The rain fell in the night and gradually slowed down. It seemed as if the rainy weather, which had lasted for so many days in Changdao, would soon be over. The sound of the wind gradually became gentle, melodiously blowing to the distance. As far as the eye could see, the fire was dying out, and the gunshots were fading away. The mountain forest was quiet again. It was draped in the night gauze, particularly serene.

Li Tianlan stood silent on the uneven ground caused by the fierce battle and looked down at the silver metal ball in his hand.

The murderous weapon that was used to belong to the Li family.

The murderous weapon which shattered during his father’s last battle.

In that war, it was not only the Infinite Sky that was broken. The glory of the Li family for hundreds of years seemed to be shattered together with this murderous weapon, turning into dust, particles and nothingness.

Li Tianlan never knew that his family had a murderous weapon which was famous in the Dark World. But in some distant, nearly false memories, when he was very, very young, and when the campsite on the border was still flourishing, his grandpa seemed to have sent many men to look for something on the border.

“Is that it?”

Li Tianlan looked at the bean-sized metal ball in his hand. His eyes flickered, looking like the deepest night sky.

“You can comprehend that I did it for a woman. The woman I love the most.”

“Do you know what Kunlun City is? Do you know what is Phoenix Pavilion?”

“You are mortal enemies, but why should I believe you have nothing to do with her?”

“Senior Brother Li, do you know how your father died?”

“Of the thirteen murderous weapons, only two are silver. One belongs to the Jiang family in South America and is named the Legend of Qin. And the other… is called Infinite Sky. It… it used to belong to Xuanyuantai of Kunlun… and the Li family.”

In the silent forest, some seemingly important or unimportant conversations flooded into Li Tianlan’s mind instantly.

Kunlun City, Phoenix Pavilion, Li family, Infinite Sky…

Some things seemed vaguely connected, but there was something vital missing from each other. Whatever associations Li Tianlan made, something was wrong.

“What the hell does Jiang Shangyu know?”

“And how did the fragment of the Infinite Sky fall into Jiang Shangyu’s hands?”

In silence, Li Tianlan thought over the moment when the muzzle of the Skyattack was pressed against Jiang Shangyu’s chest.

He felt that the metal plate was at least the size of his hand. How did Jiang Shangyu get so much if it was all made of the fragments of the Infinite Sky?

“Jiang Shangyu… Jiang Shangyu…”

Li Tianlan clutched the silver metal ball in his hand and kept repeating the name. The bright light glowed in his pupils, making him look strangely attractive.

“Young Master Li, shall I go after him? He shouldn’t be far.”

Duke looked at Li Tianlan and asked cautiously. He didn’t like or hate Li Tianlan as they met for the first time. However, he knew exactly what it meant when his boss asked him to come to East Island. The 12 Super Masters were the core figures of Samsara Palace, but when the Master of Samsara Palace was silent, Qin Weibai’s will was the supreme instruction of the entire Samsara Palace. Duke knew clearly what his attitude should be towards Li Tianlan.

Li Tianlan faltered. After thinking about it for a while, he shook his head and smiled. “Forget it.”

He said calmly, glancing at Duke, “From now on, like Horsewoman, call me by my name. I’ll call you Duke.”

Duke nodded. There seemed to be some doubts in his eyes because he didn’t know why Li Tianlan didn’t let him chase that guy.

Samsara’s intelligence system remained a mystery to the outside world. People had always witnessed its sophisticated intelligence system that was almost everywhere but never existed. Surely, Samsara Palace knew a lot about Zhongzhou State. In terms of the young generation, although Jiang Shangyu ranked the second place among the top ten young masters, lagging behind Wang Shengxiao and Gu Hanshan, the evaluation of Samsara Palace on him was extremely high and even the highest, for they thought he was no weaker than Wang Shengxiao and Gu Hanshan.

How far could such a person escape with serious injuries?

If Duke went after Jiang Shangyu now, he had at least fifty percent of confidence to kill him.

This was equivalent to getting rid of a future enemy for Li Tianlan. With such a good chance, why didn’t he go after him?

