High Martial: I Use Everything as Swords

"Ah..."

Old Zhang let out a sigh of ultimate satisfaction. In his hallucination, he felt as if he were embracing the entire world.

In reality, however, his fingernails grew crazily long and turned black, then plunged deep into his own carotid artery.

An expression of extreme, twisted bliss spread across his face as he greedily tore at his own flesh and blood.

No blood spurted out.

The gushing blood seemed bound by an invisible force, transforming into fine threads that flowed backward into Mo the Third’s sleeve.

Old Zhang’s body convulsed violently in extreme bliss, his skin shriveling and turning a ghastly white at a visible rate.

In just half a minute, a living, breathing person had become a horrifying, desiccated corpse, a blissful smile still plastered on its face.

Mo the Third stood up and licked his lips, a look of intoxication on his face.

"The Life Force of the young, mixed with the taste of hope... truly sweet."

He glanced at Xiaoli, who was still giggling foolishly to the side, and shook his head.

’Can’t kill them all. I need to leave one alive to tell a good story.’

He took a black stone etched with strange Runes from his robes and slipped it into Xiaoli’s pocket.

It was a "Misfortune Stone," specially crafted by the Blood Feeding Sect. It slowly emitted a sinister, cold aura that unsettled the mind and amplified one’s inner fears.

Having done all this, Mo the Third picked up the empty food container and walked out the door as if nothing had happened.

Before leaving, he used Old Zhang’s dried blood to draw a twisted symbol on the guardhouse wall.

It was a leering eye.

...

「The next morning.」

A bloodcurdling scream shattered the morning calm of Dragon’s Fang Port.

"Someone’s dead! Someone’s dead!!!"

The guard coming on shift scrambled out of Warehouse District 4, his face a mask of indescribable terror.

Soon, a large contingent of military police had surrounded the scene.

When Liu Zhen arrived after receiving the report, the sight of the desiccated corpse made him feel nauseous, despite his years of experience on the battlefield.

’Too damn weird!’

The victim’s body was drained of all blood, yet a bizarre smile of utter bliss was frozen on his face.

This extreme contrast was more disturbing to one’s sanity than any gory scene of carnage.

"Check it! Check the surveillance footage!" Liu Zhen roared, his face dark.

"Sir, the surveillance... someone looped a static image over the feed!"

The technician was sweating profusely. "They’re a pro. They seamlessly covered all the footage from two to three o’clock last night!"

"Magnetic field interference..."

Liu Zhen gritted his teeth. He knew this was serious.

At that moment, Xiaoli, the one who had been intentionally left alive, woke up.

He was clearly in deep shock, huddled in a corner and trembling uncontrollably while muttering over and over:

"A ghost... a bloodsucking ghost... Old Zhang... he ate himself..."

The news spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the port in less than half a day.

A normal murder would have only sparked anger.

But this bizarre manner of death ignited a primal fear.

"Did you hear? The Resentful Spirits from the Dragon Abyss have crawled out!"

"I’ve been saying that place is cursed! So many people died there, the resentment is too strong!"

"Special Envoy Han can kill Sea Demons, but can he kill a Fierce Ghost you can’t even see or touch?"

Panic spread through the crowd like a virus.

The sense of security that had just been established began to crack.

Meanwhile, the instigator, Mo the Third, was squatting by the roadside, polishing a Mercenary’s leather boots while sighing along with the people around him.

"What a tragedy. This world... why won’t it just let people live in peace?"

He lifted his head and glanced at the command tower in the distance, a symbol of absolute military might. A thick veil of mockery flashed in his eyes.

’Han Feng, your planes can be as fast as they want, your missiles as numerous as you like.’

’But how do you fight a fear you can’t see or touch?’

...

「Command Center.」

Han Feng stared at the desiccated corpse on the holographic screen, his expression as dark as still water.

He wasn’t an idiot.

Fierce Ghosts claiming lives, curses from the Dragon Abyss—it was all just a childish trick.

This was clearly the work of some Evil Cult scum. He had seen something similar back at Golden Ears Farm, though the method of killing had been slightly different.

"Any new findings?" Han Feng’s voice was cold.

"We found this in the survivor’s pocket."

Liu Zhen handed over the black "Misfortune Stone."

Han Feng took the stone, a sinister chill spreading from his fingertips.

[All Things Identification] activated instantly.

[Item: Grudge Condensing Stone (Imitation)]

[Source: Unknown organization. The refinement method carries the distinct style of blood sacrifice.]

[Effect: Slowly emits negative Spiritual Energy, which can stir fear and suspicion in living beings. Prolonged contact will cause hallucinations.]

"Blood sacrifice style..."

Han Feng crushed the stone to powder, a cold glint in his eyes.

He was reminded of the Evil Cult he had encountered in the Suspended Mountain Secret Realm. They also used living souls and vital blood to practice their Evil Techniques.

The aura was different, but the disregard for life and the venomous malice were identical.

"So, my old friends from the sewers have finally come knocking."

He feared no one in a direct confrontation.

But these rats hiding in the shadows had resorted to such cheap psychological tricks.

"Special Envoy, the people outside are in a panic. Many are clamoring to leave the port."

Liu Zhen wiped his sweat as he spoke. "Some are even saying... that your excessive killing has attracted this evil presence."

Han Feng whipped his head around, his sharp gaze pinning Liu Zhen in place, making the man’s legs feel weak.

"Excessive killing?"

Han Feng suddenly laughed.

There wasn’t a trace of warmth in his smile. Instead, it carried a chilling, bloodthirsty aura.

"It seems I haven’t killed enough. I haven’t been ruthless enough."

He strode toward the door.

"Send out the order: lock down the port immediately. No one is allowed out. Only in."

"Anyone caught spreading rumors at a time like this will be arrested on sight."

’Trying to play hide-and-seek with me?’

Han Feng looked up at the ceiling, his gaze seemingly piercing through the thick concrete to find the assassin snickering somewhere in the crowd.

"Tell everyone that in one hour, I will personally host a ’Purification Ceremony’ in the central plaza."

"I will use my power to cleanse every single person in Dragon’s Fang Port of any ’contamination’ they may have been exposed to."

He paused, his voice turning icy.

"Anyone who does not attend will be considered a source of heavy contamination and will be killed on the spot, without mercy!"

Liu Zhen froze for a moment, then understood Han Feng’s intention.

’He’s trapping them to smoke them out! He’s going to force that rat to reveal itself!’

But a sliver of worry rose in his heart. Wouldn’t such a heavy-handed approach incite a riot?

Han Feng didn’t explain.

He knew what Liu Zhen was thinking.

But he knew even better that against an Evil Ghost that plays with people’s minds, any hesitation or soft-handedness was a recipe for disaster.

He would see just how his opponent planned to hide under the dual scrutiny of his [Spiritual Vision] and [All Things Identification].