Chapter 99

Yang Shaoxing laughed wildly, "A Dong, you never expected this, did you? I had an agreement with Miao Shan long ago. If he encountered you before entering the canyon, he was to detain you and buy me time. I didn't expect him to go so far as to even bury the entrance to the Ghost Valley."

Perhaps the encounter that day had made Yang Shaoxing hate A Dong to the bone, even more than his hatred for Yang Guang. This led to his current state of being like a fish in a pot, unable to control himself, and his laughter had become manic.

"This time, you're not alone; your companions are also surrounded by us," Yang Shaoxing said with a mad laugh. "You can use your old tricks to escape, but your companions are much slower than you and will certainly not escape. But that wouldn't be fun, would it?"

Not fun? Xu Dong pursed his lips. In Yang Shaoxing's mind, capturing him seemed like a game, treating them as nothing more than pigs or dogs, to be killed or captured at will!

At this moment, a clear and cold voice, like a stream in a secluded valley, spoke softly.

Qidao said coldly, "How do you want to play?"

Yang Shaoxing snapped his fingers, and Yang Bufein on the other side smiled slightly. "Our Young Master is benevolent and has decided to give you a way out... You are companions who share life and death, so A Dong can take one person with him. If he takes Yang Guang, Qidao must stay; if he takes Qidao, Yang Guang must stay."

Yang Bufein stared into Xu Dong's eyes. "You should know the fate of the one who stays. However, I know you might have a way to leave, but Yang Guang and Qidao are like birds with clipped wings. Choose, Yang Guang or Qidao?"

Without such a trick, perhaps Xu Dong and his two companions would have mustered the courage to fight to the death, even if it meant taking one or two with them. But with this condition, it was like a ray of hope in a hopeless situation. Who would choose death when they could live?

With just a few words, even the desperate courage that Qidao had felt began to dissipate. The three had indeed experienced life and death together and had developed a sense of mutual trust, but in the face of this sole path to survival, how could their hearts remain unscathed?

The two stood on either side of Xu Dong, and without a word, they exchanged a glance filled with complex emotions.

Xu Dong could feel the fleeting hope in their eyes and felt a heavy weight in his heart. He knew Yang Bufein's plan had succeeded. This Yang Bufein was truly exceptional in his understanding of human nature. If there was a chance, he would kill him first!

Silence.

Xu Dong remained silent, Qidao remained silent, and Yang Guang remained silent.

In contrast, Yang Shaoxing laughed heartily, "A Dong, while I still have patience, make your choice quickly."

Choice? Cold sweat broke out on Xu Dong's forehead. How could he make a choice? Whichever one he chose, the one left behind would face a terrible fate. At this moment, he truly felt trapped.

Xu Dong shouted in his heart, "Time, I need time!"

Taking a deep breath, Xu Dong stared into Yang Shaoxing's eyes, "Can you give me half an hour to make my choice? I need to consider all the factors."

Half an hour? Yang Shaoxing laughed coldly, "What tricks are you playing now? You are the fish, and I am the butcher. The time is set by me, and you just need to obey like a dog."

Xu Dong suddenly shrugged indifferently and said casually, "Do you know, I am also a heartless person. To me, my companions are stepping stones, to be discarded at will in times of crisis; as for women, beautiful women are like beautiful clothes, if one doesn't fit, I can wear another."

These words were completely unexpected by everyone. Even Yang Guang and Qidao stared with wide eyes, unable to believe it.

Yang Shaoxing snorted, "What do you mean by that?"

Before Yang Shaoxing could finish, Xu Dong interrupted, "My meaning is clear. My goal is to become an adventurer. Those who can help me achieve my goal are my companions; those who cannot and hinder me, I can discard at will. On the other hand, you must admit that if I wanted to escape, you might not be able to stop me. I am staying here because I believe taking one person with me is beneficial."

Yang Shaoxing clicked his tongue in amazement, as if meeting Xu Dong for the first time, looking him up and down. "So, you finally show your true colors? I thought Yang Guang was heartless, but you are even worse. Indeed, time reveals the true nature of people. You have hidden it well."

As he spoke, he noticed the ashen faces of Yang Guang and Qidao, especially the latter, who looked as if his dreams had been shattered. Yang Shaoxing raised his hand, "I give you fifteen minutes, no more than fifteen minutes."

Fifteen minutes? The cooldown time should be enough.

Yang Bufein, upon hearing this, felt something was amiss. He always felt that Xu Dong's changes were too dramatic, though reasonable, but not emotionally sound. He blurted out, "Young Master, to avoid delays, let's act quickly."

Yang Shaoxing waved his hand, "Don't you think it's worth spending time to see this side of A Dong, who is well-known in Blood Helmet City? I have my own judgment."

Seeing this, Yang Bufein could only be on high alert, wary of any unexpected developments.

The fifteen minutes passed quickly. During this time, Xu Dong kept his eyes closed, deep in thought, not even glancing at Qidao or Yang Guang.

Finally, Yang Shaoxing's impatient voice rang out, "Time's up, make your choice quickly. My patience is running thin."

