Xie Wuyi adjusted the wire-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose, his expression as placid as if he were merely suggesting dinner. His tone was so light that it sent a chill down everyone's spine.

This was the first thing Xing Wuyi said after catching a flight from Australia upon receiving Du Peng’s call—he hadn't even glanced at Zuo Lin. He took the Iai-katana directly from Xue Tian’s hands and issued his first command, the very first words spoken after disembarking.

Chop off an arm? Zuo Lin’s hair stood on end. He stared blankly at this young man who appeared refined and handsome, possessing the air of a noble scion, yet whose words were so brutally sanguinary. And the youth seemed utterly unaffected by the cruelty of his own suggestion.

Under the extreme duress of terror, Zuo Lin’s body began to tremble uncontrollably. Watching Xie Wuyi’s composed demeanor in every gesture, he knew that the young man’s words were commands that Qin Fen and the others would never dare disobey.

“You… you all…” Zuo Lin struggled to open his eyes, which were swollen like light bulbs into mere slits. He parted his lips, which hung like two sausages: “Don’t forget, Morad is still in my hands! If…”

“Will Zuo Dongting cut off Morad’s arm after watching the footage?” Xing Wuyi smiled, squatting down in front of Zuo Lin and slapping his face. “When I first entered the military, I heard Colonel Zuo Lin was courageous and resourceful, especially unmatched in calculation. Meeting you today, I am deeply disappointed. How can you be so foolish? Qin Fen, despite his anger, can’t see clearly, but how can you, the commander, be so obtuse? I am truly disappointed!” Xie Wuyi shook his head, his smile chillingly devoid of warmth. Zuo Lin felt that this man’s smile was even more terrifying than it was when he was young.

Xie Wuyi slowly stood up, gazing at the white clouds in the sky, a chilling, seemingly ingrained smile fixed on his lips—a smile that felt utterly false. “I am truly disappointed that the military sphere would compare someone of your caliber to me—Lion and Fox Wing? You... a mere piece of trash…”

“Solomon, you recite this part,” Xie Wuyi casually handed a piece of paper to Solomon. “Say it however you wish. Don’t try to sound ominous, and you don’t need to play the gentleman…”

Xing Wuyi had already heard everything about Solomon from Du Peng on the way over. Was there anyone more fitting than a madman to read aloud a message to a superior like Zuo Dongting?

As one of the two giants of the East Asian Military Department, Xing Wuyi was certain that Zuo Dongting knew every detail about Solomon. He would naturally know that even if the army were ordered to sweep away the Solomon family, Solomon would never feel the slightest bit of grief.

“Caesar, Yang Lie, Brooks.” Xing Wuyi pulled out a smart communication device from his coat and transmitted his design to the three men’s cell phones. “Based on the intelligence you provided me, I’ve drafted a plan. Have the experts from your families attack the designated locations at the precise times listed on this plan. Information regarding their potential adversaries and some other details are included. Remember, use their local time according to their current positions; do not convert it to our time.” Yang Lie and the other two silently moved aside, swiftly issuing the first massive order of their tenure to their respective families.

Yes! A massive order! After reading Xie Wuyi’s plan, Yang Lie knew that the Cunning Fox was furious. His plan was far more extensive than simply eliminating Zuo Dongting; it was a vast, detailed, and meticulous scheme that required deploying the entire strength of their families—a single battle to annihilate all of Zuo Dongting’s power and influence!

Yang Lie intended to execute something astonishing across the entirety of the Federation’s Earth: utilizing various methods at different temporal points to launch coordinated assaults on the Zuo family, preventing them from managing the crises concurrently. This battle carried a huge element of gamble. Attacking Zuo Dongting was tantamount to attacking the military itself. If successful, the resulting shockwave would be enough to make other military factions and powers deeply wary, forcing them to truly recognize the terrifying force that the alliance of powerful families could unleash.

