Zhou Hu listened to the lively chatter around him, a satisfied grin spreading across his rugged face.
Clearly, he was in a great mood.
And why wouldn't he be?
Just moments ago, he had stumbled upon a mission token in the casual mode of the Tower of Trials—a rare stroke of luck.
Upon completing the mission, he was rewarded with an Epic-ranked martial skill—Overlord Fist.
The name alone exuded dominance, and when used, the technique was nothing short of overwhelming.
After acquiring it, Zhou Hu had rushed to the trial field to test it out.
The results shocked him.
With Overlord Fist, his attack power surged by several times!
This was a treasure!
He had heard that Epic-level techniques were on par with territorial martial arts—the kind of skills that some sects and organizations kept as their most prized secret arts.
For a mercenary like him, whose most powerful martial technique had only been Profound-rank, obtaining such a skill was nothing short of miraculous.
It was no wonder he was in such high spirits.
---
The place where Zhou Hu and his group resided was a fair distance from Origin Mall—a well-known mercenary gathering area within Nine Stars City.
The district was rowdy and untamed, filled with all kinds of people—some trustworthy, others not so much.
Though it wasn't exactly lawless, it was far from the orderly streets of the noble sectors.
Mercenaries, after all, were warriors who lived by the sword.
They constantly ventured into the Nine Stars Mountain Range, battling monstrous beasts and facing life-and-death struggles.
It was only natural that such an environment would shape their personalities—and their sense of morality.
Zhou Hu and his team lived in a spacious courtyard, one of the better residences in the area.
At this hour, the place was already bustling with mercenaries, the air filled with boisterous voices.
Of course, the topic on everyone's lips was the mysterious phenomenon at noon.
---
"Did you see those dark clouds earlier?" someone asked.
"Of course I did! They rolled in so suddenly—it felt like the sky was about to collapse on me!"
"When that purple lightning struck, I thought it was over! But somehow… it just vanished on its own!"
"Yeah, yeah! And right before that, I swear I heard someone speak. It was faint, but I heard it!"
"Huh? You too? I thought I was just imagining things…"
A wave of agreement swept through the crowd.
Then, as Zhou Hu and his group arrived, the conversation abruptly stopped.
The mercenaries turned their attention to them, faces filled with barely contained excitement.
Zhou Hu frowned.
A bad feeling crept into his chest.
---
"Finally," a deep, rumbling voice broke the silence.
"I've been waiting all afternoon."
A towering figure stepped forward from the crowd.
He was a bald, muscular giant, standing more than a head taller than an average man.
His bare chest revealed a body sculpted like solid rock, every muscle radiating immense power.
His breath surged like a tidal wave, showing that his cultivation was at the peak of Fatebound Ascension—just a step away from Soul Dominion.
Zhou Hu's eyes narrowed slightly.
This guy isn't here for small talk.
"Who are you?" Zhou Hu asked, his tone calm but wary.
The bald giant grinned, his booming voice like thunder.
"I heard that Zhou Hu, leader of the Mad Tiger Mercenary Corps, is strong. I came to see for myself!"
There was no deception in his gaze.
No hidden malice.
Only pure, unrestrained battle intent.
Zhou Hu stared at him for a moment, then sighed inwardly.
You waited all afternoon… just for a fight?
---
Among mercenaries, duels and sparring matches were a common occurrence.
Most people weren't surprised by the challenge.
But a battle between two peak Fatebound Ascension cultivators?
That was rare.
That was something worth watching.
That was why so many mercenaries had gathered.
Zhou Hu knew he could refuse, but after obtaining Overlord Fist, he had been itching to test its true power.
Why not take this chance to try it out in reality?
A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Fine," Zhou Hu said, rolling his shoulders.
"Let's see what you've got."