[{"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-23":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},2269669,4431,"Chapter 23: Continue Killing","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-23",23,"\u003Cp>“Who else?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the boar-man with dual blades finally stopped, his entire body was drenched in blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the ground lay the corpse of a true transcendent, eyes still wide open in death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mastermind behind this casino looked like a pig’s head that had been butchered and hacked apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dimon gasped heavily, clearly at his limit, yet his gaze still blazed with ferocity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His outnumbered thugs remained silent as graves, driven back by his aura, daring not to meet his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his condition was far worse than it appeared—he felt his hands were no longer his own, as if something had sprouted inside them, rendering them utterly motionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I told you to hold back—why use your trump card right at the start?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I couldn’t help it—I didn’t expect to run into a transcendent this strong mixed in with a gang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sudden voice shattered the silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En’s arrival meant the “collusion” between both sides was now laid bare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After glancing at Dimon’s slightly deformed arms, Li En exhaled in relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Knight’s Oath’s resistance was far stronger than expected—even after Dimon used this “killer move,” he could still hold out for a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t move.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En unsealed a scroll and activated its power with holy energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Remove minor curse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint white glow flickered, and in the next instant, Dimon’s golden gloves fell away, his condition visibly improving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was thanks to Su Er’s earlier warning, which prompted Li En to request several “Remove Minor Curse” scrolls when preparing the Cursed Mighty Gloves, to remove cursed items and alleviate their effects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Low-tier magic scrolls and divine scrolls, as premium consumables, weren’t expensive—but still priced in gold coins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this scroll, with such potent effects, was likely the work of a high-tier priest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>High-tier priests were usually big shots in some church; getting them to copy scrolls for you required more than just money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All one could say was that the patron, Long Shou, truly had wealth, resources, and status—Li En had already begun forming theories about him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take these.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were four total; Li En tossed two over without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had confirmed that his own use of holy energy could resist the curse of the cannibal gloves, and kept one as backup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you use the gloves again and I’m not around, find a priest or paladin to use the scroll.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A scroll is essentially a sealed “spell model,” still requiring a certain level of corresponding spellcasting ability to activate—divine scrolls can only be used by paladins and priests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dimon accepted the scrolls, nodded, and turned toward the next target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the strong back stride away, leaving bloody footprints, Li En smiled and shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Already begun the Oath path, huh…” Though Li En couldn’t observe his profession with Dragon Eyes, he could sense that the power of the “Oath Knight” had already taken root within him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was highly unusual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, paladins were advanced from knight squires or warriors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Classical Oath Knights were typically chosen only by elite, extreme factions among paladins or martial monks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The normal progression was “Warrior (Knight Squire) → Paladin → Oath Paladin,” but Dimon had leapt directly into the first-tier Oath Knight class—its advancement wasn’t necessarily stronger than the base class, but it often provided unique advantages, filling the gaps most critical to the profession.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oath Knights possessed willpower like steel, naturally possessing extreme resistance to curses and magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly, an Oath Knight’s power stemmed from “oaths”—its source ultimately being one’s own soul, one’s own life, one’s own past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this stage, a paladin could already break free from divine constraints and generate holy energy on his own!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each oath granted unique power boosts; the more ascetic and devout, the stronger they became.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Devout oath-keepers did not reject deities, yet they didn’t need to overly revere or worship them—they knew why they fought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was also why, during the Rebellion of the God of Law, those classical Oath Knights still retained their power—their strength came from within, not from deities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My turn. Let’s see who’s next on the list… Oh, a casino owner running loan sharking? And they even ‘pawn’ people—wives and daughters of gamblers? They truly deserve to die.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once war begins, it won’t stop easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time was running out—Li En continued his long-prepared “Extermination of Demons and Evils.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Synchronization Rate: 45.6%, Satisfaction: 30.6%】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Er’s attitude was direct—he had long anticipated this day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first day’s surprise attack, when the enemy is unprepared, is often the most profitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boom!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No need to use the back entrance—the casino’s walls were simply torn apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The smiling paladin stepped inside and instantly judged a zone of sin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fuck. You really did a great job. A damn great job.