A woman carrying a giant axe on her back slowly walked in.
She wasnât particularly beautiful, but her features were clean and decent.
She wore a black long robe with light blue trousers underneath.
Her hair was cut short, just to her ears, with arched eyebrows and phoenix-like eyes.
The moment she stepped into the inn, Xu Zimo immediately sensed something unusual.
His Hell-Suppressing Demon Physique reacted, as if excited, like it had encountered another battle physique.
Xu Zimo figured that for his physique to react so strongly, it couldnât be due to just any of the Hundred Battle Physiques.
There was only one possibility, it had to be one of the top three battle bodies. In other words, the woman possessed a top-three-ranked battle physique.
He had already met the owner of the third-ranked battle physique, Jiang Mochou. If not for the mysterious old man who suddenly appeared and took Jiang Mochou away, Xu Zimo wouldâve had Little Gui capture him long ago.
As for the woman in front of him, she most likely possessed the second-ranked battle physique, the Army Breaker Imperial Physique.
...
âInteresting,â Xu Zimo took a sip of wine, watching the woman before him with interest.
The tides of the great era were growing more chaotic. Heavenâs Will was about to take shape, and more prodigies were emerging.
Now, with all three top battle bodies revealed, this was something that had never happened in past eras.
Just like the prophecy said, this would be an incredibly brilliant age.
Xu Zimo could see her cultivation at a glance, peak Imperial Meridian realm, nearly breaking into the Empyrean Meridian stage.
But unlocking the meridian gates at this stage was incredibly difficult. This step would likely take her quite a bit of time.
At that moment, it wasnât just Xu Zimo observing the woman, she was also watching him closely.
Since entering the inn, her Army Breaker Imperial Physique had been trembling uncontrollably.
It was a kind of trembling that carried a mixture of fear and defiance.
This was the first time since obtaining her battle physique that she had experienced something like this.
Tan Jiulin instantly recalled something her master had once told her.
âShe accepted the second-ranked battle physique, and with it came her mission.â
âThat man in my destiny,â she murmured, looking at Xu Zimo.
âYouâre here to stay too, right?â the innâs waiter came over and asked quickly.
âSame as him. Bring me a jar of wine,â Tan Jiulin said calmly.
She walked up to Xu Zimo and asked flatly, âMind if I sit here?â
âGo ahead,â Xu Zimo nodded.
After sitting down, Tan Jiulin took the wine jar from the waiter and didnât bother with a cup.
She lifted the jar and took a big swig, then smiled at Xu Zimo. âDo you believe in destiny?â
âNo,â Xu Zimo shook his head.
âWhy not?â Tan Jiulin asked curiously.
âThe strong use the idea of destiny to deceive the weak into giving up resistance,â Xu Zimo replied.
âIf destiny is real, then who decides it? And what is the destiny of the one who sets destiny?â
Hearing this, Tan Jiulin was silent for a while.
After a moment, she spoke, âBut my destiny tells me that resistance is useless. Some battles are inevitable. In this world, there will always be success and failure.â
âI donât know what youâre talking about, and I donât care about any destiny,â Xu Zimo shook his head. âAll I know is, either be a coward, or if you stand in my way, Iâll tear you to pieces.â
âI want to spar with you,â Tan Jiulin said seriously as she slowly took the giant axe from her back.
âYouâre too weak. Also,â Xu Zimo pointed outside the inn, âtake care of your own trouble first.â
...
Just as he finished speaking, a loud âboomâ sounded.
The innâs door was kicked open, wood splinters flying everywhere.
Someone outside shouted, âCity Lord, I saw her with my own eyes just now. That woman entered this inn.â
As the voice rang out, a group of people entered the inn.
The waiter was so frightened he lay flat on the ground, not daring to move.
These people were all city guards, led by a middle-aged man in a red robe.
Beside him stood an old man in green.
âDemon woman, letâs see where you run now,â the middle-aged man shouted at Tan Jiulin.
âYou killed my son. Today, youâll die in Blood Slaughter City with him.â
âI never planned to run. That was just wishful thinking on your part,â Tan Jiulin said calmly as she stood up.
The giant axe in her hand released a sharp aura.
She held the axe in front of her and slashed down hard.
A beam of axe light burst out from the blade with a loud âboom,â slicing the entire inn in half.
The middle-aged man and the old man dodged quickly, but the guards behind them were all annihilated.
âPeak Emperor Meridian stage,â the middle-aged man said grimly.
His name was Xue Fengyun, the City Lord of Blood Slaughter City. But his own strength was only at the Emperor Meridian stage.
âElder Xue, Iâll need your help,â Xue Fengyun turned to the old man beside him.
His expression was serious. âThis woman is no ordinary person. I might not be able to take her.
Letâs attack together and end this quickly.â
Elder Xue nodded slightly, and both men unleashed their Emperor Meridian realm aura.
âYour son disrespected me, tried to have the guards drag me into his mansion. I had no choice but to kill him.
I didnât intend to slaughter the innocent, but now, you deserve to die too,â
Tan Jiulin snorted coldly as the axe in her hand burst with intense energy.
Though her figure was slim, she wielded the massive axe with ease, her moves wide and forceful.
Every strike carried immense power.
Xue Fengyun and Elder Xue were being completely overwhelmed.
The entire inn was destroyed by the axe, and nearby buildings collapsed as well.
Only Xu Zimoâs table remained untouched, as he sat in the ruins sipping his wine, watching the fight.
This woman not only had more combat experience, but even her vein techniques were extremely advanced.
Xue Fengyun and Elder Xue grew more alarmed as they fought, their hands already torn with deep gashes.
âMiss, weâve already reported this to the Blood Nether Sacred Sect. Theyâll be sending people soon.
You still have time to escape,â Xue Fengyun shouted.
He was already exhausted. To save himself, he had to reveal this information.
âShut up,â Tan Jiulin snorted.
The axe in her hand grew sharper, black spiritual energy swirling around it.
It looked as if a terrifying, ferocious face was roaring on the axe blade.
Tan Jiulinâs hair fluttered as the axe shone with brilliance, tearing through layers of space, striking down hard.
Xue Fengyun and Elder Xueâs eyes widened in horror, knowing they couldnât dodge in time.
Just then, a loud voice shouted from the distance.
âStop!â
A beam of radiant light flew in and, with a loud âboom,â shattered Tan Jiulinâs giant axe into pieces.