Chapter 573

Hearing this, Zhao Kai's expression darkened considerably, and he sneered, "As the person Dugu Lang trusted most, didn't you also choose to leave?"

"What exactly are you trying to say?" Kui Qi's face stiffened slightly, his demeanor growing calmer as his gaze locked onto Zhao Kai.

Zhao Kai said calmly, "What's your reason for betraying Dugu Lang? Or have you found a new patron? If possible, I'd like to see who he is."

"Hmph, even if I have, so what?" Kui Qi sneered, lifting his chin arrogantly. "You're planning to join a new faction? Someone like you, two-faced and deceitful—I'd never bring you to my boss."

"You could try," Zhao Kai's gaze suddenly turned grim, the temperature around them seeming to drop.

Kui Qi exhaled slowly, calming himself, and said, "I promise you this: but you must guarantee these two leave safely."

"Huh? You still plan to save Deng Long? Are you out of your mind? He's completely different from these two." Zhao Kai stared at Kui Qi in shock, his curiosity piqued—what could possibly drive Kui Qi to risk being in a dangerous situation?

Kui Qi said calmly, "Just take them away. The rest is none of your concern."

Zhao Kai nodded. "Then let's leave quickly."

Kui Qi glanced at Zhao Kai, then turned toward the stairs.

Lei Ting and Zhong Wanjun were momentarily confused, unsure what these people were up to—why were they all turning on each other?

"Come, I'll lead you out," Zhao Kai said calmly to the two bewildered men. "Remember: suppress your Qi to the lowest possible level. If you're detected, I'll kill you immediately."

Lei Ting and Zhong Wanjun nodded. They understood the gravity of the situation, gritted their teeth, forced their Qi down as much as they could, and followed Zhao Kai with extreme caution, skillfully avoiding every guard they encountered, and successfully escaped.

At this moment, in the basement where Deng Long was imprisoned.

Dugu Lang personally tended to Zhi Shui's wounds, speaking in an unusually gentle tone: "Deng Long, do you know what betrayal feels like?"

【432】 Heavy Blow

"Y-you're going to say what?" Zhi Shui's face turned pale. He had just been brutally tortured for dozens of minutes by Dugu Lang—if not for his desire to live, Dugu Lang would never have bothered to treat his wounds.

"Why do so many people choose to leave?" Dugu Lang's eyes narrowed slightly, emitting a cold glint as he stared into Zhi Shui's eyes. "Tell me—what's going on?"

"How would I know?" Zhi Shui gave a bitter laugh. He was nearly broken himself, and this man was still spouting nonsense—it was unbearable.

"Hahahaha." Dugu Lang laughed. "I once thought that if I possessed enough strength, I could do whatever I wanted. But reality delivered me a heavy blow."

"Since that day, I finally understood: everything must be controlled by my own hands!"

As he spoke, his face twisted, and a terrifying aura of killing intent surged from his body—fierce, beastlike, and horrifying.

"You're going to kill me?" Zhi Shui sensed the overwhelming killing intent radiating from Dugu Lang, his entire body trembling. He scrambled backward.

"Do you think I'd let you live?" Dugu Lang snorted, stepping forward and grabbing Zhi Shui's face with one hand, squeezing him tightly.

"Ugh…"

Zhi Shui struggled violently, pounding desperately at Dugu Lang's arm, his face turning crimson. "L-let go!"

Dugu Lang ignored him, his expression icy: "What are you thinking? I'll say this one last time: tell me where the other Dragons are—or I'll end your life right now～ˇ."

"Impossible!"

Facing Dugu Lang's threat, Zhi Shui roared without fear: "Even if you kill me, I'll never tell you!"

"Fool, you forgot your child is still alive?" Dugu Lang's face twisted into a sinister smile.

"What are you going to do?" Zhi Shui's face turned ashen, terror flashing in his eyes.

"What? Just tell me the truth, and your child won't have to die with you." Dugu Lang smiled smugly—he had clearly found Zhi Shui's weakness.

"You heartless bastard!"

Zhi Shui cursed, then lowered his eyelids, adopting a defiant posture. "If you've got the guts, kill me—but don't use my child as leverage!"

"Heh."

Seeing this, Dugu Lang sneered: "I never imagined one of the Seven Dragons of Judgment by force would break so easily. Since you care so much for your child, I'll grant your wish!"

"Stop!"

Zhao Kai had barely led Zhong Wanjun and Lei Ting a short distance when a man clad entirely in white robes, wreathed in swirling black mist, blocked their path.

"Huh?" Zhao Kai frowned, studying the mysterious figure who had barred their way. He sensed a terrifying aura from the man—but could not identify his identity.

"You must be Zhao Kai. Unfortunately, I'm here to kill you," the mysterious man said calmly, his expression icy, his hollow pupils glinting with cold light.

"Are you Dugu Lang's subordinate? I didn't think he still had backup!" Zhao Kai's expression became solemn. The fact that this man had approached undetected meant his combat power was at least seventy to eighty thousand points.

