Chapter 80

Sunlight playfully jumped into the tent.

It illuminated Cheng Jianbang's thick beard, making it appear even more dense and rugged. This man, in fact, had a delicate and sensitive mind that was quite different from his appearance. He squinted his eyes and looked at Xu Dong with a feigned anger, saying, "Seeing me, are you very unhappy? Do you know that with just one order from me, 250 young men will swarm over and easily capture you, and you will be hanged for the crime of stealing the city."

He appraised Xu Dong, who was stark naked, with a playful gaze, "Of course, desecrating the camp leader is also a grave offense."

Despite his feigned anger, Cheng Jianbang, as the leader of the camp, still exuded an imposing presence. His own strength was far superior to Xu Dong's, and with the power of the troops at his command, the imposing military might, combined with the aura brought by his own strength, would make even a young man like Xu Dong, who was just a teenager, pale with fear. Even if he were twenty years older, he would still be frightened.

Xu Dong suppressed his worry for Sunlight and the others, his expression returning to calm, neither humble nor arrogant, "If you want to capture me, you wouldn't waste words. You would call for help directly or take action yourself, saving a lot of effort, wouldn't you?"

Cheng Jianbang deeply appraised Xu Dong, sensing that his strength had improved, and he was not stingy with his admiration for Xu Dong, "I heard you are a commoner from North Corner Village. Not long ago, you took the Divine Power Fruit to activate the Blood Armor power, and you have successively defeated the Yang family's bayonet, Mad Bull, and Cold Dagger. A few days ago, you also killed Fox and Yang Buqu. You make me very curious. According to your talent, you should be at most of medium to high level, but in terms of achievements, you far surpass your peers and are the best in Blood Helmet City."

"I am not worthy of such praise from the camp leader," Xu Dong, unsure of the other's intentions, clasped his hands and said, "Actually, I sneaked into the camp to request something important."

Before Xu Dong could finish speaking, Cheng Jianbang waved his hand forcefully, "Young man, don't be in a hurry. We have plenty of time to chat."

Plenty of time?! Xu Dong's lips trembled involuntarily. What he lacked most now was time! In the time it took to say two sentences, Sunlight's health had dropped by five percentage points. If it weren't for the clear understanding that the key to the enhancement ultimately rested on the man before him, and that he had no confidence at all, he would have really wanted to take a desperate risk.

The two sat down, and Cheng Jianbang said solemnly, "I haven't been to many places. Most of my life has been spent around Blood Helmet City. The places I've been to the most are the border 'Yang Mountain Ridge' and 'Iron Boot City.' Big cities have their geniuses, and small towns have their geniuses. I have also seen geniuses that I consider to be geniuses. There are two in total."

"The cat catcher from the 'Miao' family in Iron Boot City, who broke through the shackles at sixteen, took the Divine Power Fruit, and is now nineteen, a Forger. It took him one month to go from one-star to two-star, and one and a half months to go from two-star to three-star. He completed his awakening in three years and entered the Forging Path."

Cheng Jianbang paused and continued, "The other genius was born in Blood Helmet City, also breaking through the shackles at sixteen, but didn't have the opportunity to take the Divine Power Fruit until he was eighteen. It took him three weeks to go from one-star to two-star, another three weeks to go from two-star to three-star, and still three weeks to go from three-star to four-star. In two months, he became a four-star Awakened."

Xu Dong noticed that when Cheng Jianbang spoke of the genius from Blood Helmet City, a hint of pride naturally showed in his eyes.

But, but... What are you trying to say by talking about these things?

Seeing the confusion in Xu Dong's eyes, Cheng Jianbang suddenly sneered, "Only having the talent of a genius without sufficient resources will turn even the most talented into a fool! What are resources? I'll tell you, for Awakened, the Strong Blood Pills used to enhance the Blood Armor power are resources!"

Xu Dong felt a chill in his heart, as if he understood what the other meant.

"You mean, by defeating Bayonet, Mad Bull, Cold Dagger, and then killing Yang Buqu, I have completely offended the Yang family of Blood Helmet City. Once it is discovered that you once helped me, your resources will be suppressed... In other words, you are unwilling to help me, right?"

