The King of Fear? This title has exploded like a bomb in everyone's ears, draining the color from their faces and creating immense panic and dread. Princess Yin Yao glanced around at her teammates, seeing each of them pale and composed with deep, hidden fear. Unable to contain herself, she pulled out her small megaphone and spoke with a confident, mature tone: "Who exactly is the King of Fear?" Zhang Yuanqing took a deep breath and said, "He is the foremost among the Four Kings of the Commander's Academy, and his strength should be comparable to your master's." Upon hearing this, Princess Yin Yao immediately showed strong emotional reaction. She was well aware of her master's divine aura at his peak—so powerful it was staggering, truly a sovereign of the mortal realm. Guan Ya looked deeply serious and shook her head: "No, the King of Fear is actually stronger than the Lady of San Dao Mountain—significantly stronger. The Master of the Water Deity Palace once faced off against the King of Fear, and neither could overcome the other. "The King of Fear possesses the combat strength of a Grand Alliance leader." "Wait," Zhang Yuanqing exclaimed in surprise, "Is the King of Fear a half-god?" That doesn't make sense. I've reviewed his basic background—he's supposed to be at the peak of mastery, right? "I'm not sure about that," Guan Ya shook her head. Zhang Yuanqing, on the other hand, recalled the information he had gathered from Lian San Yue—evil-aligned professions didn't have the "half-god" stage. The "half-god" was a stage within the lawful-aligned professions, not a title. Evil-aligned professions lacked this stage, though they possessed power levels equivalent to half-gods. Thus, although King of Fear held the rank of Master, he could match the strength of a half-god. This aligned perfectly with what he knew. "The fact that King of Fear has personally come to meet the Edo Swordsman underscores just how highly he values the Tengyuan realm. It confirms my earlier assumption—that the Tengyuan realm harbors rare treasures, treasures cherished even by half-god-level masters. That's precisely why Emperor Shi Huang dispatched Xu Fu to sea. If King of Fear himself is coming, then the risk of this mission cannot be measured simply in hundreds of millions." Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself. At this moment, Lady Yin Yao raised her small horn and said, "Your facial expressions show dark clouds gathering, hinting at blood-related disturbances, though you are not yet in a state of certain death. If you had truly encountered the King of Fear, your faces would look quite different. 'Of course, when it comes to high-ranking masters, even to the level of human immortals or celestial immortals, the star-chart predictions may not always be precise. As for your course of action, you must decide for yourselves." The small circle calmly replied, "Rather than lingering here with idle talk, let's hear what comes next." Zhang Yuanqing immediately fell silent and turned his attention to Xie Lingxi. Xie Lingxi remained attentive, relaying the conversation as follows: "Blood-Drinking Sword says: I have not yet made contact with the King of Fear. This king values freedom and unbounded independence; when he runs freely under the setting sun, his phone is off. 'However, he remains diligent and regularly communicates with headquarters to handle official matters. I have already reported the situation at Gao Tian Yuan. As soon as the King of Fear connects with headquarters, he will immediately arrive.'" "The Edo swordmaster said: Please make sure to act swiftly. If the key to Tenshō-kan is not retrieved within a while, the Chiyoko group will report this matter to Tenpaku. Should Tenpaku become involved, the Ōshō would likely find it difficult to gain any advantage. I recall that Ōshō currently has four Tenshō." Xie Lingxi recited the monitored content word for word. Heh—now it suddenly feels as though the Heavenly King of the Commander's Academy has serious personality flaws, and that's actually such a wonderful thing. Grateful indeed for the Heavenly Kings' unreliability. Zhang Yuanqing exhaled in relief and said, "Little Yuan, begin your ritual immediately and offer prayers for our mission." "Right now?" Lady Yin Yao held up her small microphone. "No—now isn't the time. Wait until the banquet concludes." Zhang Yuanqing replied. If we act now, we'll face two Level 5 opponents directly. Though our combat strength is superior, we won't be able to achieve a decisive overwhelming advantage, and they'll likely escape. Little Yuan immediately entered the bedroom to prepare for the ritual. After fifteen minutes, she emerged, slightly weary but with a clear, pleasant voice: "Completed." It seemed the prayers had taken effect. Suddenly, Xie Lingxi expressed delight at the window: "The swordmaster of Edo says: Let us conclude the banquet here. I'm already eager to enjoy the beauty." The crowd immediately turned to the monitor, where they saw the Edo swordsman holding a young lady, rising from his seat, walking through the corridor, ascending the stairs, and entering a room on the second floor by the window. Li Chunfeng quickly switched the monitor's angle, so that the computer screen now displayed only two frames: on the left, the Blood-Drinking Swordsman continued drinking in the dining area; on the right, the Edo swordsman's room. "Shall we act?" the Queen asked. "Not yet—let's wait a moment," Zhang Yuanqing said, his eyes fixed on the computer screen. Meanwhile, the Edo swordsman had already undressed the young woman with her assistance, roughly pushing her onto the bed, removing her clothes, and lifting her legs, beginning his movements with practiced ease. In front of the computer screen, the others silently watched Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn, the