After that night, Zhang Yong returned the swords to their place without damage. No one would ever know what happened.
The next day, in the morning, Tatsumi, Lubbock, and Leone left for the capital, while Zhang Yong stayed in his room all day, trying to stabilize his training from the rapid breakthroughs in his fight with Budo two days earlier.
When he finally came out of his room, it was already night.
"Alright, I'll go bother Budo again now. Then I need to focus on the path of Talismans and arrays. As long as my attainment reaches 80%, I'll be able to use spells and arrays without any auxiliary tools." Zhang Yong smiled lightly.
He leaped quickly, changing his clothes and putting on his mask mid-air as he prepared.
Zhang Yong infiltrated the palace walls with ease, using Earth Folding Technique to appear directly in General Budo's training ground.
But this time, the ground was not empty.
Budo stood in the center, surrounded by twenty elite palace guards. Behind him, on a raised platform, Esdeath sat reclining on a chair made of ice, her blue eyes watching the scene coldly.
"Did you think we wouldn't be prepared for you?" Budo roared, pointing at Zhang Yong. "This time, you won't escape!"
Zhang Yong smiled behind his mask and bowed to Budo. "It's my pleasure to know that both of the Empire's generals are uniting against me. But isn't this a bit much? Bringing the guards... and the Jaegers?"
Esdeath, sitting on her ice chair, smiled coldly as she stood. "Masked one, you have crossed all boundaries. Hunting you will be the Jaegers' first official mission."
"Masked one?" A sudden laugh came from behind the mask as Zhang Yong tilted his head. "Oh, what a name. But I'd prefer you call me by my title. The Heavenly Demon is at your service." Zhang Yong bowed, one arm behind his back and the other across his chest. He looked like the Joker.
Budo charged first, his black lightning tearing through the air. "Die!"
"Oh, how rude to attack someone while they're introducing themselves." Zhang Yong smiled behind the mask.
'This should be my last time visiting this place. I need to absorb what I can.' Zhang Yong thought calmly as he analyzed his situation.
Lightning Path - Disaster Charge!
Zhang Yong absorbed the lightning into his body again, but this time, Budo was ready.
He had already noticed: when Zhang Yong absorbs lightning, his body stops moving.
Esdeath didn't wait. With a touch of her finger, the air around Zhang Yong turned into sharp ice blades!
The ice blades exploded around Zhang Yong while he was still absorbing Budo's lightning. Blood splattered from his body as the blades pierced his flesh, but his smile behind the mask remained unshaken.
"Oh, that hurts!" Zhang Yong laughed with a muffled voice as his body convulsed from the double shock of lightning and ice.
[Host has broken through to Level 45]
Esdeath, now standing on her ice platform, raised an eyebrow in surprise. "What is this...? How is he still standing?"
Wood Path - Sacred Wood Art
Zhang Yong's wounds began to heal before their eyes, torn flesh reshaping itself with unnatural speed. Even the blood flowing from his wounds began to disappear as he healed.
"Impossible!" Budo shouted, his eyes widening in horror. "What kind of black magic is this? Not even a Teigu has such healing abilities."
Zhang Yong bowed, his voice sounding cheerful as he jumped and laughed like a clown. "Hoho, this is exciting. Thank you for this hearty meal. As a special thanks..." Suddenly, Zhang Yong stopped moving, and his voice turned rough. "Why don't I play seriously for a bit?"
Zhang Yong raised his hand, and a frozen glow appeared in his palm.
Ice Path - Ice Dance
Pillars of ice exploded from the ground around him, intertwining to form a giant dragon made of the ice element. The dragon roared with a sound that shook the palace, then pounced on the surrounding guards.
"Don't retreat!" one of the Jaegers, Bols, shouted as he unleashed flames from his Teigu, Rubicante, toward the dragon. But the flames had no effect on it.
Bols could only stare in shock. Rubicante possessed unquenchable fire — why hadn't it worked on the dragon?
But this was natural. After recovering the Millennium Tree of Life, the ice properties within Zhang Yong's body had been strengthened. Unless a person possessed absolute fire , they could only dream of melting absolute ice.
Suddenly, a figure in blue armor leaped toward Zhang Yong. He recognized him at a glance — it was Wave. With a quick maneuver, he redirected the dragon and struck Wave, sending him flying far away toward the palace.
Kurome rushed forward with the Yatsufusa sword, trying to cut off the dragon's head. Her eight puppets followed her in the attack, but Zhang Yong was faster.
Heaven-smashing Sword - Twilight Gleam
Zhang Yong's sword cut through the air with a golden flash, slicing four of the puppets in a single strike.
But Kurome evaded the blow with agility, then resumed her attack with astonishing speed.
"Oh, little girl, it seems you won't live long." Zhang Yong whispered as he dodged her strikes. "You resemble someone on a wanted poster. Heh."
