Chapter 124: The Talismans are Destined for Me
The next second—
Heat Vision erupted!
Two golden-red beams of light shot directly onto the vampire!
"Ahhh—!!!"
The vampire let out a shrill scream!
He felt it; this was the sun he had feared his entire life!
But it was clearly nighttime?
Where did the sun come from?
Before he could even process the question, the entire vampire had already turned into a cloud of ash, dissipating in the rain.
Mark took a heavy breath.
He was starving.
He needed to replenish some nutrients immediately.
Conveniently, there was a forest nearby.
An expensive carpet was rolled up and piled to the side.
A ball of Fire burned where the carpet had been, orange-red Fire-light dancing in the darkness, bringing a hint of warmth to this eerie castle.
Over the Fire, a large steak and two thick paws were roasting.
Fat dripped onto the Fire, making a sizzling sound and emitting a mouth-watering aroma.
Beside the Fire, a bear's head sat there.
In those crystalline eyes, the dancing Fire-light was reflected, looking somewhat eerie and yet a bit comical.
Mark sat on the fur pelt stripped from the bear, legs crossed, staring expectantly at the roasting meat over the Fire.
A savory, roasted meat scent wafted out.
Mark couldn't wait to take the meat off the Fire.
"Whoosh, whoosh—hot, hot, hot!"
Blowing on it, he tore off a large piece of meat.
He snapped off a bear rib and began gnawing on the meat!
"Wow!"
His eyes lit up.
"Bear meat is still the best!"
He chewed in large gulps, grease dripping from the corners of his mouth.
"It has a savage flavor to it!"
He wolfed it down, feasting greedily!
Bear brains, bear liver, bear heart—
He spared none of it!
These were all good things for replenishing blood!
With one bear in his stomach, all the wounds on his body were healed.
He stood up and stretched his limbs.
His bones cracked, and his muscles were filled with strength once more.
But to support the Smart Atoms in his body to complete their evolution, he needed to eat even more.
Dawn was approaching.
Mark stood up and flew directly out of the castle.
The first rays of dawn shone on him, warm and incredibly comfortable.
He looked down at this unfamiliar land and began to contemplate his next plan.
Coming to the world of jackie chan adventures wasn't bad either.
There certainly weren't few opportunities.
Just the twelve talismans alone, if he got his hands on all of them, would be a massive help!
The Rat Talisman can give life to still objects, the Ox Talisman can enhance strength, the Tiger Talisman can balance Yin and Yang, the Rabbit Talisman can move at super speed, the Dragon Talisman can blast Fire, the Snake Talisman can grant invisibility, the Horse Talismancan heal, the Sheep Talisman can allow astral projection, the Monkey Talisman can shapeshift, the Rooster Talismancan grant levitation, the Dog Talisman can ensure immortality, and the pig talisman can grant Heat Vision—
Wait, the pig talisman's Heat Vision seemed to overlap with his own Heat Vision?
But it didn't matter; one can never have too many good things.
Especially the Sheep Talisman, with its abilities like astral projection and instant removal of negative statuses, goes without saying.
Even the Rabbit Talisman, when used to its limit, can travel through time and space.
Not to mention the Eight Demon Sorceries, Ghost Shadow Masks, and so on.
"Since this vampire is still around, it means the current plot is still in the Talisman arc."
Mark rubbed his chin, deep in thought.
"It seems—"
He smiled.
That smile was exceptionally brilliant in the dawn light.
"These Talismans are destined for me!"
San Francisco, Chinatown.
Uncle's Antiques.
Sunlight spilled through the window, casting mottled light and Shadows on the shelves piled with clutter.
The place was filled with all sorts of strange and eccentric items—ancient porcelain, yellowed scrolls, rusted bronzeware, and things that couldn't even be named.
The air was thick with a musty smell, mixed with the scent of sandalwood and herbs, making one feel as if they had stepped back a hundred years into the Qing Dynasty upon entering.
Uncle stood before the workbench, holding a wooden staff, staring blankly at a dish of potion on the table.
That dish of potion was very special.
Inside were two colors, one black and one White, intertwining like a Taiji diagram, balancing each other.
The black part was as thick as ink, while the White part was as pure as milk.
Originally, they balanced each other.
The black part being predominant indicated that beings representing dark forces, like Shendu, were about to be resurrected.
This was something Uncle had studied for half his life—a monitor for the balance between good and evil.
Black Qi represented darkness, while White Qi represented light.
When the black exceeded the White, it meant that evil forces were about to revive.
When the White exceeded the black, it meant that the forces of justice had the upper hand.
For decades, this monitor had always been accurate.
But today—
"Jackie! Jackie!"
Uncle suddenly shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice sharp and urgent, like an old cat whose tail had been stepped on.
"Coming, coming!"
Jackie rushed out from the back room, an apron still tied around him, holding a spatula still stained with egg.
He had been making breakfast in the kitchen just now, and hearing Uncle's shout, he almost dropped the pan.
"What is it, Uncle? What happened?"
He ran to the workbench, panting, with a nervous look on his face.
Uncle didn't speak.
He just stared at the dish of potion, his whole body as if under a freezing spell, motionless.
"Uncle?"
Jackie leaned in, following his gaze to the dish of potion.
Then he froze as well.
In the potion, the originally balanced black and White Qi had now completely spiraled out of control.
The White part was surging wildly like a volcanic eruption, swallowing the black area at a speed visible to the naked eye!
That White Qi grew brighter and more intense until the entire dish had turned a blinding White!
Jackie rubbed his eyes, thinking he had seen it wrong.
But looking again—
It was still White.
Pure White.
Brilliantly White.
Blindingly White.
So White that one dared not look directly at it.
"Uncle..."
Jackie swallowed hard.
"This... what's the situation?"
Uncle was silent for a long time.
On his wrinkled face, the expression shifted from shock to confusion, from confusion to disbelief, finally settling on an indescribably complex look.
"Just now—"
He spoke slowly, his voice hoarse and low.
"The Noble Qi exploded."
Jackie was stunned for a moment.
"What?"
"The Noble Qi exploded."
Uncle repeated, his voice louder this time.
"You mean..."
Jackie's mouth hung wide open.
"Justice... exploded?"
Chapter 125: King of All Immortals!
"Correct."
Uncle nodded, picking up his wooden staff and pointing it at the tray of magic potion.
"In all my decades, I have never encountered a situation like this."
When the Dark Energy surges, I know a demon is about to be resurrected.
But for the White Chi to surge like this—"
He paused, seemingly weighing his words.
"This can only mean one thing."
"What thing?"
Jackie Chan asked nervously.
Uncle looked at him, an indescribable light flickering in his cloudy old eyes.
"Some extremely powerful force of justice has suddenly appeared in this world."
"Extremely powerful?"
"Stronger than Shendu."
Uncle spoke each word with deliberate emphasis.
"Stronger than all eight great demons combined."
Jackie Chan was completely stunned.
