Ancestor Withered Bones stood atop the Seven Venom Centipede, laughing loudly, “Boy, my Seven Venom Centipede not only has tremendous attack power, but its entire body is laced with poison. How will you fight it?”
The centipede’s beady eyes stared at Xu Zimo. Its eight massive limbs rose into the air, ready to crush him.
Rumbling echoed in all directions.
Xu Zimo looked up, his long blade becoming a flash of light as it slashed toward the centipede.
Though it was a casual strike, the blade aura it carried was terrifying.
With a cracking sound, the long blade swept through, severing all eight legs of the centipede.
Despite the mutations, the centipede could feel no pain. With its legs severed, it collapsed to the ground.
Withered Bones lost his balance atop the beast and nearly fell off.
“How can this be?” he looked at the blade in Xu Zimo’s hand in shock, unsure whether the power came from the man or the weapon.
“Send my regards to Junior Brother Mu in the afterlife,” Xu Zimo said with a smile.
His long blade fell again, the force of this strike suppressing half the sky.
Withered Bones looked up and saw the overwhelming blade aura descending upon him.
“I surrender! I surrender!” he shouted in a panic, unable to dodge.
But it was too late. The blade aura crashed down, obliterating everything, including the centipede and Withered Bones himself.
As the dust settled, silence fell over the arena. The audience even forgot to speak.
“Referee, not going to announce it?” Xu Zimo turned to the official and said with a faint smile.
“Ah, oh, yes,” the referee quickly snapped out of it. “This match, Lin Qiu is the winner.”
“Feels like the arena is about to be turned upside down,” a spectator muttered.
“No kidding. Who can stop him now?” someone else shook their head.
“Even Withered Bones was defeated. He’s one of the strongest in the ten-thousand tier.”
In the stands, the nobleman who had lent his sword narrowed his eyes, then smiled.
“The House of Fury will be having headaches now.”
Seeing even Withered Bones fall, the other competitors in the waiting area all withdrew.
No one was willing to go up. No matter how many fusion stones they could win, it wasn't worth dying over.
Everyone knew what kind of threat Withered Bones posed. Yet this young man killed him without even using his full strength.
Because of that, the arena couldn’t even find a match for Xu Zimo.
“My lord, what do we do?” the referee turned to Nu Shiwu for instructions.
“What do the rules say?” Nu Shiwu asked calmly.
“If no one dares fight, we must award him the Invincible Emblem and one million fusion stones,” the referee answered cautiously.
“Then tell him I’d like to speak with him privately. See how he responds,” Nu Shiwu said as he stood and headed toward the Hero Tower.
...
Xu Zimo waited a bit on stage, then asked the referee, “What, no more opponents? Now I see why no one has ever gotten a hundred wins here. You’re all just a bunch of cowards.”
“Lord Lin, my master would like to speak with you privately. Would you be willing?” the referee asked with a smile.
“Privately? What about the matter on the stage?” Xu Zimo asked.
“You can discuss that with my lord directly. But rest assured, the House of Fury’s credibility is absolute,” the referee replied.
“Lead the way,” Xu Zimo waved.
As he walked off the stage, the crowd erupted in noise again, waiting for the final outcome.
After all, it was rare for the arena to have someone so dominant that no one dared challenge them.
There were even rumors that powerful figures like Withered Bones were secretly backed by the House of Fury.
If someone went on a long winning streak, these figures would show up to put an end to it.
That way, they wouldn’t have to pay the million fusion stones and could use the Invincible Emblem as a marketing gimmick.
The referee led Xu Zimo toward the Hero Tower. It was well-decorated, though to someone like Xu Zimo who’d been to many places, it was nothing special.
They stopped outside a private room on the fifth floor.
“Please, Lord Lin,” the referee gestured politely. “My master is waiting inside. I’ll remain outside.”
Xu Zimo opened the door and saw a spacious suite.
The floor was carpeted, and a long table sat in the center, filled with fine food and wine.
At one end of the table sat a middle-aged man in a red short robe.
Seeing Xu Zimo enter, the man stood with a smile and said, “You must be Lord Lin. Truly a heroic young man!”
“And you are?” Xu Zimo asked.
“Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Nu Shiwu, the person in charge of this arena,” the man said.
“Alright. What does Elder Nu want from me?” Xu Zimo asked.
“Where are you currently training, Lord Lin?” Nu Shiwu asked with a smile.
“World Sovereign Empyrean Sect,” Xu Zimo answered.
“A disciple of the World Sovereign Empyrean Sect, no wonder,” Nu Shiwu nodded, sounding both impressed and slightly regretful. “You must be quite the talent within the sect.”
“Is that all you wanted to say?” Xu Zimo asked with a smile.
“Please, have a seat,” Nu Shiwu gestured and personally poured some wine.
He said, “Though you are a disciple of the World Sovereign Empyrean Sect, it doesn't prevent you from also becoming a retainer of the House of Fury.”
“You want me to work for you?” Xu Zimo chuckled.
“The World Sovereign Empyrean Sect is great, but it's full of geniuses. I imagine there’s a lot of pressure, especially with the struggle for the position of Holy Son,” Nu Shiwu said.
“I can guarantee you abundant resources for cultivation, unlimited fusion stones, even large amounts of refined stones from the Misty Forest.” He raised his cup and smiled. “In short, as long as you remember, our House of Fury will always have your back.”
“No need for all these games. I don’t need cooperation,” Xu Zimo waved his hand. “Unless your family submits to me, maybe then I’d consider.”
He stood up and added, “I came here just to say, I don’t care about the Invincible Emblem. Just prepare the one million fusion stones. I’m leaving Fury City tomorrow.”
As Xu Zimo turned to leave, showing no regard for Nu Shiwu’s face, the wine cup in Nu Shiwu’s hand shattered completely.
“Come in,” Nu Shiwu said in a low voice.
The referee entered cautiously. “My lord, is something wrong?”
“Have the one million fusion stones prepared and sent to him before tomorrow,” Nu Shiwu said coldly.