Chapter 1646: Enrage II

Without uttering a single word, Zhao Li Xin slowly placed his hand upon his chest.

Instantly, golden flames erupted from beneath his palm. The immortal Flame, burning with a brilliant radiance that bathed his expressionless face in a dazzling golden glow, transforming his figure from that of an ordinary mortal into an ancient deity rising to pass judgment upon the world.

With deliberate calm, he reached into the raging inferno.

His fingers closed around the flames as though they were something tangible, and with a slow, steady motion, he drew them from within the blaze.

Tendrils of golden fire followed his hand like streams of liquid silk, twisting and converging in the air. The brilliant flames began to condense, their radiant gold gradually deepening into a fierce crimson. The fire compressed tighter and tighter until, with a sudden surge of power, it took the shape of a magnificent sword.

A crimson blade emerged from the immortal flames, its surface glowing with a terrifying red light.

Crimson lightning slithered along its edge like living serpents, each crackle sending violent ripples through the surrounding space. A sinister crimson glow pulsed from within the weapon, as though countless souls were screaming beneath its surface, causing the very air to tremble in fear.

The moment the sword fully materialized, the battlefield fell into complete silence. The clash of steel, the roars of the Baels, even the frantic cries of the soldiers seemed to fade into the background. Every pair of eyes turned toward the lone figure standing amidst the storm of chaos.

For a moment, no one understood what he was about to do.

Zhao Li Xin had entered the battlefield without anyone noticing. He simply stood there one moment, and the next, he lunged forward.

His figure vanished in an instant.

A sudden, violent gust exploded across the battlefield, whipping past the soldiers and sending dust and debris spiraling through the air. Before anyone could comprehend what had happened, a crimson streak flashed through the chaos.

In the next instant, Zhao Li Xin appeared before the nearest Bael.

A crimson flash tore through the air.

The monster froze.

For a single heartbeat, nothing happened.

Then, with a low, wet sound, its colossal body slowly separated into two perfectly severed halves. The two halves crashed heavily onto the ground.

Before the remains could even settle, golden flames erupted across them.The fire swallowed the Bael whole, burning through its bark-covered flesh until nothing remained but drifting ash.

Zhao Li Xin continue, in one quick movement Zhao Li Xin vanished once more, then appear before another monster, he slash then burned the monster remains, it’s continue on...Again, and again.

His figure flickered across the battlefield like a phantom beyond mortal comprehension, leaving behind nothing but streaks of crimson light. He moved seamlessly from one strike to the next, his movements impossibly graceful—as though a lone dancer were performing a macabre dance amidst blood and fire.

There was an eerie elegance to every movement.

Every swing of the crimson lightning sword was flawless. Every step was precisely measured. Every turn flowed effortlessly into the next, yet beneath that grace lay nothing but merciless slaughter.

Wherever the blade passed, another Bael fell.

Blood burst into the air as bark-like flesh split apart beneath the scarlet edge. Thick vines were severed with effortless ease, while massive limbs spun through the air before crashing heavily onto the corrupted earth. The impact shook the ground beneath them, but before the severed remains could stir, golden flames erupted and swallowed them whole.

The Baels possessed a terrifying regenerative ability. Ordinary wounds would seal within moments, flesh and vines knitting themselves back together as though they had never been severed. Even grievous injuries could be restored in the blink of an eye, allowing the monstrous creatures to rise again and continue fighting as if nothing had happened.

But against Zhao Li Xin’s sword, that terrifying ability was rendered utterly useless.

Crimson lightning coiled around every wound like a divine curse, burrowing deep into their flesh. The vicious energy devoured their vitality, scorching away the life force that sustained them and preventing their wounds from healing.

For the first time, the Baels could not regenerate.

Zhao Li Xin’s sword struck, and golden Immortal flames engulfed their bodies, incinerating flesh, bark, and corrupted vines alike. The Immortal flames obliterated everything in their path, leaving nothing but drifting ash.

Agonized screams echoed across the valley as the monstrous creatures were mercilessly reduced to ash, one by one. It was no longer a battle, but a mere slaughter.

The soldiers, who had previously fought desperately for survival, slowly lowered their weapons, their eyes filled with shock and horror. Even the commanders forgot to issue orders.