Stronger than the eight great demons combined?
And it's a force of justice?
Wouldn't that be a wonderful thing?
"Then... then we should be happy, shouldn't we?"
He scratched his head.
Uncle glanced at him with a look that suggested he was looking at an idiot.
"Happy?"
He snorted.
"Do you know what this means?"
"What?"
"Power of this level is simply not something this world can withstand."
Uncle's voice became solemn.
"If this power loses control, if this power goes berserk, if he suddenly decides he wants to destroy the world—"
He looked at Jackie Chan, enunciating every word.
"No one could stop him."
Jackie Chan broke into a cold sweat.
On the other side of the city, in the basement of an abandoned museum.
Valmont was sitting on a dilapidated chair, legs crossed, looking bored at the coiled dragon statue in front of him.
"Shendu, when do you think we'll find the rest of the Talisman?"
He let out a yawn.
"I'm about to die of boredom."
The eyes of the coiled dragon statue flickered slightly with a red light.
"Soon."
Shendu's voice emanated from the statue, hoarse and ancient, carrying a majesty from primordial times.
"I can feel it; the remaining Talisman are waking up one by one.
Once all twelve Talisman are gathered, I can be resurrected, and then—"
Before he could finish his sentence—
Suddenly!
The eyes of the coiled dragon statue erupted with a violent red light!
The light was so blinding and ferocious, it was as if two balls of Fire were gushing out from the statue!
"What's going on, Shendu?!"
Valmont jumped out of his chair in a fright, stumbling back several steps!
A terrifying force erupted from the statue, sending Valmontflying backward!
Bang!
Valmont slammed into the wall and fell to the floor, rolling several times and ending up buried under a pile of junk.
He struggled to climb up, his whole body aching terribly.
"Cough, cough, cough... what's the situation?!"
He stared at the still-glowing statue, a look of terror on his face.
Shendu's eyes grew brighter and brighter, the red light almost blinding.
But his voice—
That voice was filled with disbelief.
Filled with fear.
"Impossible..."
Shendu muttered.
"This is impossible..."
"What's impossible?!"
Valmont grew anxious.
"What are you talking about?!"
Shendu fell silent for a moment.
Then he spoke a sentence that left Valmont completely dumbfounded.
"A body more terrifying than us eight great demons."
His voice was trembling.
"That is not a creation that a mere planet could give birth to."
Valmont's mouth hung wide open.
More terrifying than the eight great demons?
Not a creation Earth could produce?
Then what was it?
An alien?
"What are you even saying?"
Living in a low-level urban fantasy world, Valmont clearly couldn't comprehend Shendu's words.
Shendu's eyes continued to glow, the red light flickering as if reflecting his chaotic thoughts.
"The ninth—"
He spoke slowly.
"The eight immortals have appeared."
Valmont paused.
"The eight immortals? Aren't those your old rivals?"
"No."
Shendu's voice became even deeper.
"It might even be more accurate to call him the 'Immortal King'..."
For the first time, fear appeared in his voice.
It was true terror.
A fear that a demon who had lived for thousands of years had never experienced before.
"Has this world gone mad?"
Shendu muttered, as if asking himself, or perhaps asking this absurd world.
Valmont stood there, completely bewildered.
He didn't understand what Shendu was talking about.
But he understood that one sentence—
This world was going to be ruined.
Outside the window, the sky was gradually brightening.
A new day had begun.
And in some corner of this world.
A Viltrum who had just finished eating bear meat stood atop the ruins of an old castle, stretching toward the rising sun.
"Ah—"
Mark let out a yawn.
"Time to go find those Talisman."
He had no idea that his arrival had completely shattered the balance between good and evil in this world.
...
"But this isn't necessarily a bad thing."
Shendu's coiled dragon statue spoke once more.
The voice came from deep within those glowing red eyes, hoarse and ancient, carrying a majesty that had flowed since the dawn of time.
But now, there was something different in that majesty—excitement.
Valmont stood up from his office chair, looking at the massive stone-like monster before him, not quite understanding Shendu's words.
If a heroic figure akin to the King of All Immortals had been born in this world, what would it matter if he resurrected Shendu?
The world already had a master.
Whether Shendu could even be resurrected was a massive question.
"But great Shendu, you can't even move right now."
Valmont weighed his words carefully, for fear of once again angering the ill-tempered demon.
"And even if you could move, how would you defeat a being that surpasses the eight immortals?"
"Hahaha!"
Shendu's statue suddenly burst into laughter.
The laughter shook the entire basement, dust trickling down as the cracks in the walls widened further.
"You ask a foolish question, Valmont."
Shendu's eyes flashed with red light, the glow growing brighter and more intense.
"The Yin and Yang of this world must be balanced—that is the most fundamental rule of the universe."
His voice became high-pitched, as if proclaiming some sacred truth.
"Just as we eight great demons first ruled the world, then the eight immortals defeated us, and now I am about to be resurrected."
"All of this is merely the constant cycle of Yin and Yang."
He paused, his red eyes staring straight at Valmont.
"And now, that Yang energy is surging at an incredible speed, it must signify that the power of Dark Qi is also increasing!"
"As the protagonist of this cycle of Dark Qi, I can already feel it—"
His voice suddenly peaked!
"That majestic favor of the world!"
Chapter 126: I am the Lord of Dark Qi!
No sooner had the words fallen—
Shendu's eyes erupted with an unimaginable red light!
That red light was so blinding, so violent, as if two small suns were burning in the basement!
And the power of the mask he possessed, which could summon the Shadowkhan, was also truly being wielded by him!
It even surpassed the original!
One Shadow after another surged out from all directions!
From the walls, from under the floor, from the ceiling, from every corner of shadow—those Shadows poured out like a tide, dense and endless!
Valmont and his five subordinates—Tohru, Finn, Ratso, Chow, and Hak Foo—all looked around in shock!
Usually, Shendu could also summon the Shadowkhan.
But rather than a legion, it was more like a small organization.
The numbers were generally around several dozen.
But now?
The Shadowkhan were packed densely!
They stretched from one end of the basement to the other, piling up from the floor to the ceiling, a black mass that vanished into the distance at a glance!
This really was... an endless legion!
"You six, come here!"
Shendu said to Valmont and the other five.
Valmont took a deep breath and led his five subordinates forward.
He looked at Shendu's burning red eyes, and his heart began to race.
"Shendu, if we have this legion, we can charge straight into Section 13! I will give you all the Talisman, and you must give me the Treasure of the Golden Dragon!"
He opened his hands toward Shendu, a greedy smile on his face.
He could feel that Shendu's power was even stronger now.
The probability of him obtaining the Treasure of the Golden Dragon was even higher!
"Shut up, you ignorant child!"
Shendu suddenly cursed in anger!
A terrifying force erupted directly from the statue, slamming hard into Valmont!
"Bang—!"
Valmont was sent flying, crashing heavily against the wall before falling into a pile of debris!
