"I agreed to help you—and now I'm supposed to risk my life for it? You want me to kill the Mad Ghost Butcher?!"
He raised his head, terror spilling uncontrollably from his eyes.This wasn't ordinary fear—it was fear carved into the soul.
After the battle in the capital, he had once entered the Zhang family compound.What he saw there was hell turned inside out.Named Awakened Ones—figures he'd heard of for years—had died in ways too gruesome to describe.
Just as An Xinning had said…His life really might be beyond saving now.
And it wasn't just him.
Everyone An Xinning had brought sucked in a sharp breath, one after another.All eyes turned instinctively toward the young man standing atop the gate.
No wonder he hadn't shown the slightest emotion from the very beginning.No panic.No impatience.No urgency.
So he really was the Mad Ghost Butcher.
This calm…This indifference…It was the composure born of absolute strength.
"This is the 'Player' Chief Pei personally chose?""He's so young… yet he had the resolve to wipe out the top three families?""What did he do before the apocalypse?""I checked—he's just a college sophomore…""If Chief An hadn't said anything, I'd have thought he was just a cold-faced neighbor. He doesn't look like the Mad Ghost Butcher at all."
But everyone present knew what that name represented.
The Mad Ghost Butcher was famous even within the military region itself.
Three of the Ten Divine Generals selected by the Huaxia Military Region had publicly admitted they were no match for him.And those Ten Divine Generals were the absolute pinnacle of Huaxia's combat power!
Each one was incomparably arrogant—most wouldn't even bother showing their faces, let alone personally protect high-ranking officials.
And among the three who had admitted defeat—One was the Ninth Divine General who had just acted.
The Gate-Carrying Divine General.
Chen Xiao knew they had recognized him.Seeing that they still hesitated and refused to deal with Zhou Xun, he let out a soft sigh.
In the end…He would still have to clean this up himself.
The next moment—
A Water Long Saber slowly condensed into Chen Xiao's hand.It spun gently, releasing a frigid, biting light that made the air itself recoil.
"Chief An…"Zhou Xun stared desperately at the military region's experts—his final lifeline."You know how many things I've done for you…"
An Xinning frowned.
She did not want to abandon Zhou Xun—not now.He was one of her most trusted subordinates.
More importantly, the Bright Lamp he held was itself a rare opportunity, even within the military region.If Zhou Xun died, that opportunity would inevitably fall into the Mad Ghost Butcher's hands.
That young man already had the Mountain-and-River Map that Yang Baiying once coveted,and Li Tailong's Green Snake Jasper Sword.
Add the Bright Lamp to that…
It would be disastrous.
"Chief An, eliminating Li Xiang and Li Tailong should be enough."
Suddenly, a hoarse voice spoke from behind the Gate-Carrying Divine General.
The man was tall and lanky, dressed entirely in white.His long hair hung loose; his face was sunken and hollow, so thin it was little more than skin and bone.His lips were deathly pale—he looked as if he might collapse at any moment.
The Gate-Carrying Divine General shook his head slowly."You're underestimating him."
The skinny man sneered."I should've been the Divine General. You're all too cautious.""We're the Huaxia Military Region."
"Brother Jia!"Zhou Xun's eyes lit up with wild hope."You're the only one who steps up when it matters!"
The skinny man's smile turned colder."If I save you, give me the Bright Lamp."
Zhou Xun's expression darkened—but he had no alternative.This was the only person willing to help him.
An Xinning hesitated.
Her reason told her she should listen to Pei Tianyuan—provoking the Mad Ghost Butcher was far too dangerous.
But emotionally, she couldn't bring herself to abandon Zhou Xun.
She had never personally witnessed the Mad Ghost Butcher's true strength.And deep down, a sliver of luck lingered.
Maybe…He was just exaggerated by rumor?After all, people loved turning humans into legends.
Seeing An Xinning remain silent, the skinny man took it as approval.
He stepped forward and met Chen Xiao's cold gaze head-on.
"Mad Ghost Butcher," he said clearly."I'm Jia Meng, a captain of the capital military region.""Behind me stands An Xinning, Deputy Executive of the military region."
"We've already dealt with Li Xiang and Li Tailong for you."
"How about we end things here?"
Every word was carefully calculated.Status asserted.Threats hidden.The plea to spare Zhou Xun left unspoken—yet unmistakable.
Only then did the auction participants truly understand who the young man from Jiangbei was.
"Oh my god… the Mad Ghost Butcher was sitting next to me just now?""Impossible—no, it's really him!""How does Jiangbei produce monsters like this? One was already outrageous!""He's going head-on with the capital military region?""That's the Huaxia Military Region!""The gate-carrying guy—that's a Divine General, right?""This is my first time seeing a Divine General in person… They're the ones holding back foreign Awakened Ones, right?"
Nervous swallowing echoed everywhere.No one dared look away.
The Mad Ghost Butcher.The capital military region's Second Executive.A Huaxia Divine General.
Any decision here could decide their life or death.
Chen Xiao sneered.
"End things here?""Do you think I need your help?"
Jia Meng's eyelid twitched."I admit you're strong.But look around—there are eight military region Awakened Ones here."
A middle-aged man stepped forward."Enough. You've already gotten what you wanted. Why continue opposing the military region?"
An Xinning bit her lip.
She didn't stop them.But she also didn't support them.
This was her way of protecting herself.
Zhou Xun seized the chance."Mad Ghost Butcher, I apologize. I was misled by Li Xiang—"
Chen Xiao laughed softly.
"Now you apologize?""If I weren't the Mad Ghost Butcher… would I already be dead?"
Zhou Xun had no response.
It was true.Painfully true.
Jia Meng grew impatient."The so-called elites recruited by the top families early on were nothing but trash.""Our military region?""You couldn't afford to provoke even ten of us."
"Go back to Jiangbei.We'll both mind our own business."
As he spoke, he reached out—ready to take Zhou Xun and leave.His eyes were glued to the Bright Lamp, as if it already belonged to him.
Chen Xiao smiled.
He didn't say another word.
The next second—
He vanished.
The military region…Had disappointed him.