In the thick night fog, I couldn't make out the other person's face, but from their build, I knew immediately that it had to be a Bimong. Who could it be? The situation before me left no room for further thought—survival was the priority. If hit by their attack, given their strength, my half-baked Thunder Armor technique would only lead to one outcome: I'd be reduced to a pulp.
There was no choice but to fight. I channeled the remaining Dark Energy into my hands, which emitted a faint black mist. Using the same method as before—clashing directly (after enduring the bitter lessons of "brute force over technique" in countless battles, I finally understood the importance of skill)—I struck the opponent's fists with both of my own. I noticed that after channeling the dark energy into my hands, the meridians that had been injured by the shockwave had recovered to about sixty or seventy percent of their original state.
"Boom..."
I felt my entire body split apart as the opponent's overwhelming force sent me flying through the air. I spat out a mouthful of blood and crashed heavily onto the ground five meters away. If I hadn't used the dark energy, that single punch alone would have cost me half my life.
I don't know why the opponent didn't pursue further. If he had landed another punch, I would have had no chance of survival. I struggled to get up from the ground, stumbled for a moment before steadying myself, and couldn't help but cough up another mouthful of blood.
The opponent uttered a surprised "Eh?"
I forced myself to lift my head and looked closely, then froze in shock. The powerful enemy who had tried to take my life was actually my father.
I asked hoarsely, "Dad? Why are you here?"
My father smiled with satisfaction and said, "I didn't expect you to be able to block my two punches. Now I can rest assured that you can complete the mission."
Complete the mission? I was filled with confusion.
My father continued, "I used ten percent of my strength for the first punch and added another ten percent for the second. I thought you wouldn't be able to get up, but you're still standing. It seems you've been working hard lately." That might be why he was so surprised earlier.
I sighed inwardly. Is this really my father? He doesn't care about his son's life at all. If my strength had been slightly weaker, I might have ended up joining my grandmother in the afterlife.
"What was that black mist on your hands earlier?" my father asked.
I was startled, remembering that Grandma had said not to let my father know about the existence of the Heavenly Demon Decision. I feigned confusion and said, "What black mist? You must have seen it wrong. Maybe it's just too dark outside."
My simple-minded father didn't think much of it, just furrowing his brow and saying, "Alright, go back now. Come find me tomorrow morning. I have a task for you."
I nodded and said calmly, "Alright." Then, dragging my aching body, I walked back.
Bimong's body was indeed very sturdy, and since I had already completed the first segment of the Heavenly Thunder Armor Removal technique, which transformed my body, my injuries had healed for the most part after just one night.
What task did my father want me to complete? Sending me to lead troops into battle was out of the question—my older brothers were all at home; there was no reason to send me, a novice on the battlefield. What kind of task could it be? Besides battle, given my father's prestige among the Orc tribe, anything else would be a mere formality—why would he need me?
With a nervous heart, I approached my father's door and knocked gently. His deep voice echoed, "Who is it?"
"Father, it's me, Lei Xiang."
"Come in."
I pushed open the door and walked slowly into the room. My father sat upright in a tall-backed chair, narrowing his eyes at me. I stood there calmly, unaffected by his piercing gaze.
"Lei Xiang, you've grown up. I used to think you were the most useless coward, but since you went berserk four years ago, your performance has been very satisfying. Though you don't have your brothers' muscular build, your strength is no less than theirs, and your potential surpasses theirs. The Orc King has entrusted me with an important task, and I want to send you to complete it."
So it was a task assigned by the Orc King. My expression remained unchanged as I asked in a calm voice, "What is the task? I will complete it." No matter how difficult it was, I would overcome it. I wanted to become an unparalleled warrior and show my father. Thinking of my grandmother's death, hatred flashed in my eyes. Since my grandmother's death, I had learned to hide my true feelings. No one could discern my true thoughts. I would never reveal my hatred toward my father before I became strong enough, but the seeds of vengeance were deeply rooted in my heart. My grandmother's revenge—I would avenge her.