The air became oppressive with Xu Dong's words.

After a long while, Cheng Jianbang slightly shook his head and then nodded lightly.

He looked deeply at Xu Dong and said expressionlessly, "You're half right. My point is, if you are willing to join my Guard Camp, I am willing to provide protection. Even though the Yang family almost has a hand in everything in Blood Helmet City, I, Cheng Jianbang, still have the confidence to protect you for a while. If you are unwilling to join, then you need to provide corresponding resources."

Huh?

Xu Dong's brows unconsciously furrowed, thinking, "Is there some misunderstanding? Yes, I have already passed the entrance exam, so Cheng Jianbang hasn't realized that my goal is to obtain the enhancement. He misunderstood that I came to seek protection!"

However, whether it's for enhancement or seeking protection, the key still lies in whether I have the value to invest in. Organizing his thoughts, Xu Dong said thoughtfully, "I can give you a promise. As long as I can do it, I will do my best to help you."

A strange expression flashed in Cheng Jianbang's eyes, "Tell me more."

He seems to know what I have discovered. Xu Dong's heart trembled, feeling a lump in his throat.

He lowered his eyelids, not intending to hide his thoughts, and tried to keep his tone calm, "The camp is strong on the outside but weak on the inside! It seems that during the time the city lord is away, the camp leader has his own plans. So, I can give you a promise. When necessary, if you need my help, I will do my utmost to assist you, just as you are doing your utmost to help me today."

Xu Dong particularly emphasized the phrase "do my utmost."

Ha ha ha!

Cheng Jianbang suddenly burst into exaggerated laughter, his beard trembling, and he leaned forward and backward. After the laughter, his eyes suddenly turned cold, making Xu Dong's scalp tingle.

For a moment, both were silent, and the air seemed to carry a faint sense of danger.

After a while, Cheng Jianbang asked calmly, "What skills do you have?"

He doesn't intend to kill me!

Xu Dong, being a smart guy, immediately felt his heart calm down upon hearing this. He took a deep breath, "In an hour, I can become a two-star Awakened. In less than two weeks, I can advance from one-star to two-star. What do you think of the promise of such a genius?"

Cheng Jianbang was first stunned, then showed a look of anger, as if he had been toyed with, and finally slammed his hand on the table, "Are you toying with me?! You took only a first-stage Divine Power Fruit, and you can advance from one-star to two-star in two weeks? Throughout history, even Mondo himself might not have been able to do it, and you dare to speak such arrogant words, truly not knowing your place! Moreover, when a Warrior advances, their vitality is strong and full, and every move leaks a strong aura. You? Far from it!"

Seeing Cheng Jianbang about to call out loudly, Xu Dong took a step forward and said solemnly, "You can supervise me. If I can't do it, I will willingly join your Guard Camp and follow your orders; if I can do it, I will give you a promise in exchange for your protection. What do you think of this deal?"

Cheng Jianbang stared intently at the other's eyes and suddenly shouted loudly, "First Guard of the Guard Camp, assemble immediately! The camp leader is going into the city to handle affairs!"

A guard, consisting of fifty people, armed to the teeth, gathered around Xu Dong and Cheng Jianbang in the morning light, and they marched through the city gate into the city.

At this moment, Xu Dong appeared calm on the surface, but he was actually extremely anxious. In just a few moments, Sunlight's health had dropped to fifty percent. If Sunlight were to die in battle, the Awakened's abilities would be stripped away, and the worst outcome would be that Xu Dong would rather be dead than alive!

"Sunlight, you must hold on, no matter what, you must wait for me to arrive!"

※※※

The same place, the second floor of the inn, Xu Dong's room.

The wooden bed was broken, the sheets torn, and there were spots of blood, making the room a mess!

Sunlight, breathing heavily, was no longer the sunny person he used to be. His nose was broken, with two streams of blood flowing down; his left eye was swollen, barely visible through a narrow slit; his lower lip had three cuts, with the tender flesh turned inside out. Not to mention the blood flowing from all over his body, he looked incredibly miserable. Now, anyone who saw him would not associate him with words like "sunny" or "handsome."

