It was only that this time Luo Hao had taken that step ahead of him—but he would catch up soon enough!
Wait for me, Luo Hao.
Just as Marquis Voban was making that silent vow, Roxie Vale mercilessly crushed his hopes.
Utterly Ordinary Group Owner: "No mission. Even though a simulator is about the same as a transmigrator, he has no golden finger. That [rule-level item] that helps them simulate lives in other worlds isn't on him."
Utterly Ordinary Group Owner: "Even if his strength is a bit high, he won't be all that much stronger than a normal martial artist."
Utterly Ordinary Group Owner: "This isn't a high-martial world like Storm Riders, after all. Dongfang can handle it herself."
Utterly Ordinary Group Owner: "So the chat group has no intention of issuing a mission."
Uchiha Dance King: "Boring."
Richest Man: "A pity."
Come Be My Son: "Kurarararara—truly, a bit of a pity."
These days, apart from the transmigrator in Uncle Nine's world, the chat group hadn't issued any other missions.
Although there was a transmigrator in Kasumigaoka Shiwa's world, he was an ordinary person and carried no [rule-level item], so there was no transmigrator mission.
On top of that, since he hadn't brought any malign influence upon the world, they naturally had no intention of eliminating him.
They'd thought the world of Dongfang Bubai might prompt the chat group to issue a mission, but once again…
Oldest God-Slayer: "Useless trash!"
Upon hearing there would be no mission, Marquis Voban's expression froze—then he spat a curse.
In his eyes, the blame lay with the other party's insufficient strength. That man was too weak—so weak that Dongfang Bubai alone could kill him. If he had been strong enough, he would certainly have drawn the chat group's attention.
Wuxia King: "Truly pathetic, Voban."
Wuxia King: "For all that you're a God-Slayer, your luck is miserable. Not once have you succeeded—you can only pin your hopes on that fifty-percent enhancement chance attached to mission rewards."
Wuxia King: "Then again, it figures—you were beaten by a fellow who'd only just become a God-Slayer."
Wuxia King: "Your 'good luck' is only that you didn't really die."
Luo Hao's mood just now was excellent—not just because she had broken through a God-Slayer's limits and brought her power closer to what it could be when mind ruled over all, but also because she could watch Voban throwing a fit as, thanks to bad luck, none of his enhancements ever succeeded.
Oldest God-Slayer: "Hmph."
Oldest God-Slayer: "All I lack is a little time. I can afford to wait."
Wuxia King: "Heh."
Wuxia King: "Soft in every limb, hard only in the mouth."
Wuxia King: "But even if you do succeed, it has nothing to do with me. The gap between us will only grow wider and wider."
Utterly Ordinary Group Owner: "Those I've defeated, I never consider opponents—"
Utterly Ordinary Group Owner: "Oops, wrong scene."
Dongfang Bubai: "Since there's no mission, I'll handle this one myself."
Dongfang Bubai: "A simulator… I hope his strength gives me a few surprises."
With that, Dongfang Bai exited the chat group.
By her count, the time was just about—
—right.
On Black Wood Cliff.
Dongfang Bai stood in crimson robes, hands clasped behind her back, looking down at the gathered sects below.
Ever since switching to the Absorbing Power Great Method, her strength had grown ever more formidable; her essence, energy, and spirit had climbed without cease. Her face had always been surpassingly beautiful—now it was otherworldly.
Her ink-black hair poured like drifting clouds, spilling to her waist; the whole of her seemed unrivaled beneath the heavens.
By her order, there were no experts on Black Wood Cliff besides herself. Since the other side dared come to kill her, they must have been prepared to die. If so, then they could not be allowed to die without value.
She would use their martial cultivation and their essence, energy, and spirit to forge her breakthrough to an even higher realm.
"Shaolin, Mount Hua, Mount Heng, Mount Tai, Mount Song, Qingcheng—and all the other great and small sects."
"To gather so many sects to attack my Sun and Moon Divine Cult—should I say it's your personal sway, or that your fear of our cult runs too deep?"
"Then again, it fits. The existence of the Sun and Moon Divine Cult has blocked far too many of your profits."
Her tone was even as she spoke.
"The Sun and Moon Divine Cult has committed countless evils and killed innumerable people. Today we'll eliminate this scourge!"
"From this day on, there will be no more Dongfang Bubai!"
A burly, red-faced Taoist, seeing Dongfang Bubai, declared in a grave voice.
This was the head of the Mount Tai Sect, Taoist Tianmen, famed for his hatred of evil.
To him, both the Sun and Moon Divine Cult and Dongfang Bubai were fit only for death!
"Bang!"
The instant his words fell, a silver needle pierced his skull. The expression on his face froze in that upright righteousness—as though he hadn't yet had time to react.
"Too much talk."
Dongfang Bubai spoke faintly; she had no intention of conversing with these people.
Her figure blurred. In a flash, she was before the gathered "righteous."
"Since you've come, you can all stay."
The words had scarcely left her lips when, before anyone could respond, she closed her hand around Yue Buqun's throat. A vast suction burst from her palm, and in the space of a breath Yue Buqun's essence, energy, and spirit—together with all his cultivated skill—were drawn into Dongfang Bubai's body.
"Over a decade of Zixia Divine Skill. Refined, at least."
When she had finished, Dongfang Bubai flicked Yue Buqun's corpse aside and spoke with cool detachment. Then her gaze slid to the crowd—whose faces were now stamped with horror.
"Next… it's your turn."
Faces changed color as one; panic spread like fire.
"The Absorbing Star Great Method—Dongfang Bubai has learned the Absorbing Star Great Method!"
"Damn it—she feels even stronger than before!"
"Don't be afraid! There are so many of us—there's no way she can beat us all!"
"I've been wondering—why aren't there any of the Demon Sect here?! Could they be hiding to ambush us?"
"…"
Time crept forward. In the space of half an hour, the ground lay carpeted with corpses.
As for the one who suspected the Sun and Moon Divine Cult of preparing an ambush, he received the answer he wanted: there was no ambush to speak of—because Dongfang Bubai alone was enough to annihilate them.
Amid the bodies, Dongfang Bubai still wore her crimson robes; her face remained calm, as though the slaughter had left no impression on her at all. Whether her heart was as calm as she appeared—who could say.
"No matter how many ants there are, they're still only a swarm of ants."
"You are still who you were—but I am no longer who I was."
She closed her eyes and let out a long breath. The blood-reek in the air made her heart tremble in spite of herself.
She had killed many in the past. To reach this position, she herself could no longer count how many lives she had taken.
Yet all of those added together could not rival today's number.
In the end, she had not attained a heart like still water; she had not truly come to view humans as mere weeds.
(End of this chapter)