Chapter Forty-Nine: Hostility (Second Update)

Ke Bei walked absentmindedly at the end of the group, feeling only helplessness as he thought about the second stage of the Nine Suns Divine Art.

"Sigh, there's no use dwelling on it. Forget it—when the time comes, things will work out somehow." With a bitter smile, Ke Bei shook his head, attempting to comfort himself.

"The Grand Purge is almost upon us. I should first help Sister Qianqian turn in her contribution points."

At the thought of gentle, soft-hearted Li Qianqian, a smile crept onto Ke Bei's lips. To him now, a thousand crystal coins was but a drop in the ocean.

"But before that, I need to earn a hundred thousand contribution points. The Star Condensation Squad must survive!"

Thinking of his squad members, a trace of sorrow flickered across Ke Bei's face. Back then, when faced with even a low-ranked god race, he had been utterly powerless, forced to flee for his life alone.

He took a deep breath, his gaze falling on the more than forty thousand martial artists who remained ahead. Slowly, he caught up with the group.

After traveling with the main force for a day, they finally arrived at Lingfeng City.

Upon reaching the city, Ke Bei didn’t rush home but went first to the East City garrison, handed in Li Qianqian’s contribution points, and then donated a hundred thousand crystal coins in exchange for a hundred thousand contribution points, raising his personal standing to two stars.

"Heh, this will be a nice surprise for Sister Qianqian."

Clutching the certificate bearing her name, Ke Bei imagined the joy on Li Qianqian’s face and couldn’t help but smile. Unconsciously, his steps quickened, and soon he had crossed East City and entered the Bright Night Community.

Knock, knock, knock! With a smile still lingering on his face, Ke Bei rapped on the door.

"Sister Qianqian, I’m back!" After waiting a moment without response, he raised his voice.

"No one? That’s odd, Sister Qianqian hardly ever goes out."

He waited a bit longer, but the room remained silent. Frowning, Ke Bei murmured under his breath.

"Could she have gone home?"

After a few more moments without an answer, Ke Bei thought perhaps Li Qianqian had left for her family’s house.

"Never mind, I’ll just go in."

He pressed his palm to the door and, with a bit of force, pushed it open with a loud click.

Boom!

The moment Ke Bei stepped inside, he froze. A thunderous roar filled his ears, his mind spun, and the world seemed to tilt.

Li Qianqian’s body had been impaled through the chest by an iron rod and nailed to the wall. Blood streamed down, dyeing the entire floor a ghastly crimson.

"Sister Qianqian!" Ke Bei roared, dashing to her already cold body.

"Who did this? Who!"

His eyes turned blood-red, like a wild beast’s, filled with murderous frenzy. His facial muscles twisted with rage, veins bulged, and capillaries burst, bright blood oozing from his forehead.

His voice was low, cold as death itself.

"Xiaobei, it’s time for dinner."

"Are you hungry? Go wash up, dinner will be ready soon."

"Open your mouth… a little wider."

"Be good, now, listen—"

It was as if her gentle voice still echoed at his ear, making his heart tremble.

"No!"

With a howl, Ke Bei smashed his fist against the wall. With a thunderous crack, the wall split open and Li Qianqian’s body slowly slid down. In a sudden burst, Ke Bei caught her cold corpse, carefully pulling the iron rod from her chest, his movements so gentle, as if afraid to hurt her.

His mother had disappeared when he was only three, leaving Ke Bei to be raised by his gruff, bearded father. Deprived of a mother’s love since childhood, he had longed for that warmth. Li Qianqian’s arrival filled that void; she had cared for him with the devotion of a mother.

Deep in his heart, Ke Bei had come to see Li Qianqian as family, as his own dear sister.

"Ah—!"

Clutching her icy body, Ke Bei howled in agony, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"Whoever you are, I, Ke Bei, swear—if I do not wipe out your entire clan, let me be unworthy to be called human!"

"Let me be unworthy to be called human!"

He clenched his fists so tightly that his sharp nails pierced his flesh, but he felt no pain. Still holding Li Qianqian’s body, he sat in silence for a long time before finally raising his head. Scanning his surroundings, his chilling gaze suddenly landed upon a line of bloody writing.

Behind the door he had forced open, a message was scrawled in blood:

"The Blood Sword is drawn—who can stand against us? Regards, the Blood Sword League!"

"The Blood Sword League!"

Grinding his teeth, Ke Bei spat out the name, each word razor-sharp and cold as ice.

Boom!

With a thunderous step, Ke Bei’s body became a blur as he shot out the door.

Every dragon has its reverse scale.

Li Qianqian was Ke Bei’s reverse scale. In that moment, his heart was engulfed in murderous rage. The law forbidding martial artists from killing one another within the city was forgotten, cast to the winds.

He wanted only one thing—to slaughter! To kill every last member of the Blood Sword League!

His inner power surged wildly to his feet as he unleashed his Lightfoot Steps to their utmost limit, breaking the sound barrier as he sped toward the Blood Sword League’s headquarters in East City.

In moments, Ke Bei arrived at the League’s base.

"Come out!"

His voice thundered like a storm, Ke Bei howled in fury.

"Who are you? There’s to be no commotion here!"

A young man of the Blood Sword League shouted, striding coldly toward Ke Bei.

"Die!"

The instant Ke Bei saw his uniform, killing intent exploded within him. In a flash, he appeared before the young man and seized his throat.

Crack!

With a slight squeeze, he crushed the young man’s neck.

"Insolence!"

As Ke Bei killed the youth, a crowd of Blood Sword League members emerged. Seeing him slay their comrade without a word, they roared in fury and surrounded him.

"How dare you kill in the city! Who are you?"

The leader, an old man in black, glared coldly at Ke Bei and barked.

"Who am I? Hahaha, you ask who I am?" Ke Bei suddenly burst into maniacal laughter.

"You don’t know me? Then do you remember the girl you killed in the Bright Night Community?"

Ke Bei's eyes were devoid of emotion, as if looking at a dead man.

"You… you’re Ke Bei? The one from the slums?"

The old man paused, realization dawning.

"Yes, that’s me."

Ke Bei nodded, his face radiating a killing intent so fierce it chilled the blood. His voice was icy beyond measure.

"If you wish to kill me, I, Ke Bei, am ready. Yet I do not understand why you beasts had to kill an innocent girl…"

"Tell me why!"

Ke Bei suddenly bellowed, moving with lightning speed to seize the old man by the throat and lift him into the air.

The old man, a third-level peak master, stared in terror—against Ke Bei's brutal strength, he was utterly powerless.

"Can't answer? No matter. Today, every last one of the Blood Sword League will die!"

A cold gleam flashed in Ke Bei’s bloodshot eyes. His fingers tightened; with a crack, the third-level old man’s neck was crushed.

"All of you, die!"

Ke Bei swept a freezing gaze over the dozens of League members. Murderous intent surged—he became a blur as the Nine Suns Divine Art erupted within him. In a flash, dozens fell to his fists, slain on the spot.

"Blood Sword League!"

After his instant rampage, Ke Bei’s face betrayed no emotion as he strode toward the villa, the aura of death swirling about him.