CHAPTER 115 - XU TIE’S AMBITION

The Rune Civilization had entered an age of turmoil. The undead army’s threat had only just passed when the Iron Skin army started invading the land. They were immune to conventional weapons, making it effortless for them to tear through the land’s native life forms.

The church, the human kingdom, and the minotaur kingdom all fell to the Iron Skins’ brutal strength. Only the elven kingdom managed to hold them at bay, protected by a barrier woven from elemental magic. But the magic was costly. It drained resources by the day, and the elves couldn’t maintain it much longer.

Xu Tie read the frontline report with satisfaction. Given the current situation, victory was well within his grasp.

“Sun Qingnian has been missing for a month,” he mused. “If I’m right, he’s probably found the ruins and is trying to become a Demigod. But even if he succeeds, it’ll be too late. I’ll have crushed all four kingdoms by then. His troops are better suited for support roles, so there’s nothing he can do against me.”

He chuckled softly. “Niu Fang ran to the minotaur kingdom, trying to claim the throne, but I captured her. Qian Lili is greedy for money, and I’ve bought her off. She’s likely battling Qin Shuang right now. Her core race, the stone golems, should counter Qin Shuang’s Thunder Sparrows effectively. I’ll wait for Qin Shuang’s defeat before revealing myself. And then... Hehe.

“As for Han Wu, I haven’t heard from him since I defeated him a month ago. Maybe the Rust Demon finished him off. Han Wu, it would be an honor for you to die at the hands of the Rust Demon!”

Just then, one of the Iron Skins cautiously approached Xu Tie and handed him a new report. According to it, Qian Lili’s stone golems had successfully cornered Qin Shuang’s Thunder Sparrows in a valley. Xu Tie had been waiting for this news for a long time.

Qin Shuang, let’s see how you escape me now, he thought, then rallied 10 million Iron Skins and marched straight for the valley where Qin Shuang was trapped. His army moved with speed and discipline, reaching their destination in just three days.

Qian Lili awaited him there with her stone golem army. As one of the top scorers, she was also formidable. Her stone golems were also resistant to the Thunder Sparrows’ lightning attacks, making it easy to trap Qin Shuang in the valley.

She wasted no time. As soon as she saw Xu Tie, she stretched out her hands. “I’ve done as you asked. She’s trapped. Now pay up the rest.”

Xu Tie took his time, gazing down at the valley where flashes of lightning crackled intermittently. “Well done. But before I pay the rest, I need you to put on a show with me.”

Qian Lili frowned. “What do you want?”

“I want you to act like my Iron Skins crushed your stone golems,” Xu Tie said coolly.

Her anger flared. “Are you serious? Do you have any idea how much Warfront Essence I spent to summon all 20 million of them? They’re not just throwaway pawns for your convenience!”

Xu Tie let out a sharp snort. “I can always summon the other 30 million Iron Skins and have them join this conversation properly.”

Qian Lili fell silent. Though she was greedy, she was also smart enough to recognize who held the advantage. Her 20 million stone golems were powerful, but they were no match for 40 million Iron Skins. If they actually fought, she would lose not just her entire force but the final payment as well.

She relented. “Fine. But I want double the final payment, and you’re leaving me 500,000 stone golems.”

“Done,” Xu Tie said without hesitation.

Soon, the clash of battle erupted above the valley. Stone golem and Iron Skin corpses tumbled down into the hollow below at irregular intervals.

Hidden in the shadows, Qin Shuang knew Xu Tie and Qian Lili were locked in combat overhead. She hoped both would be wounded, giving her a chance to slip away and rebuild her army.

Unfortunately, that hope was short-lived. Soon, the fighting stopped, and Xu Tie descended into the valley and appeared before her.

When he saw her, Xu Tie quickly put on an act. “Qin Shuang, you’re really here! I heard Qian Lili drove you to this place and tried to kill you. I abandoned all my battles and rushed here. I’m glad you’re safe. I’ve defeated her stone golems, and she won’t threaten you again anytime soon.”

Qin Shuang frowned but nodded. “Thank you.”

“You’re too kind. I’m just lending a hand.”

She forced a smile but said nothing. Instead, she signaled her Thunder Sparrows to fly out from the valley. As she prepared to mount her Lord life form, the Golden-Crown Thunder Sparrow, and leave, Xu Tie stopped her. “Qin Shuang, are you really going to go now? Why not stay and fight with me? Together we can defeat the native factions here and split the spoils evenly.”

Qin Shuang shook her head. “Xu Tie, thank you for the offer, but I have other matters to attend to. This is where we part ways.”

Xu Tie scowled. “You’re going after Han Wu, aren’t you? I can tell you that he’s already dead. I killed him with the Rust Demon, a being stronger than a Lord life form.”

Qin Shuang’s face drained of color, but she trusted Han Wu’s strength more than Xu Tie’s boast. “Han Wu is powerful on his own. The Rust Demon alone couldn’t kill him. Besides, he has his skeletons guarding him. Even if he couldn’t win, he could still have them to hold it off.”

“Those pathetic skeletons are nothing compared to my Iron Skins, much less the Rust Demon!” he retorted.

“I don’t want to waste any more time talking to you. Goodbye.” Without hesitation, Qin Shuang commanded her Golden-Crown Thunder Sparrow to take flight.

Xu Tie panicked. He commanded his Iron Skins to leap down from the valley’s edge, landing atop the Thunder Sparrow to block its escape.

Qin Shuang grew angry. “What do you want, Xu Tie?”

“What do I want? I want you to stay here with me. I’m the strongest now. Everyone must obey me, including you.”

Dropping the nice guy act, Xu Tie threatened, “Do as I say, or you won’t leave this place alive.”

Qin Shuang scoffed, never believing he had come to rescue her. She commanded her Thunder Sparrows to attack the Iron Skins. She would rather die fighting than fall into Xu Tie’s hands.