Abundant Martial Arts Virtue

"The Bronze Wall is too dangerous, I want to go back."

Wu Xiaode said.

Sarina said, "Go back where? To the Netherworld to get a promotion and search for traces of the Pangu Card Set?"

"That's right; there's an 'Inquirer' here, it's terrifying." Wu Xiaode said, yawning.

"It rarely appears, and it's seldom found us. This time was an accident." Sarina said.

"Killed a Jiuyao Beast, I bet the other Sequence Beasts all dislike me, and someday I'll accidentally get surrounded while walking at night." Wu Xiaode said.

—The judgement has been announced.

The death of the Jiuyao Beast has been classified as an "accident," caused by the Supreme Evil "Inquirer" disaster.

However, Festos' death was due to the conflict between the "Hermit" and "Jiuyao."

It is said that the Jiuyao Saint is creating new Sequence Beasts and will soon reach the front lines to lead the remaining Jiuyao Sequencers.

—The feud has been established.

Wu Xiaode, however, is not afraid of combat, but having just upgraded to "Ultimate Dragon Snake Ascension," he needs some time to familiarize himself with the skills.

Building the "Holy Walk Wall" also requires some dedicated time.

So it might be better to lay low for a while, avoid the limelight, and work in the Netherworld.

After all, his Netherworld position is the highest among all mysterious lives.

Sarina was silent for a few moments.

"What's wrong?"

Wu Xiaode sensed something amiss and asked, spreading his hands.

"Other sequences have noticed something from you." Sarina said.

"What?"

"The position in the Netherworld is indeed very important."

"...Isn't that redundant?" Wu Xiaode said.

"You must know, initially, everyone was divided; some sequences were busy dealing with the Chaos Calamity, some were trying to build the Divine Pillar, more were facing the Evil Demons directly, trying to find their weaknesses."

"As for Pangu's fragmentation, it was only a matter of time before the mysterious would replace it."

Sarina continued:

"But no one expected Pangu's Netherworld to be so strong—this power has already shown considerable prospects on you."

"What's it got to do with me going back?" Wu Xiaode asked instinctively.

"Now, you can only receive permission by obtaining certain military merits, becoming a high-level officer, and reentering the Netherworld." Sarina said.

"So I have to stay on the frontlines to earn military merits?"

"Yes."

Sarina stood up, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "No worries, with your strength, gaining military merits is a simple matter."

"Alright, then I'll stay." Wu Xiaode grinned, showing his neat white teeth.

Sarina nodded and said, "You can go fight at the frontlines anytime, handle those low-level Evil Objects, earn military merits—I have to go now."

"Hmm." Wu Xiaode said.

Sarina walked out and closed the door.

In the room, only Wu Xiaode was left.

Wu Xiaode's face still held a smile.

He was quiet for a few moments.

He triggered his thoughts, and the Evil Spirit Book immediately opened.

On the Wall of All Wishes, a new task suddenly emerged:

"Due to the immense and intense malice appearing on the Bronze Wall, the Evil Spirit task has been established, named: "

"Escape Alive."

"Description: Endless malice spreads across the entire Bronze Wall, making survival extremely difficult; you must survive until you gain enough military merits, leave here, and enter the Netherworld, only then will all malice be void."

"Success rewards three portions of Evil Spirit Power."

Three portions of Evil Spirit Power!

Wu Xiaode felt no joy; instead, his face turned pale.

—Even using the Inquirer to kill a Jiuyao Sequence Beast, the task "Unmatched in Isolation" only awarded one portion of Evil Spirit Power.

After all, "Unmatched in Isolation" is a consecutive task.

However, merely surviving is enough to earn three portions of Evil Spirit Power.

One could imagine how perilous this is.

How did it come to this?

Could this Evil Spirit task be harder than defeating a Sequence Beast?

As he was thinking, he suddenly saw a figure emerge on the Wall of All Wishes.

Human Emperor!

"Master, why are you here?" Wu Xiaode couldn't help but ask.

"You've killed Jiuyao, this matter has already alarmed the Holy Realm." Human Emperor said.

