Volcanic Age

Thirteen warriors died in less than fifteen minutes. In fact, they all fell in the proverbial blink of an eye with blood gushing out of them.

However, just who were they? Were they not the warriors of Warped Valor, known as the strongest division of the Dark Heavens Association? Whether it was their martial prowess or battle experience, they had everything a warrior could ask for.

Yet they still died. In a fashion that could be described as one-sided, no less!

Even if one was a Harmony Realm expert and one of the One Hundred Experts Under Heaven, facing off against ten Peak Realm experts at the same time would still be incredibly difficult.

"Ah…" Luo Xiaoyue gasped softly. "I didn’t think it’d be this bad…!"

She had heard many things about the Dark Heavens Association, but she had yet to be convinced until now. Today’s experience had changed her mind.

The facilities in this place could not have been arranged by an individual faction acting on their own. More importantly, these Seven Stars warriors possessed shocking strength. Every single one of them wasn't a Second Class or a First Class martial artist—they were Peak Realm experts!

She only had to deal with two enemies, but she was already finding it taxing despite her strength. She could have been in trouble had it not been for Little Ghost’s timely assistance.

"Branch Head, I’m coming to get you soon, so don’t do anything foolish," said Zhou Xuchuan.

The enemy group no longer displayed the previous level of hostility. It seemed that Zhou Xuchuan’s martial prowess had overwhelmed them. Of course, that did not mean Zhou Xuchuan had let his guard down.

The Jiangsu Branch Head flinched upon seeing Zhou Xuchuan walking toward him.

"S-Stop right there, Zhou Xuchuan!" he cried out urgently, "Parley! Yes, that’s right! Let’s talk it out first!"

"Talk about what?"

"Our organization is much more powerful than you think. We're not something that you and your misplaced sense of justice can handle!"

Zhou Xuchuan stopped in his tracks and casually shrugged.

The branch head seemed to have thought that his persuasion was working, so he yapped away enthusiastically.

"Let me go, and I give you my word that I’ll speak favorably to our leaders on your behalf! They'll certainly be happy to accept an expert like you—a Mount Hua disciple at that—to their ranks! Surrender now and join us! We—"

"Branch Head," said Zhou Xuchuan, glaring at the Jiangsu Branch Head. His eyes were icy cold as he coldly spat, "I can hear you."

The branch head’s anxious gaze looked around as he wondered what Zhou Xuchuan was talking about.

"I can hear you racking your brain."

"…!" The branch head was visibly agitated and flustered.

"Damn it!" The Jiangsu Branch Head whipped around and ran in the opposite direction at his fastest speed. However, he was not fast at all. In fact, from the perspective of an expert, he was slow enough to be yawn-inducing.

However, Zhou Xuchuan didn't dillydally; he didn’t want to find out what this underling of Blessed Existence had up his sleeve, so he threw himself forward and chased after the fleeing man.

"Oh? You want to stop me?"

The remaining Seven Stars warriors stood in Zhou Xuchuan's way. They knew the outcome of their actions, but they were still determined to throw their lives away to stop Zhou Xuchuan.

"Sorry, but I don’t have time to play with you."

Zhou Xuchuan unleashed his footwork art to its limits. He could feel the Seven Stars warriors chasing after him, but Luo Xiaoyue and Little Ghost blocked their path.

"Branch Head!" Zhou Xuchuan exclaimed. He was chasing after the Jiangsu Branch Head at his fastest speed, so he caught up to the latter in no time.

He closed the distance in an instant as if he had traveled through space. Then, he grabbed the Jiangsu Branch Head by the scruff of his neck.

"Euh-uhk?!"

"First of all, let’s all calm down, shall we?"

Folks from the Dark Heavens Association’s Blessed Existence division were smart. Since there was a chance that they might try something unnecessary, Zhou Xuchuan grabbed the old man’s head and slammed it into the ground.

Bang!

The Jiangsu Branch Head let loose an agonized scream. Moments later, there was another loud bang, and the Jiangsu Branch Head's blood soaked the ground.

"I’m going to ask you a few questions. Lying or doing anything unnecessary will only result in pain," said Zhou Xuchuan.

"Zhou… Xuchuan! It’s not too late to—aaaargh!" The Jiangsu Branch Head's words were cut off mid-sentence, replaced by a blood-curdling scream as Zhou Xuchuan broke his index finger.

Zhou Xuchuan smiled upon seeing the Jiangsu Branch Head's face contorting from the excruciating pain. He had a hunch that things were going to work out smoother than he had expected.

The Members of the Dark Heavens Association were known to be rather tight-lipped, and it was all because even a tiny mistake could endanger their lives.

The enemy could force them to talk through threats, but their lives would still be forfeit as soon as their comrades discovered that they had opened their mouths. It didn't matter even if they were coerced, their reasons be damned!

