Liu Hui, accompanied by Zhou Tengyun and Yao Ni, quickly arrived at Warehouse No. 1. As they stepped out of the car and approached the structure, Liu Hui’s expression grew increasingly grim.

“Boss, there are many top-tier experts inside, no fewer than six.” Yao Yao suddenly spoke up.

Liu Hui and Zhou Tengyun paused, startled. They had detected the presence of the women and children inside the warehouse, and vaguely sensed some powerful auras, but they hadn't been able to confirm the exact number of Grand Luminaries like Yao Yao could. Had her perception sharpened to this degree?

Exchanging a grave glance, Liu Hui and Zhou Tengyun recognized that the occupants within were God-level masters. They halted their advance, preparing to discuss tactics.

Just then, the massive door of Warehouse No. 1 slid open from within. Bena emerged, spotted the three men outside, and smiled. “Mr. Liu, you finally came. Please, come inside!”

At this moment, Liu Hui knew things had taken a turn for the worse. Bena was an established God-level master, aware of the existence of Black. Yet, he dared to appear alone now. Was he supremely confident in his own strength? Or did he believe that holding the women and children hostage guaranteed his invincibility?

Liu Hui’s mind raced. He smiled smoothly. “It seems it is Mr. Bena from the American CIA! I wonder when Mr. Bena arrived at the ‘Star City’? Had we known earlier, we could have prepared a proper welcome! We certainly wouldn’t have been so discourteous to our guests.”

Bena chuckled. “Mr. Liu is too polite. You are constantly managing myriad affairs; how could you possibly have time to entertain minor figures like us? But do not feel guilty. Your family and friends have already come to welcome us on your behalf, and we are deeply honored!”

Zhou Tengyun roared in anger, about to charge at Bena, but the figure of ‘Soul Chaser’ materialized behind Bena.

Soul Chaser stared coldly at Zhou Tengyun.

Liu Hui interjected, “Third brother, don't be rash.” Zhou Tengyun immediately calmed down and stood silently behind Liu Hui.

Bena smiled. “Mr. Liu truly understands reason. Since you are here, please come in so we can discuss matters thoroughly.”

Liu Hui snorted coldly and, with Zhou Tengyun and Yao Yao, stepped inside. Upon entering, they saw the women and children huddled together in a corner, guarded by several figures.

The moment Shu Yan saw Liu Hui, she burst into tears. “Huihui, I’m sorry. I’ve doomed you…”

Hu Xian’er, An Qi, and Liang Jingyue stared at Liu Hui, frozen, never expecting him to actually come here.

Liu Hui smiled gently. “Yanyan, stop crying. I’m just meeting an old acquaintance; this will be sorted out quickly. Oh, right, you mentioned preparing a feast earlier. I expect to taste it after I’m done being busy.”

Hearing Liu Hui mention the food made Shu Yan even more distraught. Hu Xian’er pulled her close, continually offering comfort.

Among the surrounded group, Zhou Tengyun spotted Xie Yuxin looking extremely frightened, which enraged him. However, Liu Hui made no move, so he could only stand by his side silently.

Bena personally closed the warehouse door. “Miss Maeda, I must trouble you to guard these women and children, lest they become overly frightened.”

Atsuko Maeda immediately activated her humanoid mecha and positioned herself in front of the hostages. An energy cannon barrel extended from her shoulder, aimed directly at the women and children on the ground.

Bena turned back to Liu Hui. “Mr. Liu, the weapon on Miss Maeda’s shoulder is a laser cannon. I trust that even with your legendary speed, you cannot outrun a laser, correct? So, I suggest you stand still and have a proper conversation with us.”

Liu Hui offered a wry smile. “Since you’ve gone to such lengths, do you expect me to refuse a discussion? By the way, some of the guests here look quite unfamiliar. Could you introduce them?”

Bena beamed. “Mr. Liu, allow me. This is Miss Atsuko Maeda from Japan. This is Miss Lu Nong Augusta from the European House of Augustus. This gentleman is from the Vatican Curia. This is Miss Yan Hongyu from our China. This is the Sect Master of Maoshan. And standing behind me is Soul Chaser. Oh, and the one in the black robe is ‘The Professor’ from Europe—I hear you’ve been looking for him.”