"This... how can you suddenly..."
Valmont lay in the debris, his face full of disbelief.
"I have already explained it to you once—"
Shendu's voice came from above, carrying a condescending majesty.
"The current me is the protagonist of Dark Qi!"
His eyes were startlingly bright.
"This world's favor is truly extremely thick; one might even think the representative of Noble Qi is actually here to conquer the world."
He gave a cold laugh.
"Forget about those useless pieces of metal."
His gaze fell upon Valmont.
"If we win this battle between good and evil, Valmont—at least for the rest of your life, you shall become my Guardian."
He said word by word:
"Under one person, above ten thousand!"
Valmont's eyes lit up.
"And now—"
Shendu's voice rang out again.
"I grant you power comparable to the Talisman!"
He raised his head and shouted to the endless Shadows:
"Shadows, heed my call! I grant you speed and power, and Fire! And Shadows!"
No sooner had the words fallen—
Six black beams of light shot from Shendu's eyes, directly hitting Valmont and his five men!
The light pierced into their bodies, surging wildly within them!
Valmont felt his entire body was burning!
His skin began to heat up, his bones began to itch, and his blood began to boil!
He looked down at his hands—
On the back of his hands, fine dragon scales began to grow!
The scales were pitch black like ink, shimmering with a cold luster under the light!
"This... this is..."
He murmured.
The next second, an impulse surged up from the depths of his throat!
He opened his mouth—
"Whoosh—!"
A towering Fire erupted from his mouth!
The flame was crimson streaked with black, slamming directly into the wall and blasting a large hole through the reinforced concrete!
The edge of the hole was still burning; those flames seemed alive, refusing to go out for a long time!
Valmont was stunned.
He looked down at his feet again.
His shadow was writhing.
He reached out and grabbed at the shadow beneath his feet—
A pitch-black longsword was drawn directly out of the shadow by him!
The longsword was entirely black, its blade slender and its edges so sharp they could reflect a person's image.
Holding it in his hand, he could feel a cold power flowing through it!
"Wonderful..."
Valmont muttered to himself.
"Is this power?"
The five people behind him were also amazed by the changes in their bodies.
Hak Foo clenched his fists, feeling the surging power within his body.
He threw a punch into the air; the wind from the punch whistled, smashing a pit directly into the wall!
"If I were to face Jackie Chan now, I wouldn't even need to use any moves to strike him down!"
He laughed happily!
This majestic power was exactly what he wanted!
He would become the strongest person in this world!
"You have already obtained my power, as well as this endless Shadowkhan legion."
Shendu's voice rang out again.
"Go, go to Section 13, and seize the Talisman for me."
His eyes flickered with red light.
"I want to gain mobility."
"As for the current me, as long as I regain my mobility—"
His voice became low and dangerous.
"I can do almost anything."
On the streets of San Francisco, the sun was bright, and the traffic was bustling.
A Chinese man wearing a black trench coat walked down the street, leisurely enjoying the surrounding scenery.
Is this San Francisco, United States?
Mark thought to himself.
He marveled at the unique style of this era—the old buildings, the vintage cars, and the pedestrians whose attire clearly bore the style of the nineties.
Right now, he felt as if he were in a Hong Kong movie.
And the kind starring Jackie Chan.
Suddenly—
His leg seemed to hit something.
"Ouch!"
A crisp child's voice rang out.
Mark looked down.
A Little girl wearing a red T-shirt and blue pants had been knocked to the ground by him.
Her short hair was a bit messy; the young girl ran her hands through it a couple of times and then wanted to start snapping at the person in front of her.
So what if your legs are long!
I might be a bit short, but you don't have to kick me like a stone bollard on the side of the road!
Jade looked up—
And then her mouth hung open, but she couldn't make a sound.
Because the person in front of her was really tall.
She raised her head, her neck tilting higher and higher, until she finally saw that face—
All her irritable temper melted away like cream.
It was a young face.
Handsome, deep, and well-defined.
There was a gentle smile in his black eyes, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, and his whole being radiated an indescribable refined temperament.
The sun shone from behind him, plating him with a golden edge of light.
"Are you alright, little sister?"
Mark instantly switched to a gentle expression and squatted down.
The movement was elegant and natural, like a well-educated British gentleman.
Chapter 127: I'm Just Here to Rob the Talisman!
"I'm... I'm fine."
Jade grinned at Mark.
"My butt just hurts a little."
"I'm so sorry, it's all my fault for being careless."
Mark's voice was incredibly gentle.
"May I ask where you're heading in such a rush? You seem a bit anxious."
Oh my god!
What an elegant gentleman!
Jade had originally thought she wouldn't care for so-called "British gentlemen."
Having traveled all over the world with Uncle Jackie, she had seen all kinds of people.
But at this moment, she finally understood—
What it truly meant to be a gentleman!
"Oh, I'm going to... I'm going to..."
Jade was just about to blurt out that she was going to Section 13.
But as soon as she remembered it was classified, she immediately shut her mouth.
"I'm going to my uncle's antique shop!"
She blurted out.
"Oh, an antique shop."
Mark pretended to be deep in thought.
"I didn't think San Francisco, U.S., would have antiques. Doesn't American history span less than a hundred years? Are they Native American antiques?"
"No, they're Chinese antiques!"
Jade perked up.
"And of course, antiques from all over the world! Uncle's shop has all sorts of things, maybe even supernatural mysterious powers!"
Because the big brother in front of her was so gentle, Jade couldn't help but boast about Uncle's antique shop.
"Wow, antiques from all over the world!"
Mark's eyes instantly lit up with feigned pleasant surprise.
He pulled a primitive-looking coin from his pocket.
The coin was round with worn edges, engraved with unintelligible characters and patterns.
It was a dark gold color, shimmering with the luster of aged history under the sun.
"Actually, I'm an antique enthusiast myself."
Mark said with a smile.
"Look, this should be a medieval coin."
Jade looked at the metal coin in Mark's hand.
She often snuck looks at Uncle's books and had gained some knowledge of antiques.
Judging by the shape and texture of the coin—
It was definitely something from hundreds of years ago!
The last shred of doubt she didn't even know she had was instantly dispelled.
Jade decisively believed—
The fact that Mark was an antique enthusiast.
It wasn't strange at all for a refined gentleman to have such a hobby!
"I'm also very interested in Chinese artifacts."
Mark said gently.
"So, could you take me to see that antique shop?"
Jade wanted to refuse.
Jade wanted to righteously refuse.
Jade chose—
To lead the way.
"Alright then, I'll just consider it as bringing in some business for Uncle!"
She patted her pants and beckoned to Mark.
"I'll take you there now, it's not far."
"That's wonderful."
Mark happily tucked the coin away into his coat pocket.
Plan successful!
Originally, Mark had intended to slowly search for traces of Section 13.
After all, his super vision, after being enhanced, had successfully evolved into X-ray vision.
And his X-ray vision could see through anything, even if it was wrapped in lead!