“Your identities.”

Li Tianlan looked at Duke and shook his head. “You’re not suitable to do that.”

Duke was shocked. He gave Li Tianlan a deep look and said nothing.

Li Tianlan did want to kill Jiang Shangyu. Duke was an expert whose strength was infinitely close to a half step to Invincible Realm. If he were to kill Jiang Shangyu himself, the odds should be pretty good.

Nevertheless, there was no impermeable wall in the world.

In recent years, although Samsara Palace had been in cooperation with Zhongzhou State, partners and people on the same side were two concepts.

If Jiang Shangyu died in Li Tianlan’s hands, it would be regarded as the result of the competition between Heavenly Sons of Zhongzhou State.

However, if he died in the hands of Duke, a Super Master of Samsara, then the matter would become very sensitive. Now, the Jiang family occupied a seat in the Decision Making Committee. Furthermore, Jiang Shan, Jiang Shangyu’s father, could easily set off a great storm given his status in the Prince Group and his relations with the Special Warfare Group. If Jiang Shangyu died because of Samsara Palace, the latter, in the best case, would be deeply troubled and in constant trouble. If things went worse, the entire Samsara Palace would be asked to leave Zhongzhou State, and it would even be put on a list of hostile forces.

“There’s nothing wrong with that.”

A cold, sweet voice came from the dark woods. “It is risky, but there’s nothing one hundred percent secure in the world. It’s definitely worth the risk of keeping Jiang Shangyu here.”

Li Tianlan raised his eyebrows slightly and turned.

Night rain had completely stopped.

Flaming Fire’s figure emerged from the wet, dreamy night. She looked slightly tired, but her eyes were surprisingly bright. “Jiang Shangyu could very well be one of your most powerful enemies in the future. It would be a pity not to kill such a man.”

Duke looked at Flaming Fire and then at Li Tianlan, ready to take action.

Li Tianlan habitually narrowed his eyes. He shook his head after a moment of silence.

“Forget it.”

He finally shook his head after a moment of silence. It was about ten minutes since Jiang Shangyu had escaped. Li Tianlan wasn’t sure if Jiang Shangyu’s communication device was damaged. If it was not damaged, then at least Jiang Shangyu had immediately informed his father Jiang Shan of this matter. If they went after him now, it would be trouble whether they succeeded or failed.

Li Tianlan was not worried that Jiang Shangyu would advertise the fact that he had shot him. First, Jiang Shangyu revealed his killing intent first. Second, the fragment of the Infinite Sky, the so-called Phoenix Pavilion, and Jiang Shangyu’s Heavenly King Heart, were already involved in the game of life and death between the two. At best, Jiang Shangyu would tell Jiang Shan about this, and as long as he did not die, at the very least, the two sides would exchange a semblance of peace.

Even if it was temporary, it was better than killing him and facing the trouble caused by it.

Time!

The most important thing was the time.

Li Tianlan now needed at least two or three years to return to his peak. The inadaptability of using drugs to force his way up to the Fire-flaming Realm and the temporary effect of the drug made him begin to have a crazy desire to become stronger.

If he had three or five years…

If he could reach the Thunder-shocking Realm, let alone the Invincible Realm, within this period, he would neither have so many scruples and things to considerate now nor did he have to compromise in the face of the general situation.

“Let’s go.”

Li Tianlan carefully picked up the fragment of the Infinite Sky, which represented the Li family’s glory, turned around and walked forward.

“Young Master Li, ah, no, Tianlan, I think what Kyoka said is right, and I’m willing to give it a shot. It would be nice if I killed an enemy directly for you, wouldn’t it?”

Duke chuckled and said as he walked beside Li Tianlan obediently, one step behind.

Li Tianlan had to admit that the smile of this handsome Super Master of Samsara made him feel extremely warm. The Super Master had blonder hair and obvious laugh lines. When he smiled, there seemed to be genuine joy on his whole handsome face. The smile was so bright that it seemed to be able to dispel the darkness.

Li Tianlan asked suddenly, turning to glance at him, “Do you know who is my worst enemy?”

“Eh?”