Kurome didn't reply, only doubled her attacks. But Zhang Yong stepped forward and kicked her in the stomach, sending her flying far away.
Ran, who was hovering in the air with Mastema's wings, unleashed a barrage of sharp feathers. Zhang Yong raised his hand, and an ice wall appeared, blocking the feathers. With a flick of his hand, he sent a volley of ice arrows toward Ran.
"Siryu, now!" Ran shouted as he dodged the arrows.
Suddenly, the biological Teigu Koro appeared behind Zhang Yong. In an instant, Zhang Yong used Earth Folding Technique, bypassed Koro directly, and drove his sword through Siryu's shoulder.
"Aah!" Siryu bent over in pain, while Koro began to roar in anger.
Esdeath, who had been watching the battle coldly, finally began to move. "There's nothing better than strong prey." She licked her lips, her gaze fierce — like a predator watching its prey.
She raised her hand, and the temperature around her suddenly dropped below freezing. A thick ice wall began to form around Zhang Yong, trying to freeze him in place. But Zhang Yong only laughed.
"Esdeath... yes, among everyone, you are the number one danger. The strongest in the world." He said this as he raised his hands.
The Millennium Tree of Life rose in his hand, and his red spirit ring glowed.
Third Spirit Ring - Wrath of the Ice Empress
A tremendous pressure exploded from his body, shattering the ice into fragments.
The shockwave sent everyone around him rolling away. The only one who remained standing was Budo.
The training ground was completely torn apart. Walls cracked, the ground split, and the guards who had been standing at the front fell to the ground, some unconscious, others bleeding from their ears from the shock.
Esdeath held onto her hat, her expression changing as she watched the battle. Then she ordered, "Jaegers, withdraw."
Hearing the order, they dared not object and retreated a few steps back.
"General Esdeath is very wise." Zhang Yong clapped his hands, then raised his thumb. "She truly cares about her subordinates. No wonder they are so loyal to her."
Esdeath leaped from her position and stood in front of Zhang Yong. The distance between them was exactly 11 meters.
"You are strong, and I respect that." Esdeath looked directly into Zhang Yong's eyes. Her cold gaze and smile were enough to make cold sweat run down the back of anyone watching. "I underestimated you... you're worthy of My personal intervention."
"Of course, General Esdeath. The person standing here is the Heavenly Demon."
Suddenly, a young man appeared from behind — short black hair, green eyes, dressed in a formal suit, walking calmly toward the two with both hands in his pockets.
"Supreme Commander Arthur, what are you doing here?" Esdeath's voice suddenly turned extremely cold, as if she hated this person, loathed him, and wanted to tear the flesh from his bones.
"I heard that someone had been bothering the two generals, so I had to intervene." He then stopped directly in front of Zhang Yong.
Zhang Yong looked at him, holding his sword. 'So this is Arthur. Yes, one thing is certain... this person is not from this world.'
"So this is the famous Supreme Commander. It's an honor to meet you." Zhang Yong bowed in an exaggerated manner. He still had to complete his act to the end.
"Alright, alright. You have a sense of courtesy. You've caused trouble here, and it seems everyone here has suffered damage, yet you remain unharmed, which has caused anger. You haven't killed anyone — even if you succeeded in getting rid of some, they were unimportant. So, what do you think of this offer? Receive three strikes from one of the generals. If you survive them, we will allow you to leave on the condition that you do not return." Arthur smiled calmly, and his smile seemed as radiant as the sun.
'A tempting offer... but it has more disadvantages than advantages.' Zhang Yong thought, his grip tightening on his sword. 'I'll cut off his head!'
Nevertheless, Arthur stepped back. "Please, this is a special offer only. There's no need to cut off my head."
'What?! Impossible. That's a coincidence. Just a coincidence. I'll cut him in half.' Zhang Yong thought, intending to move.
"Oh, and there's no need to cut me in half in such a brutal way. I've offered you solutions, and I hope you'll consider them." Arthur said with a calm smile.
'This young man... impossible. Is he reading minds? If so, let's try this. I'll stick my fingers in his eyes, gouge them out, and cut off his legs. Then I'll try cutting off his legs after that.' Zhang Yong watched coldly, waiting for him to jump, move, or any change, even in muscle movement. But...
Nothing.
A heavy silence fell over the destroyed training ground. Zhang Yong stared at Arthur with eyes shining with caution and curiosity.
'Not a mind reader? I can't take the risk. I must retreat.' Zhang Yong thought quickly.
"Then..." Zhang Yong said in a calm voice, adjusting his grip on his sword. "You're suggesting that I receive three strikes from one of the generals?"
Arthur smiled innocently. "Exactly! It's a fair chance for everyone."
Budo, standing to the side, his eyes flashing with suppressed anger, said, "I do not agree to this farce. This criminal must be punished!"
