Chapter 5

With those words, Wang Hou, a formidable human warrior who had survived the Great Beast Catastrophe, shed two silent tears as memories flooded his resolute face.

Though Jiang Xia was not of this world, he was deeply moved by these deeds from within.

Heroes who sacrifice themselves for humanity and their nation deserve respect in any world.

Su Changfeng wiped the tears from his eyes and spoke solemnly, “I’m not telling Itachi this to force Itachi into the Night Watchers—I hope that if Itachi ever gain the power, Itachi’ll help humanity endure this dark age.”

“In your battle with the Skin-Stealer, I saw hope—the same hope that Wu Jie once carried to end the darkness!”

“I reviewed your past. For the last three years, Itachi, once an outstanding student, sank into inexplicable despair—but during your Awakening Ceremony and just now when Itachi slew the Skin-Stealer, Itachi regained your spirit.”

“So I hope that when humanity’s survival hangs in the balance, Itachi’ll act if Itachi have the strength to save us.”

“Please!”

After speaking, Su Changfeng stood up and bowed to Jiang Xia.

Jiang Xia looked at this man, who held high rank yet chose to lower himself and beg for help, rather than merely preserve himself in this chaotic age.

He couldn’t help but feel genuine admiration.

Jiang Xia rose, steadied Su Changfeng, and pledged, “As long as my own safety is assured, I will do my best to aid humanity.”

“But I have one demand: remove the Night Watchers stationed near me. I have my own cultivation methods and means of self-protection.”

All people are selfish—Jiang Xia lacked the spirit of the first Night Watcher Commander, who sacrificed himself to save countless lives.

But he was willing to lend a hand if his own safety was not compromised.

Upon hearing this, Su Changfeng nodded. He never expected everyone to sacrifice themselves like Xia Wu Jie; his true aim was simply to give humanity one more safeguard.

“Can I collect my bounty now?”

Jiang Xia had not forgotten why he came—without money and resources, he couldn’t even protect himself, let alone humanity.

Su Changfeng retrieved a card with 100,000 Huaxia Coins from logistics, then took fifteen Spirit Stones from a drawer and handed them to Jiang Xia, explaining:

“These 100,000 Huaxia Coins are your reward for slaying the Skin-Stealer. These fifteen Spirit Stones are my personal gift for your cultivation—I know your family is poor; I hope they help Itachi.”

“As for the Night Watchers guarding Itachi, I’ll order them to withdraw. I understand only through hardship can one grow.”

“But if Itachi ever face a danger beyond your control, come to us. As long as Itachi don’t endanger humanity, we’ll handle it for Itachi.”

Jiang Xia took the Huaxia Coins and Spirit Stones, a wave of emotion rising within him—rarely in either life had anyone shown him such care.

Even though the man had ulterior motives, Jiang Xia would remember this debt.

After bidding farewell to Su Changfeng and leaving the Night Watcher base, Jiang Xia did not return home—he headed out of the city toward the Beast Forest to hunt.

Though he could now slay third-rank beasts, the Magical Energy College Entrance Exam was a provincial competition.

Jiang Xia still wished to hone his combat skills, accumulate points, and build his foundation for unforeseen needs.

On the way to the Beast Forest, Jiang Xia summoned his system: “System Brother, claim the reward for slaying the Skin-Stealer.”

【Congratulations, Host: Slain third-rank beast. +30 points.】

【Ding~! Task completed: Exceeding Rank Kill. Reward: 10 Low-Level Draws, 2 Mid-Level Draws. Due to outstanding performance, bonus: 2 High-Level Draws.】

【One-Tap Draw?】

“Draw!”

Jiang Xia exclaimed eagerly.

【Ten-Draw Low-Level Wheel】

【Congratulations, Host: Obtained 30 Detonation Talismans, 1 Rations Pill, 2 Kunai, 30 Shuriken, Ninjutsu—Shadow Clone Jutsu.】

【Mid-Level Draw】

【Congratulations, Host: Obtained Ninjutsu—Lightning Release: Chidori, S-Rank Ninja Tool—Kusanagi Sword (Tianbu Style Sword).】

【High-Level Draw】

【Congratulations, Host: Obtained Mangekyo Sharingan (Amaterasu), Mangekyo Sharingan (Tsukuyomi).】

【Host】: Jiang Xia

【Realm】: Awakening Stage Late Stage (150/350)

【Ninja Ability】: SSS-Rank Mangekyo Sharingan

【Abilities】: Mangekyo Sharingan (Dual Kamui), Mangekyo Sharingan (Amaterasu), Mangekyo Sharingan (Tsukuyomi)—freely switchable, Transformation Technique, Shadow Clone Jutsu (can deceive those three major realms above), Flying Thunder God Technique, Lightning Release: Chidori

【Physique】: 90 Qi

【Items】: 30 Detonation Talismans, 50 Kunai, 20,000 Huaxia Coins, 1 Rations Pill, Jiraiya’s Icha Icha Paradise, 30 Shuriken

【Ninja Tools】: Kusanagi Sword

【Points】: 20 (earned from slaying beasts)

【Draw Opportunities】: None

Looking at the draw results, Jiang Xia was thrilled—Chidori was Kakashi’s invented Lightning Release technique, later refined by Sasuke into many devastating variants, and could be fused with the Kusanagi Sword to form Chidori Blade.

Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi needed no introduction—one produced black flames that burned until the target was utterly consumed, never extinguished.

The other transported the opponent’s spirit into a realm of Tsukuyomi, where he could manipulate it at will.

But both techniques carried severe side effects—risking permanent blindness—requiring cautious use.

【Beast Forest】

Jiang Xia drew the Kusanagi Sword; a flash of white light split the first-rank Stone-Armored Bear cleanly in two.

【Congratulations, Host: Slain first-rank beast, Stone-Armored Bear.】

【+10 Points】

“Phew, finally found a beast—how come such a vast forest has so few?” Jiang Xia wondered silently.

“Boom!” Suddenly, a deafening explosion erupted from deep within the forest. Jiang Xia marked his spot and moved toward the sound.

Near the source, a Great Martial Master ninja and dozens of Martial Stage warriors were fighting a five-rank Diamond Ape missing an arm; deep craters from laser cannon fire dotted the ground.

Jiang Xia’s Sharingan’s tomoe spun—he saw behind the ape a pond of spiritual energy nearly solidified, a four-rank Azure-Eyed Demon Ape, and piles of beast bones—he understood.

That spiritual pond was the domain of the four-rank Azure-Eyed Demon Ape.

This team had slain the Azure-Eyed Demon Ape, drawing all the beasts from the forest’s outskirts.

The explosion startled the five-rank Diamond Ape, forcing it into battle with them.

The five-rank Diamond Ape could reinforce parts of its body, making it a high-rank beast with immense strength and defense—but its flaw was clear: it was far too slow.

Jiang Xia was about to leave when he heard one of the Martial Stage ninjas say to the Great Martial Master: “Sixth Seat, the laser cannon’s spiritual energy is depleted—I’ll go to the branch to fetch more.”

The Great Martial Master known as Sixth Seat spoke with a hoarse voice: “Wang Yi, hurry back. This beast’s hide is too thick—without the laser cannon, we can’t pierce it.”

“The one who attacked me during the Awakening Ceremony… was called Fifth Seat. Is there a connection?”

Jiang Xia’s gaze turned icy. He hurled a Flying Thunder God kunai through the air, embedding it precisely on the tree trunk along Wang Yi’s path, then vanished with a ripple of space.

When Wang Yi stepped into the outer edge of the spiritual pond, three shurikens shot toward his face with piercing whistles, forcing him to hastily raise his blade to block.

“Who?!” As Wang Yi slashed away the projectiles, his peripheral vision caught a figure stepping slowly from behind a tree—it was Jiang Xia, the one who had intercepted him.

His eyes hardened. “A mere Awakening Stage brat dares block me? Itachi seek death!”

Before he finished speaking, Wang Yi stomped the ground, cracking it open, and lunged like a released arrow, his long blade aimed straight at Jiang Xia’s skull.

Jiang Xia didn’t advance—he retreated. His Mangekyo tomoe spun rapidly as he sidestepped the blade, countering with a thrust of the Kusanagi Sword toward Wang Yi’s chest.

“Child’s play!” Wang Yi sneered, twisting his wrist to stab Jiang Xia again. The next instant, his pupils shrank—the Jiang Xia before him dissolved into white smoke.

“Behind Itachi,” a cold voice echoed.

“Rip!” Wang Yi looked down—a silver blade had pierced his chest, blood streaming down the blade, staining its gleaming surface crimson.

“Cough… cough… how? When?!” Wang Yi spat blood, face filled with disbelief.

Jiang Xia’s voice came from behind: “Just teleportation and Shadow Clone Jutsu—Itachi were too careless.”

“Speak—are Itachi the Cult of the Evil God? What do Fifth Seat and Sixth Seat mean?”

Wang Yi gritted his teeth. “Kill me or cut me up—don’t expect me to tell Itachi anything.”

“Since Itachi won’t speak, then taste Tsukuyomi!” Jiang Xia’s left eye’s Tsukuyomi tomoe spun. “Tsukuyomi!”

A blood-red illusion instantly swallowed Wang Yi—within the crimson sky, his arms were bound to a cross, his body utterly powerless.

Before him, Jiang Xia stood expressionless, slashing his chest again and again, repeating the torment endlessly.

After hundreds of repetitions, Wang Yi’s mind shattered. “I’ll tell Itachi! I’ll tell Itachi everything! Kill me! Please!”

After enduring such agony, death itself felt like mercy.