Chapter 1 A Single Shot

One shot, just one!

The Vermilion Bird Envoy, who had comprehended two complete domains, was sent flying!

"I comprehended two domains, how can I not even withstand a single blow?!"

The Vermilion Bird Envoy crashed through an entire street of buildings. He finally struggled to regain his balance in the air, his feet firmly planted on the ground, plowing out a trench nearly a hundred meters long.

He couldn't believe that the gap between himself and Jia Wei was so vast!

A hundred meters away, the Grand Knight clad in Guang Ming Bi Lei stood slowly, holding his spear.

Jia Wei's eyes were fixed on the target.

"I can't fight anymore, I must escape..."

The sense of crisis in Vermilion Bird's heart surged to the extreme.

His expression was unsightly. Until Jia Wei appeared, he hadn't waited for the "sleeper" he was truly waiting for!

*Hoo...*

He exhaled a long breath of turbid air.

Pierced by that spear just now, Vermilion Bird's "elementalization" was completely shattered, but he wasn't seriously injured. The Grand Knight's spear momentum was terrifying, definitely crushing all fourth-order existences.

But wanting to kill him like this was absolutely impossible!

"I've always heard that Guang Ming City has an 'invincible fourth-order'..."

Vermilion Bird smiled, dusted off his divine official robe, and said softly, "Having seen it today, it's indeed well-deserved. But whether it's truly 'invincible fourth-order,' I'll have to learn from you."

"..."

Jia Wei's heavy helmet covered his face. He clenched his spear in one hand, slowly raised the tip, and aimed at the target.

The great sun hung high, the sunlight fierce.

Through a line of gaps in the Guang Ming Bi Lei.

Vermilion Bird could only see the Grand Knight's cold eyes.

He wanted to leave him here forever!

For opponents like Jia Wei, Vermilion Bird had no intention of using the Li Huo Bit Tablet at all. This guy was covered in Guang Ming Bi Lei, with maximum defense, and his fourth-order transcendence power was also maxed out—

Who would want to duel with such a terrifying existence?!

Once the Li Huo barrier was activated, the field would be locked down. If they really fought, he would probably be pierced to pieces by three spears!

"Whirr, whirr, whirr..."

Outside the high walls of w9 district, a great wind surged. The Vermilion Bird Envoy raised his arms.

His divine official robe billowed in the wind!

"Hmm?"

Jia Wei narrowed his eyes.

The red-robed man in front of him began to "elementalize" again, which wasn't something that deserved his attention... His Guang Po Spear specialized in killing elemental transcendents!

No physical body? It didn't matter! He would kill him all the same!

After Vermilion Bird raised his arms, circles of red flames began to swirl around his elementalized body!

As these flames danced.

The sky of w9 district also changed accordingly, with layers of red tinging the clouds!

This seemed like a strange "divine descent" ritual, but obviously... the strongest sealed object on Vermilion Bird's body should be the Nan Li Tablet, with a grade of half-S. This was a secondary sealed object cast by the Sky God Seat and couldn't trigger a true "divine descent."

The Nan Li Tablet only sealed a complete branch of the "fire" element in the transcendent spectrum.

"Kill!"

Jia Wei didn't give Vermilion Bird time to brew the ritual. He directly charged forward with his spear!

A hundred meters distance was instantly covered!

"Shred!"

Vermilion Bird's body instantly shattered, but not torn apart by the Guang Po Spear. Instead, it exploded on its own after elementalizing, turning into Li Huo, which scattered into countless corners of w9 district—

Jia Wei remained expressionless. He continued to charge forward, aiming at a wisp of flame and thrusting his spear directly!

"Chi!"

The spear tip shone with a strong light, piercing fiercely into the Li Huo!

The next moment, a figure stumbled out of the fire tide a hundred zhang away with a painful expression!

Vermilion Bird clutched his other arm tightly.

His expression was pale, his eyes containing several complex emotions such as anger, horror, and surprise!

"How is it possible? How is it possible!"

In a state of complete elementalization, with no physical form, he could still be hit!

As long as this spear hit an element, it could follow the illusory "causality" and directly attack his main body!

"Want to escape? Stay here!"

Jia Wei thrust his spear again. He didn't even bother to search for a target... This entire city was filled with Li Huo, filled with "Vermilion Birds"!

"Pfft!"

With the second spear, a bloody hole was directly pierced in Vermilion Bird's abdomen.

His expression turned ashen.

After two spears, he quickly began to absorb the Li Huo from all directions, no longer daring to open his domain—

And at this moment.

The mournful scarlet color above the sky completed its final brewing. The sky above w9 district was shrouded in layers of red clouds.

As red as blood, dripping with freshness!

As the Grand Knight of Guang Ming City charged for the third time with his spear, Vermilion Bird clearly panicked. He desperately fled towards the outside of the city, while using his mental power to activate the red clouds above the sky.

"Descend!"

With this desperate roar.

The sky, like a blood-red dye vat, began to stir. Within the red clouds, thousands of flames danced and gathered.

