[{"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-34":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},2269680,4431,"Chapter 34: Break the Gate","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-34",34,"\u003Cp>I never expected to have the chance to come knocking so soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing again that opulent complex, grand as a palace, standing before the glittering golden gate, Li En had thought he’d be thrilled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet his heart was calm—so calm it surprised even himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who’d have thought, here, I’d be this composed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Less than a week ago, he’d gritted his teeth and walked past this place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, watching the three-meter-tall golden gate shut while slaves entered and exited through the side doors, how could he possibly stay calm?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bullshit!” How could he just stand there?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boom!” Li En kicked out hard, the metal gate roaring under the impact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All nearby eyes turned toward him, stunned by such audacity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m not just kicking the gate—I’m tearing it down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing before the grand gate meant only for nobles, Li En raised the Sword of Courage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wall Breaker.” The power of his soul gathered upon it—his dwindling strength must be used to its fullest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He leapt, swung down, then slashed upward at an angle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath flawless foundational skill, a perfect V-shaped cut opened—Li En unleashed his most satisfying strike yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this was a diamond gate, not tofu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clang-dong!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet before the eyes of every slave and customer, disbelief etched on their faces, the diamond-made gate—the main gate built solely for honored guests—collapsed outright!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, in the slave market’s main hall, people stared in utter shock at the shattered frame, the chunks of iron falling one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That wasn’t just a gate! It was the market’s facade, its face, its authority, its dignity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Son of a bitch, you stole my goods!” A roar came from beyond the gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword-wielding knight strode in calmly through the demolished entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh god, how dare he?! More than one person thought it simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this guy truly suicidal—or is he one of the legendary demigods?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the transcendent beings in the hall stared hard—he was strong, but not overwhelmingly so; roughly a first- or second-rank level, easily matched by hundreds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You dishonorable bastards, give me back my pension! Give me back my Hero’s Blood! You run a business—you dare steal my goods?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hero’s Blood? Fine, now things were serious—everyone knew about Hero’s Blood by now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what do you mean, accusing the slave market of stealing your goods?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If his earlier gate-kicking had been merely the act of a lone madman, nothing more than a duel to the death,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now the situation was far worse—the knight was directly challenging the slave market’s authority and integrity, the very foundation of its trade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was laughable: the slave market was capable of every evil, yet its reputation for trustworthiness remained impeccable—pay, and you got your goods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, too many powerful factions were involved; you never knew who you’d offend by acting recklessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How could Hero’s Blood be involved…? Is this knight a degenerate?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone spotted Li En’s unhidden round ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t you know Saint Knight Li En? He’s at least a Grand Knight, and the rarest kind—Classical Oath Knight, Law-affiliated.” Li En’s name had spread these past two days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Classical Oath Knights are rare enough, but Law Knights are nearly extinct—could he be a hero stepped out of an ancient epic?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now the market’s got a real mess—stealing from a Grand Knight under thirty, an Oath Knight? Who knows who’s behind him—could he really be a myth?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, in many eyes, Li En himself wasn’t the real problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The problem was whoever trained such a young Grand Oath Knight (fifth-rank or higher), and the organization behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Someone assessed his mentor—likely Demigod-tier, possibly higher. And that’s not even the worst part.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I get it, I get it—Saint Knights aren’t wild animals. One provokes, you get a whole nest. Behind them, always the Church and true gods. Ugh, they always scream ‘for justice, for fairness’ and charge in like a mob—no honor! And they dare call it fairness!” The speaker clearly had serious issues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s the real power behind Saint Knights’ “justice”—they are violence incarnate, enforcing law through knightly orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En’s existence, especially his reckless actions, made his backers more alarming—but now,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But what does it matter who his backers are? The slave market has countless ways to make him die mysteriously—even frame someone else.” The nature had changed. Before, no personal grudge. Now, you’ve broken down the gate—why bother thinking ahead?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Your knightly order may be powerful, but it’s not here. Can you even live until reinforcements arrive?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the crowd’s eyes, Li En stood there like a man deliberately seeking death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No smile, no rage, no sorrow, no joy—he stood cold, as if waiting for something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the alarm rang. Two enforcers rushed forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crimson glow of Judgment flashed, then a silver gleam—and two heads flew into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t afraid at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only did he smash your gate—he killed your men. Dogs!