Wusheng City.
This was a city newly constructed in recent years, nestled against the mountains and by the water, modest in scale. It was not far from Yongfeng County but, unlike the latter, Wusheng City had no ordinary civilians. It was instead the very heart of the Wusheng Sect.
To the south of the city stood three gates, facilitating access to Black Prison and conveniently accommodating the Weapons Workshop, which specialized in forging bows, arrows, sabers, and armor.
To the north of the city lay the military camps, divided into three sections: the 'Wusheng Army,' the 'Black Armored Army,' and the 'Heavenly Wave Army.' This side faced Liding County to the north, allowing for the swift mobilization of troops to guard against the Lishui Gang.
The western part of the city encompassed two small hills, abundant with trees, flowers, and grass. Sections were also cleared to create herbal gardens for planting medicinal materials, which had grown in scale over the years.
Lastly, the eastern part of the city.
This was where the Wusheng Sect conducted its administrative and deliberation activities.
The residences of the Sect Leader, Vice Sect Leader, Elders, and Protectors were mostly located here—for security reasons and as a means of exerting control.
This day.
The sun was scorching, and the heat oppressive.
Clomp, clomp, clomp!
The southern city gate commander, 'Zhao Bo,' rushed with urgency, sweat streaming down his face and body. Not daring to delay for even a moment, he made straight for the 'Heavenly Wave Palace.'
Inside the hall, the Wusheng Sect Leader, 'Wu Guangquan,' was discussing matters with the Third Elder, 'Cao Zheng.'
Zhao Bo entered hastily, exclaiming, "Report to the Sect Leader and Elder Cao: among the latest batch of Black Prison mine slaves sent out, someone killed eight Black Armored Army soldiers. Two mine slaves have escaped, and their whereabouts are unknown!"
Wu Guangquan and Cao Zheng, who had been in the midst of discussing sect affairs, turned their heads simultaneously to look at Zhao Bo upon hearing his report.
The Black Armored Army.
This was the elite force of the Wusheng Sect, composed only of soldiers who had excelled beyond the rest of the Wusheng Army. Only those who had trained the 'Wusheng Saber' technique to the Second Layer could qualify for selection.
In the entirety of the Wusheng Sect, there were only about three hundred Black Armored troops.
Though losing seven or eight soldiers wasn't catastrophic, for them to be killed by supposedly weak and powerless mine slaves was nothing short of astonishing.
"Are you certain the Black Armored troops were killed by mine slaves?"
Cao Zheng fixed his gaze on Zhao Bo and asked.
"It seems highly likely."
Zhao Bo pondered for a moment, but dared not confirm outright. He promptly recounted every detail of what had transpired outside the southern city gate.
"From what you've said."
"It is highly probable that the two escaped mine slaves are the ones who killed eight Black Armored soldiers."
Cao Zheng, as if talking to himself, showed a contemplative expression on his face, marked by a birthmark resembling Yin and Yang.
"I've already sent people to pursue and capture them!"
Zhao Bo was acutely aware that his own negligence had led to the death of eight Black Armored soldiers right under his nose, and worse, the culprits had escaped. If the Sect Leader held him accountable, his comfortable role as the southern city gate commander might be at risk.
"Judging by the state of the eight Black Armored soldiers' corpses, the person who attacked possessed strength no less than that of a Fourth Grade master, coupled with exceptional close-combat ability and vast fighting experience. Their strikes were swift and deadly, incapacitating the soldiers in an instant. Additionally, one of the fugitives is likely a Fourth Grade Abnormal Person skilled in Fire Control."
Before arriving, Zhao Bo had examined the bodies of Weii Guan and others, as well as the scene of the crime.
He was deeply shaken.
Zhao Bo himself had trained the 'Wusheng Saber' to the Fourth Layer, refining his inner energy into Inner Qi, which could be used both for defense and offense. Both his speed and strength had increased significantly, granting him Fourth Grade mastery.
Yet even he doubted his ability to act with such deadly precision.
From this, it was clear the assailant's strength was equal to or exceeded his own.
"A Fourth Grade master."
"Sending ordinary soldiers would only be sending them to their deaths."
Wu Guangquan shook his head, then commanded, "Compile detailed descriptions of the two mine slaves' appearances. Mobilize the Wusheng Army to assist, and have the Heavenly Wave Army lead the pursuit. Also, send someone to Black Prison to investigate their backgrounds."
Within the Wusheng Sect.