Liu Hui was inwardly shocked. He could afford to disregard the others in the room; they were, at best, martial arts experts who posed little substantial threat to him or the ‘Star City.’

However, the black-robed ‘Professor’ was a formidable adversary. Not only was his skill extraordinary, but his scientific research capabilities presented an immense, unavoidable danger. The Professor had always maintained a deep cover; Liu Hui had never tracked him down, yet here he appeared tonight.

Liu Hui looked over, seeing the Professor’s appearance for the very first time. Unfortunately, clad in black robes and even wearing gloves, his features were completely obscured; only a pair of eerie, faintly glowing green eyes were visible. The Professor, noticing Liu Hui’s intense gaze, remained silent, his thoughts inscrutable.

Liu Hui withdrew his stare, composing himself. He glanced at the encircled women and children and offered a strained smile. “Gentlemen, since you’ve come to the ‘Star City’ tonight, perhaps you can finally tell me your objective?”

Bena stated flatly, “Liu Hui, our purpose in coming here is to kill you!”

Hearing Bena’s declaration, Shu Yan erupted in fury. “You liars! Didn't you just say you wanted to discuss matters with Liu Hui? You even claimed your goal was just financial gain! You deceived us…”

An Qi and Liang Jingyue were equally stunned by Bena’s words, their eyes showing panic, unsure how to react. Hu Xian’er, however, remained silent, looking at Bena, her own thoughts hidden.

Liu Hui chuckled. “So, you want me dead. But I doubt achieving that goal will be as simple as you imagine.”

Bena laughed. “It is indeed difficult. Although we control your family and friends, I do not believe holding them hostage will force you into suicide. How about this: we offer you a fair chance. Let’s have a wager, what do you say?”

Liu Hui asked with genuine interest, “A wager? That sounds rather entertaining. I wonder what kind of gamble you have in mind?”

Bena explained, “We all know that Zhou Tengyun standing behind you is Black. He has severely injured many of our masters—his strength is naturally immense. We propose a war of attrition: three of you—oh, excuse me, Mr. Liu has no combat ability—so just two of you on your side. We, however, have eight individuals. We will each send one combatant forward in turn for a contest.”

Liu Hui inquired, “And how do we determine the winner?”

Bena clarified, “Each match will be settled on individual merit; no one else may interfere. This contest permits life or death until one side has eliminated all of the other’s participants. If your side manages to wipe us all out, you rescue your family and children. If our masters eliminate all of yours, you simply accept fate. This is a great opportunity; you shouldn't refuse it.”

Zhou Tengyun asked coldly, “Wouldn’t it be simpler for your eight to just swarm us and execute us on the spot? Why bother with this contest gimmick?”

Bena explained, “If we rushed you, while we might defeat you, we couldn't guarantee killing you all. What if Zhou Tengyun, this Black, ignores the hostages and escapes with you? We are unfamiliar with this territory and couldn't pursue you. Then you could use technological weaponry against us, and we’d be cornered too. So, I’m offering a fair choice: if your strength is sufficient to eliminate all of us, you can save your family and friends.”

Zhou Tengyun stated grimly, “A clever scheme, indeed. We only have one God-level master here—me—while you boast six. Not to mention that woman and that Taoist should also count as God-level experts. Eight against one; we’d be at a massive disadvantage.”

Bena laughed. “We hold the advantage now; you must comply! At least this is an opportunity, isn’t it? Worst case, we kill them, and your army kills us—everyone goes their separate ways.”

Liu Hui countered, “But I fear that once we defeat you, you might take the hostages down with you in your final moments.”

Bena replied, “At this point, you must take a gamble on our integrity, mustn't you?”

Liu Hui suddenly smiled. “Since you put it that way, I accept your terms.”

Bena clapped his hands. “As expected of Mr. Liu Hui! Decisive, a man who deals in grand affairs. I truly admire that spirit.”

Liu Hui retorted, “You talk too much, and it sounds utterly artificial.”

The women in the room, seeing an agreement reached, became apprehensive. The current situation was clearly unfavorable for Liu Hui and his two companions, but they were helpless and could only watch events unfold. Meanwhile, Shu Yan was consumed by regret, cursing her own petty cleverness that might now cost everyone their lives.