Duke’s smile froze up, and then he began to think instinctively. “Wang Shengxiao, perhaps? Hmm… He certainly deserves the title of young Heavenly Son. At his age, he has this kind of strength, and there is no other person so talented in the Dark World. His talent enables him to be called the Heavenly Son.”

Li Tianlan smiled.

In the last 200 years, in Zhongzhou State and even in the Dark World, the master who reached the Thunder-shocking Realm at the top speed was 23 years old. This record came from Xuanyuantai of Kunlun, and the record maker was one of Li Tianlan’s ancestors. And now Wang Shengxiao didn’t have his twenty-four birthday. It was only a few months slower compared to the purported record. Li Tianlan had never denied Wang Shengxiao’s excellent talent.

“After Wang Shengxiao, in Zhongzhou State, your worst enemies probably are Gu Hanshan and Jiang Shangyu. Although they are also powerful, they are inferior to Wang Shengxiao. I’m not talking about strength and talent. I’m talking about family background. It seems that any man from the Wang family of Beihai will be looked up to no matter on any occasion.”

Duke shook his head, sighed softly, and looked melancholy without reason.

Li Tianlan was still smiling. He shook his head and said flatly, “No.”

“No?”

Duke looked at Li Tianlan confusedly.

“My worst enemy is time. Only time.”

Li Tianlan continued insipidly, “I have no human enemies.”

His expression was calm and firm as he gazed ahead into the night, but there was confidence in his gentle voice that would make anyone else hold him in awe. “Not a single.”

Duke’s mouth twitched. He was silent for a long time, then shrugged his shoulders and spread out his hands with a smile, saying, “Well, I wasn’t supposed to believe that, but I believe it when you say it. I don’t know why. Kyoka, Horsewoman, do you believe it?”

A stream of strong killing intent appeared out of thin air behind them.

Li Tianlan looked back in surprise.

Flaming Fire, who was following him quietly, was squinting at Duke with a playful smile on his face.

Horsewoman looked helpless.

Confused, Li Tianlan looked at Flaming Fire and asked subconsciously, “Your name is Kyoka? Huh? I heard from Little Bai that you are from East Island. You…”

He looked at Duke. Something was wrong, but he couldn’t tell what was wrong. The 12 Super Masters from Samsara were called by code names. Since Duke could call Flaming Fire familiarly by her real name, they should be on good terms. But…

“Ah, Kyoka Kitano. Tianlan, don’t you know her?”

Duke blinked. His smile was still bright, but there was a touch of obscenity about it.

Duke sighed as he shook his head in disbelief at Li Tianlan’s blank expression, “Oh, my god. You really should make up the missed lessons. I can’t believe there are still people who don’t know Kyoka Kitano! She’s my goddess and the most famous star today in East Island. Tianlan, I will show you Kitano’s works later. Well, her latest work seems to be… Hmm… Chi Jyo: Wife Search Officer. You should really watch it.”

Flaming Fire was about to flare up. As she looked at Duke coldly, the latter continued to talk excitedly. “The faces of Flaming Fire and Kyoka Kitano are very much alike, but Flaming Fire is much cooler. Well, I’ve observed her ass. It’s so beautiful. Every night, I’m aroused when I’m facing Flaming Fire, oh, no, Kitano… Ah… Tianlan, do you want to touch Flaming Fire’s ass? She dares not say no… Damn you, woman, are you gonna fight me?!”

The lightning fell suddenly from the sky like a concentrated thunderbolt.

Standing next to Duke, Li Tianlan was unhurt, but there was a huge black hole in the place where Duke had stood.

In the flash of lightning, the figures of Duke and Flaming Fire disappeared almost at the same time.

The deep blue arc of light spread fiercely, blowing the vast forest dozens of meters away up into the sky.

“It’s beginning again.”

Horsewoman groaned helplessly. She looked at Li Tianlan and smiled bitterly. “Personal advice, Tianlan, you should stay away from Duke, the wretched bastard. He seems to have been interested in the buttocks of Flaming Fire, well, and mine. It happened more than once.”

