Chapter 68: It Chose Me?

The God of Slaughter, Bai Qi?

Chen Ling had naturally heard of Bai Qi's renowned name; this figure was a prominent presence throughout the entire history of human warfare. But why would this token, engraved with the words "Bai Qi," fall from the Path of the War God? Furthermore, both the timing and the location of its fall seemed as if someone was deliberately delivering it into his hands.

Gazing at the colossal black sword piercing through heaven and earth, a thought suddenly flashed through Chen Ling's mind: if the Ancient Repository of War Paths was a "storage device" for human warfare, did it perhaps contain data on famous generals, such as Bai Qi?

Chen Ling carefully examined the token, hoping to find more clues on it. Just then, a voice drifted from afar.

"Strange, the Path of the War God has disappeared again?""Someone took control of it, so of course it disappeared... But judging by the location, that person shouldn't have gone far.""There's a gully here! It contains ten killing intent projections. The person earlier must have gathered their killing intent here to summon the Path of the War God."

Chen Ling recognized Yan Xicai's voice among them. Holding Bai Qi's token, he narrowed his eyes as a thought quickly formed in his mind. Without hesitation, he tucked the token into his embrace, then tore at his cheek with his right hand. A piece of skin flew off, and he instantly transformed into an identical Bai Qi token, lying quietly in the depths of the gully.

After Chen Ling fought his way through this ten-man gully, the ten killing intent projections seemed to refresh, firmly occupying the gully's entrance. Yan Xicai and the others were blocked outside, standing on tiptoes, trying to see what was happening inside.

"Is anyone inside?" Yan Xicai asked."I don't know, these killing intent projections are blocking the view; we can't see clearly.""Then let's just kill them all first.""...Young Master Yan, these are ten killing intent projections! We... we can't beat them...""Cowards! With Brother Pu here, what are you afraid of? All of you, go!!" Yan Xicai roared in anger, kicking an enforcer and sending him directly into the ten-man gully.

"It's that Qin army dog! Kill!!"Without a word, the ten armored soldiers charged forward menacingly with their spears.

Seeing this, Pu Wen reluctantly pulled out another 'Stability' character, briefly immobilizing the ten soldiers. The other enforcers, following suit with their swords, swarmed them and quickly killed six in a flurry of slashes. A few seconds later, the remaining three soldiers broke free from the 'Stability' character and directly engaged in a struggle with several enforcers!

Faced with three living and moving soldiers, everyone instantly lost their composure. They retreated consecutively within the gully, suddenly finding themselves in a stalemate."Don't look at me... The 'Stability' character only works once on the same target in a short period. I can't help you now." Pu Wen shrugged, noticing Yan Xicai's gaze.

"A bunch of cowards!" Yan Xicai cursed. "Whoever accumulates the most killing intent today, when we go back, you can pick any of the major brigades at the Aurora Domain Enforcer Headquarters! But if anyone accumulates the least, I'll strip them of their position!" As soon as he uttered these words, all the enforcers became like enraged beasts, charging wildly at the three armored soldiers. Sharp spears slashed across their bodies, leaving several gruesome wounds. Yet, under this fearless assault combined with numerical superiority, the three armored soldiers' formation was broken, and they were ultimately killed by the most aggressive enforcers.

The ten killing intents were absorbed by everyone, and their eyes grew increasingly bright. Even the limping enforcer named Xiao Jian, after killing an armored soldier in the chaos, clearly showed an improved aura. The dimness in his eyes gradually vanished, replaced by an unprecedented sense of confidence and power.

"So this is killing intent?" Xiao Jian looked at his hands curiously; he rather liked this feeling.

Upon seeing this scene, Yan Xicai's expression finally softened. He quickly entered the gully and looked into its depths."Well? Is anyone there?""...Doesn't seem so." An enforcer took a few steps forward but saw no one."The guy who first obtained the Path of the War God should have left already..."

*Clatter—*A blood-red token "just happened" to slide off a rock and fall in front of Yan Xicai.

"Oh, what's this?" Yan Xicai spotted the blood-stained token, bent down to pick it up, his eyes filled with confusion.Pu Wen, standing nearby, stepped forward. Upon seeing the small seal script on the token, his face registered shock!"Bai Qi?!"

"Bai Qi? Who's that?""He's a legendary ancient general." Pu Wen stared intently at the token, his eyes filled with astonishment. "Most records concerning him were destroyed during the Great Cataclysm... But it's said that he was once given the title 'God of Slaughter.'"

"'God of Slaughter'?" Hearing these two words, even Yan Xicai, who knew nothing of history, was startled. He hastily asked, "Could it be that he's still alive?""...Impossible."Pu Wen shook his head. "The Ancient Repository of War Paths is indeed a vessel for all wars and massacres to date, but historical figures are, after all, historical figures... Even if Bai Qi were to truly appear, at most, it would only be a projection of a certain period of slaughter within the Ancient Repository of War Paths. Resurrecting from history like that is impossible."

Yan Xicai immediately lost some interest."So, this thing is fake?""No, this token has a strong aura of the Path of the War God... It shouldn't be fake," Pu Wen said with some uncertainty. "Even if it's a killing projection, given Bai Qi's status, he should be one of the top-tier existences within this ancient repository... His token appearing here, perhaps the Path of the War God is conveying some kind of message to you?"

"The Path of the War God, conveying a message to me?" Yan Xicai held the token, stunned for a moment. "Are you saying... it chose me?" As he spoke the last few words, Yan Xicai's voice trembled slightly, and an unprecedented excitement appeared in his eyes!

At this moment, all of Yan Xicai's displeasure vanished. After all, countless people entered the Ancient Repository of War Paths and trod the Path of the War God every year, but how many were chosen by the Path of the War God and bestowed with an item? If this item was truly as Pu Wen described, the inherent value of this Bai Qi token would be enough to instantly overshadow any other enforcer who entered the trial. Even if he hadn't stepped onto the Path of the War God this time, simply having this token when he returned home would shock all his elders! The phrase "chosen by the Path of the War God" alone was enough to instantly defeat all other competitors for the Starfall Merchant Guild's inheritance!

Hearing Yan Xicai's last statement, Pu Wen froze. He felt that Yan Xicai might have misunderstood his meaning... But seeing the other's ecstatic and almost insane expression, Pu Wen hesitated for a moment, then decided not to say anything more.

"I knew it! I, Yan Xicai, have been unlucky for so long, but there was bound to be a day I'd turn things around! That Usurper even called me a good-for-nothing who was just lucky at birth?! He doesn't know a damn thing!!" Yan Xicai burst into laughter, "Bai Qi Token! Bai Qi Token!! With this, who in Aurora City would dare look down on me?"