If they lost this battle, the 'Sleeping Lion' Zuo Dongting would not fare well either; a significant portion of his strength would certainly be lost. Who wouldn't believe that the covetous Du Hen would strike at that point?

Xie Wuyi intended to make a statement: to show the world the devastating power these young people could unleash when driven to madness! And to ensure that in the future, no one on Earth would ever again believe they could monopolize power and act with impunity.

Xie Wuyi felt an indescribable surge of excitement from commanding such a force, yet it was overshadowed by anger—an anger infected by Qin Fen. Zuo Dongting had gone too far this time; this was no longer a mission.

In his room, Qin Fen was meticulously cleaning a gun—an experimental prototype made by the Gun King before God of Slaughter. Although it was eventually completed and augmented, its power was clearly less formidable than God of Slaughter, though it held three extra bullets!

Startling God! In the Gun King’s own words, this gun had zero chance of killing a Star General, but it was quite effective for intimidation.

Less powerful than God of Slaughter but weighing three tons, Startling God was usually kept in the Gun King’s underground warehouse for scrapped firearms—a secret known to very few. Qin Fen, being the Gun King’s personal disciple, knew this secret well.

If it couldn't kill a Star General, perhaps it could kill other Martial Arts Masters? Qin Fen continuously polished every component of the Startling God rifle, skillfully disassembling it piece by piece, slowly, like the most artistic sculptor buffing a gem.

The bullets, even stored in a small dark box, seemed to gleam with a cold, sinister light, as if they had absorbed all of Qin Fen’s murderous intent and rage into their half-foot lengths.

Killing doesn't always require fists! At least, this time, it absolutely couldn't rely only on fists! Qin Fen quietly cleaned the gun parts, a cold, thin smile playing on his lips. Since Zuo Dongting favored assassination so much, Qin Fen would let him taste the true meaning of a crushing strike! Instructor Gun King, watch from above. Watch closely how I use the Startling God to make him truly suffer.

“Old Qin, Xing Wuyi is calling for you.” Qin Fen carefully placed the components of the Startling God on the table, as if setting down a beloved treasure, and walked out of the basement to the open air outside the house.

The sun blazed high overhead. In Australia, where the ambient temperature was usually high, no one standing outside the house felt the heat at this moment; some could even feel a distinct chill.

Qin Fen looked at Zuo Lin, who was strapped to a cross like a tortured whale, and then at Xing Wuyi, who had tossed over the Iai-katana.

Qin Fen accepted the Iai-katana and gently drew the sheath. The bright, cold gleam of the blade, mingled with his killing intent, made Zuo Lin feel as if he might be executed on the spot.

Xing Wuyi gently pushed up his glasses, signaling with his eyes that Qin Fen could proceed to sever Zuo Lin’s left arm. That was Zuo Lin’s dominant arm; Zuo Lin was left-handed! This was Zuo Lin’s secret; he usually favored using his right hand, hoping to catch opponents off guard in a fight.

This time, Zuo Lin was unlucky to face the calm, aristocratic Xing Wuyi.

After observing carefully for a few moments, Xie Wuyi discerned that Zuo Lin was left-handed. Although he concealed it expertly, there were still slight, almost imperceptible clues. “Someone, prepare the Neural System Activator for Zuo Lin.” Xing Wuyi issued another chilling command. Cold sweat was already beading on Zuo Lin’s forehead. The Neural System Activator! This was a specialized drug typically used on patients with sluggish neural systems, even those who were paralyzed or comatose. Once injected, their nervous systems would become active for a period, aiding in medical treatment and observation.

However, injecting this agent into a normal person caused their neural reflexes to become abnormally sensitive. A certain deranged scientist had once experimented by injecting a massive dose of the activator into a subject; even the landing of a mosquito on their arm caused a pain equivalent to being struck by a thousand-pound hammer.

