Trafford's Trading Club

774: Chapter 18: Lingering Shadow 774: Chapter 18: Lingering Shadow In the depths of the immense Spiritual Energy River, there is a figure sitting cross-legged.

Like an old monk in meditation, there is no expression on his face—he is Xiang Liu, the lone survivor of the Xiang Liu family that once fled overseas years ago.

His hands and feet are still bound by chains from the Void.

Compared to when he was first trapped here months ago, he has obviously settled down, no longer roaring daily.

Xiang Liu’s purple eyebrows moved slightly at this moment, and he slowly opened his eyes.

His gaze was dim, a trace of confusion flashed in his eyes, then it became calm.

He gently sighed, yet frowned, and began to murmur to himself, “This daily wash from the pure Spiritual Energy has made my demonic power undergo a miraculous transformation, and my State of Mind has become more peaceful each day.

Things I used to see now seem like a lifetime ago; eventually, the resentment in my heart might really be washed away.”

“But this is not my wish!”

“Even if my resentment is washed away, I still…”

“Humph!

I might as well use this wash from the Spiritual Energy River to advance myself further.

Then…”

He thought carefully, but immediately frowned again, his gaze fixed ahead.

The Spiritual Energy in front of him was being frantically broken apart, eventually forming a rift.

Within the rift appeared a young man dressed in black (resembling Zhongshan suit), wearing a hat.

This man came with his hands behind his back, casually surveying the depths of the Spiritual Energy River, finally resting his gaze on Xiang Liu, seemingly pondering something.

Xiang Liu was not just staring blankly, he was also scrutinizing the other—knowing there are few who know about the Spiritual Energy River, Xiang Liu instinctively felt this mysterious man was not one of Long Xiruo’s.

How did he enter here?

The seal outside should have been repaired by Long Xiruo.

“Truly intriguing,” the man slowly spoke at this moment, “I have heard tales of Yamata no Orochi but never found its true body.

Unexpectedly, in the depths of the Spirit Vein, I can actually see a similar species… you must be Xiang Liu?”

“Who are you?” Xiang Liu stood up, the chains on him clanging.

“You may call me Oda.” The man removed his hat and smiled slightly, then asked curiously, “So, are you some kind of Guardian of this Spirit Vein?

But it doesn’t seem like it… why are you imprisoned here?”

Judging from the chains on Xiang Liu’s hands and feet, naturally.

But Xiang Liu also caught another meaning in this mysterious man’s words.

Xiang Liu sneered, “Oh?

Although I don’t know who you are, it seems you’re interested in this Spirit Vein?

However, you don’t seem to know whose domain this is?”

“The Godly Land?” The man named Oda said calmly, “Unfortunately, she is not in this city right now.

We just received news that she has temporarily left.

Of course, you are correct; I do intend to take this Spirit Vein… so, do you intend to stop me?”

Xiang Liu just sneered… but also heard that the other party seemed not to be alone; there must be accomplices backing him.

“Stop you?” Xiang Liu shook his head, then sat back down again, saying indifferently, “I have no interest.

If you have the ability to take it, then go ahead.

Or rather, I would even look forward to you being able to take away this Spirit Vein.”

“I seem to be underestimated.” Oda shook his head but didn’t say much.

Oda swiped his hand in front of himself, seemingly tearing open Space, and took out a small bottle from the tiny rift.

He opened the bottle, and suddenly a powerful suction force emanated from the mouth, the vast Spiritual Energy River was crazily absorbed into the bottle.

Xiang Liu’s eyes widened, showing a perplexed expression.

Oda’s gaze remained calm, watching the frenzied influx of Spiritual Energy as if unaffected, instead, he looked at Xiang Liu again and suddenly said, “What a pity, if you could go further, I wouldn’t mind being your guide.

I see dissatisfaction in you.

Well then, since you are trapped here, your potential must have been consumed, and you have no way to advance further.

I will let you out and see how far you can grow in the future.”

Saying this, Oda walked directly over to Xiang Liu.

His palm gathered a sharp aura, the fingers closed together like a blade, slashing at one of the chains.

That palm emitted a mercury-like luster at the moment it was swung, seeming to have completely changed the structure of the hand.