Vermilion Bird had hidden his aura above West Cave, sitting for a long time.

He wasn't just choosing a second assassination battlefield.

He was also arranging a "escape method" for the worst-case scenario—

Although he was reckless, he also cherished his life!

In case... Guang Ming City had a backup, like now, with a super fourth-order like Jia Wei appearing to chase him, he would need a complete escape method!

The Grand Knight of Guang Ming City, who was chasing with his spear, suddenly frowned.

He looked up.

Above the sky, countless Li Huo were brewing in the red clouds—

Those weren't from "Vermilion Bird" himself!

But from the sealed object, the Nan Li Tablet!

That tablet had long been taken out by Vermilion Bird and placed above the clouds to release and brew "Li Huo"!

As long as the Vermilion Bird Envoy had a thought, the Nan Li Tablet would gather and release the Li Huo in the sky, performing a "final strike" at a critical moment!

This was Vermilion Bird's trump card!

"Rumble..."

At this moment, the sky above w9 district shook with violent tremors like thunder. Tens of thousands of tons of Li Huo gathered, falling from the sky, first condensing into a giant swooping firebird, then gradually colliding with the air, shedding its fiery feathers, shedding its wings, shedding its form—

Finally, it turned into a giant sword hanging from the sky!

There was only one target, and that was Jia Wei!

……

……

"So... this move was actually reserved for me?"

Gu Shen narrowed his eyes, standing in the darkness, vaguely feeling a chill in his heart.

This sword was hidden deep enough!

He had personally experienced the power of the Nan Li Tablet. Earlier in the North Ridge of East Cave, he had been quite embarrassed by Vermilion Bird's "Li Huo." If he were to replace Jia Wei in w9 district at this moment...

Then he would most likely be severely injured by this sword!

This sword was the ultimate sword that could kill 99% of fourth-order transcendents!

The Li Huo of Vermilion Bird contained a dual strike targeting the body and soul!

However...

The target of this sword was the fourth-order transcendent Jia Wei.

The flames in w9 district were extinguished, but the sky of w9 was filled with flames.

Shadow slumped in the ruins, his expression pale as he watched the almost apocalyptic, dazzling Li Huo descend from the clouds, bit by bit, crashing into the ground, and the majestic air waves had already risen—

If this sword were to fall on him...

The final result would be just one word.

Death.

Heaven and earth were vast, and living beings were small.

The Grand Knight of Guang Ming City gently lowered the spear in his hand, the tip touching the ground.

Jia Wei gripped the spear tightly with both hands, his knees slightly bent, and the spear shaft also bent slightly. The next moment, he suddenly rushed towards the sky, and the Guang Po Spear was swung out like a giant axe!

"Rumble!"

This tiny speck of light rose directly against the current, colliding with the tip of Vermilion Bird's Li Huo giant sword!

The spear tip was incomparably barbaric, shattering Vermilion Bird's Li Huo!

All the way, sweeping away everything in its path!

Vermilion Bird's giant sword shattered section by section, unable to withstand Jia Wei's spear for even a second!

Bang—

A muffled explosion rolled in the sky above Sangzhou Cave!

The sky was filled with fragmented Li Huo!

The entire w9 district... no, the entire West Cave could see this magnificent firework covering the sky!

The dazzling light and fire splashed everywhere.

Many low-level transcendents who looked up directly had their vision blurred into silver.

Shadow narrowed his eyes, shedding clear tears.

Even Gu Shen stretched out a hand to gently shield his forehead, avoiding the sharp edge of the strong light.

In a distant, unknown place, the Gatti Saint, who was listening with [Tide], frowned, and a flash of pain passed through his eyes... At the moment of the explosion, the violent sound waves rolled, magnified many times by [Tide], and entered his spiritual sea.

Even Gatti couldn't help but feel his heart churning at such a commotion.

The Saint's expression was somewhat complicated.

Also a fourth-order transcendent... If Vermilion Bird's Li Huo giant sword fell on his head, Gatti asked himself, it would be difficult for him to "sweep away everything" like Jia Wei.

What kind of brute force, what kind of powerful attack was this?

To confront the "trend" brewed for a long time by the Tower of Origin's Envoy with a momentary attack!

This was actually a foolish act.

To do so showed Jia Wei's arrogance. To rise up and meet the "giant sword" meant that he had twelve points of certainty that he could completely shatter it!

……

……

"Bang!"

When Vermilion Bird saw that the ultimate Li Huo sword he had planned for so long had turned into a firework, illuminating the entire West Cave.

There was no more reaction in his mind.

Escape!

He didn't hesitate at all and fled directly towards the outside of the city!

This sword couldn't kill Jia Wei, it didn't matter!

As long as it could buy him time to escape, that was enough!

And in the high sky, the Grand Knight of Guang Ming City, who shattered the giant sword inch by inch, caught a glimpse of the light spot in the distance... He completed the final counterattack, his spear breaking through the clouds all the way from the tip of the sword until he shattered the hilt of the giant sword—

He hovered in the high sky and saw a red dot flying quickly!

