Black Crow Number One stood amid the dust and smoke that had yet to fully settle. His gaze was fixed on the spot where the blade wave had struck moments ago. He did not relax in the slightest, because he knew very well that Zhang Wen would not die so easily. The order from the clan leader still echoed in his mind.
Use everything. Hold nothing back.
He had worked alongside Zhang Wen before. He had witnessed with his own eyes just how terrifying the Sacred Water Physique was. The techniques Zhang Wen had created himself allowed his body to completely transform into water. Most attacks, whether physical or spiritual, were largely ineffective. It was like striking a flowing current. No effect. No trace. On top of that, his regenerative ability was so powerful that cultivators below the Saint level almost had no chance of killing him.
But he knew how to kill Zhang Wen.
Black Crow Number One narrowed his eyes as he sensed a fluctuation of power beneath the ground. He spoke in a low voice, short and decisive.
"Kill."
In an instant, seven more black shadows shot forward simultaneously, like crows tearing themselves out of the darkness. They charged straight toward the position where Zhang Wen had been without the slightest hesitation. Eight Nirvana level auras collided in midair, generating overwhelming pressure. The Ancient Beast Forest trembled violently. Giant trees snapped apart. The ground cracked open in long fissures.
Zhang Wen, his body severely damaged, emerged from a surge of water that erupted from the earth. His form was half translucent, half solid. He threw a punch together with a raging torrent, blasting two Black Crows away. But in the very next moment, waves of power from three different directions crashed toward him at the same time.
He transformed into water in a split second, narrowly evading the attacks as they swept past his body.
Roars echoed through the forest. The Heavenly Cavern level power of Black Crow Number One expanded outward. He raised his blade and pressed his power down in layers, compressing the surrounding space.
Zhang Wen immediately felt his ability to transform his body beginning to falter.
The seven Nirvana level Black Crows did not give him a moment to breathe. Their roles were divided with absolute clarity. Two applied pressure from the front. Three attacked from the sides. Four sealed off all escape routes.
Every movement was perfectly coordinated.
Zhang Wen was forced to transform his body into water, and in that very instant, black runic chains shot up from the ground, binding his arms and torso tightly. The flow of water aligned qi became chaotic, unable to circulate freely.
Several blades struck at the same time. Deep wounds were torn across Zhang Wen's body, yet instead of collapsing, he unleashed his power with all his might. The parts of his body that were cut instantly transformed into water once more. Torrents surged outward, forcing his enemies to retreat.
But he was at an absolute disadvantage.
A gap of two major realms meant that every counterattack had to be paid for with fresh injuries. Explosions rang out without pause.
Black Crow Number One watched the scene before him with icy eyes. The blade in his hand trembled as Heavenly Cavern level power gathered upon it.
He raised his sword once more, compressing vast amounts of power along the edge. He intended to end everything in a single strike.
Yet in the fleeting instant before the blade moved, the instincts of a hunter who had survived countless battlefields screamed a warning.
He frowned in confusion, his gaze sweeping toward Zhang Wen's position, only to realize that Zhang Lin's body had vanished without a trace. There were no fluctuations of power, no signs of movement left behind. Just moments ago, he had still been able to clearly sense the boy's aura.
Black Crow Number One's heart jolted violently. A deep sense of unease surged within him.
Before he could speak, an aura erupted from above.
It was violent. Overwhelming. Lofty to the point that everyone's breath caught in their throats.
The aura of a Saint King spread out like heavenly flames pressing down upon heaven and earth.
Black Crow Number One's face turned pale. He immediately turned and bowed without hesitation, his voice spilling out in reverence almost instantly.
"Greetings… Elder of the Phoenix Clan… I…"
His words were cut short.
A colossal fireball descended from the sky. Copper gold flames spiraled violently, warping the air itself. The roar of blazing fire shook the heavens. Black Crow Number One hastily raised his blade to defend, but the pressure of that flame was far beyond what he could fully withstand.
His body was crushed down, shattered into one with the ground.
At the same time, below, the remaining seven Black Crows sensed mortal danger. They scattered instinctively, but it was already too late.
A pure white blade wave tore through the air at terrifying speed. The edge cut through space with precision, as if guided by fate itself. Two Black Crows were cleaved apart on the spot. Blood and energy burst through the air, while the rest retreated in chaotic panic.
The black runic chains binding Zhang Wen began to loosen. Water aligned qi surged back through his body. The torn wounds rapidly knit together. Flesh and muscle restored themselves as if they had never been cut.
Zhang Wen drew in a deep breath, then slowly lifted his head to look forward.
Before him stood a young woman.
At first glance, there was nothing particularly striking about her. Her beauty was calm and restrained. Her eyes were sharp and clear, neither gentle nor cold. Long black hair was loosely tied behind her back. Her clothing was simple, free of ornate decoration. Yet simply standing there alone, she caused the heaven and earth around her to fall into an uncanny stillness.
But Zhang Wen did not look at her at all.
Because at that very moment, a voice rang out directly before him. A cold electronic voice echoed clearly within his consciousness.
[At last, I have found you, Host. Investment System activated. Do you wish to bind]
Zhang Wen froze. His eyes narrowed slightly. As his body continued to recover, he muttered in confusion.
"A system… what… is that supposed to be"
Before he could think further, sealed memories suddenly unlocked. Shadows, sounds, and sensations that did not belong to this world flooded in rapidly, like a key being inserted into a door that had long been sealed shut. Zhang Wen closed his eyes for a fleeting moment, then opened them again.
"Bind."
The moment the command left Zhang Wen's lips, the silence around him was swallowed instantly.
It was as if the entire world had stopped turning. The sound of wind, the crackle of flames, the distant echoes of ongoing battle gradually faded from his perception. What remained was a strange sensation slowly but steadily permeating his body and consciousness.
It was not spiritual power. Not cultivation aura.
It flowed in like streams of data.
Zhang Wen felt as though something was linking directly to the core of his existence.
25%…
50%…
75%…
100%…
[Binding complete]
The electronic voice rang clearly within his consciousness. This time, it was no longer just a voice, but a presence he could directly perceive. It did not feel dangerous. Instead, it felt like a mechanism designed perfectly for him.
[Ahem. Allow me to introduce myself. I am the System of Investment in Fate]
Zhang Wen frowned slightly. He listened without interrupting.
The voice continued in an orderly manner, without emotion or self praise.
[The ability of this system is as follows. The Host may invest resources currently in their possession into others. These resources may include materials, weapons, pills, or other items. When an investment succeeds, the system will return resources of the same category as profit]
The explanation continued without pause. Zhang Wen began to understand that this was not a system that granted power directly, but one that multiplied outcomes.
[However, the system cannot be used on just anyone. The target must have an Affinity toward the Host of no less than 50. Otherwise, the system will not respond and no returns will be issued]
[The returns on investment are limited by the target's Luck Color, which determines the maximum return ceiling, up to 10,000 times]
[Resources obtained through system investment cannot be reinvested]
[And resources that the Host has invested once cannot be reclaimed for reinvestment]
Each restriction was stated plainly. No loopholes. No unnecessary explanations. As if the system had been designed from the start to prevent exploitation.
[Investment is limited to once per day]
[It can be accumulated. For example, if the Host does not invest for 7 days, on the 8th day the Host may invest 8 times]
[There is no accumulation limit. You may accumulate 100 or even 1000 uses, but there are no special bonuses for doing so]