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scene before him—the casino’s opulent interior, designed to resemble a luxury hotel—made Li En curse outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time, he saw a room where every gambler, thug, and casino staff member was utterly blackened with crimson sin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is far more evil than human trafficking—how many families, how many lives have you destroyed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No words—silver blade-light slashed through the air once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Against the great sword of purification and justice, ordinary criminals offered no resistance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Throughout this process, Li En deliberately used Erosion Strike, forcibly piercing through armor and gear to hone his combat skills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clang!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this time, it was blocked by a gleaming silver spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Knew you’d come! Mercenaries, take him down! Double the bounty!” The rescued casino boss still had the nerve to shout.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the silent mercenary squad encircle him—the clear trio of hunters—Li En still smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Show some respect—we’re all professionals.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Three against one—you’ve got no chance. Walk away. We don’t want to die fighting you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re just hired hands. We don’t care who you’re backed by—church or god—we don’t want to make enemies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three mercenary professionals: one support, two heavy-armored warriors. The veteran frontman held the spear, the younger one held the shield—clearly skilled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint red glow clung to them—guilty, but not death-worthy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But aiding evil-doers and obstructing justice? That was enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Purify.” Li En’s response was as direct as ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thrust!” The veteran mercenary roared, swinging his spear in a blood-tinged slash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cunning mercenary shouted \"thrust,\" but the strike was clearly a follow-through cut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trying to force me back, control distance, and trap me in a surround?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dragon Eyes analyzed it in an instant—meanwhile, the paladin’s blade didn’t retreat to block; instead, its silver radiance surged, faster, fiercer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cut.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silver light clung to the blade—pure holy light transformed into judgmental force, the sword’s power multiplying manyfold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spear tip right before him? Ignored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clang!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, the spearman pulled back his thrust, striking the blade sideways to deflect it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re insane!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spearman shuddered with dread—he’d done this for over ten years, never seen anything like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he hadn’t pulled back, his spear would’ve struck—and so would the sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your head will shatter first.” The paladin still smiled warmly, but at this moment, the mercenary felt inexplicable terror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How many battlefields had he seen? Their experience with life and death was on entirely different levels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this moment of hesitation brought a new wave of blade-light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This young paladin had zero honor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clang!” This time, his companion blocked it in time with his shield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the grimace of pain and the bleeding palms revealed this couldn’t last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Purify.” The young knight used the same move again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade was deflected once more by the spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the veteran mercenary, Li En had no advantage in strength or agility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the next second, silver light flashed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hold on! This kid’s a paladin—he can’t use Purify Slash more than a few times. Without holy energy, he’s just a garbage warrior.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the silver light showed no sign of stopping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clang!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First to break was the veteran mercenary’s palm, gripping the spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the blade-light faded, a kick followed—the veteran was kicked aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His defense collapsed—the support behind him, seemingly casting, was exposed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Purify.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flash of light—and the low-tier caster’s severed head floated in the air, eyes still wide in death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, the trio’s encirclement tactic was utterly shattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wolves couldn’t hold back the great tiger—a single charge tore through their line and killed the “alpha.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, Li En’s blade-light turned toward the veteran mercenary, still catching his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps, even as their severed heads hit the ground, they still could not comprehend the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why does this Holy Knight’s holy power seem endless? The Holy Slash, which should consume considerable energy, has become nothing more than a basic attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, amidst a pile of corpses and the blazing remains of gambling ledgers, Li En departed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Synchronization Rate: 46.6%, Satisfaction: 30.8%】 Brother Su’er, still expressing satisfaction with a synchronization rate nearing half.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this late stage of the version, the Oath Knight Li En is indeed terrifyingly strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Biological Rank: Inferior Stone, Status: Strength 2(13), Physique 3(10), Agility 3(6), Spirit 5(16)】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the newly acquired equipment, his original deficiencies in base stats have been compensated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That pitiful Strength 2, which could be broken by a child’s punch, now reached 13 under equipment buffs—matching the standard of an ordinary power-type Silver species.