"Chen Feng, are you Chen Feng?" Yi Shi and Hun Lie exclaimed in unison, their eyes wide with disbelief.

Though the Icebound Demonic Garden was far from the Overseas Continent, the destruction wrought upon the Five Elements Grand Competition by the former island proved that no news could be kept from the world's powerhouses. As paragons among necromancers, Yi Shi and Hun Lie had long since heard the name Chen Feng.

To have won the Five Elements Grand Competition through sheer, absolute strength suggested that his power resided at the peak even within the Sanctuary level. Did they truly wish to recruit such a formidable expert as a subordinate? Did they have no regard for their own lives? And yet...

Chen Feng was not a necromancer; how could he wield the Power of Silence?

Startled by being called out by name, Chen Feng subtly smiled, his expression remaining perfectly unchanged.

"Chen Feng? Who is Chen Feng?"

Since the other party knew of the Five Elements Grand Competition, they surely recognized Long Xiaoqiang and Judy, understanding the significance behind them. Despite this, they dared to injure Judy and Angeli-sha, causing Long Xiaoqiang immense distress. This suggested they certainly possessed their own hidden cards.

Of course, Long Xiaoqiang might not have been captured by this group of necromancers, but necromancers had their own means of transmitting information. Until the situation was clear, they absolutely could not alert the enemy.

"Hmph, playing games with me?" The newcomer sneered. "After you won the Five Elements Grand Competition, every faction received your likeness. Did you truly believe you could conceal yourself from me?"

For the first time, Chen Feng felt the burden of fame. He shook his head with a smile and replied, "I am Yamazaki Ryuji. Why do you insist I am this Chen Feng? I have heard of Chen Feng, but our paths diverge; we are not meant to cross. Do I truly resemble him so much?"

As he spoke, a wisp of dark energy materialized at his fingertips—the pure Power of Silence.

No one could cultivate the Power of Silence and normal power simultaneously; not even a Prime God could manage it. This was a fundamental principle, as universally accepted as the fact that snow melts into water, and water freezes into ice—it required no elaborate explanation.

Indeed, seeing the pure Power of Silence emanating from Chen Feng, the visitor’s resolute conviction began to waver.

"Yamazaki Ryuji?" The visitor repeated the name, then suddenly roared, "How dare you lie to me!"

Before the shout had finished, the figure lunged forward like lightning, appearing instantly before Chen Feng, fist clenched, aiming a brutal strike.

The punch was overwhelmingly powerful and domineering; even a peak Sanctuary expert would struggle to weather a direct confrontation. Chen Feng was about to neutralize the force when a thought struck him. He immediately changed his plan. The Power of Silence within his body surged, erupting to block the attack, while he deliberately made himself appear to barely withstand the blow, stumbling back a dozen paces and nearly falling to the ground.

"Perhaps it isn't him?" the visitor muttered internally.

In a rushed engagement, one instinctively uses their inherent strength, much like how even the most fluent second-language speaker will revert to their mother tongue in moments of unguarded reaction. This youth had attacked without reservation, and yet the young man before him had also manifested the Power of Silence. This compelled doubt.

News of the necromancers who threatened the Iron Family and their entire army of spiritual corpses being annihilated had already arrived. However, because not a single living witness remained, they had no idea how the destruction was accomplished. If their assessment was correct, the Iron Family itself lacked the necessary strength; external forces must have been involved. The afternoon’s evidence supported this: tens of thousands of powerful figures had suddenly appeared surrounding the Iron Family estate.

Though their origin was unknown, these were certainly not allies to the necromancers at this critical juncture. A single misstep could trigger open conflict. To have such a formidable individual appear during this tense period, one who bore such a striking resemblance to the circulated image of Chen Feng, had understandably aroused suspicion.

"The Power of Silence and normal power are diametrically opposed; no one can cultivate both," the visitor thought, wrestling with doubt. The more he considered the anomaly, the stranger it seemed, eroding his confidence in his initial judgment.

The universally acknowledged "talent" for self-doubt—even the most stoic individuals hesitate to trust their perceptions in many matters. This is why people crave external affirmation; the proverbial "three people in the market" can turn a falsehood into perceived truth. This very "talent" was the source of much human trouble. Chen Feng’s face showed no flaw, and he had unhesitatingly offered a name, causing the visitor’s certainty to crumble.

Yamazaki Ryuji... a strange and cumbersome name, certainly not something fabricated casually. Could this person truly not be "Chen Feng," but rather this supposed "Yamazaki Ryuji"?

Little did he know that Yamazaki Ryuji was a character from King of Fighters '97, the younger brother of Shermie’s master, Goenitz. Without his involvement, Orochi’s successful resurrection would have been impossible. Chen Feng had integrated his knowledge of the King of Fighters characters so thoroughly that names came to him effortlessly.