But having run into Jade, there was no need to worry.
This little troublemaker would lead him exactly where he wanted to go!
As for that ancient coin in his pocket—
He had originally planned to use it to get close to Jackie Chan.
It was a friendly donation from a vampire several hundred years old.
Inside Uncle's Antique Shop.
"Jackie! Hurry and notify that boy Black!"
Uncle's voice drifted from the back room, sharp and urgent.
"The locations of the last few Talisman have all been divined! The positions are accurate, as accurate as they can be!"
He stared at the glowing potion before him, a drop of cold sweat trickling from his temple.
"Tell him to send some Agents to retrieve them all!"
Precise.
Too precise!
These results weren't even something he had calculated.
Rather, the Chi of righteousness had laid the results out right in front of him!
Has the balance of Yin and Yang reached such a state of imbalance?
It was as if they were competing against each other.
"Huh? Why is it so efficient this time?"
Jackie's voice came from the second floor.
Immediately after, he flipped down from the second floor with a stylish move—propping himself on the railing with one hand, spinning in mid-air, and landing steadily on the ground.
"Do as Uncle says immediately!"
Uncle pointed his middle finger and gave Jackie a sharp rap on the head!
*Thwack!*
"Ouch!"
Jackie clutched his head.
"The Chi of righteousness has given a warning! When Noble Qi rises, evil Chi naturally rises too! The current Shendu must have been strengthened just like Uncle!"
Uncle's voice grew more and more urgent.
"To prevent the imbalance of good and evil, we even need to borrow the power of the Talisman!"
Seeing Uncle's serious expression, Jackie nodded decisively.
He picked up the phone and notified Black directly.
After hearing Jackie's explanation, Black also immediately ordered all Agents to mobilize.
They had to bring the Talisman back to Section 13 as quickly as possible!
"We're going to Section 13 right now!"
Uncle shouted at Jackie.
As he shouted, he quickly packed up various tools needed for his magic—dried lizards, moldy herbs, yellowed Talisman, and that wooden staff that never left his hand.
He had to bring everything with him.
Only magic can defeat magic!
But just then—
A bad situation occurred.
The doorbell of the antique shop actually rang!
The crisp "ding-ling" sound was exceptionally piercing in the quiet shop.
It meant a customer had entered.
As for why it wasn't Jade—
Because Jade usually chose to climb through the window.
Uncle rushed out, wanting to chase the customer away.
Only to find—
Jade was looking at him with a beaming smile, pointing behind her.
Uncle looked up.
"!!!"
A drop of cold sweat fell from Uncle's forehead.
The person before him—
The moment he entered the door, what Uncle saw wasn't a human shape at all!
It was a mass of Noble Qi!
That Noble Qi was so dense, so hot, so dazzling, it was like a sun!
How did Noble Qi take human form?!
"Hello, old gentleman."
Mark gave a bright smile.
"I'm here to look at some antiques."
Uncle froze on the spot, somewhat at a loss.
What on earth was going on with this fellow?
After identifying it carefully, Uncle realized—
What was swirling around the other person wasn't Noble Qi at all.
Strictly speaking, it was Yang energy!
The ultimate power of the sun!
Good heavens, is this some civilization's sun god descended to earth?
"What's wrong, Uncle? Aren't we supposed to hurry to Section 13..."
Jackie walked out from the inner room clutching various bags.
He held two large bags in his hands and carried a bundle on his shoulder, his entire person tightly packed.
Then he noticed Mark standing at the door.
He slapped a hand to his face.
Jackie understood—
They were now facing the worst-case scenario.
If a customer came, they must be an ordinary person.
Since they had to leave immediately, he had to be a bit cold and firm to chase the person away.
"I'm very sorry, our shop is already closed!"
Jackie walked to the door with a smile, trying to politely but firmly ask the guest to leave.
The closer he got—
The more he realized the sense of pressure Mark brought him was overwhelming.
The 1.73-meter Jackie looked exceptionally small in front of the 1.95-meter Mark.
Just by looking, one could see the tight muscles on the other man's body.
Those weren't the kind of muscles built in a gym, but muscles that had truly experienced battle and contained terrifying power.
"Closed? That's really disappointing."
Mark feigned disappointment.
But then he quickly perked up again.
"I'm here in San Francisco for tourism. That Section 13 you mentioned, is it some interesting place?"
As soon as he spoke—
A handful of dust was thrown directly into Mark's eyes!
Uncle had made his move!
He turned and roared at Jackie:
"This is the only way, Jackie! Knock this guy out!"
"This is an emergency and requires emergency measures! We have to get to Section 13 quickly, or the world will be destroyed!"
"Ah? Okay!"
Jackie didn't hesitate.
He also understood that now was not the time for sentimentality!
He took a running leap, stepped off a nearby cabinet, and flipped through the air, gracefully arriving above Mark's head!
Spinning in mid-air, he delivered a knife-hand strike toward Mark's neck!
"Sorry! This might hurt a bit!"
Jackie apologized verbally, but his movements were not hesitant at all.
The knife-hand—
Struck squarely!
"Aaaah!!!"
A scream rang out.
But the one screaming wasn't Mark.
It was Jackie.
He clutched his hand, rolling around on the floor in agony!
Pain!
It hurt so much!
It was as if he had struck solid steel!
There were no words to describe that feeling of hardness!
"I'm glad that even at a time like this, you haven't abandoned your sense of justice."
Mark's voice came from above.
"If you had really used your full strength to hit my neck, your wrist would probably be broken by now."
He looked down at Jackie rolling on the ground.
"Be thankful you held back just now."
Jackie looked up, only to realize—
Not a single speck of dust had touched Mark's face.
The dust had been blocked by a faint golden glow a centimeter away from Mark's face.
The Bio-field.
"I originally wanted to play the innocent part a bit longer."
Mark sighed.
"But since things have come to this, so be it..."
His expression changed.
The gentle smile vanished.
In its place was a condescending, matter-of-fact—dominance.
"I'm here to rob the Talisman!"
"Hand them over!"
Chapter 128: Frozen
!!!
The air suddenly froze at this moment.
Jade froze in place, her lively large eyes wide with shock, her mind racing with only one frantic thought.
No way, how did she bring such a massive trouble straight home again?!
Last time it was the Shadowkhan, the time before that was Valmont, and the times before that were all sorts of demons and monsters.
Every single time, Uncle's Antique Shop was turned upside down.
Uncle Jackie would always be hopping mad because of her, yet he always had to rush to the front to clean up her messes.
She had clearly been so careful!
She clearly felt that this young man named Mark looked gentle and clean, spoke softly, and had a smile as warm as spring sunshine.
No matter how you looked at him, he didn't seem like a dangerous element who would cause destruction or overturn the world!
But in the next second, the panic in the young girl's eyes instantly faded, replaced by a resoluteness and courage etched into her bones.
When things go well, rely on Jackie; in a desperate situation, you can only rely on Jade!