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And every minute he stands here, the slave market’s prestige and authority suffer a severe blow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? You stole my goods and now you want to kill me to cover it up?!” His first words were meant to choke them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That mouth didn’t match the image of a humble Saint Knight—it was vicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if hatred weren’t enough, after killing in public, he casually flicked his blade, letting blood drip onto the luxurious, expensive magic goat-skin rug.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Blood droplets like that—color, sheen… that’s Azero steel. Legend says the true Hero’s Sword was forged from this rare, mythical metal.” Someone recognized the treasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood there, needing no more shouting—just blocking the gate and killing outright was an infinite blow to the slave market’s authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It confirmed his dominance, his utter fearlessness—he’d come here to cause trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The slave market won’t let him get away with this.” Someone spoke loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah. You think if I hadn’t come here, they’d have let me live?” Li En heard—but all he could do was sneer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d searched Eugen’s travel journal and found one entry: a note about himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the docks, the slave market was a greedy wolf guarding its territory—how could unguarded “wealth” escape its claws?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To their greed, every weakling within their “domain” was merely livestock—prey to be harvested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En, marked “unclaimed wealth,” stood there, surrounded by countless eyes, smiling pleasantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t wipe them all out yet—but if he had a chance to strike hard, draw blood, why hesitate?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two more guards rushed over—this time, heavily armed, seasoned professionals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing the provocateur, they wasted no words, executing a practiced tactical combo: one raised a shield, the other cast from behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standard mage-and-tank combo—practical, effective.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only problem: good tanks burn out fast, and mages were too rare and expensive to train.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing this direct assault, Li En smiled happily—he loved unreasonable opponents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Judgment of Sin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even now, he insisted on moral superiority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, the front-line warrior glowed crimson; the caster behind him glowed slightly red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exorcism.” The holy power spilling from his body was compressed back into the blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it was Armor Piercing or Spell Disruption, both were merely derivatives of Exorcism Slash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His familiar two-handed grip, the swift, fluid motion—seemed unchanged from before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li En, after the slaughter two days ago, was no longer the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having truly understood “Rage Blade,” from that moment, he had truly mastered the powerful soul-ability: “Wall Breaker.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he raised the greatsword, silver light blazed—but the instant before the swing, the radiance vanished, the blade moved soundlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whoosh!” Li En leapt high, the Ogre Gauntlets’ brute strength launching him upward, then he slammed down with all his weight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that it?” To seasoned veterans, this was just a clumsy, overextended vertical leap—reckless, even foolish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Full-force aerial attacks were high-risk, high-reward—if blocked, you became a helpless, suspended target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Too green.” The veteran shield-bearer smiled. Saint Knights’ techniques were crude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This blunt, straightforward charge meant nothing against a veteran shield guard like him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His steel shield, enchanted twice, would easily stop it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Die!” The shield guard charged forward, eyes blazing with confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d already planned: hold for a few seconds, and his partner would turn the knight to ash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shhh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Metal met metal—but the sound was like a long knife slicing through tofu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shield guard, still glowing crimson from Judgment, still sneered—he imagined himself tearing the knight apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But a thin red line appeared, silently, down the center of the mercenary’s cheek.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His pupils lost focus, glazed over—he froze, lifeless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clang-dong.” The steel shield fell, cleaved cleanly in two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fully armored shield guard was split clean in half by that single downward leap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, the leap was stupid—if it didn’t break through, you became a helpless target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if it truly pierced? One clean cut—that’s all it took!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shield guard died with eyes wide open, his split corpse crashing down—a scene so bloody it drew gasps or cheers from onlookers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fireball!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His partner didn’t waste his sacrifice—the third-rank explosive spell, a devastating fireball known for raw power, reached Li En’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get lost!” The knight’s roar echoed through the entire hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boom!” The fireball exploded—on a battlefield of this level, such an area-of-effect blast was virtually a death sentence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though fireball spells appear in countless novels and stories as mere trivial tricks, in real battlefields, explosions and fire remain the most efficient means of killing; in this world, pyromantic fireballs are the deadliest spells ever devised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compressed flames, ignited by the spell component brimstone, erupted into a ring of searing flame that spread outward instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire hall echoed with the detonation; the King of Slaughter, third-ring, revealed his explosive nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nearby glass windows shattered from the shockwave; the expensive chandeliers on the ceiling became rubble; yet the mage smiled in satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he might be punished, eliminating this nuisance meant his bounty wouldn’t be reduced—but the next moment, his smile vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How is this possible!” As the smoke cleared, Li En stood exactly where he had been—completely unharmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En gave no reply; he simply walked toward the mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His pupils flickered with hidden flames; though unharmed, he truly hurt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Die!” Rapid-fire force projectiles erupted like bullets—magic turned into ammunition; the caster descended into hysteria.