As soon as the Human Emperor Banner came out, I became the Lord of the Old Ones

Chapter 206 A Drop of Blood
"Stop, stop hitting."

Sheikh Krat, barely suppressing his anger and confusion, said, "Shouldn't you be in the hospital with so many people watching you? How are they? Damn it, you're covered in blood, you didn't kill them all, did you?"

"Which hospital?"

Chu Zhifeng seemed not to understand his words, and continued to throw punches mechanically. Each punch landed solidly on the punching bag, and he let out a joyful groan.

"I don't need to go to the hospital. The defeated opponent of the Kuang Tie team is nothing but a piece of trash who can't even be a sparring partner. How could he possibly hurt me?"

He seemed to be answering his boss's question, or perhaps he was muttering to himself amidst a bizarre laugh, "Believe me, boss, I'm in great shape. I've never felt so energetic, so clear-headed, so powerful. It's as if I've torn off a membrane that's always wrapped around me, and I've been reborn, descending into a brand new, wonderful world."

"By the way, I've gained new insights into how to control the 'Silver Moon Meteor,' and I've even come up with a new, incredibly powerful skill. I'll demonstrate it for you right now!"

"Enough, fucking stop!"

Sheikh Krat has a head as big as a bucket.

Because he is suspected of using banned substances.

Besides members of the Shattered Star Club, there were also two staff members from the event organizers who were likely by Chu Zhifeng's bedside.

Chu Zhifeng, however, appeared here without informing them, as well as all the doctors, nurses, and reporters lurking around the hospital.

How exactly did he escape from the hospital?
Was anyone injured? Was anyone noticed? Were there any clues left along the way that allowed someone to follow the trail and find this place?
These questions struck Sheikh Krat's head like red-hot iron hammers, making his brain buzz and his mind feel like a boiler about to explode, unable to control the surge of anger.

"You've already lost, understand?"

He shouted, "Wake up! Tell me what happened!"

"I lost?"

Chu Zhifeng, like a machine that had run out of fuel, slowly stopped his stiff movements, tilted his head, and thought for a while.

"How can this be?"

He burst into laughter.

He walked step by step from the darkened training ground to the card sales area with the emergency lights on, exposing his deformed and distorted body to Sheikh Krat.

The owner of the Shattered Star Club gasped, hardly believing his eyes.

Chu Zhifeng at night was a completely different person from when he first stepped onto the ring during the day.

He looked like a mad scientist whose experiment had failed, his body wrapped in gauze and bandages soaked with blood.

Half of the metal brace that was fixing his cervical and lumbar vertebrae came loose, causing his neck to grow to an abnormal length.

He also forcibly tore off a large number of IV tubing and wires used to monitor bodily data, leaving them dangling like broken tentacles around his vital organs.

The bruising in his eyes caused by the brain hemorrhage did not dissipate; instead, it spread like dark purple fungal patches, making him look like he was wearing a bizarre, blood-stained mask.

The strangest thing was his eyes, which glowed with an eerie light, making it impossible to tell whether something was missing or added compared to his normal state.

When he stared intently at Sheikh Krat, even this top figure who had dominated Dawn City for decades felt a chill run down his spine.

He is not Chu Zhifeng.

Sheikh Krat felt a chill run down his spine, this bizarre thought arising for no apparent reason. No, it wasn't even a person, but some kind of flesh and blood puppet driven by Chu Zhifeng's most insane ambition and strongest obsession, some kind of... pseudo-human!
"How could I possibly lose?"

Chu Zhifeng did not see his own bizarre appearance reflected in his boss's suddenly contracting pupils.

He walked over step by step. "You once said that I am the most talented spirit master you have ever seen. As long as I am willing to give up the hopeless no-card strategy, you will spare no expense to make me the invincible ace of the Shattered Star team, and even the pride of the entire Dawn City!"

"You also said that 'Silver Moon Meteor' is the most advanced and powerful bronze combat card. As long as I take a tiny bit of insignificant medicine, I can unleash 100% of its power and sweep away all opponents with overwhelming force."

"You personally promised that I would create an even more amazing miracle than during the Crazy Iron Team era. All the audiences would cheer for me, applaud for me, and go crazy for me. This Dawn Cup is destined to belong to me, 'Blade Warrior' Chu Zhifeng!"
"So how could I lose? How could I possibly lose!"

He suddenly flew into a rage without warning.

His wounds tore open again, and even several layers of bandages couldn't stop the blood from dripping out, quickly forming a small pool of blood at his feet.

Strangely, subtle ripples emanated from the pool of blood and the series of bloody footprints behind him, as if some kind of living monster was writhing in the shadows.

Sheikh Krat swallowed hard, his eyes darting around.

"No, don't get excited, Chu Zhifeng, of course you didn't lose! You are my best Spirit Master, the last hope of the Shattered Star Team!"

He took two steps back and stammered, "No, that's right. The situation is very bad right now. Even 'Golden Boy' Carlos has lost to his opponent. Only you are left to turn the tide."

"However, I am not worried at all, because no one else matters. As long as I have you, that is enough. You will definitely be able to overcome all obstacles and win the Dawn Cup!"

"Then you stay here and train hard. I need to go and discuss tomorrow's tactics with the coaching team. We'll come back to you when it's light."

"Keep training going, don't let us down, the Shattered Star team is counting on you!"

As he spoke, he carefully moved toward the door, carrying a package filled with crystal coins, sealed cards, and top-secret documents.

"That's good. Don't worry, I won't let everyone down."

Chu Zhifeng laughed, a laugh that was both incredibly bright and incredibly terrifying, before turning his attention back to the blood-stained punching bag.

Sheikh Krat breathed a slight sigh of relief, quickened his pace, and grasped the door handle.

Just then, a very faint "whoosh" sound came from behind.

His pupils instantly contracted to two pinpoints. Instinctively, he turned his head slightly to the left, and felt a gust of wind brush past his temple, turning into a streak of scarlet lightning that gently pierced the wall in front of him.

A faint smell of burning came from his hair.

A hole the size of a pinhole appeared in the wall, and a strange, bloody smell emanated from it.

When the bloody afterimage on his retina was transformed into photoelectric signals and transmitted deep into his brain, he was able to analyze what exactly was attacking him.

His face was extremely pale.

It was a drop of blood.

Chu Zhifeng flicked a drop of blood with his finger.

(End of this chapter)