Once ignited, that ethereal blue ghostfire was nearly impossible to extinguish. Even if the assassination failed to kill the target outright, the flames would still consume them to ashes, leaving not even a trace behind. Such a method of assassination was strange and terrifying, nearly impossible to guard against. If not for powerful experts stationed in the city, panic and chaos would have already erupted among the people.
The assassination was merely one method. The true horror lay in the psychological warfare it unleashed.
"Brother Wu, what just happened? Did you see the assassin's true form?"Li Zhilin stepped forward, directing his question at Wu Wudi.
The hidden, unknown assassin was the true source of terror. As long as they remained undiscovered, it was impossible to defend against future attacks or prepare adequate countermeasures. But if their true form could be revealed, everything could proceed in an orderly fashion.
"No. The assassin's concealment technique was extremely refined. He appeared out of nowhere just a moment before the strike. There was no warning—no aura, no presence. He was completely shrouded in a black mist. He struck with a sword, fast as lightning. His assassination technique had clearly reached its peak. Even I didn't have time to react—he pierced my throat in an instant. If not for my physique having been tempered to an extremely powerful level, and protected by my Xuanwu (Black Tortoise) True Art, I would've had my throat pierced completely.
Moreover, the sword was poisoned—a single cut meant instant death. If I didn't have other methods at my disposal, I wouldn't have died from the stab, but from the poison."Wu Wudi nodded slightly toward Li Zhilin as he spoke, clearly indicating that they already knew each other and shared some camaraderie.
"Another cloud of black mist... Could it be that even someone of your strength couldn't see through the concealment?"A powerful voice rang out.
A flash of golden light followed, revealing a tall and robust lionkin with a humanoid face and a glorious golden mane. Every strand of fur shimmered like fire, exuding a regal aura.
This was none other than Crown Prince Lionheart, heir to the Lion King Tribe. He exuded a dominant, sovereign presence that left a deep impression.
His face was clouded with anger.Recently, many of his beastkin had fallen victim to assassinations. If anyone had cause for fury, it was certainly him.
"Exactly. If I catch those bastards, I, Lei Xiaotian, will smash them into pulp."A massive man, nearly three meters tall, appeared with a wild and savage aura. Anyone facing him would be instinctively awed by his primal force.
This was Lei Xiaotian, a fierce genius of the Barbarian Tribe—wild and untamed.
"We must find a way to expose these assassins. If we don't, the morale of our troops will crumble. The damage would be too great. The threat from the Eternal Night Army outside the city is secondary—what matters most is cleansing the city first. There's an old human saying: Before resisting external threats, you must first stabilize your internal affairs. I believe this is absolutely correct.
If our own house is not in order, how can we withstand the endless invasions of Eternal Night?"
Another voice spoke—soft, refined, almost ethereal. It came from a man so beautiful he barely looked male. Snowy white wings stretched from his back, radiating sacred light.
This was Feng Baiyu, the wingkin prodigy. Beautiful to the point of absurdity—many who saw him could only lament the cruel tricks of nature.
It was clear now that several of the major prodigies in Blazing Flame City had arrived. Each of them wore an expression of anger.
Clearly, the repeated assassinations had ignited a smoldering fire in their hearts—one that could erupt at any moment.
"Although I couldn't see the assassin's full form, during the attack I managed to land a hit with my Golden Harmony Finger. Once struck, if the energy is not neutralized in time, the target's body will begin to turn to gold, slowly dissolving their essence and true energy into finger force, accelerating the process of petrification into gold. It's only a matter of time before it takes effect."Wu Wudi's expression was filled with confidence.
This technique, part of his Ten Martial Titans, was among his most formidable skills. Each one was tyrannical in nature, and in the Eternal World, they had evolved further into terrifying powers. The Golden Harmony Finger was no exception.