Soul Chaser stepped forward first, addressing Zhou Tengyun. “Black, I have a question. Did you ever travel to Africa back then and kill my son, Duoming?”

Zhou Tengyun asked, puzzled, “Why are you so certain I am Black?”

Soul Chaser stated coldly, “During the military conflict between America and your nation in the Persian Gulf, you fought Bena to a standstill. Therefore, we have long known you are a God-level master. Last time, on the plane returning from the South Pole, I also fought you. Your status as a God-level master is no secret.”

Zhou Tengyun argued, “Even if I am a God-level master, why claim I am Black? Black could be someone else.”

Bena laughed. “Zhou Tengyun, we meticulously analyzed the timing of Black’s appearances and discovered an interesting pattern: Black appears every time you are present in ‘Star City’ or Hong Kong. Once you leave ‘Star City’ or Hong Kong, Black vanishes without a trace. Coupled with your God-level strength, if you aren’t Black, then who is?”

Hearing Bena’s analysis, Zhou Tengyun shot Liu Hui a strange look, then nodded. “That is correct. I am Black.”

Soul Chaser asked again, “Zhou Tengyun, did you kill my son, Duoming?”

Zhou Tengyun sneered, “Soul Chaser, I did kill your son, Duoming. He was the leader of the ‘Xun’ assassin organization. Anyone engaging in assassination is aware they might be killed. However, his vitality was truly tenacious; he managed to escape the ‘Xun’ headquarters and reach the sea, eventually detonating a nuclear device in an attempt to take me with him.”

Having confirmed his son’s killer, Soul Chaser cried out in grief and fury. “We clashed once before on the plane over the South Pole, but that fight was high in the air without any solid leverage, so I couldn’t gauge your true power. Now, I challenge you. Do you dare accept?”

Zhou Tengyun looked at Liu Hui, who nodded his assent.

Zhou Tengyun retorted, “Bring it on! Who’s afraid of whom? Your son died by my hand; today, you will not escape death either. When you meet him below, tell your dead son not to cross us in the next life.”

Soul Chaser roared with rage, leaping down into the open space, challenging Zhou Tengyun with his gaze. Zhou Tengyun slowly descended to meet him, standing steadily before Soul Chaser.

Staring at the man who killed his son, Soul Chaser’s eyes burned with furious fire. He shouted and surged forward, launching more than ten rapid punches at Zhou Tengyun. Zhou Tengyun easily sidestepped them all. Soul Chaser pressed the attack, delivering another flurry of ten-plus blows, which Zhou Tengyun once again evaded.

Zhou Tengyun was momentarily perplexed by Soul Chaser’s skill when he heard Soul Chaser roar, “Explode for me now!”

Zhou Tengyun instantly sensed the spiritual energy fluctuations surrounding him, his heart tightening with alarm. Moving swiftly, he lunged toward Soul Chaser. Under Soul Chaser’s control, the twenty-odd punch energies he had just released had sealed Zhou Tengyun’s path forward. These energies then chained together, triggering a series of escalating reactions that culminated in an earth-shattering explosion.

Caught completely off guard by the remotely detonated hidden strikes, Zhou Tengyun was wounded. In the dissipating smoke, his body staggered several times, struggling to remain upright. Xie Yuxin, who had been watching intently, screamed repeatedly but was quickly pulled close by Liu Lin, who covered her eyes so she couldn't see the battle.

Zhou Tengyun, however, was a man of fierce valor; his abilities were forged in life-or-death combat. Despite his injury, he stabilized himself instantly, then suddenly accelerated toward Soul Chaser.

Having scored a hit, Soul Chaser was unwilling to engage in a close-quarters slugfest and rapidly retreated. Just then, Zhou Tengyun shouted, “Take this!” and a cyan energy arrow materialized, rocketing toward Soul Chaser’s brow.

Soul Chaser flinched, attempting to dodge right. However, Zhou Tengyun lunged forward, throwing a punch that precisely blocked the space for a rightward evasion. Soul Chaser quickly unleashed a hidden strike toward Zhou Tengyun’s abdomen, hoping to force him to retreat and save himself, thus allowing Soul Chaser to evade the cyan arrow.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Tengyun ignored the danger to his gut and continued his direct assault on Soul Chaser’s chest. Unable to evade, Soul Chaser met the blow with a palm strike in a critical moment. With a loud bang, both men sprang back from the impact.