atmosphere quiet yet slightly awkward. Zhang Yuanqing’s expression remained calm and steady. “At this moment, men are most vulnerable—blood flows to specific areas, reducing cerebral circulation and weakening cognitive function.” “Now is the time to act. If Jiangnu’s swordmaster can’t sustain his energy, and he enters the sage’s state, it will actually work against us.” Xiao Yuan gave him a withering look, then without further words, headed straight for the bedroom to initiate the curse. Li Chunfeng gently pressed the return key, pausing the footage in the monitoring feed: “The庄园’s monitoring room feed is identical to ours. Within a few minutes, no one should notice anything amiss.” Time was pressing. Guan Ya took over the night-walking cloak from Xie Lingxi and, following Zhang Yuanqing, rushed out through the balcony. With a sharp “whoosh,” the strong wind swept them into the air, carrying them swiftly toward the manor. Yin Yao, the Lady of Yin, stepped into the night-walking state, leapt down from the balcony, and headed toward the manor. … The sounds of soft gasps and sharp impacts echoed throughout the room, while the plush bed creaked under Under the gentle haze of wine, the Edo swordsman galloped freely, reveling in the soft, yielding body beneath him, releasing the recent tremors of anxiety and unease. He did have concerns about his future—aligning with the Grand Military Monastery was akin to securing the lion's share from its very heart. Yet he had no choice. In his youth, he had journeyed northward, using the guise of exchange and study to settle in for a while, where he eventually met the Blood-Drinking Sword. The Blood-Drinking Sword, aware of his identity as a leader of the Chihaku Group, had made a point of cultivating ties with him, bridging the connection through both wealth and charm, and the two quickly grew close. He himself saw value in maintaining a strong relationship with the Grand Military Monastery as a means of broadening his channels and networks. After fleeing to the continent, he secured the support of the Grand Military Monastery by offering the Key to the High Heaven Plain and his closely guarded secrets, thereby establishing his authority over the Chihaku Group in Japan. From the High Heaven Plain, he took only three sacred artifacts; should those be absent, he would settle for just one-tenth of what What he currently relies on and wields in his strategic maneuvers is not a key, but the location of the High Heavens Palace. Though the key remains in his hands, Blood-Drinking Sword has, with only a modest cost, easily slain opponents and seized their treasures. Yet the Commander of the Army remains unaware of the High Heavens Palace's whereabouts. To guard against the Commander's potential assassination and inquiry into the spirit, the Edo swordmaster has a flawless strategy: he possesses a device that, upon death, completely erases the residual spirit within his body. With the unyielding resolve of a swordsman, even a peer-level Fog Sovereign finds it difficult to sway him. Thus, he has remained steadfast here. Currently, the Edo swordmaster can only trust that the King of Fear, as the legends claim, is a man of integrity—otherwise, he will have no place to rest his final breath. This is a bold wager. Yet, throughout history, has any sovereign who has ruled the world ever avoided such wagers? If he wins, the world shall be his; if he loses, he shall return to the Spirit Realm. This is the risk that true strength must bear. Yet this state of constant anxiety imposed immense psychological pressure on the Edo swordsman, who relied on wine and women to release it. Amid an urgent, almost exaggerated series of collisions, the woman's gentle murmurs turned into sharp cries, and the swordsman's passion surged to its peak. Just as he resolved to fully unleash it, a strong wind blew up outside. The next instant, the window shattered with a loud crash, sending countless shards of glass exploding outward. Among the flying glass, a flash of cold light emerged—sword energy filled the room, rising and arriving instantly, piercing directly toward the Edo swordsman's heart. Under normal circumstances, the Edo swordsman would have been alert at the first sign of wind, but the presence of Minoru's prayer, combined with his current state of heightened arousal, caused him to react slightly late. He managed only to shift his body, narrowly avoiding the attack aimed at his vital organs. Pff! The bronze sword pierced through his abdomen, entering from behind. The Edo swordmaster didn't care about the pain. He reeled back, disengaging from the bronze sword, then contracted his gluteal muscles, driving a powerful kick with his right leg straight upward. A sharp "crack" echoed as the air burst outward—solid contact with the attacker. A figure crashed into the wall—a mixed-race beauty with a ponytail, holding her sword in her right hand while her left arm bent unnaturally, her face pale with pain. He, clad in robes of yin and yang, immediately launched two gust blades, intersecting them to strike the Edo swordmaster who had rolled off the bed and landed on the floor. "Crack! Crack!" The floor tiles bore two deep gashes, yet the Edo swordmaster had anticipated the threat and rolled aside. He had no intention of engaging in a prolonged battle, but instead charged bare-chested toward the door, aiming to join forces with the Blood-Drinking Blade. As he took just two steps forward, a dreamlike streak of starlight rose from the doorway, blocking his path. "Master Yuan-Shi?" The Edo swordmaster was momentarily stunned. The Chiyokushu group had long been gathering intelligence on the Five Elements Alliance, and since Shinoya Ryō had cleared the Killing Quest, their interest in this young prodigy had grown significantly—now they even