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The high spirit granted by the Spirit Embodiment, amplified by Holy Arts, transformed into enhanced physique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even agility, the most useless base stat for a knight, was forcibly lifted by his physical body. He now possessed the complete baseline hardware of a normal High-Rank Holy Knight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even more absurdly, within a single breath, the depleted holy power overflowed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too bad he currently lacks healing ability; otherwise, he could show them what a true “super-strong” looks like—growing stronger the more he fights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Species Rank: Inferior Stone, Temporary Class Levels: Second-Rank Classical Oath Knight, First-Rank Holy Knight, First-Rank Warrior (these temporary classes will vanish in 7 days and 2 hours)】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Possesses Temporary Class Abilities: Holy Slash (First-Ring), Sin Domain Judgment (First-Ring)】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging solely by the panel, Li En’s highest rank is only second-tier—not particularly strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But normally, such a class combination is impossible; a First-Rank Holy Knight has no reason to leap directly into Oath Knight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet now, this strangeness continuously fuels him with power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sacred power flooded into the blade, and the radiance of Holy Slash once again illuminated the dark passage ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was now Li En’s only way to vent his overflowing holy power—he had so much he used it for lighting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What normal Holy Knight would be so wasteful? Turning Holy Slash into a basic attack, using Sin Domain Judgment as a flashlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En’s absurdity stems not only from his terrifyingly high spirit, but also from the Oath of the Classical Oath Knight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each oath, when fulfilled, grants the oath-bearer a buff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is clearly a class that grows stronger with age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The oath to save the weak grows stronger with each successful rescue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vow to uphold poverty deepens gradually through the daily routine of plain water and black bread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this accumulation ultimately becomes the bearer’s inner power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The inner power rooted in mind and will is the true source of an Oath-Knight’s strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Resistance increases merely because of inner strength; if one were a Covenant Holy Knight, this inner power transforms into vast holy power; for a vow-bound ascetic monk, it becomes “Qi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, except for a rare few devout souls, efficiency-seeking transcenders rarely choose such arduous vows—they’re too slow, too taxing, too costly. If I crave holy power, why not simply pledge to a deity?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In most cases, for high-rank transcenders eligible for oaths, the early progression is so negligible they feel nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But the seed of holy power has already sprouted within Di Meng.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recalling their previous meeting, Li En smiled faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw it clearly: Di Meng no longer cared about the Spirit’s legacy. Having chosen to merge with darkness, he had already resolved to abandon becoming a Spirit heir.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet reality was this: he had already walked the true path of the Free Holy Knight—the path of self-discipline unbound by deities, the only true path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Free Holy Knight unbound by deities can accumulate holy power only through oaths and ascetic practice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This advancement was clearly abnormal; Li En suspected it had something to do with the Spirit Codex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Too bad—this state won’t last many more days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En’s situation was the same: his Oath Knight rank was borrowed—it was actually Su’er’s oath. Su’er, nearing the end of his life, was so powerful because of the countless “saves” he had fulfilled over his lifetime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His holy power did not rely on any deity—it was like a subterranean furnace, endless and boundless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, Spirit Embodiment Li En was merely borrowing a fraction of it, yet still had holy power overflowing endlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Infinite energy, paired with this physical body capable of fine-tuning by the Spirit (software), formed a complete combat system—its strength naturally surged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who’s next? A killer organization? There’s one in the docks? Oh, a gang calling itself a ‘killer organization’—really just loan sharks and debt collectors who also do kidnapping? They deserve to die.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mad Knight has truly gone mad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En’s “Justice Judgment” quickly became the headline of the docks district.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The accumulated “resentments” from his patrol days were now being settled one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But few now noticed that behind his rampage, the “Shattered Bone Gang” had successfully risen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dock gangs were originally third-rate thugs; after losing their bosses, their scattered members naturally fell under the control of one man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially after Li En subtly endorsed them, progress accelerated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, there was a cost: these gang operations now regularly donated food for charity—mainly helping orphans, the elderly, and women who could no longer survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Di Meng claimed Li En forced him to do it; Li En made no denial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The takeover was too smooth. Even if these factions had hidden backers, once they confirmed the “tribute” still flowed and the new boss wouldn’t go rogue, they stopped caring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In the end, everything in the docks is trash. Those above won’t care.