450: hermit

The majestic Asura City stood tall upon the chaotic wasteland at the intersection of the three provinces: Thunder Prison, Blood Evil, and Profound Darkness.

The heavy scent of blood and the desperate, violent aura that once permeated the air had been replaced by a new atmosphere of iron-blooded order.

Ferocious Asura totems were branded onto the towering city walls, silently proclaiming the majesty of the land's new masters.

Inside the city, a massive and grand City Lord's Manor had already risen from the ground. In the core area of the manor, the Evil Qi of the not-yet-fully-solidified Asura Guards rose faintly, like a newborn wolf pack—their claws and teeth were still immature, but their ferocity was already evident.

Deep within the Void Realm, inside the Small World of the Godfall Mountain Range, Di Shenglong stood with his hands behind his back.

Before him, the scene of Asura City was being projected.

In the reflection, Di Wushang and Di Lingxiao stood at the highest point of the newly built City Lord's Manor, looking down upon this new Foundation they had conquered with their own hands and named after Asura.

“Asura City...” Di Shenglong's deep voice echoed in the silent space, carrying a trace of imperceptible gratification.

“Wu Shang, Lingxiao... young eagles must eventually leave the nest to strike at the sky. To be able to carve out a Foundation in a chaotic place like Rakshasa City is truly worthy of my Di Clan Bloodline.”

His deep eyes seemed to penetrate through endless space, seeing the potential of the Asura Demon God Body within Di Wushang and the unyielding nature of the Undying Battle Body within Di Lingxiao.

Establishing a power, gathering resources, and tempering oneself—this was exactly the path he hoped the Prodigies of the clan would take.

The million Top-Grade Spirit Stones he had bestowed were a silent form of recognition and expectation; like a stone thrown into a deep pool, they were bound to stir up even greater waves.

Asura City.

The biting gale tore at Di Wushang's robes, making them snap loudly.

His face was cold and stern, his Asura Demonic Eyes flowing with an eerie light as he looked down at the city's outline, which was beginning to take shape below.

On the streets, those small and medium-sized forces that had been forced to submit were tremblingly carrying out the new orders of the order. The people of the Blood Moon Sect were particularly diligent, clearly frightened out of their wits by the destruction of the Blood Prison Arena and the Tu Family.

“Wu Shang, the various forces in the city have initially submitted. Those people from the Blood Moon Sect would even cut their hearts out to show their loyalty.”

Di Lingxiao's voice carried a hint of flamboyant pleasure. He leaned on his dragon fall spear, the tip pointing diagonally toward the earth. The high-spirited Battle Intent unique to the Undying Battle Body flowed around him, as if he could whip up a monstrous wave of blood at any moment.

“The resource list sent by President Situ has also arrived. Combined with the million Top-Grade Spirit Stones bestowed by the Clan Chief and what we gained from wiping out Li Xiong and the Tu Family, it is more than enough to support the Early Stage operations of the Asura Guards.”

Di Wushang nodded slightly, but there was not a hint of relaxation in the depths of his demonic eyes. His voice was as low as ice: “The Foundation is newly established and far from stable. Li Xiong, the Tu Family, Ghostly Darkness... these are but the wolves on the surface. For Rakshasa City to remain a lawless land for centuries, there must be venomous snakes lurking in wait.”

His finger brushed across the cold black iron railing, leaving a shallow mark. “In the city, there is still an aura—obscure yet as heavy as an abyss, hidden extremely deep.”

A sharp light flashed in Di Lingxiao's eyes, and his spear hummed:

“Oh? There's actually a fish that slipped through the net? Where? I'll go meet him right now!”

His Battle Intent surged instantly.

“Calm yourself.”

Di Wushang raised his hand and pressed down slightly. An invisible Asura pressure instantly smoothed out Di Lingxiao's boiling battle blood.

“This person is hiding in an old mansion on the western edge of the city. His aura is upright and has a hint of the vicissitudes of time, completely different from the violent bloodiness of Li Xiong and the Tu Family.”

A cold, sharp arc curved at the corner of his mouth. “The Asura Guards have just been established and lack a stabilizing pillar. This person might be of use.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he took a step forward. His figure instantly merged into the massive shadows cast by the buildings below, vanishing without a trace like a ghost.

Di Lingxiao looked in the direction he vanished, stroking the cold shaft of the dragon fall spear and chuckling, “There's going to be a good show to watch.”

In the west of the city, deep within the desolate ruins, was a courtyard that was completely out of place with the surrounding decay.

