Chapter 51: The Grand Illusion and the Fiery Retribution

Zhang Luan regarded the glasses-wearing man with a peculiar gaze. He had no idea what bizarre scenario this fellow had conjured in his mind just moments before.

But it didn’t matter. Since the man had already imagined it, Zhang Luan decided to let him continue his elaborate fantasy.

“Guess,” he challenged. “Even if you guess correctly, I won’t tell you. And since you’ve come from the Central World, I certainly can’t let you off. So, tell me, how do you wish to die?”

He subtly placed his hand behind his back, his fingers kneading a ball of All-Star Flames infused with the Power of Genesis, ready to launch a sneak attack at any moment. Despite his outwardly arrogant demeanor, he was indeed quite brazen.

What if this glasses-wearing man truly hailed from the Central World? He hadn’t even undergone his first advancement. Zhang Luan, who had struggled and fought for so many years in his previous life, had never heard of him. So, what was there to fear?

If only his current level wasn’t so low, he would have simply plastered the man’s face with All-Star Flames, turning him into a roasted pig’s head.

“Even if you’re the heir to some grand family, even if you completed your first advancement at Level 15, in my eyes, you’re utterly insignificant! Humph, you ask how I wish to die? I’ll tell you, you’ll die by my hand today! Take this, Blue-White Striped Light Wave!”

He pushed up his glasses, and blue-white light scattered, enveloping him entirely.

Despite his boastful words, which mirrored Zhang Luan’s own arrogance, he was actually quite panicked. The suppression of a higher tier was simply too severe. Even though his actual level was a formidable 35, and he possessed a special item from the Central World that could boost his strength by half.

Yet, the disparity before a true tier difference rendered these advantages almost meaningless. The most logical course of action for him now was to flee.

But a sense of stubborn unwillingness gnawed at him. Under the scrutiny of his Identification Eye, this individual, suspected to be the heir of some Central World family, registered as only Level 15. Clearly, he had only recently advanced and might not yet skillfully wield his newfound power. So… what if he could win?

If he could slay this person, he would acquire that legendary item and instantly soar to greatness. Perhaps he could even achieve his own advancement. Moreover, this individual surely possessed more than just one legendary weapon. Though the longsword beneath his foot was shattered, it appeared to be of rare quality. With a bit of repair, it could still be used for a long time. If he could casually step on a rare longsword, then was it possible that his spatial device contained an even better one?!

He desperately wanted to win. In his heart, this was a high-stakes gamble. If he won, his future would be bright. If he lost… No, he wouldn’t lose! Today, he was absolutely the Child of Destiny!!!

The glasses-wearing man’s expression shifted repeatedly, like the rapid face-changing of Sichuan opera. Zhang Luan unhurriedly dodged the incoming light rays, observing the young man with a hint of curiosity about what he was thinking. He felt that the man was growing increasingly confident, and by the end, he was even passionately manipulating the light lines, loudly shouting a stream of bizarre, nonsensical words.

He resembled a protagonist from a light novel facing a formidable foe. But if that were the case, what did that make Zhang Luan? The evil villain? That didn’t sound too bad, actually.

“As someone from a Central World power, you look down on small-time superhumans like me from the bottom of your heart, don’t you? I will never submit to someone like you! My life is mine to control! You cannot dictate my destiny!”

He continued to shout these strange declarations, making Zhang Luan feel a wave of awkwardness. What exactly had he been concocting in his mind? It felt like he could write an entire novel about it—utterly peculiar.

Too lazy to bother with him, Zhang Luan didn’t even wish to use the Bow of Finality. Joining his fingers, the Azure Righteous Sword executed a full 180-degree rotation in the air. With a push of his hands, the All-Star Flames, enveloped in the Power of Genesis, directly slammed towards the glasses-wearing man.

He watched the fiery orb, causing the blue-white light lines to coalesce into a massive defensive barrier in the air. Meanwhile, he began circling the arena, pulling a small robot-like device from his pocket. He cautiously pressed the switch, and accompanied by strange music, he felt his combat power surge by more than half.

“You…”

Just as he was about to launch into a righteous verbal assault, the Power of Genesis cloaking the All-Star Flames flickered. When it reappeared, it was astonishingly behind the defensive barrier. The All-Star Flames, initially no larger than a small flickering flame, suddenly transformed into a colossal net of fire, intent on capturing this strange fellow.

He tried to dodge, but the fire net’s reach was too vast; he couldn’t escape!

“Damn it! Spatial abilities! As expected of the heir to a major power, to possess such strength! How despicable!!”

He cursed Zhang Luan. Just as the net was about to close, he crushed the small robot in his hand. Ripples of spatial fluctuation appeared. This small robot had been acquired at great cost from the Superhuman Guild. Besides boosting his strength for a limited time, it also possessed a life-saving skill for extremely dangerous situations.

Crushing the robot allowed him to forcibly teleport one meter in any direction. Don’t underestimate that one meter; though short, it was usually enough in a duel.

But would Zhang Luan let him succeed?

Possessing the Power of Genesis, Zhang Luan keenly sensed the anomaly in the man’s space. Clapping his hands together, the space on both sides of the glasses-wearing man instantly solidified, and the faint spatial fluctuations that had just appeared were suppressed without a trace. The glasses-wearing man was startled. Before he could react, the net of fire had already engulfed him.

Only screams could be heard.

“A!!!”

He struggled incessantly, attempting to manipulate his blue-white lines to tear away the fire net covering him. But alas, how could All-Star Flames be extinguished by someone who hadn’t even undergone their first advancement?

Don’t be ridiculous. Zhang Luan didn’t make another move, simply observing the miserable man from above. The exquisite clothing on his body served as excellent fuel.

“Ahhh! It hurts so much!!”

He wailed in agony, like a pig being slaughtered. Zhang Luan felt not an ounce of sympathy for him.

In his previous life, none of the bandit’s elite were good people. They delighted in torturing slaves, who were typically travelers they had plundered. Some of these bandits didn’t even spare children. The heavily made-up woman Zhang Luan had killed first, for instance, was a pervert who found pleasure in abusing young boys.

So, in truth, those who were quickly cut down had it easy. They couldn’t receive the full punishment Zhang Luan had in store for them. What a misfortune, indeed.