Chapter 82: The Founding of a Reign of Terror

Fan Tianxing arrived in the northwest of Huaxia, a region already desolate by nature, but the mountains here seemed even more like untamed wilderness, untouched and devoid of a single soul.

Yet, hidden deep within these mountains, there was a courtyard. The style of its architecture was classically elegant, every detail radiating an aura of dignity and power.

“You wait by the gate. I’ll be back soon.” Fan Tianxing stood outside the courtyard and whispered this to Ren Zhonghao, who had been trailing behind him, before striding straight inside.

Ren Zhonghao remained outside, somewhat dumbfounded. He had never seen his usually arrogant boss behave with such courtesy.

Indeed, this was already considered polite for Fan Tianxing. Ordinarily, he would barge in with five or six men, handling things by force, and if that didn’t work, resort to killing—he feared nothing except the holders of the Eerie Domain.

Ever since they had abandoned Ling City and fled, Fan Tianxing had forbidden Ren Zhonghao from addressing him as “Director” and had him switch to calling him “Boss” instead.

Fan Tianxing walked further in, passed a small vegetable garden, and finally reached the main hall.

In the center of the hall stood a tea table, opposite which sat an elderly man. He was dressed all in white, his temples dusted with silver, giving him the air of an exiled immortal.

The old man was pouring tea into a cup, as if he had long expected Fan Tianxing’s arrival.

Without further ado, Fan Tianxing took a seat, picked up the cup, and savored a sip. “This tea is excellent—give me ten or twenty pounds when I leave.”

“Let’s get down to business,” the old man said, not even glancing at him, sipping his own tea with indifference.

“The Book of Divine Words has gone awry. Many unexpected variables have arisen,” Fan Tianxing replied, his tone unexpectedly calm.

“The balance of Yin and Yang, the fickleness of fate—isn’t that perfectly ordinary?” The old man’s tone was equally unruffled, bordering on apathy.

“Ordinary? The full resurgence of the eerie has erupted five years ahead of schedule, and the growth rate of these beings now surpasses that of humans!” Fan Tianxing grew agitated.

“Anything else?”

“And the holder of the Eerie Domain—he’s gone to Tianjing City and wiped out many of my strongest assets. Now, both Tianjing and Ling City are likely under his control. Even the eerie creatures from the last era are trying to carve out a share for themselves and snatched five entire cities from me! The Ghost Train connecting the two eras has also vanished without a trace, and those I sent to investigate it have disappeared as well. What in the world is happening?”

All advantages now belonged to the eerie creatures, and Fan Tianxing was on the verge of collapse.

“So what do you want me to do?” The old man took another sip of tea.

“Act. Kill that Eerie Domain holder.” Murder flashed in Fan Tianxing’s eyes.

When he heard this, the old man set his cup down and shook his head. “The original holder of the Eerie Domain is already dead.”

“What do you mean?” Fan Tianxing’s frown deepened.

“The current holder is an unknown variable, beyond even our control,” the old man replied, shaking his head again.

“How could that be? You people—” His words cut off abruptly.

“We have no reason to deceive you. He is indeed a profoundly mysterious existence, one we are not authorized to interfere with,” the old man said, his gaze settling calmly on Fan Tianxing.

“So what now? You’ll just watch as humanity is wiped out?” Fan Tianxing pressed.

“There are two keys to the opening of the Eerie Era—one held by the eerie, and one by humanity,” the old man explained slowly.

“What are you getting at?”

Fan Tianxing knew full well—the eerie’s key was the core of the Eerie Domain, and humanity’s key he also understood, but he was unsure of the old man’s intentions.

The old man spread his hand over the tea table, and a painting appeared. He handed it over. “I’m giving you this key ahead of schedule.”

Fan Tianxing accepted the painting. “Do you realize what will happen to the world if I use this now?”

The old man merely took another sip of tea. “That’s up to you. After all, it was the eerie who broke the balance first.”

Fan Tianxing nodded, said nothing more, and left with the painting.

The two keys to the new era: the eerie’s key would trigger a full resurgence of the uncanny, while humanity’s would awaken spiritual energy, returning Blue Star to the state it was in thousands of years ago, in the era of the eerie. But now that the eerie’s key had already been used, it meant they would inevitably surpass humanity. The only way to restore balance was for humanity to use its own key. Yet to do so would change the world forever, a change Fan Tianxing had to weigh with utmost care.

At the gate, he turned to Ren Zhonghao and said, “I’m gathering our forces again. I want to meet that Eerie Domain holder!”

...

Within Ling City, Feng Tianlin summoned his entire eerie army, gathering all the uncanny beings of the city in the main square. From the platform above, he asked Qi Xuan, “Is everyone here?”

Qi Xuan nodded. “Every intelligent eerie creature in this city should be present.”

Receiving confirmation, he turned to Bairangen. “Could you burn them all to death with a single breath?”

Bairangen nodded. “I can.”

“Then burn them all,” Feng Tianlin declared with a smile.

Bairangen was surprised, but he had no intention of disobeying Feng Tianlin. Without hesitation, he unleashed a torrent of flames from his mouth, scorching the earth.

The uncanny beings on the square were still whispering among themselves, thinking the Evil King and Venom Queen had arrived, only to see a foreign child instead.

Before they could process this, torrents of purple fire erased all thought.

“All right, let’s begin transforming this city,” Feng Tianlin said with a cheerful facade, though inwardly he felt little satisfaction.

He had hoped to terrify the citizens of each city he conquered, to reap horror and fear in abundance. Yet the city he had just taken was a ghost town—who could he possibly frighten?

His reason for slaughtering these uncanny creatures was simple. Aside from the eerie beings in Tianjing City, all others across Huaxia had been infiltrated by the Evil King and Venom Queen’s forces. Ling City in particular was rife with their confidants; Feng Tianlin dared not risk leaving his enemies here.

Besides, with so few living humans, it was already hard enough to feed one city’s eerie population, let alone harbor a group that could rebel at any moment.

Impossible.

He had no plans to attack more cities, either. For one, the surrounding towns were likely all jumpy and nearly deserted. For another, even if he took more cities, with his current strength he could not hold them.

His team now had only two top fighters: Qi Xuan and Bairangen. At most, each could hold a single city.

Looking out over the vast city, a wicked grin spread across Feng Tianlin’s face. He raised his hand.

“My Empire of Terror is now founded! Qi Xuan, you shall be Lord of Tianjing City; Bairangen, Lord of Ling City. Other positions will be determined later!”

At these words, both were overjoyed. Each had gained a city just like that? In their time, even dreaming of such a thing would be unthinkable. Now, it had come so easily.

Unknowingly, their loyalty soared. Only Feng Tianlin chuckled inwardly.

These titles had won them over, but a city lord was merely an excuse to make them guard his cities. Eerie creatures truly knew nothing of such matters.