Gao Jianshu trembled violently at the sight of the figure, his knees buckling as he collapsed to the ground. "Lord Yishi..." Just moments ago, he was shouting "Boss Yishi" in front of Chen Feng, but now it was a deferential "Lord." It seemed "boss" was merely a self-proclaimed title he had clung to. Chen Feng looked up at the approaching person.

He was burly and tall, nearly two meters, with eyebrows like sharp swords slashing across his face—exceptionally imposing. If one didn't know he was a Necromancer, his appearance suggested a hero of mankind. "They are newly arrived Necromancers..." Gao Jianshu explained.

"Hmph, did you think I couldn't tell?" Yishi stared coldly at Chen Feng, his gaze inherently commanding authority without needing anger. Chen Feng met the stare fearlessly. Their eyes locked, seeming to spark a cascade of raw energy.

"I am a Necromancer who cultivated alone on the continent. I arrived only today. Why would your Lord call me human?" Chen Feng spoke calmly, his tone neither subservient nor arrogant.

After cultivating the Power of Silence, Necromancers consort with the Silent Dead and no longer truly belong to normal humanity. Hence, in their speech, they always distinguish themselves from "Humans" () by referring to themselves as "Spirits" (). Chen Feng had learned these details from the elder of the Tie family; this was why, hearing himself called human, he felt compelled to offer a defense.

"A Necromancer?" Yishi sneered. "Not just anyone who arrives can claim the title of Necromancer. To join us, you must first pass my scrutiny." "Good!" Chen Feng knew the man intended to establish dominance with an initial show of force, and he agreed without hesitation.

Yishi was slightly taken aback by his ready acceptance. He glanced at Judy and Xiao Hu behind Chen Feng, seeming to have an epiphany. "I know why you agreed so readily; you brought two excellent Corpse Servants.

Heh, however, my trial does not permit the use of Corpse Servants." "Lord Yishi... this..." Gao Jianshu was startled when he heard the trial forbade the use of Corpse Servants. For a Necromancer, foregoing Corpse Servants halved—if not more—their strength.

It was like being forbidden from using a sword capable of slicing iron and being forced into a bare-handed duel—blatantly unfair. "Did I invite your interruption?" Yishi's face darkened upon hearing Gao Jianshu plead for Chen Feng, and the air seemed to freeze instantly. Chen Feng clapped Gao Jianshu on the shoulder, giving him a look of confidence, and stepped forward.

"Very well. How does Lord Yishi wish to test me?" "Simple enough. Endure one palm strike from me without falling unconscious, and you are a member of our Necromancer clan," Yishi declared.

Gao Jianshu’s face turned ashen upon hearing the requirement. He grabbed Chen Feng's hand and whispered urgently, "Brother, you should just concede. Lord Yishi isn't targeting you personally.

If you just yield and pledge allegiance to him, this strike can certainly be waived..." Chen Feng gently pulled his hand free and smiled. How could a man who had lived two lives fail to see through Yishi’s low-grade tactic? Yishi must have sensed the formidable power of himself and his subordinates' "Corpse Servants" and developed an immediate desire to recruit him.

Considering Gao Jianshu’s words, Yishi’s faction wasn't dominant in the conflict with Hunlie; he likely suffered losses frequently. To remedy this, both sides were clearly vying to recruit new Necromancers. Seeing Chen Feng’s strength, Yishi acted swiftly to prevent him from joining Hunlie—delivering a show of force only to swoop in and claim him as a subordinate.

The big stick combined with the sweet carrot—the timeless method superiors used to manage subordinates. This method might work on other Necromancers, but for Chen Feng, it was a joke. The so-called factions of Yishi or Hunlie were no different from ants forming small groups in his eyes; he had no need to curry favor with either side.

However, to avoid alerting anyone and to maintain secrecy while investigating matters concerning Long Xiaoqiang and Judy’s father, it was better not to immediately alienate either faction. "Agreed. I shall take this palm strike." "You are insane," Gao Jianshu blurted out in his alarm.

He immediately regretted speaking so loudly, realizing he had just offended Yishi. "Good, good." Yishi stepped forward, sneering. "I didn't realize you were so bold.

Unfortunately... courage does not equate to strength. No Corpse Servants allowed.

Let's see what tricks you possess." "You'll only know by trying," Chen Feng replied with a smile. Yishi’s face turned green. "Fine.

A young hero indeed. My test begins now. You had better brace yourself, lest you collapse from the impact." With that, Yishi flipped his palm.

