Lose Everything on the Board

“Hahahaha! Too late! When he passed through my body just now, I already made him lower his guard, so he wasn’t prepared this time!”

The flame man threw his head back and laughed. The flames around him burned fiercely, completely enveloping Xu Mu.

“I understand now. I was wondering why this tower’s trials were so comprehensive. I didn’t realize they were meant to select a vessel for you.”

Xu Mu remained expressionless.

“That’s right! The Undying Soul-Transfer Technique is one of the highest-grade divine techniques. It can keep one’s soul from perishing, but without spiritual energy, the soul will still dissipate over time. That’s why I embedded my soul into this heavenly-grade formation.”

The flame man’s voice echoed through the air. “Do you know what I’ve been through all these years? Before you arrived, I was trapped in endless regret.”

“Countless years ago, a group of people broke in here, but I looked down on their talents and used the formation to kill them. After that, all I could do was wait endlessly.”

The flame man sighed. “Even a heavenly-grade formation can wither after waiting for too long. If the formation disappeared, I would disappear with it. So I swore that no matter who entered next, I would possess them.”

“So you chose me?”

Xu Mu’s tone remained calm.

“That’s right! You should remember what I said when I first saw the woman beside you. I said it was a pity.”

The flame man laughed. “What I meant was that it was a pity she was a woman. I only have one chance to possess someone. If a grown man like me became a woman, and I had to think about possibly being taken by other men in the future, I couldn’t stand it.”

“Damn, you’ve really thought this through.”

Xu Mu cursed inwardly.

“This tower was a formation carved out for me by my descendants back then. Naturally, its purpose was to select a vessel. At first, I had no hope for any of you, but when the second level tested your physical strength, you amazed me.”

There was a hint of madness in the flame man’s voice. “I’ve seen countless experts, but I can’t think of a single one whose physique could compare with yours. So I tested your mental strength as well—and you frightened me. Your mental strength is just as extraordinary… Ah! A perfect vessel!”

Hathaway frowned in the distance. She had only known that Xu Mu possessed tremendous physical strength. She had never imagined that his mental strength was equally powerful. This man truly was terrifying.

If she had been the flame man, she probably would have chosen Xu Mu as well.

“Xu Mu, you only have one weakness: your cultivation is too low. If I possessed you, I would have to start cultivating all over again, and that made me hesitate.”

The flame man continued, “At that point, the others began appearing one after another, and quite a few of them were World-Breaking experts. So I made a decision. If you could withstand a World-Breaking Tier Three expert for a while, I would choose you!”

Hathaway tightened her grip on her sword. No wonder the person she had fought here had been Xu Mu.

“Child, you’ve exceeded my expectations once again. This Saint Light woman clearly possesses the ability to kill opponents above her level. Not only did you endure for a while, you were even able to fight someone like her. Do you know what that means?”

The flame man laughed. “Once you enter the World-Breaking Realm, you’ll be able to kill even Tier Four opponents. I like you more and more! Don’t worry. From now on, I’ll take your body to the peak!”

Buzz!

The flames transformed into red light and began seeping into Xu Mu’s body.

The surroundings dimmed, and the tower seemed to be fading from existence.

Clearly, the flame man had begun the possession.

“Damn you! Let Xu Mu go! He’s mine!”

Hathaway tightened her grip on her sword and charged toward Xu Mu.

Boom!

She brought her sword down, but the blazing waves of flame easily sent her flying.

Xu Mu was trapped inside the flames as well. He unleashed his power repeatedly, but the flames surrounding him were indestructible, locking him firmly in place and making escape impossible.

“Little girl of the Saint Light race, once I possess Xu Mu, I’ll make you my woman.”

The flame man let out a series of cold laughs. “Child, stop struggling. You should be thanking me. With me, your body will one day be able to enjoy the company of the heavenly daughters of countless races.”

The flame man continued drawing power from the formation around him.

The surrounding space began to collapse and then vanished. A moment later, the group reappeared on the devastated earth.

At the same time, everyone else in the vicinity appeared as well.

“Give Xu Mu back to me!”

Golden currents of electricity flickered across the back of Hathaway’s hand. The currents transformed into golden hammers, each about a foot long.

They were the divine weapons she wielded.

“Don’t attack!”

As Xu Mu spoke, a black shadow suddenly appeared in front of Hathaway.

The next moment, Xu Mu’s figure broke free of the flames and transferred itself onto the shadow.

Divine technique, Second Form of the Void Afterimage Sword—Phantom Kill.

As long as qi could pass through a barrier, Xu Mu could pass through it as well.

If Hathaway hadn’t suddenly tried to save him, Xu Mu would have attempted to switch places with her.

“What? You…”

Hathaway’s eyes widened in shock. The flame man’s strength was clearly extraordinary—at least Tier Eight or Nine.

Yet Xu Mu, at his current level, had actually managed to break free of his restraints!

“I didn’t expect you to save me. I’m touched. I apologize for tricking you earlier.”

Xu Mu spoke with complete sincerity.

“You… you bastard!”

Hathaway clenched the divine hammer and brought it down on Xu Mu’s head.

After leaving that invisible formation, she would have killed Sharp if Raife hadn’t intervened. She never would have guessed that Xu Mu had been behind it all.

Xu Mu swiftly dodged. “I’m sincerely apologizing. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have said it.”

Hathaway glared furiously at Xu Mu. Why was it that after learning Xu Mu had been the one behind everything, she actually felt somewhat relieved?

Could it be because he had insulted her so horribly before that this seemed like nothing by comparison?

“Damn it!”

The flame man charged toward Xu Mu again from the distance, instantly engulfing him.

He had already absorbed all the power in the surrounding area and begun the possession. There was no turning back now.

If he couldn’t successfully possess someone during this process, his power would dissipate.

“Again?”

Another shadow flew out from Xu Mu’s body, and he effortlessly transferred himself out once more.

“Damn it!”

The flame man roared in fury. He gave up on Xu Mu.

He had no idea what kind of technique Xu Mu was using, but it allowed him to pass effortlessly through his restraints.

Time was running out. He could only choose another target.

In an instant, his eyes locked onto Chen Xuan in the distance. Back in the tower, he had taken a liking to both Chen Xuan and Xu Mu.

But Xu Mu’s talent was greater, so he had abandoned Chen Xuan.

Chen Xuan was also capable of killing opponents above his level with ease.

Buzz!

Chen Xuan was enveloped by the flame man.

Seeing this, Xu Mu immediately rushed over. He used his switching technique and rescued Chen Xuan as well.

The flame man was completely dumbfounded. What exactly was this technique of Xu Mu’s?

He had thought he had planned everything perfectly, without a single oversight. Yet because of Xu Mu, everything had fallen apart.

Whoosh!

Xu Mu passed through once again.

“This is bad!”

The flame man had already given up. He couldn’t waste any more time on Xu Mu and the others.

He had no choice but to seek out someone else. If this continued, he would die.

Xu Mu quickly gave chase. He absolutely could not allow the flame man to join forces with Wang Hun.