I Can Extract Divine Power

"You’re strong. A greater challenge than Wang Tianxing," Shen Bai said, narrowing his eyes. Feeling a sharp pain in his brow, he slowly drew his longsword.

The Blood Red Sword Qi had erupted, and the golden Buddha’s Light had dissipated.

The Sunset City Lord remained frozen like a puppet, his finger still raised.

"Sigh..."

A forlorn expression crossed his face.

Defeated.

He had lost.

Shen Bai’s Sword Qi and Buddha’s Light had just destroyed everything.

The Sunset City Lord never imagined Shen Bai could use Instant Teleportation.

His attack should have landed first, but Shen Bai had managed to reverse the order, his own strike landing first instead.

What’s more, he never imagined that the jade-white light emanating from Shen Bai’s body would block his strongest attack.

He had been so close to killing Shen Bai.

But in a battle between masters, even a hair’s breadth is enough to turn the tide.

He lost.

"I’ve grown old, after all."

The Sunset City Lord said bitterly, "I never thought I would lose to you."

Shen Bai shook his head. "You were a formidable man, but unfortunately, this was all fated."

Shen Bai had no desire to judge him as good or evil; he didn’t have the time for such things.

All he knew was that he had won. That was enough.

In this world, victory and defeat are what ultimately define a hero.

"To hear you say that is enough."

The Sunset City Lord let his hand fall and slowly sat cross-legged on the ground. His entire form began to fade.

"But I wasn’t lying to you."

"For instance?" Shen Bai asked.

The Sunset City Lord lifted his gaze. "For example... those messages I heard within the chaotic consciousness were all true. This world, including its mysteries, is like a fog. We are nothing more than people lost in that fog."

"Only by clearing the fog can one see the truth. But to do so, one must cut a path through the thorns, forever pressing onward in search of a way."

"I won’t be able to find it, but you should."

After he spoke these words, the forlorn look in the Sunset City Lord’s eyes deepened.

Events from his past flashed before his eyes like a spinning lantern.

The idealism of his youth; the pride and triumph of founding Sunset City in his middle age, a time of heady success.

The fear of death in his old age, and the faint pangs of guilt he’d felt after extinguishing countless lives.

And finally, this exhilarating battle with Shen Bai.

The light in his eyes gradually dimmed, then vanished.

The Sunset City Lord, and everything with him, turned to ash.

Shen Bai sheathed Cold Moon.

Before him, fourteen wisps of Evil Qi materialized. Shen Bai collected them all.

This was the most Evil Qi he had ever harvested at one time.

Adding them to the thirty-two wisps from before, Shen Bai now had a total of forty-six wisps of Evil Qi.

’This is enough for now,’ Shen Bai thought. ’What I need to do is grind my Skill Level.’

The sound of footsteps came from behind him.

Shen Bai turned and saw Yao Long and the others approaching.

"Lord Shen, are you alright?" Yao Long asked.

Shen Bai wiped the blood from his forehead. "It’s just a flesh wound."

It had missed by the slightest margin, but that margin was as wide as the ocean.

By now, the wound had already healed and vanished.

Hearing this, Yao Long breathed a sigh of relief.

’As long as he’s okay.’

The battle just now had been absolutely terrifying.

Especially when the palace vanished and they saw that terrifying, bizarre figure, they had all been sweating with worry for Shen Bai.

Thankfully, Shen Bai had won.

Red Makeup gazed at the spot where the Sunset City Lord had vanished, a trace of sadness on her face.

She had her suspicions, but she didn’t want to face them.

Shen Bai looked at Red Makeup and said, "That’s all in the past now. Focus on living your life. Whatever your father did, he’s dead now. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust."

Red Makeup snapped back to reality, nodded, and said, "I understand."

"What do we do now?" Shen Bai asked.

Red Makeup closed her eyes and concentrated for a moment before saying, "I can feel my connection to the Mysterious City slowly fading. Once it’s gone completely, I can form a contract with you, Master. But before that, we should go collect some Deceitful Objects."

Deceitful Objects?

Shen Bai’s eyes lit up. "There’s treasure like that here?"

Red Makeup nodded gently. "Yes, Master. Before my father created the Hundred Truths Technique, he was a master of Swordsmanship. He collected many Deceitful Objects related to Swordsmanship. They should still be here. I can sense them."

"Quick, take me there," Shen Bai said.

He had already gotten his fill of Evil Qi on this trip.

He never expected to get a haul of Deceitful Objects on top of it all.

From the sound of it, there were quite a few of them.

Even if they were all Deceitful Objects related to Swordsmanship, it wouldn’t matter. Shen Bai wasn’t picky.

Red Makeup nodded. "Follow me, Master."

Without the Sunset City Lord’s control, Red Makeup could now fully command the fading Mysterious City. She could also sense the location of the Deceitful Objects.

Before long, Red Makeup was leading Shen Bai toward a certain location.

...

Inside a hidden storeroom.

The surroundings were silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Red Makeup pushed open the door, and Shen Bai stepped inside.

Inside the storeroom sat a single rack.

On the rack, three sword-shaped Deceitful Objects were displayed.

In addition, there were four oddly-shaped Deceitful Objects.

Shen Bai glanced around. "Is this all?" he asked.

Red Makeup shook her head. "That’s all."

"After its founding, Sunset City suffered several major calamities. A number of Deceitful Objects were used up."

Deceitful Objects are inherently precious. The fact that this many were left is already quite good.

This wasn’t the Netherworld, so Shen Bai wasn’t disappointed by the amount.

With a wave of his hand, Shen Bai opened the space of his Life and Death Storage Skill.

A rift opened and absorbed all seven Deceitful Objects.

’Once I get back, this will be another huge boost to my power,’ Shen Bai thought.