After impersonating Kyo Kusanagi, Iori Yagami, Orochi, and Goenitz... why not take on Yamazaki Ryuji as well?

...

"Perhaps I shouldn't have come here. It's better to cultivate alone," Chen Feng stood up, feigning deep displeasure. "I thought that by gathering with necromancers, we could communicate more, advancing my cultivation. I never expected jealousy and spite; how is this different from humans?"

With that, he turned and began walking away without looking back. Xiao Hu and Judy naturally followed close behind him as he left.

"Wait!" the visitor called out. "It's not that I don't believe you, but your arrival at this specific time is indeed strange. However, if you simply reveal your true origins, we promise not to trouble you."

Chen Feng turned back. "Origins? Hmph. I am merely a cultivator, belonging to no sect or faction. If my cultivation hadn't hit a bottleneck, seeking insights from other necromancers, I certainly wouldn't be here. I've only brought trouble upon myself."

The visitor noted the strong current of complaint in Chen Feng's tone and the simplicity of his explanation. He was about to press for more details when a thought struck him: if this person truly were Chen Feng, he wouldn't have been given such an easy chance to explain himself, yet he offered only simple answers that made one suspicious. Perhaps he truly wasn't Chen Feng after all.

Deception requires timing. Complex lies are often less convincing than simple, common ones that are easier to accept.

At that moment, the visitor recalled another piece of intelligence, stirring a slight flicker of interest: "If he truly is a necromancer of such strength, adding his spiritual corpses to my own forces, dealing with that individual shouldn't be an issue, right?"

With this thought, a smile spread across his face. "My name is Wan Mo, the Commander of the Dark Ridge. Since you wish to join us, you must complete a task to prove your capability. If you succeed, I will not only share all my cultivation insights but even promote you to Vice Commander of the Dark Ridge."

The position of Vice Commander in the Dark Ridge was undoubtedly second only to the Commander, a status Yi Shi and Hun Lie had coveted for ages. However, the Dark Ridge boasted too many powerful members; even lining up for a hundred years wouldn't guarantee them the spot. Hearing that this Yamazaki Ryuji could achieve such a rank with a single deed made them both burn with envious eyes.

Of course, they knew their place and understood that this task could not be simple.

"Vice Commander?" Chen Feng’s interest was piqued. It wasn't the status itself he cared about, but the broader access it would grant. Becoming Vice Commander would certainly broaden his network, allowing him to learn far more than he currently knew. With more influence, information regarding the fathers and brothers of Long Xiaoqiang and Judy might surface.

Wan Mo observed Chen Feng's wavering interest and scoffed internally. The Vice Commander position was nothing more than an empty promise. Once the task was complete, he fully intended to eliminate this person—whether he was Chen Feng or Yamazaki Ryuji—as he was merely a pawn required to acquire that thing.

"Well? You need to consider carefully."

"Hmm, very well. But what is the test? Can you state it outright?" Chen Feng inquired.

"Heh, bold. Agree first, and as for the specifics, we can discuss them privately later," Wan Mo said with a smile. He gestured toward Yi Shi and Hun Lie. "If you like these two, you may take them as your subordinates."

Chen Feng shook his head. "No need." He then followed Wan Mo toward the settlement, with Xiao Hu and Judy in tow.

His initial thought of recruiting them was merely a tactic to extract information. Now that a Commander was directly addressing him, there was no use for these low-level underlings.

Yi Shi and Hun Lie exchanged bewildered glances. They had never dreamed of such an outcome. They had approached intending to recruit him, only for... now they were being offered to him as subordinates, and he refused them.

The two felt overwhelmingly ashamed, wishing the ground would swallow them whole.

"This is where I cultivate," Wan Mo said, gesturing towards a spacious room.

Chen Feng glanced over. Built against a mountain, the chamber was vast and comfortable, resembling a giant palace—truly an excellent location for cultivation.

"Now that you are here, I won't waste time on pleasantries. I want to ask you: what is the ultimate goal of our arduous cultivation?"

Chen Feng paused, then slowly replied, "To become a God."

"Correct. To become a God. But without a Godhead, how do we ascend? If we try to forge one ourselves, hah... Who can survive the devastating Celestial Thunder?" Wan Mo countered.

"You mean..." Chen Feng didn't fully grasp his meaning.

"Exactly. I believe you've already guessed. What I told those two fools, Yi Shi and Hun Lie, was a cover story. In reality, I intend to conspire with you on a grand endeavor. If we succeed, both you and I can obtain a Godhead and ascend to godhood."

"Obtain a Godhead?" Chen Feng was startled. "What great deed is this that grants a Godhead?"

Wan Mo’s face twisted into a cold sneer, the light in his eyes flickering erratically. He softly breathed out two words: "Slay Gods."

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