Shackles of Humanity

Luo Kai’s thoughts slowly returned. Everywhere he looked, people backed away in terror. The mirror-smooth marble floor beneath him reflected a terrifying face, like that of a reborn Evil Ghost. The handkerchief that had covered his face was long gone, and the crisscrossing wounds on his body had completely revealed his true appearance. The skin on his face had not yet regrown, leaving the deep red muscle tissue directly exposed...

He looked up again. The young woman’s gaze was filled with Fear and unfamiliarity, but also a hint of pity. Ordinarily, that hint of pity might have given Luo Kai a warm feeling of being cared for. But now, under everyone’s watchful eyes, it only made him feel like a pathetic wretch!

His breathing grew heavier, and the surging Evil Energy rampaged again with his emotions. A black glow once more enveloped his eyes as an impulse to destroy everything before him washed over him. He didn’t need sympathy, and he certainly didn’t need pity. What he needed was to inspire the Fear and despair of the living!

The formless pressure grew even heavier. An unspeakable tremor rose from the depths of every living being’s Mind Spirit. Their breathing became more and more rapid, as if the air would vanish if they breathed any slower. Those with weaker Willpower were already a mess of tears and snot, having lost control of their bladders and bowels.

"Hey! What’s this brat doing here? Damn it, you ran off before we’d had enough to drink! Come on, let’s go get some more!"

Just then, a loud, booming voice like a broken gong shattered the heavy, oppressive atmosphere, striking Luo Kai to his very core.

Big Beard limped in, grabbed Luo Kai’s arm, and started dragging him out. As he walked, he laughed apologetically to the surrounding people. "Sorry, everyone! My brat here has had too much to drink and is acting up!"

Luo Kai, still in a daze, let himself be pulled along for a few steps before the sight of Old Huang in the cage brought him back to his senses. Only Old Huang’s gaze held no Fear, still full of warmth and affection. He stopped and said, "Big Beard, I have to let Old Huang out."

"Go on, go on! Haha, sorry everyone, please, carry on."

Luo Kai walked slowly toward the cage. This time, no one dared to even think of stopping him. The cage, made of some unknown material, was incredibly tough and sturdy. He couldn’t break it open even with his Power. After a moment’s thought, the Evil Energy in his chest began to circulate again under the command of his Willpower. A wisp of Black Flame shot from his fingertip, instantly corroding a large hole in the cage.

Old Huang stuck out its tongue and affectionately licked his pant leg, whimpering nonstop.

Big Beard looked anxious and walked over to hurry him along. Just as Luo Kai was breaking the chains on Old Huang, a clear, cold voice rang out. "You think you can just leave after injuring my family?"

When the first word was spoken, the person seemed far away. By the time the last word was uttered, a man completely shrouded in white light had already appeared in the hall.

Within the white light was a slender, middle-aged man with an exceptionally handsome face. He had another eye on his forehead—a fully open eye, different from a normal human’s. It resembled the vertical pupil of a cold-blooded animal, and it betrayed no emotion. He wore a white tunic made of fine scales, which was the source of the hazy white glow.

With his arrival, the once-oppressive atmosphere suddenly enlivened, like a ray of sunshine dispersing the gloom that had settled over everyone’s hearts.

"Father!"

"Dad!"

The Su siblings cried out in pleasant surprise. Su Wenlin’s voice held a trace of shame, while Sister Su’s was pure delight.

This middle-aged man was none other than the new City Lord of Longyang City, Su Chengbo—who was also the former Prison Director of the Nanya Island prison where Luo Kai had been held. His face hadn’t changed at all; he was still impossibly handsome and radiated the unique aura of a higher lifeform.

Su Chengbo first glanced at his children, a hint of warmth appearing on his otherwise impassive face. Then he turned to Luo Kai, a flicker of confusion in his expression. He stared straight at Luo Kai, as if trying to recall something.

Big Beard quietly tugged Luo Kai’s sleeve and whispered in his ear, "We’re screwed. We need to run, now!"

Luo Kai was also confused. As his strength had grown, he had become able to perceive the Magnetic Fields of living things around him. But he couldn’t feel any change in the Magnetic Field frequency from this Tri-Eyed Race City Lord. The man was like a pocket of air, as if he didn’t exist at all. If Luo Kai couldn’t see him with his own eyes, he would have doubted his own Perception.

"Have we met somewhere before?" Su Chengbo suddenly asked him.

Before Luo Kai could speak, Big Beard laughed it off. "Uh... what does it matter if we’ve met before? If fate wills it, we’ll meet again. See you all later!" He then grabbed Luo Kai and started to leave.

Old Huang, now free from the cage, hurriedly wiggled its plump body to follow. The creature seemed to have forgotten how to walk on its limbs, moving entirely by bouncing along on its belly like a seal. It was adorably goofy.

Su Chengbo’s gaze shifted to Big Beard, his expression turning serious. "You should at least show me something," he said. "Convince me I’m unable to keep you here."

As soon as he said this, Su Wenlin, who had been standing aside full of shame, went pale. In his heart, his father was a godlike figure. How could he say something so uncertain?

Big Beard stopped and said to Luo Kai, "Xiaokai, we’re in big trouble this time!"

