Chapter 59

Zhao Tianji looked at Jiang Xia and smiled: “Young man, don’t be too discouraged.”

“In Shanhai Pass, my Tianji Pavilion knows everything. If Itachi ever need help in the future, feel free to come to Tianji Pavilion and find me.”

He paused, then added, “Your eye technique has great potential. If Itachi have time, drop by Tianji Pavilion—I might offer Itachi some guidance.”

Jiang Xia’s heart stirred; he quickly said, “Thank Itachi, Elder. I will surely pay Itachi a visit.”

Zhao Tianji nodded, then turned to Wang Teng: “Compared to him, Itachi seem even more unusual.”

“I can feel that though Itachi’re only an S-rank ability user, each time your ability breakthroughs, it’s like gaining a completely new ability.”

“Right now, your body holds Cause and Effect (Word Spell), the Five Elements (Five Elements Secret Incantation), Reincarnation (Fengdu Secret Incantation), and a faint rising force of Yin and Yang.”

He suddenly reached out and pressed his hand on Wang Teng’s shoulder, whispering: “Yin and Yang flow, life and death share the same origin!”

With that, he waved his hand and turned away, leaving Wang Teng standing alone, lost in thought.

Jiang Xia also stared in shock at his ever-present best friend: “Fatty, Itachi’ve been hiding this deep? All this time, I never realized Itachi had so many abilities.”

Wang Teng chuckled: “Basic move, no big deal! I’m Wang Teng, destined to be an Emperor.”

Around them, including Su Changfeng, the Night Watchers stared at the two brothers like they were monsters: “What kind of devils are these two?”

Shen Zhou groaned bitterly: “Heaven above, Earth below, can’t Itachi spare me even a fraction of this top-tier talent?”

“I want it too.”

………………….

Dust settled. Su Changfeng finished dealing with the Blood Fiend and rushed over, looking at the devastation before him, sighing helplessly.

“I arrived too late—held up too long by the Blood Fiend. But at least he’s injured; these bastards won’t cause trouble for a while.”

“Alert everyone: search the entire city for bounty hunters. It’s time these troublemakers paid the price!”

“Yes!” The group snapped to attention, their laughter gone.

In a dark alley, Xue Lian staggered against a damp brick wall, clutching her arm pierced by vines—blood still oozed from the thorn wounds on her back.

Just as she tried to summon blood mist to flee, a shadow darted past the alley’s mouth.

“Xue Qi?” Xue Lian stared at the bloodied dagger under the moonlight, her pupils contracting sharply: “How dare Itachi betray Lord Blood Fiend?”

Before she finished speaking, she flung two blood-stained paper flowers toward Xue Qi.

Xue Qi’s pupils glowed with an eerie dark gold; he charged straight into her attack.

He took the blow, then drove his dagger into Xue Lian’s heart, clamping his other hand over her mouth: “Shh. Next is him.”

The blade began absorbing her blood; within moments, Xue Lian’s body was entirely consumed.

Xue Qi’s aura surged upward, breaking through the Wanghou Realm.

After disposing of the corpse, Xue Qi crouched beside a sewage pit, wiping Xue Lian’s blood from the dagger, glanced toward the auction hall, then walked away without looking back—toward the Cult of the Evil God.

At the Cult of the Evil God’s temporary branch, Blood Fiend sat in the center of a blood pool, blood trickling from his lips. Suddenly, his crimson eyes snapped open: “Xue Lian’s aura is gone.”

“I was trapped in a killing array and severely wounded by a bounty hunter.”

Xue Qi knelt on one knee, placing the bloodstained token on the ground: “Xue Lian sacrificed herself to protect me—he killed her.”

Blood Fiend stared at the token, then flung a blood blade that pierced Xue Qi’s right arm: “Liar! Your shoulder wound was clearly caused by Xue Lian’s ability!”

