Once the Lord donned the crown again, his form swelled with renewed vigor—broad, towering over two meters, a figure of raw power.

  A massive blue spiritual blade-lance coalesced in his grip. Gem after gem ignited across his ice-blue battle armor.

  “This is not your battlefield. If the words of this fire-essence man are true, then I will fight them to the death.”

  Yan Tang stood awed by the sheer force radiating from him, yet he still traced hurried warnings in the sand. Midway through, the script halted. He flexed his restored tongue and spoke aloud for the first time.

  “I am deeply grateful for your aid, my Lord. But countless sea demons infest the depths beneath the Black Sea. I urge you—withdraw with my disciple and me. Your few remaining followers cannot hope to defeat the Lord of the Black Sea.”

  The Lord longed to heal the fire-essence warrior fully, but his last reserves of curative energy had gone to mending Yan Tang’s tongue and severed spiritual channels.

  “What—is this fire-essence man afraid?”

  “I ceased fearing death long ago. Only one thing matters: my disciple must leave here alive.”

  Yan Tang regarded Timo with paternal warmth. Master and disciple shared the same surge of exhilaration.

  “Once I crush these foul abominations,” the Lord declared, “I will part the mists and see you safely away.”

  He raised his voice to the empty hall. “Awake, warriors! Fulfill your oaths!”

  At the command, tri-elemental cultivators—each form unique—descended in streams of spiritual essence, dropping to one knee in reverence.

  “Seek shelter in the refuge,” the Lord told Yan Tang and Timo. “Await my word. Thank you for bringing news of the world above. Whatever cataclysms come, that sanctuary will remain untouched.”

  A spatial rift tore open before them. Through it they glimpsed the familiar round training stones in their cave.

  “Master—Feiyu is still outside!”

  “Fear not. We will not hunt your brother. I have opened a passage for him.”

  In the damp outer cavern, Feiyu crouched in shadow, unable to resist nibbling a few glowing green fruits.

  Suddenly the air split. A commanding voice rang out: “Enter the passage. Leave this place.”

  Feiyu leaped without hesitation, emerging instantly in the cave.

  He was still reeling when Yan Tang and Timo stepped through the rift behind him.

  A tremor shook the earth. Waves roared beyond the entrance.

  The sun had vanished below the horizon. The Black Sea churned in fury. Colossal silhouettes rose amid towering breakers, directing legions of sea demons.

  At their fore stood the Lord of the Black Sea, black spiritual blade-lance raised high. Lightning cracked and thunder rolled—yet the moment that power touched the clouds over the ancient domain, it was swallowed whole.

  “Master—if the Lord defeats the Lord of the Black Sea, does that mean we can finally leave?”

  Yan Tang dismissed Timo’s hopeful fancy with a wave.

  “The full might of nations once failed against it. How could he succeed now? No matter. We live another day—that is enough. At last I can taste the ice-fruit wine I brewed.”

  He rolled his tongue experimentally, savoring speech. “Talking again… pure joy. Pure joy! Time you learned from this, boy—train, train!”

  “Yes, Master!”

  The inner stone gate sealed with a resonant thud. Waves of energy and bold laughter echoed from within.

  Timo lingered a moment, listening. The clamor outside dwarfed anything he had known in years.

  He suppressed the urge to rush in, instead flipping rapidly through the salvaged body-technique manual. Every stance burned itself into his mind.

  Feiyu, sensing the dark summons of its true master, trembled between shock and terror. It plunged into a basin of water, listening intently to the chaos beyond.

  Meanwhile, in the Watch Legion’s territory, dusk had only just fallen. Lulu Gan moved through the trade district with Jun Zhao at her side.

  Both wore the garb of Heping Town merchants—deep brown hooded cloaks—blending into the flow of steel-framed streets aglow with neon.

  Compared to the barracks, this place mirrored the outside world.

  Ahead, three figures in Fire Essence Kingdom merchant robes emerged from the envoy trade center. They lingered, furtive and suspicious.

  “Snakes out of the hole—heading toward the Guo family mines,” Lulu murmured into her communicator.

  “Group Two copies.”

  From an eastern watchtower, Kai Yi replied, then leaped with Mei Wu and Qiang Wu into the jungle below, vanishing into ambush positions.

