Chapter 631 - Baiting An Ultimate Dark Form (1)

The conference hall erupted into an uproar, followed by an eerie silence.

"Holy Fist!!?"

Only a series of heavy breaths spoke of everyone's shock. The unexpected had happened. Golem Sect's master turned out to be a Holy Fist! That was absolutely earth‑shattering news!

In the surface world, the power ceiling of any era had been an extreme combat artist. The handful of extreme combat artists made up the very top powers of the surface world. However, a Holy Fist unquestionably surpassed that level, reaching a realm utterly beyond comprehension.

Every deputy leader of the Gate Organization bore the honorific Holy Fist, as if doing so could borrow the radiance of that sacred realm to gain status and respect. Still, Evil Heart Holy Fist himself knew the gap was far, far too great.

The distance from extreme combat artist to Holy Fist seemed just one step away. It seemed close enough to touch, yet in truth was a chasm of a thousand miles. It required climbing mountains and swimming through rivers, and even then, they may still fail to cross that gulf. The disparity was far more staggering than imagined. He called himself Evil Heart Holy Fist, yet he was no more than an ant before a true Holy Fist . There was nothing about him worth notice or praise.

The more one understood the Holy Fist realm, the clearer the gap between combat artist and Holy Fist became. Thus, for a few seconds, Evil Heart Holy Fist stopped breathing. His raging murderous intent and anger were instantly extinguished, as though dropped into ice water. His bloodshot crimson eyes, once cruel and savage, now looked unexpectedly clear, and even somewhat blank.

"You... you're telling the truth!?" Evil Heart Holy Fist sat stiffly in the chief seat, asking with a trace of wishful thinking. He actually hoped that Golem Sect's master's title of Holy Fist was, like his own, a brazenly self‑applied nickname and not a true indication of strength.

A fake Holy Fist and a real one couldn't be mentioned in the same breath.

"It's true, sir. It happened at the Federal Combat Championships. The event hosted by Golem Sect invited not only the four Covert Martial Art communities of the Hongli Federation but also many famed foreign sects and masters. They witnessed Cassius's strength with their own eyes when he effortlessly suppressed everyone to the point where their Qi could not even leak out. There are so many witnesses that it is very likely that the news is real..." The black‑clad subordinate spoke rapidly.

Evil Heart’s aura surged violently and he was standing up before he knew it. He was like an active volcano about to spew lava, but in the end, the flame went out and he collapsed into his chair. His shoulders drooped and he fell silent.

By his subordinate's account, Golem Sect's master was most likely a genuine Holy Fist. No matter how strong they were, an extreme combat artist could never suppress a gathering of so many sects alone. At such an event, hundreds of combat artists were all subdued by one man. If he wasn't a Holy Fist, then what would be?

After a full minute of silence, Evil Heart Holy Fist finally spoke.

"The situation has changed. Cancel all prior arrangements and plans."

Earlier, he had ordered all Gate Organization forces to gather and settle the Black Rain Manor loss. He wanted a brutal sect extermination and even wished to take Cassius's head to turn into a chamber pot.

But now, none of those could be carried out. Even harboring such thoughts was laughable and dangerous. After all, when the enemy accuses you of wielding weapons of mass destruction, it would be best if you really had them. Otherwise, would you dare repeat your earlier tough talk?

Evil Heart Holy Fist dared not. No, Evil Heart dared not. If a true Holy Fist had emerged and he still pranced around with that title, he would become the world's greatest joke. It was a rare moment when Evil Heart felt only a bone‑deep chill, without a trace of anger or discouragement.

But that meant the annihilation of the Gate Organization forces at Black Rain Manor and his own injury had been done by that Holy Fist of Golem Sect. Well then, that explains it...

"We must not act rashly. All our forces are to stand by. Our bases and forces within the Hongli Federation must keep a low profile and act cautiously. As for those in the Hongli Federation's Six Eastern Counties, withdraw them all and leave only spies to observe..." Evil Heart Holy Fist spoke calmly. He was a different man from moments before.

The Gate Organization members exchanged looks and nodded.

"Yes."

When the meeting ended and the doors closed, Evil Heart was left alone. He paced the floor, gently rubbing a golden ring he wore. Strange faintly glowing flame patterns burned on its surface.

The same ring had also appeared on Holy Fist Demon Phoenix's hand. Back then, Holy Fist Demon Phoenix had used the ring to awaken and summon Xiadu's avatar. One could say the ring was the talisman of a Gate Organization deputy leader, or rather the proof of rank bestowed by their leader, Xiadu.

"A Holy Fist has appeared. This must be reported to Lord Xiadu. What to do next will be for Lord Xiadu to decide."

Evil Heart hesitated no more and set his course. "I must visit the Arctic Abyss soon..."

The Arctic Abyss lay in the deepest part of the Arctic Ocean and was called "the place to return to ruins" by generations of Morsaka people living in the Arctic circle. Legend says it was a bottomless pit, like the mouth of a demon. The ice was over a kilometer thick and magma even roiled inside. Though a land of extreme cold, it also held blistering heat. It was truly an atrocious place.

Rumor had it even the moonlight was swallowed by the abyss. Thus, except during the brightest time of the day, a vast area around the abyss lay in total darkness. No landmarks or directions could be found. It was truly a forbidden zone for the living. Even the local Morsaka people dared not approach it.

However, Evil Heart had no such scruples, as the leader's ring would guide his way. Moreover, with the cultivation of an extreme combat artist, he need not overtly worry.

"Golem Sect's master, Golem Sect's master... actually a Holy Fist... It seems now only Lord Xiadu can decide your fate..."