Heifeng gazed anxiously at Qian Jin. Just what was the background of this young man? He had appeared and immediately slain Feng Lianchi Kuang. Before they could even intimidate him into reducing his promised assistance fee, he had, in a matter of moments, connected with the supreme leader of the Second Great Horse Bandit Clan of the Outlands!
Regarding how to deal with this bandit assassin… Heifeng realized things were slowly spiraling out of control! Just three people had appeared, and the situation was already beyond their command? They were all seasoned bandit leaders who had seen major action, yet this…
Boom!
A massive explosion erupted suddenly from the encircled bandit camp. Everyone felt the ground tremble beneath their feet, and countless sparks shot into the sky amidst the sound of the blast. The energy shield covering the supposed traitor bandit stronghold shook violently as it was struck by sudden fireballs, resembling a bubble on the verge of collapse.
“Who? Who dared to launch an attack without authorization?” The Twelfth Prince, Gomas, stared anxiously at the wavering light barrier, his furious roar almost echoing across the entire encampment: “An attack without my order? Do you seek death?”
“It was my command.”
A calm voice, carrying an overbearing and forceful aura, slowly resonated from all directions, making it impossible to pinpoint the origin of the sound.
Qian Jin’s ears twitched slightly, and he turned his head to look into the distance behind him. The Behemoth bloodline warriors standing behind Gomas also looked in the same direction, a trace of dread flashing in their alien eyes: “The Bandit King… Ba Huang Wu Sheng…”
The Bandit King!
Ba Huang Wu Sheng!
The true sovereign of the Outland Horse Bandit Clans!
A demon! The creature walking from the distance moved with the imposing gait of a dragon, every step it took on the ground exuded a dominant aura, as if the heavens and earth should revolve around him!
A demon! Qian Jin was certain the arrival was not human, but fiendish. Golden horns stood straight up from his forehead; his entirely black skin was exceptionally strong; a pair of crimson eyes had vertical pupils; and deep blue hair flowed in the wind, adding an extra layer of might to his presence.
The Belzebub Clan! The Zhence Dynasty usually referred to them as Beelzebub! A demon tribe possessing formidable combat strength! Most importantly, this tribe produced Bloodline Battle Mages, and not just ordinary ones—the Bloodline Battle Mage of the Undying Monarch, one of the three ultimate bloodline awakenings, originated from the Belzebub Clan!
Qian Jin listened to the strange whispers in his ear, watching the approaching Bandit King Ba Huang Wu Sheng as he calculated internally. This demon surely possessed power beyond what was currently visible. Judging by the overpowering aura emanating from him, he must clearly be a Bloodline Battle Mage who had awakened his bloodline power!
He hadn't expected to encounter the legendary Undying Monarch Bloodline Battle Mage here! It was just that surname… Qian Jin’s eye twitched several times. Hearing the name Ba Huang Wu Sheng alone would never lead anyone to suspect he was a Bloodline Battle Mage of the Undying Monarch lineage, nor would it reveal him to be a demon of the Belzebub Clan.
“Demon!” Gomas’s voice shrieked like grinding glass, his pupils radiating vigilance as he fixed his gaze on the appearing demon: “How dare you appear before this Prince and not kneel.”
Heifeng stared blankly at the newcomer. Was this the rumored Bandit King, Ba Huang Wu Sheng? Since Yi said so, it must be true!
As the leader of one of the Ten Great Horse Bandit Clans of the Outlands, Heifeng had also never seen the legendary Bandit King before.
“Kneel?”
Ba Huang Wu Sheng’s thick, deep blue eyebrows lifted slightly, a cold smile playing on his lips. He raised his hand and pointed two fingers at Gomas’s knees in the air. Black airflow left faint phantom trails in the atmosphere as it materialized near Gomas’s knees.
The Behemoth bloodline barbarian warrior standing behind Gomas instantly activated his Bloodline Warrior state, grabbing a colossal iron hammer from the Battle Realm and hastily smashing it toward the black airflow.
Boom! The black airflow exploded mid-air. The massive iron hammer trembled in the barbarian warrior’s hands and flew high into the sky, barely deflecting the two streams of black fighting energy.
What was that? Heifeng’s heart sank sharply. What kind of strength was this! Ba Huang Wu Sheng didn't even need to manifest his battle body; with just two casual points in the air, he overwhelmed the Behemoth bloodline warrior who had activated his battle body and unleashed his Battle Soul, causing him to lose control of his warhammer.
Gods of the Stars! Heifeng silently prayed that this Bandit King hadn't discovered his defection to the demons, or perhaps this Bandit King was actually a demon spy planted in the Outlands.
Ba Huang Wu Sheng’s raised deep-blue eyebrows did not come down. His slender pupils narrowed to thin slits as he stared at the attacking Behemoth bloodline warrior and nodded gently: “Not bad, not bad. The genius Seventh Prince of the Peter Clan, Falak, is far stronger than this waste, Gomas.”
The Seventh Prince? Heifeng’s scalp tingled as he looked beside him. This barbarian warrior, who was usually timid and ordered around by the Twelfth Prince, was rumored to be one of the three geniuses of the Behemoth royal family—the Seventh Prince, Falak!
“Hahahaha! To think the legendary Bandit King is an Undying Monarch Bloodline Battle Mage. This truly surprises me.”
