The one-armed man gritted his teeth and shouted to the others:

"Let me handle this first! I lost an arm for this mission—don’t I even get a moment’s right to act?"

His words were instantly met with rebuttals.

"Get lost, cripple! What use are you now? Just die quietly before I stew you in soup!"

"Say that again!!!"

"What? I’ve hated your guts for ages!! Fight me!"

They plunged into chaos. Normally, the old man—the steward of Yin Ke Duo and their undisputed leader—would have stepped in.

But he was dead, gone without explanation. With no one to suppress their greed, the bandits erupted. Finding the steward’s killer should have mattered most.

Only the bespectacled man stayed calm, edging backward. Just as he nearly reached the secret chamber’s door—

The one-armed man struck.

"I’ve had enough of you brainless idiots! Since the city lord will kill us all anyway, you might as well die by my axe now! Yaaargh!! Charge!!"

He swung his battle-axe, activating a charge skill. It slammed a clown-faced onlooker flying. Seeing him attack, the others drew weapons—old grudges flared.

A free-for-all began.

The bespectacled man, though eager to flee, was cornered by a woman he’d wronged. He had no choice but to fight back.

Zhang Luan watched skeptically from the ceiling. He didn’t grasp their sudden feud, but Wind Flower Snow Moon was nearly drained of the device’s energy. Their chaos was convenient.

Yet surprises lurked.

The bespectacled man had hidden his strength. In seconds, he sliced the vengeful woman into a dozen neat pieces.

He adjusted his glasses, eyes venomous.

"Damn it. I didn’t want to reveal myself here. You barbarians—I’m sick of you."

Blue-white rays erupted from his body. The remaining elite bandits watched in terror as he slaughtered them all within breaths.

He smoothed his clothes, spat disdainfully on the corpses, and hesitated. He didn’t leave the chamber.

He sensed danger—if he stayed longer, escape would be impossible.

But greed overwhelmed him. The legendary gear embedded here was too tempting.

If those idiots hadn’t enraged him, he’d have observed longer. Now, no need.

Waving away the thick blood stench, he approached Wind Flower Snow Moon.

"To get legendary gear before leaving this hellhole—who’s luckier than me? Hahaha."

His gaze burned with desire. Yet he knew the steward’s killer wouldn’t leave such treasure unprotected. Traps must exist.

Pity—he’d killed everyone. No one remained to test the path.

Regret flickered. He should’ve spared the one-armed brute—a tough-skinned warrior would’ve been perfect.

Too late. He pushed his glasses up. Blue-white light surged to his wrists, forming glowing gloves. Only then did he reach for Wind Flower Snow Moon.

Zhang Luan, tired of spectating, flicked his finger. Wind Flower Snow Moon yanked free with a pop. The device’s leftover energy blasted straight into the bespectacled man’s face.

Zhang Luan caught the gear. The energy gauge hit 1%. He nodded, satisfied. That sliver could power a whole town for ages.

As he prepared to stow Wind Flower Snow Moon, a furious roar echoed.

"Who did this?! Damn you!!!"

Zhang Luan looked down. The bespectacled man was horrifying—half his handsome face charred, all his hair scorched off.

He glared venomously at Zhang Luan, then at Wind Flower Snow Moon in his hand. Rage boiled over.

"Damn it! I knew there’d be a trap! Who are you?!"

"Guess."

Zhang Luan grinned down at him, flipping Wind Flower Snow Moon into his system inventory.

"Insolent! That’s mine!"

The bespectacled man snarled, ignoring his searing pain. He shoved his glasses up. A barrage of blue-white rays shot out.

Zhang Luan sidestepped easily, then mocked him with a smirk:

"Is that all you’ve got? No more tricks? Then I’m leaving."

His tone was light, but caution grew inside. Those rays were clearly a supernatural ability. If he’d blocked with Stellar Flame walls or tower shields earlier, they might’ve pierced right through—Stellar Flame clashed poorly with light attacks.

He recalled this man was the sole survivor among the bandit elites in his past life. Even when Southern Sect City was annihilated, this guy reappeared.

He likely wasn’t from Southern Sect City at all.

Then Zhang Luan remembered the bespectacled man’s words: "you barbarians." Only one group used that term.

"You’re from the Central World," Zhang Luan said, smiling faintly.

The bespectacled man’s pupils shrank. He straightened, his expression turning icy.

"So you’re one too. No wonder you have legendary gear. And your rank... heh. You’ve already undergone an ascension? Who are you? Some noble heir?!!!"