I Contracted Myself

The giant tiger hesitated as it looked at Zhao Yanhu's hand, but ultimately couldn't resist the temptation.

It slowly extended its tongue to lick Zhao Yanhu's palm, and a streak of red appeared in its originally golden eyes.

"Good boy."

Zhao Yanhu happily patted the giant tiger's head, then looked at Liu Sishan and the others with a mocking gaze.

Although the other side had more people, his abilities were enough to offset the numerical disadvantage. After temporarily controlling the giant tiger, he knew the other side had no chance of turning the tables.

He took out a bandage, wrapping his cut hand while smiling easily, "I'm really sorry, but it looks like my brother and I have won. I once heard an old man in the village say that after people die, they go to a place called the Netherworld. I hope you all... have a pleasant journey!"

As he spoke, the giant tiger slowly advanced, its eyes filled with aggression, as if contemplating the best place to strike.

"Sister Sisi, it looks like a surprise attack is out of the question. If you don't need to defend, can you take them out in the shortest time possible?" Zhang Ping asked at this moment.

Liu Sishan pondered, "I should be able to."

"Then we have no choice but to gamble. Let's do it!" Zhang Ping decided decisively.

In the next moment, a large amount of Nether Mist surged from Liu Sishan's body, forming a black cloak that covered her. At the same time, a skull mask replaced her ice mask, completely concealing her face.

As the Nether Mist erupted, Liu Sishan moved.

All the Pure Water contracted sharply, forming a high-speed rotating ring in her hand.

Super Compressed Water Flow Ring.

This could be said to be Liu Sishan's ultimate control over Pure Water.

In fact, this move wasn't meant for combat but to train her control over water flow.

Because when she used this move, she had to concentrate all her Mental Strength in her palm. Otherwise, if the water flow lost control, the exploding droplets would affect even her, and with the current water pressure, anyone hit would be either dead or severely injured.

But now, she didn't need to do anything; her body was being moved by Zhang Ping's Nether Mist, making this move a deadly weapon instead.

In the blink of an eye, she appeared in front of Zhao Yanhu.

With a gentle wave of her hand under the guidance of the Nether Mist, a small blood mark appeared on Zhao Yanhu's chest.

At that moment, Zhao Yanhu didn't react at all. By the time he felt the pain, a large amount of blood was gushing from his chest. His eyes widened, and he opened his mouth to say something, but blood filled his mouth, and he could only fall backward helplessly.

"Ah Hu!"

Zhao Yanlong saw this and roared in fury, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

But by then, Liu Sishan had already appeared in front of him. In his rage, he punched towards Liu Sishan, but it was blocked by the thick Nether Mist. Then, Liu Sishan's hand fell, and a blood mark instantly appeared on his chest as well.

Zhao Yanlong looked down at his chest in disbelief, then his legs gave out, and he fell unwillingly to the ground, blood pooling around him in an instant.

After the two brothers fell, the giant tiger finally reacted. But just as it roared in anger, a flying knife made of Nether Mist pierced through its head.

Not far away, Zhang Shouzhong stared at Liu Sishan in shock, only reacting after a long while, muttering to himself, "Ah, did we... win just like that?"

Suddenly, a white snake crawled onto his shoulder, scaring him into quickly swatting it away.

...

To the east of Mingzhu City lies the Changsha River.

The Changsha River isn't actually sandy; instead, its waters are clear.

As for why it was named the Changsha River, only the earliest humans might know.

Li Aoxue stood by the river, smiling slightly, "The Zhao brothers should have entered Mingzhu City by now. Yu Chenghai, get ready to move."

Heads began to emerge from the river, and a burly man kneeled on the water's surface, bowing his head, "As you command, my Queen!"

Then he stood up and waved his hand, "All soldiers, proceed according to the plan, move out!"

A dense crowd of humans clad in scale armor emerged from the water, each one stepping onto the land and advancing towards Mingzhu City.

"My Queen, won't the king-level Mutated Beast in Mingzhu City become an unstable factor?" After the army set off, a bird landed on Li Aoxue's shoulder and asked, its voice surprisingly that of a young girl.

Li Aoxue confidently replied, "That fox is smart. Don't be fooled by its appearance of still sleeping; it's actually wide awake, waiting for 'failure'."

"Doesn't that make our army very dangerous?" The bird asked in surprise.

Li Aoxue laughed, "That's why we need the Zhao brothers to intervene. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The Holy Mother's bloodline has fallen into the fox's hands, and the Sun and Moon Pearl cannot be exposed. The greatest reliance of failure has already lost its effect. If I don't seize this opportunity, I would be a fool. Shouldn't I take this chance?"

"This is all thanks to Your Majesty's great fortune!" The bird said happily.

Li Aoxue smiled confidently, her gaze deep as she looked towards the distant Mingzhu City.

After this battle, Mingzhu City would fall into her hands, and with the Sun and Moon Pearl in her possession, unifying the human race would be within reach.

"Your Majesty, are you really going to give Situ Shibai's body to that old monster Zuo Xiangming?" The bird asked again.

Li Aoxue smiled, "Why not? Although Zuo Xiangming has lost his way, he is still human. I need him to conquer cities for me. But before he completely falls, I will personally send him on his way."

She had promised Zuo Xiangming that after this battle, Situ Shibai would die.

And Situ Shibai's body would be Zuo Xiangming's trophy.

...

Meanwhile.

A glowing orb above Mingzhu City emitted a scorching aura.

Situ Shibai sat cross-legged on the orb, monitoring everything through the light, but a sense of crisis lingered in his heart, refusing to dissipate.

"My intuition rarely fails, and now it tells me that unless I abandon everything and flee Mingzhu City, I won't escape death tonight."

"But where does the danger come from?"

Situ Shibai pondered gravely, his eyes formed by light orbs scanning the surroundings, but he saw nothing.

Death.

He wasn't actually afraid.

After all, the person he cherished most had long left this world.

Back then, he had wished to follow her, but she had entrusted Mingzhu City to him before her death. No matter what, he had to protect this city, as it was his promise to her.

"Perhaps this is my fate."

Finding nothing, Situ Shibai slowly closed his eyes.

He had a photographic memory, and closing his eyes allowed him to see every moment with her, as if time had frozen at the beginning. It was these precious memories that had kept him going until now.

"Jinchi, maybe I'll be seeing you soon. Your disciple... her ambition is too great." He thought silently, recalling his lover's every smile and frown.

His lover's name was Zhuang Jinchi.

She had chosen this name herself because her original name, given by a Zhu Family scoundrel, was vulgar and unbearable. Her experiences before awakening were even more unspeakable.

But it was this woman who, after awakening, escaped Mingzhu City at all costs and eventually became the leader who overthrew the Zhu Family's rule.

In fact, every Awakener of that era had an unbearable past and a highly insulting name. When Situ Shibai was a slave of the Zhu Family, he was malnourished and weak, and always failed in his tasks, so he was named Huang Shibai (Yellow Failure).

This was also why Li Aoxue called Situ Shibai "Failure."