Upon enlisting, one began as a Wusheng Army soldier. From there, the best were selected for the Black Armored Army. Within the Black Armored Army, the most capable would become commanders, and the strongest would join the Heavenly Wave Army. The Heavenly Wave Army soldiers were exceedingly well-treated and exceptionally powerful. Any one of them could easily outperform fighters of the Third Rank like Weii Guan.
This force was the true cutting edge of the Wusheng Sect.
"Understood!"
Zhao Bo, seeing that the Sect Leader was not intent on blaming him, was secretly relieved and hastily withdrew.
In the hall.
'Ghost-faced' Cao Zheng's eyes glinted dimly as he frowned. "The Black Prison is perpetually shrouded in darkness and is constantly monitored by mine supervisors. Let's not even talk about how two Fourth Grade—or even stronger—masters could emerge from a group of mere mine slaves. Just in terms of combat experience, where would they have gained it?"
"It doesn't add up."
Cao Zheng furrowed his brow.
He knew all too well what Black Prison was like.
For mine slaves there, mere survival was considered a feat.
To train and develop martial skills?
Pure fantasy!
"These two mine slaves came from 'Spirit Mountain.' Perhaps they awakened by a stroke of luck and acquired abnormal skills. Didn't one of them exhibit the 'Fire Control Technique'?"
Wu Guangquan also found this peculiar but offered a guess.
"However—"
"Out of Spirit Mountain's five hundred mine slaves, not a single one has successfully awakened abnormal skills so far. Moreover, even if they were to awaken, most abilities are First Grade. Second Grade is rare, not to mention those above Third and Fourth Grade."
Cao Zheng shook his head.
He himself was an Abnormal Person, endowed with abnormal skills.
Within the Wusheng Sect, he specialized in studying abnormal skills. It could be said that no one in the sect understood Abnormal People or their abilities better than he did.
In this world, the awakening of Abnormal Persons usually began at the First Grade. At this level of mutation, survival was relatively easy. However, for someone to awaken at the Second Grade, the mutation severity increased dramatically, and nine out of ten wouldn't survive the process.
As for Third Grade and Fourth Grade—
Black Prison's Spirit Mountain mine slaves, with their severe mutations, might theoretically push through to become Third or Fourth Grade if they survived.
"But how is that even possible?!"
The 'Abnormal People Bureau' under Cao Zheng's management currently detained numerous Black Prison mine slaves. One by one, they succumbed to their mutations and perished, with no sign of success.
"Elder Cao, let's not jump to conclusions yet."
"Our immediate priority is to capture those two mine slaves. Once we have them, everything will become clear."
Wu Guangquan's voice was loud and commanding, exuding an almost hypnotic charisma: "If we can uncover a method of Super Grade awakening from them—"
In a world wracked by chaos.
Whichever faction possessed the greatest strength would be the one to unite the land and seize ultimate power.
Wu Guangquan had led the Wusheng Sect from its origins in the small Lipu County to expanding over three counties within just a few years.
He had established the Wusheng Army, the Black Armored Army, and the Heavenly Wave Army, categorizing their ranks and incentivizing their efforts with clear rewards and penalties—a clear testament to his boundless ambition.
Initially, there were three counties.
With the recent conquest of Liding County just a few days prior, the territory now encompassed four counties.
As their domain grew larger.
So, too, did their ambitions.
Wu Guangquan keenly sensed that if they could demystify the enigmatic 'abnormal skills' and mass-produce Abnormal People, uniting the realm and vying for supreme dominion was not out of the question.
"Understood."
"I will immediately transfer 'Heavenly Deaf' and 'Earth Mute' from the 'Abnormal People Bureau' to cooperate with the Heavenly Wave Army in capturing the targets." Cao Zheng, slightly swayed, responded promptly, his thoughts stirred.
The Abnormal People Bureau detained all the rebellious Abnormal People within the Wusheng Sect's jurisdiction. They were closely guarded, occasionally serving as research subjects for Cao Zheng's study of abnormal skills. In cases of extreme necessity, they would be deployed for their unique abilities, though they were treated no better than slaves.
"Good."
"I will also have Elder Lvu summoned back. His 'Spirit Nose' tracking ability rivals that of Heavenly Deaf and Earth Mute."
Wu Guangquan stood up as well.
Liding had just been taken.
Perhaps a double victory was on the horizon this time!
Of course.
That was contingent on capturing those two mine slaves.
...