A sentence that Duke had said came out of nowhere in Li Tianlan’s mind.

“Tianlan, do you want to touch Flaming Fire’s ass? She dares not say no…”

Ahem, and the ass of Horsewoman…

Li Tianlan’s eyes wandered instinctively.

Horsewoman’s dignified and enchanting face suddenly flushed. She unconsciously took a small step back, and her beautiful eyes were wide open. “What are you looking at?”

“Ahem…”

Li Tianlan gave a dry cough and withdrew his gaze awkwardly, but four words still reverberated in his mind.

“Dares not say no…”

The words “dare not” were used in all their subtlety.

“Let’s go.”

He asked casually, taking a deep breath and stepping forward, “What are your plans next?”

“We’ll gather our men in Changdao first. Whether it’s me or Duke or Flaming Fire, we have missions in Changdao, but our primary task is to keep you safe. So when we heard that you were missing, we put aside what we were doing. It’s time for our team to break into Changdao, too. We have some other people who have entered Changdao. The most important thing at the moment is to get the men together.”

Horsewoman shrugged, and her voice was languid.

“This is not easy.”

Li Tianlan frowned, unconsciously speaking.

He was now certain that some of the elites had entered Changdao, but many had now completely lost contact. Even Li Baitian and others were missing. It was going to be hard to get these people together, but that was one thing they had to do.

“It doesn’t matter.”

Horsewoman whispered, “We have recently established a new channel of cooperation in East Island, which can now be used.”

“A new channel of cooperation?”

Li Tianlan glanced at Horsewoman, who was wearing a calm expression. A figure came instinctively into his mind.

Daybreak!

The man who had just appeared to save his life.

Samsara Palace seemed to be ready to take Xitian Financial Group, which planned to take refuge in it, as a bargaining chip to cooperate with the force behind Daybreak.

Intuitively, Li Tianlan always felt that this new channel of cooperation had something to do with the force behind Daybreak.

“A force so mysterious that they don’t even know its name?”

“Could it be a superpower hiding in East Island?”

“Samsara is cooperating with a dark force hiding in East Island. Do the authorities of East Island know about that?”

East Island and Zhongzhou State, Zhongzhou State and Samsara, Samsara and East Island…

The success or failure of the scheme of Zhongzhou State may depend on the outcome of the subsequent battle in Changdao.

When a series of events should be gradually emerging, a blanket of fog suddenly appeared before Li Tianlan.

The fog enveloped the general situation, leaving it in chaos.

“In fact, I was inclined to kill Jiang Shangyu just now.”

Horsewoman suddenly said, “But it’s too late to say that now. We’ll have to wait for another chance… This time, Jiang Shangyu is seriously injured and is likely to leave East Island. Now it seems that only Wang Shengxiao and Gu Hanshan are candidates for that position.”

“Which position?”

Li Tianlan looked back at Horsewoman.

“You don’t know that?”

There was a strange look in Horsewoman’s eyes.

Li Tianlan frowned and shook his head. He could not understand why Wang Shengxiao and Gu Hanshan, the heirs of two superpowers, were involved in the plan of Zhongzhou State. It made sense to say that they did so for the sake of their country or to compete with each other, but it struck Li Tianlan as odd.

After all, even if they had harbored the intention of competing with each other, they wouldn’t have participated in such a big scene that they would die at any moment, and it was best to let them continue to grow. But now, combined with the so-called position that Horsewoman had mentioned, everything seemed to have a reasonable explanation.

“It’s the leadership of a quarter of a force, to be exact. It was originally the competition between Wang Shengxiao and Gu Hanshan, and the higher-ups also acquiesced in this. Jiang Shangyu had that in mind, too, but now… Ha…”

Horsewoman shook her head and continued, “He was unlucky to meet you.”

“Which force?”

Li Tianlan touched his nose, puzzled.

“The jewel of the state.”

Horsewoman looked at Li Tianlan and said softly, “It’s a super force in Zhongzhou State, similar to but more advanced than the Kusanagi Force.”

She continued after a short pause, “Its code name is Terra-Cotta Warriors.”