Chapter 100 - 97: Should We Slaughter Them?

Everyone was taken aback. Who could be interrupting at a time like this?

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, a broad, burly middle-aged man strode over. He had a massive physique that toed the line between fat and muscular, and his face was covered in a thick, scruffy beard. Dressed in the black garb of a butcher, he carried a heavy, black iron broadsword on his back.

"Who is that?" The onlookers murmured, their faces filled with surprise.

"It’s the Slaughterer with the Evil Blade!" an experienced elder in the crowd exclaimed.

"The Slaughterer with the Evil Blade? Who is that?" someone asked.

In truth, the vast majority of the people present had never heard of the moniker.

"The Slaughterer with the Evil Blade has a mysterious background," the elder explained. "Rumor has it that he hails from a remote village and possesses cultivation at the Sixth Level of Tongyou Realm. His most terrifying trait is his mastery of a wicked, malevolent blade technique. He cares nothing for status or background; if anyone offends him or tries to snatch his treasures, he will slaughter them all, leaving no survivors.

"Once, while fighting for a serendipitous encounter at Buzhou Mountain, he massacred over a hundred people, including geniuses from the three great families. He became a wanted man hunted by all three factions.

"A year ago, I heard he was slain by the experts of the Ling family in Demon Valley at Buzhou Mountain. I never expected him to still be alive."

At these words, the expressions of the onlookers changed drastically. The surrounding crowd hurriedly backed away, parting to form a wide path for the Slaughterer with the Evil Blade. No one dared to get close.

Mo Qianqian’s expression shifted slightly as he recognized the Slaughterer with the Evil Blade.

Naturally, he had heard of the man. Even though Mo Qianqian had once been the "wolf" of the Ling family, it was impossible for him not to be wary of the Slaughterer with the Evil Blade. After all, the Butcher was an expert of the Tongyou Realm who acted without restraint, daring to strike down the geniuses of any major family. If younger talents like them encountered him without their elders present, they would be in grave danger. Fortunately, Mo Qianqian had never crossed paths with him before.

"Slaughterer with the Evil Blade, you actually dare to show your face in the Imperial City?" someone from the Lie family shouted coldly.

"Why wouldn’t I? Do you have the guts to make a move?" the Slaughterer with the Evil Blade retorted, directly challenging the Lie family with overbearing arrogance.

The speaker from the Lie family grimaced. He was absolutely no match for the Butcher. Even if their leading Elder joined forces with their entire group, they still wouldn’t stand a chance. Moreover, engaging in a battle with a high-level Tongyou Realm expert within the Imperial City came with severe consequences. If someone was killed, the price would be even steeper—one that even the Lie family would struggle to bear. And if they gathered their forces within the Imperial City, allied with the other two great families, and launched a massive siege against him, the royal family would undoubtedly use the opportunity to extort them. The three great families would suffer catastrophic losses.

"I refuse to believe you can hide in the city for the rest of your life!" the middle-aged man from the Lie family scoffed coldly.

The Lie family’s Grand Elder would be attending the Spirit Master Banquet, alongside experts from the other three great families. When the time came, the moment the Slaughterer with the Evil Blade stepped foot outside the city, he would be besieged. If the Butcher had stayed hidden in the remote wilderness, he would have been incredibly difficult to track down and even harder to deal with unless they mobilized the full strength of their clans. But by coming to the Imperial City, he had essentially walked right into a trap.

However, the white-haired elder of the Lie family stood silently in thought. The fact that the Slaughterer with the Evil Blade was still alive wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, and the Lie family didn’t necessarily have to take action. After all, it was the Ling family who had nearly killed him a year ago. The Butcher’s first target for revenge would undoubtedly be the Ling family, and weakening the Ling family would only benefit the Lie family.

"If you aren’t going to fight, then stop yapping!" the Slaughterer with the Evil Blade cursed bluntly. His inherently gruff voice made the insult sound particularly impactful.

"Do you want to join the Asura Conglomerate?" Mo Qianqian looked at him and asked.

"I do!" The Slaughterer with the Evil Blade turned to Mo Qianqian and said straightforwardly, "I will follow the rules of the Asura Conglomerate, but I have one condition."