Out of all the Dark Heavens Association members, those from the Twisted Melody Division and the Pure Faith Division were the hardest people to handle. They had received extensive training against torture and would never spill any secrets.

However, those from the Blessed Existence Division were far easier to handle. They rarely traveled outside their headquarters, and they weren't used to extreme physical pain as well.

The Jiangsu Branch Head was an excellent example of that.

"Once I’m done with your fingers, I’ll move on to your toes. And when I'm done with your toes, I’m going to pull out all your fingernails."

"W-What are you talking about—" The Jiangsu Branch Head cried out urgently, but a grotesque cracking noise echoed, interrupting him.

Zhou Xuchuan's face remained indifferent even after shattering the Jiangsu Branch Head's thumb. Then, he moved closer to the masked man and whispered into his ear as if he didn’t want others to hear what he was about to say.

"Hm, everyone from Blessed Existence’s camp is supposed to be smart, so what are you trying to do here? Let’s save each other the trouble and tell me all I want to know, all right? I’ll let you go afterward," Zhou Xuchuan whispered.

He was not acting like a hero beloved by the public at all.

Even those from factions would probably grimace at Zhou Xuchuan’s cruelty.

However, the Jiangsu Branch Head kept his mouth shut while groaning in pain.

"Let’s not waste time," said Zhou Xuchuan before breaking a third finger. This time, he shattered the Jiangsu Branch Head's middle finger. An agonized, pitiful scream instantly reverberated throughout the underground space.

"Let’s cut to the chase, shall we? This branch… was it a trap all along?"

"…"

The branch head didn’t reply, but his eyes were clearly wavering. To help him make up his mind, Zhou Xuchuan decided to break his ring finger.

"Aaaaargh! Y-yes! It was a trap!"

It wasn’t just this branch. Every location that Zhou Xuchuan was probably aware of had been reinforced with trap mechanisms and combatants. Zhou Xuchuan was disappointed to hear that.

There was probably nothing worthwhile in a place designed to be a trap.

However, he was still holding on to a sliver of hope, so he asked, "Are you saying that this place has always been a trap?"

"N-no…"

"Is that right?" Zhou Xuchuan’s face brightened. It seemed that the situation wasn’t as bad as he thought. He then urged the branch head to cough up everything he knew about this place.

The Jiangsu Branch Head hesitated once again, so Zhou Xuchuan broke the fifth finger, opening up the floodgates of information.

The branch used to be just a normal branch. However, the possibility that it had been discovered had led to its downgrading, and it was no longer that important to the Association. It also became heavily monitored.

However, the branch was still useful, and closing it down because of some slight danger seemed like a waste of resources, so the higher-ups decided to keep it operational without any modifications to its operations.

"Good. Then, there should be something useful here," said Zhou Xuchuan. He dragged the Jiangsu Branch Head to where his companions were waiting. At this point, their fight was more or less finished.

"Wheeew!" Luo Xiaoyue huffed and puffed, looking tired. Her dantian was running low on qi, so she had to exhaust her stamina to fight. Her qi reserve wasn't infinite like her Senior Brother, after all.

After getting through all those traps by the entrance, Luo Xiaoyue was exhausted, and she had to spend her remaining qi against the Seven Stars warriors. Even Little Ghost's breathing had become irregular. Of course, she still looked unruffled on the outside.

"Great work, you two. Shengji, we’re done here! You can come out now," Zhou Xuchuan called out. Zhuge Shengji peeked his head out from behind a crumbled wall, and he immediately scanned his immediate vicinity.

"Whew! Thanks for your hard work, Brother," said Zhuge Shengji before breathing a sigh of relief. He was so relieved that he even rubbed his chest.

Just who are these people, really!? the Jiangsu Branch Head lampooned inwardly. He dared not open his mouth upon seeing the corpses of his comrades.

Zhou Xuchuan was one thing, but even Luo Xiaoyue and Little Ghost had proven to be extraordinary as well.

Beautiful Sword Blossom, Luo Xiaoyue! She was famous for being Mount Hua’s number one beauty, and there was a high chance that she'd become the next Phoenix.

Of course, the Jiangsu Branch Head was familiar with Luo Xiaoyue. In fact, the Association had known about her before Zhou Xuchuan had earned his fame.

Luo Xiaoyue's extraordinary talents were obvious from a young age, and it was proven by how she became the disciple of Iron Blood Plum Sword—one of Mount Hua’s Five High Elders.

In other words, the Jiangsu Branch Head expected her to be a formidable opponent, but to think she’d be this powerful! At the very least, she had to be a Peak Realm expert. Considering that she was only eighteen, her growth rate was just ludicrous.

And who is that little kid? the Jiangsu Branch Head couldn't help but ponder. Judging from her appearance alone, she couldn’t be older than fifteen. At most, she had to be around thirteen or fourteen years old.