possessed his portrait. As a former deputy leader of the Chiyokushu group, he instantly recognized Master Yuan-Shi. A moment of astonishment flashed through him, and from his inventory, he summoned a bright, gleaming katana. He stepped into a bow stance and delivered a powerful downward slash. Under the impact of Jianke "Shi Zhen," Zhang Yuan was stunned, suddenly feeling unable to challenge him. He quickly summoned his Purple Thunder Shield and raised it toward the sky. The curved edge of his sword cut across the circular shield, sparking brilliant flashes of fire. Just as Jiang Du, the sword master from Edo, prepared to crouch and sweep across, cutting off the legs of Yuan Shi Tian Zun, a sharp crackling sound erupted, and vibrant purple electric arcs surged to life. Startled, he was struck by the rebounding arcs, his body momentarily stiffening. "Guan Ya!" Zhang Yuan roared, at the same time a deep yellow glow flared at the center of his brow and rapidly spread across his face, painted in black and red hues that depicted a fiery, combative expression. The Purple Thunder Shield melted, solidifying into a small pumpkin, which he then forcefully struck against Jiang Du. Tapping, tapping, tapping—Guan Ya charged forward with long, powerful strides, her steps resonant and agile, like a swift female leopard, her bronze sword brimming with sword energy, emitting a clear, resonant dragon's cry. Jiang Du, still momentarily paralyzed, gently turned his head and flicked his "Whoosh!" A compact, dark shuriken shot forth from his mouth, imbued with the essence of sword breath, whistling through the air. Before it even reached her, the sword breath had severed the hair at the crown of Guan Ya's head. As she was advancing, she abruptly halted, raising her bronze sword to block. Clang! The shuriken rebounded and embedded itself into the ceiling. Guan Ya's bronze sword trembled incessantly, nearly slipping from her grasp. Having repelled the female swordsman with the projectile, the Edo swordsman's moment of paralysis had now passed. Now, he could no longer evade the attack from Yuan Shi Tian Zun and was forced to block with his sword. He had full confidence in his weapon—"Yuketsu," one of the six renowned blades of the Chihoko Group, a sacred-grade artifact renowned for its strength and sharpness. Even at the level of mountain deities, he could cleave through them ten times over. Its exceptional resilience could also serve as a defensive tool when needed. By successfully countering this wave of attack, he would make Yuan Shi Tian Zun, the night wanderer, realize just how formidable close-quarters sword combat could be The jade blade, renowned for its resilience, instantly bent under the force of Xiao Nangua's strikes, its blade vibrating at high speed before finally snapping. Xiao Nangua's momentum still held, and he delivered a powerful blow to the chest of the Edo swordmaster. The swordmaster's chest dented, his vision darkened, and the intense pain nearly sent him unconscious. He crashed into the wall, causing the freshly painted, snow-white surface to crack with a sharp "crack." Escape—escape now! The swordmaster's sense of urgency surged. In his peripheral vision, he observed the subtle muscle contractions in Yuan Sheng Tian Zun's arm, discerning the trajectory of his attack. With no hesitation, he spun against the wall. "Boom!" Xiao Nangua's strike missed, shattering the entire wall. Drawing upon the swordmaster's "steel resolve," he pressed down on his injuries, adopting a bowing stance with his hips low, raising his short blade to his head, and roared: "The world is now at war!" A surge of powerful sword energy erupted beneath his feet, spreading out to envelop the entire room. Pillows, quilts, vases, ornaments, and photo The floating objects transformed into a sharp rain of blades, enveloping Guan Ya and Zhang Yuanqing. As for himself, he leapt over the bed and crashed through the window, fleeing. With such dense attacks, the water spirit's passive defenses could not hold—Zhang Yuanqing didn't hesitate, vanishing before the assault arrived with a star-dash technique. As for Guan Ya, he had no concerns; though she was slightly injured, her condition remained at peak performance, and with her scout's keen perception, these attacks would hardly daunt her. He sank both knees, about to crash through the ceiling and surge into the second floor, when suddenly a clear, bell-like laughter rang out: "Haha, time for a game~" A child's shadow appeared in the dining room, gliding along the floor and climbing onto his back. A piercing cold washed over him, his arms stiffening, his waist uncontrollably arching backward. Blood-drinking Blade hissed, his vital energy surging and his muscles rippling with strength—just a slight exertion, and he managed to push back the spirit's possession. At that moment, a woman with her eyes closed stepped into the dining room, precisely picking up her chopsticks and fork, and dabbing the rich crimson rouge onto them. The chopsticks and fork swiftly rose, aligning themselves directly before Blood-Drinking Blade. "Hmph!" The Blade's eyes flared with a deep crimson glow, and the symbols on his face instantly began to shine. The chopsticks and fork that had just risen now clinked and fell, the spirits clinging to them being subdued by the woman's influence. The woman standing by the table remained calm, raising her finger to sketch symbols in the air, the Taiyin energy flowing freely through the The woman lightly tapped the scroll, which pierced through the slashing blow of the Xiedin Kangdao and pressed straight onto the warrior's face. The gleam of blood in his eyes instantly faded, and the enchanting script on his face went out. The knife and chopsticks reappeared, driving toward the Xiedin Kangdao like a rain of sharp points.