"I recall you didn't quite want to address us as superiors, let alone share your loot, and you would not have so generously offered up this many exotic beast crystal cores. Well, my understanding of you isn't particularly deep. But..."
The round-faced fat man wore a faint, almost imperceptible smile, yet his gaze was chillingly cold.
He narrowed his eyes at Sarl before him, speaking slowly and deliberately: "Your transformation... is rather drastic, Sarl."
Sarl's smile vanished completely. His voice was icy as he replied, "I'm young. I grow quickly. Isn't some change to be expected?"
"Yes, you have a point."
The round-faced man nodded. "Therefore, I choose to believe you..."
Sarl's eyes brightened, about to speak, when the round-faced man continued, "However, whether you truly are trustworthy must be verified personally by Lord Haiji Dao upon his arrival.
Rest assured, when that time comes, Cold Face and I will plead your case to him."
As the plump man finished speaking, Sarl's expression darkened visibly.
Not only his, but the faces of the others behind him also turned grim. Moments ago, they had been filled with sincerity, yet now they radiated murderous intent, their eyes cold and menacing.
The two guides seemed to have anticipated this turn entirely, showing no surprise as they coldly observed Sarl and his group.
"Officers, why such inflexibility?"
Sarl's tone was stiff, like two rough stones scraping against each other.
"I told you before—why waste words with them? Just take them out. Why waste time?"
A voice came from behind Sarl.
"True. With our current strength, we could easily take them out openly," another voice chimed in.
Several figures emerged, their joints cracking as they flexed. Within mere breaths, the expressions of these previously earnest individuals had shifted dramatically.
Each grew sinister and cold, like a mob that had shed all pretense.
"My lord dislikes doing things openly. What can I do?" Sarl sighed softly, seeming resigned.
But the next instant, his expression twisted into a savage grimace.
His body vanished abruptly and reappeared right before the two guides.
"Your nerve hasn't changed—still as big as ever. Hmph..." the stern middle-aged guide sneered coldly, his black battle blade slicing through the void in a dazzling arc, striking straight toward Sarl before him.
The moment their blades clashed, the seven or eight Level 12 powerhouses trailing behind Sarl plunged into the ranks like sharp blades.
The battle erupted too swiftly—so fast that many couldn't react before the entire formation was shattered.
"Holy shit, what's going on? Why are they fighting again? Are these guys mutinizing? Just because the guides refused to cover for their desertion?" Saya flew backward through the melee, his face frozen in utter bewilderment.
In his view, even if Sarl and the others had erred by leaving without permission, they'd likely face some punishment at most.
But to directly confront the two guides?
And even if Sarl was a madman, did that make the others madmen too? Why were they all joining him in rebellion?
"BOOM!"
At that moment, a deafening explosion echoed, terrifying energy ripples sweeping across the entire field, drawing everyone's gaze.
But soon, many pupils contracted sharply, faces contorting in disbelief.
There stood the stern middle-aged man and the round-faced fat man, both pale-faced on the ground. Above them, a figure wielding a double-bladed sword stood proudly suspended in midair.
Long orange hair was blown high and back by the powerful energy currents swirling around him, resembling a fiery, demonic flame. Behind them, five silver bands of light swirled and drifted.
Five!
The crowd stared in stunned disbelief, questioning their own eyes.
"Whoa..."
"Five Rule Galaxies within one body?!"
"Wasn't Sarl only at three rule galaxies before? How did he suddenly surge by two?!"
Most knew Sarl's previous strength: two rule galaxies, barely reaching the third. For someone his age, it was already an extraordinary achievement. But now, his power had skyrocketed to five rule galaxies.
"Even the two guides couldn't match him. This happened in just a few days—even a rocket couldn't accelerate that fast."
"It's not just him—they've all grown stronger!"
Someone shouted in shock.
Only then did everyone realize it wasn't just Sarl. Those who returned with him had all experienced explosive growth in power.
Those who originally possessed one rule galaxy now wielded two, or even three.
Though there were only seven or eight of them at most, they charged like tigers into a flock of sheep. Within moments, they had severely wounded multiple Level 12 powerhouses.
Everyone was stunned, their faces filled with horror and confusion.
What had these people experienced during their disappearance? How could their strength undergo such earth-shattering changes? And every single one of them!
"Uh-oh—"
Saya's jaw dropped wide open, unable to close. Gazing at the five faintly drifting silver light bands behind Sarl, he felt utterly dumbfounded.
"What the hell did this guy do?"
Lu Sheng scanned the surroundings as if searching for something, casually replying, "Can't you tell? They're not the same people who left back then."
"I feel it too. Every single one of them seems off."
The stone-faced Tang Dun frowned and chimed in, "There's something about them... an unpleasant aura."
Saya's expression froze before snapping into realization. "You mean they're imposters?"
"Not exactly."
Lu Sheng shook his head. His gaze suddenly locked onto a point in the void, his eyes flashing with sharpness as he replied, word by word,
"They've merely signed a corrupt contract of servitude. They've changed."