"Does the Holy Realm want me dead?" Wu Xiaode said angrily.

"Not at all, as a 'mysterious life,' being able to defeat Sequence Beasts, escape 'Shattered's' pursuit, even dupe the 'Inquirer,' this has given the Saints hope." Human Emperor said.

Wu Xiaode was stunned.

—Since the Saints don't want to kill him, where is the crisis coming from?

Human Emperor suddenly switched to transmitting sound and softly said:

"The time has come; from now on, you can forget everything I've told you about the mysterious."

"Why?" Wu Xiaode asked.

"Those were deliberately false words because... my true self is still very weak, I had to pretend not to know anything." Human Emperor said.

Wu Xiaode slowly mulled over these words, a shiver brushing up his back.

What kind of matter is this, that even an Eternal Saint had to pretend to be oblivious, only to come down at this moment to convey the message?

"Master..."

"Don't speak; you've already been involved in matters to such an extent, I must tell you this secret."

"—I can only hint at this secret to you; aside from the hints, saying even one more word would immediately endanger my true form—listen well."

Human Emperor took a deep breath, as if calming himself.

Then a card appeared in Wu Xiaode's hand.

The next moment.

The Human Emperor disappeared from the Wall of All Wishes.

Wu Xiaode stared for a while, lowering his head to look at the card in his hand.

He saw it was not a card with power, but just a normal drawing card.

On the card face was a black-and-white chessboard.

In the board's center, a white chess piece was carved into Wu Xiaode's likeness.

The truly peculiar thing was—

Among the sides' chess pieces, most were black.

Only two or three were white.

—One of them even represented Wu Xiaode.

The next moment.

The card ignited, swiftly turning to ashes.

Wu Xiaode lowered his head in silence for a long time.

Both sides are black pieces; it's too obvious, Master.

"I thought 'Inquirer' appearing at the Judgement scene was a coincidence..."

"Now thinking about it, Jiuyao could stay motionless at that moment and still ambush me, it must have prepared the necessary props long ago."

"So where's any coincidence in the world?"

Threads of dark lines began to emerge around him.

And a glimmer of understanding flashed in his eyes.

Both sides are black pieces.

—This suggests that the Holy Realm is also tainted.

His thoughts cleared, Wu Xiaode had a sudden realization.

Evil Demons—

Evil Demons have infiltrated the Holy Realm, so most pieces on the chessboard are black.

From this answer, deduce—

Why has Jiuyao always tried to kill him?

Because it found out he really has talent, combat ability, and might fulfill the strategic intentions of the Holy Realm.

Evidently—

He was the first to enter the Ice Waterfall Grotto Heaven, and Jiuyao promptly drove him away.

He connected with Sarina in a legendary task, and Jiuyao disrupted the task.

—In fact, it doesn't want to complete the Holy Realm's goals.

His relationship with Sarina improved, Sarina recognized his combat talent, willing to assist him.

But Jiuyao keeps trying to kill him!

Why?

Because he again became the first mysterious life to obtain the Pangu Card Set and make a name in the Netherworld!

Other sequences would have cooperated long ago to fulfill the strategic goal of the Saints.

But "Jiuyao" won't allow things to progress that way!

The answer is clear.

—Jiuyao and the Saints behind it are actually siding with the Evil Demons.

The Saints behind it might even be existences tainted by Evil Transformation!

So now the judgement is "everyone must acquire certain military merits before re-entering the Netherworld."

The opponent wants to keep him here permanently!

Such immense malice triggered the Evil Spirit task.

Thus he is in the most dangerous situation right now.

Sarina was unaware of this issue.

No one knows except the Human Emperor, who risked giving him a hint.

Wu Xiaode softly murmured, "Evil Thought Burning God."

Boom—

Infinite dark power surged from him, transforming into vertical beams of light, rushing into the Void above.

Wu Xiaode maintained the "Burning God" state, quietly feeling the surroundings.

After a while.

One by one, unfamiliar thoughts surfaced in his mind.

—In the "Burning God" state, he can detect all evil thoughts in the vicinity.