Several dozen miles away from Qingshan City, Jiang Yuan strolled on a mountain path overgrown with dense forests, carrying the heavily injured Shen Hanbing on his back.
“Why didn’t you call me for such a mission? Fortunately, I happened to come this time; otherwise, you would have been in danger,” Jiang Yuan scolded Shen Hanbing with the air of a venerable teacher.
“Master, you’re right. Your disciple will heed your teachings,” Shen Hanbing admitted fault, bowing her head like a child who had done something wrong.
“Knowing you can’t win, why do you insist on confronting them head-on? Why take such risks?” Jiang Yuan asked disapprovingly.
After a brief contemplation, Shen Hanbing truthfully replied, “Continuously overcoming opponents stronger than oneself, breaking through in each life-and-death battle, is the only way to rapidly become stronger.”
In fact, Shen Hanbing had been doing these dangerous things for the past ten years. It was through the potential unlocked in each near-death experience that she honed her current strength.
“Why are you so determined to become stronger?” asked Jiang Yuan with a puzzled expression.
“Because…” Shen Hanbing hesitated, seemingly reluctant to bring up the past.
After a moment of contemplation, she took a deep breath and said with a tone full of murderous intent, “Because I want to kill a woman!”
“A woman?” Jiang Yuan murmured.
“Killing her is the only reason I’m alive,” Shen Hanbing gazed into the distant horizon, her eyes filled with unhideable murderous intent.
“Why do you want to kill her?” Jiang Yuan curiously inquired.
Shen Hanbing subconsciously looked down to the left, seemingly plunged into painful memories. “Because she… killed my parents.”
Jiang Yuan remained silent, gazing at Shen Hanbing with compassion.
Shen Hanbing continued to recount the dusty past, “I still remember clearly that night ten years ago, how she used her sword to cut off my parents’ heads!”
“Since that day, I made a vow to myself that one day, I would personally kill her!”
“But to kill her, I must become stronger, stronger than anyone else!”
“Because her talent and strength surpass mine and everyone else’s!”
“To surpass her and then kill her is why I am so eager to become stronger!”
After listening to Shen Hanbing’s self-disclosure, Jiang Yuan fell into silence.
From the first time he saw Shen Hanbing, Jiang Yuan knew she must have a story. However, he didn’t expect it to be such a tragic one.
No wonder she was so determined to become stronger, anyone who experienced the same ordeal would become equally resolute.
After a long silence, Jiang Yuan suddenly smiled, “Actually, to become stronger quickly, you don’t need to go through life-and-death battles. I suddenly remembered there’s a simpler way.”
“What way? Is the Master planning to teach me a powerful technique?” Shen Hanbing instantly became spirited, her eyes shining with anticipation.
“No, I don’t know any techniques at all,” Jiang Yuan earnestly replied.
In the civilization of the Demon God he belonged to, there was no concept of martial arts techniques. Due to different races, the methods of cultivation varied.
For the Demon Gods to become stronger, they didn’t need to cultivate techniques; they only needed to absorb the universe’s energy.
“Not a technique? Then what is it?” Shen Hanbing curiously asked.
“Leave that to me. After we go back, I will ensure that your strength undergoes a leap,” Jiang Yuan said in a nonchalant tone as if discussing a trivial matter.
*
At the same time, in Qingshan City, after Jiang Yuan left with Shen Hanbing, the unconscious powerful giant and the critically injured Almighty Grandmaster were taken back to the main city of Zhongzhou by the medical team of the Martial Arts Alliance for treatment.
Now, Qingshan City only had Ye Xingchen and his guards left, handling the aftermath.
“You’re the Shura II, right?” Ye Xingchen approached Xiao Nitian, accompanied by a large group of guards.
“Yes… it’s me. What’s the matter?” Xiao Nitian replied nervously.
“I heard you are the number one expert in Luoyun City and practice some mysterious techniques that can conceal your aura, making it impossible for anyone to sense your cultivation level. Is that true?” Ye Xingchen inquired tentatively.
Xiao Nitian hesitated for a moment, then awkwardly denied, “Uh… it’s not like that. I’m not really the number one expert in Luoyun City, and I haven’t practiced any mysterious techniques. I’m just…”
Before Xiao Nitian could finish his words, Ye Xingchen directly interrupted, “You’re the one who killed the Golden Steel Demon Ape, right?”
“No…” Xiao Nitian was about to deny it, but was interrupted again by Ye Xingchen.
“Come back with us to Zhongzhou for your reward,” Ye Xingchen ordered in a commanding tone.
“Wa… wait, it wasn’t me. I didn’t kill the Golden Steel Demon Ape, you’ve got it wrong,” Xiao Nitian hastily explained to Ye Xingchen.
Ye Xingchen frowned, showing some displeasure, and said, “Listen, if I say you did it, then you did it.”
“But…” Xiao Nitian hesitated.
Ye Xingchen’s guards immediately spoke, “No ‘buts.’ Just follow our young master’s arrangements, and you’ll benefit. We know you’re modest and not seeking fame and fortune, but you better do as our young master says!”
Xiao Nitian nodded helplessly, “Fine… okay.”
“Take him away,” Ye Xingchen waved his hand, and several guards escorted Xiao Nitian away.
The remaining guards drew their blades and approached the innocent civilians.
“What are you doing? Why are you killing us?!”
“Please spare us, my lord! Please don’t kill me!”
“No, please! Help!”
“Ah—!”
For a moment, screams of agony echoed through the entire city.