Luo Kai was actually in very bad shape. The high-intensity Qi and Blood Circulation could grant him astonishing Explosive Power, but it wasn’t sustainable. Right now, his muscles and bones were sore and numb, his head was spinning, and waves of weakness washed over him. He forced his heart to beat faster and turned to face Su Chengbo.

Su Chengbo watched him impassively, strands of silver light flashing intermittently from the vertical pupil between his brows.

An inexplicable Power enveloped Luo Kai, and his body suddenly felt incredibly heavy. He could only do his best to accelerate his Qi and Blood Circulation to resist the crushing pressure.

Su Chengbo moved. One moment he was standing still, the next he appeared directly in front of Luo Kai. His speed was like Instant Teleportation; even with Luo Kai’s powerful nerve Perception, he couldn’t track his movements at all. He hurriedly threw a punch, which naturally hit nothing but air. Strangely, his opponent didn’t attack, instead allowing Luo Kai to keep swinging wildly.

After a moment, Su Chengbo finally extended a palm and met one of his blows. Luo Kai was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string. Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, he struggled back to his feet. This was the first time he had ever faced such an opponent. The man’s speed, Power, Perception, and reflexes completely overwhelmed him. ’Even at my peak, I’d be no match for him,’ he thought with a silent sigh. He turned to Big Beard. "Big Beard, you take Old Huang and go."

After speaking, he took a deep breath and stopped suppressing his mind’s frequency. The water molecules in the air and the Evil Qi scattered throughout Longyang City vied to resonate with his consciousness, and both began to gather toward him.

Su Chengbo didn’t press his attack. Instead, he watched him with a strange expression, then turned to look out the window at the sky, as if he had sensed something.

Luo Kai pointed at Su Chengbo from a distance, and a wisp of Black Flame shot out.

Su Chengbo turned back to him and snorted coldly. A beam of silver light shot from the vertical pupil between his brows. The Black Flame and the silver light seemed to be two completely different types of Power. Upon collision, they both vanished without a trace.

The scattered crowd was once again dumbfounded. Everything they had witnessed today completely overturned their understanding of the world. Martial Artists were powerful, yes, but they still fell within the normal, understandable scope of human ability. But what kind of techniques were these two using? Was this a Power that humans were even supposed to possess?

A figure suddenly appeared between the two of them. It was Big Beard. He held up his hands, a look of exasperation on his face. "Alright, alright, any more of this and it’ll be a fight to the death! It’s just a small matter, not some blood feud. It’s not worth it, not worth it!"

Sister Su also rushed over from the side, hugging Su Chengbo’s arm and pleading in a low voice, "Dad, let it go. Please, let them leave."

Su Chengbo gave Luo Kai a long, deep look. After a moment of contemplation, he turned to Big Beard and said, "I have yet to learn your esteemed name. The events of today will surely spread throughout the world. You are a noble Body Master. If you don’t leave a name, I will have no way to answer to my people."

Big Beard nonchalantly hiked up his pant leg, pointing to his half-prosthetic limb. "I’m just a crippled old man, what kind of name would I have? Let’s just end things here today. How about we say I owe you a favor?"

Su Chengbo smiled. "Heh, in that case, I’m the one who’s come out ahead. However, you’ve piqued my curiosity. How about we have a simple spar?"

Big Beard put on an expression as if he were bravely facing death. "Alright then. I’m just an old man with old bones. You’d better go easy on me!"

As their words spread, most of the onlookers looked confused, turning to ask those around them, "What’s a Body Master?"

Only a few of the elders in the crowd turned pale. At first, they had only suspected it, but now they had Su Chengbo’s confirmation. They began to explain in low voices to the younger people.

The title of "Master" has always been the most respected honor in human civilization, representing one who imparts wisdom, teaches skills, and resolves doubts. A Body Master was also known as a Grandmaster. To put it simply, in the Martial Arts World, a Body Master was a leading authority, a colossal figure capable of establishing their own school. They never interfered in humanity’s internal conflicts, so they rarely appeared in public.

In the several hundred years since the founding of the Xingma Kingdom, while there were occasional rumors that a certain High-level Martial Artist might advance to become a Body Master, they always came to nothing. No one had ever heard of a successful breakthrough.

The difference between a Martial Artist and a Body Master was like the difference between a mountain’s peak and a valley’s chasm—they weren’t on the same level at all. They were two completely different tiers of life. It was said that Body Masters had already touched the pinnacle of human evolution. They could split mountains with their bare hands, stop rivers with a kick, and single-handedly face off against mature Fierce Beasts. The best among them could even contend with the legendary Complete Form Fierce Beasts.

Only a Body Master could spar with another Body Master. It went without saying that this new Tri-Eyed Race City Lord was also a Body Master.

Everyone’s face flushed with excitement. They never imagined they would see two Body Masters in their lifetime—and what’s more, these two Body Masters were about to fight!

Everything that happened today was sure to set off a firestorm of public opinion in the Xingma Kingdom and would quickly spread to all human nations. The appearance of two Body Masters in the Xingma Kingdom would make the other Lordship Kingdoms extremely wary. Although the Body Technique Association expressly forbade Body Masters from interfering in humanity’s internal struggles, this level of martial power, which transcended the secular world, was no longer something they could control.