[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces":3,"chapter-the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-21":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Dragon of a Thousand Faces",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2269667,4431,"Chapter 21: The Real Exam","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-21",21,"\u003Cp>“We can’t wait any longer or hesitate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another victim lay before him, and Li En was far from calm on the inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he knew venting his anger uselessly was meaningless—the shadowy killer was waiting for his helpless rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew that in this scheme, he needed to accumulate more leverage, strengthen his pieces, to raise his odds of victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he didn’t want to wait anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s begin.” Li En canceled all the days of preparation he had originally planned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t want to see any more children’s eyes left wide open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll cut to the chase: normal patrols and searches stand virtually no chance of success. In this cesspool of crime, that killer isn’t even the most evil one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A grim judgment, but one confirmed as reality from the start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finding a needle in a haystack was impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Patrols relying on luck? The killer clearly knew your routes—there was no luck to be had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bait and hook? That was once the most likely method, but it took too long, and relying on the killer’s impulsiveness and stupidity grew increasingly futile the closer Li En studied the cunning, brazen murderer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the small hotel room, the lead and deputy heads of the special task force made decisions—Li En spoke his plan aloud for the first time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To realize his plan, Li En did not refuse Lari’s involvement—he needed to use her strength, both in combat and in status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why are you still patrolling these days?” Lari asked, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First, we need to investigate the surroundings and confirm her methods. Second, our presence reminds those children to beware strangers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was some logic to this, but it wasn’t the whole truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The real reason: his plan required an alibi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Making his movements visible was a standard tactic to lull the opponent into complacency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“True, a needle in a haystack isn’t realistic—but I thought your patrols were mostly about training them.” Talia nodded; she always found reasons to support Li En.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s one part.” Li En tilted his head. These two sidekicks were useless beyond running errands—too green.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back to the matter at hand: having made his decision, Li En finally revealed his plan—the one that would violate at least several local criminal statutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is a crime! You—you’re acting unjustly, illegally!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first to snap was the observer, Lari.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn’t believe that the knight she’d once admired as a paragon now proposed a scheme combining murder, robbery, and assault—all grave crimes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s insane… but it might actually work.” Talia, however, seriously considered the possibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is the only option left. Conventional methods can’t eliminate that nuisance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The facts had proven: the villain was exceptionally skilled at hiding and extraordinarily cunning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In my view, all problems stem from insufficient firepower and manpower. If we had several fully staffed knight squads patrolling the docks, this district’s security wouldn’t be an issue. After months, crime rates here might even drop below those in the noble quarters. But we don’t have that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Or if we had hundreds of mage familiars monitoring every alley, we could catch him the moment he struck. But the reality? We have single-digit personnel. Even with round-the-clock patrols, blind spots remain virtually infinite.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the start, Li En never believed conventional methods would work—there simply wasn’t enough manpower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reality sometimes boils down to sheer scale. Just as he didn’t believe personal effort alone could improve the docks’ condition—it was a mire built over countless years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To truly cleanse it, you’d need systemic bloodshed from top to bottom, and sustained armed intervention—only then might you reverse it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To carry out this plan, we may need help from the nobility. Lari, can you help us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The female knight froze, unable to answer—this clearly violated her sense of justice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En didn’t expect an immediate reply. His gaze turned to Talia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We also need help from local power brokers—trustworthy ones. As an outsider, I can’t suggest anyone. It’s up to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Talia and Lari both thought of one person—the one with the seemingly simple face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En nodded. He had no intention of asking for details; as long as the result was good, he wouldn’t care how it was done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Next, we need trustworthy, powerful fighters. Too bad—if only we could get some Gauntlet of Might…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking such a reckless plan aloud so directly suggested Li En trusted these two? Actually, he trusted something else entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The plan needed executors—and more participants. By night, in the Hall…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Directly attack the slave market? He’s insane!! Does he know it’s owned by multiple churches and great noble houses?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Night had deepened; the scheme had only just begun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the opened Dream Realm, the ancient spirits above listened calmly to stories, while below, chaos erupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the candidates, the former Oath Knight’s actions couldn’t be called extreme—they were outright madness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To hunt one killer, he directly provokes hundreds. Lord Li En is truly a man of pure, noble integrity—he doesn’t even care if he dies.” Lari still hadn’t decided whether to join, but that didn’t stop her from praising him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But those words made the listening Li En nearly crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait—I’m your brother’s killer. Even if you barely cared for him, you can’t change your attitude this fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure, being praised felt good, but this tone felt… off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm-hmm, you think so too? You’ve got good taste—even as a disabled but determined Holy Knight…” This one was too much of a fangirl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Attack the slave market and frame the Tail-Hunter, stir up the chaos, force the slave market’s backers to dig out that rat in the gutter. It’s insane… but it might actually work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bonecrusher Dimon pondered it. Honestly, it might just work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a bottom-tier denizen of the docks, he understood that arrogant slave market well. They didn’t need evidence—just the mere act of defiance was enough to make them kill you as an example.