Chapter 69: Tianlang

Boom—

Just as Yan Xicai was ecstatic, the ground beneath everyone's feet trembled again.

The dim clouds parted, and the light of the Way of the War God foundation flared at the hilt of the giant sword. An ethereal stone staircase descended from the clouds like a ribbon, extending in a certain direction.

“Someone else has stepped onto the Way of the War God?” Pu Wen asked in surprise. “There are quite a few talented individuals among this group of Enforcers…”

Yan Xicai watched as the second possessor of the Way of the War God emerged, and much of his joy was dispelled. He gritted his teeth and then spoke:

“Keep going! We'll wait outside this Ten-Man Gully. Each time the killing intent projections coalesce, we'll eliminate them! I refuse to believe… with so many of us, we can't accumulate enough to forge a Way of the War God?”

Yan Xicai led everyone back outside the gully. After a brief wait, the ten armored soldiers respawned.

“Charge!”

Yan Xicai waved his hand, and the other Enforcers immediately charged out. With Pu Wen's cooperation using his 'Fix' character, the familiar battle scene instantly replayed.

It wasn't that Yan Xicai didn't want to switch to a gully with more killing intent projections, but for their small group, dealing with ten killing intent projections was already their limit. If they were to switch to a Twenty-Man Gully, this group would likely be riddled like a beehive, and he would end up as a commander without troops.

Yan Xicai held the Bai Qi Token like a treasure. He watched as the Enforcers repeatedly fought their way through the Ten-Man Gully, and during this time, two more Ways of the War God successively extended from the foundation…

“The Way of the War God, the Celestial Wolf Path, huh…”

Lu Xuanming, dressed in black, stood in a cleared Fifteen-Man Gully. As the Way of the War God gradually receded, a faint glint flashed in his eyes.

“Congratulations, Young Master Lu, on stepping onto the Way of the War God!” The three Enforcers behind him immediately offered their congratulations.

“It's just a Celestial Wolf Path… nothing to congratulate,” Lu Xuanming shook his head. “While the Celestial Wolf Path has no weaknesses in any aspect, it also has no obvious advantages. Among all the paths of the Way of the War God, it can only be considered upper-middle tier. Back then, I refused the divine favor of the Celestial Wolf Path. I originally wanted to switch to a more powerful path, such as Asura or Judgment… I didn't expect that, even entering the Ancient Vault would yield the same result.”

“Young Master Lu, don't be modest… Divine favor is something countless people yearn for but can't obtain. Not only did you receive divine favor, but you also refused it once. If Yan Xicai knew this, wouldn't he go mad with envy?”

“Indeed, Young Master Lu, the Celestial Wolf Path is already excellent. The only reason you feel it's not strong enough is because no absolute powerhouse has emerged from this path yet… So, why don't you become that powerhouse yourself?”

“If I could step onto the Way of the War God like you, no matter the path, it would be an immense blessing from my ancestors.”

The Enforcers followed behind Lu Xuanming, their eyes filled with envy.

“Alright, don't follow me anymore. There's still a lot of time until the trial ends. You should hurry and find a place to gather killing intent yourselves… If you manage to step onto the Way of the War God and get promoted to Enforcer Officer, come work under me.”

“Thank you, Young Master Lu!”

“Aren't you going to continue accumulating killing intent? I feel this thing is quite effective…”

“I also feel that, after absorbing this killing intent, I've become much more confident and my body is full of power.”

Lu Xuanming shook his head. “Gathering killing intent is merely to attract the attention of the Way of the War God. This substance is essentially a remnant aura from ancient battlefields; absorbing too much will affect one's mind… Only a fool like Yan Xicai would think that the more you absorb, the better.”

“I see… Then where are you going?”

“To find those few Fire Usurpers and test my Celestial Wolf,” Lu Xuanming's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of killing intent dancing in them.

“Fire Usurpers?” Everyone was startled. “But they each have at least two skills, both at the second tier. And you've only just been promoted…”

“Below the fourth tier, there isn't much difference beyond the number of skills mastered. And within this Ancient Vault, it's impossible for experts of the fourth tier or higher to appear. What's more, they are just a bunch of thieves; whether it's 'Item Thievery' or 'Face Thievery,' none of it poses a threat to me…”

“As long as I find a lone Fire Usurper, I am confident I can kill them.”

Lu Xuanming, with a black saber on his back, walked into the distance, his figure gradually disappearing from their sight.

“It's that Qin Army lackey! Kill him!!”

This was not the first time Chen Ling had heard that phrase; his ears were practically calloused, though he currently had no ears at all.

Although he had transformed into a token, Chen Ling could still perceive everything around him. It was clear that Yan Xicai cherished it greatly, and was just short of setting up a shrine for it.

Five or six hours had passed since Yan Xicai began having them repeatedly clear this Ten-Man Gully. This reminded Chen Ling of constantly grinding dungeons for item drops in online games from his previous era… Now, with the Enforcers' non-stop efforts, they had cleared it nine times, collecting a total of ninety units of killing intent.

The Enforcer with the most killing intent had about seventeen or eighteen units, while the one with the least had six or seven. It seemed like a lot had been gathered, but on average, it was the same amount Chen Ling himself would accumulate in a few minutes.

“I can't… I really can't go on.”

A heavily wounded Enforcer stumbled out of the gully and collapsed onto the ground with a thud.

The other Enforcers also carried various injuries. Five or six hours of continuous fighting had practically drained their bodies; even with the invigorating effects of the killing intent, their stamina couldn't hold out, and they collapsed, exhausted.

Seeing everyone sprawled on the ground, Yan Xicai's eyelid twitched. After a moment of hesitation, he looked at Pu Wen beside him:

“Brother Pu, should it be enough now?”

“Just about,” Pu Wen nodded slightly. “If we drag this on any longer, and one of them, being exceptionally gifted, attracts the Way of the War God, then all the killing intent they've absorbed would be wasted…”

“Good!”

“Also, you need to ensure that each of them willingly offers their killing intent. Otherwise, the 'Devour' character will be ineffective.”

“Don't worry about that. I've already arranged everything.”

Yan Xicai had finally waited for this moment. He first carefully set the Bai Qi Token aside, then addressed the Enforcers, “Stand up, all of you!”

Seeing this, they could only drag their exhausted bodies, rise from the ground, and line up in front of Yan Xicai.

Pu Wen reached into his sleeve with his right hand and pulled out eight sheets of Xuan paper, handing them to Yan Xicai. On each sheet was the same black character:

“Stick the paper to your palm. When I tell you to move, press your palm against their chests.”

“Understood.”

Pu Wen formed a hand seal with one hand in front of him. The next moment, the 'Devour' character on Yan Xicai's palm suddenly twisted, transforming into an invisible vortex that swirled in the void.

“Go,” Pu Wen commanded.

Without a word, Yan Xicai immediately placed his palm on the chest of one of the Enforcers. Black killing intent was visibly drawn into Yan Xicai's body through the vortex.

After more than ten seconds, that Enforcer's face turned pale, as if his spine had been removed. His body became incredibly weak, and his legs gave out, causing him to collapse to the ground.