Dragon Clan: I am Lu Mingfei, the Intelligence Strategist, the God of Concepts!

Chapter 140 Lu Mingfei: A Truly Unexpected Joy (1.1 words)

The way the king made his entrance was undoubtedly extremely impressive.

Using the flickering lights, they appear like ghostly phantoms, combined with the chilling sound of clappers, creating a sense of oppression and terror from the dead in the underworld. The absurd and grotesque masks of nobles seem to have devoured the flesh and blood of countless living beings. Just by standing there quietly, one can almost hear their eerie, cackling laughter.

only……

This is not the real king or general yet.

Lu Mingfei glanced at the pale and miserable mask.

And the exclamation mark on the top of the mask.

The dazzling overhead light of the Paradise Pavilion illuminated every detail of the mask, which fit snugly against every inch of the face, as if it were an extension of the mask itself. That chilling smile and noble face were his natural features.

If it weren't for his black hair, which resembled knotted straw, his weathered voice, and his unsteady gait, which suggested that this King of Ghosts was likely an old man, one might even question his age.

He truly deserves to be the most mysterious member of the Demon Clan.

Of course, there was no doubt about this in front of Lu Mingfei.

[Name: Rory Nelson], [Age: 35/36], [Affection Level: -6], [Combat Strength: 89], [Special Status: Deep Hypnosis, Dragon Blood Contamination, Half-Deadpool Transformation], [Tags: Dr. Nelson, Monster, Outstanding Experimental Subject of the Third Generation Shadow Warrior Project...]

"They're not even Japanese."

Lu Mingfei secretly pursed his lips, then suddenly felt a little disappointed.

In his 'Word of Power: Bloodline Binding' perception, the two thickest lines remained fixed on the top floor and the basement.

The shadow warrior in front of us came from the underground area.

But he was still just a nobody.

however,
Wang Jiang was unaware of what Lu Mingfei was seeing, thinking, and feeling at that moment.
"Gamblers, money, killing, desire, life, ecstasy."

The king emerged from beneath his black haori, his aged hands, like eagle claws, raised high, and chanted an aria that resembled a ukiyo-e painting. With each word he uttered, his voice rose higher and higher until the word 'paradise' reached its peak.

He seemed to be trembling violently all over.

The body was only forty years old, but the skin and wrinkles on its hands were no different from those of an elderly person in their eighties.

Immediately, his hands swung down sharply, like a commander leading a thousand troops. His black feathered robe suddenly rose like a great wing, casting a huge shadow that enveloped everything in front of and behind him.

“That’s awesome!”

this moment,
He is a hideous demon, a flamboyant dancer, and a wise man who fools all living beings.

Multiple complex and contrasting personalities are perfectly blended together.
I love nights like this!

After a long while, accompanied by slow exhalations, white mist emanated from between the blackened teeth of the Noh mask, and the vocal climax, which had reached its peak, poured down, conveying the old man's satisfaction, pleasure, and lingering enjoyment.

Aloof, mad, repressed, satisfied.

It's hard to imagine which layer truly represents the essence of the King. The black haori and Noh mask act like impenetrable barriers, enveloping him. This is the source of the King's mystique and the core element that instills fear in countless people—whether allies or enemies.

then,

Lu Mingfei offered another round of applause at just the right moment.

"Well said, like a poem."

“Of course, because this will be our night,” the king chuckled hoarsely.

The nobleman in the black haori bowed politely, seemingly genuinely delighted to have found a kindred spirit.
As the greedy gaze that had been shooting from behind the nobleman's mask slowly withdrew...
With a tone as weathered as the sea, and a nonchalant air, he uttered a secret.

"Sato Chiyo? No, you're Lu Mingfei. I heard you wanted to talk to me?"

"Yes."

Lu Mingfei smiled slightly, not intimidated by the other party's revelation of his dual identity.

"bring it on."

He beckoned with his palm, leaning forward as if to give the King of Ghosts a warm hug and a soft whisper, just like a true old friend.

The king still had a smile on his face, showing no fear as he approached... that noble mask always maintained a smile.

even though--

Just as Wang Jiangan approached, a powerful elbow struck the chest beneath the black haori garment!
Bang!
The terrifying sound of flesh colliding with bone was like a cannonball exploding, echoing throughout the empty and quiet Elysium Hall.

Baji, Dingxin Elbow.

With immense force and inertia, Yuki-no-kō's upper body jutted backward irregularly, his aged limbs hanging limply in front of him, turning into a flying 'U' shape, crashing into the magnificent red crystal chandelier atop the Gokurakukan before finally falling to the ground.