"What condition?" Mo Qianqian asked curiously. He figured that only a matter of absolute desperation would compel a wanted man hunted by the three great families to enter the city and submit to a conglomerate’s orders.

"I am afflicted with a severe illness and need a Spirit Master to heal my injuries," the Slaughterer with the Evil Blade said bluntly. "I need a Second-Grade Spirit Master for anywhere from one to two months, or perhaps as long as half a year to a year."

Mo Qianqian understood. A severe illness! If left untreated for too long, he would die!

"I accept!" Mo Qianqian replied decisively.

Sometimes, a brute was far more trustworthy than the members of a great family. Once a man like him gave his word, he wouldn’t easily break it. Taking in the Slaughterer with the Evil Blade wasn’t just about having him work for the Asura Conglomerate; more importantly, it was a strategic move for infiltrating the Ling family in the future. Others might not dare to challenge the Ling family, but the Butcher certainly would. In fact, it was guaranteed. He had nearly been killed by the Ling family a year ago, and his current severe affliction was likely left behind by them. The Slaughterer with the Evil Blade would definitely seek revenge. Coupled with the Butcher’s immense combat prowess, his assistance would provide Mo Qianqian with a massive advantage.

"Slaughterer with the Evil Blade, I can also heal your injuries!" Bai Xiu hurriedly interjected.

He couldn’t allow the Butcher to join the Asura Conglomerate. As for whether healing him would draw the ire of the Ling family, that was a problem for later. Right now, he just needed to stall the man.

"I don’t give a damn about other conglomerates," the Slaughterer with the Evil Blade scoffed. In a rare display of respect, he cupped his fists and bowed to Mo Qianqian. "The Butcher greets the Great Treasure Master!"

"Welcome to the Asura Conglomerate!" Mo Qianqian said. He then turned his gaze toward the members of the Bai Xiu Conglomerate. "Are you still planning on brawling with our Asura Conglomerate?"

Bai Xiu, the black-haired elder, and the rest of their group instantly choked on their words. The Slaughterer with the Evil Blade was a terrifying existence at the Sixth Level of Tongyou Realm with overwhelming combat strength. Meanwhile, the highest cultivation level on their side was only the Fifth Level of Tongyou Realm, with the next strongest at the Third Level of Tongyou Realm. Even if the two of them joined forces, it was absolutely impossible for them to defeat the Butcher. If a fight really broke out, they might be able to stall him just long enough to kill the weaker members of the Asura Conglomerate. But once the Slaughterer with the Evil Blade defeated the two of them, he would undoubtedly massacre every last one of them.

"Asura, bringing someone in at the last minute goes against the rules," Bai Xiu said coldly.

"Our Asura Conglomerate has just been established, and we are currently recruiting. How does this violate the rules?" Pei Hong shot back.

"Vice Commander Xia, what do you think?" Bai Xiu looked at Xiajin Shi. Since this concerned a battle within the Imperial City, the final say rested with him.

Xiajin Shi swept his gaze over the surroundings. He could already sense that several people hiding in the shadows were itching to make a move. Coughing twice, he replied, "A newly formed conglomerate taking in recruits aligns with the conglomerate combat rules. On the contrary, if an established conglomerate were to add people at the last minute, it would be a violation."

With a single sentence, he completely shut down anyone hoping to join the fray to deal with the Slaughterer with the Evil Blade. Otherwise, if the old fossils hiding in the shadows temporarily joined the Bai Xiu Conglomerate, the three hundred second-grade high-tier pills gathered from the Combat Tax wouldn’t be enough to cover the ensuing destruction. Furthermore, wasn’t it a good thing to keep a man like the Slaughterer with the Evil Blade around to whittle down the strength of the three great families?

Bai Xiu’s expression turned exceedingly ugly. There would be no battle today. Luo Wushuang stared fixedly at Mo Qianqian, her eyes so bloodshot she looked ready to weep blood. They were actually going to miss such a golden opportunity!

"Asura, if you have any guts, fight me at the Spirit Master Banquet! Let’s go!" Bai Xiu flicked his sleeve and turned on his heel, storming off.

"Consider yourselves lucky, Asura," the black-haired elder scoffed, whipping his robes around and walking away.

Just as the group was turning to leave, the voice of the Slaughterer with the Evil Blade suddenly rang out. "Shall I butcher them all?"