There was nothing worse than the torture of having to wait three fucking days.
Three days since I had to use my last resort. Three days since I sent a message through the bloody double agent playing both sides. Three days since I brought myself low to form a temporary alliance with the scum of the earth.
I requested a meeting with representatives of the Xuan Family. To propose an alliance that benefits everyone except the Ping Family.
Just when I was about to give up on waiting, I felt it.
The atmosphere changed. Thunderstorms erupted from nowhere. Immense winds howled through the tunnels. Icy shards formed in the air like a frozen apocalypse. Fire erupted on one side, ice formed on the other like the apocalypse beginning.
"Hello, four cute jealous girlfriends," I said, stepping out of the shadows. "Are you done with your dramatic effects? It's oddly annoying and boring."
Then I felt four power signatures three tiers above me. Dantian Genesis. These fuckers were generals in armies across Type 0 to Type 2 civilization types. But they were sent as ordinary envoys for an alliance meeting. The Ping Family had no idea what was coming.
"Wow, I heard you were a trash talker," Bai Luo said, her eyes blazing with anger. "Looking for your dear fast death?"
"Okay, calm your lions," Pan Jue cut in. "Hate Wánměi or whatever, but he is effective in all his dealings. And the Ping Family is a bigger thorn in the flesh than he is."
"Spare me. I am insignificant," I said, voice dripping with sarcasm. "You are super invincible Dantian Genesis and you could crumple Chakra Blooms easily, Bai Luo."
Then a magnificent, devilish, cute guy stepped forward. His presence was overwhelming. His eyes held dangerous curiosity.
"So you are the wonderful ghost who killed a Chakra Bloom while just at peak humanity phase?" Jumong asked.
"Woah, what the fuck do you see?" I grinned. "I am the man, the legend in the making. Just imagine how terrifying I'll be at your cultivation tier?"
"Big words for a little ant. Why don't I squash your pathetic existence?"
"Do I look fucking scared? I killed a Chakra Bloom at peak human. Wanna try me as invincible Pulse Awakener?"
Jumong attacked instantly. Bakaluo jumped between us, intercepting the punch. The puppet was driven into the ground, but rose again, completely unfazed.
"Oopsies, I feel like I found suitable Dantian Genesis puppet options," I said, eyes gleaming.
"You have a Chakra Bloom Level 5 invincible puppeteer," Pan Jue said, grudging respect in his voice.
All four acknowledged my strength. But Jumong, the leader, tried a sneak attack.
I side stepped and cross kicked him mid air in the diaphragm, sending him crashing into the wall.
"Why don't we have a quick standoff?"
Jumong sealed the entire place with a wave of his hand, trapping us in a barrier of pure energy.
"Nice trick with the puppet. Any more trump cards?"
I launched forward, knee slamming Jumong in the face. My body materialized in gold and diamond, skin hardening to an unbreakable degree. Shadow images fooled them. I got a few punches in until they got serious and locked me down.
"Enough, Wánměi," Jumong said. "We were playing. You didn't have to go all go go gaga."
"What do you have for us? Let's get to business."
I pulled maps of the Blood Quarter and underground tunnels from my pocket dimension. Layouts to infiltrate the Ping royal estate.
"See for yourself, babe. This map is a gold mine. I ain't giving it out for cheap, bitch."
They projected energy onto it. Their eyes lit up. It was more detailed than they ever hoped.
"This is a treasure," Xuan Liang said. "How much?"
"Now we're talking. I like you, Xuan Liang you're smart. I'm going to escape, and until then, you four are my personal guards. I'll be killing 2000 Meridians with your help. I know they'll send Chakra Blooms or Dantian Genesis."
"Why not break you out now?" Bai Luo asked.
"Wow, nice idea," I said sarcastically. "Until my absence is noticed and they connect the dots."
"The best warning is a thousand bodies missing," I continued. "I turn them into puppets. Chains of command break in chaos. Long enough for me to disappear. The Ping Family ancestor is stronger than yours. We plan strategically, not walk into death."
"Wow. Now I get why your identity is hard to crack," Xuan Liang said. "You do everything 450% more than any sane person. You commit crimes, get protection, and stay anonymous."
"Very smart. You have a deal," Jumong said.
"You'll all be in my pocket dimension," I said. "Make sure the seal disadvantages the 2000 Meridians when they're trapped."
"What about disguises? We can't be seen controlled by a mere Pulse Awakener."
"I have disguises. You come in as the last trump card to escape."
