Chapter 179: What a Sweet Smell of Blood!

This land seemed forgotten by the world, silent as if dead; the island's edges were shrouded in thick fog, the sea surface dotted with shattered ships and unknown bones, as if warning all who dared approach—this was no paradise for the living, but a purgatory for the dead.

The ship slowly neared the dark gray shore, the mountains, beaches, and sea all dim and lifeless, as if their vitality had been drained away.

Black crows circled in the sky, emitting piercing cries.

"There is a legend in the Land of Shura: the tyrant Rao will return to Shura as a savior, to liberate the oppressed people… finally…"

Her raven-black hair, long and unbound, was tied simply at the back with a plain cloud-patterned ribbon; the girl, lean and efficient in form-fitting armor, spoke in a soft, melodious voice, as if reciting an epic.

Yet…

"HAHAHAHA! Land of Shura, I'm back, motherfucker!"

The first to return to this land was not Rao, but a spiky-haired man who had swung one arm and leapt from the ship, striding forward with thunderous laughter.

Touqi and Rao jumped down from the ship where Jia Ji had just walked across the sea to "negotiate" with the pirates, followed by Ken Shi Lang, and finally Long Quan, filled with deep emotion.

Five men, each capable of crushing a century-old vampire with bare hands, averaging 1. 5 meters tall and built like end-of-century muscle brothers, successfully landed!

"You're… Lei Na?"

Touqi paused slightly, recognizing the girl, slightly younger than them, his brothers' childhood companion from the Land of Shura.

"How did you know we'd returned to the Land of Shura?"

He couldn't help asking— their plan had been executed with no delay; the news shouldn't have reached this isolated, closed-off land so quickly.

—"Intuition."

A gaunt, ghostly young man suddenly appeared, pointing at the Big Dipper in the sky.

He was Cang Ya, Lei Na's brother.

The siblings had once made a pact with Rao to follow the prophesied savior and bring peace to the Land of Shura.

Jia Ji knew these two—friendly NPC allies under Rao's banner—so he ignored their reunion with the Three Stars Brothers and instead scanned the surroundings.

The scene within the island was even more horrifying: abandoned shores littered with massive craters carved by cannons and tanks; both sides of the beach piled high with unburied skeletons.

Gray-yellow trees, broken and incomplete, riddled with hollows, ready to snap and fall at any moment.

On the lifeless, gnawed branches hung countless dried human skins.

The air reeked of blood and gunpowder.

Jia Ji took a deep breath, and for a moment, he felt as if the end of the century had already arrived.

"What a sweet smell of blood!"

Cang Ya led the group forward, explaining the current state of the country.

"The warlords on the island each control their own territory, locked in endless battles for resources and power. Their followers are mostly outlaws or puppets controlled by Dark Fist techniques—utterly devoid of humanity."

"On this chaotic land, the inheritors of Dark Fist techniques lurk like venomous snakes; they not only master lethal martial arts but also arcane arts capable of manipulating minds and twisting laws. The most powerful among them are called 'Shura'—beyond that, there is no order whatsoever…"

This had begun over a decade ago, as the era plunged violently toward destruction; the Land of Shura was violently attacked, followed by ceaseless war.

When everything was reduced to nothing, only the strength of the fist could shape the age—so three boys were sent out of this land, to inherit the destined Beidou Divine Fist—these three were Rao, Touqi, and Ken Shi Lang, still an infant in swaddling clothes.

"But who are you?"

Cang Ya stopped and turned to the man striding forward as if returning home, puzzled.

He could vaguely recognize Rao and Touqi from memory, and could match Ken Shi Lang's age to the current Beidou heir, Long Quan—but…

Was there ever a guy with a pointy head among the Three Stars Brothers?

Not knowing was only natural; in the original timeline, when this guy Jia Ji was crushed, even the great wills had never considered the origins of the Three Stars Brothers.

"Who am I?"

Jia Ji heard the question and felt so thrilled his cock nearly stood up.

"Hey hey hey, ask around the four seas and eight directions—'Emperor's Killer,' 'North High God,' 'Alliance Champion,' 'Disciple of Long Quan'—these are my destiny—Beidou heir… mmmph!"

Long Quan couldn't stand the brat's nonsense—he punched him silent, then sighed and explained to Cang Ya: "He is my third disciple. Though his appearance is fearsome and his personality a bit… mischievous, his martial skill is top-tier. His name is—"

Long Quan paused, proudly: "Jia Ji."

Even today, Long Quan could say it without hesitation—this was his proudest third disciple!

Upon hearing this, Cang Ya's gaze toward Jia Ji softened with a touch of respect.

In the Land of Shura, strength is the supreme law.

It is said that here, martial arts have existed for four thousand years; both Beidou and Nan Dou originated here.

Everyone must begin fighting from age fifteen; if you refuse to become a slave, you must fight endlessly—the survival rate is truly only one percent, a hellish arena, an inviolable nation, an unyielding fortress.

The men of this land have only one purpose.

To win.

The Shura of this land care nothing for status, rank, or power—they seek only supreme martial strength!

And Jia Ji possessed strength enough to earn him true respect.

"Which way now?"

Jia Ji scratched his head, slightly embarrassed—his hundred boasts meant less than Long Quan's single sentence.

"Should we sneak in?"

Before them loomed a massive steel gate, over thirty centimeters thick and weighing hundreds of tons, blocking their path.

The timeline was too early; Jia Ji had no idea what to do.

"No need."

Rao stepped forward.

"I've already heard it—the wailing."

The icy wind howling past his ears carried faint, agonized moans, drawing nearer from afar.

The tall man with gray hair and black eyes returned to his homeland; he clenched his bony fist, and surging power burst the air, sending concentric rings of white mist spiraling outward.

His massive fist slowly pressed against the thick gate, then gently pushed forward with the palm.

—BOOM!

(End of Chapter)