"Divine Abilities? The Heart of the Black Abyss?!"

Jiang Che was shocked.

What in the world is this? I hope it doesn’t cause any problems...

’Let’s try it out...’

Jiang Che felt the other "heart" beating beside his own and thought to himself:

"Activate the Heart of the Black Abyss!"

In an instant, Jiang Che felt an incomparably tyrannical power erupt from the Heart of the Black Abyss, surging through his entire body.

His body also began to transform.

He felt his muscles and bones growing at a frantic pace.

Thick, black scales began to sprout from his skin.

A thick mask slowly formed over his face.

From a distance, Jiang Che had transformed into a heavily armored warrior, standing two meters tall and clad in black armor!

His entire head was encased in the armor, leaving only his two eyes visible.

His black hair cascaded from behind the "helmet," stirring as if moved by an unseen wind.

Jiang Che clenched his fists, instantly feeling an unrivaled, tyrannical power!

’This... This is nearly the Qi Blood of the Early Stage of the Iron Skin Realm!’

Jiang Che was inwardly shocked.

’In this state, I could probably defeat the Blood Sacrifice easily!’

’Even though we’d both have the Qi Blood of the Early Stage of the Iron Skin Realm.’

’But I have Heart Stream, I’m proficient in Fist Techniques, and I have powerful defensive and regenerative abilities.’

’My true combat prowess should be about the same as a Mid Stage Iron Skin Realm artist.’

’Still, when I think of Chief Liu, I know I’m still not his match.’

’I don’t know what level I’m truly at. I really want to find someone to fight...’

Jiang Che felt a restlessness stirring within him, a powerful destructive urge rising from deep inside.

’Wait, what’s wrong with me?’

Jiang Che was startled. ’I’m definitely not a belligerent person. Why this sudden urge?’

’Could it be... the Heart of the Black Abyss?’

Jiang Che quickly deactivated the Black Abyss Form, and his mind instantly cleared.

’Looks like I can’t use this form lightly. It seems to affect my state of mind...’

’And I absolutely cannot let anyone know I have this Ability. Otherwise, if I’m not killed as a demon, I’ll be captured for research...’

Jiang Che mused.

’I can only use it as a trump card in times of extreme danger.’

’Good thing my face is covered and my body is so drastically changed. No one should be able to guess it’s me.’

Suddenly, he remembered something, and his expression changed.

"Right, Chief Liu and Senior Li are still waiting for me! I have to hurry!"

He walked over to the pit, grabbed the Blood Sacrifice’s corpse by the leg, and hauled it out. Then he strode toward the rendezvous point.

...

「Prefecture Street.」

Two men in black were pressed against a wall, crouched in the shadows at its base.

In the dim light of the night, their figures blended perfectly with the shadows.

"Still no sign of him. You don’t think something happened to the kid, do you?"

one of them whispered.

His voice was rough and booming.

"Probably not. He hasn’t lit the flare. Maybe he just hasn’t run into the Blood Sacrifice yet," the other person replied.

This person’s voice was softer, more refined.

It was none other than Li Rushan and Liu Hai.

After taking pills to conceal their presence, the two had changed into black clothes and were lying in ambush.

However, the two waited for a long time without any sign of Jiang Che, and they were starting to get anxious.

But they didn’t dare make a reckless move, for fear of alerting their quarry and ruining everything.

"Looks like someone’s coming!" Li Rushan suddenly whispered.

The two immediately held their breath and focused, secretly circulating their Qi Blood. The moment the Blood Sacrifice appeared, they would strike to kill!

"Wait, that doesn’t look like the Blood Sacrifice. It’s a person, and he seems to be dragging something," said Li Rushan.

As a Force Integration Artist, his sight and hearing were enhanced, allowing him to see farther than Liu Hai.

"That person looks... a bit like Jiang Che? He seems to be dragging a corpse!" Li Rushan said in surprise.

"A corpse?! What’s going on?" Liu Hai was utterly confused.