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Li En? He kept walking, step by step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bang! Bang! Bang!” Force projectiles, each as potent as pistol rounds, struck his body—then dissolved into nothingness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, without smoke to obscure it, everyone understood how the fireball had been nullified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The magic, supreme in mortal eyes, simply vanished—right before them!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What is this? How could such a thing exist? Onlookers felt as if they were dreaming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ancient hero’s epic soul revealed its absurdity to mortals for the first time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Soul-Wall-Breaker, Diamond-Rank Added Effect: You may extend its effect onto your own body or weapon. You ignore all protective items below third-ring. You can repel inferior curses and dark arts with rage. (This, still, is not its full potential.)】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Li En had learned something new from his junior, Di Meng: a roar infused with rage could also be treated as part of his own flesh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rage is the core of this soul and its associated martial techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The earlier description of the soul had hinted at this—but only two days ago did Li En truly understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When does a paladin ever rage? Only when facing evil, surely!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, Li En’s eyes blazed wide—his inner core burned. He marched forward, enduring the arcane projectiles, step by slow step, until he stood before the mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He reached out, raised his hand, and swung.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Crash!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mage, not deserving death, was flung to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately foamed at the mouth and lost consciousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He may not deserve death, but his crimes as an accomplice could not go unpunished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who else?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two transcendent beings were gone in a single glance? Not even his limits tested?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A surreal scene unfolded before the crowd—especially the absurd act of consuming magic outright—causing several would-be “well-meaning” interveners to freeze. What unsettled them most was not his strength, but his utter unknownness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, this was a dispute between the slave market and this outsider. Risking one’s life for the slave market’s favor? Unnecessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, these people, from start to finish, would never aid Li En—the “outsider,” the “aberration.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One opponent dead, one crippled; Li En, surrounded by wolves, still stood firm, showing no sign of retreat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every second he stood there struck at the authority of this land of sin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bold!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Li En waited for the person he expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the outcome exceeded his expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a towering figure—at least three and a half meters tall, muscles bulging to the point of tearing, skin as if flowing with magma and flame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was grotesquely ugly, with a steel guard fitted near his chin, from which flames dripped when enraged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This half-man, half-beast stood on the second-floor staircase, blocking the light—looking like a standing, upright river of lava.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So this is the boss, ‘Volcanic Roar’ Kuverduf? Indeed, a monster.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En’s Dragon Eye of Truth received no feedback—this was a transcendent-level crushing dominance. The man before him was at least a fifth-rank warrior!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kuverduf wasted no words; from afar, he launched his attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boom!” The giant’s cleaver was blocked by Li En’s ancient shield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped back slightly—his arm already numb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing the increasingly close opponent, Li En realized this was likely too powerful a foe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His hand quietly slid toward the ancient book on his back—preparing to deploy his final trump card.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though slightly beyond expectations, Li En felt no regret. He had been “grown up” for too long—it was time to draw his sword and draw blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come on. Give me a powerful hero. Better yet, tear down the entire slave market.” Since it’s a trump card, using it here is no waste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After completing two missions, Li En had a faint sense: his next hero summon would be extremely, extremely potent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at the moment of possession, when the hero’s virtual personality took control of his body, his strength peaked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The “volcano” was close enough—any moment now, he might strike. He was not a man to reason with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deadly duel was about to erupt—when a hurried sliding sound came from behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get out of my way! How dare you block me? Move! Get out of my way!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A familiar voice from behind urgently pushed through the crowd, rushing forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dazzling serpent woman hurried into the center of the battlefield, grabbed Li En’s shoulder, and pulled him against her chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that moment, the beautiful woman stood before the young knight, glaring defiantly at the attackers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who among you dares touch him? Touch my fiancé, Shaliman S Daer !”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2444,"2026-06-19T21:45:41.002Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","65ac6549658818acf5271b8eddd8c7b52f7d86dc97bcc94b9093883476883c64","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-35","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-33",362,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-cover.jpg"]