Star Sky Professional

"We meet again, True Demon Lord!"

Lu Zhong sat at the guest table, picked up the teapot, and poured himself a cup of tea.

This tea was provided by the inn, not any top grade, and had long since gone cold.

But he didn't seem to mind at all, even sipping it appreciatively.

"Hmm, we're old friends..."

Fang Xing nodded with a smile, "You actually saw through my disguise, is it an ability unique to an Avenger?"

"Indeed, an Avenger seeks revenge against the divine, naturally possessing the ability to detect divine Qi... Long ago, I had secretly memorized your Qi."

Lu Zhong answered every question.

"I can see you've matured a lot, and aged just as much..."

Fang Xing looked at Lu Zhong's chest, "Is it because of that Subdivine Artifact?"

"Oh? You can actually see it?"

Lu Zhong was somewhat surprised and took out a short sword from his bosom.

It was no longer than a chopstick, very small, looking more like a child's toy than a Subdivine Artifact!

"It seems it still needs some concealment capabilities..."

Lu Zhong toyed with the short sword in his hand, deep in thought.

"You've almost exhausted your life just to forge such a Subdivine Artifact?"

Fang Xing's eye twitched slightly as he sensed a faint danger from that short sword.

A Level 20 or above Professional holding a Divine Artifact already possesses the qualification to threaten the divine.

Of course, only a tiny bit.

"I once instigated multiple uprisings against the God of Redemption, and even launched countless revolts... also cultivated batch after batch of Avengers..."

Lu Zhong coughed lightly, "But after years, I realized I achieved nothing! For the world's people are too ignorant... They need a bloody reminder."

"So, you've decided to go big?"

Fang Xing smiled, "Who's the assassination target?"

"In the Imperial City, besides the Great Zhou Emperor, who else is worthy of my 'Sword of Vengeance'?"

Lu Zhong sighed, "The Great Zhou Emperor is the divine offspring of the 'God of Empire and Kings', the divine bloodline left by the Main God of Great Zhou on earth. I want to use his blood and life to declare that the divine can bleed, can be destroyed..."

"Assassinate the Great Zhou Emperor?"

Fang Xing nodded, "Certainly a grand endeavor, successful or not, you'll surely die."

"Indeed, but I have already sown the flame..." Lu Zhong said.

He didn't have many years left, ready to shine brightly with his remaining life.

"I see..."

Fang Xing's smile grew wider, "Such an interesting event, as an Evil God, I must lend a hand..."

He extended his hand, "Give me your sword."

Lu Zhong handed the short sword over without a care.

Fang Xing took it, gripping the hilt, and felt a sense of resistance.

"This sword is an Avenger's Divine Artifact... To use it smoothly, one must have the right profession, otherwise, it will always repel you."

Lu Zhong explained.

The next moment, he was wide-eyed, feeling a mist suddenly enveloping the short sword.

The sword was still the same sword, but it seemed ordinary, not as dangerous.

This feeling was just like when he faced Fang Xing!

"I added a layer of God's Eye Can't Reach effect... For several months, it won't even be noticed by the divine."

Fang Xing threw the short sword back to Lu Zhong, "Since you're preparing to assassinate the emperor, this sword will surely become legendary. Why not rename it 'Yuchang Sword', as a sign of good fortune."

"Yuchang?! Sure..."

Lu Zhong accepted it, feeling the oddity on the blade, and nodded silently, "With this sword, my success rate increases by thirty percent."

As for after the successful assassination, he hadn't even thought about it.

That's the nature of Avengers.

And indeed, after assassinating the Great Zhou Emperor, escape would hardly be possible.

"In that case, I wish you success..."

"I might take advantage of the chaos to steal the Great Zhou Golden Statues, as a cover for you."

Fang Xing said carelessly.

"The Great Zhou Golden Statues?"

Lu Zhong seemed to remember something, "According to the top-secret information I've obtained... The Great Zhou Golden Statues were already missing one. Among the eleven remaining, six have been secretly relocated... What's left are just replicas."

"What? Faking such wonders, utterly disgraceful!"

Fang Xing cursed, curious, "Where did the six golden statues go?"

"To the Outer World!"

Lu Zhong confirmed, "The Great Zhou Divine Dynasty always intended to march on the Outer World and reclaim the last golden statue..."

'As expected of Great Zhou...'

Fang Xing sighed internally.

The mobilization of large forces might be hard to conceal, but the deployment of such high-rank forces is much easier to hide.

If the Three Extremes Pass suddenly received support from six Great Zhou Golden Statues, even their inherent strength would be enough to overrun the Outer World.

'Has the Great Zhou court finally been pushed to its limits by me?'

'Also, regardless of what the Killing Life Sect has been doing in the Outer World, being ever so passive for years is even more unnerving, isn't it?'

'This probe is likely to force the Killing Life Sect to show their true capabilities?'

Fang Xing couldn't help but sigh internally. Hiding one's weapons in the Nine Heavens, this sudden action caught him somewhat unprepared.

