Can't believe there are still people rushing to throw their lives away these days.

Inside the military camp of the Nether Realm's ghost officers, countless people shot into the sky and looked at where the Dao Rhythm had erupted moments ago.

The patrol guards reacted immediately. Even within the core territory of the Nether Realm authorities, several figures appeared in the air and fixed their gaze on the scene.

By then, half of Wang Sheng's tent had already collapsed.

Just an instant earlier, the exceptionally beautiful female Asura with striking exotic features had burst out from inside his tent, crashing through two neighboring tents before finally stopping over a hundred zhang away.

A horrifying sword wound now stretched from her shoulder down to her slender waist. Threads of pale-red aura coiled around the wound and frantically devoured the primal qi inside her.

The injury was fatal. Without treatment, death was certain.

Right then, the male Asura in a cloak rushed over from the side and immediately tried to rescue the woman.

Before he could act, a streak of sword radiance flashed past. The male Asura instantly froze in place.

It was a strand of sword energy—pure, terrifyingly sharp, and filled with icy killing intent.

The sword energy brushed past the man's face, leaving behind a line of blood on his cheek before hitting Mei Nita's shoulder once more and causing another spray of blood.

The Asura race was as physically powerful as physical cultivators of the same realm. Moreover, Mei Nita was considerably strong.

Hence, that casual slash of sword energy revealed just how powerful Yuan Tu's owner truly was.

In a somewhat lazy tone, Wang Sheng remarked from nearby, "No one can save her today. I, Xu Xian, said so."

He walked over with his hands behind his back, while Ling Sheng followed quietly behind him with lowered eyes. In her arms rested the sheathed Yuan Tu.

One gaze after another swept toward Wang Sheng and Yuan Tu. They then glanced at Po Feng, who had hurried out after them. It didn't take much pondering for most people to realize what had happened.

Po Feng strode over quickly. Not only did she not stop Wang Sheng, but she even apologized, "Please forgive me, my lord. I failed to notice that someone with such malicious intentions had gotten close to you. Please execute her here and now. It can also serve as a warning to those within the clan who harbor ulterior motives."

Wang Sheng replied calmly, "Your race seems to be doing quite well in the Nether Realm these days."

Po Feng was briefly stunned.

A trace of caution immediately appeared in Wang Sheng's eyes as he glanced toward the core region, where the Ten Kings of Hell resided.

"Our clan has already submitted to the Nether Realm," replied Po Feng. "Most of our people now serve within its administration. A few Kings of Hell also agreed to let us preserve our original clan structure."

Wang Sheng tilted his chin toward the Asura woman on the ground. "Is she serving the Nether Realm, too?"

"N-no..."

Wang Sheng nodded. "Kill her."

With a clear sword cry, Yuan Tu flew out of Ling Sheng's arms and unsheathed itself. Dazzling light burst forth.

Right after, a bloody glow flashed across the area. The Asura woman did not even have time to beg for mercy before the sword radiance swallowed her whole.

Afterward, Yuan Tu hummed softly, almost as though it were proudly claiming credit before returning itself to the scabbard in Ling Sheng's arms.

Wang Sheng looked at what remained of the corpse on the ground, then turned and walked back toward his tent.

"Remember to repair the tent," he said calmly.

Ling Sheng lowered her head and softly answered affirmatively. She did not spare the surrounding crowd a single glance.

Afterward, Wang Sheng simply stayed inside the tent.

Two Nether Realm generals quickly drove away the ghost officers who had rushed over. Meanwhile, Po Feng and the Asura man who had come with her exchanged a look before quietly retreating into the crowd.

Soon after, Bian Zhong, the one most familiar with Wang Sheng, hurried over. He did not mention Wang Sheng killing an Asura inside the military camp at all. Instead, he brought repairmen to fix the tent. He also asked Wang Sheng how his stay had been so far and whether there was anything he found unsatisfactory.

Wang Sheng responded with a smile and tactfully expressed that he did not wish outsiders to disturb him.

In truth, it was all just tests and schemes the entire time.

Since the Asura woman attacked him first, killing her was perfectly justified. He felt no guilt whatsoever.

Before killing her, Wang Sheng had even specifically asked whether she was an official of the Nether Realm. Once he confirmed she was not, he ended her life without hesitation. That alone showed the most basic respect toward the Nether Realm, and it also sent them a very clear message.

He had another reason for acting so publicly: he had misjudged the Asura woman's defensive strength with his first strike. He originally thought one attack would be enough to kill her, but it had only fatally wounded her. It had been just slightly lacking.

Since there was no helping it, he had no choice but to walk out and finish the job personally. While he was at it, he made a rather high-profile display.

After all, there were not many chances in life to act a little arrogantly.

It yielded good results, too.

Every action Wang Sheng took now had to be clearly separated from his previous identity as the sacred spirit. The greater the difference, the better. Otherwise, people could start connecting the two identities.

After Bian Zhong left, Wang Sheng briefly tried predicting how the matter would develop afterward. He soon gave up, stretched lazily, and lay down on his wooden bed to rest.

Ling Sheng took out a book from the side. Remembering Wang Sheng's advice that girls who read often would look more refined, she quietly guarded the entrance of the tent so her master could sleep peacefully.

The aftermath of this incident surfaced over the following days.

First, Bian Zhong brought over a judge in purple robes. Based on his status, he was likely a high-ranking official within the Nether Realm's judicial system. He spoke with Wang Sheng very politely and asked whether Wang Sheng had any intention of long-term development within the Nether Realm.