Zhou Tengyun had not dodged Soul Chaser’s hidden strike. It struck his abdomen and detonated, blasting a gaping hole in his stomach, revealing the bloody mess within. Soul Chaser, driven back by Zhou Tengyun’s blow, watched as the cyan energy arrow struck his brow perfectly. With a sharp pop, Soul Chaser’s head disintegrated like a watermelon.

The spectators were dumbfounded. They had expected the duel between Zhou Tengyun and Soul Chaser to last considerably longer, yet the outcome was decided in an instant.

The result of this bout was Soul Chaser dead, Zhou Tengyun severely wounded.

Xie Yuxin forced Liu Lin’s hand away. Seeing Zhou Tengyun injured, she let out a piercing shriek. Zhou Tengyun clutched his abdomen and smiled at Xie Yuxin. “Good girl, don’t be afraid. Daddy will come save you soon.”

Then Zhou Tengyun turned and roared, “Who’s next?” He intended to continue fighting despite his grievous injury.

Liu Hui frowned and ordered, “Third brother, return for now.” Zhou Tengyun hesitated, then obeyed Liu Hui’s command, walking back slowly.

Bena had not expected Zhou Tengyun to opt for a mutually destructive exchange, immediately eliminating Soul Chaser. But then, he grew pleased: Zhou Tengyun’s injury would surely impair his mobility. This meant he had lost the capacity to escape with Liu Hui, ensuring the success of their operation. Bena cared nothing for Soul Chaser’s demise.

Not only Bena, but the other members of the God-level contingent also breathed a sigh of relief. Though shocked by the gruesome display, they felt the greatest obstacle was gone.

The ‘Professor,’ who had remained silent, suddenly spoke up. “Incorrect. Zhou Tengyun is absolutely not Black. Black is not this weak, and Soul Chaser would never have managed to injure Black.”

Bena’s faction exchanged startled glances. They immediately recalled the terrifying legend of Black. Lu Nong, the Maoshan Sect Master, and Yan Hongyu, who had all been directly harmed by Black, and Bena himself, remembered the sheer dread they felt encountering him.

While the current Zhou Tengyun fought bravely and killed Soul Chaser in an instant, he was gravely injured and lacked that aura of chilling dread they associated with Black. If this Zhou Tengyun wasn't Black, who was the real one? Was there another terrifying God-level master hiding somewhere on the ‘Star City’?

Liu Hui instructed Zhou Tengyun to sit down, intending to take the stage himself to demonstrate his true capabilities. He was wearing his repaired Grand Radiance Armor, which could withstand the full-force strike of a Golden Core expert. Therefore, a God-level master, a tier below, could not breach his defenses; relying on the armor alone, he was invincible.

Had the safety of his family and friends not been the primary concern, Liu Hui would have attacked the moment he entered. He was confident that with the Grand Radiance Armor, combined with the useful artifacts he obtained from Xiaoyaozi in his storage space, he could eliminate everyone present without harming any of his loved ones.

Just as Liu Hui prepared to rise, Yao Yao, standing beside him, stepped onto the stage. “Boss, let me handle the second match.”

Liu Hui paused, then instantly recalled Yao Yao’s combat power, which was drastically mismatched with her cultivation realm. He considered the situation for a moment before sitting back down, curious to see how Yao Yao would handle these God-level masters.

Bena’s group burst into laughter. Lu Nong mocked, “Little sister, you are only at the peak of the Innate Realm, yet you have the courage to step forward? Do you know what kind of battlefield this is? This is a stage for God-level masters. You’re walking to your death.”

Yao Yao replied coldly, “When it comes to sending someone to death, we don't know whose turn it is yet.”

Lu Nong coquettishly replied, “If that’s the case, little sister, let me play with you for a while.” Seeing Yao Yao as an easy target, she hoped to claim this easy victory to secure a larger share during the final division of spoils.

Yao Yao stood before Lu Nong, assuming a stance, saying nothing, simply observing Lu Nong.

