Chapter 63: The Prelude to Chaos

The world fell silent as Chen Ling committed suicide by shooting himself in front of everyone.

Everyone stared, dumbfounded, at the empty cliff edge, their thoughts momentarily frozen.

"He committed suicide?" Yan Xicai was stunned for a long time. "I thought he was tougher than that... he just killed himself?"

"Something's not right... Did you see that? The moment he was shot, his face changed to someone else's."

"Yes, what was that?"

"I already found it odd how a minor enforcer from District Three dared to openly challenge Young Master Yan like that... So, he wasn't Chen Ling after all?"

"He's a Flame Usurper."

As everyone debated, Pu Wen suddenly spoke. His expression was extremely grave!

"Usurp the Heavenly Dao, seize the cosmos. The Thief God of the End, the Silver King... This is the creed of the Flame Usurpers."

"Flame Usurpers!?"

Hearing those three words, everyone present's face changed dramatically!

"The evil organization wanted across all human domains? They've come to the Aurora Domain as well?"

"I've heard that every Flame Usurper possesses the Way of the Thief God; they can easily steal anyone's face and blend into a crowd..."

"They delight in stealing everything from others: identity, money, memories, emotions, families... It's even rumored they can steal others' Divine Ways?!"

"So the one who just died wasn't Chen Ling at all, but a Flame Usurper who infiltrated our ranks?"

"They've infiltrated the Ancient Military Repository?!"

A terrifying and eerie atmosphere rapidly spread through the enclosed ancient repository as everyone spoke at once.

Meanwhile, the Flame Usurpers nearby were also completely bewildered. They had assumed Chen Ling had counter-killed Number 13 and then impersonated a Flame Usurper to infiltrate their ranks... But when Chen Ling was shot, he clearly transformed back into Number 13's appearance! So, Number 13 didn't fail? Everything that just happened was done by Number 13 himself? Had he betrayed them? But... what was his motive?

All the Flame Usurpers felt their minds reeling. They exchanged bewildered glances, seeing only confusion reflected in each other's eyes.

"He just said we would all die," Lu Xuanming, who had been silent until then, suddenly interjected.

If Chen Ling had said that, everyone would have dismissed it as ridiculous, as he was merely a powerless, minor enforcer from District Three... But if those words came from a Flame Usurper disguised as Chen Ling, the situation changed entirely! Now, as everyone replayed Chen Ling's words, expression, and smile from before his suicide, a chill ran down their necks.

"But he's dead now... Can he still kill us?" an enforcer asked hoarsely.

"How can you be certain that only one Flame Usurper infiltrated our group?"

At those words, everyone's hair stood on end! The Flame Usurpers' hearts sank even lower!

"If Flame Usurpers infiltrated the Ancient Military Repository, their objectives must be significant... Do you think they would send only one person?" Lu Xuanming's deep voice echoed. "From another perspective, if he were alone, why would he provoke Yan Xicai and invite a mass attack? Wouldn't that be intentionally exposing himself and seeking death?"

"Are you suggesting he was intentionally drawing our attention to himself to conceal his accomplices?"

"That doesn't make sense... Once he's dead, we'd know Flame Usurpers have infiltrated. Wouldn't that make it even easier to expose his teammates?"

"Could there have been internal strife among the Flame Usurpers?"

"I wouldn't rule out that possibility... but I still feel something is wrong."

Chen Ling had provoked the Aurora City enforcers' killing intent and thoroughly bewildered the Flame Usurpers. Then, this mysterious young man, who had been at the center of it all, simply and decisively committed suicide... leaving them with nothing but endless mysteries.

Yan Xicai's face was grim. He had expected to finally get his revenge on Chen Ling once they were inside the ancient repository, but he never imagined he would end up feeling even more frustrated.

"So, Flame Usurpers really have infiltrated us?" he gritted out. "Who is it?!"

Everyone exchanged wary glances, their eyes filled with suspicion and hesitation... According to Lu Xuanming, anyone around them could have been replaced by a Flame Usurper.

"If I recall correctly, Chen Ling arrived on the same transport as the enforcers from Districts Three, Five, and Six," Pu Wen said, as if a thought had just struck him. "There are only eight of them combined. They would be the most suitable group to replace on the journey, wouldn't they?"

Everyone instantly turned to look at Number 8 and his group.

"And they arrived a day early," an enforcer from District Four added. "They're very close to Winter Harbor, especially District Three. If you think about it, there's no reason for them to have arrived a day early... Even if they were just here for leisure, it's too much of a coincidence that they met the District Five and Six enforcers, who were also here for leisure, along the way!"

"Speaking of which, the conversation between Chen Ling and their District Three captain on the ship was quite odd as well..."

The seven Flame Usurpers grew increasingly tense as the conversation continued. They clearly sensed the fear and suspicion in the eyes of others, who quickly distanced themselves, some even showing murderous intent.

Damn it... What kind of situation is this?!

They had been diligently maintaining their disguises within the enforcer ranks, doing nothing, and now their identities were suddenly on the verge of exposure... What's more, with Chen Ling's death, all leads were gone.

As their identities neared exposure, several Flame Usurpers exchanged glances, their expressions turning sinister. Since they were about to be exposed anyway, why not just kill everyone directly? After all, once inside the ancient repository, no one outside would know about any massacre they committed... While they were outnumbered tenfold, most of their opponents were ordinary people, making them easy to kill.

"Jiang Qin, District Three enforcer," Lu Xuanming began slowly, arms crossed. "We need to verify the authenticity of your faces. Do you agree?"

Suspicion had already arisen. If the identities of the District Three group weren't confirmed, no one would feel safe proceeding through the ancient repository.

"How will you verify?" Number 8 countered.

"I've heard that when Flame Usurpers steal faces, they simply lay the victim's flesh over their own. If you allow me to cut your face open and check if there's another face beneath, we can verify."

All gun barrels instantly swung around, aiming at the seven Flame Usurpers.

Witnessing this, Number 8's expression flickered. He remained silent for a long moment, then took a deep breath... He spoke fiercely:

"Attack!!"

Things had come to this point; refusing verification would be pointless. Rather than that, they might as well just act now and eliminate these troublesome enforcers!

The moment those two words were uttered, the seven Flame Usurpers simultaneously transformed, reverting to their original appearances! Witnessing this, the crowd was greatly alarmed, realizing they had almost been deceived by these Flame Usurpers... Simultaneously, they pulled their triggers without hesitation!

But in the next instant, the guns in their hands vanished into thin air, only to reappear in the hands of the seven Flame Usurpers.

"You pathetic brats... I've had enough of you!" Number 8 spat, and the muzzle flash from the guns instantly illuminated the cliff edge!

A fierce battle had begun.