At this moment, Xu Dong suddenly opened his eyes, a brilliant light flashing in them, like lightning in the dark night!

He punched the ground, the force concentrated and not dispersing, his arm sinking into it.

Yang Bufein's pupils contracted, and he roared, "Something's changed, kill!"

With that, he launched a Bull Charge, his eyes turning bloodshot, and a cloud of mud and dust rose behind him, making him look like a raging bull.

With this single punch, Xu Dong's body underwent an extraordinary change!

He suddenly raised his head, his eyes unfocused, appearing strangely blank. Facing the charging Yang Bufein, he seemed oblivious. He murmured, "I feel a breeze."

After realizing there was a problem with Miao Shan, Xu Dong immediately activated the Strong and Quick Step skills, raising their proficiency to 99. He went to great lengths, even at the cost of his reputation, to secure fifteen minutes of buffer time, which, combined with the previous time, was just enough to complete the skill cooldown. Without hesitation, he immediately activated the two talent skills!

When all talent skills reached 100% proficiency, the value of the Blood Armor power soared to 300, as the previously absorbed Blood Armor power, which had been stored in his cells, was released. At the same time...

A wind suddenly blew through the depths of his consciousness!

In the next moment, a piercing scream erupted from his throat, the wind tearing through his consciousness, the pain erupting like a dormant volcano, threatening to destroy the sky and the earth!

Xu Dong's eyes turned bloodshot, veins bulging on his forehead, his face contorted in agony, as if his soul was about to shatter!

"Breakthrough?! I won't let you!"

As soon as Yang Bufein noticed Xu Dong's change, two jets of white mist shot from his nostrils, and his speed increased! The Bull Charge had a stunning effect, and he was about to reach Xu Dong when a figure suddenly lunged out from the side.

With a splash, a scene reminiscent of a life breaking free from the womb unfolded.

A wet, oval shield, radiating a sense of righteousness and unyielding determination, appeared in Yang Bufein's path, accompanied by Yang Guang's roar, "In the name of protection!"

Bang!

Yang Bufein, a three-star Awakened with immense strength, collided with the Shield of Protection. The shield, drenched in fluid, caved in dramatically at the center. The violent force, though blocked by the shield, still shook Yang Guang, causing him to scream in pain, vomit a mouthful of blood, and fly backward.

Yang Bufein fared no better. The Shield of Protection's knockback effect sent him flying backward, landing heavily on the ground, dazed.

Yang Bufein reacted the fastest, but the others were not far behind. The next to arrive was the Blade Master.

The Blade Master rushed forward, and before he reached Xu Dong, his Dawn Blade created a circle of light, like a pale moon on the western horizon at dawn, slicing toward Xu Dong with unparalleled ferocity and dominance.

At this moment, a sharp cry echoed, and Qidao, using a technique to twist and wrench her muscles, swung her Great Sword, creating a light arc that tore the air apart, the wind brushing against Xu Dong's face, and the sword's pressure already overwhelming him.

The Blade Master roared!

The Great Sword and the Dawn Blade clashed, first a spark of light, then a wild wind erupted from the point of impact, sweeping in all directions, scattering leaves and twigs like a small hurricane.

Qidao, a two-star Awakened, was no match for the Blade Master. She was cut and sent flying backward, a trail of blood following her.

However, she gritted her teeth and, in a flash, raised her hand. A needle-like energy shot out from her Shadow Armor, piercing the Blade Master with deadly precision.

The sky was already dark, and the energy needle was known for its stealth and unexpectedness. Qidao launched it at the perfect moment, when the Blade Master's guard was down after the clash, making it impossible to miss.

Feeling the wind on his face, the Blade Master's eyes narrowed, and it was too late to dodge or block.

Thud!

His right pinky finger, still gripping the blade, flew off, landing on the ground and rolling in the mud. For a Blade Master, his blade and the hand that held it were more important than life itself. The loss of his pinky meant he could no longer wield his blade as steadily as before!

Whether from physical pain or mental anguish, he let out a scream, "No!"

In an instant, Yang Guang was hit and sent flying, and Qidao was cut and rolled on the ground. Xu Dong was left with no protection.

Yang Shaoxing, rushing to the attack, had not expected A Dong to break through at this moment. How many days had it been? From a one-star Awakened to a three-star Awakened in just a month, such talent was enough to make anyone jealous to the point of madness.

Driven by jealousy and cruelty, he spared no effort, leaving nothing to chance!

The surface of his right arm, covered in Blood Armor, was pitted like a toad's skin, oozing a foul-smelling liquid that dripped to the ground, forming a cloud of toxic fumes.

Whoosh!

A red external device on his right arm, at the elbow, suddenly emitted a burst of fire, generating a powerful thrust. Under the force, Yang Shaoxing's iron fist, enveloped in a gust of wind, rushed toward Xu Dong with the force of a thousand pounds, capable of shattering a boulder with a single blow!

Seeing this, Qidao's heart shattered, and she cried out in anguish, "A Dong!"

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