The host's expression twisted bitterly. He didn't expect that things would turn out like this. The higher-ups originally planned for Kemov to kill the human on stage, but who would have thought that Kemov would fall for a beauty trap and end up flirting with him in front of everyone?

The audience was already growing restless, but the moment Kemov casually glanced over at one of the grumbling residents, that person immediately shut up.

After all, offending Kemov meant serious consequences. The same went for the host. He didn't dare to cross him either.

"L-Lord Kermo, would you like to step down and take a break?"

Kemov ran his tongue over his teeth. The barbs scraped painfully yet satisfyingly against his mouth. He looked at the young man on stage and let out a snort. "Never thought Lloyd was into this sort of thing."

The young man on the other side fixed his slightly messy clothes and replied calmly, "I never thought he was the kind to play bottom either."

Fu Gui couldn't stop laughing in Ruan Xing's head.

Rules were rules. Ruan Xing had lasted the full thirty minutes, so he was qualified to enter the Holy Land.

The host said something into his earpiece, then cleared his throat. "Alright then! Our challenger proved himself and passed the trial. Let us bid him farewell as he enters the Holy Land to receive the sacred baptism!"

The crowd erupted with excitement.

Ruan Xing followed the host backstage, bypassing the arena, and arrived in a luxurious hall where he unexpectedly saw Qian Hua again.

Qian Hua sat waiting in a chair, wearing that familiar black cloak. He raised his head. "So, you're the newcomer."

He stood and lowered his hood. His long robes trailed behind him. Ruan Xing noticed the black spots on his face. He'd seen them before, but now they looked worse.

Fu Gui muttered in Ruan Xing's mind, [This guy probably overdosed on his meds. His body can't suppress the side effects anymore.]

Even though Qian Hua didn't face any direct threats from pollutants in the polluted zones, constant exposure had clearly taken its toll. If someone like him, who had access to medication, was already in this state, it was hard to imagine how the enslaved humans fared.

Ruan Xing stepped forward and looked down at the teleportation array at his feet.

Intricate patterns formed beneath his shoes. When he stepped onto the formation, it gave off a faint glow.

Qian Hua didn't notice and simply reminded him, "Stick close to me."

Ruan Xing replied cheerfully, "Sure~"

For some reason, the tone sounded familiar, but Qian Hua didn't think much of it. He just sneered at the young man, his lips curling in mockery.

There was no way the Holy City would allow such a threat to live. The moment they passed through the teleportation array, what awaited this newcomer would be destruction. They only kept up the show because they cared about appearances.

Holding a magic crystal in his hand, Qian Hua noticed the young man staring at it and chuckled. "Let's go."

The magic array slowly lit up, and their bodies began to fade.

Qian Hua was busy calculating the best way to eliminate the threat once they arrived, when suddenly a voice echoed in his mind: "You stole from the gods, and you feel no guilt?"

His eyes widened slightly, catching the faintest smirk on the young man's lips.

A wave of dizziness washed over him. His ears buzzed as he glanced around. That voice must have been a hallucination. But it was familiar. Where had he heard it before?

Seeing the man beside him looking perfectly obedient, Qian Hua relaxed. He must have been imagining things.

"Alright, fix your clothes. I'll take you in soon," he said, but the unease in his heart only grew stronger.

They stood on a small island. Above them, dark clouds pressed down from the sky. Thunder rumbled within the thick, stormy layers.

Their landing spot was a crude stone platform backed by a massive rock wall. A stone ledge jutted out like a rain shelter, so they weren't drenched. Dense forest in the distance glistened wet in the misty sea air.

Looking around, Ruan Xing realized they were truly on an island. No wonder the Holy Land couldn't be found in the City.

The pendant hidden beneath his collar gave a faint pulse. The resonance was weak and only someone familiar would notice.

This place likely had very few visitors. Even someone like Fu Zhi rarely ventured out to sea since the land zones were already so difficult to reclaim.

The teleportation glow faded, and their bodies became clear again.

Ruan Xing followed Qian Hua off the stone platform. Harsh winds whipped his hair as the darkness made it hard to see.

Even so, he immediately spotted a tall, dark tower looming on the cliffside, peeking through the cloud layers.

Thunder roared overhead. Lightning flashed, illuminating the tower's deeply etched markings. Each one felt so familiar.

Ruan Xing smiled, genuinely happy.

Qian Hua glanced at him and scoffed. This guy still had no idea what awaited him.

"Come. I'll take you there."

Qian Hua climbed the rock effortlessly, but the other man moved with even more ease, bouncing up like he had springs on his feet.

"The Holy Land is the domain of gods. All who blaspheme will be denied entry. Before you go in, you must pass one more test."

Noticing the eerie look in Ruan Xing's eyes, Qian Hua's voice faltered. Something felt off. That vague whisper from the teleportation earlier resurfaced in his mind, and his hands trembled slightly.

"I already went through plenty of trials outside. Now I need to face another?"

"It's a new rule," Qian Hua explained, brushing away the unease. "Eight years ago, a rebel made it into the Holy Land. You might have heard about that, but what you do not know is that he actually made it inside."

"No damage done?"

Qian Hua paused. "Of course there was damage. But someone intervened. The resistance was intense, but with divine protection, we prevailed."

"If the rebel was that powerful, how did you win?"

Qian Hua beamed. "He was strong. But his companions were not. Many from the outer city joined the uprising. They weren't invincible, or they wouldn't have been captured."

"Many Holy City residents died that day. That's why we test newcomers not just for strength, but for loyalty."

They arrived at an open clearing not far from the black tower. Several stone pillars stood there, each one bound with humans.

Qian Hua waved away the sea fog, finding it annoyingly thick. It hadn't been this heavy before.