"Good. You're truly my son, Leo. The Orc King has tasked me with finding someone to infiltrate the human realm as a spy. As you know, our orcs have always been the weakest of the three great races. Why? First, because we cannot wield magic. Second, because orcs are generally of low intelligence and lack the brilliant generals that humans possess. This mission is to infiltrate the human realm and steal their tactical and magical intelligence."
"Go to the human realm as a spy?"
"Yes. You're only 16 years old, and most importantly, you have human blood in you. With your human appearance, you'll be able to blend in among the humans. I'll give you 5–10 years to learn everything you can, and then we'll spend another 10 years training our troops. In the future, the continent will be the Orcs' world. So you should understand the importance of this mission. If you successfully complete this mission, the position of Bimong King will be yours."
What my father said was indeed true. It seems the Orc King isn't a fool after all; he knows the weaknesses of his own kind. This is a good plan, but whether it can be realized depends on me. For me, this is also a great opportunity. If I can learn human knowledge, it's the best way to strengthen our power. Besides, I do have orc blood. Making the orcs stronger is also what I hope for.
I replied firmly, "Father, rest assured. I will not disappoint you."
My father nodded satisfactorily and said, "Alright, tomorrow I will take you to meet the Orc King. Then, merchants familiar with humans will train you for three months, after which you can set off."
"Yes, Father. I will take my leave now."
After receiving my father's approval, I exited his room. On the way back to my own quarters, my heart was filled with excitement—something I hadn't felt in four years. Humans? Humans who look like me? I, Lei Xiang, am coming.
Upon returning to my room, I still couldn't suppress my surging emotions. I decided to practice my martial arts. I changed into my training clothes and went to the courtyard. First, I channeled the Heavenly Thunder Armor throughout my body, then shouted loudly and began practicing the Heavenly Thunder Eighteen Fists my father had taught me. This set of fists was entirely designed for charging into battle, with wide, sweeping movements, making it most suitable for use against the Bimong beasts. It was something my father had created in the past two years. Each fist was filled with an unstoppable momentum, a direct, head-on clash.
It felt as though the air itself was my enemy. With each punch, I channeled all my strength, producing a series of thunderous "boom, boom, boom, boom" sounds. The courtyard was filled with dust from my strikes.
I didn't stop until I was completely exhausted, drenched in sweat from head to toe, yet feeling an indescribable sense of relief.
Upon first entering the Orc King's palace, I marveled at the towering structures around me. Though the craftsmanship was crude, the place exuded an overwhelming sense of power. Every building was constructed from massive granite blocks, giving them an unusually sturdy and imposing appearance.
My father and I stopped in front of the largest building. The leopard-man guards at the entrance, recognizing my father, bowed respectfully and said, "King Leo, greetings."
My father nodded and said, "Please announce my arrival."
The guard bowed and replied, "Yes." Then he turned and shouted loudly, "King Leo of the Behemoths is here to pay his respects." The sound echoed through the palace like waves. Soon, another leopard-man guard emerged from the palace and approached my father, bowing and saying, "King Leo, the king requests your presence." He then turned and led the way ahead.
My father and I followed him into the most magnificent building I had ever seen. The king's throne room was 20 meters high, supported by massive granite columns with a diameter of one meter. At two meters tall, I felt so small.
As I looked around in awe, my father pulled me aside, and his voice echoed, "Subject Leo, accompanied by his son Lei Xiang, pays respects to His Majesty." I hurriedly knelt down and, along with my father, shouted, "Long live the king, long live, long live!"
A deep, steady voice came from directly ahead, "Rise. We don't need this formality among brothers." My father and I stood up together and looked up, finally seeing the king of our orc tribe.
The orc king was a lion-man. Sitting there, his height was hard to gauge, but he was certainly taller than me, roughly the same age as my father. His muscular frame was clad in a python-skin robe and jade sash, and his head adorned with a golden crown that shone brightly. He was also sizing me up. The piercing light in his eyes made it clear he was no less powerful than my father. His wise gaze was unlike anything I had ever seen before. No wonder he could rule over the orcs—he truly had extraordinary qualities.