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  “Captain, how did you know those three were trouble?” Jun Zhao asked, trailing close like an eager shadow.

  “Real merchants come with clear purpose and little time—they buy and leave. These three window-shopped like tourists. Something’s wrong.”

  Jun Zhao nodded. The trio in fire-essence robes browsed endlessly yet purchased nothing, drifting steadily toward the forest fringe.

  “Too easy. Could it be a trap?”

  The scouts relaxed, believing themselves unseen.

  “The vaunted Watch Legion,” their leader sneered. “Nothing special after all…”

  Before he finished, three towering figures appeared at separate points.

  “Stick to the plan—split up!”

  At the whispered order, the three fire-essence agents bolted in different directions.

  Kai Yi signaled. Mei Wu and Qiang Wu pursued their marks.

  Wind essence flared beneath Kai Yi’s feet. A crackle of lightning later, his target lay unconscious on the ground.

  Mei Wu closed briefly on hers, then paused in open ground. She hefted a stone, aimed, and hurled.

  It struck true. The scout dropped, lifeless.

  Mei Wu approached with disdain, pulled back the hood—and found an essenceless slave branded with the Fire Essence mark.

  The scout leader vanished into shadow mid-flight. Qiang Wu lost the trail.

  Lulu and Jun Zhao reached Kai Yi’s position. The charred corpse smoked from lightning essence—crisp outside, raw within.

  “Captain, these snakes were too weak. Can’t be Evil Cultivators.”

  Mei Wu’s booming voice carried as she dragged her kill by the collar.

  “When Wan Lin betrayed the legion years ago, she used harmless-seeming essenceless folk. Necrotic spirit power can grant them terrifying strength.”

  At the words necrotic spirit power, Mei Wu flung the corpse away.

  “Look at this—camp layout map?”

  Kai Yi searched the body and produced a hand-drawn diagram—only half complete.

  “No mistake. Fire-essence spies are cunning—they know our amnesty for essenceless. Where’s Qiang?”

  Qiang Wu, search fruitless, prepared to call for backup.

  A blinding flash erupted before him. Dizziness overwhelmed him; consciousness fled.

  “Qiang! Where’s your snake?”

  Mei Wu’s shout received no answer from the motionless figure.

  Lulu sensed wrongness. She signaled the others to hold, then approached cautiously.

  The instant she drew near, Qiang Wu swung his battle-axe in a vicious sweep.

  The Thunder Eagle's Edge

  The battle-axe—taller than a man and gleaming with cold light—swept toward her in a deadly arc.

  Lulu Gan reacted like lightning. She flipped backward in a fluid tumble, evading not only the blade but the surge of spiritual essence laced through it.

  “Qiang—you’ve lost your mind!” Mei Wu bellowed, eyes wide with fury.

  “His eyes… pitch black. Mind control!” Jun Zhao warned.

  “He’s close,” Kai Yi said grimly, then split off with Mei Wu to scour the shadows.

  The scout leader lurked unseen, studying the merchant-clad figures. He could not place them.

  “Whoever you are—die.”

  As Kai Yi hacked at patches of darkness, the leader forced Qiang Wu into a towering leap, axe aimed at Kai Yi’s unguarded back.

  “Kai—six o’clock!”

  Jun Zhao’s shout rang out. Stone shattered; earth cracked in a spiderweb of fissures.

  Kai Yi twisted aside in a blur. A faint smile touched his lips. Blade flashed—severing the shadowy humanoid’s head in one clean stroke.

  “Shield!”

  Jun Zhao raised an energy barrier around the group.

  “Qiang, snap out of it—you’re embarrassing yourself!” Mei Wu snarled, stepping forward as if to throttle her brother.

  “Don’t,” Kai Yi cautioned. “He’s not awake yet.”

  The decapitated shadow dissolved into nothing.

  Laughter echoed through the trees—mocking, unhinged.

  “Whoever you serve… bad luck running into me today.”

  A blinding flare erupted. Vision blurred; limbs grew heavy.

  They froze in place. Mei Wu’s quick hands slipped tactical goggles over her eyes.

  “Found you.”

  Lulu shut her eyes, listening. She vanished in a whisper of movement.

  She reappeared mid-air above the scout leader, boot slamming into his chest. He crashed from the branch, stone shackles courtesy of Mei Wu binding him fast.