Leon, who had just moments ago carved a path through the horde of monsters, instinctively halted. He turned his gaze toward Zhao Li Xin’s back, and a smile slowly spread across his face.

Everyone watched as the figure clad in black calmly strode through the sea of monsters. Blood splattered from his sword, tracing arcs of death through the air with effortless grace, as if he were merely trimming blades of grass.

Every swing was fluid, every movement precise, while golden divine flames danced around him like loyal spirits, obeying his every command.

The pungent stench of fresh blood mingled with the sickening odor of burning corruption, filling the battlefield with an almost suffocating haze.

At that moment...

No one could tell who the real monster was—the Baels or the man who slaughtered them with the cold, merciless calm of a grim reaper. As the last Bael collapsed, an eerie silence descended upon the battlefield. Zhao Li Xin stood amid the carnage, his expression as cold and indifferent as ever.

The crimson sword in his hand flickered like a dying flame before dissolving into the air, vanishing as though it had never existed.

He remained standing amidst the sea of corpses, utterly still.

Blood streaked his exquisite features, trailing down his jaw in thin, crimson lines. His black clothes were soaked and stained so thoroughly that they seemed to drink in the blood, becoming darker with every drop.

There was something profoundly eerie about the sight.

He no longer looked like a man. He looked like something that had merely borrowed the shape of one.

There was no rage in his eyes. No excitement. No thrill from the slaughter surrounding him. Only an endless, chilling void—as though the bloodshed at his feet held no meaning whatsoever.

What remained was the man he had once been. A demon incarnate. A merciless creature that had crawled out from the deepest, darkest abyss, dragged itself into the light, and walked upon the earth once more.

His dark eyes burned with undisguised savagery, cold and feral, carrying a killing intent so profound that even the air around him seemed to grow heavy.

No one dared approach.

No one even dared breathe too loudly.

For standing amidst the mountain of corpses was no longer merely a man. It was a calamity wearing human skin.

Zhao Li Xin turned and walked back toward the others, each step slow and deliberate. Instinctively, everyone took a step back as he approached, as no one dared stand in his path.

Leon, however, remained rooted to the spot. He watched Zhao Li Xin approach without fear, only quiet curiosity flickering in his eyes. He couldn’t help but wonder what could have possibly rattled this seemingly emotionless man to such a degree.

Zhao Li Xin stopped before him. His expression remained cold and unreadable, but something in his eyes had changed. Beneath that terrifying stillness lurked something far more dangerous than rage.

His voice was quiet, it was terrifyingly calm. "The Cestine Palace was attacked yesterday."

Leon’s eyes widened in shock. "What?!"

Zhao Li Xin met his gaze, his eyes colder than the depths of winter.

"We’re going home." A brief silence followed.

Then his next words fell like an unquestionable decree.

"Now." It was not a suggestion, it was an order.

_____________________________________________

Without wasting any more time, Zhao Li Xin departed from Xiya Country in haste, without following the customary procedures or taking the time to bid farewell to President Zhang Yu Wei.

Normally, there would have been a farewell ceremony, a polite exchange of words, and certainly time for the formalities expected between a guest and the ruler of a nation.

But not today.

The moment Zhao Li Xin learned that the Cestine Palace had come under attack, nothing else mattered.

He simply left.

Leon, who couldn’t help but feel worried, chose to follow Zhao Li Xin back. Neither of them bothered to pack the belongings they had left behind in the Xiya State Palace. Most of Zhao Li Xin’s possessions had already been stored inside his spatial ring, leaving him with practically nothing to gather.

In fact, the room he had occupied during his stay remained almost exactly as it had been when he first arrived. Anyone could see that the bed had barely been used. The sheets remained smooth and undisturbed, the room clean and pristine, almost as though no one had ever lived there.

Leon’s situation was considerably different. His belongings, along with those of the other Harland personnel, still needed to be collected. Fortunately, Leon had left a representative from Harland behind to explain the situation to Zhang Yu Wei and handle the necessary pleasantries on their behalf.

By the time the representative arrived at the State Palace, Zhao Li Xin and Leon were already aboard the high-speed aircraft.

The aircraft shot into the sky, leaving Xiya Country behind.

Meanwhile, inside the cabin, Zhao Li Xin sat in silence. The atmosphere around him was heavy. His expression had remained cold ever since he received the news, but the longer they traveled, the more tightly his brows drew together.