"Leo, this is your youngest son, isn't it? If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have thought he was human."
"Yes, Your Majesty. My son's mother is human. He has inherited the power of my Bimong clan and also his mother's appearance."
The Beastman King praised, "No wonder you said your youngest son is the best choice for an undercover agent. Humans would never recognize that he has our Beastman blood. Child, the future rise and fall of our orcs rests on your shoulders. Do not let me or your father down."
"Yes, Your Majesty. I (as the deputy commander of the Bimong Legion, I also refer to myself as a subject) will devote myself entirely to this cause until my death."
"Good, Leo, how is your young son's martial arts skill?"
His father laughed heartily and said, " Your Majesty, you can rest assured. He can now withstand three-tenths of my full strength in a single strike (my father exaggerated for his own pride; I can barely withstand two-tenths). Though his build doesn't resemble our Bimong clan, he possesses the strength of a Bimong."
The Orc King did not doubt my father's words and said joyfully, "True heroes emerge in youth. Very well, it is decided. Lei Xiang will go to the Dragon God Empire as a spy. This matter is highly confidential; you must not reveal it to anyone. Even my allied demon race was not informed of this operation. Lei Xiang, you may face immense difficulties, but this mission must succeed at all costs. If it fails, I will not spare you. If you complete this mission, I will appoint you as your father's successor, the next Bimong King." The Beast King was both kind and stern, which also showed how important this mission was to him.
I quickly knelt down and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, I will not let you down."
The Beast King turned to my father and said, "Alright, that's it. Tomorrow, I'll send some merchants to your house to teach Lei Xiang some human etiquette and things to watch out for."
My father replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. Then I shall take my son and withdraw first."
After leaving the palace, my father unexpectedly patted my shoulder affectionately and said joyfully, "Son, you must bring honor to our Bimong clan. This is a great opportunity, and the Emperor holds you in high regard."
I replied calmly, "Yes, Father."
From the day after meeting the Beast King, I began learning human etiquette from the merchants who had been to the Dragon God Empire. My memory and mimicry skills exceeded their expectations. What was originally planned as a three-month training program was completed in just one month, leaving them with nothing more to teach me. After learning human etiquette and hearing human stories, my interest in the human realm grew even stronger. After all, I possess one-quarter human blood. What is my mother's country like?
A deep voice came from outside: "Lei Xiang, your father is looking for you." It was my eldest brother, Lei Long. Among my three older brothers, only the eldest was somewhat kind to me. The other two looked down on me; it was already a blessing that they didn't come to bully me.
Stepping out the door, the bright sunlight warmed my entire body. My eldest brother's imposing figure appeared before me; walking beside him, I felt so small.
"Why did you come personally, older brother? Why didn't you send a messenger to notify me?" I said calmly.
"Haha, I was just at Father's place, so I dropped by to see you. I heard you're going on a secret mission, and we won't see each other for a long time."
I nodded without responding. My older brother, accustomed to my demeanor, did not find it unusual.
"Alright, we're here. You go in on your own. I'll be leaving first."
"Alright. Goodbye." After responding, I walked directly into my father's room. My father was seated behind his large desk, holding a stack of papers and reading them.
"Father, I'm here." My father looked up at me, then handed me the papers and said, "Take a look. These are the identity documents for your undercover mission. You need to memorize them on the way. The merchants said you've already mastered what they taught you. This matter can't wait. Tomorrow, pack your belongings and set off quietly on your own."
I took the papers and read them. They stated: Name: Lei Xiang, from Luomu Village near Aika City in the Dragon God Empire. Father: Lei Fei, craftsman. Mother: Sha Die, engaged in handicraft production. Loved martial arts from a young age. Father passed away at age 10, mother at age 13. Has been wandering and training alone across the continent for three years. Introverted personality... The rest was a detailed description of his identity. From the documents, it was clear that everything was meticulously arranged with no loopholes. I knew that the person with the same name and surname as me had definitely been killed by my father's men. This was my father's usual style; he would leave no opportunity for enemies.
I turned around, looked deeply at the city where I had lived for sixteen years, took a deep breath, and began my journey to complete the mission.
