So Zhang Luan would never do something destined to fail. In his past life, no one had ever fully completed this quest. Both factions ended in failure. This time, he had no intention of letting it fail. Just a tyrant? No big deal—he could take him down.
His goal achieved, Zhang Luan didn’t hesitate. He sipped the fish soup, triggering the [Supreme Delicacy] buff. Then he drew the Ends Bow, aiming at the heavily made-up woman.
A chill shot through her heart. An overwhelming sense of danger exploded in her mind. She sensed it—her magic barrier wouldn’t stop that arrow. If it hit her…
Would she die?
She cursed the gloomy youth under her breath.
“Damn it! That brat ruined my plan!”
She rolled on the ground without a second thought. Magic surged, kicking up dust clouds to block Zhang Luan’s sight.
Watching her, Zhang Luan smirked. He loosened the bowstring slightly, then fired the arrow casually into the sky.
From the dust, the woman’s eyes lit up. She sneered inwardly—so this Holy Son was all show. A little smoke blinded him. He couldn’t kill her now.
But just as she prepared her strongest spell, that distant danger surged back. Before she could react, an energy arrow materialized before her bare stomach. *Rip!* It pierced her clean through.
“Wh… why…?”
She stared at Zhang Luan in disbelief. As a battle-hardened mage, she’d paid dearly for the passive skill Crisis Sense.
Where had that arrow come from?
A horrifying thought struck her. Her pupils shrank. She strained to cast one last spell—to warn the tyrant: this Holy Son wielded time-space power! He must die before reaching Southern Sect City. No survivors!
But…
“My… my mana?”
She raised her hand, desperate to send the message. Yet not a drop of mana remained.
“No… impossible!”
She tried again, but it was too late.
Eyes wide with bitter regret, she died. Her final thought:
Southern Sect City was doomed.
With the woman gone, the youth writhing in chili agony fell silent. His pepper-red body slumped into the stream.
[Skill Book Obtained: Mana Net]
[Skill Book Obtained: Phantom Step]
Taking out these two yielded great rewards. Two skill books—pure luck beyond anyone’s expectations. The woman’s drop was ordinary: just a Mana Net, restricted to magic users. But the gloomy youth’s gift surprised him.
[Phantom Step]
Effect: Consumes energy to enter brief invisibility for one minute. Reduces presence and hit rate by 10% for ten seconds. Cooldown: five minutes.
Not a direct combat boost, but incredibly useful. Vanishing mid-fight could shatter enemy morale. Plus, stealth opened… opportunities.
Like the Goblin King’s secret chamber?
Zhang Luan slapped the skill book onto himself. Moments later, its mechanics flooded his mind. He tested it—his wrist faded first, then his whole body.
“Slow… tch. Weaker than I hoped. Good thing I’ve got [Smoke Cloak] too. They’ll pair nicely.”
He canceled the skill and turned to Yanat’s group still fighting bandits. The tide had turned. Without the woman’s legion buff, the bandits crumbled under Yanat’s charges. Victory was certain.
Zhang Luan dropped his bow and returned to the Magic Conveyance.
Sen Luo, who’d wanted to protect him, hesitated before following. He sniffed the cabin’s aroma and swallowed hard.
Zhang Luan raised an eyebrow. He placed the now-warm pot beside him and patted it.
“Want some?”
“C-can I?”
Seeing Sen Luo’s hopeful eyes, Zhang Luan grinned.
“Nope.”
Sen Luo froze, forcing a sheepish smile as he retracted his hand.
Amused by his crestfallen look, Zhang Luan pulled a large plastic plate from under the seat. He set it on the small table and piled fish onto it with chopsticks.
“Just kidding. I can’t finish it all. Wait for your master and the others. Share it then.”
Sen Luo’s eyes lit up. He grabbed a plate without hearing the rest and dug in.
The moment the fish touched his tongue, warm energy flooded his limbs. Unimaginable bliss burst in his chest. He squinted, utterly blissful.
A commoner’s kid like him had never tasted anything this divine. It was addictive.
He reached for another plate, devouring greedily—oblivious to Zhang Luan’s odd stare.
“Huh. This guy’s a total foodie?”
Zhang Luan was surprised. In the future, Sen Luo would become the aloof, god-like Twin Blades Master—never obsessed with food, let alone lacking self-control.
Unexpected, but he didn’t care. He dumped the leftovers out the window, rinsed the pot with water, and let its self-cleaning trait kick in. It sparkled instantly.
Sen Luo finished the last plate, sighing happily as he slumped against the seat, humming tunelessly.
When Yanat and the others returned after wiping out the bandits, they found Sen Luo like this. Yanat’s gaze swept the empty plates. His face darkened.
“Enjoy it?” Yanat asked coldly.
Still dazed, Sen Luo blurted without looking up:
“Ah~ So good! Best thing I’ve ever eaten!”
Yanat’s expression turned icy. He chuckled sharply.
“Oh? Then you’re wasted training with us. Back at the Sacred Temple, you’ll join the kitchen. Study eating full-time.”
“Huh? Ah—!”
Sen Luo jolted upright, eyes wide.
“No! I—”
He tried to explain, but Yanat wouldn’t listen. He’d already decided: back at the temple, this brat would learn respect. Hard.
