Volume 6, Chapter 31 – Xi Xuan-West, Second Seat of the First

“Xi Xuan-West?!”

Pejieer’s exclamation hadn’t yet faded from the conference room before being drowned by an even more turbulent wave of discussion. Some people shot up from their chairs, documents scattering to the floor; others retreated repeatedly in shock after seeing the Corrupted Beast’s corpse; Saint Hilgena of the Maretide Kingdom dropped her communicator, its screen cracking as inquiring voices from the outside world continued streaming through.

The Saint herself couldn’t help but swallow nervously.

“The First Celestial Augur Knight who went missing months ago?? Why would he appear here?”

“He said there are traitors here… who are the traitors?? Is he telling the truth?!”

“He must be!! Otherwise why would there be Corrupted Beasts?! Someone among us has sided with Gaia Lobir.”

“Then who exactly… are the traitors?!”

Amid the chaos, Xi Xuan slowly raised his head, his hood sliding back to reveal a face with sharp contours and incredibly keen eyes, like steel knives quenched in ice. He ignored the surrounding commotion, his gaze piercing through the crowd to land precisely on Ludean. That look was too heavy, too cold—making Ludean unconsciously step back, his microphone clattering to the ground.

“Wh-why are you looking at me?” Ludean’s voice trembled, yet he still forced himself to maintain presidential dignity. “Xi Xuan-West! Don’t stand there spouting nonsense! Everyone here is an important figure in fighting Corrupted Beasts—how could anyone have betrayed to evil gods? If you keep…”

“Cut the fucking crap.”

Xi Xuan interrupted him, his voice not loud but thundering over all the noise like a lightning strike. “President Ludean, aren’t you fucking one of the traitors?”

“You’re talking nonsense!” Ludean’s face instantly flushed red, his heart pounding frantically as he pointed at Xi Xuan’s nose and roared. “I’m the President of the Westivian Covenant! I’ve been leading everyone to build defenses against evil gods! What right do you have to call me a traitor?! Do you have proof?!”

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While shouting, Ludean secretly reached for his bracelet—trying to seek support from Yelena. But just as his fingers touched the amplifier’s edge, Xi Xuan’s figure suddenly blurred.

“Ah—!”

The sound of air being torn by fist wind rang out. Everyone only saw a black afterimage flash by, and the next second, Xi Xuan appeared before Ludean. Before Ludean could react, Xi Xuan’s fist had already slammed into his chest—not at a vital spot, but carrying terrifying spiritual power. With a “crash,” Ludean’s crisp suit instantly shredded into strips of cloth, fluttering down like tattered butterflies.

In that instant, everyone’s attention focused on Ludean’s exposed chest—there, an ice-blue lily-of-the-valley mark glowed faintly, its petal patterns clearly visible, even faintly emanating curse power…

Though this pattern was very beautiful, it instantly triggered fear in everyone’s hearts.

“This is… Gaia Lobir’s contract mark!”

Someone screamed.

“Ludean really has colluded with the Terrabond Lineage!”

“No wonder he called this meeting! He was trying to sell us all to evil gods!”

“Kill him! This treacherous traitor!”

The discussions instantly turned into angry roars. Ludean looked at the mark on his chest, his face pale as paper, his legs going weak and nearly collapsing. “No, it’s not like that!” He shook his head frantically, his voice carrying a sobbing tone.

He clearly knew what miserable fate awaited him once his identity as an evil god contractor was exposed. At this moment, all presidential bearing and composure vanished. Facing Xi Xuan’s overwhelming spiritual power pressure at close range, Ludean was completely consumed by fear and anxiety.

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“The Black Witch forced me! The Terran Malevolence threatened me! If I didn’t sign the contract, the Westivian Covenant would be destroyed by Corrupted Beasts! I did it for the people…”

“For the people?” Xi Xuan sneered coldly, his eyes full of contempt. “Wasn’t it because you coveted power that you sold out everyone in the entire Covenant? You dare say such bullshit?”

“No, it’s not…”

Seeming to sense the chilling killing intent in Xi Xuan’s eyes, Ludean retreated in terror.

“No, no… Lady Serveiling! Save, save me!!”

Unfortunately, before Ludean could finish speaking, Xi Xuan’s fist swung out again. This time, he didn’t hold back—his fist wrapped in dense spiritual power like flowing armor, landing solidly on Ludean’s heart with a “bang.”

“Pff—!”

The next moment, under the stunned gaze of everyone in the conference room, Ludean spat out a large mouthful of blood. His body flew out like a severed kite, crashing heavily into the wall before sliding to the ground. His eyes stared wide open, his chest caved in, and that ice-blue lily-of-the-valley mark gradually lost its luster, completely extinguished.

Along with Ludean’s life…

The entire conference room fell into deathly silence. Only the “drip-drop” sound of blood falling to the floor remained, so clear it made one’s scalp tingle.

Mu Yelan sat in his original position, his fingers pressing desperately against the mark on his neck, his nails nearly digging into the skin. He looked at Ludean’s corpse, then at Xi Xuan’s cold, hard profile, his heart racing—Xi Xuan knew about the contract marks and had killed Ludean without hesitation. Would he… also discover his own secret?

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Saint Hilgena of the Maretide Kingdom was now also on edge, anxiously clenching her fists in unease.

The others also looked at Ludean’s corpse, falling into contemplation.

In the corridor outside the conference room, Serveiling and Zhouyu were completely stunned.

Zhouyu had already changed back from police dog form to human form, his white long hair hanging messily at his face, still gripping a katana he hadn’t had time to put away. He looked at Ludean’s corpse on the surveillance screen, then at Serveiling, his voice full of confusion:

“Xi Xuan… wasn’t he dead? How did he suddenly appear and kill Ludean?”

Serveiling removed her sunglasses, her crimson pupils full of gravity. She had been about to activate the barrier when Xi Xuan’s sudden action disrupted all their plans. “Don’t know. Also, Xi Xuan was only missing, not confirmed dead. But this guy’s sudden appearance… is definitely trouble.”

Serveiling shook her head with a grave expression, her fingertips quickly sliding on her communicator trying to contact Yelena, only to find the signal blocked by some unknown force.

“Also, how would he know Ludean was a contractor? And know the mark’s location, even force it to manifest… we spent so much effort specifically hiding the marks…”

“That’s not important anymore. The key question is—what do we do now? Should we force our hand?”

Zhouyu asked.

Though Xi Xuan was strong, their two vassals weren’t weak either and didn’t fear this former Second Seat Celestial Augur Knight.

“That guy is Big Sister’s old comrade… making a move would cause a huge commotion, and then… we couldn’t hide it.”

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“Then what do we do? Just ignore it?”

“This…”

Serveiling bit her lip, conflicted emotions overflowing in her crimson eyes.

However, just as the two were confused and struggling, a thunderous “BOOM” suddenly came from behind them.

Serveiling & Zhouyu: ??!!

Accompanied by surging spiritual power, the corridor wall was forcibly smashed open, cement blocks and steel bars flying as a black figure slowly emerged from the swirling dust.

It was none other than Xi Xuan, who had just killed the Westivian Covenant President with one punch.

Xi Xuan dusted off his hands, his gaze falling on Serveiling and Zhouyu as a cold smile curved his lips:

“Hiding here watching for so long—did you enjoy the show?”

As Xi Xuan spoke, violent spiritual power mixed with surging killing intent crashed toward the two vassals with overwhelming force:

——”Two beasts from the Terrabond Lineage.”——