My father arranged for me to go directly to the capital of the Dragon God Empire—Dragon City. There, one of the four great human academies, the Heavenly Capital Academy, is located. My mission is to study there, learning every piece of knowledge I can. It is currently May, and the Heavenly Capital Academy begins admissions in August, so I must arrive there before August to take the entrance exam.
The weather today was beautiful, with a clear blue sky stretching endlessly. The trees lining the main road occasionally echoed with the crisp chirping of birds. Having left the confines of the city where I had lived for sixteen years, my mood was as open and bright as the sky.
I wore a samurai outfit, with a large straw hat on my head. A three-foot-long veil hung from the hat, obscuring my features from view. This is still a realm of beasts, and humans are still unwelcome here, so I had to conceal my human appearance to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Before leaving home, I visited my mother. She was still the same, with vacant eyes and little desire to speak. When I came, she paid me no mind.
"Mother, I'm going on a long journey and may not return for some time."
She merely glanced at me before turning away, seemingly unconcerned with my fate. After all these years, I had grown numb to it. Aside from my grandmother, no one had ever shown me warmth.
But she was still my mother, even though she hadn't raised me. I was, after all, her child. I sighed deeply and said, "Mother, I'm going to the Dragon God Empire."
Hearing my words, she trembled all over and turned her head. "Is that true? You're going to the Dragon God Empire?" My mother's gaze finally softened, showing a hint of humanity.
I nodded heavily. "Yes, I'm going there to complete a secret mission."
Mom struggled to her feet from the bed. I hurried forward to support her. She muttered, "Empire, empire, Father, Father, Afeng, Afeng."
"Lei Xiang, can you do me a favor?"
I nodded. "Just say it. As long as it's within my power, I'll do it for you."
Mom pulled out a small bell from under the mattress, shook it in her hand, and it rang out with a crisp sound. The bell seemed to be made of a special material, emitting a faint blue glow. Her expression was complex, alternating between tenderness, anger, and resignation. She reluctantly handed the bell to me, and a single tear fell onto it.
"Go to the Dragon God Empire and find a man named Lin Feng. Give him this bell and tell him, tell him that Lingling is sorry for what she did." After saying this, my mother's tears flowed like a spring, and she collapsed onto the bed. I stood there holding the bell, unsure of what to do.
My mother seemed to have cried herself out. She reached into her bosom and pulled out a necklace made of silver beads, with a delicate purple crystal dragon carved into it hanging from it. She looked at me silently, then hung the necklace around my neck.
"I've never taken care of you for a single day. Help me complete this task, and this necklace will be my reward to you." Her words were still so ruthless.
I forced myself to endure the endless sorrow in my heart, clutching the amethyst dragon tightly, letting the hard crystal pierce my palm. I took a deep breath to calm my turbulent emotions and said, "Alright, I will definitely deliver it for you." Then I turned and left without looking back, leaving this mother who gave birth to me yet hated me.
However, before leaving, I still asked my older brother to take care of her.
Having traveled far from the Beast Emperor City, my mood gradually improved. Having never ventured far from home before, everything around me seemed so novel.
The sun had risen to its zenith. Though it was still May, its rays were already scorching. After walking all morning, I felt somewhat exhausted. Looking up, I noticed a simple shelter on the right side of the road, likely selling some food. I hurried over, and sure enough, it was a fruit stall. The owner was a female werewolf, probably in her fifties.
When she saw me approach the stall, she asked, "What kind of fruit would you like to eat? These are all grown by me, absolutely fresh."
I pulled out a silver coin and tossed it over, coldly saying, "A little of each kind."
Seeing my bad temper, she didn't dare say much and immediately packed some of each kind, handing them over. It was such a large bag—enough for ten people to eat. I couldn't possibly eat that much.
"You don't need to give me that much. Take out three-quarters of it and give me the rest."
The old woman looked troubled and said, "But I don't have any change for you."
I thought to myself, can't even a silver coin be changed? Are the lives of orcs so hard? I couldn't help but ask, "Is life that hard? No need to give me change. Just give me the extra fruit."