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Di Meng put it plainly: you take your opponents seriously, study their strengths and weaknesses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But do you care what the mosquitoes beneath your feet think? As long as the stench doesn’t rise above the lid, you pretend they don’t exist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But are they truly unimportant?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On one hand, the wanted notice for the Tail-Hunting case has finally been issued. Meanwhile…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My people can now reach the slave market.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These peripheral trash are, in fact, the outer fringe of a colossal entity. You can’t expect nobles or the Church’s mid- to high-rank transcenders to personally patrol the docks, gather intelligence, or buy “goods.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Most complete slaves (deprived of all rights) are debt slaves—there haven’t been many war slaves in recent years due to lack of regional wars. Over 80% of debt slaves are from gambling debts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These are clearly under gang control. Just like the trouble Larry faced, one of the gang’s main tasks is to continuously supply and distribute goods for the slave market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, a person falling so low as to sell all human rights is extremely rare. But gamblers losing their wives and children in one reckless bet? That happens all the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Local gangs naturally became their arms, continuously supplying “merchandise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The slave market, seemingly glorious as a palace, has been manufacturing tragedy and suffering in the docks all along.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Di Meng spoke, his tone was calm. This had been his reality since childhood, unchanged for years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Years ago, when the kingdom was still strong, it wasn’t like this.” But he learned this from his mother—not that it had always been this way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The era of the former Hero Rex?” At that moment, Li En recalled the person Long Shou had asked about—the hero who nearly turned the kingdom into a world power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heroes are too distant. Mother only told me that back then, the kingdom was still strong, the docks weren’t this chaotic, the police weren’t this corrupt. Just getting a job at the docks could feed a whole family. The slave market only emerged because the kingdom weakened—now these people run wild here. It has become a festering tumor of the city.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What seemed like idle chatter had gradually exchanged critical intelligence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the past two days, Di Meng’s focus had been on “gambling and vice” industries—partly because they were the root of the docks’ chaos, and partly because…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Casinos and loan sharks continuously supply the slave market with goods; brothels and pleasure quarters are its premium consumer base. These small gangs and organizations are all peripheral to the slave market.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Darkness wasn’t formed in a day—it’s layer upon layer of nested interests and entanglements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To be precise, we trash are merely the outermost fringe. The major gangs that communicate directly with it are beyond our reach.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But gradually controlling these peripheral gangs meant gradually gaining control of the slave market’s information network.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if they themselves ignored the ants beneath their feet, the constant exchange of intelligence and goods still revealed much of what Li En wanted to know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least now he knew which departments the slave market had, who led each, and what goods they craved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had begun forming his own plans for the next moves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can you control them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not in the short term. It’ll take time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sludge of darkness accumulated over countless years; uprooting it must be done slowly, bit by bit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It may take a lifetime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m beginning to understand the Spirit’s legacy approach.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To change this world, perhaps one must do something—yet one person’s power is limited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the most dominant dragon can only use its breath to destroy; to build, to shape, it must still rely on ordinary humans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Perhaps… he is guiding, longing for something.” Those seeds scattered through history may have already changed things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En shook his head. Too little information existed to make distant guesses. But some things were becoming clearer now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【No.1 Shattered Bone, Biological Rank: Raw Stone, Status: Strength 8, Physique 8, Agility 4, Compatibility 30%, Satisfaction 48%】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compatibility rarely changes, as class rank and physical conditions don’t shift easily. But the Oath Knight’s class still has three oaths—these fundamentally altered him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The increase in strength and physique came from the cursed giant gauntlet’s effects—even after the curse was purged, some changes remained. Indeed, some Holy Knights use this method to cheat base stats, but the risk is high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As compatibility surged, satisfaction skyrocketed. Su’er greatly admired his “justice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Trying to change the future of these children, to free them from being born into degradation—this justice explains why Brother Su’er admires it.” In truth, Li En admired it too; otherwise, he wouldn’t be so accommodating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, without Spirit interference, an Oath-Knight would never advance so easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The time left for other candidates is running out. Now, the main course is served. Let’s stir them up—hope they act decisively in this event.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uh, 5800+, still asking for votes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",3172,"2026-06-19T21:45:41.002Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","d7109152c203f27c0cef2514123639a5415c5785cddcbb600938020e448d7148","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-24","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-22",362,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-cover.jpg"]