In an instant, the Behemoth warrior, who had been meekly standing like a retainer, straightened his body completely. His laughter was bold and arrogant: “I never would have guessed, truly never would have guessed!”
“What were you trying to do just now?” Gomas glared at Ba Huang Wu Sheng, still shaken: “How dare you treat me like this? I am here uniting these bandits on behalf of your Crown Prince. I am now the representative of your Crown Prince! Seeing me is like seeing your Crown Prince! Kneel!”
Heifeng felt a darkness descend over his vision, fighting the urge to draw his blade and kill this barbarian Twelfth Prince. Among the barbarian princes, there could be such an idiot! Didn't he investigate before coming? The Bandit King, Ba Huang Wu Sheng! He had always mercilessly slaughtered any bandit attempting to pledge allegiance to Zhence, Lucifer, or the Barbarians!
Ba Huang Wu Sheng didn't even glance at Gomas. He raised his hand and cleaved down with a palm strike. Powerful fighting energy materialized into a black blade light, resembling a dark moon tearing open a half-meter-deep gash in the earth, kicking up countless clods of dirt toward Gomas. This strike, mixed with ferocious killing intent, showed no mercy despite the target being a barbarian prince, treated with no more consideration than crushing an ant.
Gomas stared with wide, shocked eyes. His Battle Soul power surged to its peak; evading was no longer an option. His only recourse was to meet the blow head-on! He crossed his arms over his chest in an 'X' shape, hiding his head behind his arms.
Bang! Crunch…
The Black Moon Slash sent Gomas flying high into the air, his two arms twisted together like rope. His body shot upward, spewing blood as he spun, crashing into the ground several dozen meters away. His Battle Soul shattered instantly, and it was unclear if he was unconscious or dead.
Fast! Ruthless!
Heifeng stared blankly at the Bandit King Ba Huang Wu Sheng, who had dominated the Outlands for many years. He had clearly known Gomas was a barbarian prince and attacked without the slightest reservation.
“Waste, absolute waste,” Ba Huang Wu Sheng scoffed without lifting his eyelids. “The royal family’s reputation might hold weight elsewhere. Those wastes from Lucifer or Zhence might show your kind some deference, but here, in the Outlands? Here! I am the true King!”
Rumble, Rumble, Rumble— The light barrier maintained by the defensive bandit mages began to shake violently after taking several direct hits from massive magical fireballs, looking as if it might shatter at any moment.
Ba Huang Wu Sheng scanned everyone present, his gaze falling on Heifeng with a hint of coldness: “You have guts. I once said that whatever chaos you stir up in the Outlands, I would not intervene. I desire a strong Outlands, and only through constant slaughter can the elite emerge.”
“Defection?” Ba Huang Wu Sheng’s voice grew increasingly grim, chilling the skin like an autumn night wind. “A wolf that loses its wildness is no different from a dog. Such doggishness is contagious. The Outlands does not need doggishness; only wolf nature is required. Any bandit who turns into a dog has no further value in existing.”
“Bandit King,” Yi stood tall, becoming one of the few who dared to meet Ba Huang Wu Sheng’s gaze. “Those bandits you attacked still possess wolf nature. They are fighting against these black-hearted ones like Heifeng who have developed dog nature. You…”
“A wolf that cannot even defeat a dog, is there any need to keep it?” Ba Huang Wu Sheng said without raising his eyelids, his eyes showing utter disregard for life. “Ferdinand disappointed me too much. I sent him here as the Third Commander, and yet he was surrounded because of a woman.”
“I know why you came,” Ba Huang Wu Sheng’s gaze toward Yi gained a touch of appreciation. “You are good. You rushed here immediately upon hearing the news, intending to destroy these wastes who have spawned dog nature. I will give you the reward you deserve.”
Yi’s eyes twitched several times, displeasure flickering across his brow before resolving into an expression of proud defiance: “Reward? I, Yi, kill for my own reasons; I don't need you, Ba Huang Wu Sheng, to grant me a reward! The Outlands do not belong to you, Ba Huang Wu Sheng, either! Today you are the Bandit King, but you will not be the Bandit King forever! One day, the Bandit King will be me, Yi!”
“Is that so?” Ba Huang Wu Sheng showed no annoyance at being challenged; the corners of his black lips curved into a pleased smile. “I look forward to it. If you can defeat me, the Bandit King title is yours! But for now? This Outlands is still my dominion, Ba Huang Wu Sheng’s. How this place should be handled is not for you to instruct me on.”
Heifeng quietly backed away. The moment he felt Ba Huang Wu Sheng’s gaze, he violently turned and erupted with his Battle Soul from within! Years of arduous training had finally led to the condensation of his Battle Soul several months prior! It was precisely because he possessed this Battle Soul that, upon encountering Gomas, he had sought to ally with the demons for a better life.
With his Battle Soul unleashed! Heifeng pushed off the ground and fled rapidly, the mist-like Battle Soul rolling behind him, accelerating his escape speed even further.
“Trying to leave?” Heifeng sneered. A white-haired, elderly human man standing behind him raised a blue magic staff high into the air, summoning countless ice shards around Heifeng’s body. A bolt of lightning flew from the hand of another white-haired, elderly demon man standing nearby.