Next to Sunlight, the petite and beautiful Prayer girl was in no better condition. She was already seriously injured, and the lack of rest while hiding and dodging had worsened her injuries, causing inflammation. Her face was flushed with an eerie red. She was struggling with her remaining strength, still fighting, but now she was weak, leaning on her sword and almost leaning on Sunlight for support.

Across from them, the ugly and fierce Yang Buji licked the blood from his opponent's face and cackled, "Why must it be so hard? You're going to die anyway, can't you die more comfortably? I don't understand you two!"

As he spoke, he suddenly used the Shadow Step, instantly appearing next to Prayer. The sound of the sleeve sword springing out, he used his usual trick, viciously stabbing at Prayer's old wound.

Sunlight roared, "You dare?!"

He immediately pulled Prayer, twisted his body, and swung his arm, which was covered in green scales, in a spiral motion, both attacking and defending. Sunlight didn't know what method he was practicing, but his arm was wrapped in a spiral wind, causing significant damage and easily tearing through flesh. On the other hand, his scales were abnormally hard and flexible, and several times Yang Buji's sword failed to penetrate the armor.

Facing Sunlight's powerful punch, a sinister smile flashed across Yang Buji's lips. His leg muscles twisted and extended, and he used the Shadow Step skill again! The cooldown time between two Shadow Steps was less than three seconds, almost like a continuous use!

In just a short day, not only had Xu Dong grown, but Yang Buji had also made a breakthrough.

The Shadow Step was already an excellent ability for close combat, unpredictable and giving the user the upper hand. Now, with the ability to use two Shadow Steps in quick succession, the skill's unpredictability increased several times over, and the power it exerted in actual combat increased exponentially!

Yang Buji's sudden burst of speed was so fast that it couldn't be seen, and he reappeared behind Sunlight in a strange manner.

Sunlight's punch missed, and his eyes showed panic. In a moment of shock, he instinctively wanted to push Prayer to block the attack. At a critical moment, a pair of eyes flashed through his mind, eyes filled with trust! He gritted his teeth, stomped his foot hard, almost breaking the ceiling, and used the rebound to collide with his body backward.

Pfft!

Blood splattered as the sleeve sword finally pierced through the green-scaled arm.

Sunlight let out a muffled groan, trying to use his muscles to clamp the sleeve sword and control the other's speed.

How could he know that, having learned from past mistakes, Yang Buji wouldn't fall for such a trick again?

"Ha ha, don't show off such a cheap trick!"

He slashed with his sword, using the extension and contraction of his arm muscles to pull the sword back before Sunlight could react, tearing off a large piece of flesh and blood, with the scales on the surface broken. At the same time, Yang Buji spun his body, and the sleeve sword, like a ghost, buzzed and shot out, slashing Sunlight's back six times.

Large pieces of flesh and blood were cut and splattered, falling to the ground, reflecting a ghastly color!

"I will die, I will definitely die, run! If I don't run, today will be my funeral!"

Under Yang Buji's frenzied attacks, Sunlight felt the shadow of death gradually approaching his soul, just like the terrifying light he had seen years ago.

"Ah!" Suddenly, Sunlight let out a desperate scream, crossed his hands in front of him, bent over, and charged forward, breaking through the window, and with a whoosh, rushed out amidst the flying wood and debris.

Sunlight escaped!

This scene deeply etched itself in Prayer's mind. She was stunned. She thought that although this guy looked carefree, he could be trusted in critical moments and could be relied upon to protect her back. But, damn it, at the moment of life and death, he left her, who had almost lost her fighting ability, and fled alone!

Even Yang Buji was slightly stunned, then burst into a manic laugh.

"Ha ha... Little beauty, you will soon be mine!"

Prayer felt as if the world was collapsing. First, Xu Dong's fate was unknown, and then Sunlight chose to betray and flee. Sunlight's choice became the last straw that broke Prayer's will, and she felt her body go limp, about to fall to the ground.

Yang Buji cackled, imagining the soft and smooth skin of the girl, and pounced like a wolf.

But at that moment, a tiger's roar echoed from far away, breaking the quiet morning and shattering someone's fantasy.

The speed of the person was extraordinary. At first, they were over a hundred meters away, but in the blink of