An overwhelmingly potent Power of Silence surged forth from his palm, instantly turning the hand pitch black. "Netherworld Demon Palm..." Gao Jianshu, watching from the side, had his eyes wide open in terror, stumbling back several steps until he nearly fell. The Netherworld Demon Palm was Yishi’s strongest offensive technique, possessing immense destructive power.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of Necromancers had fallen beneath this attack, and it was notoriously infamous even within the Assembly of Ten Thousand Spirits. While the Assembly of Ten Thousand Spirits usually involved Corpse Servants fighting, Necromancers sometimes entered the fray personally. Yishi’s Corpse Servants were not exceptionally strong; his sustained high rank on the Necromancer Battle Scrolls for years was primarily due to his terrifying personal prowess.

He almost always fought himself during the Assembly, making the name Netherworld Demon Palm as infamous locally as the hook-wielding banner of the King of Hell. ... Yishi's original intention, like Chen Feng's, was merely to deliver a mild warning and then smoothly recruit him.

But after exchanging a few words, a sense of alarm arose within him; he perceived the other man as a fixed star, utterly resistant to control. This alarm instantly bred a killing intent. If this person could not become his subordinate, he absolutely could not be allowed to become a rival.

Thus, under the guise of a trial, he struck with his full strength immediately. The Netherworld Demon Palm grew darker as the Power of Silence intensified. In a flash, immense power swept outward like a furious gale.

Xiao Hu, Judy, and the others felt a crushing pressure in their chests, a profound sense of discomfort. They were not true Necromancers, after all. The overly dense Power of Silence stimulated the power dormant within them.

Had Chen Feng’s disguise not been so effective, they would have likely collapsed by now. Whoosh... A howling whistle cut through the air as the Netherworld Demon Palm shot toward Chen Feng.

Just as Chen Feng raised his hand to block, a thought flickered in his mind, and his body smoothly glided several steps backward, narrowly avoiding the palm's direct impact. BOOM! A colossal sound shook the very earth.

Yishi lost his footing and stumbled back a few steps, his expression immediately shifting to fury as he roared, "Hunlie, what are you doing?" Unbeknownst to Gao Jianshu, a Necromancer, also well over two meters tall, now stood directly in front of Chen Feng, his right hand outstretched, his face grave. It appeared that Hunlie had single-handedly blocked Yishi’s strongest attack, the Netherworld Demon Palm. "To use lethal force against a newcomer, Yishi, you truly disgrace yourself," the burly man called Hunlie grunted, exhaling a cloud of stale air.

He turned to Chen Feng. "Friend, do not be afraid. Since you have arrived here, you are my friend Hunlie’s friend.

No one will dare harm you." Chen Feng nodded, watching the confrontation between the two. Yishi’s face darkened. "Hunlie, you are meddling too much.

This person was brought here by my subordinate, Gao Jianshu. Any trial or judgment should fall to me. Are you not afraid of overstepping your bounds by interfering?" "Overstepping?

To greet a prospective ally with your strongest attack? If I report this to Lord Wanmo, you might not fare well either," Hunlie retorted fearlessly, smiling. "You...

Fine. I admit I slipped just now, my power was too great. But this person was brought by my subordinate; he is, by extension, mine.

Please let me take him," Yishi conceded stiffly. "Does someone brought by your person automatically become yours?" Hunlie mocked. "New arrivals have the right to choose, we don't just assign them.

If he genuinely wishes to join the Ren Tie faction, I have no objections." Hunlie’s sharp words further darkened Yishi’s expression. He had just played the fool while Hunlie played the benevolent benefactor. It was obvious that any sensible newcomer would immediately choose the latter.

Hunlie’s grand statement essentially claimed Chen Feng. Someone who should have been his, now handed to another—how could Yishi accept this? Furthermore, if he didn't eliminate Chen Feng today, he would undoubtedly become a significant future threat.

"Hmph, choose? You dream too sweetly. Today, he is either mine, or you won't get him either," Yishi hardened his resolve.

"Yishi, do you dare?" Hunlie roared, refusing to back down. "See if I dare," Yishi bellowed, his body blurring as he reappeared before Chen Feng, his right palm swinging down toward Chen Feng’s head once more. Seeing Yishi dare to launch a vicious attack right in front of him, Hunlie also roared and clenched his fist, meeting the charge head-on.

The two began a fierce battle solely over the possession of Chen Feng. Gao Jianshu stood nearby, dumbfounded by the sudden turn of events, his eyes wide with disbelief. Boom!

Boom! Boom! Both masters were at the peak of the Saint Domain.

When they fought, their speed was blinding, and their power immense, sending shockwaves raging outward like a violent storm. Yishi and Hunlie were closely matched; neither could gain an advantage. A decisive victory would require hundreds, perhaps thousands, of rounds.

They clashed fiercely, lost in the fervor of battle. Chen Feng watched their almost clownish struggle and smiled. He took a step forward, moving into the very center of their chaotic fight.

He extended both hands forward simultaneously. Yishi and Hunlie only saw a blur, and then their waists were tightly gripped. In an instant, they were lifted clean off the ground by their opponent.

"Stop arguing, both of you. How about you both become my subordinates?" Chen Feng said with a grin.