This was a truth she had summarized through blood and tears during countless battles with demons, wizards, and the Mafia!
No matter how good Uncle Jackie was at fighting, he would always fall into a bitter struggle when encountering monsters that defied common sense.
And she, Jade, would always be the one who could tear open a path to survival in a desperate situation!
Almost as an instinctive reaction, Jade slammed her foot against the ground, her petite body like a nimble civet cat as she stepped directly onto a bookshelf filled with antiques and books.
The wooden bookshelf shook slightly under her feet, but it didn't affect her movement in the slightest.
A magnificent double jump!
This was a movement technique she had practiced while following Uncle Jackie through thick and thin; even an ordinary Agent might not be as flexible as her.
Reaching out a small hand, she precisely grabbed a metal clothes hanger hanging nearby, the cold sensation transmitting through her touch.
Without the slightest hesitation, she snapped her wrist with force, swinging the clothes hanger violently with the sound of breaking wind, whipping it fiercely toward Mark's neck!
"You guy actually dared to lie to me?!"
Jade shouted angrily, her small face full of indignation and resentment.
Uncle Jackie's invincible palm strike could even shatter stones, yet it couldn't even break this person's skin!
Since the palm strike was useless, she would switch to a weapon!
The clothes hanger was hard enough and long enough; as long as she smashed it hard against a vital spot like the neck, she should be able to knock this guy out!
She didn't believe there was anyone in this world who couldn't be knocked unconscious!
With a sharp whistling sound, the metal clothes hanger whipped solidly against Mark's neck!
Smack—!
The crisp sound echoed within the Antique Shop.
Jade felt a surge of joy, thinking she had succeeded.
But in the next second, a hand with distinct knuckles that looked completely harmless moved so fast it was merely an afterimage, directly grabbing her by the throat!
The force wasn't brutal, yet it carried an absolute confinement that was impossible to break free from.
Jade instantly felt her breathing stop, her small face turning beet red as her hands desperately tried to pry the hand away, only to find the fingers were like cast iron, unmoving.
Mark looked down at her, his face still wearing that gentle and harmless expression.
His tone was as soft as if he were soothing a crying child.
But the words he spoke made everyone present feel as if they had fallen into an ice cellar, their entire bodies turning cold.
"Actually, I didn't lie to you.
I don't want to kill a Little girl, Jade, be quiet."
He paused slightly, a very faint trace of wariness flickering in his eyes—an instinctive alertness from a powerhouse toward a 'variable.'
"Because you always manage to turn the tide in adversity, I am quite wary of you.
Don't trigger my sensitive nerves anymore; I really don't want to kill you."
Not wanting to kill didn't mean he wouldn't kill.
The indifference and decisiveness in these words were more hurtful than the sharpest blade.
"Let go of Jade!"
Uncle Jackie's eyes looked ready to burst!
The palm strike he had delivered to Mark earlier had a counter-force that nearly broke his hand bones; it was still throbbing with excruciating pain.
But at this moment, he could no longer care about the pain, looking at Jade whose neck was being held and whose face was flushed red.
This explorer, who had always been known for being gentle, righteous, and never giving up, went completely mad.
He didn't even have time to stand firmly, directly falling to the ground in a messy heap, and using the ground for support, delivered a sharp side kick fiercely toward Mark's chin!
This was his life-risking blow!
A finishing move capable of taking down a strong adult man or even the Shadowkhan!
However—
Thump!
A dull thud.
In the next second, Uncle Jackie fell heavily to the ground again, his bones feeling as if they had all fallen apart.
Pain, it hurt too much!
That feeling wasn't like kicking a person, but rather like kicking a solid slab of high-strength alloy steel!
The intense pain from the counter-force shot from his toes straight to his brain, making his vision go dark, almost causing him to faint.
He lay on the cold floor, looking up at Mark standing before him, completely at a loss for a moment.
Why?
Just why?!
What on earth was this guy's body made of?!
He was a hundred, a thousand times harder to fight than the invulnerable Shadowkhan!
So hard that he didn't even know what words to use to describe it!
Ordinary attacks didn't even count as an itch to him!
"You should also be quiet, Protagonist of Noble Qi."
Mark slowly crouched down, his tone still peaceful, like he was soothing a disobedient junior rather than suppressing a desperately resisting warrior.
"Uncle Jackie, please allow me to call you that.
I have always admired you, from childhood until now."
He was sincere.
In countless world lines, someone like Uncle Jackie—who upheld justice, never backed down, and never bowed his head even when facing the most powerful demons and monsters—was always worthy of respect.
But respect didn't mean he would show mercy.
"Please believe me, although I cannot be considered a good person, I do not have the habit of killing the innocent."
Mark calmly stated his bottom line, his gaze clear without the slightest hypocrisy.
"I simply want to take away the twelve talismans, and while I'm at it, kill off all the eight great demons, and kill a few other extraordinary people with special abilities.
Anything else extra, I won't do a single thing!"
What he wanted was to clear out all the unstable supernatural powers in this world, to nip all threats in the bud.
Ordinary people were meaningless to him and posed no threat.
"Please give me a little tolerance and trust.
With my current status, being able to tell you this is already the greatest leniency I can manage."
Mark didn't even use his foot to step on Uncle Jackie's head; there were no humiliating actions. He just stood there quietly, stating his thoughts.
For a moment, even Uncle Jackie was a bit dazed, finding it hard to judge whether the person in front of him wanted him to resist or wanted him to obey submissively.
Because in Mark's eyes, no matter how strong Uncle Jackiewas, he was still just an ordinary person.
Chapter 129: Too Weak
Speed, strength, technique, Noble Qi...
Everything at the peak of mortal limits was fragile and easily crushed in the face of absolute power.
As long as they weren't Viltrums, all other life forms were merely ordinary people in Mark's eyes.
Too weak, too weak, too weak!
So weak that he couldn't even muster the interest to actually kill them.
Amidst this deathly, oppressive silence—
Vwoom—!
A dazzling beam of magic suddenly erupted, striking Marksquarely in the face like golden lightning!
The light was blinding, and the energy was violent!
"One more thing!"
An aged yet exceptionally firm voice boomed like thunder!
Uncle held a dried lizard in one hand and a pufferfish in the other, his robes fluttering despite the lack of wind.
Faint light of Noble Qi swirled around him; his cloudy old eyes were now as sharp as a hawk's, staring intently at Mark!
"While magic must defeat magic, magic can also defeat others!
When the physical gap is too great, one must rely on magic!"
This was the truth Uncle had believed in all his life!
Demons and monsters were dealt with by magic; even for monsters with extreme physical strength, magic remained the sharpest weapon!
The magic blast just now wasn't some ordinary skirmish; it was Uncle burning his own Noble Qi, pouring his entire life's cultivation into his strongest attack!
After unleashing the strike, even Uncle himself was shocked!
So strong!
Was this what it felt like to be completely favored by the Noble Qi of heaven and earth?
