Seven months had passed since the Elders' Competition ended. The fifth elder defeated the sixth, and the seventh elder triumphed over both the eighth and ninth.
Farkan reached the fifth rank, upper stage, and even the third elder advanced to the fifth rank, middle stage.
Four Months Ago
The Demonic Alliance began launching surprise attacks, resulting in the deaths of four elders:
the ninth, eighth, seventh, and sixth...
The culprit was the first deputy of the Demonic Alliance's commander, who dealt with them all in a single night.
That Night
"Why don't we have some drinks?" the sixth elder said to the other three elders.
"Hmm, good idea," the eighth replied.
They were sitting outside a shop selling liquor.
"Ahh, the air tonight is nice," the ninth said.
The others nodded in agreement.
A figure with a majestic appearance emerged, wearing a robe blending black and blue.
"Who are you?" the sixth asked.
"Tonight will be your last!!!" the first deputy said in a low voice.
The ninth, asleep from heavy drinking, was targeted first by Xiao Hongi.
(The name of the first deputy of the Demonic Alliance)
He leapt, drew his sword, and beheaded the ninth.
The eighth, seventh, and sixth rose quickly.
The sixth grabbed Xiao's leg and threw him away. The seventh jumped, kicking Xiao's stomach, and the eighth ran with his sword drawn to stab Xiao.
"You're weak."
Xiao grabbed the seventh's hair and ripped out his heart. He didn't stop, charging toward the eighth, breaking his sword and tearing out his throat.
"Monster, monster!!"
"I can't even touch him. He might even rival Deputy Yan Yue."
After Xiao Hongi mutilated the others' bodies, he looked coldly at the sixth.
"You seem the strongest. Entertain me a bit."
"I can't move, damn it, my body."
At that moment, the sixth's body exploded. Xiao Hongi smiled a sly, filthy grin.
"Fools. Now, only five elders remain. They might be at my level or lower."
He moved his leg slightly, leapt between buildings, and then vanished.
Some guards passed by that night and found scattered corpses.
"Damn, every day they kill each other, these drunks," the first guard said.
"I don't think they're just drunks this time."
The guard approached to identify the corpse and then vomited.
"Hey, why are you vomiting suddenly? You've seen plenty of corpses lately and didn't puke."
He hurried over, "Come on, what's wro—"
He saw the corpse belonged to the seventh elder.
"Damn it, quickly send an alert to the king."
...
Back to the Present
The king lay on his throne, thinking of the kingdom's former elders.
"That was painful. They were like my children, whom I raised."
The king's emotions flowed like a river; he wanted to cry but couldn't...
At the Talent Palace, there were four individuals: three boys and one girl.
The first among them was calm, with closed eyes. The second was burly and tall, looking like an adult to anyone who saw him. The third was frail, with cheerful features. The girl was beautiful, with pink hair, wearing a robe blending black and pink...
"You've heard the news about the four elders killed in one night. We must stick together and protect each other," the first said in a calm, low voice.
The second clapped his hands and spoke, "Right, we shouldn't separate. No one cares if we get killed, as shown by the dead elders."
The girl looked at them and said, "But why are you worried? We're all fifth rank and can easily protect ourselves."
The third burst into involuntary laughter.
"Why are you laughing? Can't you protect yourself?"
"Silence!!!"
"You, girl, why do you always speak poorly to this boy?"
She rose from her chair and walked toward her room.
The second looked at the first. "Why didn't you stop her? She'd be very useful."
"I wonder what stage those two are at in the test?"
...
Three Days Ago
The king, Yan Yue, and a few others entered the Talent Palace.
The king spoke, "Where are the Twin Disasters of the Sky?"
All four talents rose to salute the king.
"They're in the garden, fighting, Your Majesty."
The king and his entourage proceeded to the garden and opened the door.
There was a person with blond hair, wearing black glasses and black-and-yellow clothes, holding a long staff, smiling arrogantly with blood dripping from his head...
The other wore all black—hair and eyes black, wielding two black swords, also smiling, his mouth full of blood...
"It seems you two want to kill each other," the king said in a low voice.
They turned to the king, bowing in apology for crossing their limits again.
"No problem, just don't kill each other. The kingdom will need you in the future."
"You don't have much time left to become elders. You're 24 now, right?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. We have five months until we turn 25."
"You have a test now. You must pass it to become elders of the kingdom."
The blond approached the king. "Are there strong opponents?"
"Yes," the king smiled.
"It'll be a fun test, won't it, Han Guan?"
"Indeed."
Yan Yue stepped toward them. "But the test includes everything. For your information, it's not just about killing."
They both looked at Yan Yue arrogantly. "Do you think we're fools, you filthy man?"
"I don't know you as well as the king does, so I thought you were idiots."
"Shh, Yan Yue, they're professionals in everything, so don't worry about them."
"Very well, my lord."
A fifth-rank healer approached to treat their wounds. "We expected you'd fight and get injured, so we brought our special healer."
"Prepare yourselves. We're waiting for you outside the palace."
They got ready and headed toward the door, but Han Guan was disgusted by something. The third had a bad habit of laughing.
Han Guan stared at him...
Baaam...
Han Guan kicked the third's face with his leg, slamming him into the wall. The blond turned to Han Guan.
"Why did you hit him?"
"I hate his habit."
The third laughed after taking a strong kick from Han Guan, surprising him.
The third broke Han Guan's leg, threw him into the wall, and unleashed a barrage of lethal strikes.
He stopped striking but kept laughing. Han Guan drew his swords, intending to cut him to pieces.
Yan Yue rushed in to stop Han Guan but was shocked when he suddenly stopped...
"Oh, I forgot you're a damn kid. I don't like killing those younger than me. Sorry," Han Guan said, bowing slightly, taking his swords, and walking beside the blond, Yi Mo.
The third leapt toward Han Guan with a loud laugh, aiming a kick at his neck.
Bam...
Yan Yue blocked the attack with his hands, but the strike was incredibly strong. Yan Yue struggled.
The third delivered another kick with his other leg to Yan Yue's face, sending him flying out of the palace.
Yi Mo turned to look at the third. "Han Guan, that boy seems angry. You shouldn't have hit him in the first place."
The king looked at Yan Yue. "Is he really that strong? Unfortunately, he looks so young."
"Yan Yue, have you ever checked his age, or did you just throw him into the Talent Palace based on his appearance?"
Yan Yue knelt. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I didn't mean it that way, but I did place him directly without knowing his age."
The king approached the boy. "Tell me your real age!"
The king unleashed a deadly aura, turning the boy's laughter into crying.
"24 years."
"How long until you turn 25?"
"10 months."
"Hahaha, unfortunately, the test is held twice a year, so don't worry. In five months, you'll take the test."
"You can take your revenge on that boy later, not now. Everyone, return to your places."
Yi Mo and Han Guan were placed at the cave's entrance. Yan Yue gave them all the instructions, and they entered.
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The End
( I'm back, my friends, with a new chapter. From now on, chapters will be weekly. Don't forget to talk about it on social media and support me. Thx )