Chapter Ninety-Eight: The Deal and Liu Tian, the Great Serpent

The wooden sword and the corpse of the Dead Servant slowly burned away with the flames. Chu Zihang turned his head and looked at Liu Tian, seemingly waiting for something.

“Not bad at all,” Liu Tian applauded encouragingly. In just two months, reaching this stage was truly a testament to Chu Zihang’s effort and talent.

The flames entwining the wooden sword were Chu Zihang’s awakened Word Spirit, though its specific name remained unknown.

Unlike Liu Tian, who was cut off from elemental forces, Chu Zihang—bearing the blood of dragons—could actively harness the elements through his spirit, achieving supernatural effects akin to setting fires.

The power to command the wind was granted by the blood of madness, a unique ability nearly surpassing the realm of animal superpowers.

Of course, this was only a preliminary demonstration. If he were to unleash his full strength, even chanting a Word Spirit whose meaning he did not fully understand, the flames alone could engulf an entire street in a blazing inferno of thousands of degrees. And the wind, when pushed to its limit, could stir up a hurricane.

The power of lineage was indeed one of the most suitable paths for the weak to elevate their strength.

Only two months prior, he had been a frail girl who couldn’t even break stones barehanded. Now, after awakening his bloodline, he wielded destructive power worthy of leveling a city block with a single strike.

If it came to large-scale slaughter without summoning the great serpent, Liu Tian would find it hard to keep pace with Chu Zihang, who could manipulate both wind and fire simultaneously.

The ability to use the omnipresent elemental forces as amplifiers granted an overwhelming advantage in mass destruction.

Of course, if it truly came to combat, Chu Zihang would be instantly slain by Liu Tian without question.

“But why cover the wind and sword with flames?” Liu Tian ruffled Chu Zihang’s hair and asked. “Though it boosts damage quite a bit, it makes the weapon a one-time use.”

“Because... it looks cool.” A blush tinted her cheeks as Chu Zihang stammered.

After two months of constant companionship and a surge in strength, coupled with newfound hope of killing Odin, Chu Zihang no longer felt constrained around Liu Tian.

“Ah, well,” Liu Tian didn’t quite know what to say. “But I suppose it’s fine—training to look cool isn’t unheard of. After all, the strength you gain isn’t really tied to your mindset when acquiring it.”

---

“But cool, fire plus wind... I think I’m getting an idea.” A spark of inspiration flickered in Liu Tian’s eyes as he recalled a distant memory. “Add in the blood of madness that might drown you in a thirst for slaughter... huh, feels like something’s coming back to me.”

“Forget it. If I can’t remember now, I won’t force it.” Liu Tian paused. “By the way, starting today, you officially enter the trial.”

“Let me think... there’s something I’ve always wanted to try—clear out all the scum in the slums, but only with the sword.”

“I want to see, if all the scum die but there’s no control, how long it takes before new scum show up again, or if they ever stop appearing.”

“Also, the Heavenly Martial Killing Path requires bloodshed. Without rivers of blood and mountains of corpses, how long will it take you to breakthrough...”

“Alright.” Chu Zihang was already prepared and heavily influenced by the blood of madness. She paid no mind to the tens of thousands of lives casually implied, instinctively taking Liu Tian’s hand and heading toward the kitchen. “I’ve learned some new dishes recently; they should suit your taste. Come try them.”

...

“Clang clang clang!” After two months, having observed Chu Zihang and others, and growing more interested in Liu Tian, Xiami blocked his path on her way to school, phone in hand. “Senior, two months without seeing you. Did you miss me?”

“?” Liu Tian was puzzled. “Aren’t you always spying on my subordinates?”

“Ah? You caught me.” Xiami crouched defensively, clutching her head. “This time I didn’t spy on you. Go easy on me.”

“As long as you don’t blab, I don’t mind.” Liu Tian stepped around the trembling Xiami. “But don’t do this again, or I might come looking for the people you represent behind your back—the unusually high-bloodline mixed-blood lady.”

“Hehe, alright.” Xiami nodded eagerly. “By the way, let’s exchange phone numbers—so I can contact you easily. I’ll trade some top-secret info for it, how about that?”

“What top-secret info?” Liu Tian raised an eyebrow.

“Then lower your head; can’t say it here.” Xiami tugged at Liu Tian’s sleeve and leaned close to his ear. The breeze tickled him as she whispered, “Some dragon-related secrets your subordinates definitely can’t find for now.”

Before Liu Tian could leave, Xiami moved closer again, letting her lips brush lightly against both sides of his face, then stepped back as if nothing had happened, hands behind her back. “So, how about the deal?”

---

“Deal.” Liu Tian didn’t pry further about the info. “As long as it’s accurate, my number is 15475246...”

“Got it.” Xiami quickly saved the number and called to confirm. Though they stood only a few feet apart, she quietly spoke through the phone. “The first secret I’m selling: at 19.6 degrees east longitude, 23.6 degrees north latitude, below 500 meters above ground, there’s a third-generation dragon clan relic of the Earth and Mountain King lineage. No one else knows this secret. It’s valuable.”

“Was that necessary?”

After hanging up, her voice still whispered by the wind close to Xiami’s ear, Liu Tian, though unable to amplify his destructive power with elements like Chu Zihang, had mastered top-tier secret techniques to manipulate all things. Using subtle voice transmission like this was effortless for him.

“What do you want?” Liu Tian asked. “Once my subordinates verify, I’ll consider your reward.”

“Huh? Is that how it works?”

Xiami’s expression clearly showed surprise at the offer, but she said nothing and turned to leave.

Only after the first class ended did Xiami send a text while Liu Tian chatted with Lu Mingfei: “I heard a huge amusement park opened in the south of the city, with another super roller coaster. Let’s bring Senior Chu Zihang and go ride it together!”

If the news was true, that would be great.

Liu Tian’s reply was brief and to the point, ignoring any potential hidden motives. He had the confidence to overcome any obstacles.

If the deal was straightforward, Liu Tian didn’t mind. But if Xiami planned any tricks, he would crush those along with her scheme.

After all, having read the “Sea Tiger” manga, a new skill had already taken shape in his mind—a skill, by naming convention, that should be called “Great Serpent Liu Tian.”