Lu Nong giggled. “Little sister, here I come.”

The moment Lu Nong finished speaking, a massive electric serpent materialized in her hand. This serpent shot towards Yao Yao.

Yao Yao’s ultimate comprehension of force began to manifest its power. Almost instantaneously, she discerned the trajectory and weak point of the massive electric serpent. She flicked her finger, releasing a thread of True Qi that struck precisely at the serpent’s vital point—its 'seven inches.' Her True Qi penetrated the serpent’s core, instantly disrupting its internal energy balance. The electric serpent hissed once, then vanished with a sharp bang.

Everyone present was stunned; the electric serpent had disappeared so easily. Even they would find Lu Nong’s electric serpent troublesome, yet a woman at the peak of the Innate Realm had casually nullified it.

Atsuko Maeda’s heart clenched in terror. Yao Yao’s recent technique bore a striking resemblance to the precision control of her own mech—both involved instantly pinpointing an enemy's weakness and shattering their attack. However, Maeda relied on the supercomputer processing power of her mech’s optical brain to find these flaws, whereas Yao Yao used only her own eyes.

Lu Nong watched her lightning serpent dissipate and immediately flew into a rage. She had intended to pick an easy opponent to crush, but instead, she had suffered a major humiliation. Truly furious, she pulled a delicate magic staff from her robes. With a simple flick, two new lightning serpents materialized in the air, swaying their heads as they shot towards Yao Yao.

Yao Yao moved with a marvelous footwork; her body swayed, not only evading the two lightning serpents but also propelling her forward toward Lu Nong. Lu Nong was shocked again. She swung her magic staff, causing one serpent to whip back and coil around her feet, lifting her into the air.

Although Lu Nong was a God-level Mage, the full destructive power of her magic required a safe distance to manifest effectively. In close combat, she was no match for a warrior, even one merely at the Innate Realm.

Seeing Lu Nong take flight, Yao Yao was undeterred and continued her pursuit into the sky.

Lu Nong hovered on the lightning serpent, maintaining distance from Yao Yao’s attacks while continuously launching her electric assaults. Yet, these lightning strikes held no mystery for Yao Yao. She could spot the energy balance point of each serpent almost instantly, and a single burst of True Qi was enough to disrupt that balance, causing the electric serpents to vanish into nothingness.

To all observers, the match had settled into a bizarre tableau. Yao Yao ran along the ground, seemingly chasing Lu Nong, casually dismantling every lightning snake Lu Nong sent, while Lu Nong continuously dodged in the air, launching attacks that never connected. Neither could land a blow on the other.

Lu Nong was profoundly frustrated. She couldn't comprehend why this seemingly fragile woman could so easily neutralize her lightning attacks. The feeling of tackling a soft persimmon only to find it was solid diamond made her deeply ashamed.

Lu Nong flew through the air, racking her brain for a countermeasure against Yao Yao.

Yao Yao ran futilely on the ground, lamenting that she could never reach the airborne Lu Nong. Just as Lu Nong let down her guard for a moment, Yao Yao suddenly leaped upward, intercepting all of Lu Nong’s established flight paths.

Lu Nong gasped in alarm, waving her magic staff wildly until her body was enveloped by countless writhing lightning serpents.

Then, Yao Yao pointed her index finger, and the electric serpents were instantly reverted to their raw, original energy. Lu Nong’s lightning defenses could not impede Yao Yao for even a second. With that, Yao Yao’s fingertip aimed directly for Lu Nong’s forehead.

At this juncture, Lu Nong finally understood the depth of Yao Yao’s power. Yao Yao possessed not only precise control capable of dissolving her electric attacks but also meticulous calculation; her feigned inability to reach Lu Nong on the ground had actually been a complex computation of Lu Nong’s flight trajectory. Once she had certainty, Yao Yao struck decisively, soaring into the air to attack.

Lu Nong realized her fatal mistake: she had assumed the environment was open sky, where elevation granted immunity. She forgot they were inside a warehouse; even if she could fly, she couldn't ascend to the true heights, leaving her vulnerable to attacks from below.