Even if any of the eight great demons took this hit head-on, they would be left in a pathetic state!
However...
The beam dissipated.
Mark still stood in his original spot. Not even a faint red Mark was left on his face, and not a single strand of hair was out of place.
Yet, in his gentle eyes, a hint of genuine surprise finally surfaced.
It made me feel heat?
He even raised a hand to touch his cheek, somewhat surprised.
Across countless worlds—nuclear bombs, lasers, energy cannons, strikes from gods... the things that could actually cause him "pain" or "discomfort" were few and far between.
And yet, this old man in front of him, using a bunch of lizards, pufferfish, and herbs to channel so-called "Noble Qi magic," actually made him feel a trace of heat!
Mark's eyes wavered slightly.
It seemed the Noble Qi of this world wasn't just for show; it wasn't entirely useless.
To be able to make him feel a negative sensation was already quite remarkable.
Even if that bit of magic couldn't even make his skin turn red, just the fact that he "felt heat" was enough for Mark to look at Uncle with a bit more respect.
"Uncle, put down the pufferfish in your hand."
Mark slowly turned around, still firmly holding Jade. His tone was no longer as gentle as before, carrying a layer of cold pressure.
"You wouldn't want Jade to be strangled to death in my hands, would you?
Put those weapons down.
Uncle, you know very well that it wouldn't even take a second for me to do what I said."
To him, killing a person was easier than crushing an ant.
Uncle's pupils constricted, his hands holding the pufferfish and lizard trembling slightly.
He had been stubborn all his life, fighting evil and never bowing to any demon or darkness. Even facing demons of the level of Shendu or Tso Lan, he had never retreated an inch.
But now, facing this man who was like a true god descended to earth, he felt a sense of absolute, powerless despair for the first time.
The opponent wasn't a demon, a sorcerer, or some outlier relying on Dark Qi, magic, or the power of Talisman.
He was pure, absolute, and unshakable power itself.
Silence, a long silence.
Uncle looked at Jade, who was nearly suffocating from the chokehold, and at Jackie Chan, who lay on the ground in agony.
He looked at this Antique Shop filled with memories, and at this world that needed protecting.
Finally, this old man, who had been stubborn his whole life, slowly lowered his arms.
The magical tools in his hands dropped powerlessly.
"Exactly. This is the correct choice."
Mark nodded slightly, a hint of hard-to-detect approval in his tone.
"You did well. You didn't make me destroy my childhood fantasies."
His presence in this world wasn't just about plunder and destruction.
At the very least, toward Uncle, Jackie Chan, and Jade, he still maintained a final shred of gentleness.
"Now, take me to Section 13."
Mark's tone was calm, yet it carried an unquestionable command.
I want those twelve Talisman.
He looked up at Uncle, the corners of his mouth curling into a faint arc.
"Are you ready, God?"
Uncle's face was ashen. He gritted his teeth, still refusing to give up on a final persuasion.
"Uncle has one more thing to say!
The protagonist of Dark Qi has already obtained the favor of all Dark Qi. Those are the eight great demons of antiquity!
Even if you are an ancient god, you do not possess that level of status!"
He hoped to use the threat of the eight great demons to make Mark wary or even choose to cooperate.
But—
"The eight great demons?"
Mark was stunned for a moment, then, as if he had heard the world's biggest joke, he burst into laughter.
"Hahahahahahaha—!!!"
The laughter was hearty, yet it carried an arrogance and disdain that swept through everything!
"Never mind eight demons, even eighty demons or eight hundred demons are nothing but a pile of trash in my eyes!"
"Discard these boring schemes of yours, Messenger of Noble Qi!"
Mark's voice suddenly turned cold, and the air pressure around him instantly dropped to the freezing point. The temperature in the entire Antique Shop seemed to plummet by over ten degrees.
"If my demands aren't met, then there's no need for this planet to exist anymore!"
His hand holding Jade tightened slightly.
Jade's face turned even redder, her breathing almost stopping. Her small face was filled with pain and stubbornness.
And Mark had no intention of being soft-hearted.
In his view, a being like Jade, who could always turn the tables in adversity, was the most dangerous and insidious variable.
Who knew what magical item she would pull out, what magical slogan she would shout, or what inconceivable maneuver she would pull off in the next second?
Keeping her around was like planting a landmine for himself.
If Uncle said one more word of nonsense or dared to hesitate for even a moment, he would not hesitate to snap Jade's neck!
No negotiation, no room for compromise.
"Fine..."
Uncle closed his eyes, his aged face filled with exhaustion and powerlessness.
"Uncle will take you to Section 13."
"Please do not harm this world. There are still too many ordinary people in it."
He compromised.
To an invincible being who didn't belong to this world, he bowed his head, something he had never done even before demons.
"A wise choice."
Mark nodded slightly, giving his guarantee.
"I promise you, I won't harm ordinary people."
He was a man of his word.
Ordinary people weren't worth his effort.
Then, Mark gestured for Uncle to lead the way.
With one hand, he easily picked up the slumped Jackie Chan, and with the other, he still held Jade. The two of them were like weightless little chicks in his hands.
He was using his actions to warn Uncle—
If Uncle made any unnecessary movements or had any thoughts of playing tricks, he would instantly kill the two in his grasp!
Chapter 130: God
"Does a guy like you really deserve to be called a god?"
Uncle gritted his teeth, his voice raspy and filled with indignation and rage.
"It can't be helped, righteous mage."
Mark smiled gently, his tone carrying a hint of playfulness.
"I'm quite afraid of magic; after all, my magic resistance isn't high."
This was the truth, yet it was also the most hurtful truth.
What he feared wasn't magic itself, but the power of rules that might exist behind magic which could truly threaten him.
However, the magic of this world was far from reaching that level.
Uncle took a deep breath, said no more, and turned to walk out the door.
The walk was silent.
Soon, the group arrived at the entrance of Section 13's secret base.
This was a top-tier Agent base hidden beneath the city, heavily guarded and perfectly defended, possessing the world's most advanced technological weapons; it was the final bastion for guarding the twelve talismans and fighting evil.
"This is Section 13; we have to take the stairs down."
Uncle said in a deep voice.
He still wanted to enter following normal procedures, attempting to stall for time and wait for reinforcements.
But Mark never acted according to other people's rules.
"No need for such trouble."
Mark spoke indifferently, a golden light flashing in his eyes as they instantly shot out two incredibly hot beams of Heat Vision, like a crimson sun!
Sizzle—!!!
The high-temperature rays instantly pierced the air, slamming hard into the thick alloy steel plate of Section 13's roof!
Like a red-hot knife cutting through butter, there was no resistance, no pause!
The heavy bulletproof steel plates, reinforced concrete, and layers of defensive facilities were like paper before the Heat Vision, as a massive hole was instantly burned through!
Dust billowed, and molten metal dripped down.
Mark casually released Jade and Jackie Chan, no longer restraining them.