Throughout the entire process, the nobleman's mask maintained its smile, just as designed, with only black blood clots and fragments of internal organs gushing out from between his lips and teeth.

"Pfft—vomit—"

Faced with Lu Mingfei's all-out attack, the internal organs of this third-generation Shadow Warrior were almost completely shattered. He lay on the ground, unable to utter a single word, vomiting large mouthfuls of blood mixed with colorful semi-solid blood, which flowed all over the ground.

Even now, the official's mask still wore its unchanging smile, but amidst the terrifying atmosphere of pale white and pitch black, a sense of desolation had inexplicably crept in.

"Did I say that I would call anyone you have the authority to see me?"

Lu Mingfei spoke in a calm voice.

She glanced at the lifeless corpse lying on the ground, and the remaining nerve reflexes caused the black haori to twitch slightly.

His gaze drifted towards Sakurai Kogure at the end of the corridor.

[Experience +200]

The Paradise Pavilion was deathly silent.

Some of the Ghost Clan members seemed to be terrified. They dropped their weapons, formed two rows to kneel in a semi-circle beside the corpse of the nobleman, who was soaking in a pool of blood, and wailed as if their spiritual pillars had collapsed.

Saw this scene.

A surge of intense malice rose within Lu Mingfei once more, and he even felt an urge to destroy them all.

Of course, not with knives, guns, or swords, but like before.

Use your fists, your knees, your elbows to smash them to pieces!

seem.

As the sound of the clapper rang out, signaling the moment the king would enter,

His emotions underwent a certain unconscious shift.

Since stepping into this hellish place tonight, the anger that had been building up in the shadows has vanished instantly.

But this does not mean that he became calm and peaceful, or turned into a vegetarian monk.

Instead... his anger transformed into murderous intent.

Before this.

Even when he kicked Hercules, he consciously restrained his power... In fact, he had never actually killed anyone, not even those who were related to humans. They were just monsters contaminated with dragon blood, or pure Deadpools.

But this clone of the king was the first to die by his fist.

Half-human, half-deadpool...related to humans.

But Lu Mingfei didn't feel disgusted or regretful; instead, the fire in his chest burned even brighter.

It's as if everything... was meant to be this way!
"Your Majesty the King is immortal."

Unlike the ignorant members of the Oni Clan, Sakurai Kogure did not kneel down beside the King's 'corpse'.

With a gentle smile on her face, she bowed slightly to Lu Mingfei.

The clapper sounded again.

The lights at the end of the corridor flickered on and off once more. A figure emerged from the depths of the Elysium, and a noble's mask identical to the one from before appeared under the lights.

He was still that same old man, both divine and ghostly.

She still had long, black hair like a withered rope, crimson lips, iron-black teeth, and aged, withered arms.

"Why must we fight each other when old friends meet again?"

The king's voice was filled with laughter, and his tone was gentle.

It was as if the person who had just died under Lu Mingfei's iron elbow had nothing to do with him.

"Not skilled in warfare, but merely knowledgeable in hand-to-hand combat."

Lu Mingfei chuckled, his two legs rooted to the ground like javelins, completely still.

Extreme caution arose in my heart.

at last……

One of the main figures has appeared.

Although Sakurai Kogure's mysterious claim of "the king will never die" was, in his view, nothing more than ducklings sitting in a row, with a group of shadow warriors hiding behind the door, one dying and another emerging, somewhat like the Calabash Brothers saving their grandfather.

But the leader of the Fierce Ghosts, King Wang, could not be a fool.
He couldn't possibly send out his precious shadow warriors one by one.

It is even less likely when one is aware of their own danger and aggressiveness.

The king decisively dispatched his most powerful shadow warrior.

And this moment.

In Lu Mingfei's perception of the 'Word of Power: Bloodline Binding', the abundance and quality of the dragon blood within the king general in front of him were on a completely different level from the third-generation shadow warrior he had previously killed.

More importantly...

This thing doesn't even have a control panel!
Based on Lu Mingfei's past experience, only beings who have completely become like Deadpools will not have their panels pop up. His understanding is that once they have completely lost their 'true self' consciousness, their panels cannot be detected.

But this fully evolved Deadpool can speak normally, and even follows the thought process of a king!

"A shadow warrior can do this much?"

"This seems to be much more sophisticated than the methods used by the Chen family head back then."

Lu Mingfei narrowed his eyes.

in this way……

Yeah.

[Current deep intelligence extraction privileges: 31 times.]

The following information can be extracted:

[1: The deep hypnosis Rory Nelson underwent was a hybrid of science and alchemy, its technological origins stemming from ****.]

[2: Under ****'s guidance, Tobias Garfield provided wild hybrids for the Oni Clan.]