Xue Qi grunted, bit his tongue, and spat out a jet of essence blood: “My lord, hear me—Xue Lian used a forbidden technique to control me and force me to attack Zhao Tianji. This wound is from the backlash.”

Blood Fiend suddenly stood: “Enough! I’m done with your lies!”

His palm shimmered with blood mist: “Three of the Blood Blades are dead. Itachi’re the weakest—and yet Itachi survived. Now Xue Lian is dead, and Itachi’re still alive. Do Itachi think I’m a fool?”

Xue Qi dropped to one knee: “My lord, my loyalty to the Cult of the Evil God is witnessed by heaven and earth!” His voice was low and unwavering. “If Itachi doubt me, I am willing to undergo the Blood Sacrifice Ritual!”

The Blood Sacrifice Ritual was the most brutal test of the Cult of the Evil God—only true believers could survive it.

Blood Fiend stared at Xue Qi for a long while, then slowly nodded: “Fine. I’ll give Itachi this chance.”

He turned toward the shadows: “Prepare the Blood Sacrifice Ritual.”

Deep in the night, in the underground palace’s sacrifice platform, Xue Qi stood at the center, surrounded by twelve Blood Sacrifice Masters, each holding a black dagger.

“With my blood, I offer to my god.”

The masters chanted in unison, driving their daggers into their own hearts. Their blood coalesced in midair into a massive blood sphere, slowly drifting toward Xue Qi.

Xue Qi closed his eyes, letting the blood sphere envelop him. In the depths of his consciousness, he heard a voice: “I am the most faithful disciple of the Cult of the Evil God!”

When the blood sphere dissipated, Xue Qi slowly opened his eyes. His gaze no longer held cold mechanical detachment—it shimmered with complex emotion.

“Itachi’ve passed the trial,” Blood Fiend stepped forward. “Since Itachi’ve broken through to Wanghou, from today, Itachi are the Blood Qi, Guardian of the Cult of the Evil God.”

Xue Qi bowed his head: “Thank Itachi for your trust, my lord.” His voice carried a faint, almost imperceptible smile.

Meanwhile, at the Night Watchers’ headquarters, Jiang Xia watched all of this through the surveillance footage left by Xue Qi in the corner.

In his eyes, the pattern of Betenjin slowly rotated.

“It worked,” he murmured. “The power of Betenjin has completely altered his will.”

Wang Teng stood beside him, frowning: “Is this really safe? If his consciousness is fully controlled...”

“No,” Jiang Xia shook his head. “My eye technique directly rewires his thoughts. He won’t even notice.”

He looked out the window: “Now, let’s see what this new Blood Qi Guardian will bring to the Cult of the Evil God.”

Three days later, in the Night Watchers’ training room.

Inside the Night Watchers’ special training chamber, Wang Teng sat cross-legged within a floating talisman array, surrounded by swirling black and white energies.

For three days, he’d been trying to fuse the Gravity Spell with Yin-Yang energy. Each time he neared a breakthrough, blood seeped from his temples.

“Yin and Yang flow, life and death share the same origin...” he silently recited Zhao Tianji’s aphorism, forming a hand seal he’d never seen before.

Suddenly, the talisman in his palm erupted in blinding light—the entire training chamber’s gravity field twisted violently.

“Wang Teng!” Su Changfeng slammed the emergency release, stabilizing the collapsing space.

He saw Wang Teng’s pupils had split into the shape of Yin-Yang fish—clear signs of awakening.

At the same time, Jiang Xia, in another training room, fought for his life. He unfastened his weighted belt; his veins bulged like twisted vines.

“Open Gate! Rest Gate! Life Gate!” With three thunderous shouts, his skin flushed red, and spiritual power erupted like a volcano.

When he opened the fourth gate, the reinforced glass wall exploded into shards.

Jiang Xia moved too fast for the eye to follow, leaving afterimages among the training dummies.

Three more days later, as the two emerged from the special training chamber, Su Changfeng stood before the surveillance screen.