A surge of humiliation washed over Lu Nong. She couldn't believe she was about to be defeated by a woman still only in the Innate Realm. Gritting her teeth, she unleashed all the electric energy she had accumulated over many years. This energy immediately coated her body, crackling audibly. While Yao Yao could break the energy balance points of the serpents, she found she could no longer dissipate the energy now that Lu Nong herself had become a living conduit of electricity.

Yao Yao’s index finger finally touched Lu Nong’s forehead. The Innate True Qi within her shot out, instantly liquefying Lu Nong’s brain. Simultaneously, Yao Yao herself was blasted away by the immense electrical discharge from Lu Nong’s body, flying backward and crashing hard onto the ground far away.

Liu Hui rushed forward to help the fallen Yao Yao. Smoke billowed off her body; she looked utterly charred. Only then did Lu Nong slump to the ground with a dull thud, completely dead.

Liu Hui was stunned by the outcome of the duel: Lu Nong dead, and Yao Yao reduced to a cinder. Just then, Yao Yao’s eyes fluttered open. She whispered weakly, “Boss, I won!” before falling into a deep coma.

Liu Hui circulated his spiritual energy through Yao Yao’s body and immediately discerned that although her injuries were severe, they had not struck her core; her life was not in danger. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.

The first two matches concluded swiftly. The result of the first match was inconsequential, but the ending of the second was truly bizarre. A dignified God-level Archmage killed by an Innate master, yet the Innate master survived—this outcome was unacceptable to everyone watching.

Bina paused for a moment before recovering, laughing. “Liu Hui, I must admit, your subordinates are incredibly strong. They managed to take down two of our God-level experts.”

“But now all your support is gone. At this point, are you finally ready to surrender?”

Liu Hui stood up and said calmly, “If I surrender, what do you intend to do?”

Bina chuckled. “Since you’ve surrendered, please step over here! We’re worried Zhou Tengyun might suddenly ignite his inner cosmos and whisk you away.”

Zhou Tengyun snorted coldly but remained silent. He was heavily wounded, and their side was left with only Liu Hui. They were already at a disadvantage, yet Bina, clearly unbalanced, failed to recognize Liu Hui’s true strength and insisted on moving him to be confined with the women and children. Zhou Tengyun was certain that if Liu Hui could blend in with the women and children, he would find a way to resolve the current crisis, ensuring that his efforts tonight would not have been in vain. This was why he deliberately snorted to cover Liu Hui’s movements.

Liu Hui was ecstatic upon hearing Bina’s words. Since donning the repaired Guanghong Armor, all his aura had been locked down by it; not a single trace of energy leaked out, which was why Bina and the others hadn't realized he was also a God-level master.

Though happy inside, Liu Hui maintained a facade of indignation. The leader of the Maoshan Sect stepped forward and forcefully shoved Liu Hui into the cluster of women and children. His wives immediately swarmed him, eager to check for injuries.

Once among his women, Liu Hui finally relaxed. Tonight, he was invincible, and the safety of his family was secured.

Although the initial moments of tonight’s “Decapitation Operation” had been discouraging, Bina was generally satisfied with how the situation had evolved. Despite the inexplicable loss of two God-level experts on his side, his main objective had been achieved. Furthermore, with two fewer people, the distribution of spoils would be larger for the remaining members.

Seeing that the situation was firmly under his control, Bina roared with laughter. “Hahahaha, our luck tonight is quite good! We finished the mission so quickly.”

“Professor,” a voice suddenly interrupted, “Mr. Bina, don't celebrate too soon. The Black Knight hasn't shown himself yet. Do you truly believe the Black Knight is unaware that we have arrived at ‘Starlight City’?”

“Our earlier assumption that the Black Knight was Zhou Tengyun has been overturned. Who, then, is this Black Knight? If we don't resolve this question, I fear our operation tonight will fail.”

Bina laughed dismissively. “All our God-level masters were mobilized for the singular purpose of eliminating Liu Hui. Isn't Liu Hui under our control now? Even if the Black Knight appears at this moment, what can he possibly do to us? Therefore, the identity of the Black Knight is utterly irrelevant to the overall picture.”

It was precisely at that moment that a figure rose from the crowd of women and children and spoke in a clear voice, “Since you masterminds have all gathered, allow me to send you all to the grave together!”