[3: Armadillo blood is a new evolutionary drug being researched by ****, with the aim of ****.]

[4: The technology behind the Shadow Warrior Project originates from ****, and the characteristics of the third-generation Shadow Warrior are as follows ****]

[5: The technology behind the Shadow Warrior Project originates from ****, and the characteristics of the fourth-generation Shadow Warrior are as follows ****]

[6: The technology behind the Shadow Warrior Project originates from ****, and the characteristics of the fifth-generation Shadow Warrior are as follows ****]

【7: The Yuanzhi Nv brainstem interruption surgery (special) was designed by ****, and its purpose is ****】

[8: Based on specific audio of Longwen****, Longwen****, Longwen****, it is possible to achieve **** under the support of pontine rupture surgery]

During the process of gaining access to deep intelligence, time, and even the entire world, came to a standstill.

Eight pieces of information that could be extracted popped up in a row.

Back when he faced the head of the Chen family, Lu Mingfei was not only weak, but also had very limited access to [deep intelligence extraction privileges].

But now everything is different.

Lu Mingfei read through the entries one by one, his expression gradually becoming serious.

Rory Nelson is the real name of the third-generation Shadow Warrior he just elbowed to death.

"Isn't Odin the originator of deep hypnosis technology? Why is related information popping up?"

Lu Mingfei frowned.

In the past, there have been instances where several answers to "extractable information" pointed to the same endpoint. Once he has determined the correct answer in his mind, he will not be detected again.

But clearly, the first piece of intelligence he extracted made him realize a problem...

"If it's not Odin, then who could it be?"

After thinking it over, Lu Mingfei chose it first.

【confirm】

As he silently uttered those two words in his mind...
He received an unexpected and unfamiliar name.

Hermes

"Who the hell is this?" Lu Mingfei was completely dumbfounded.

"No, it doesn't seem unfamiliar either."

He suddenly remembered.

Among the ancient alchemical texts is a famous one called "The Jade Book".

The Emerald Tablet is a thirteen-section text inscribed on a stone tablet around 1900 BC, hence the name Emerald Tablet.

The author claims to be Hermes, the triune god of Egyptian mythology. It is one of the oldest surviving alchemical texts, consisting of only 13 sentences, yet containing all the truths of alchemy. Various schools of Western alchemy generally believe that it is actually a fragment of a dragon's text.

Even the orthodox tradition included it, and it was included alongside classics such as the "Yin Fu Jing" and "Tai Yi Shu" as essential reading and memorization texts for disciples specializing in weapon crafting.

Hermes was an Egyptian pharaoh before being called a god. Egyptian history lacks a precise chronology, making it impossible to determine when and where he served as pharaoh. It is only said that he lived in physical form for 300 years before comprehending the truth and becoming a god.
"Alright, Hermes, remember this."

Lu Mingfei licked his lips, feeling that this pretentious guy might actually be a pure-blooded dragon, and that [Hermes] was his real name.

Could it be the Dragon King? Or a next-generation species? Or one of Odin's other partners? A member of the Holy Palace Medical Society?

Lu Mingfei temporarily suppressed his suspicions and looked at the other information that could be extracted.

The second piece of extractable intelligence...

Tobias Garfield is Neo the Pig's real name.

According to the meaning of the "deep intelligence extraction permission", he was actually acting under someone else's orders when he provided the Ghost Clan with people, including mixed-race people.
then,

Lu Mingfei saw that familiar organization's name again.

[Holy Palace Medical Association]

"We finally caught them."

Lu Mingfei breathed a sigh of relief.

I knew I hadn't come to the wrong place.

The Seigyu Medical Association also has a presence in Japan!

He had probably figured out why Neo the boar had suddenly gone berserk towards him. He was glad he had held back a bit and hadn't kicked the guy to death. If he had been saved, he could have tortured him.

"Armadillo blood...a new type of evolution drug..."

Faced with the third piece of extractable intelligence,

Lu Mingfei hesitated for a moment, but still chose to confirm.

[Armadillo Blood is a new evolutionary drug researched by Jung von Herzog, with the aim of mass-producing one-time-use war weapons with physical advantages for the Demons...]

Herzog, the Demons?

"Very good, continue!"

……

[Deep Intelligence Extraction Permission] -4 times.

'Om—'

The world's voices have quietly returned.

"Those who eat piranha flesh live for eight hundred years and are neither old nor dead."

The current intermittently penetrated the filament, the blinding light flashing briefly before disappearing again. The corpse surrounded by the fierce ghosts vanished without a trace, as if it had evaporated.

The new king will reappear, flashing from the end of the Elysium corridor, and arrive near Lu Mingfei.
He lowered his head and let out a low, guttural laugh.

