"A secret rune? Impossible!"

With just a faint sense, Feng Ye realized what Lin Chuan had hidden beneath the spirit talisman for him. It was a secret rune from the Rune Continent—a mystical artifact with extraordinary power, somewhat akin to the magic scrolls of the Radiant Land.

This guy… really is filthy rich. To even obtain something like this.

Feng Ye couldn’t help but feel a trace of admiration, though his expression remained perfectly calm. He simply took the item and strode toward Shadowblade.

"This is a Thorn Bind rune," Feng Ye thought. "Used up close, it’ll definitely catch that guy off guard." He almost regretted not needing to swing his brick this time. He’d never realized how satisfying brick-swinging could be during sword fights, but lately, he’d grown oddly addicted to it.

Shadowblade’s eyes lit up as Feng Ye approached with the Divine Artifact and a stack of spirit talismans. One priceless Divine Artifact plus those teleportation talismans—this haul made even an S-Class Awakened’s pursuit worth it. Once he used the soul essence in his hand to break through to the "Soul" realm, he’d stand a real chance against any S-Class Awakened.

"Now!"

The moment Feng Ye stepped within five meters, Shadowblade’s cold smirk flashed. He activated his combat skill instantly. A shadow surged from Feng Ye’s own silhouette behind him, thrusting a spear straight at his back.

"I knew it wouldn’t be that simple."

Feng Ye sensed the move the instant Shadowblade acted. His body flickered and vanished, leaving the spear thrust empty.

"He dodged?!" Shadowblade stared in disbelief at Feng Ye, now several meters away. "Even a C-Rank Awakened couldn’t evade that attack—how did a D-Rank pull it off?"

Humiliated, Shadowblade jabbed his spear, conjuring icy points of light that stabbed toward Feng Ye.

Meanwhile, Lin Chuan’s heart clenched as he saw Shadowblade attack. That traitor! He shouted desperately, "Brother Feng Ye, use what I gave you!"

"What?" Shadowblade froze mid-strike. Had that D-Rank trash received something? He felt a surge of relief for attacking first, but wariness crept into his stance.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Spear shadows engulfed Feng Ye—only for him to vanish again.

"How can his speed be this fast?!" Shadowblade’s shock deepened. Is this guy really just D-Rank?

He yanked Lin Tang backward, scanning frantically for Feng Ye, wary of hidden tricks.

"I’m done playing." Feng Ye had no time to waste. He wanted to go home, and Lin Tang looked dangerously pale. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned his trusty brick.

"It’s you!" Shadowblade’s pupils shrank. He remembered that brick slamming into the warhorse’s face mid-battle.

"You’ve been hiding your strength!" Shadowblade spat. "You’re no mere D-Rank Awakened."

"Sorry, but I’m genuinely only D-Rank," Feng Ye said.

"Do you think I’ll believe that now?" Shadowblade pressed his spear against Lin Tang’s throat. "One wrong move, and she dies. Hand it over, and I’ll let you both go."

"You still don’t get it," Feng Ye sighed. "Do you really think her life can threaten me?"

"Don’t you care if she dies?!" Shadowblade’s face twisted.

"No. I mean you won’t get the chance."

Before Feng Ye finished speaking, he vanished. As the last words reached Shadowblade’s ears, a deafening *thud* rocked his skull. His body crumpled like lightning had struck him.

"Impossible!"

Collapsed on the ground, Shadowblade’s eyes bulged. Agony and dizziness shattered his focus. Worse, his Spirit Energy rampaged wildly, utterly beyond his control. Darkness swallowed him.

"Nothing beats bashing heads with a brick," Feng Ye mused, cradling Lin Tang in one arm and the brick in the other.

Lin Tang burst into tears the moment she was safe, clinging to him. Her tear-streaked face soaked his shirt.

"It’s okay now," Feng Ye tucked the brick away and gently patted her head.

Lin Chuan limped over, his expression complex. "Thank you, Brother Feng Ye. Without you, we’d be dead." He finally grasped Feng Ye’s true strength—Shadowblade, the seventh-ranked B-Rank Awakened, hadn’t lasted a single move. Lin Chuan suspected Feng Ye might even be A-Rank.

Feng Ye pulled the Divine Artifact and talismans from subspace and tossed them back. "No thanks needed. Take these. And next time, don’t flash precious items around. Human hearts don’t withstand temptation."

Lin Chuan’s face darkened. "But you didn’t betray us like the others."

"I stopped chasing such things long ago," Feng Ye replied. "The Awakened world is far crueler than you imagine. Keep playing house, and no family backing will save you." He pressed the soul essence he’d taken from Shadowblade into Lin Tang’s small hand.

Lin Tang wiped her tears and looked up. "Brother Feng Ye, please take this. It’s payment for saving us."

"I didn’t save you for payment," Feng Ye said gently. "You spent so much setting that array—keep it." He glanced at the ruined battlefield and the barely breathing figures nearby. "Right now, we should focus on saving the others… and dealing with this guy."

...