Volume One: The Game of the Controllers Chapter Seventy-Seven: One Against Four

Four to three. Zhang Xingfeng was momentarily taken aback—he hadn’t expected Jing Nan, a fellow denizen of the Celestial Heart Realm, to choose to stand against him. Qin Shuang’s brows drew together ever so slightly, but she said nothing.

Blue radiance flared brighter around Lan Gang. Ever since he’d awakened from his previous defeat in the ring, he’d felt a strength within him even greater than before. This was entirely due to the pill Lin Lei had given him. Yet, because the first faces he saw upon waking were Qin Shuang and Zhang Xingfeng, he had already attributed his healing to Qin Shuang in his heart.

At this moment, Lan Gang’s resolve was unshakeable: so long as Qin Shuang desired that spiritual treasure, no matter who opposed them, no matter how difficult the challenge, even if it cost him his life, he would help Qin Shuang seize it.

Though Qin Shuang’s group was at a slight disadvantage in numbers, not one among their four adversaries dared to underestimate them.

Tian Xuan, in particular, knew Lan Gang’s strength well. This eighth-tier Immortal Emperor was more troublesome than many at the ninth tier, and his attack power was formidable. Even facing Lan Gang, Tian Xuan had no confidence he could prevail.

As for Jing Nan, there was little need to elaborate—he’d grown up hearing tales of Zhang Xingfeng’s legend. He knew all too well how formidable Zhang Xingfeng was. Throughout history, many ninth-tier Immortal Emperors more powerful than himself had challenged Zhang Xingfeng; not one had ever emerged victorious.

Hao Sheng and Luo Batian knew little of Qin Shuang’s party, but they could tell the three were a united group. With no other choice, they had temporarily allied themselves with the others. In truth, all four harbored their own ambitions—once Qin Shuang and her companions were dead, the remaining three would become rivals for the treasure, and another brutal battle would ensue.

Each of the four was scheming in silence, standing stock-still, hesitant to make the first move. All understood that whoever struck first would face the others’ strongest retaliation—even in victory, they’d be gravely wounded, a price far too steep.

Meanwhile, Qin Shuang and Zhang Xingfeng each harbored their own thoughts.

Zhang Xingfeng’s heart was pounding with excitement. Thirty trillion years—he’d been trapped in the Celestial Heart Realm that long. Though he was invincible there, solitude over such eons had become suffocating, especially since his cultivation had long reached a bottleneck with no hope of further breakthrough.

Qin Shuang, on the other hand, was deeply troubled. The allure of the Heavenly Venerable’s spiritual treasure was immense, but the thought of entering a place from which she could never return was unbearable. She still had beloved family, a brother waiting for her in the Divine Realm—never to see them again was something she simply could not accept.

“Everyone, that Lan Gang is only an eighth-tier Immortal Emperor—surely the weakest among them. I also heard he was unconscious when he first arrived, which means he only barely made it in here. Why don’t we agree on a secret signal, and all attack him at once? With him gone, the remaining two will be much easier to handle!”

After observing Qin Shuang’s trio for a while, Jing Nan was the first to send a soundless message to the others. His proposal was met with immediate approval. If a fight was inevitable, better to act now than wait for the treasure to appear and throw everything into even greater chaos.

Lan Gang had no idea he’d been marked as the soft target. Still, his innate Kuyaan vigilance had already alerted him that something was amiss, and every ounce of his energy was gathered, ready for anything.

“Now!” Jing Nan’s low cry rang out in their minds as he hurled a mid-grade divine weapon. The other three acted just as swiftly, each summoning their own weapons. Four divine artifacts, all hurtled toward Lan Gang.

These were the top figures from four different realms, joining forces to ambush an eighth-tier Immortal Emperor. No matter how strong he was, they were certain he’d be gravely injured or killed. Each was confident in their attack—one less competitor would mean a better chance at the treasure.

“Boom!”

As the ambush unfolded, Qin Shuang and Zhang Xingfeng reacted instantly, each darting to Lan Gang’s sides. But to their surprise, Lan Gang himself charged straight toward the incoming artifacts, colliding with them in an explosive crash.

Two of the four were even upper-grade divine weapons, yet all were sent flying. As the dust settled, Lan Gang stood motionless, his body crackling with violet lightning.