From the moment Lu Mingfei began his "Deep Intelligence Extraction" mission until its end, no matter how long he spent in the dreamlike world, only a fleeting moment passed in the external reality.

Thus, the second act of the grand drama began.

"Lu Mingfei, you don't seem surprised at all?"

Jung von Herzog...?
"Is there anyone in this world who is immortal? I don't believe it."

Lu Mingfei slowly withdrew his gaze, looked at Wang Jiang, whose background he might have uncovered, and smiled.

“But I don’t think there’s any grudge between us,” Wang Jiang said. “Lu Jun, aren’t we good friends?”

"Since we've come all this way, why not share a good drink and celebrate this long-awaited reunion?"

The king mentioned the word 'reunion' for the third time.

"Have we met before?" Lu Mingfei raised an eyebrow. "Or have you misunderstood the meaning of the words 'reunion' and 'friends'?"

"Perhaps I've seen it, or perhaps I haven't."

King Wang laughed. Even though the mask of a nobleman was concealing his true self, Lu Mingfei could still sense the joy hidden beneath the mask, and even from a thousand miles away.

It was as if even the slightest possibility of 'having seen' him before made him feel incredibly happy.

Life should be lived to the fullest, with a toast to the fullest.

“Lu Jun, I see the shadow of an old friend in you. If you really are him, then we should sit down and have a good chat. But even if you are not him, does it affect our conversation?” Wang Jiang’s voice was tinged with laughter.

"People have many misunderstandings about me. Actually, I am a person who loves making friends."

"This is the paradise I have painstakingly created, capable of fulfilling all the wishes of people in the world... but from the very beginning, it was to fulfill the wishes of my friends!"

"good."

Lu Mingfei nodded slightly in approval.
then,

He suddenly moved.

The leather shoes suddenly twisted and rubbed on the ground, bending into an astonishing arc, and then the whole person charged towards the king like a cannonball.

What old friend, what reunion?

Although the general's panel is not visible at this moment, the overwhelming malice is like the yellow water emitting green steam from a stinking ditch, impossible to hide.

Such a murderous intent, as thick as ink and as foul as blood, is clearly a deep-seated blood feud!

He didn't think he could possibly know an old guy with such a German-sounding name.

But he also understood a principle that Chip Girl had taught him before he came.

The most crucial elements in a casino are momentum and rhythm!

Never fall into the other party's negotiation or dialogue rhythm, especially if the other party is prepared.

Whether it's a so-called old friend, a reunion, or a wish, regardless of whether they intend to use various gimmicks or bait to reduce your curiosity... as long as you're certain that the king harbors clear malice towards you, that's enough.

No amount of explanation can hide this fact.

So what he needs to do is disrupt the opponent's rhythm.

Use your fists, use your swords!
bass--

The carbon ceramic dagger hidden in the sole of the leather shoe was silently drawn and fell into Lu Mingfei's palm.

The sharp dagger came with force.

With a whooshing sound like thunder, it struck the king's neck.

‘Clang! ’

Faced with Lu Mingfei's sudden outburst,

The king stood still, and his response was quite simple.

He simply raised his arm.

Swah——

The blade's edge swept in.

The black haori that enveloped the garment was instantly torn to shreds by the blade, but the blade was blocked by the iron-blue scales beneath the haori.

These scales are fine and tight, with countless tiny gaps forming teeth, like slender snakes roaming on the skin. They even seem to have a mind of their own, curling upwards and biting hard into the carbon ceramic blade.

In an instant.

Sparks fly!

Lu Mingfei immediately withdrew and retreated, creating distance between them.

The intuition of the Word of Power Weapon Master foresaw what was about to happen—the King would draw the katana hidden at his waist and legs and slash diagonally upwards at him!

really.

whoosh-

The next moment, an even sharper blade swept across the spot where Lu Mingfei was standing.

The 'reverse kesa' in Japanese swordsmanship!
Even when in a 'hidden sword' state, the power of a single strike should not be underestimated.

It even created a shockwave!
“It’s a big guy indeed.”

Lu Mingfei's expression grew increasingly solemn as he recalled the information he had just received about the fifth-generation Shadow Warrior.

In Chinese mythology, the dragon is a creature that combines the best features of many things. According to the Erya Yi, it has horns like a deer, a head like a camel, eyes like a rabbit, a neck like a snake, a belly like a clam, scales like a fish, claws like an eagle, paws like a tiger, and ears like a cow.

True dragons may not necessarily look like this, but they also possess the ability to absorb the advantages of other living beings.

In particular, the Shadow Warrior, a product centered on dragon blood, is a combination of alchemy and modern genetic engineering, taking modification and evolution to the extreme.

