Chapter 655: Treachery From Within

This guy’s strength is lacking. He isn’t considered top-tier among those at the Planet level.

Li Xiaofei looked at Han Zhen’s corpse, a hint of surprise appearing on his face. He had expected a tough battle. Yet, after using the Realm of Eternal Samsara, he had managed to stab him to death with ease.

Of course, part of the reason was the bizarre and formidable nature of the Zhao Clan Spear Technique. However, Han Zhen’s final outburst of strength, after unleashing the Demon-Breaking Hand, was not as powerful as expected. That was also an important factor.

This doesn’t make sense. He shouldn’t have been able to kill Old Chen.

Li Xiaofei couldn't figure it out no matter how much he thought. He approached Han Zhen’s corpse and examined it carefully. Suddenly, his expression changed slightly, revealing a trace of astonishment. He sensed two strange energy fluctuations faintly pulsating within Han Zhen’s body. It was the power of laws.

Li Xiaofei focused and attempted to draw the laws closer. A moment later, two faint orbs emerged from Han Zhen’s abdomen and slowly floated upwards.

Li Xiaofei immediately activated the Sky People Unity Breathing Technique, channeling his own energy to absorb the two glowing lights. The process was even easier than he had imagined. He effortlessly claimed both fragments of law power as his own.

"The Law of Strength and the Law of Metal," muttered Li Xiaofei.

As he carefully examined them, Li Xiaofei distinguished the nature of the two laws he had just absorbed. The Law of Strength fragment seamlessly fused with the existing power of strength within his dantian.

My strength has more than doubled!

Li Xiaofei was overjoyed. Han Zhen was indeed worthy of being a senior expert. The Law of Strength he had comprehended was far purer and more robust. However, the combat strength Han Zhen had displayed was instead inferior to Li Xiaofei’s.

This absorption was equivalent to more than a year of painstaking cultivation for Li Xiaofei. The remaining Law of Metal transformed into a ball of light and settled motionlessly within Li Xiaofei’s body.

After carefully sensing it, Li Xiaofei understood that he would need to slowly fuse with and comprehend this law before he could fully wield the Law of Metal. After all, it was still somewhat unfamiliar to him. Unlike the Law of Strength, he could not immediately put it to use.

Even so, it was already an immense harvest. He then started to search Han Zhen’s corpse. He found a pouch similar to a Qiankun Pouch, a spatial storage pouch, but it was sealed with a miniature formation restriction, making it impossible to open for the time being.

He also retrieved a set of light golden software from Han Zhen’s body. It appeared to be quite valuable.

“It’s time to leave,” said Li Xiaofei, standing up, estimating that the time limit of the Realm of Eternal Samsara was approaching.

He took a deep breath. Carefully recalling his cover identity, he made an effort to immerse himself in the role of a reckless, greedy, and lecherous fallen scion of a noble family. Then, he withdrew his divine ability.

***

Light flashed as Li Xiaofei reappeared in the arena, dragging Han Zhen’s corpse with him. He threw Han Zhen’s body forward.

“I thought he was some kind of peerless expert. Turns out he was nothing but a weakling,” Li Xiaofei said as he stood proudly with his spear. The fat on his face made his arrogant expression even more insufferable.

The crowd erupted into chaos.

“Holy shit!”

Huang Dinggou furiously rubbed his eyes, almost wanting to dig them out. He suspected that his worry had caused him to hallucinate.

“What?!” exclaimed Nie Yuntao as he abruptly stood up, his face filled with shock. He could hardly believe what he was seeing.

Ma Tuo and Liu Junqing, the two Protectors of the Exploding Star Gang, were also visibly shaken. Meanwhile, Luo Fawei, the Hall Master of the Law Hall, slammed the table in excitement and burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! This is truly an unexpected turn of events! Hahaha! Well done, Li Qingchen, right? You’ve made a great contribution this time. Come to Law Hall tomorrow—I’ll make you my deputy.”

He offered the reward on the spot. There was no need to say more. Taking such a top-tier expert under his command would undoubtedly be a huge gain.

On the other side, the members of Twin Shadow Tower were all dumbfounded. Han Zhen had won several matches consecutively and had shown signs of becoming the strongest Planet level expert within the tower.

Just moments ago, he had been domineering and unstoppable in the arena as he killed his way through the enforcers of Exploding Star Gang. But how had he suddenly died? Moreover, he had died at the hands of someone known throughout Chongque City as a lecherous fool. Even a scripted play wouldn’t dare unfold like this.