The old woman pulled out the fruit while saying helplessly, "You're such a kind person. With years of warfare, this place is still better off since it's close to the capital. The civilians in the war zones are even worse off. Among us orcs, only those who serve in the military or are physically strong can secure food. For someone like me who can't fight, just scraping by is already quite difficult. Is this fruit enough?"
I took the fruit she handed me, feeling a pang of sympathy. It's the common people who suffer in war, no matter which country it is.
As I turned to leave with the fruit, a sinister voice said, " "Kid, leave your valuables behind, or else, heh heh, you'll be tonight's dinner for the big shots."
I turned around to find three people had already surrounded me from behind—a bearman, a foxman, and a werewolf. The one speaking was likely the foxman; foxmen are the most cunning among the orc tribes. They were all ordinary characters.
I snorted coldly, "Robbery?"
The three burst into laughter simultaneously. The bear man mocked, "Of course it's robbery. Why else would we block your path? Don't make us repeat ourselves. Hand over your belongings immediately, or we'll roast you tonight to accompany our drinks."
I asked calmly, "Do you frequently rob and eat travelers?"
This time, the werewolf answered, "You're right. This world is one of the survival of the fittest. The weak can only become food and prey for the strong. Don't you understand such a simple truth?"
I glanced at them and said, "Alright, I understand. Thank you for your guidance."
I took a heavy step forward and punched the strongest bear-man.
They clearly hadn't expected me to fight back. The werewolf's knife and the foxman's long sword both swung toward me at the same time. I ignored them and continued to punch the bearman straight on. The bearman was about the same size as me, but looked much more muscular. Seeing me attack, he didn't hesitate, extending his massive bear paw to grab my fist.
If I hadn't been wearing a hat, they would have seen the faint smile on my lips.
The bear man was the first to fall. The collision of fist and paw produced a low, dull sound. Both of us heard the sound of his bones shattering. Before he could utter a scream, his massive body was already knocked five meters away. I was confident in my strength; I knew he wouldn't be able to rob anyone again in this lifetime.
As the bear man was knocked away, two weapons simultaneously struck my left shoulder and right back. The wolf man and fox man felt as though they had struck not an enemy's body but a steel plate. The swords and blades were shaken loose, and not even my clothes were torn.
I turned halfway and kicked the fox-man in the chest. The sound of bones breaking was clearly audible. Like the bear-man, he flew far away and landed heavily on the ground. Blood gushed out of his seven orifices, and it was clear he wouldn't survive.
The wolf-man was stunned by the scene before him. The knife in his hand clattered to the ground. He let out a wild howl and turned to run. I gave a cold smile, picked up the knife he had dropped with my foot, spun around, and kicked it. The knife struck the werewolf's vital spot on his back with lightning-like precision, "thud," sinking all the way to the hilt, pinning it to the tree beside him.
I walked slowly to the werewolf's side and said coldly, "You taught me the principle of the survival of the fittest. I hope you learn to be smarter in your next life."
The werewolf groaned, "You... you... are... so... ruthless..." and took his last breath.
The old woman at the fruit stand had already curled up into a ball, trembling with fear. I walked up to the fruit stand, picked up the fruit I had just bought, tossed a gold coin over, and said, "Bury them." Then I turned and walked away.
I did not feel remorse for killing them. From a young age, my father had taught me that among the orcs, only brute strength holds any sway. No one pities the weak. When dealing with enemies, one must never show mercy, aiming for a decisive strike that leaves no room for retaliation. Even when a lion hunts a rabbit, it must give its all, employing any means necessary to eliminate the target.
Once I left the capital's borders, I realized that the fruit stall was merely the beginning of my killing spree. Orc bandits and outlaws roamed everywhere, and except for large towns guarded by soldiers, looting and burning were commonplace. No wonder, despite their physically superior condition compared to humans and demons, orcs rank last among the three major races. Such a brutal culture leaves everyone living in constant fear—how could they ever develop into a powerful race? I'll help the Orc King clean things up.