The fifth-generation Shadow Warrior can maintain a human form, and the muscles and joints in his body can generate power comparable to a steam engine. The arc-shaped scales on his body can even deflect the impact of bullets, making him a true all-rounder in offense and defense!
The origin of Shadow Warrior technology is undoubtedly Odin. That god seated atop his towering horse is, frankly, a scientist!

The only constraint is that creating a Shadow Warrior requires a large amount of materials based on the bones, blood, and horns of the Dragon Clan.

"This king general should be the fifth generation Shadow Warrior. As expected of a product of intensive training, its terrifying physical qualities even touch the threshold of the next generation... Could the Ghost Clan be so rich? Does it have so many bones, blood, and horns to squander?"

Lu Mingfei couldn't help but feel doubtful.

But now is not the time to ponder where the king acquired such a substantial fortune.

The reality is,

This fifth-generation Shadow Warrior is quite troublesome!
In their first encounter, the two seemed to stop short of each other, separating immediately after a brief exchange.

Lu Mingfei retreated ten meters away. The tattered black feather robe on Wang Jiang's body fluttered away, leaving only a light white scratch between the iron-blue scales.

Lu Mingfei glanced down and saw that the blade of the carbon ceramic short knife was covered with dense blunt marks, as if it had been gnawed by termites.

And far away,
"Impressive speed, impressive reflexes. Even among the Ghost Clan, you are among the best," Wang Jiang commented with a smile, standing in place.

"It's a pity we lack a suitable weapon."

Lu Mingfei twitched the corner of his mouth.

It has to be said that Wang Jiang's appearance was quite infuriating. His words carried an air of confidence and even a hypocritical tone of elder's consolation.

Am I only ranked at the top among the Demons? Don't be ridiculous. If you were that powerful, why would you be a Demon King? What's so great about being a rat in the gutter? Wouldn't it be better to just take over the position of head of the Snake Clan?
But the king was right about one thing.

I do lack a suitable weapon now. The fierce battle with Leviathan back then was largely due to the weapons I used. One of my two weapons was the 'Ancient Sword Dragon-Slaying Platform' forged by the ancient human emperor, and the other was the 'Roaring Tiger Fang Spear' with a mysterious and unknown origin.

All of them are among the top alchemical weapons.

At this moment, he only had one carbon ceramic short sword in his hand... no, two.
There was also a short knife in the other boot.

Whether it's one or two, the fragile carbon-ceramic daggers appear far too flimsy and indistinguishable from the powerful body of the King, a body constructed from a vast amount of dragon bones, blood, and horns, combined with modern biotechnology.

This was the price he paid for infiltrating the Elysium.

If they came with weapons, they probably wouldn't even be able to get through the gate; they would be blocked by layers of guards outside, let alone face the real enemy.

but……

It's not that there's absolutely no chance.

Lu Mingfei's gaze was cautious as he gripped his weapon tightly.

The body's internal power silently gathers in the lower limbs...

The current situation is somewhat similar to that when facing Neo the Boar, both enemies having their bodies enhanced to the extreme.

In situations like these, sharp weapons might not be as effective; fists or feet are better, as they provide a larger contact area.

Just like in ancient times, wielding a heavy hammer was often more effective at killing enemies wearing heavy armor than using swords!
"Lu Jun, what exactly is your purpose in coming to the Paradise Pavilion?"

Wang extended his withered, twig-like fingers and gently brushed them across the ancient-looking Japanese sword, as if caressing a woman's skin. With a light swing, frost spread out, making it undoubtedly an alchemical weapon.

"If you're into fine wine, gambling, women..."

squeak--

A short but piercing sound interrupted the king's words.

With the immense power gathered beneath his feet, Lu Mingfei shot forward like an arrow without warning.

"Hmph, fine, fine, fine!"

A strange, grating laugh emanated from between the iron teeth of the nobleman's mask.

Wang Jiang assumed a fighting stance, allowing Lu Mingfei to raise his knife and slash at his chest.
But just as he got close, he suddenly swung his long sword.

however,
Lu Mingfei's strike was a feint.

He suddenly stopped, dodging the blade and the sharp aura of the sword, and swept his foot towards the underside of the gambling table beside him.

A solid wood square table weighing over half a ton was instantly lifted from the ground.

It charged straight at the king.

"Little tricks!"

Wang Jiang switched to wielding the knife with both hands, and with a speed imperceptible to the naked eye, he slashed several times from a distance, the blades drawing a 'well'-shaped trajectory in mid-air.