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For them, dignity and authority were tools of business. Even without provocation, they’d sacrifice a few troublemakers to the gods. How much more so now, with a madman directly threatening their profits?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to them, the Tail-Hunter’s victims were a mere drop in the bucket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can sense personal grudges here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Me too. He’s hated that slave market for a long time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For him, this is a two-for-one opportunity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the candidates reached a unanimous judgment, it likely carried some of the man’s own bias—but purely in terms of feasibility, this was the most likely to succeed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The docks were vast and chaotic; finding a lone wolf criminal, especially one with stealth abilities, was nearly impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He said, there are almost no cases truly unsolvable—only insufficient investigative resources. Bring a few full-strength Oath Knight squads, and not just the docks, even the entire Huicheng’s security could be cleaned up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The new fangirl directly quoted his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When necessary, use extreme measures. In turbulent times, apply harsh laws.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the current strength of the task force and candidates, they couldn’t even clear the docks—let alone find the shadowy killer, even if they patrolled day and night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the docks, in all of Huicheng—who had such power?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Though I hate to admit it, only the great nobles and churches behind the slave market possess that kind of strength.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they could inflict massive losses on the slave market and pin the blame squarely on the Tail-Hunter, they might actually uncover the killer within days—they could hire top-tier hunters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He said, when justice is insufficient, let evil fight evil.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One solution had emerged—but it needed executors and a structured plan. Right now, Li En could only present the scheme; whether it succeeded depended on how much effort these people were willing to give.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How to gather intelligence, how to provoke the slave market into fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can do something. My gang has ties to them. In fact, most dockside gangs have some business dealings with them.” Dimon spoke directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How to channel that fury, how to drive them into a frenzy and send them charging straight at the Tail-Hunter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll try—but don’t expect much. My condition isn’t good.” Long Shou sighed, helpless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps some pressure and public guidance from the noble circles were needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll speak with my father. That serial killer caused my brother’s downfall and shamed the honor of Labol.” Lari, it seemed, had finally understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether to break the law could wait—but when family honor was involved, her father wouldn’t refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh, and they needed combat strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve already obtained the Gauntlet of Might and items imbued with Holy Power. I’ll arrange a trade with you.” Long Shou spoke plainly—she saw his urgency, and knew it was tied directly to this case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you.” At that moment, even Talia was stunned—others were too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long Shou’s influence was too great. Such rare items, found so quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These days, leeks are truly self-motivated—they even arrange their own destinies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing others praise or mock him to his face, Li En felt something strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But seeing the group sink back into idle chatter, he cleared his throat softly, drawing everyone’s attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sounds interesting. But let’s get back to business. Some of you have already verified my authenticity, haven’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His calm words carried the ancient spirit’s power to instantly command the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rubbed the back of his head, slightly exasperated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I probably don’t have many days left. In such a short time, I can’t teach you much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reality isn’t a novel or legend. What could be taught in just a few days? Li En himself wasn’t sure whether he could still open the “Hall of Spirits” after the Spirit Card expired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So prove yourselves. Prove that one among you is worthy to inherit my power.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his right hand, he summoned a halo of light—a memory, or rather, a dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Strive to survive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a snap of his fingers, the others in the Dream Hall plunged into deeper dreams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a memory of Su Xing’s past—one from his long war history. This time, he deliberately chose a battlefield against a follower of the Life God of Evil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The village was corrupted; the villagers mutated. Countless cultists and their armies were already on the march.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the desperate—raise the blade or stubbornly save them? If delayed too long, the enemy’s horde would catch up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How will you perform in this desperate situation? Li En didn’t really care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, this was merely a secondary reference. What he truly cared about lay elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t even bother closely watching their performance in the dream—only waited patiently for the outcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the dream, they would receive a virtual Spirit inheritance. Li En wondered how far they could push Su Xing’s power. But this, too, was merely a trap he had laid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is, in fact, a Chuancheng  template from the Spirit Ledger, a proven and effective trial of inheritance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Elder Su Er  had taken it seriously, Li En would have been the one to undergo the trial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“See if they can understand where the real test lies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He continued savoring his grilled meat feast; for some reason, he grew even fonder of these starlit barbecues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps this was also what Su Er  most enjoyed in his leisure time back then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His wait was not long; even though time had been compressed, they did not linger long in the dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first to exit was Larry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He died because he believed the heretics’ lies and was reported by villagers—died a miserable death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second to die was Long Zhao, for attempting to flee with the villagers and being crushed by the army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third to die was Talia; she was dug out during the purge and had resisted as much as she could.