Describing my journey through the Orc Kingdom as "blazing a trail of blood" is no exaggeration. Every bandit or outlaw I encountered was ruthlessly eliminated by me. By the end, I had lost count of how many I had killed, and I had long since grown numb to it.
Through this journey, I also understood why the orcs couldn't defeat humans. Though the orcs are naturally brave, there are almost no true masters among them. Among the hundreds I slaughtered, there was not a single worthy opponent. With the overwhelming strength inherited from my Bimong clan, I swept through the orc kingdom like a tiger among sheep.
Finally, I reached the border between the Orc Kingdom and the Dragon God Empire. The Dragon God Empire's Stru Fortress stood between the two countries, its towering walls blocking the orcs' advance.
I arrived at the foot of the city walls and shouted, "Please open the gates and let me in, generals!"
A human who seemed to be a commander looked down and shouted, "Who are you?"
I recited the lines I had prepared in advance: "I am a merchant who came to do business with the orcs. Our caravan was raided by orc bandits, and I am the only one who escaped. As you can see, I am human." I pulled off the hat I had been wearing for over a month.
The general looked into the distance, saw that I was indeed alone and human, and his tone softened. He said, "Those orc bandits are real scum. Why do you keep going there to do business? It's not worth risking your life. Open the gate a bit and let him in."
Soon, the gate opened a crack, and several guards welcomed me inside.
The general from earlier was among them. Upon seeing my handsome features and tall stature, he took an instant liking to me and asked, "How severe were the losses?"
I feigned a sigh and replied, "Don't even mention it. Surviving to return was already a miracle. General, you have no idea how terrifying those orc bandits are. They kill anyone they see and loot anything they find."
The general said, "Enough, don't be so upset. Rest assured, the Dragon God Empire will eventually eliminate them all. Go ahead and enter the city to rest. Once you're on human territory, there's nothing to fear."
I expressed my gratitude repeatedly, secretly sighing in relief.
Stru Fortress was built based on Stru City. It was my first time in a human city, and everything seemed so new to me. This place was indeed much more prosperous than the orc territories. The streets were bustling with people, buying and selling openly, a scene of thriving prosperity.
Following the merchant teacher's advice, I first found a relatively clean inn to stay in, planning to rest for the night and continue my journey to Dragon City tomorrow.
Now that I was among humans, I felt there was no need to wear a hat. Seeing so many people who looked similar to me for the first time, I couldn't help but feel excited. Though I was the shortest among the Bimons, here, almost no one could match my height. Walking down the street, I felt like a crane among chickens.
Many women passing by cast curious or unusual glances at me, making my face flush repeatedly. The merchant teacher had mentioned during his lessons that my appearance was considered very handsome among humans, and that I would surely attract many girls' affections in the Dragon God Empire. However, I hadn't expected the women here to be so bold. It seems taking off my hat was a mistake. However, human girls look much more comfortable than female orcs, perhaps because we share similar appearances, I silently told myself.
This city is free of war's smoke, and everyone gets along harmoniously. I strolled around the city streets, bought some food, and returned to the inn.
Night had fallen. I took out the map of the Dragon God Empire from my bag. The distance to Dragon City was still over 3,900 kilometers—quite a long way. I'd better set off early tomorrow morning. It's better to arrive sooner so I can prepare adequately for the exam.
After putting away the map, I sat cross-legged on the bed and began practicing according to the scroll of the Heavenly Demon Decision. A cool, penetrating sensation gradually spread throughout my body. Lately, I felt like my progress in the Heavenly Demon Decision had been quite rapid. Although I had only practiced the second layer for just over half a year, I could now use some intermediate-level dark magic. The fusion of Dark Power and Heavenly Thunder Armor had also improved compared to before. Could it be because I had killed so many people recently? Actually, I don't know. The Heavenly Demon Sutra is the highest-level technique of the demonic race, belonging to the demonic-martial arts fusion category. The foundational techniques of the first segment lean toward slaughter, darkness, and cruelty. Since I've killed many bandits, it aligns with the requirements of the Heavenly Demon Sutra, which is why I've progressed so rapidly.