Looking at the people tied up, he confirmed, "Yes, this is the place."

"These are a gift for newcomers. The final trial, rebels from eight years ago."

"Kill them, and you'll earn the right to enter the Holy Land as a human and obtain ultimate power."

To prevent another rebellion, the best way was to make them prove loyalty through action.

The Holy City wouldn't reject strength. But strength with a disloyal heart couldn't be tolerated.

Ruan Xing stepped forward, looking at the defiant humans bound to the pillars. He even spotted a white-haired native among them, a rare sight. That person must have endured incredible hardship.

They were all shirtless, showing their bodies covered in scars. Burn marks, knife wounds, chemical burns. They were skin and bones.

A scarred black-haired man begged, "Please, let me go. I was tricked into joining them. It has been eight years. I can't take it anymore."

Qian Hua turned to Ruan Xing. "Some were difficult to deal with. Others, like this one... well. We don't care what they say. Only what they did. This guy killed his master in the cruelest way. Hard to believe anything he says."

That man's face twisted. "Screw you, Qian Hua! You should have died eight years ago! You were lucky. One day, you'll pay!"

"You see?" Qian Hua said. "All bark, no trust. Letting him go would cost me my life. He seems familiar. A Special Academy graduate? Investigation Corps? All the more reason to eliminate him."

Qian Hua handed Ruan Xing a small-caliber pistol. "You do it."

The man cursed at Ruan Xing, "Lapdog!"

Ruan Xing took the gun, fiddled with it for a moment, then fired a few shots. Bang! Bang! Bang!

Qian Hua looked over, satisfied, until he saw that the target was completely unharmed. Not a scratch.

Ruan Xing shrugged apologetically. "Oops. I'm nearsighted. Also not great with guns. Maybe I need to stand closer."

Qian Hua looked around. The fog really was thick, making him slightly dizzy.

"Get closer. Don't let the fog distract you."

But the youth turned around. His long hair arced behind him as he raised the gun, this time, pointing it at Qian Hua.

Rain began to fall, soaking his clothes. His eyes were calm and cold, and his black pupils mirrored the storm clouds above.

Qian Hua's expression darkened, then twisted into a sneer. "So, you really are a spy."

Ruan Xing pulled the trigger. The bullet bounced off Qian Hua's stone-like skin, ripping his robe and revealing grey markings underneath.

"You want to save them? Naive. Their fate is not up to you."

Qian Hua threw back his cloak, exposing his body. His skin was already turning to stone, covered in black marks.

"You think you can scare me, you brat?"

Ruan Xing smiled like a man-eating flower.

"Really?"

He snapped his fingers.

Snap!

Qian Hua froze. He staggered as memories surfaced.

A dark alley. Whispers. Forgotten secrets.

His eyes were filled with horror.

He remembered! That man on the street had cornered him, then used some trick to dig out secrets buried deep within!

"Ruan Xing! No, you're a monster!"

The face was different, but Qian Hua knew it was him! Panic flooded as he looked toward the black tower.

His skin trembled. The grey layer cracked, revealing strange black marks writhing beneath. Tiny fleshy tendrils poked through like sea anemones. Without his mental control, the pollution spread fast.

Seeing Ruan Xing still pointing the gun, Qian Hua realized that if he let this guy live, then he was done for.

But before he could attack, thick mist surged around them.

No! It was not sea mist!

It was toxic!

Ruan Xing blinked innocently. "Oh? The mist has been thick for a while now."

Qian Hua's thoughts spun. That faint fog from earlier wasn't natural. It was Ruan Xing's doing!

"Fu Zhi actually hid your true powers?" Qian Hua coughed up blood as he hallucinated. Then, his vision faded to grey.

"I am a Special Academy instructor. If you kill me, the Enforcement Division will investigate!"

Ruan Xing's voice echoed like a devil's: "Do you think they will care if you die in a polluted zone?"

Qian Hua whispered in horror, "But the Tower will."

That struck a chord. Ruan Xing's mind raced. If the Tower backed him, then everything strange made sense. Two people couldn't run this operation alone. But the Tower?

He had wondered before if the Tower was his Mage Tower, but the records showed it was built in this world. It didn't appear out of nowhere.

Still, it must be related to his missing Mage Tower. And also to the Holy City.

Ruan Xing watched coldly as Qian Hua collapsed, twitching before going still. His face frozen in terror, haunted by whatever illusion he saw before death.

Fu Gui peeked out of Ruan Xing's pocket, looking at the bound prisoners.

"Don't be scared. We came to rescue you!"

Ruan Xing released them. They collapsed to the ground, many unable to walk. But their eyes were bright.

"Did the leader send you to save us?"

Ruan Xing shook his head.

"I'm not here to save you. I don't need your help either. I'll leave once I find what I need."

If he could absorb more magic while he was at it, then fine. Freeing them was just a whim.

The white-haired man, missing both ears, limped forward and bowed deeply.

"You're going to the Holy Land? That tower?"

"Yes."

"It is very dangerous."

"Our leader entered and never came out."

"He was that strong and still..."

They all exchanged uneasy glances.

The white-haired man looked at him seriously. "Be careful in there."

Ruan Xing nodded. "I will."

Just then, the last person was freed.

As Ruan Xing turned to leave, the white-haired man bowed deeply. "Thank you—"

Before he could finish, his head fell off.

It rolled to Ruan Xing's feet, staining his shoes with blood.

The smile on the dead face still lingered, full of heartfelt gratitude.

The collar had fallen off, revealing hidden blades inside.

Thud Thud

One by one, the newly freed humans dropped dead. In under a minute, they were all gone, and headless bodies littered the ground.

As if mocking Ruan Xing's rescue.

Their moment of salvation was also their moment of death.

Ruan Xing's face remained blank as the rain poured harder.