The courtyard walls were covered in withered vines, and clusters of dark green moss stubbornly grew from the cracks in the bluestone slabs.

A solitary grey stone hut sat within it. It looked simple, yet it faintly merged with the surrounding environment, exuding a sense of stillness that had settled over the years.

There were no complex arrangements in the courtyard, only a gnarled old locust tree. Beneath the tree, a middle-aged man dressed in dark blue cloth was sitting cross-legged.

His face was ordinary, except for his eyes, which contained an inner brilliance when they opened and closed.

A long sheathed saber lay across his knees. The scabbard was simple and ancient, the wood grain having been rubbed as smooth as jade.

This person was none other than the Law Realm Tenth Level expert Di Wushang had sensed—Mo Cang.

His aura was as heavy as a mountain, and his breathing was as long as a turtle's. His whole being was like a stubborn rock thrown into a deep pool; though hidden deep underwater, its heavy momentum permeated the surroundings, causing even the nearby insects to instinctively fly around the area.

Suddenly, Mo Cang's closed eyes snapped open. Two flashes of light shot out, aimed directly at the swaying shadows at the entrance of the courtyard.

His fingers on the saber hilt tightened slightly.

“Since an honored guest has arrived, why not show yourself?” His voice was not loud, but it echoed clearly in the silent courtyard.

The shadows rippled like water, and Di Wushang's figure emerged silently.

He did not intentionally release any pressure, but the Asura evil intent originating from the depths of his Soul—tempered through mountains of corpses and seas of blood—and the indifferent aura of a reincarnated Demon Venerable looking down on all living beings, already occupied the entire courtyard like an invisible cold wave.

The air seemed to freeze, and the temperature dropped sharply.

“City Lord of Asura City, Di Wushang.”

Di Wushang's voice was flat, his gaze like a deep pool as it fell upon Mo Cang.

Mo Cang's pupils suddenly constricted! Asura City? City Lord? Di Wushang? Each of these three names exploded in his heart like a thunderclap.

In a short period, he had destroyed the Blood Prison Arena and the Tu Family, forced the Blood Moon Sect to surrender, unified the chaotic Rakshasa, and renamed it Asura... Although he lived in seclusion, he had heard of these major events that shook the intersection of the three provinces.

The person before him was that terrifying figure from the rumors, who was unparalleled in slaughter and like an Asura reborn?

But his aura... was clearly only at the Law Realm First Level!

After the shock, Mo Cang quickly suppressed his emotions and slowly stood up.

A heavy and majestic Law pressure, as if carrying the pulse of the earth, rose from within him, steadily contending against Di Wushang's pervasive Asura evil intent.

The two invisible forces collided and annihilated each other fiercely in the center of the courtyard, emitting a low hum. Small pieces of gravel on the ground silently turned into powder.

“So it is City Lord Di.” Mo Cang cupped his fists, his posture neither humble nor arrogant. His dark blue cloth clothes remained motionless in the invisible force field.

“I wonder for what purpose the City Lord has graced me with his presence to find a rustic idler like me?”

Facing this City Lord of notorious fame, he did not dare to be the least bit negligent.

“The Asura Guards have just been established and lack a commander.”

Di Wushang got straight to the point, his Asura Demonic Eyes flowing with an eerie light as if they could see through a person's heart. “Seeing that Your Excellency's cultivation is steady and your Foundation is deep, you are the best choice. I have come specifically to invite you to govern Asura City together.”

Hearing this, Mo Cang was first stunned, then a bitter and self-mocking smile appeared at the corner of his mouth: “Govern Asura City together? City Lord Di must be joking. I, Mo, am just a rustic fellow living out my days here, seeking nothing more than a bit of peace to end my life.”

He instinctively tightened his grip on the saber hilt, his knuckles turning even whiter from the force. Having been in seclusion for many years with a blood feud buried deep, he had long grown tired of conflict.

“Peace?” Di Wushang's voice suddenly turned cold, like the northern wind blowing across an ice plain. “Under Asura City, there is no pure land. Since you reside here, you are a person of my Asura City. Seclusion? It is nothing but self-deception.”

He took a step forward. With just that one step, his Asura Battle Intent exploded like a blood-red tide crashing against a reef, instantly causing Mo Cang's steady Law field to fluctuate violently.

“Trade a few moves with me. If you win, this place will belong to you forever, and I will never disturb you again. If you lose... you shall be the head of my Asura Guards!”