Do you know why I’m called the Butcher’s Blade? Because you Fallen killed my wife! I slaughtered everyone in Green Forest Fort to avenge her—she was with child! Why did you do this to me?”

Tears welled in his eyes as the blade flared red. “Today, I’ll rid the world of your evil!”

Ye Bai held his breath. He hadn’t expected the Wood Spirit Flower to draw in even the Fallen.

The blade, aglow with red light, swung at the black-faced man, who met him with black claws of unknown make. The clash of metal rang out, making Ye Bai’s ears ring beneath the earth.

The Butcher’s Blade used the momentum of the air, flipping and landing a kick to the black-faced man’s chest. The latter spat a mouthful of blood but laughed wildly, swallowing a pill. The black aura around him grew nearly tangible, his strength almost at the entry level.

The Butcher’s Blade watched in silence, his own power surging, the greenish element force barely visible now as if he was gathering strength for something.

“Black Mist Overwhelms the Sky!” the black-faced man roared, sending his elemental force, clinging to his claws, flying at the Butcher’s Blade. The latter wrapped his blade in scarlet energy, his eyes flashing red as he growled, “Butcher’s End!”

Red and black light flashed; both men fell to the ground.

Ye Bai had not expected it to end this way. Not a single one survived.