"General Budo, do you not trust your own abilities?" Arthur said, turning to him with a smile. "Three strikes from you would be enough to bring down anyone."
Zhang Yong turned his sword coolly, then sheathed it slowly. "Three strikes from General Budo? Very well... I accept the challenge."
"Good!" Arthur replied with a smile. "Three strikes from General Budo. If you remain standing, you will leave peacefully. If you fall... well, we will take special care of you."
Esdeath whispered coldly, "What a waste. I wanted to try new torture methods on him."
Arthur turned to her. "Isn't it more fun to watch a good show? Especially one that ends with a roasted corpse."
Zhang Yong took a ready stance, his legs apart and arms extended. "Alright, old man. Show me what you've got!"
Budo roared like a beast, his black lightning beginning to swirl around his arms. "I'll turn him to ash in a single strike!"
Budo charged forward like a hurricane, his right hand charged with dense black lightning. "Die!"
The strike hit Zhang Yong's stomach directly. A shockwave shook the ground. The black lightning coiled around his body, trying to tear him apart from the inside.
But Zhang Yong remained standing, his eyes closed, his body absorbing the energy like a sponge.
[Host has risen to Level 47]
"One." Zhang Yong whispered as he opened his eyes, which now flickered with a spark of black lightning. "Give me your strongest attack!"
Anger overtook Budo instantly. This time, he gathered all his energy into his left fist, concentrating the lightning until it became like a black sphere. Instead of releasing it, he caused it to surround his fist.
This strike was three times stronger. It hit Zhang Yong's face directly!
[Host has risen to Level 49]
A shockwave exploded, sending dust flying in all directions.
When the dust settled, Zhang Yong was still standing, but his mask had shattered, revealing half of his face disfigured by burns. Fortunately, he had adjusted his face with acupuncture points, but the injury would impede his vision.
Life Path - Damage Transfer
Zhang Yong placed his hand on his face, then slid it toward his left forearm. The burn disappeared from his face — rather, it was transferred from his face to his arm.
Budo was now trembling, not from exhaustion, but from terror. "What... what kind of demon is this?!"
Esdeath, who had been watching with a cold smile, raised her eyebrows slightly. "Interesting..."
"One strike remains." Zhang Yong pointed to his head and smiled. "Make sure you don't miss."
"You won't defeat me with this nonsense!" Budo roared, raising both hands toward the sky. The black lightning began to swirl around him like a tornado, the air groaning under the pressure.
"Solid Shooter!"
A dense black beam exploded from Budo's chest, twice as thick as the previous one, scorching the air in its path toward Zhang Yong.
The strike was so powerful that the ground behind Zhang Yong split open before the lightning even touched him!
The impact caused an explosion that shook the palace pillars. The guards standing at a distance fell to the ground from the shockwave.
When the dust rose... Zhang Yong was standing in a deep hole in the wall. His body was burning with black sparks, but his eyes still glowed behind the partially burned mask.
"Ah... that was good." He said as he slowly emerged from the hole.
[Host has risen to Level 50]
[The seal on the energy within the host's body has been lifted]
[Host has risen to Level 52]
Zhang Yong slowly emerged from the hole, his steps heavy but steady. "I have fulfilled my part of the deal... and now I will leave." He said in a hoarse voice, blood flowing from the corners of his mouth.
Arthur quickly raised his hand. "Wait! Who are you really? No one with such power has ever suddenly appeared before." He seemed somewhat angry beneath the surface.
Zhang Yong smiled beneath his shattered mask. "I told you... I am the Heavenly Demon." Then he slowly turned his back to them.
Esdeath snarled. "You won't escape!" She raised her hand, and an ice storm began to form around Zhang Yong.
"It seems you won't let me leave easily?" Zhang Yong turned around, and a yellow light appeared in his hand.
Light Path - Sacred Bow
A bow made of light appeared in Zhang Yong's hand, radiant enough to almost blind the eyes. The bow was completely intangible, made of light, and looked magnificent.
"This..." Arthur whispered, his green eyes staring in amazement. "Incredible."
Esdeath didn't wait. She unleashed an ice storm toward Zhang Yong, but he was faster.
Archery Path - Sun Archery Art
An arrow of light shot from Zhang Yong's bow, cutting through the ice storm like mist.
The bright white light pierced through all obstacles, leaving behind a trail of golden sparks.
"Hmph. Sun Archery Art. Though the sun is far away and the attack is small, it was designed to pierce the sun. How could your nonsense affect it?" Zhang Yong mocked coldly.
The arrow pierced through it as if it didn't exist, embedding itself directly into the heart of the palace wall behind her.
Explosion!
The white light turned into a tremendous shockwave, tearing apart the massive stone wall as if it were a thin sheet of paper.
Dust and debris scattered everywhere, and the white light flooded the training ground for seconds, forcing everyone to close their eyes.
When vision returned... Zhang Yong had disappeared.