Chapter 88: Emerging from Seclusion!
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Soon, every member of the Third Regiment arrived before the gates of the Zhizhan Mansion at top speed.
“Reporting! Commander, the entire Third Regiment is present and accounted for!”
A leading soldier stepped forward and reported.
The Third Regiment numbered only twenty in total—a modest force, but Zhizhan had always valued quality over quantity. Among these twenty, most were Dou Masters, with the lowest rank being an eight- or nine-star Dou Practitioner.
Zhizhan stood on the balcony before the mansion, his gaze sweeping over the two rows of twenty assembled below. Each looked well-fed and full of spirit; the air of martial discipline was unmistakable.
Zhizhan nodded in satisfied approval.
“Alright, front row, step out!”
He barked the order.
“Yes, sir!”
The formation consisted of four rows, five men in each. The first row stepped forward—five in total.
“You five will remain to guard the Zhizhan Mansion. The rest, prepare your horses and set out with me!”
Zhizhan commanded again.
“Yes, sir!” came the spirited reply.
Everyone mounted their horses.
“Move out!”
“Hyah!”
...
Night had fallen. Another day passed, filled with eating, drinking, and idling away the hours. Qian Mo lived in comfort day after day, yet inwardly he felt restless. His strength had grown so great that he could find no worthy opponent on the Dou Qi Continent, and it brought to mind that old saying: “Invincibility is the loneliest fate of all.” Thus, he felt compelled to stir up some grand event.
“Sigh! How dull! Another day gone by just like that. Once they finish dealing with that so-called Zhizhan, I’ll hurry off to Blackrock City for some fun.”
Qian Mo lay on his bed, utterly bored.
One day outside equaled a year inside the inner world.
The two of them had now cultivated inside for nearly a year.
They were utterly changed from who they had once been. Over the course of a year, many things had become clear to both, and many illusions had fallen away.
The transformation was extraordinary.
Under devilish training, Ma Lie’s cultivation had nearly reached the level of a nine-star Dou Emperor.
Ma Li lagged somewhat behind, having only reached the level of a seven-star Dou Emperor.
Yet both now possessed strength and combat experience rivaling even a Dou Sect expert. Even if faced with one, they might not be defeated. As for Ma Lie, he could single-handedly challenge any Dou Sect below three stars, and with his skills and techniques, he could win outright—or, at the very least, make himself almost impossible to harm.
Ma Lie’s Reincarnation Burning Body was now vastly improved, strong enough to withstand direct attacks without much difficulty.
“After tonight, you two can go out and settle your scores. That Zhizhan Mercenary Corps you mentioned? They’re nothing but ants. Find their headquarters and wipe them out.”
The instructor, standing atop the riverbank, addressed Ma Lie below.
Ma Lie grabbed a piece of food, took a bite, and grumbled, “Zhizhan? I almost forgot about them. It’s been a year—if you hadn’t mentioned it, I wouldn’t have remembered at all. Back then, they seemed so formidable, everything was theirs, and I was terrified of being beaten by them. But now? If they dare come here... they’ll leave in coffins.”
He tore off another bite of meat and declared, “If they don’t come, I’ll find them myself, and keep going until every last one is dead!”
“Mmm! Delicious. Instructor, want a bite? The meat is amazing!” Ma Lie waved the skewer at his teacher.
“Idiot! How many times have I told you? I’m just a virtual projection—I can’t eat!” the instructor cursed, though he swallowed secretly.
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“Oh, what a pity! Guess I’ll just have to enjoy it for you,” Ma Lie said, grinning.
“This brat’s getting way too bold!”
“Hurricane Strike! Let’s see you eat now!”
The instructor raised a hand to cast a spell.
“Ah! No! Instructor!” Ma Lie cried out.
...
Dawn.
“Commander, the village ahead is Ma Village.”
“Good. Dismount!”
The group gathered at Ma Village’s gates that morning was none other than Zhizhan, Third Regiment Commander of the Zhizhan Mercenary Corps.
The party dismounted and strode in, exuding an intimidating aura.
“O-Oh! Commander of the Third Regiment, what brings you to our Ma Village today?” A village attendant stepped forward to inquire.
“Fetch Ma Li from your village, or I’ll raze Ma Village to the ground!” the commander barked.
“W-What? Raze Ma Village? Please wait, Commander!” the attendant stammered.
“No need! Just take me—”
Zhizhan’s words were cut short by a voice from nearby.
“What’s all the fuss? Who’s looking for... me?” A young woman emerged, another figure at her side—it was Ma Lie.
The woman was Ma Li. They had come out early, waiting precisely for this moment.
“Hm? You... you’re Ma Li? And Ma Lie?” Zhizhan narrowed his eyes, sensing something amiss. In such a short time, their entire bearing had changed.
“So what if we are? So what if we’re not?” Ma Lie answered coldly.
“You two brats—how dare you speak to the commander like that? Apologize, at once!” the village attendant interjected anxiously, fearing the pair’s insolence would get them killed.
“It’s fine. We’re no longer who we used to be.”
“Zhizhan, since it’s me you want, let’s take this outside. We wouldn’t want to disrupt the villagers’ sleep.”
As she spoke, a wave of Dou Qi pressure descended from the two.
“What?!” Zhizhan’s eyes went wide with alarm.
“Retreat! Prepare for battle!” he yelled. His weapon flashed into his hands as he leapt back.
“How is this possible? How can they be so strong? Impossible, impossible!” Zhizhan’s mind raced as the overwhelming pressure nearly crushed him.
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Such terrifying power in a single aura—just how strong were these two?
“Damn it, it must be an illusion!”
“Watch me! High-level Profound-Grade Dou Technique—Severing Slash!”
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
“Ma Li, do you want to play or shall I?” Ma Lie looked at the crowd of ants before him.
“Hmph! They came for me, so of course I’ll handle this!” Ma Li smiled slyly.
“Alright, alright, it’s all yours, young lady. Please, after you!” Ma Lie replied with gentlemanly flourish, then stepped back.
Seeing Ma Lie retreat, a concerned villager hurried over to ask, “Ma Lie, can Ma Li handle them alone? Shouldn’t you help her?”
“Relax, Uncle Ma. Just watch the show,” Ma Lie reassured the anxious elder.
“Children playing in the mud,” Qian Mo observed from the balcony above, sipping a steaming cup of milk as he watched the scene unfold.
“Let me test how formidable a five-star Dou Master really is. Don’t let me down. As for the rest of you, once I’ve dealt with your commander, you’ll be next. Try anything now, and my bored friend behind me might entertain himself,” Ma Li declared, withdrawing her Dou Qi aura and addressing the group before her.
“This damn woman is too arrogant! Commander, finish her!”
“Kill her!”
“Kill her!”
The cry went up, and the whole group surged forward.
“What a pack of idiots!” Zhizhan cursed them silently, damning their ancestors for eighteen generations.
Zhizhan’s technique met Ma Li’s body.
“Hmph! So arrogant! Daring to meet my Severing Slash with your bare body!” Zhizhan shouted.
“If it were yesterday, I wouldn’t have dared. But today is a different story,” Ma Li replied, smiling calmly as the blade energy struck.
Bang!—
“Ha! I thought you were so strong! Turns out you’re just an ant—what a waste of my worry,” Zhizhan laughed, gripping his great blade.
...
(End of Chapter)
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