The gambling table, weighing half a ton and with a cross-section of more than three square meters, was instantly and violently cut in half, turning into small pieces with wood chips flying everywhere.

however,
After the smoke and dust settled, Lu Mingfei was nowhere to be seen.

"Ok?"

The king suddenly looked up.

Lu Mingfei descended from the sky directly above him, carrying two dark short knives that were about to pierce his eyes!

Whether it's a human, an animal, or a dragon, the eyes are undoubtedly a vital part of the body, and their vulnerability goes without saying.

The king smiled.

So it was a feint attack? Good idea, but too slow to execute!

For his current body, neither reacting nor acting promptly after reacting is difficult.

This is the trump card he made according to the standards of those kids... his most treasured possession!
"Cleverness leads to mistakes!"

The king let out a sharp laugh, about to raise his sword to strike back and teach the brat a lesson.
The expression beneath the mask suddenly froze.
Two sharp whistling sounds exploded in his ears.

The boy descended from the sky with a knife, his speed in assassinating the king was already very fast, but since this was not enough, it was not over yet.

In mid-air, Lu Mingfei made another move.

With a slight bend of his finger, he snapped it open!
With the new kinetic energy, the two carbon ceramic short swords flew out of their hands, accelerated again, and almost turned into two shooting stars.

It struck the king's face like lightning.

Lu Mingfei certainly knew how powerful this body was, but who told you that a short knife can only be used by holding it in your hand?

Now, is it too late for you to stop it?

Upon noticing this, the king's noble mask remained as calm as ever.

But the face beneath the mask is just as deep and mysterious as an ancient well.

'Om—'

The scales on the king's body opened and closed instantly, and white mist diffused from the gaps. This was a reaction of rapid metabolism, and the mist was caused by the rapid evaporation of sweat due to the high temperature on the body surface.

Of course, there's still time.

How could a dignified fifth-generation Shadow Warrior be reduced to such a paltry figure?
The steam engine instantly increased its power, and the king's speed and strength rose once again.

In an extremely short time, he even achieved an effect almost equivalent to 'Word Power - Moment' with his physical body.

The terrifying claw, which wasn't holding any knives, reached up from below, grabbed the two dark charcoal daggers, and snapped them in two with tremendous force before they pierced its eyes.

Wang Jiang maintained his balance, his right hand remaining perfectly still, as he raised his long sword and thrust it upwards.

In a daze, Lu Mingfei's figure twisted in mid-air for a moment.

‘Shua——’

'boom--'

The sharp glint of the blade, the dull thud of bone and flesh clashing together.

The sound echoed throughout the lobby on the first floor of the Paradise Hall.

long silence.

Tick.

Tick.

Fresh blood dripped down, staining the smooth marble surface with a hazy red hue.

You feel like a stranger to me.

The king stood there in silence for several seconds, then suddenly staggered, and a trickle of black blood spilled from between the lips and teeth of the nobleman's mask.

The noble feather robe on his back became tattered, clinging to the scales on his back and forming a heavy fist-shaped mark.

He hadn't expected that throwing the knife wasn't Lu Mingfei's killing move.

This was still a feint to attract his attention; Lu Mingfei concentrated all his strength in his fist.

"the same as you."

Lu Mingfei slowly straightened up, drops of blood flowing down his arm to his fingertips.

It dripped onto the ground.

At the last moment, even though he anticipated the attack and made a dodge maneuver in mid-air, he still couldn't completely avoid the king's blade. He didn't know exactly how much damage that punch had inflicted on the king, but at least... a three-centimeter-long, one-centimeter-deep piece of flesh had been ripped from his ribs.

Lu Mingfei's expression showed no pain from his injury and bleeding, only regret and displeasure.

The opponent's strength far exceeded his expectations.
How much experience can a fifth-generation Shadow Warrior bring? Will it allow him to level up after so long?

But it's like a piece of fatty meat that you can see but can't eat, and it might even bite you.

This fight is going to be tough...

Lu Mingfei clearly sensed that his opponent's physical abilities surpassed his own, and even held a significant advantage.

He hesitated.

He reached into his coat, where he found a piece of recycled metal hidden close to his body.

"What a troublesome guy."

……

At the other end of the hall.

"the same as you."

Wang, in a hoarse voice, uttered the same lines as Lu Mingfei and made the same gestures.

He reached into his clothes.

then,

From the inside of the black haori, a pair of antique wooden clappers were taken out.

This is a percussion instrument, also known as a clapper, which consists of two solid hardwood sticks of different lengths and thicknesses.

The pair of clappers in Wang's hands were red and black, with a faint gleam reflecting off their surfaces. Several tiny cracks were visible, showing the marks left by time.

Lu Mingfei suddenly frowned, stopped what he was doing, and stared at the musical instrument in Wang Jiang's hand.

