Scatter Mode’s Second Ability: Bone-Stripping Bullet!
A flesh-dissolving projectile skill. Like Sky Cannon, it was a pure energy attack requiring no ammunition.
Upon impact, it completely eroded all flesh attached to the target’s bones. Its power scaled with the user’s expended mental energy, evolution level, and physical strength—as well as the target’s mental resistance.
Ye Zhongming’s mental energy reserves were oceanic. Expending just 0.1%—amplified by purple-grade gear and skills—would yield a formidable force. Yet he’d channeled far more than a mere fraction for this kill shot.
“Do you know who he was?”
Wen Yan remained seated atop his tortoise instead of attacking.
“Does it matter?” Ye Zhongming lowered his gun, studying the man he’d last seen at Beast Villa. “Everyone here is my enemy. Kill them, and be done with it.”
As he spoke, he retreated two steps, his expression flickering before he chugged another antidote vial.
The gunshot victim had reflexively dodged, causing his thrown golden sand to miss—landing just short of Ye Zhongming.
But what toxin could be this potent?
“He is not an alliance member. A proxy.”
Wen Yan continued when Ye Zhongming showed no reaction: “Saint Sangru’s spokesperson.”
The name caused Ye Zhongming to pause. At Bright Water Feast, that universe faction had tried recruiting him. Their envoy—”Conqueror of Saint Mountain”—had promised “a King’s Blessing” and “Blood of War God.” That war god was called Mendis.
“He volunteered to test the Cloud Peak King and died by your hand.”
Wen Yan’s tone was flat, but malice bled through. Knowing Ye Zhongming saw his true nature, he didn’t bother masking his ruthlessness.
As a Taros Red Dwarves’ spokesperson, Ye Zhongming knew the consequences of killing another spokesperson: endless bounty hunters sent by the universe races to avenge spokesperson deaths.
But he feared nothing. The races couldn’t descend to Earth due to wheel restrictions—only hire human spokespeople. And his reputation alone would deter most. The handful daring enough? They’d never breach Cloud Peak’s defenses.
Wen Yan had deliberately let the proxy die—a transparent ploy.
“Smug because you’ve saddled me with trouble?”
Ye Zhongming’s gaze lingered on the eight-star battle beast beneath Wen Yan—Thousand Year, as renowned as Yellow Ball.
“Isn’t it trouble?” Wen Yan chuckled. “You know I’m stalling, yet can’t break Thousand Years’ defenses. Trapped here, you’ll be overwhelmed by arriving elites. Even if you escape, Saint Sangru’s bounty hunters await you.”
He smirked. “Forgot to mention—Saint Sangru ranks high among universe races. Their warriors are elites, led by War God Mendis, cosmos-renowned for combat prowess.”
Ye Zhongming shifted. His gun suddenly emitted a purple glow—purple-grade.
Simultaneously, his gauntlets and bracelet ignited with identical radiance.
Wen Yan’s pupils contracted violently.
Three purple-grade items!
Plus the Undead Sand Moon Blade and Crystal Energy Gun… Five purple-grade gears!
As a top faction leader, Wen Yan had poured resources into himself. His purple-grade equipment count?
One.
Even counting Thousand Years’ beast gear: two.
Yet the Cloud Peak King casually displayed five. Were there more?
(Unbeknownst to Wen Yan, the gun was the modified Crystal Energy Gun—technically, he was overcounting. But Ye Zhongming did possess one additional…)
“All this chatter can’t mask your fear—you lack the confidence to even delay me! Else, why sacrifice a spokesperson instead of teaming up to kill me?”
Wen Yan’s face darkened. His psychological warfare had backfired spectacularly.
After a pause, he admitted: “True, I’m uncertain. But that doesn’t mean you’ll leave these hills alive today.”
“Ye Zhongming, I’ve never denied your brilliance. Surviving this, you’ll likely remain China’s top evolved indefinitely. But youth’s flaws plague you—stubbornness, arrogance, recklessness.”
“You walked into this trap knowingly. Overvaluing rewards, underestimating risks. From my arrival, escape was impossible. The others… are almost here.”
With that, he patted Thousand Year. The tortoise raised its stubby neck and spat out a… bubble.
A colossal sphere enveloped everything within 100 meters of Ye Zhongming.
“Try leaving after shattering Thousand Years—Mist Blossom.”
Most knew Thousand Year for peerless defense. Few realized its defensive skills were offensive.