The plan was set. Like a chess master.
*PART 2: THE DIVIDE AND CONQUER*
"2000 Meridians will be here by dawn," I said. "Desperate, searching for the ghost — me. To make me Chen Ping's personal disciple."
"I love that sneaky, bitchy smile," Xuan Liang said. "What's the plan, you devil?"
"Divide and conquer. No info in or out of the Chen Family. They break into teams. Make sure they never escape. I'll handle the killing."
"Perfect," Bai Luo said. "With us Dantian Genesis, suppression is easy."
"Freeze any cowards who run. When Chakra Blooms and Dantian Genesis come, you become the distraction while I run. Understood?"
"Loud and clear," Xuan Liang answered.
I put them all into my pocket dimension.
At dawn, 2000 Meridians marched through the doors in glittering armor. Chanting: "Find the ghost and send him to Master Chen Ping."
If only they knew.
`[SYSTEM: DEPLOYING BAKALUO. TRANSFORMATION: HEAD WARDEN ACTIVE]`
Bakaluo punched through tunnels and stairways, splitting them into groups. Transformed, it went to lure them to the death zone.
I went out in Ping Family disguise. A few hundred Meridian Masters locked onto me.
"Look, it's the ghost!"
"100 million high grade spirit stones for his capture!"
"Why don't you idiots follow me as your master?" I taunted. "More fulfilling life, I promise."
"You're worth 100 million," the lead Meridian growled.
They attacked. I transformed pulse armor, gold and diamond body. Two swords out.
First wave: 50 dead in seconds. Horizontal arc. Vertical slash. 360 turns. Hearts ripped out. The Primordial Furnace hummed, devouring the evidence.
Second wave: 150 more. Same result.
I dashed to the death zone. 500 followed. Five minutes later, all of them were there.
I snapped my fingers. Walls broke in.
"Welcome to becoming my resources," I announced. "Attack!"
*PART 3: THE MASSACRE*
They came from all four sides.
My claws gleamed like a golden horn beast. Slicing. Dicing. Breaking swords. I bit one in half and spat the pieces.
"We don't have time!" Jumong shouted. "Ultimate attacks now!"
Fire, ice, lightning, earth erupted. The four Dantian Genesis moved.
I activated Lover's Dance mode. My body moved with Makena's memory. Golden claws blurred. Fluid. Deadly. Each strike precise.
For a second the world slowed. I saw her face. Golden eyes. Smiling.
Then blood.
Bakaluo burned escape routes. Jumong's lightning dropped 200. Bai Luo's ice walled off hundreds. Pan Jue's fire consumed. Xuan Liang's earth swallowed.
I moved like a ghost. 200. 500. 1000.
The death zone became a hellscape. Bodies. Blood. Iron in the air.
The 36,000 souls whispered: Beautiful. Deadly. Just like her
By the time the light broke through the cracks above, 2000 lay dead.
Silence.
Two thousand bodies. Broken armor. Blood on the stone.
I fed them to the Primordial Furnace. Collected storage rings. Treasure into my pocket dimension.
"Half the map," I said, handing a scroll to Jumong. "I keep the Blood Quarter until Dantian Genesis. Then I go for the legendary puppet manual."
"Thank you," Xuan Liang bowed. "Visit the Xuan Star System anytime. Honored guest." He gave me a token. "Smash it. We appear instantly."
"Good. Intel says four Dantian Genesis are coming for me. Chen Ping thinks 2000 Meridians were just distractions."
"We'll be in your pocket dimension," Pan Jue said. "Can't wait to put Luo Chen in his place."
"We have a deal."
"Wow, tiger," the 36,000 souls whispered. "Xuan Family. From now headache to future headache."
"Shut up," I said. "I did what I had to. Chen Ping is the only stress."
I walked through the prison. Blood stains remained. Signs of 6 vs 2000.
I missed Makena. The plan was working.
Soon, we leave this wretched place.
I sat in my cell. Body aching.
The 36,000 souls were quiet.
2000 dead.
Deal made with the Xuan Family.
First step to freedom.
At what cost?
My hands were clean. The furnace burned the evidence. But I could still feel it. The weight. The blood under my nails that wasn't there.
I closed my eyes and saw her.
Makena. Golden hair. Golden eyes. The way she used to say my name when I came home bleeding.
"Rest, little ghost," the souls whispered. "You earned it."
A tear I didn't allow myself hit the floor.
"But the war is just beginning."