His first impression of this thing wasn't good. He was inexplicably worried, as if he had seen a combination of sharp fingernails and a blackboard, and he felt that he should stop it before he could scratch it.

and……

I'm about to unleash my ultimate move, are you planning to play some background music?
Faced with Lu Mingfei's surprised and suspicious gaze,

"you will like it."

On the mask of the king's minister, which was covered in fangs and had a ferocious expression, an exaggerated and grotesque smile appeared out of nowhere.

After a brief exchange, his suspicions became more certain.

Only another monster could rival this monstrous body without being at a disadvantage.

In that case,

Why let this body suffer further damage for no reason?
For him, this grand drama had come to an early end.

"If you were a dragon, that would be fine."

Finally, the king uttered a cryptic remark and lightly tapped the wooden stick.

Boom-!
A dull, seemingly ghostly sound echoed throughout the entire lobby of the Elysium Hall as if by magic.

It was clearly very faint, but it was amplified countless times in Lu Mingfei's ears, striking straight to his soul!

!!!

His body suddenly stopped, as if he had frozen in place.

All movement stopped, and they froze in place.

Seeing this scene,
In remote mountains and forests, in slums outside cities, in bottomless basements... beneath countless masks of high-ranking officials, countless old men with identical faces grinned at the corners of their mouths in an exaggerated arc.

"Just as I suspected! There was a reaction! It worked!"

"Someone actually escaped from there! Lu Mingfei! Hahaha!"

"The fourth one! That's four now!"

Inside the Paradise Pavilion,

Wang Jiang's hoarse voice revealed undisguised excitement; anyone could hear his joy and delight.
The sound of the clapper never stopped, and he scratched his ears and cheeks and danced around like a clown on stage, emitting a sharp and eerie laugh.

It's like a shaman in an ancient, evil tribe, performing a ritual around a strange totem, the eerie skull instrument in his hand emitting a simple, empty, monotonous tone that sends chills down your spine.

After celebrating for a long time,

Wang stopped tapping and stared at Lu Mingfei suspiciously.

At this moment, Lu Mingfei did not move, and even closed his eyes, but... something felt wrong.
He stopped striking the clappers and instead pressed the two clappers together tightly.

And rub them together to make a rustling sound.

The king's voice was still hoarse, but suddenly it had a strange softness to it as he uttered a malice-filled whisper.

"My dear child, you've been playing outside for a long time. Let's go home."

"Let's go home... come home with me..."

As the rustling sound began...
The king's voice gradually became more impassioned—

"Come back, Lu Mingfei! Show your vulnerable, human side!"

However, the next second.

Unexpected changes are occurring frequently!

The Lu Mingfei before him did not transform into a fragile and helpless human boy as Wang Jiang had done with the friction of the clapper sound, unlike the dragon-like demon named 'Kazama Ruri' he had previously controlled.

in contrast,

Lu Mingfei has actually transformed into a dragon!

His body began to undergo drastic changes. Bluish-gray scales protruded from the surface of his skin, his bones grew and deformed at a visible speed, black bone spurs broke through the surface of his body, and his muscles bulged violently, each muscle fiber so clear, like a tightly twisted steel cable.

What's most terrifying is his face. It still looks like Lu Mingfei, but for some reason it exudes cruelty and ferocity. The anger and killing intent that had been building up since he stepped into the Paradise Pavilion finally materialized into reality!
Seated on the throne, he was destined to be cruel and monstrous from birth!
"How...how is this possible? Why can you still unleash the personality of a dragon?"

The king stared blankly at everything before him, muttering to himself in disbelief.

"Were you in your human personality the whole time?"

"It really is... a pleasant surprise."

Lu Mingfei slowly opened his eyes, and they were no longer pitch black, but shimmering with a brilliant gold.

It let out a long, dreamlike moan, examining its own hands.
"Is this the Bloodlust technique my senior brother used back then? Or is it the Eight Gates Formation inherited from the Zhou family? Or are they actually the same thing?"

Lu Mingfei observed the changes in himself with delight.

By using spiritual power to stimulate the dragon blood within the body, one can temporarily increase the purity of their bloodline and gain greater power.

Both undoubtedly fall under the category of 'forbidden techniques,' and it is extremely difficult to even begin to learn them.

But with the sound of a clapper, the long theoretical research phase was skipped, and he was helped to step through the door, and even walk a very deep distance inside the door.

Lu Mingfei's current feeling is strange and subtle.

It's like being drunk, floating on clouds. The brain's central nervous system can still control the body, but the person acts more on instinct.

How much can be controlled? Approximately... 35%?