Xiang Liu’s heart suddenly began to race… if this mysterious guy could really cut through the chain…

Just the sound of a massive clash of metal and stone echoed, Xiang Liu’s breath quickened slightly, then he showed a deep disappointment—it was clear the mysterious man did not cut through the chain before him.

Originally, even Su Zijun, the Princess of the Xuanyuan Royal Family, was helpless; how could a guy unknown from nowhere do so?

“Oh?

A bit harder than expected.” But this didn’t seem to deter Oda’s confidence; instead, it sparked his interest.

His palm changed again, the silver light faded, dark gold light shone once more, and there was another huge noise.

“Ahhahahahaha!!!!!!”

Xiang Liu suddenly burst into laughter, looking at this mysterious man, seemingly about to shed tears from laughing, “I thought you were impressive, turns out you’re just talking big!”

“Humph.”

Even being mocked, there was no sign of anger on Oda’s face; only a cold gleam flashed in his eyes, seemingly intending to deal more thoroughly with a few chains… the chains moved.

Inch by inch, the chains began to extend from the Void.

They started moving around Xiang Liu, as if they had gained Life!

Simultaneously, they lifted, the end of the chains suddenly elongated into sharp spikes, all aimed at Oda!

With Spiritual instinct, the chains suddenly shot out.

Their speed seemed slow, yet suddenly formed a three-dimensional spherical shape, directly enveloping Oda.

Oda suddenly stretched out a hand, trying to grasp one of them, but his palm was pierced through by the spike at the end of a chain.

He finally showed traces of movement.

Until the other three chains transformed into spikes shooting from all sides, Oda sternly shouted!

“Guikiru!”

A plain, black Great Sword appeared directly in Oda’s other hand, blocking the three-headed spikes.

But in an instant, Oda’s sword-wielding arm was directly wrapped by a chain, and despite his ability, he was unable to break free.

Moreover, in the three-dimensional Space formed by the chains, Oda even felt his entire Power start to drain madly, a sense of weakness made him both shocked and angry, finally witnessing the horror of these chains!

“The Godly Land has absolutely no ability to lay these chains… who on earth could it be?”

Countless thoughts flashed through Oda’s mind, but he quickly made a decision—he forcefully broke through the three-dimensional chain formation, and without looking back, directly dashed out of the Spiritual Energy River!

However, in Xiang Liu’s view, this guy was clearly… fleeing in panic!

Those chains, after Oda’s departure seemed disinclined to pursue, slowly began to retract.

Xiang Liu’s brow twitched, ultimately helpless.

He sighed and closed his eyes again.

However, the chains did not completely retract.

One of the chains suddenly shot into the void…

It didn’t disappear, but it was unclear where it intended to extend to.

…

…

Terrified screams rose all around.

The immense suction made Sun Xiaosheng frown—although the suction emitted by this fat man’s open mouth was not yet threatening enough for Brother Xiaosheng, perhaps the other party merely aimed to clear away nearby humans without going all out.

Among the many ordinary people devoured, only one person could save himself—Fish Ball Qiang.

As his body was also pulled by the powerful suction, Brother Xiaosheng reached out and grabbed the back of his collar, pulling him back just in time to avoid disaster.

Still, Fish Ball Qiang was already pale with fright, witnessing this fantastical and terrifying scene that seemed straight out of a supernatural film.

Compared to Fish Ball Qiang’s terror, Sun Xiaosheng wore a slightly grave expression.

Unlike Fish Ball Qiang, who was completely taken aback by this scene, Sun Xiaosheng saw more beyond the horror.

This fat guy who called himself Dong Zhuo was blatantly committing a massacre in the human world?

Who was he?

Didn’t he know this place was under Granny Long’s protection?

Even Sun Xiaosheng himself, a typical example of living by his own rules, had learned early on to restrain himself in this city.

“No…

There’s something wrong with the space around here!” Sun Xiaosheng’s eyes suddenly widened, a flame-like brilliance flashing in his pupils!

At this moment, centered on them, the surrounding space was in a peculiar state of confinement…

The entire street, about a hundred meters front and back, was completely under this confinement.

“It’s not just simple confinement.”

Dong Zhuo slowly closed his mouth, returning to its original size—which meant that all the people around had been buried in his mouth, thoroughly swallowed.

