Chapter 1659: Buying Time

In the brief silence.

Even separated by the light curtain, Lin An could still feel a sharp intent like a needle faintly stabbing toward himself.

Gazing at Hei Di, at this super‑powerful being capable of destroying a planet, who bowed respectfully to him.

Lin An felt no joy in his heart, only a deep chill.

He naturally could see this was another kind of probe.

Moreover, he could see the anger of those Fifth Stage beings under Hei Di's suppression.

If he merely nodded, Hei Di would without hesitation kill his own kin, kill that Fifth Stage who once looked down on him.

If he merely waved his hand, Hei Di, whose strength overwhelmed him by hundreds or thousands of times, would grovel before him, willingly becoming a dog.

As if Hei Di truly feared him.

But...

How could it be that simple?

"Killing them would mean forming a deadly feud. At the critical moment, this group of Fifth Stage beings would have ten thousand reasons to strike at me."

"Even if they attack and discover I am Shatter Star, they could claim it was a momentary impulse by my own kin, unrelated to him."

"Hah, this old coot's doing this is nothing but a prearranged scheme, seeking an excuse to act."

His gaze turned cold.

Lin An looked at the Fifth Stage being full of unwillingness, not knowing why Hei Di wanted to kill his own kin, and a hint of solemnity flashed in his eyes.

He also hadn't expected that, under his feigned demeanor, Hei Di would actually respond in this way.

Not only did it perfectly express his sincerity, it also left a foreshadowing.

But, though he clearly saw Hei Di's thoughts, he could only grit his teeth and continue the act.

"Not killing would not match my current identity; even my remaining deterrence would vanish..."

Beneath the mask, Lin An gave a deep glance at Hei Di, who dared not meet his eyes.

He knew what the other was thinking.

Follow him, and using his identity, hunt down other Fifth Stage beings!

If Lin An were Shatter Star, then Hei Di would be his loyal hound, seeking only to survive.

If not Shatter Star, then after using his identity, Lin An himself would become the richest reward!

Advance to attack, retreat to defend.

Even Lin An could imagine that, whether it was Hei Di or that two-headed dragon, both would spare no effort to do things for him before the mission ends.

If possible, Lin An naturally hopes to avoid any contact with Fifth Stage beings, continuing to stay mysterious.

Best to drag it out until the end, so that no one can find him.

But he is too weak—so weak that he cannot even flee or hide.

Even now, even if he pretends he doesn't need Hei Di and the others to be dogs.

Then, in the next second, the seemingly respectful Hei Di before him will surely strike directly, first killing him to take the reward before anything else.

Likewise, in such a predicament, he also needs Hei Di and the others to act for him, to keep the facade from being exposed.

In less than a second, countless thoughts flashed through Lin An's mind.

He could no longer delay...

Further hesitation would also be a flaw.

Lin An forcibly suppressed the chill in his heart and instantly made a choice that could barely maintain his image.

Only to see him suddenly vanish, and upon reappearing, his whole person had already transformed into a death god's phantom standing beneath the Black Lock.

"Interesting..."

"If you're not afraid of death, come over."

With a careless light laugh, Lin An tossed out those words, then lifted his gaze to the sky, pretending to study the Black Lock above.

It seemed as if, in his eyes, Hei Di and the others were no more than ants, not even as important as these Black Locks.

"To kill would surely invite revenge from Hei Di's subordinates; not to kill would also be unbefitting a Shatter Star."

After thinking it over, Lin An could only choose the most ambiguous response.

He could only gamble that Hei Di and the others would think more deeply, and abandon this probe!

As expected, after Lin An's response, Hei Di at this moment also stared in surprise.

Seeing Lin An with his back to everyone, merely raising his head to gaze at the Black Lock, a flash of strange color appeared in his eyes, adding further doubt.

"If you're not afraid of death, come over..."

"Black Lock..."

Slowly straightening his body, thousands of li away, Hei Di, lost in thought, slowly lifted his head.

As if he had just thought of something again.

"Lord Hei Di!"

"We can let the past go, but why must you treat that fellow like this..."

Everyone's faces bore resentment.

Following Hei Di on the road to the fortress, a large number of Fifth Stage beings all clenched their fists, unable to comprehend as they looked at Hei Di still lost in thought.

It is truly too humble, too humiliating!

In their hearts, Hei Di is the supreme leader, a super‑powerful capable of suppressing a region!

Now look at this: not only is he the first to "surrender" and become a dog, but he must also, because of a single word from the other, personally slay his own kin as an apology!

This is truly absurd, utterly cowardly!

"Yes! Lord Hei Di!"

「Even if we need to use his identity to threaten others, we can first capture him and then talk! 」

「That kid is definitely not a Shattered Star! 」

Compared to Hei Di's absolute caution, they really don't think Lin An could be a Shattered Star-level.

It's a very simple logic.

「Not only due to the various abnormalities before, regarding their probing and doubts, if Lin An were truly a Shattered Star, he would only need to reveal a bit of rule power! 」

「But from beginning to end, the power Lin An displayed were all skills that seemed ridiculously laughable to them! 」

「This is like a billionaire trying to prove himself, yet he can't even produce a single coin! 」

「Even if it's showing weakness to lure them, that's not how you'd pretend! 」

「And yet, because of this behavior, Hei Di sir was so frightened he almost killed their imperial commander! 」

However, unlike everyone else, after casually tearing open a spatial rift, Hei Di suddenly turned his head, looking at the Fifth Stage officer who had almost been killed by him earlier.

「Is it hard to understand, or do you hate me? 」

As soon as his words fell, the Fifth Stage officer following behind Hei Di trembled all over and hurriedly denied.

「I dare not! I know that for the sake of completing the mission, any sacrifice is worthwhile! 」

「I just... I just feel... 」

「No. 」

「Don't tell me what you feel. 」

Before he could finish speaking, Hei Di directly interrupted him.

Only seeing Hei Di at this moment furrow his brows, as if speaking to himself, he spoke softly.

「Do you know how much power that kick just had? 」

「No rule, no other power fluctuations. There is only pure physical strength... 」

「The power of that kick is over a thousand points... 」

As he spoke, a flash of unusual color passed through Hei Di's eyes, as if something was not as he had expected.

「1000!? 」

The Fifth Stage officer, hearing the voice, was stunned; listening to Hei Di's abruptly given information, he instantly realized what Hei Di sir had just been thinking.

A thousand attribute points is absolutely impossible for a Fourth Stage.

Even... these Rule System Fifth Stage officers have physical strength of only around eight or nine hundred.

And Hei Di sir is only just about a thousand.

Such strength level already explains many things...

「That guy is a Body System!? 」

「No.. 」

Subconsciously blurting it out, the Fifth Stage officer's face suddenly changed.

No, that's not right.

Not to mention, Body System Awakened Ones are extremely rare.

「This is the Stellar Battlefield; the system can only allow Rule System to enter! 」