Lu Mingfei tried touching the gambling table next to him. The solid wood tabletop turned into dust silently in his hand, and he didn't even feel that he was applying force.

That's enough. One-third of your conscious will is enough to control two-thirds of your instincts. It's just like running on ice; you might slip a little. Just don't drive after drinking.

"This is impossible!"

Wang Jiang roared again, trying to suppress his fear with his voice, and subconsciously drew his sharp knife.

"shot!"

The situation was beyond his control, so the king gave the order without hesitation.

The surrounding demons immediately raised their guns, pulled the triggers, and the firing pins struck the primers. Flames and kinetic energy were released from the chambers, and the flames propelled the cartridge cases out of the guns. The spinning brass bullets were aimed at the dragon-transformed Lu Mingfei from all directions!
Hands-on!
The killing intent came so violently and swiftly. One moment the king was celebrating like a monkey, and the next he transformed into a ruthless and decisive king of demons.

however,
After these modifications, every bullet that could have overturned an elephant missed its target, scattering sparks on the ground before instantly plunging back into darkness.

Lu Mingfei disappeared from the spot.

A breeze seemed to sweep through the empty Paradise Hall.

The wind swept past the ghosts, and everyone's movements became stiff.

In the blink of an eye,
The gust of wind stopped in front of the king.

"Sorry, it's not very easy to control."

Lu Mingfei stopped silently, smiling as he gazed at the general before him.

Those dark eyes had long since transformed into dazzling golden pupils, and the smile at the corner of his mouth carried a breathtaking quality.

Cold, yet magnificent.

One second later.

Suddenly, a thin line of blood appeared on the necks of the gunmen who had fired the shots behind them.

Like a slow-motion scene, it gradually expanded and lengthened, the blood breaking through the critical point and gushing out like a spring. Some of it fell to the ground with a thud, some stuck to the skin and bones, and some was just a deep scratch.

There's no need to apologize. Whether the wound on the neck is three centimeters, five centimeters, or ten centimeters, for those gunmen, the only outcome is death.

"You...!" The king was both shocked and terrified.

In his dragon form, Lu Mingfei's speed was clearly beyond his comprehension.

With the speed of his body's nerve reaction, he couldn't even see Lu Mingfei's movements clearly!
What kind of strength is this?
Wang Jiang finally realized what was happening. He quietly reached for the clapper, understanding that the most important task at hand was to act now.

That means we must put this evil dragon back in its cage immediately!!

however,
Another gust of wind swept by.

The king's two arms suddenly rose into the air, along with two clappers that were being held tightly.

The sudden, sharp pain traveled through his nerves to his brain.

"what--"

The king will let out a beast-like howl.

It was too fast; he didn't even have time to disconnect from the control, so much so that the immense pain affected the old man named Herzog himself!

jingle——

The sharp, ancient alchemical sword that had caused Lu Mingfei so much trouble fell to the ground.

But Lu Mingfei no longer needs it.

Those hands with sharp claws are the best weapons!

Swah——

The cold light flashed again.

A crack appeared between the eyebrows of the nobleman's mask, and crimson tears of blood stained his pale cheeks.

Dazzling!

The claws slashed across his neck again, and a spurt of thick black blood flew from the king's throat.

"Ow—"

He let out another scream.

With the sound of the clapper, the situation on the field suddenly turned one-sided!
Wang Jiang initially thought the boy harbored a cowardly soul, but unexpectedly unleashed a true tiger, or perhaps a Tyrannosaurus Rex!
He paid the price for his mistakes.

The cruel claws, like sharp, upturned tongues, licked his body inch by inch, as if trying to swallow this body, which contained a vast amount of bone, blood, and horns, whole.

Chop off hands, break legs, slit throats, crush bones, rip open bellies, rip open stomachs!
In his dragon form, Lu Mingfei unleashed the savagery he had been accumulating for so long.

It's better to guide than to suppress. Rather than keeping your anger inside, it's better to release it!
Blood and scales were scattered everywhere.

Lu Mingfei seemed to have a natural talent for dissecting Wang Jiang, dissecting him inch by inch, almost like a fish being cleaned on a chopping board.

However, the fifth-generation Shadow Warrior's body is already a completely different species from that of humans.

The king is not completely dead yet.

The pale, noble mask rolled and roared on the ground. Lu Mingfei stared coldly at the dying king of ghosts, his eyes devoid of any pity.

Herzog, is it?

We'll find you sooner or later and uncover your true secret!
He lost patience with playing.

Place your hand on the monster's chest.

The next moment, it exerted a sudden force and ripped out a huge heart covered with scales.

The high-ranking officials were mortified.

A bitter smile hung on his face.

(End of this chapter)