Zuo Lin frequently used this very method to interrogate terrorists, never imagining that a rising star equally famous in the military would possess such a proclivity. “No… don’t… don’t do it…” Zuo Lin thrashed his head on the cross, praying for the sensation of the Marrow Replacement Crucible and the Innate state to return. Perhaps then he could become a Martial Arts Master and escape this terrible hell.

Chen Feiyu carried in a medical case, about three feet square, and placed it on the ground beside Zuo Lin, opening it to reveal hundreds of vials of medication of different models. “Inject him with two hundred doses,” Xie Wuyi commanded. A furious roar, laced with countless pleas, finally erupted from Zuo Lin’s throat: “No! Don’t…” The agent was slowly pushed into Zuo Lin’s arm. Xie Wuyi watched the precise timeline on his wrist, waited ten seconds, and then looked up at Qin Fen. “You may proceed now. I have only one requirement: this cut must take a full minute to sever his arm. If you fail to control your anger and cannot accomplish this, then I will personally step in to chop it off for you.”

“No need.” Qin Fen looked at Zuo Lin, who was grimacing and twitching at the slightest touch. He slowly channeled his internal energy into the blade, emitting wisps of chilling energy that caused Zuo Lin to instantly feel the onset of pain. “Give him two doses of the Scorching Clarity Agent,” Xing Wuyi issued another command that would surely earn Zuo Lin’s curse upon his ancestors.

The Scorching Clarity Agent was a drug meant for those near death, lingering in a stupor, unable to say a final farewell to their family.

Any user of this agent would remain perfectly lucid for a limited time—even while being dismembered, even while being sliced into a thousand pieces, they would retain full consciousness.

Zuo Lin’s desperate hope of passing out from the excruciating pain after being struck by the blade vanished instantly. True despair settled upon him.

Xing Wuyi himself held a syringe, directing Chen Feiyu to aim the needle at Zuo Lin, habitually pushing up the frames of his glasses. “Esteemed General Zuo Dongting, greetings! It is a pleasure to address you through this video segment. Allow me to introduce myself: my name is Xie Wuyi. I assume you’ve heard of me? I am Xing Wuyi, who, along with your grandson, is hailed as a future military star commander. Oh, people gave me the nickname Cunning Fox. They flatter me too much.” The air in the syringe was slowly expelled. Xie Wuyi maintained his smile. “Perhaps I’ve spoken too much introductory fluff, but it doesn’t matter. Now, let’s get to the point. You surely recognize the person beside me? If not, please take a careful, close look. Although he has been beaten beyond recognition—perhaps even his mother wouldn’t recognize him now—I trust you will recognize your most beloved grandson, won’t you? That’s right!” Xing Wuyi mimicked the gesture of an awards show host pointing to the recipient: “This is Zuo Lin, who, like me, was hailed as a star of the military! He is currently our prisoner. Not long ago on Zhou Gang, I injected your precious grandson with two hundred CCs of the Neural System Activator. Now, I am about to administer the Scorching Clarity Agent…”

CRASH!

In the silent room, a projector was smashed into fragments, and Xing Wuyi’s handsome projected image vanished instantly.

In the dark room, an old man’s chest heaved violently. His salt-and-pepper hair and the faint wrinkles around his eyes made it hard to believe he was over a hundred years old; one might mistake him for being under forty.

Zuo Dongting! In the East Asian Military Region, the only one capable of standing toe-to-toe with the Serpent King Du Hen.

He had been in 'slumber' for a long time. With Qin Fen’s emergence, the situation in the entire East Asian Military Region grew chaotic. Coupled with the incidents on Saturn, the ‘Sleeping Lion’ Zuo Dongting finally awoke.

The awakened Zuo Dongting had allowed his grandson to cause trouble. The younger generation’s mishaps were their own affair; if the older generation struck first, things would become very interesting.