The young girl was of short stature as well. She was so short that her head barely reached an adult's waist, yet she was exuding an extraordinary air.

The Jiangsu Branch Head was in a despair-inducing predicament, but the cogs in his brain remained relentless, analyzing his enemies.

Zhou Xuchuan tutted. "Let’s not beat around the bush. I know this place has stuff that the public must never see. You get what I’m saying, right? Take us to where those things are."

The Jiangsu Branch Head chose wisely this time, nodding animatedly to imply that he did not want to lose the rest of his fingers.

With that, the group allowed the Jiangsu Branch Head to guide them somewhere.

The brief respite allowed Zhou Xuchuan to study the interior in renewed interest. The new passageway differed from the one they used to enter the branch, as it was much wider than that entrance.

The passageway involved multiple twists and turns before the group was eventually led up a spiral staircase.

About fifteen minutes later, Zhou Xuchuan felt a faint breeze tickling his skin.

"Are we close to an exit?" asked Zhou Xuchuan.

"Y-yes, we are."

"Did you guys hide the good stuff in a place where it’s easy to bring them outside? Let me ask this just in case, but you didn’t lead us here to run away, right? I know you’re a smart man, so you won't do something that dumb, right? Branch Head?"

Upon warning the branch head not to do anything stupid, the group continued their journey toward their destination. Fifteen minutes of walking later, the scenery changed once more.

Just how much farther are we supposed to go?

The long trek to their destination was yet another reminder of the Dark Heavens Association’s strength.

"We’re here," said the Jiangsu Branch Head. The steel door opened, revealing a library.

The interior was so different from the outside that everyone felt as if they had somehow found themselves in another building. Unlike the corridor outside, the library beyond the steel door didn't smell stuffy or moldy.

In addition, there was not even a speck of dust, making it clear to everyone that this place was being maintained regularly.

The floor and the walls were still made of stone, but the signature ruggedness of stone walls was nowhere to be seen, as human intervention had ensured that the walls would resemble mirrors rather than craggy stone.

"Hoh!" Zhou Xuchuan grinned brightly and hummed away. They had caught a big one today. A glance was enough for him to see many things with value far exceeding his initial expectations.

You fools! The Jiangsu Branch Head didn’t show it on the surface, but he was busy mocking Zhou Xuchuan inwardly. You made a grave mistake by forcing me to bring you here!

Without a doubt, this was one of the most important rooms in the Jiangsu secret branch of the Dark Heavens Association. Naturally, the room contained many valuable records and plans.

Starting from the many different proprietary means of communication with the outside world, secret orders from the higher-ups to items of great monetary value—just about anything could be found in this room.

In other words, it wouldn't be a surprise if the Dark Heavens Association had installed defensive mechanisms in this room.

If one were to touch something else before accessing the entry mechanism, a trap would be triggered, and a mist of powerful poison would be unleashed. The poison was so powerful that even a powerful expert would lose their life instantly after just a whiff.

But I’ll be fine since I’ve already taken the antidote.

The first thing the Jiangsu Branch Head did after waking up in the morning was take an antidote to prepare for the one-in-a-million chance that he would be forced to bring the intruders here. He had done it, just in case, but it actually happened.

Blessed Existence has installed that trap personally. Forget disabling it; you wouldn't even realize what killed you! The Jiangsu Branch Head worked hard to suppress his laughter. Pfft! Ahahaha! It’s my win this… time…?

Click!

"Oh? a poison-dispensing mechanism? Pretty good, I’d say." Zhuge Shengji disabled the trap mechanism with consummate ease.

"…!"

What the hell was that?! The Jiangsu Branch Head’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets at the sight. He was so shocked that he briefly forgot about Zhou Xuchuan keeping a close eye on him.

Only a small portion of Blessed Existence’s underlings had possessed the blueprint for this library. Even then, they only held incomplete fragments of the blueprint. Moreover, the mechanism had a shockingly bizarre special ability—it was capable of changing positions every twenty-four hours.

Despite that, Zhuge Shengji actually managed to disable it? And as if it was like taking candy from a baby at that! It was like he was playing with a toy! He had walked up to the trap like a man on an idyllic stroll and disabled it right away!

C-Could it be…! A terrifying thought popped up in the Jiangsu Branch Head's mind. His disbelieving eyes clapped on Zhuge Shengji.

"Yes, I know," said Zhuge Shengji after noticing that gaze. He stood tall and spread his chest wide. "I know that I’m a genius!"

No way! The Jiangsu Branch Head tried so hard to deny the reality that he began frothing at the mouth. This made no sense!

The trap was crafted and installed by none other than Blessed Existence. A mechanism cooked up by the smartest man in existence was easily undone by some brat?!

"Hahaha!" Zhou Xuchuan guffawed, but it wasn't because he saw the Jiangsu Branch Head's stupefied face. He laughed because of what was written in the document in his hand.

"So it's the Evil Valley?"