  “What…?” Qiang Wu blinked awake, staring dumbly at the axe in his grip.

  “What do you think?” Mei Wu grabbed his ear and twisted. “Mind-controlled—and you couldn’t fight it. Go home. Stop shaming me.”

  “Sis—easy! I just let my guard down… Let me split him with one swing!”

  Before Qiang could advance, Lulu drew her dagger and carved a shallow line across the captive’s cheek.

  “Talk. Who are you?”

  “Kill me if you want. Fire-essence folk don’t breed cowards.”

  “No cowards, huh?” Lulu bared her teeth in a feral grin. “Perfect. We haven’t eaten all day. Nice tender meat like yours… we’ll slice it thin, grill it slow. Wonder how a fire-essence man tastes—extra smoky?”

  Her snarl silenced her teammates. They exchanged wide-eyed glances.

  “Right, boys?”

  Jun Zhao recovered first. “Yeah! Absolutely—delicious!”

  “Meat alone isn’t enough,” Lulu continued, voice dripping venom. “You’re a thought-forcer. We’ll drain your spiritual root dry—offer it to our Spirit Lord…”

  The scout’s face drained of color.

  “You… you’re Spirit Taming Cult!”

  “Your boss ever mention the rule: any outsider leaving the trade district dies?”

  “You’re—”

  Lulu’s eyes blazed. Without hesitation, her dagger punched through his chest.

  “Pah. Foreign spies never work alone. All of you—over here.”

  The four recruits shuffled forward like chastened chicks.

  “My style doesn’t match anyone’s. On missions, no names, no legion pride. Understood?”

  The burly young warriors snapped to attention.

  Lulu’s dissatisfaction flared. She kicked each in the shin.

  “Relax. Out here, forget every rule. You’re bandits now—nothing more.”

  At the order, Qiang Wu slung an arm around Jun Zhao with a roguish grin.

  Mei Wu, who chafed at discipline anyway, planted a hand on her hip and leaned against a tree, inwardly saluting her captain’s command.

  Kai Yi remained rigid. Lulu kicked his calf—once, twice. On the third, unrelenting strike, his stance loosened.

  She tipped onto her toes to hiss in his ear.

  “Kai Yi—do you want to live or die?”

  He endured the pain in silence, bound by Iron Code. Only after the third kick did his iron muscles yield.

  “Stubborn as a post. No wonder your father favors your brother. If you had half Feng Yi’s brains, you wouldn’t still be a recruit.”

  Kai Yi’s breathing quickened; resentment burned in his eyes.

  Lulu’s wicked smile widened. She roared into his face.

  “Not happy? Coward!”

  “I’m not!” Kai Yi exploded at last, face flushed, veins bulging. “I’m not!”

  “That’s a man. If you’re no coward, fight without mercy. Evil Cultivators won’t spare us pity. Want to live?”

  The four bellowed as one: “Yes!”

  “Who laughed earlier?”

  Lulu wheeled on grinning Qiang Wu, planting herself before him. She barely reached his chest.

  “Big brute, no brains—that’s you. Three chances. Touch me, and you lead Thunder Eagle.”

  Qiang Wu smirked and lunged for a bear hug takedown.

  His hands closed on air. Lulu vanished.

  She reappeared overhead, dagger plunging toward his crown.

  Qiang roared—a sonic wave of fury—then swung his axe in a devastating arc of spiritual essence that felled distant trees.

  “Too slow.”

  Lulu flickered away again.

  Cold steel pressed against Qiang Wu’s throat.

  “Want to live?”

  “Captain… I yield.”

  He had thought it play—until the blade drew blood. His grin died.

  “Want to live?”

  “YES!”

  Only when Qiang Wu roared with every ounce of strength did Lulu sheath the dagger.

  “I’ve cheated death too many times for luck. Out here, survival is on us alone.”

  Thunder essence flared around her—an immense ring of perfected power that forced their eyes half-shut.

  “Your hesitation, your carelessness, your fear—it won’t just kill you. It kills the team. One rule: use your heads. Follow orders.”

  The recruits straightened instinctively—then caught Lulu’s glare. Mei Wu barked first: “Boss—understood!”

  The others followed, voices overlapping in awkward chorus: “Boss!”

  Strange as it felt, obedience came without question.

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