Before absolute strength, restraint was meaningless.
He kicked off the ground, his body soaring directly into the air, and like a true god, he flew straight in through the massive hole he had burned!
Section 13 Command Center.
Alarms blared frantically!
"Warning! Warning! Top-level defenses breached! Unknown intruder detected!"
"Abnormal energy signature! Target speed is extremely high! Unable to lock on!"
Captain Black's face changed drastically as he lunged up from his command chair, his heart racing as he watched the youth descending from the sky on the surveillance monitors!
Since Section 13 was established, no one had ever broken in so forcefully!
"All Agents on alert! Summon all combat personnel immediately! Seal all passages! Block the intruder with everything we've got!"
Captain Black shouted his orders at the top of his lungs.
"Fire! Free fire!"
In an instant!
Violent gunfire erupted throughout Section 13!
Countless Agents rushed out from every corner, armed with the most advanced assault rifles, laser guns, tranquilizer guns, and heavy machine guns, firing frantically at Mark!
Bullets poured out like a rainstorm!
Laser beams crisscrossed!
High-explosive grenades, flashbangs, and tear gas canisters were thrown out as if they cost nothing!
This was Section 13's strongest fire net; even if a modern army charged in, they would be instantly torn to shreds!
However—
Every bullet that hit Mark's body simply bounced off!
Every laser that struck his body failed to leave even a trace!
Every explosion that set off towering flames and shockwaves around him couldn't even flutter the hem of his clothes!
Mark just stood there quietly, allowing the countless firepower to pour onto him, his gaze calm and his expression warm, as if he were merely enjoying an inconsequential rain.
The Agents were going crazy!
"Impossible! How is this possible?!"
"Bullets are completely ineffective! Lasers are ineffective! Heavy weapons are ineffective!"
"What on earth is he?! Is he human or a monster?!"
Captain Black's face was pale, his hands clenched so tightly his knuckles were white.
Ordinary attacks were ineffective, and conventional weapons were completely useless!
This was an enemy unlike any he had ever encountered!
More terrifying than Shendu, more terrifying than the eight great demons!
"There's no other way... we have to use the power of the Talisman!"
Captain Black gritted his teeth and made the decision!
He rushed to the talisman storage vault, clearing the triple verification of fingerprints, retinas, and voiceprints to open that incredibly sturdy security door.
Light flickered!
The Rooster Talisman, Rabbit Talisman, pig talisman, and Ox Talisman!
He grabbed the four Talisman representing peak power in his hand!
The Rooster Talisman—soaring through the sky, flight!
The Rabbit Talisman—high-speed rushing, exceeding the speed of sound!
The pig talisman—intimidating electric eyes, laser bombardment!
The Ox Talisman—infinite strength, giant power to shake mountains!
The power of the four Talisman instantly surged into Captain Black's body!
In an instant, he felt himself filled with world-destroying power!
His body was light enough to fly at will, his speed fast enough to tear through the air, his eyes harbored violent thermal rays, and his arms possessed terrifying giant strength capable of flipping tanks!
"Intruder! I order you to surrender immediately!"
Captain Black soared into the air, air currents surging around him like a true superhero as he blocked Mark's path, his voice authoritative and his presence imposing!
All the Agents of Section 13 saw this scene, and hope was rekindled in their eyes!
"It's Captain Black!"
"The Captain is using the power of the Talisman!"
"This time we'll definitely defeat this monster!"
Mark looked at Captain Black suspended in mid-air, surrounded by the glow of the Talisman, and smiled gently, even with a hint of approval.
"Not bad."
"The boost these Talisman provide to one's power is indeed quite significant."
The stack of four Talisman allowed an ordinary person to instantly possess super strength, super speed, flight, and long-range bombardment capabilities approaching the limits of mortals.
In this world, it could already be considered top-tier combat power.
Pity—
"But it's only that much."
Mark shook his head slightly, his tone flat yet carrying an arrogance that swept aside everything.
"Still, it's only at the level of a mortal!"
The so-called Talisman were external objects to begin with.
The stronger the user, the stronger the enhancement provided by the Talisman.
With Captain Black's basic constitution, even if he used all twelve talismans, it would be impossible for him to touch Mark's level.
"Arrogant!"
Captain Black roared, no longer hesitating, and exploded with full force!
The power of the Rabbit Talisman was activated!
His figure instantly vanished from the spot, his speed breaking the sound barrier as the air was directly torn apart, producing a deafening sonic boom!
The power of the Ox Talisman was fully unleashed!
Carrying unparalleled giant strength, he threw a punch at Mark's head!
This punch was enough to shatter tank armor and smash mountain rocks!
At the same time, the power of the pig talisman in his eyes erupted!
Two hot red lasers shot from his eyes, aimed straight at Mark's chest!
The Rooster Talisman allowed him to change direction at any time to dodge counterattacks!
The combo was flawless and incredibly powerful!
The Agents of Section 13 all held their breath!
"We won!"
"We must have won!"
However—
Mark just stood there quietly.
He didn't dodge, didn't flinch, and didn't use any extra movements.
Bang—!!!
Captain Black's punch, backed by all his power, slammed hard into Mark's cheek!
Violent power exploded!
But in the next second, Captain Black's face changed drastically!
A piercing pain came from his fist, as if he had struck the hardest metal in the Universe!
Mark remained motionless, his head not even tilting an inch, a gentle smile still on his face.
Immediately after, the pig talisman's lasers hit Mark's chest like a stone dropped into the ocean, failing to stir even a ripple.
"You... what on earth are you..."
Captain Black was terrified, his words trembling.
"I told you."
Mark spoke softly, his tone frighteningly calm.
He slowly raised a hand and, with a light grasp, easily caught Captain Black's wrist.
"A mortal is, in the end, just a mortal."
Crack—!
The sound of a slight bone fracture rang out.
"Ahhh—!!!"
Captain Black let out a shrill scream, his strength instantly dissipating.
The light of the Talisman dimmed, and he collapsed limply like a ragdoll.
The four Talisman slipped from his powerless hand.
Mark reached out and caught them, the four Talismanfalling easily into his palm.
A warm glow flowed between his fingertips.
"Rather interesting little toys."
He casually put the Talisman away and turned his gaze toward the deepest, most heavily guarded talisman core storage room of Section 13.
The rest of the Talisman were kept there.
Mark took a step and walked toward the depths, step by step.
Along the way, all the Agents trembled, no longer daring to offer any resistance.
The iron gates, defensive barriers, laser nets, and energy shields blocking his path were all like nothing before him.
With a sweep of his Heat Vision, they all melted away.
His figure was like a truly invincible god walking through a fortress of mortals.
None could block him, and none could resist him.
Chapter 131: Group Fight
The alloy gate holding the Talisman didn't even last three seconds against the Heat Vision.
A crimson-gold beam shot out from Mark's eyes.
The metal door, which was claimed to withstand missile strikes, was sliced cleanly down the middle like butter under a red-hot knife.