"Your master has abandoned you," the mysterious man said, waving his hand and clapping once. A powerful combat energy surged forth, transforming into a violent force that instantly swept through the entire space, rushing toward Zhao Kai.

"Enough!" Zhong Wanjun didn't hesitate—he drew Long Yuan Sword, his combat power instantly spiking to twenty thousand points, charging forward.

Though stunned, Lei Ting knew there was no time to hesitate. She gritted her teeth, and her combat power surged as well.

"`「Boom!"

The violent storm slammed into Zhong Wanjun and Lei Ting, instantly knocking them down. Fortunately, the mysterious man's strike was only a test—he held back his killing intent—so neither suffered serious injury.

Zhong Wanjun steadied himself and lunged again at the mysterious man, thrusting Long Yuan Sword toward his head, a torrent of sword qi surging around him.

"Crash!"

The mysterious man reached out, punching forward. His fist collided with Long Yuan Sword, and Zhong Wanjun was instantly blasted backward. He landed, spitting a mouthful of blood, his face deathly pale.

Zhao Kai glanced at Zhong Wanjun and Lei Ting, then said grimly: "You two can't beat him. Let's attack together."

Lei Ting and Zhong Wanjun showed no hesitation. The three of them launched a combined assault on the mysterious man.

"You three worthless fools—you're all going to die today!" Seeing them unite against him, the mysterious man erupted in rage, his aura soaring like a blazing fire.

He swung his fist, unleashing a torrent of combat power that transformed into a crushing shockwave, swallowing all three whole.

"Bang!"

Zhao Kai and the others were blasted again, blood trickling from their lips, their faces ashen, eyes wide with disbelief—how could their tens of thousands of combat power be shattered so easily?

"How is this possible?" Lei Ting and Zhong Wanjun had lost all combat power. This was outright domination—defeated in a single strike.

【433】 Who Are You?

"Who are you?" Zhao Kai's expression turned serious as he stared at the mysterious man. "You're not an Ability User, are you?"

"Ability User?" The man sneered. "Who told you I'm an Ability User?"

"Psychic?" the man sneered. "Who told you I'm a psychic?"

"Now, it's time for you to die." He sneered, his figure vanishing instantly from where he stood—so fast it was unbelievable, as if he had simply dissolved, leaving no trace of his presence.

"Damn it!" Zhao Kai, Lei Ting, and Seeing Zhong Wanjun's expressions changed abruptly, but the opponent's speed was far too swift—they couldn't even raise a defense.

"Puff!" The next instant, the man appeared eerily behind Zhong Wanjun, about to strike—when he noticed, somehow, a shadow had appeared behind Zhong Wanjun.

"Get out of my way!" Lei Kesi narrowed his eyes, a sharp glint flashing deep within them as he threw a punch.

"Bang!"

Lei Kesi's fist collided with the man's, unleashing a powerful surge of combat energy that spread outward; both men rapidly retreated.

"Who are you?" the man asked, staring at Lei Kesi.

Lei Kesi spoke calmly: "I'm Lei Kesi."

"What a weird name, 787—I don't care. Get lost, or you'll pay for it." The mysterious man frowned coldly, his voice sharp. He sensed Lei Kesi's combat power was high—almost equal to his own.

Such an adept was no ordinary person.

Lei Kesi frowned, his voice icy: "Are you really going to interfere?"

The mysterious man shrugged indifferently: "Who the hell are you to meddle in my affairs?"

"Whoosh!"

Suddenly, Lei Kesi vanished, reappearing beside the man in an instant, delivering a punch brimming with destructive power aimed straight at the man's head.

Sensing the terrifying force behind Lei Kesi's strike, the man's pupils dilated—he instantly raised both hands to block.

"Boom!"

Their fists slammed directly into each other, emitting a brilliant, clashing metallic sound; immense force surged outward from their fists. The man was thrown back repeatedly, only stopping after retreating several meters.

The man raised a hand to wipe the blood trickling from his lip, staring at Lei Kesi in shock.

"I never expected there to be an adept like you in the Golden Time-Space."

Lei Kesi's expression remained calm: "I'll give you ten seconds to vanish from my sight."

At these words, the man narrowed his eyes, his expression chilling: "I must say, your combat power far exceeds mine—but don't forget, this is the Shadow Guard's territory."

Ding Ding Ding Xiaoyu suddenly leapt out from the shadows, speaking casually: "You mean those guys around here? Sorry, they're already finished."

"What?" The man's face changed drastically, staring at Ding Ding Ding Xiaoyu in disbelief.

He had no idea how Ding Ding Ding Xiaoyu had eliminated those Shadow Guard adepts—because he knew their combat power well; even the weakest had reached ten thousand points.

"Brother Nine, several unfamiliar adepts have appeared nearby." Just as the man was stunned, many companions materialized around him—but their expressions were grim.

"Sorry, your Shadow Guard seems rather weak," Tian Hongguang appeared from the side, a smile curling on his lips: "This so-called Shadow Guard? That's all they've got?"

"Do you want to die?" The man's face turned icy, his eyes blazing with murderous intent.

He lunged forward, clenching his left fist, striking hard toward Ding Ding Ding Xiaoyu.