Yet there was no change in his reminder, leaving it impossible to guess where exactly in his body those swallowed people were hidden.

Dong Zhuo slightly opened his eyes, his harmless-appearing face turning fearsome.

The crescent-like eyes revealed entirely black pupils, “We call this space the Wasteland Extinction Territory, a crevice extension on both sides that even the will of the main real world cannot penetrate.”

Sun Xiaosheng frowned but pushed Fish Ball Qiang away.

Fish Ball Qiang was startled, but the next second, he suddenly steadied himself, with a golden light emanating from his chest.

The golden light turned into a sphere, enveloping him completely—the chest area, which Brother Xiaosheng had pushed, was precisely the source.

Brother Xiaosheng calmly said, “Stay aside.”

Fish Ball Qiang quickly nodded and scurried away.

However, due to Dong Zhuo’s previous terrifying suction, the surroundings looked as if a typhoon had passed through, even the greenery had toppled.

Fish Ball Qiang didn’t really know where to hide and could only crouch behind an overturned private car, nervously peeking out.

But when he peeked out, he met Dong Zhuo’s gaze.

Fish Ball Qiang was immediately scared stiff, withdrawing in a shiver, vowing never to meet the eyes of this man-eating monster again.

“It seems you care quite a bit about this ordinary human?” Dong Zhuo chuckled at Sun Xiaosheng, “There aren’t many Demon Kings in the world, and you’re one of them.

If the Demon Veins folks knew you befriended a human, aren’t you afraid they won’t play with you?”

“Ha!” Sun Xiaosheng suddenly picked his ear, “Who said I was friends with him?

I just think this human’s fish balls are fairly edible, so I’m more forgiving.

Besides…

what if I want to make friends with him?

I, Sun Xiaosheng, do what I please, why should I explain to anyone?”

With that, Brother Xiaosheng began cracking his knuckles loudly, walking slowly towards Dong Zhuo, “Don’t think that creating some ghostly Wasteland Extinction Territory will scare me.

Daring to snatch my fish balls, it’s like you don’t know the meaning of death!”

What the hell!

All those people died, yet they still couldn’t compare to a fish ball?

Fish Ball Qiang, hiding behind the private car, felt unpleasant.

It was as if he could hear the wailing of the humans who had been swallowed.

“I am a company executive, a social elite, earning hundreds of thousands every second!”

“You can’t compare to a fish ball.”

“I am a people’s teacher, nurturing countless students worldwide!”

“You can’t compare to a fish ball.”

“I am the dance king of Changle Street, an international championship winner!”

“You can’t compare to a fish ball.”

…

But no matter what the hell Fish Ball Qiang was feeling, Brother Xiaosheng was already swinging a punch at Dong Zhuo.

Though lacking in grandeur, the speed was unbelievably fast, and Dong Zhuo seemed unable to dodge, taking the hit on his round face once more.

Boom—!

Dong Zhuo’s massive body was sent flying, crashing harshly toward the end of the long street—only to be intercepted by something eventually.

Sun Xiaosheng frowned; that was probably the edge of this so-called Wasteland Extinction Territory?

This so-called Wasteland Extinction Territory might be some kind of alternate space, temporarily replacing a part of the main world.

Fat Dong Zhuo lay on the ground but quickly stood up, dusting off himself.

His clumsy appearance made it hard to perceive how formidable he really was.

However, Sun Xiaosheng’s heart sank a little…

He knew perfectly well the weight behind that punch.

Yet, this guy seemed to be unharmed, his defensive layer of fat was off the charts!

“I really don’t fancy violence.” Dong Zhuo rotated his almost-invisible neck, still smiling serenely.

“But I like it a lot, huh?” Brother Xiaosheng blew on his fist.

At that moment, a cold light shot from above, a peculiar chain with a sharp tip!

The chain moved astonishingly fast, binding Dong Zhuo’s body in an instant.

He seemed too slow to react, and the chain began to tighten!

Under Sun Xiaosheng’s startled gaze, the chain squeezed rings of plump fat from Dong Zhuo’s body, seemingly about to tear him apart at any moment.

Meanwhile, for the first time, Dong Zhuo’s face showed pain, and he frantically opened his mouth, spewing out the people he had swallowed, one by one…