The edges melted and dripped, forming a pool of shimmering silver liquid metal on the floor.
Mark raised a foot and kicked open the half-destroyed door with a boom.
The door panel flew out and slammed into the inner wall with a deafening crash.
Mark walked inside.
The talisman storage room was smaller than he had imagined.
It was about twenty square meters, with grayish-white alloy walls and a few emergency lights embedded in the ceiling, casting a pale glow.
In the center of the room was a glass display case with twelve neatly arranged slots, a little less than half of which were currently empty.
Eight of them were still glowing; those were the last few he had yet to obtain.
Various magical artifacts hung on the surrounding walls: bronze mirrors, peach wood swords, talisman papers, and some unidentifiable jars and pots.
They looked intimidating, but Mark could tell at a glance that all of them combined weren't as valuable as the few broken stones in the display case.
"The defenses here are truly lackluster."
Mark commented helplessly.
No wonder a Little girl like Jade could break in.
They only installed a door; even the ventilation ducts above were connected to the outside.
He glanced up at the half-meter-square vent in the corner of the ceiling; the grille was covered in a layer of dust, clearly having gone uncleaned for a long time.
If a nimble little person crawled in through there, how would it be any different from strolling through their own backyard?
The security of Section 13 was just so-so.
Mark shook his head and continued forward.
His footsteps were light, yet they echoed clearly in the empty storage room.
The light shone down from above, stretching a long shadow behind him that was projected onto the wall.
In a corner where no one was looking—
A hand made of shadows reached out from that very shadow!
Silently!
The hand was as black as ink, with long fingers and tips as sharp as knives.
It emerged from the darkness, slowly approaching Mark's back—
Mark seemed completely oblivious.
The hand stretched longer and closer—
The next second!
The shadow suddenly leaped out from within, jumping high into the air and landing right behind Mark!
It was Valmont!
He pulled out a cane as black as ink.
It was his custom weapon, made of ultra-high alloy and equipped with laser beams.
Strengthened by the power of the shadows, it appeared even tougher now, the shaft glinting with a cold, eerie light!
It wasn't just Valmont!
Finn, Rasu, and Chow leaped out simultaneously from different directions!
Finn's fist whistled through the air, aiming straight for Mark's lower back!
Rasu's legs spun in the air like a rotating axe, sweeping toward Mark's knees!
Chow curled his body into a ball and suddenly sprang out, slamming toward the back of Mark's head like a cannonball!
And Hak Foo—
He performed a stationary sprint, moving so fast he left afterimages in the air!
With a fierce strike, Black Tiger Steals Heart, his fingers clawed like talons, lunging straight for the back of Mark's heart!
Five people, five directions, five lethal attacks!
The coordination was seamless!
In their eyes, even an elephant would have been killed on the spot!
Mark didn't even look back.
He simply—
Turned around.
And threw a punch.
The speed of that punch was extreme, so fast that the five of them couldn't even see how he had thrown it!
Valmont was the first to fly back!
He felt like he'd been hit by A-Train; his cane flew from his hand, and his body tumbled a dozen times in the air before slamming heavily against the wall!
Hak Foo followed right after!
Before his Black Tiger Steals Heart could even touch Mark's clothes, he took a punch to the chest and was sent flying backward, smashing through a row of display cases!
Finn, Rasu, and Chow were caught in the shockwave of that punch, scattering like bowling pins and rolling several times on the ground!
The five of them lay sprawled in the wreckage, their wails rising one after another.
Mark withdrew his fist, looked down at a bit of dust on his hand, and lightly brushed it off.
"Jie jie jie—"
He let out a low chuckle and turned to look at the five of them.
"Since I came for the Talisman, I naturally considered the possibility of the Shadowkhan appearing!"
He stood with hands on his hips, looking smug as if saying, "I saw through you long ago."
"It seems the Dark Qi has been strengthened. Has that stone sculpture of Shendu actually found the spare energy to transform you?"
Valmont crawled out from the debris, clutching his aching chest, his face pale.
That punch just now felt like hitting a mountain.
No, harder than a mountain.
A mountain could at least have a rock chipped off, but that man's body seemed as if it were forged from the core of a star.
"Damn it... we're no match for him!"
His voice was trembling.
"Truly worthy of being the Immortal King... I can't feel where his limit is at all."
Valmont's expression was grave.
He had originally thought the opponent was also a human, and no matter how strong, there would be a limit.
But now he was certain—the thing across from him couldn't be described as human at all!
It was a pure, ultimate power that transcended the limits of life.
"We have to gang up on him!"
Valmont gave the order!
In an instant, the entire storage room—no, the space of the entire Section 13—began to warp!
Countless shadows surged out from all directions—from the corners, the floor, the ceiling, every crack, and every shadow!
Densely packed!
Endless!
These Shadowkhan soldiers emerged from the ground, some seeped through the walls, and some materialized directly in mid-air!
They were pitch black all over, with only two points of crimson light glowing where their eyes should be, all staring in unison at Mark!
Hundreds of them.
No, thousands.
The entire storage room was packed to the point where not a drop of water could trickle through!
"Oh?"
Mark looked around at the dense crowd of red eyes and raised an eyebrow.
"Trying to slow me down?"
He shook his head.
"That's a bit too naive..."
He looked up at the Shadowkhan soldiers hanging upside down from the ceiling.
"If you represented something like the sun, perhaps I truly would find this troublesome."
He smiled.
The smile was as bright as sunshine.
"But if it's just shadows—"
The next second, Mark raised a hand and pointed toward the sky.
Everyone saw his movement, but they couldn't understand it.
Valmont was stunned.
Hak Foo was also stunned.
The red eyes of the Shadowkhan soldiers stared in unison at that finger, as if waiting for something.
"Can't understand it?"
Mark's voice came from above, tinged with a hint of a smile.
"Let me explain then."
He looked up at the ceiling where his finger was pointing.
"Watch closely..."
His voice became soft.
"The sun is rising."
The next second—
Sunlight flooded the room!
It didn't shine in from a window, it didn't beam in through the door, and it didn't leak in from any crack!
It came from Mark's body!
His entire body began to emit a dazzling white-gold light that grew brighter and more intense, until it was like a real sun rising within this basement!
Valmont's eyes were stung so badly he couldn't open them!
"Why—isn't this underground? Where is this sunlight coming from?!"
He shielded his face with his arm and retreated desperately!
"And—why does my body feel so hot?!"
His skin began to redden, blister, and smoke!
How could ordinary sunlight burn our flesh?!
The Shadowkhan soldiers fared even worse!
Like they had been doused in sulfuric acid, they twisted frantically, melted, and evaporated in the light!
Piercing screams echoed throughout the storage room, but they lasted only a second before abruptly stopping—thousands of Shadowkhan soldiers were completely annihilated within a mere three seconds!
The so-called Solar Ions are also a part of Yang energy.
Or rather—this was the purest form of Yang energy!
Solar Qi!