Chapter 439: Death and the Target

Old Ed's wrinkled Yanjiao twitched slightly.

This is the man who rescued Venna Pweil.

This pressure, like that of a dragon.

And his clothes were tattered, covered in dust, his spiritual energy still unsteady—clearly, he had just survived a great battle.

The only person in Axe Beach capable of fighting such a master would be the eighth-rank commander of the count's private troop, holed up in the castle.

He fought an eighth-rank master, suffered only a disheveled appearance, and barely any injuries?

What kind of monster is this?

He immediately recalled the half-deer man's warning to him.

"Run the moment you encounter this man."

But he glanced at Venna Pweil, right before him, and his cold expression remained stern and rigid.

Without a word, Old Ed slowly placed his hand on the hilt of the steel sword that had accompanied him for decades.

Just as he had done decades ago, facing a lizardman army alone.

His aura rose steadily, gathering all his strength for the instant of drawing the blade.

Luo De recognized the spiritual trajectory of 【Aetheron's Flash】, and from its flow, it had reached the 【Nine Flash】 level.

He found it interesting.

His own version of this sword art had reached the 【Twelve Flash】 level—not just from his grueling practice, but mostly due to his Spirit Seed's innate talent.

For a seventh-rank to reach 【Nine Flash】 is extremely rare by ordinary standards.

"Bold. Good thing I respect the elderly."

A small black slime shot out from inside his sleeve, transforming midair into a cross-shaped longsword, which he caught effortlessly.

"【Nine Flash】."

Old Ed's eyes narrowed—he saw the opponent intended to meet him with the same sword art.

To duel him with the very technique he had mastered for over thirty years, never once losing.

Long overdue.

For the first time in years, he felt a flicker of excitement—a worthy opponent.

The air fell silent for half a second.

The next instant.

Both men's longswords vanished.

No spilled sword qi, no overwhelming force.

Silver and black blade lights crossed, each carrying razor-sharp spiritual precision, delivering nine strikes in a single instant!

Crack!

Old Ed blasted backward, slamming into the wall behind him.

Five deep wounds, bones exposed, appeared on his shoulder, abdomen, and thigh—blood gushed out!

His old companion, the steel sword, snapped cleanly in half, the cut unnervingly smooth.

He slumped down, still staring coldly at Luo De.

Luo De's expression was startled.

He looked down—six sword wounds crisscrossed his chest, converging at a single point like a blooming flower of blood.

The wounds were shallow.

Merely breaking the skin.

But they had indeed pierced 【Dragon Scale Technique】.

"Not bad."

He was a spiritual warrior of the Cut-Iron school.

A seventh-rank sect whose members forsake defense, spells, and spiritual power, instead seeking the path of blade strikes through pure inner focus.

Old Ed was clearly one of its finest.

Who would've thought.

【Dragon Scale Technique】 had never been breached even by an eighth-rank elder—yet here, a middle-stage seventh-rank old man had broken through.

No wonder Sword Bay has its share of talents.

"Little Luo De is hurt~~ saliva kills germs! Auntie will lick it for you~~"

Tally rushed over, delighted, sticking out her tongue to lick repeatedly.

"Hehehe. Master's sweat smell. Hehe, and the long-missed taste of blood—heeheehee—"

As she licked, she began cackling like a pervert.

Seeing this was ruining his aura of mastery, Luo De shoved her away.

He glanced at Old Ed, bleeding wildly.

The old man's eyes were turning gray-white, yet he still locked onto his opponent; with massive blood loss, his life was fading fast.

"Good sword art."

Luo De saw he was dying, so he didn't deliver a finishing blow.

He gave the bound Venna Pweil a sharp tap on the head, then slung her over his shoulder.

"Mmm! Ugh!"

Tally stuck out her tongue at the old man who had hurt her master.

Then, giggling, she hugged Luo De's arm with her soft chest, and both sank into the shadows.

Vanished.

The next instant.

In the silent alley.

Only Old Ed's ragged, desperate breathing remained.

Like someone manually turning down the volume, it grew fainter and fainter.

Not long after.

Tap-tap-tap-tap—

Suddenly, the rapid clatter of hooves approached.

"Ah—"

The half-deer man of 【Hero Giver】 appeared at the alley's entrance. Seeing the broken, dying Old Ed, he couldn't help sighing.

The half-deer man stepped closer, sensing the familiar, powerful spiritual residue.

"I told you—run the moment you see that monster. Why didn't you listen? Now you're dead."

No response.

Or rather, no ability to respond.

Old Ed's head hung limply, blood trickling from his mouth.

The half-deer man walked beside him, trying to kick the broken sword from his hand.

Couldn't move it—the hilt seemed fused to his palm.

"I can save you, but you must become my 【Hero Candidate】, then kill the halfling in the Deepwater Hero Alliance—Lily? I forget. She was originally my target, but someone beat me to it. Now I'll just have to kill her."

"Ah well, the path to godhood is crowded. Gotta cut down a few to make room."

"Hey, don't just let me talk—say something back."

". h, you're about to die anyway. I'll take that as a yes!"

The count's castle, a damp, moldy wine cellar basement.

"Cough!"

The half-elf Virgil burst into a violent cough, spewing a puddle of green, plague-infected blood.

It splattered the wall, hissing as yellow-green toxic mist spread.

He exhaled slowly, curling up on a stool.

Compared to his massive, corroded body, the stool looked absurdly tiny.

Snap!

Snap-snap!

Several thick sutures snapped again.

White pus oozed from the gaps, reeking of decay.

"Lord Virgil, you called?"

A man in the private troop's uniform descended the stairs, whispering respectfully and fearfully.

Lord Virgil, a monstrous figure, had half his body hidden in shadow; the dim oil lamp lit the oozing muscles, terrifying to behold.

"Hmm."

Virgil breathed out, his voice thick and muffled, utterly unlike before.

"Tell the White Dragon Tomb side to break in at all costs, quickly."

"Lord Virgil, but the nagas are demanding full payment before they act."

"Pay them. Payment doesn't matter—right now, the White Dragon Tomb is the priority."

The man hesitated: "My lord, what is the White Dragon Tomb's purpose? Is this our Scatrine's goal—or yours alone?"

(End of Chapter)