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one who survived longest was the weakest—Dimon. He even infiltrated the heretics and passed along intelligence, disrupting their deployment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li En had expected, these short-term dream trials, repeated once or twice, revealed little. How long they survived had little to do with their abilities and everything to do with their experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under these circumstances, possessing supernatural power made one an easy target for exposure. Dimon survived to the end precisely because he realized it was a dream and unhesitatingly embraced “evil,” tasting the power of the dark deity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unsurprisingly, those who died first, upon seeing the actions of those who died later, clashed again with Dimon upon exiting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One accused the other of betraying to evil; the other called him a worthless fool who died fastest. Both spoke truths, each shattered, hurling harsh words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How did it feel to die?” Li En himself didn’t care; since he knew it was a dream, his choices were his own—using available resources to survive was an advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the little Su Er  inheritance they held—a first- or second-rank Holy Knight—against such a catastrophic level of hardship, it was useless. Once exposed, they died faster, like Larry, who died quickest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one with the highest warrior stats—combat power either first or second—died fastest and most meaninglessly. Her Holy Knight abilities, combined with the scaled-down Spirit inheritance, gave her decent combat strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with this power, they could not change the situation. After briefly experiencing its intensity, they had no meaningful insights on its use.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Terrible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Unbearable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I—I… failed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The victor,” Dimon, remained silent. He did not know how the Spirits would judge his choice—he had indeed crossed the line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En offered no judgment; he truly did not care about this outcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reality and dreams are two different things. He cared more about the future results of such trials—only the choices made by their current identities, abilities, and states.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Spirit inheritance—even Li En’s scaled-down version—could completely alter everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So what did he value most? For now, as the examiner, he could not reveal it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you have no further questions, we’ll end tonight early—you’re busy, aren’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li En was about to declare the end, Long Zhao asked his question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.I heard your sword can tear through magic.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But just now, in the dream…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That requires long cultivation—it’s a kind of advanced ability.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Secret Sword: False Speech Deconstruction was Su Er ’s unique “Sword of Cutting,” targeting the essence of elements, effective against spellcasters and supernatural magical beings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then, is your sword effective against Dragon Tongue Magic?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En fell silent. You’ve got a grudge against dragons, don’t you, dragon-blooded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But, surprisingly, it was effective.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dragons in this world were among the oldest species, called Children of the Elements, born with innate mastery over magic and elements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. My sword has specific applications against elements and dragons.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li En recalled, the background wall of the Spirit Hall displayed combat memories from the “Beast Slaying” and “Spell Breaking” systems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please, teach me—I’ll pay any price.” Looking at the decapitated dragon in the background, the young girl’s dragon eyes gleamed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long Zhao earnestly made her request, but received no response from Li En.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Su Er ’s perspective, such obsessive, even Zu -wide blind hatred, deserved serious demerits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Satisfaction: -15%】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t even think about it—you’re already beyond saving, eliminated early.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Glancing around and seeing no one else had questions, Li En yawned, and the dream began to shatter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this did not mean the candidates’ work was over—in truth, their focus had always been outside the dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning, as dawn just broke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a café in the Nanmen District, the coffee cup had been empty for a long time; a noblewoman waited for the guest she had long anticipated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re Long Zhao? The difference from expectations is considerable. Should I say it’s been a while?” The leopard-woman ultimately chose to meet face-to-face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Maybe.” Lady S Daer  of Huicheng Pearl, Sallyman S Daer , also felt awkward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She never imagined the person she’d arranged to meet would be the female officer she’d once briefly encountered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had witnessed her greatest humiliation—the broken engagement scandal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is as agreed.” The supernatural supplies in the box beneath the table were the very reason for their meeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Correct—substituting for Long Zhao was Li En’s fiancée, Lady S Daer , whose expression was now deeply awkward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were never the same kind of people, burdened by past humiliation—conversation was impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet duty-bound, Sallyman S Daer  forced herself to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, her hand gripped the necklace around her neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shadow Cai … Madam, it seems you possess some exclusive intelligence and are trying to conceal it from me?” A universal phrase, paired with certain abilities, always yielded results.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Asking someone what they’re hiding from you often makes them immediately recall the key point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, Talia’s expression changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over an hour later, in a large house on the city’s outskirts, Lady S Daer  hurried into the room to meet the true “Long Zhao.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Highness, the real test ground is in reality! The Spirit Lord likely has a live examiner in the real world—he is the final selector.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trial has never been in the dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The “Tail-Cutting Case” was the trial Li En gave the candidates—and also the one Su Er  gave Li En.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing the stunned princess, her political patron, this fallen royal heir, the runaway princess,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>she gritted her teeth and continued, revealing something even more humiliating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.That examiner… is my fiancé.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp> Still a 5600-word sincerity chapter. New week, still asking for monthly votes and follows—new book needs support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2899,"2026-06-19T21:45:41.002Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","3d7572605bede901fa4bdacbd1033e8e18e6afb658cf99fb23bf2be5e6e239bb","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-22","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-20",362,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-cover.jpg"]