As the figure drew closer, they finally got a clear look.

"It’s Jiang Che! And he’s dragging... the Blood Sacrifice!" Liu Hai’s mouth fell open wide enough to fit an egg.

Li Rushan’s eyes bulged like saucers, and for a moment, he was speechless.

"Senior Li, Chief Liu, you can come out now. I’ve killed the Blood Sacrifice," Jiang Che called out toward the base of the wall.

His hair was a mess, his body was covered in blood, and his clothes were in tatters, barely covering him.

But his skin was completely unscathed, perfectly smooth, as if it were brand new.

The two exchanged a look and climbed to their feet.

Li Rushan’s figure blurred, and in an instant, he was there.

He hoisted up the Blood Sacrifice’s corpse, turning it over and examining it.

"It really is the Blood Sacrifice... And judging from its skin and bones, it’s without a doubt in the Iron Skin Realm!"

He then turned to Jiang Che, a complex expression on his face.

"You kid..." He trailed off, suddenly at a loss for words.

He remembered when he had just broken through to the Stone Skin Realm. Forget defeating someone in the Iron Skin Realm...

...he couldn’t have even lasted a single blow!

How could such a demonically talented young man just appear in the Jianghu?

He suddenly wondered, ’Am I getting old?’

Has this era already become the era of the young?

Liu Hai walked over as well.

He clapped Jiang Che heavily on the shoulder, his voice filled with emotion.

"Little Brother Jiang, you never cease to amaze me! You just broke through to the Stone Skin Realm and you can already defeat someone in the Iron Skin Realm!"

"Before long, I might not even be a match for you!"

Jiang Che shook his head. "You flatter me, Chief Liu. It was an extremely difficult fight. And while this Blood Sacrifice was in the Iron Skin Realm, it didn’t know any Fist Techniques. It’s far weaker than a Martial Artist of the same realm."

The more Liu Hai looked at him, the more pleased he became. Jiang Che was as humble as ever.

"Just looking at you, I can tell what a dangerous battle you’ve been through! But next time you’re in a situation like this, don’t just charge in alone. Otherwise, what are us old-timers even for?"

Jiang Che scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed. "Yes, Chief Liu. I was too reckless. Once the fight started, the blood rushed to my head and I forgot all about luring it."

"Ah, the fire of youth!" Liu Hai laughed.

"Kid, how about joining our Seven Stars Gang?" Li Rushan suddenly leaned in and asked.

The more he looked at Jiang Che, the more pleased he was. The boy had a calm and steady personality, immense strength, and on top of it all, he was humble.

If he didn’t snatch up a talent like this now, he’d lose his chance once the kid made a real name for himself!

"Senior Li, this... Could you give me some time to consider it?"

It was the number one Gang in Lin Yuan City, and it even had the city’s top master, Li Hanchuan, at its head.

Jiang Che found the prospect quite appealing.

However, by joining a Gang, he would lose a great deal of his freedom.

The Seven Stars Gang would surely be generous with resources and benefits.

He would even have plenty of masters to spar with.

But Jiang Che had too many secrets of his own.

He still valued his freedom more.

"You’re afraid of being shackled by gang rules, aren’t you? How about this: you can join as an associate! We won’t restrict your freedom. Go wherever you want, we won’t get in your way!"

"You just have to show up when something important is happening. As for your monthly stipend... how about twenty jin of Middle-Grade Exotic Beast Meat, plus two hundred taels of silver!"

Li Rushan declared with a casual air.

"Little Brother Jiang, those are excellent terms! You have to understand, the Seven Stars Gang is filled with masters; they never need to take on associates! Senior Li is making a special exception for you."

Afraid that Jiang Che didn’t understand how rare this opportunity was, Liu Hai chimed in to remind him.

"Thank you for your generous offer, Senior Li. In that case, it would be disrespectful of me to refuse!" Jiang Che said, cupping his fist.