“So it’s true—I really have grown stronger!” Lan Gang said inwardly. Neither Qin Shuang nor Zhang Xingfeng could have guessed that Lan Gang had faced the four artifacts head-on simply to test whether his physical body had also become more powerful. In the past, he would never have withstood such a ferocious assault. Originally, he’d intended to dodge some of the attacks, but a sudden impulse made him act otherwise—and thus he’d been left temporarily immobilized by the force of the collision.

“Attack!” Luo Batian suddenly roared. The four attackers, shocked by Lan Gang’s resilience, had no way back now. Weapons in hand, they charged again.

“You brought this on yourselves!” Qin Shuang’s expression turned icy. She didn’t scold Lan Gang for his recklessness; instead, a black staff appeared in her hand. With a mighty sweep, the Heaven-Shattering Triple Strike enveloped all four of them.

“Boom!”

Qin Shuang’s staff blocked their combined assault, giving Lan Gang time to recover from the previous blow.

“Jing Nan, perhaps you’ve forgotten how many have perished by my hand in the Celestial Heart Realm these years,” Zhang Xingfeng said, stepping forward. His tone was calm, but Jing Nan shuddered inside—he recalled how, after too many challenges, Zhang Xingfeng had taken to simply killing any who dared face him, instilling fear and bolstering his legend.

“Xingfeng, there’s no need for you to dirty your hands with these four. I haven’t stretched my limbs in a while—let them be my sparring partners,” Qin Shuang said, stepping in front of Zhang Xingfeng. In this place, Zhang Xingfeng could have easily slain the four Immortal Emperors himself.

“Very well. Let these four fools serve as your warm-up. Lan Gang, come here—let me show you your elder Qin’s true power!” Zhang Xingfeng smiled, not protesting, and called Lan Gang to his side. Their camaraderie had grown; formalities were no longer necessary.

“These four are nothing Lan Gang can’t handle. I’m their real target—Elder Qin, let me deal with them!” Lan Gang protested.

“Lan Gang, do you not trust me? Just watch carefully as I deal with them!” Qin Shuang smiled, enveloping Lan Gang in a wave of power and transporting him to stand beside Zhang Xingfeng.

“You four—come at me together!”

The Heaven-Shattering Triple Strike was formidable, but for experts who’d made it here, its threat was much diminished. The earlier strike had only blocked their joint attack.

“Arrogant!” Hao Sheng sneered. Suddenly, his body split into three, each wielding a mid-grade divine hammer. The three converged from different angles, bringing their hammers down on Qin Shuang.

With a dull thud, Hao Sheng rejoiced as all three hammers struck home. But immediately, he sensed something was wrong—the hammers seemed frozen, unable to budge further. The image of Qin Shuang being smashed flat did not materialize.

“Back you go!” Qin Shuang roared. All three versions of Hao Sheng, still posed mid-strike, were hurled backward, crashing and rolling across the ground in a most undignified fashion.

“I told you—best come at me together,” Qin Shuang drawled, though a cold light had entered her eyes. If these four were not eliminated now, the battle for the treasure would become far more chaotic. She had yet to decide whether she wanted the Heavenly Venerable’s treasure, but she certainly wouldn’t let these four claim it.

The display of Qin Shuang’s might astonished the four. Hao Sheng’s attack—his true self and two clones—had forced even them to retreat a step, yet Qin Shuang had endured it with her body alone. In their eyes, she was now the most dangerous opponent.

“Together!” Tian Xuan messaged the others. No longer overconfident, each prepared their strongest attack, determined to finish Qin Shuang before she could turn the tables.

Suddenly, a deafening boom erupted beside the seven. A small orb radiating eight colors rose slowly into the air, emanating such power that all seven felt a chill in their hearts.

“The treasure—get it first!”

In an instant, the four who’d been about to attack Qin Shuang switched targets, flying toward the orb.

“Back!” Qin Shuang’s body flickered as her black staff elongated, sweeping the four back once more. By now, Lan Gang and Zhang Xingfeng had reached the treasure, attempting to seize it.

“Enough—I’m done playing,” Zhang Xingfeng said. The Heavenly Venerable’s treasure was too powerful; even working together, he and Lan Gang could only barely keep the orb from floating higher. To actually claim it was beyond them.

Suddenly, another Qin Shuang appeared beside the first. The newcomer smiled faintly, took the black staff from the original, and gave a gentle tap forward.

(To be continued)