Chapter 112: The Massacre

The resurrection of Thoris left not only Niu Kun but the entire audience in a state of profound shock and disbelief.

"What is happening? Thoris is standing again!"
"How is this possible? He was clearly incapacitated and unable to move!"
"This warlock is truly something else! He is formidable; Niu Kun is in serious trouble now!"

On the high platform, the leaders of the major factions wore expressions of astonishment. The elderly man standing behind Young Master Huang, a person of vast experience, furrowed his brows and whispered to him, "Young Master, this man is likely a Blood Mage from the Molo Society! He is currently employing the most sinister and malevolent form of corpse-control sorcery."

"What? The Molo Society? Are they trying to extend their reach from the southwestern frontier all the way to the coast?"
"Young Master, do not speak so loudly. The Huang family’s influence is currently waning; we must be careful not to invite trouble."

The two men from the Huang family gazed at the figure in the black robe on the arena, their faces clouded with worry. Meanwhile, Sister Hu, who stood behind Wang Lisha, clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her teeth were gritted in deep, hidden resentment as she muttered to herself, "The Molo Society, a Blood Mage! I have finally found you again!"

On the arena, Niu Kun silently assessed the injuries he had sustained from Thoris’s sneak attack, a flicker of alarm crossing his eyes. *What is going on? I killed Thoris—why is he alive? No, he was definitely dead. That means the one behind this is the man in the black robe! I must strike at the head to catch the thief. I will risk it all!*

Ceasing all attempts to hold back, Niu Kun unleashed his full power. His internal energy erupted, revealing the peak strength of an internal martial artist.

"Storming the Southern Heaven Gate!"

The Great Sage Pigua style was a fusion of two ancient arts: the Great Sage style, known for its agile, monkey-like movements, and the Pigua style, known for its fierce, explosive power. It was a perfect blend of offense and defense.

"Roar!"

As Thoris charged, Niu Kun transformed into a blur of motion, hunching his body to narrowly evade the mindless, chaotic onslaught. He then crouched, toes digging into the floor, hands forming claws. He twitched and scratched, mimicking the agile movements of a monkey.

*Boom!*

Thoris’s movements were rigid and stiff, unable to get close. Niu Kun darted across the arena, closing the distance in a few flashes before launching himself at the black-robed man, his body snapping straight like a coiled spring. He channeled the explosive power of his waist and legs into a single strike.

"The Great Sage Knocks at the Gate!"

Niu Kun’s palms slammed together, and using the momentum of his body snapping upright, he drove his palms upward in a devastating strike. This blow carried far more force than the one that had originally felled Thoris.

The black-robed man listened to the whistling wind of the palm strike with utter indifference. "You think a warlock is fragile and vulnerable? How ignorant!"

"What?"

Niu Kun suddenly saw a flash of red. Before he could react, his body was hoisted into the air. His limbs felt as if they were bound by steel cables, rendering him completely unable to struggle.

"What is this? Let me go!"

High above, Lin Feng watched the scene, shaking his head slightly as he saw Niu Kun suspended in the air, his limbs constricted by blood-red hands emerging from a swirling gourd of blood. "A mere trick of water manipulation turned into blood manipulation. A petty skill."

In stark contrast to Lin Feng’s calm, the entire venue gasped in unison. They had all witnessed the sheer speed and power of Niu Kun’s strike. Even among martial artists at the Transformation Realm, such a blow was rare, yet this warlock had neutralized it with effortless ease. It was a terrifying display of a warlock’s power.

"Heh, heh, heh..." The man in the black robe let out a strange, guttural laugh. A glint of bloodlust flickered in his eyes as he raised his right hand and snapped his fingers.

*Snap!*

The five blood-red hands exerted force simultaneously. Niu Kun let out a blood-curdling scream, and within moments, he was torn limb from limb before the eyes of the horrified crowd. Severed limbs, blood, and internal organs sprayed across the arena, painting the stage in a gruesome display of violence.

"Ugh!" Many in the audience could not suppress their disgust and began to retch. A chilling silence descended upon the venue; one could hear a pin drop.

Lin Feng alone frowned. This man was pathologically bloodthirsty. To kill an opponent was one thing, but to derive such pleasure from the torture and slaughter of the weak revealed a deeply twisted psyche. Throughout the massive stadium, everyone’s face turned pale; they were covered in goosebumps, afraid to even breathe.

A suffocating atmosphere of terror spread through the arena. Even the leaders of the major factions on the high platform sat with grim expressions, not daring to utter a word. This was exactly what the black-robed man intended. As an external force seeking to dominate these proud and arrogant factions, the most direct and effective method was the rule of blood and terror. By suppressing all signs of rebellion with the most horrific means, he would establish his authority and force everyone into submission. With this, the Molo Society would completely seize control of the five coastal provinces.

"Wonderful! The Mage is truly powerful! Ladies and gentlemen, I, Liu Ke, hereby recommend myself as the leader of the five provinces' underworld and the Alliance Master of the Martial Arts. Does anyone object?"

Seeing that the moment was ripe, Liu Ke jumped out with a beaming smile, ready to claim the title. For a time, no one on the high platform dared to speak; they remained as silent as cicadas in winter.

"Hahaha, since no one objects, I, Liu Ke, will accept the honor. From—"

"Wait. I, Hu Lichun, do not agree."

While everyone else cowered in fear, the woman behind Wang Lisha stepped forward.

"Sister Hu, I know you have a blood feud with the Molo Society, but this man is far too strong. You..."
"President, ever since I joined the Tianzhao Association, I have never once disobeyed your orders. But today, for the sake of the dozens of lives in the Hu family, I must go!"
"But... you... sigh, very well. Go."

Wang Lisha looked at Hu Lichun, whose eyes were bloodshot and filled with overwhelming hatred. Unable to find the words to dissuade her, she could only sigh and let her go.

"Oh? To think that a group of grown men wouldn't dare say a word, only for some middle-aged woman to step out. You all really are pathetic!" Liu Ke sneered, gesturing mockingly as Hu Lichun climbed onto the arena.

Hu Lichun walked with her head held high, as if marching toward her own martyrdom.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. To think that after tearing a rash youth apart, a nagging old woman comes along. Good, good! It seems the five coastal provinces are full of fools. This will be a slaughter to savor!" The black-robed man’s blood-red eyes locked onto Hu Lichun, his voice cold and eerie.

At this moment, Liu Ke, emboldened, walked to the railing and picked up a microphone, laughing loudly: "Mage, this old woman is seeking her own death! Be so kind as to slice her to pieces while she is still alive! And let it be known: whoever steps onto this stage next will be carved into three thousand seven hundred pieces. The Mage is quite an expert—he ensures you won't die until the very last cut!"

These terrifying, gruesome words were broadcast throughout the entire venue, effectively turning what was meant to be a martial arts tournament into an abattoir. Everyone in the arena swallowed hard, beads of cold sweat breaking out across their brows.