Wang Sheng naturally gave the same answer as before. He firmly stated that he had come to the Nether Realm to cultivate and gain contact with the Great Dao of Reincarnation. Hence, he intended to stay for quite some time.

The senior judge asked Wang Sheng several more questions regarding his background, which he answered smoothly.

Wang Sheng then said, "It's understandable for the Nether Realm to be wary of strangers, but once is enough for certain questions. I have no interest in hearing them a second time. My sword attendant is here as well. If there's anything you want to ask, you can arrange for someone to question her instead."

His words had an unmistakable air of dominance.

Still, not only was the senior judge unoffended, but the appreciation in his eyes grew even stronger.

Several days later, the senior judge returned with Bian Zhong. This time, however, they came to promote Wang Sheng. They handed him a jade pendant engraved with the words "Nether Realm Soul-Reaper General" and also brought him a set of imposing armor.

Wang Sheng thanked them. From then on, he could lead patrols on his own whenever he went out. His freedom also considerably increased.

Meanwhile, the day of the Nether Realm's "selection" drew closer and closer.

Experts who had once been scattered throughout the Nether Realm were now flooding toward Fengdu City.

Battles erupted daily in its walls. The aura of great cultivators appeared from time to time, but the Nether Realm could do little more than maintain basic order. Many factions did not care much about giving it any face at all.

Having maintained a one-way communication with Xu Zhongliang, he had a rough understanding of the situation outside.

If there had been enough time, Wang Sheng could have continued blending in slowly, living quietly while climbing the ranks higher and higher.

However, the sooner he could come into contact with the Six Paths of Reincarnation, the sooner this entire situation could finally turn around.

Still, this was not something he could rush. He also could not gamble recklessly by approaching the Kings of Hell directly.

Aside from his own people, he couldn't trust anyone in the city.

However, the opportunity for him to advance again soon arrived. Once more, it stemmed from the Asura race causing trouble.

***

With his usual cold expression, Wang Sheng patrolled near the core region of the inner city. He held Yuan Tu in one hand.

Amid his patrol, several streams of light shot into the sky from the Nether Realm's central territory and flew out from within the grand array.

It looked as though the people were fighting at first glance, but a closer look revealed that two or three people were actually trying to stop a burly man who radiated fiend-blood energy. One of those trying to stop him was an Asura as well, while another was a Nether Realm general clad in armor.

In the end, the burly man still managed to break through their encirclement and landed right in front of Wang Sheng.

"Are you Xu Xian, the one who killed my daughter?!"

Wang Sheng calmly shook his head and only uttered one word.

"Scram."

The more arrogant and contemptuous he acted, the easier he would be to manipulate. That was Xu Zhongliang's advice. Wang Sheng was supposed to display as many obvious personality flaws as possible. In doing so, he would gain even more "favor" from the Nether Realm.

The burly man's mouth twitched repeatedly. His muscles swelled as he slowly grew larger. Brilliant blood light burst from his leather armor, and six additional arms extended from his back, each one gripping a treasured artifact.

Before long, the fierce, iron-blooded Asura grew three zhang tall. Fury burned in his eyes.

Wang Sheng coldly asked, "You're a Nether Realm general?"

The only response he received was an enraged roar filled with overwhelming dominance. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"Die!"

Clang!

Sword radiance exploded forth as Yuan Tu left its sheath. Wang Sheng tapped the ground lightly with his foot, and he strangely vanished.

The Asura, who had just been about to attack, completely lost sight of his target. His aura senses, immortal perception, Primordial Spirit, and even his instincts could no longer find Wang Sheng.

This was a subtle application of the Great Dao of Creation. Wang Sheng used it with extreme care while blending it with the Great Dao of Slaughter. Hence, no one could see through it. They merely assumed it was some profound, divine movement ability.

In the next instant, several faint figures resembling drifting mist appeared before the Asura. They seemed to appear simultaneously, displaying several simple actions such as rushing forward, leaping, and drawing a sword.

More and more appeared. From where Wang Sheng had originally stood all the way to the Asura's position, the misty afterimages split into three distinct paths.

It looked as though Wang Sheng had used a cloning technique, with three different clones charging forward and leaving afterimages behind.

The misty afterimages multiplied rapidly until they nearly filled every inch of space before the Asura. He made simple yet ruthless sword moves, satisfying and unrestrained slashes, and a single piercing thrust that left everything behind.

At some point, the Asura had gone completely motionless. The light within his eyes gradually faded away.

Silence fell across the inner part of Fengdu City.

A faint breeze swept through the streets, and Wang Sheng reappeared ten zhang away with his hands behind his back. In one hand, he held a treasured sword that had already returned to its sheath.

The countless misty afterimages vanished completely. Afterward, the three-zhang-tall Asura war general tilted forward under the touch of the wind. He collapsed toward the ground.

As he fell, he split apart into hundreds of cube-shaped pieces.

Only then did blood finally erupt. Filthy and chaotic primal qi transformed into violent gusts that swept across the inner city.

Wang Sheng stood motionless. His long hair did not sway, and his armor remained still. Yuan Tu spun once in his hand as he turned his cold gaze toward the stunned ghost officers nearby.

"Back to patrolling."

The ghost officers shuddered a few times. They hurried over against the raging winds, yet not one of them dared approach within five meters of Wang Sheng.