...

Several days later.

Three Extremes Pass.

A squad is patrolling on the city wall.

Those countless terracotta warriors and divine beast puppets... remain quiet, either kneeling or standing, everything as usual.

Until...

Boom!

The gates of the Three Extremes Pass suddenly opened, and the troops originally stationed there were deployed.

The eyes of those terracotta warriors lit up, and the divine beasts began to roar angrily.

Thud! Thud!

Thud! Thud!

The earth rumbled, and golden giants, almost taller than the city walls, appeared.

Just the oppressive feeling brought by the spirit light made the army tremble in fear.

"It seems His Majesty is determined to lay waste to the Outer World, even dispatching the Great Zhou goldmen... Such a trivial pursuit for the Outer World, using a sledgehammer to crack a nut."

On the city wall, a flash of light.

The City God of Sang appeared, feeling the pressure emanating from the six golden men and hastily bowed.

It was not a salute to the goldmen, but a salute to the divines.

The Great Zhou goldmen carried divine majesty!

"This campaign shall surely subdue the barbarians and uphold our national prestige!"

The commander of the Three Extremes Pass was brimming with confidence, looking south.

...

Almost at the same time.

The Great Zhou Imperial City.

The Emperor went on a parade, offering sacrifices at the temple.

The wide streets were already filled densely with the imperial guards.

Just the honor guard boasted over ten thousand men.

Wherever they passed, ironclad troops spread like clouds, banners like rain.

This was only on the surface.

If a high-ranking practitioner were present, they would see the true 'land paving the way, City God secretly following, Marquis of Wind leading ahead, Master of Rain cleansing the streets...'

"The Emperor on tour, accompanied by countless deities, what an imposing spectacle..."

In the crowd, Fang Xing was still dressed as a hunter, exclaiming in admiration.

In truth, he was muttering internally:

'Emperor, son of heaven... by innate, shorter than heaven, possessing a divine title, rather than an imperial title!'

'A true Great Emperor would call themselves 'Human Sovereign,' ruling over people, unrelated to heaven and the gods... This is true self-reliance and strength.'

'Since I am human, the human way must surpass the heavenly way, surpass everything!'

'That's the logic of placing one's position where the benefits lie...'

Though the scene was lively, Fang Xing did not intend to get too close.

After all, those avengers were sure to act today, getting too close might cause one to be splattered by blood.

He instead backed away a few steps to look at the Great Zhou goldmen.

'Mmm... upon closer inspection, a few goldmen seem off...'

'Sure enough, some trickery's involved, a divine power-created illusion?'

Fang Xing silently calculated in his mind: 'Now... the army from the Three Extremes Pass should be moving, preparing to sweep the Outer World, right?'

With the scale of the Great Zhou Divine Dynasty, clearly, the Outer World wouldn't have many chances.

What's more, this is also another attack after the previous failed action against the Killing Life Sect.

'Outer World might not be that significant, but all the trees I planted are there...'

Precisely because of this reason, Fang Xing intervened last time and personally blessed the Fish Intestine Sword.

Just hoping Lu Zhong would show some competence.

Of course, Fang Xing knew that even if Lu Zhong successfully eliminated the Great Zhou Emperor, it wouldn't change much.

There are many divine descendants on the ground; killing one emperor would at most result in another emperor being installed.

As a divine dynasty, ultimately, it falls back to the divine beings.

"Hmm?"

Fang Xing suddenly looked up at the suddenly dazzling stars in broad daylight: "Heaven sends a killing intent, shifting stars and altering positions?"

...

Outside the Destruction Zone, beyond the Divine Country.

The incarnations of deities suddenly appeared.

The divine incarnations possessed the inherent ability of a true god with divine status, capable of creating avatars with most of their power, gathering in the Heavenly Court's upper-level assembly without being suppressed.

"God of Shadows and Thieves, God of Love..."

"And of course, the War Sovereign..."

The dark Destruction Divine Power flashed as Fang Xing's destruction incarnation appeared, watching the scene with a cold smile: "You few, not only besiege my church below but dared to encircle my Divine Country?"

"Destruction..."

The War Sovereign appeared as a red-haired, fair-skinned strong man, wearing dark divine armor, his voice like thunder: "Hand over the Great Zhou goldmen, ensure the Killing Life Sect never emerges from the Outer World... This is our final offer and leniency."

True gods are hard to kill, especially Fang Xing, the God of Destruction; as long as he remains in the Divine Country, even the Great Zhou Main God has no better way.

Thus, at this point, he could have a chance to negotiate.

Of course, if negotiations fail, the Great Zhou Divine System would directly lock Fang Xing's Divine Country.

As a God of Destruction, his divine power is limited, and he couldn't possibly outlast twelve true gods.

Although the cost and loss would be significant, for the Great Zhou Divine System, this is the best approach.

At least, it is far better than charging into the Divine Country directly.

"Finally... has it reached this point?"

Fang Xing murmured, gazing downward, seemingly witnessing something extremely interesting.