Chapter 1 A Sudden Collapse

Rumble!

The underground base collapsed with a deafening roar, sending dust billowing into the night sky.

The commotion woke up many residents of Su City, including its mayor, Fang Biao Zhi.

However, Fang Biao Zhi was in no state to worry about collapses. Cold sweat trickled down his forehead as he sat in his office with two uninvited guests.

His security detail lay dead, slaughtered by the diminutive man, barely over five feet tall, who stood before him.

"Who are you? How dare you kill officials of Su City? Are you tired of living?" Fang Biao Zhi demanded, his brow furrowed.

"Don't worry, Mayor Fang. We're just here to borrow something from you," the short man chuckled, sounding like a monkey.

"Borrow something? Borrow what?" Fang Biao Zhi frowned even deeper.

"Hehe, nothing much, just borrowing Mayor Fang's life for a little while!" A glint of murderous intent flashed in the short man's eyes.

"I am the mayor of Su City! You want to kill me? Are you trying to make enemies with the entire Great Xia Empire?" Fang Biao Zhi was both shocked and enraged!

"Don't worry, Su City can't be without a mayor, and another mayor will take your place. Rest in peace."

As soon as the short man finished speaking, the other person beside him stepped out of the shadows.

Fang Biao Zhi's eyes widened. The person emerging from the darkness was a perfect double of himself!

The other Fang Biao Zhi wore a sinister expression, and the real Fang Biao Zhi felt a sense of utter absurdity.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk!"

The short man sized up the two Fang Biao Zhis, clicking his tongue in amazement.

"Hua Wang, your disguise is incredible! I can't tell the difference between you two. You should teach me sometime!"

"You wouldn't be able to learn it," Hua Wang replied, shaking his head. He not only looked exactly like Fang Biao Zhi, but even his voice was identical.

Hua Wang wasn't lying. This was a unique ability of the demon with whom he had made a pact. Although demon-type mages weren't particularly strong in combat, they were arguably the most bizarre of all classes.

Different demons possessed vastly different abilities, some of which were almost inconceivable, which allowed demon-type mages to achieve unexpected results in battle.

For example, Qian Yao, whom Qiao Yu had encountered in the combat tournament, had made a pact with a demon that could create illusions, causing Qiao Yu considerable trouble.

Hua Wang, one of the Eight Kings, was also a demon-type mage!

"Alright, alright, you're such a miser," the short man grumbled as he drew a long sword intricately carved with fine patterns. The blade reflected the moonlight into Fang Biao Zhi's eyes.

Fang Biao Zhi felt a jolt of realization and finally recognized the man before him!

"It's you! You're Jian Wang!" (Sword King)

"Congratulations, Mayor Fang! You got it right! Too bad there's no prize!"

Jian Wang (Sword King) swung his sword, and Fang Biao Zhi's head flew high into the air before landing on the ground. Blood spurted from his headless corpse, staining the ceiling crimson.

Fang Biao Zhi's head stared wide-eyed at the corner, seemingly unable to believe that he would die there.

Jian Wang (Sword King) then waved his sword again, mutilating Fang Biao Zhi's face beyond recognition.

After all, Hua Wang would be impersonating Fang Biao Zhi, and they couldn't risk the body being identified.

"Tch, and he calls himself the mayor of Su City. Pathetically weak!"

After spitting on the ground in disdain, Jian Wang (Sword King) left with Hua Wang.

The office was left with nothing but corpses and pools of congealing, foul-smelling blood, bearing witness to the brutal scene that had just transpired.

After an unknown amount of time, the office window was slowly opened.

Two figures in black robes entered through the window. The lead figure walked over to Fang Biao Zhi's body and began to examine it.

"Damn, they even cut off his head. They're really ruthless."

The black-robed figure frowned and turned to the other black-robed figure behind him.

"We raise soldiers for a thousand days, to use them for one. It's your turn. Don't worry, your family will receive a generous sum of money, and your children will attend the best schools."

"Understood, sir," the other black-robed figure nodded, removing his hood to reveal a portly middle-aged man.

The black-robed figure nodded and produced something resembling a scale.

The scale was silver-white, with intricate golden magical patterns covering its body. The golden glow was dazzling and radiant.

The beam of the scale was very long, indicating a high degree of precision. The beam was supported in the center by a vertical rod attached to a base, with two trays suspended from either end.

The scale was currently in a state of equilibrium. It seemed to possess a peculiar magic. The portly man felt a sense of peace wash over him just by looking at it.

"Give me your hand." The black-robed figure grabbed the portly middle-aged man's hand and placed it on one of the trays. Fear filled the portly man's face as his Adam's apple bobbed nervously. He was afraid of the unknown.

The black-robed figure then placed Fang Biao Zhi's hand on the other tray, cautiously instructing the portly man.

"Remember! You must be completely willing! Otherwise, not only will you not receive the money, but your family…" The black-robed figure's tone turned cold.

He believed that this combination of threat and reward would ensure the portly man's compliance.

He couldn't afford to be careless. If it failed, Fang Biao Zhi would truly be dead.

"Don't worry, sir. I understand!"

A resolute look flashed across the portly man's face! Thinking of his children's smiling faces, he suddenly felt determined, and the fear in his heart vanished.

"Good!"

The black-robed figure placed a hand on the base of the scale, and the golden magical patterns on the scale flared brightly.

The entire scale began to tremble violently. The vertical rod connected to the base rose abruptly, carrying the beam and the suspended trays upward.

The scale lost its equilibrium and tilted toward Fang Biao Zhi's side.

The portly man felt something flowing out of him and into Fang Biao Zhi.

Suppressing his fear, he decided not to resist and looked up at the black-robed figure.

"Sir, please take care of my family!"

The portly man then slowly turned to ash, as if he had never existed.

Fang Biao Zhi's headless corpse suddenly stood up!

The sight was incredibly eerie. Anyone else who witnessed it would have been scared out of their minds.

"Oops! I forgot to put your head back on! Wait a moment, I'll bring it right over."

The black-robed figure slapped his forehead and exclaimed in dismay. He then picked up Fang Biao Zhi's head from the ground and reattached it to his neck.

Then, something even more bizarre happened. As soon as the head was reattached, Fang Biao Zhi came back to life!

Fang Biao Zhi slowly clenched his fist and reached out to touch his neck.

The spot where Jian Wang (Sword King) had severed his head was now smooth and flawless, without a trace of damage. Even though he knew he would be revived, he couldn't help but feel a lingering sense of fear.

"Congratulations, sir, on the successful completion of the plan!" The black-robed figure knelt on the ground.

"Qiongqi, there's no need to call me 'sir'," Fang Biao Zhi said with a smile, shaking his head. "If it weren't for you, they could be preparing my funeral feast right now."

Fang Biao Zhi looked out the window with a cold smile.

"Ha! Like a mantis stalking a cicada, unaware of the oriole behind, I nearly lost my life this time to lure out Bai Shi Yan, this big fish. Bai Shi Yan, you better not disappoint me..."