Zuo Dongting used to have concerns. When Du Zhanpeng was alive, Zuo Dongting had even planned for Zuo Lin to endure silently his entire life. But fate is strange; Du Zhanpeng, the most outstanding among the Du family’s younger generation, died unexpectedly, and his aide, Xie Wuyi, subsequently lost his direction and purpose.

Du Zhanpeng’s death gave Zuo Dongting a glimmer of hope—a dawn for Zuo Lin’s infinitely promising future. As everything proceeded according to his expectations, provided Zuo Lin tried a bit harder, they could force the Serpent King into a corner, either relinquishing control of Saturn or initiating a counter-attack. Yet, Zuo Lin had been captured!

Zuo Dongting considered mounting a rescue, but realizing Zuo Lin was kept constantly beside Qin Fen and the others, he abandoned the impractical idea. The young Martial Arts Masters might not withstand a string of powerful assaults, but they had ample time to kill Zuo Lin a thousand times over.

Keeping him close? This seemingly foolish tactic was actually the smartest maneuver. Given the Zuo family’s immense power, keeping him almost anywhere was insecure.

Perhaps placing him with the Serpent King would be safe. Perhaps leaving him with the Qilin would also be safe.

But would the Qilin allow someone to shelter a hostage on Qilin Mountain? Absolutely not!

The Serpent King? Although Qin Fen was once grateful to the Serpent King, he instinctively mistrusted him. He even suspected that given sufficient incentive, the Serpent King would sell Zuo Lin back to Zuo Dongting.

Risky endeavors were acceptable, but gambling with the life of a captured friend? Qin Fen was never interested in that.

Zuo Dongting ordered his men to reconnect the projection equipment. Xing Wuyi’s previous actions had been infuriating, but now that he had calmed slightly, he had to watch, as Xing Wuyi had yet to state his demands.

The projector flickered, and Xing Wuyi’s handsome face—so handsome it made Zuo Dongting want to smash it—reappeared in the air before him.

“I wonder if you smashed the projector?” Xing Wuyi’s smile was laced with confidence and mockery. “Based on my estimations and calculations, the probability of you smashing the projector at this moment is 87.5%. There’s another 10% chance you simply turned it off. The remaining paltry 2.5% is if you haven’t turned it off and are still watching my address. If you fall into that meager 2.5%, I truly must commend you. Oh, please remove your hand from the projector. Stop trying to smash it.”

Zuo Dongting’s eye twitched subtly. His hand, resting on the projector, slowly withdrew. He began to truly regard the handsome but intensely irritating Xie Wuyi displayed in the projection.

Calculation! Zuo Dongting couldn't help but admire the terrifying computational ability of this soldier, barely in his early twenties, who could even predict his own movement of touching the projector. “Alright,” Xie Wuyi clapped his hands. “Now, we move on to witnessing the suffering of your precious chip off the old block. I trust you have the patience to watch the whole thing. I believe you do.” The instant the Scorching Clarity Agent entered Zuo Lin’s system, pig-slaughtering screams erupted ceaselessly. A single injection was enough pain to make a fourteen-star Martial Arts Master cry out like a butchered hog.

In the image, Qin Fen slowly raised his blade. Solomon stood elegantly beside Qin Fen, though Zuo Dongting always sensed a trace of chilling madness beneath his refined demeanor. “Listen closely, Lion. If Morad returns with a missing piece, I will cut off Zuo Lin’s head. You can test whether I am serious or not,” Solomon said, intently staring at Zuo Lin’s neck. “Second, as stated in the initial video, we are cutting off Zuo Lin’s left arm. That’s right. Morad cannot sustain even the slightest loss, but we are severing Zuo Lin’s left arm. He is not a Martial Arts Master, nor has he fused with a Level Three Bio-beast. After his arm is cut off, even if you reattach it with high-tech means later, he might still be able to write. But don’t expect him to do anything else.” Today is Mother’s Day, eating with family… I owe one chapter, which I will make up tomorrow. I need to compose this part carefully; I won't write too fast.