Deputy Tower Master Jiang Sansheng slowly stood up. His expression was dark and his gaze sharp like a blade as he examined Li Xiaofei.

“I didn’t expect Exploding Star Gang to be hiding such a card,” Jiang Sansheng said coldly. It was like his voice was permafrost that had endured for millennia. “Playing the pig to eat the tiger? Heh... Even if you really are a tiger, I’ll make sure you leave Jiuyang Tower lying flat today.”

As he spoke, he suddenly turned to stare at Ma Tuo and the others, “Don’t you need to give me an explanation?”

“Explanation for what?” Liu Junqing stood up and sneered. “Life and death are decided openly in the arena. What’s wrong with that? Heh... Laughable. So only your people are allowed to win, and when our people—uh?”

A look of disbelief suddenly appeared on Liu Junqing’s face. He looked down to find a sword had pierced through his heart. The blade was dripping with blood and the hilt was nestled in the hand of Left Protector Ma Tuo.

“You...” Liu Junqing could never have imagined, not even in his wildest dreams, that a comrade he had known for sixty years would choose this moment to betray him.

Puff, puff, puff.

Ma Tuo’s hand moved like lightning, stabbing dozens of times in succession, nearly turning Liu Junqing’s body into a sieve.

Heart, brain, throat, dantian... Blood gushed like a fountain from the wounds. Liu Junqing’s body slowly collapsed to the ground, lifeless. This sudden change left everyone dumbfounded. But this was only the beginning.

“Attack!” Hall Master Nie Yuntao of Red Shield Hall shouted loudly.

“Puff.”

“Ah...”

“What are you doing?!”

A chorus of shocked cries and screams erupted among the disciples of Exploding Star Gang. Some disciples drew their swords and blades, mercilessly hacking at their fellow gang members beside them. Blood splattered, and severed limbs flew through the air. Caught off guard, dozens of Exploding Star Gang disciples were slaughtered on the spot.

Huang Dinggou, with his slicked-back hair, nearly lost an arm in the fray as someone slashed at him. He fought desperately to retreat and managed to escape.

“Ma Tuo has betrayed us!” He screamed hysterically.

At this moment, Hall Master Luo Fawei of Law Hall and Hall Master Jin Xi of Finance Hall finally realized what was happening. They were seasoned veterans who had roamed the martial world for centuries, so neither of them even considered launching a counterattack. Instead, they gathered their trusted experts and made a break for the exit.

“What are you waiting for?” Ma Tuo shouted as he brandished his sword.

He blurred as he blocked Luo Fawei’s path in an instant. Nie Yuntao also struck at the same time. However, Ma Tuo’s shout was not directed at his own men.

“Hahahaha! Attack!” Deputy Tower Master Jiang Sansheng of Twin Shadow Tower laughed loudly. He moved like lightning as he cut off Jin Xi’s escape route.

The other experts from Twin Shadow Tower erupted into action, leading their subordinates into the battlefield. They mercilessly slaughtered the already overwhelmed Exploding Star Gang disciples.

It was a complete massacre. Huang Dinggou lay among the pools of blood and severed limbs, pretending to be dead. He smeared his face with fresh blood, squinted his eyes into a slit, and carefully observed the battle around him. But his heart had already gone cold.

It’s over. Completely over.

No one had expected that Left Protector Ma Tuo and his disciple would turn out to be the biggest traitors. The deaths of Hall Master Li, Hall Master Ou, and the others before were most likely part of this conspiracy as well.

What now?

Playing dead wouldn’t solve the problem. The enemy would definitely check the bodies. Huang Dinggou was burning with anxiety. He tried to inch his body slowly toward the edge of the battlefield. But just then, a hand suddenly grabbed his shoulder and lifted him up.

“Ah! I’m dead! Don’t touch me! I surrender...”

He was so terrified his soul nearly left his body.

“Shut up.” Li Xiaofei’s voice came from beside his ear. “Follow me.”

“Brother Chen?” said Huang Dinggou, stunned.

He saw Li Xiaofei holding him with one hand and gripping a long spear in the other as he broke through the encirclement. His spear technique was like a dragon, and the spear light scattered like drifting pear blossoms. No one could withstand a single strike.

“Those who block me—die!” Li Xiaofei shouted.