That was the "Nan Li Tablet" that created this ultimate sword... With this sword over, Vermilion Bird would have to retrieve the token. As long as he followed this red dot, he could find Vermilion Bird's location!

Jia Wei no longer hesitated.

He set off in pursuit with his spear!

The sound of crackling fire rain falling splashed and echoed on the ground of w9 district.

The city returned to silence.

In fact... Vermilion Bird's second burning of the city was basically successful. Only one out of ten of the transcendent survivors here remained. The "Li Huo" just now, and the explosive damage of that ultimate sword, were killing moves that low-level transcendents couldn't resist at all.

Shadow hissed.

He slowly stood up. The injuries left by the battle with Vermilion Bird were aching faintly at this moment, but he didn't care.

"Lord Su Ye... the plan is going smoothly..."

Shadow pressed the communicator, his voice hoarse: "Vermilion Bird is seriously injured and is escaping... Lord Jia Wei has gone to chase him."

Su Ye, who was hunting in the outer ring forest, also saw the magnificent fire tide earlier.

He hummed softly.

This was a link in Guang Ming City's plan... The unrest in e0 district was nothing. It didn't matter if Vermilion Bird wanted revenge.

With "Jia Wei" and many sleepers.

Guang Ming City hoped that the situation in Sangzhou Cave would become more chaotic... because essentially, they didn't care about the casualties of the transcendent residents in the city. For greater interests, these could all be abandoned.

"Very good."

Su Ye laughed softly: "Vermilion Bird is crippled. It doesn't matter whether he lives or dies. The Tower of Origin has lost an important arm. They will also agree to our transaction in the future... In that case, the [Holy Book] can draw more power."

"You're right."

Shadow said respectfully.

"Good things come in pairs... I have also completed the negotiation on the 'neutralizer'."

Su Ye's smile sounded on the other end of the communicator.

"Now go back to the mansion and bring out the 'neutralizer' you just caught. Bishop Dijon will send someone to take over."

"Yes..."

Shadow squatted down, picked up the two daggers he had dropped, and turned to leave.

He didn't look at the burned-out city again. There were still some struggling people in the fire tide.

Whether those lived or died didn't matter.

"By the way."

Su Ye frowned: "After returning to the mansion, go and check the 'Holy Book'."

"The Holy Book?"

Shadow raised an eyebrow: "Are you worried?"

"Well... I always have an ominous premonition for some reason..." Su Ye murmured: "I'm worried that something will go wrong with the 'Holy Book'."

"You're probably overthinking it."

Shadow smiled softly: "How long has it been since Vermilion Bird burned the city? If a second Envoy from the Tower of Origin arrives, Lord Jia Wei will definitely notice... Moreover, the 'Holy Book' is perfectly bound by the Guang Ming barrier inside and out. Whoever touches it, you will definitely notice, won't you?"

"...That's the logic."

Su Ye rubbed his brow. He sighed softly and said, "I hope I'm thinking too much."

Shadow returned to w4 district.

The smile on his face gradually froze and then disappeared.

The mansion was dead silent, and a large group of white-robed members were lying on the ground... Those were all extremists transformed by the "Holy Book"!

Someone had been here!

Shadow walked quickly towards the depths of the mansion. The outermost Guang Ming barrier was broken, and he walked even faster, first arriving at the cell where the "neutralizer" was held. The cell was silent... Nothing was left here. The prison tools were broken, and all the detainees had disappeared, leaving only a burst of powder scattered in the wind!

"No..."

Shadow's expression turned pale. He suddenly realized something was wrong and turned to rush even faster towards the location of the Holy Book.

After arriving at the scene.

He saw the most unacceptable scene. The Holy Book was gone... To be precise, the entire "sealed object" along with the Holy Book was gone!

"No!"

Shadow looked at this scene blankly, his brain blank.

The scene in front of him was too shocking.

He crashed directly.

The entire small courtyard had been moved clean, without leaving a single floor tile!

"Lord Su Ye... Lord Su Ye!"

Shadow made a spiritual link at the first moment.

But it failed!

His spiritual power was blocked for some reason!

Calling the communicator also failed, and the signal was lost here!

"Don't try, it's useless."

A very light voice sounded about ten meters behind Shadow. As an expert in the assassination business, this was the first time that Shadow had been approached at such a close distance without noticing it at all!

He was terrified.

He suddenly turned his head.

Under the eaves of the other courtyard, shrouded in shadows, a thin figure was sitting on the wicker chair in front of the mansion at some point. His body was hidden in the darkness, but as long as you looked at it, it would give people a great sense of oppression!

Gu Shen slowly stood up.

He said calmly: "So that broken black paper is the so-called 'Holy Book', right?"

Shadow's pupils shrank to the extreme.

He couldn't see the face of the black shadow.

He even released all his spiritual power... In the end, what he saw was just a black shadow.