He checked the latest news reports again, just in case there had been any updates. Yet, aside from reports of the attack on Cestine Palace, there were no reports of casualties or damage to the palace itself.

Wasn’t that a good sign?

It meant the attack had likely been brought under control. After all, with Lucas, Fredhardt, and the others guarding Cestine Palace, was it really possible for anything bad to have happened to Lory? She ought to be safe...Right?

Unfortunately, there had been many times in the past when he had nearly lost Lory in completely unexpected situations, and it had happened more than once. There were moments when he truly believed Lory was gone forever, only for her to miraculously return to him.

Those experiences had left deep emotional scars, further compounded by his naturally paranoid nature regarding Lory’s safety.

His hands repeatedly clenched and unclenched, betraying his agitation. His mind began to conjure up every possible scenario, each one seeming worse than the last. He could not stand it anymore. Zhao Li Xin grabbed his phone and pressed the call button. The call immediately connected to Lory’s number.

Moments later, the ringing tone sounded on the other end.

Then he waited...And waited.

Yet, after a long while, no one answered. Instead, an automated voice message played, stating that the number was unreachable and asking him to try again later.

Zhao Li Xin’s expression tightened. He tried again, but the result was the same. No one answered. He subconsciously held his breath as panic began to engulf him.

Usually, Lory answered his calls almost immediately. Even when she was busy and couldn’t pick up, the call would still go through. But this time, Lory’s phone seemed to be turned off, or completely out of reach.

His fingers tightened around the phone. Then, he suddenly remembered the people who supposed to be with Lory, watching her right now.

Lucas!

If something had happened, Lucas would surely know. Zhao Li Xin immediately called him, but strangely, the same thing happened. Just like Lory, Lucas’s phone was unreachable as well. The annoying automated voice played the same message again, and Zhao Li Xin’s heart sank.

Leon noticed the change in Zhao Li Xin’s expression and finally spoke. "Don’t worry too much. There’s a reason you can’t reach anyone inside the palace."

Zhao Li Xin’s dark eyes shifted toward him almost immediately.

Leon continued, "Cestine Palace has an emergency security protocol. Whenever the palace comes under attack, all communications inside the palace are automatically jammed. It’s meant to prevent information from leaking, whether accidentally or deliberately."

Zhao Li Xin remained silent.

"So, the fact that you can’t contact them doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong," Leon explained. "If anything, it probably means the security protocol is working as intended, and since there have been no reports of casualties or damage given to me, the situation inside should already be under control."

His explanation was perfectly reasonable. Under normal circumstances, it would have been enough to calm anyone down.

But it wasn’t enough for Zhao Li Xin—especially when you had a fearless woman like Lory as your wife.

Zhao Li Xin knew Lory’s character far too well. He knew exactly what kind of person she was. Lory had never been good at sitting safely on the sidelines while danger unfolded around her.

Even when she had once lost her powers and was practically defenseless, she had still thrown herself into battle rather than stand by and watch others fight for her.

She had always been like that.

Stubborn, reckless, and far too willing to put herself in danger for the people she cared about. In normal situations, that might have been manageable.

But now she was pregnant, and her powers had become unstable. Her power was like a short circuit—sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t, and sometimes it exploded without warning.

That fact should have made her more cautious, but not her.

Pregnancy alone would never be enough to stop her from taking risks when the people around her were in danger.

Zhao Li Xin’s jaw tightened as he lowered his gaze to the silent phone in his hand. Until he saw Lory with his own eyes, until he could personally confirm that she and their unborn child were unharmed, no explanation could truly put his mind at ease.

The aircraft continued racing toward Harland.

With every passing second, Zhao Li Xin’s impatience grew thinner, and thinner. So much so that the moment the aircraft touched down at the military base, he didn’t even bother waiting for the engines to fully power down.

The instant his feet touched the ground, his figure blurred.

Whoosh!

He activated his Qinggong and vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving behind nothing but a fleeting afterimage.

Leon could only stare at the empty space where he had been standing moments ago.

"Yep, there’s he goes..." He let out a long sigh.

Leon shook his head before immediately summoning one of his subordinates, "Give me a full report on what happened at Cestine Palace."