"Indeed, your Golden Harmony Finger is formidable, Brother Wu. But the Eternal Night demons are insidious and unpredictable. No one knows if they have methods to remove the finger's energy. While it may serve as a backup, we can't put all our hope in it. We must still find a way to flush these rats out."
Crown Prince Lionheart furrowed his brow slightly.
If they relied solely on that technique, it would be nothing more than waiting by a tree for a rabbit. It wouldn't actively solve the crisis.
After all, if these assassins could sneak into the city undetected, it meant their concealment methods were beyond conventional understanding. Without a specific technique or method, finding them was almost impossible.
"If we had a single item from that assassin—anything with his aura—then my Dog King from the Gathering of Heroes Pavilion could track him. But without even a trace, it's like fishing a needle out of the sea."Li Zhilin shook his head.
Tracking required a clue—without it, they were helpless.
"There's no need for such trouble. If we want to find them, it only takes a single sentence."Yi Tianxing smiled calmly, a surge of unshakable confidence flowing from him.
His words immediately drew everyone's attention.
"Huh? That's…"
"Is that… the legendary Yi Emperor? The sovereign of the Great Yi Dynasty?"
"What?! The Yi Emperor is actually here in Blazing Flame City?!"
"That's incredible! With the Yi Emperor's powers—his Emperor Dao Divine Ability: Golden Decree—then yes, with just one sentence, he could make all the hidden assassins reveal themselves. This is amazing!"
All those who recognized Yi Tianxing were first shocked, then overjoyed.
His Golden Decree had long become famous across the battlefield. One of the most terrifying divine abilities in the world—few could counter it. With but a word, he could rewrite reality.
"It truly is the Yi Emperor. We would've prepared something had we known you were coming."Feng Baiyu smiled and offered a respectful greeting.
"Yes, such an honored guest should be welcomed properly."Wu Wudi also smiled warmly.
Among the human race, Yi Tianxing was a source of immense pride. Even fellow prodigies couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration and desire to befriend him.
"Good man!"Lei Xiaotian gave a hearty nod of approval.
"The Emperor doesn't need you to host him. You may not know, but the true owner of the Gathering of Heroes Pavilion—their allegiance lies with the Emperor. They have always served him.
So with the Yi Emperor here in Blazing Flame City, he's no outsider."
Li Zhilin spoke with a smile, directly revealing Yi Tianxing's identity.
"So the Gathering of Heroes Pavilion belongs to the Great Yi Dynasty?"A wave of shock rippled through the gathered cultivators.
After all, the Hall of Gathering Sages was a powerful force in the city. With an army of 300,000 elite soldiers—each trained in cultivation techniques and capable of unleashing immense power through battle formations—it was a force to be reckoned with.
The fact that such a force belonged to Yi Tianxing… was astonishing.
The implications were massive. For many cultivators, this revelation was like receiving a gift from the heavens. If they could survive the battlefield and return to Great Yi, they would become true citizens of the Empire. That was a dream countless humans would die for.
"Your Majesty, please, help us uncover these rats hiding in the dark."Crown Prince Lionheart respectfully requested.
Clearly, Yi Tianxing's arrival brought new hope. Perhaps, finding the assassins really was as easy as a single sentence.
"Hm. I'm interested as well."Yi Tianxing nodded and casually tapped the belt at his waist. Then he solemnly declared:
"By decree, all Eternal Night demons hidden within Blazing Flame City shall burst forth in radiant light!"
The moment the words left his mouth, a vast, invisible force spread out across the city at lightning speed, covering every corner.
Shua! Shua! Shua!
In the blink of an eye, beams of divine light burst out in several places throughout the city. The light was as blinding as burning torches—utterly inescapable, day or night.
"There! Look over there!"
"And there's another one!"
"Incredible! These demons really have nowhere to hide now. The Golden Decree—truly worthy of being called an ultimate divine ability. Astonishing!"
"Hurry! Surround them!"
"Don't let them escape!"
The entire city was electrified, cultivators erupting into action with cheers and shouts.