Just as Logan Shaw's clone lunged at Evan Chu, a surge of energy blasted the clone dozens of meters back, interrupting his martial technique but leaving him unharmed. Evan dodged with a flash, but Logan's cicada-wing shortsword sliced past, shearing a chunk of flesh from Evan's waist—the blade was shockingly sharp, almost as fierce as his own Frostbane Sword. Both Evan and Logan tumbled back hundreds of meters before catching themselves, blood splattering in the air.
A long-lost stream of faint golden blood flowed from Evan Chu’s body, and his wounds began healing at a speed visible to the naked eye. Logan Shaw’s recovery was clearly much slower, and just then, a mouthful of reverse blood spurted from his lips—he was obviously wounded internally as well.
Staring at Evan Chu in horror, Logan found it hard to accept the reality. That sword strike was his strongest attack to date—he’d held nothing back after witnessing Evan’s terrifying power. Yet now he was the one seriously wounded. The blow to his pride was immense.
[Irrelevant webnovel filler omitted.]
But look at us—neither of us has anything on! Hilarious, isn’t it? Didn’t you cultivate virgin arts? How come yours is so tiny? Is it because you were born short, so you chose the virgin path? Look at mine—majestic, right? Hahahaha!”
Hearing this, Logan Shaw was so frustrated he nearly spat blood. He’d seen shameless people before, but never anyone this shameless. It was bad enough that Evan was so strong, but to talk so crudely—this was pure humiliation.
“You’ve gone too far!” Veins bulged on Logan Shaw’s face as his muscles twisted, blood streaking his features and making him look like a fiend risen from the underworld. The sight sent chills down anyone’s spine.
Ignoring the fresh blood pouring from his wounds, Logan Shaw charged Evan Chu again, with his clone also attacking. Evan showed no fear—he’d already spotted something he desperately wanted. Even if he took more injuries, it would be worth it.
But Evan had no interest in Logan's schemes—he was eyeing the storage ring on Logan's right hand. If he could chop off that arm and grab the ring, it'd be a massive windfall. He was sure there were Netherghost Violet Orchids inside that would blow his mind. Even if he took another hit, as long as he got that arm, it was worth it.
To sever Logan’s arm, Evan couldn’t let his Frostbane Sword clash with that thin shortsword. He’d have to rely on his speed to dodge, then strike fast. But Logan’s sword-qi covered a wide area—dodging alone wouldn’t avoid all damage. The only way was to avoid vital spots and wait for Logan to drop his guard, then hit him hard.
But now, with Evan Chu killing this clone directly, Logan’s soul was shattered beyond control. Blood gushed up from deep inside, and with his arm mangled, Logan was finished—spent, broken, not even worth another arrow. The humiliation burned in his chest, but all he could do was glare at Evan Chu, clinging to the last scraps of his pride.
Logan was also puzzled—why wasn’t this kid attacking head-on, but kept dodging instead? What was Evan’s game? Had his strength been spent on his earlier technique, or was he unable to use that move again?
This strange thought flashed through Logan’s mind, but he quickly dismissed it. That was because he saw Evan Chu’s face twist into a sinister smile—a terrifying expression that made even a battle-hardened veteran like Logan’s back go cold. An ominous feeling instantly welled up inside him.
What Evan saw inside nearly made him drop out of the sky. If the Ghost King’s storage ring was a huge windfall, then Logan Shaw’s was a windfall among windfalls—thousands of Netherstones packed inside.
A stab of pain shot through him—his arm was severed in an instant. The Frostbane Sword’s sharpness was unquestionable; blood spurted from the stump, and the agony left Logan drenched in cold sweat.
Evan Chu immediately grabbed the severed arm with the storage ring, didn’t even glance at it, and tossed it straight into his own storage ring. Just then, Logan’s clone closed in to attack.
Now that he had the storage ring, Logan Shaw was worthless to Evan Chu. Evan hurriedly unleashed a Star‑Cleave, completely neutralizing the clone’s attack and slicing it cleanly in two with overwhelming force.
The destruction of the clone dealt a heavy blow to Logan’s soul—he’d already suffered soul damage before, when the Nether Monarch destroyed one of his clones in their battle. Like Evan Chu, Logan could split his consciousness to control two bodies, but now he had to seal off the injured half and only use the other, just to stay in the fight.
Now that Evan had the storage ring, Logan Shaw was useless to him. Without hesitation, Evan unleashed a Star-Cleave, the massive sword-qi wiping out the clone’s attack and splitting the clone in two. The destruction sent a soul-shattering backlash through Logan, making him cough up blood and finally leaving him a spent force.
Logan gritted his teeth through the agony, glaring at Evan Chu. "What realm are you, anyway? How come I've never heard of you?"
Evan Chu sneered, and the Frostbane Sword flashed with a blaze of sword-light. Logan Shaw, once proud, now desperate, threw everything into blocking it. But Evan's attack smashed through his defenses like breaking rotten wood—the Frostbane Sword drove straight into his heart, ending him in a single strike.
Evan Chu glanced at Logan Shaw’s corpse and snorted, voice full of scorn. "Pathetic. So much for a so-called Human powerhouse!" He knew he was crossing the line, but for the Netherghost Violet Orchids, he'd do anything. Still, he wasn't about to wipe out the whole Human race—they could pick another king. In his heart, he'd already chosen a candidate.
He couldn’t kill Evan Chu, but maybe the Death‑Tower Grounds could destroy him. Logan himself had barely escaped with his life when he entered that place—inside were plenty of powerful beings, but most had become walking corpses, unable to ever leave the Tower of Death. Logan never figured out why.
What he saw nearly made him fall out of the sky. If the Ghost King’s storage ring was a huge surprise, then Logan Shaw’s was a surprise within a surprise—there were thousands of Netherstones inside.
But one thing was clear—if Evan Chu entered the Death‑Tower Grounds, that would be the end for him. Maybe those monsters inside would be the ones to avenge Logan. With this thought, Logan spoke to Evan:
“I never thought I’d fall into your hands today. It’s maddening. But a dying man speaks truth—the Death‑Tower Grounds are the most dangerous and mysterious place in the Netherworld. Inside, you can find powerful martial arts and treasures. My clone technique came from there. But it’s deadly—you’re likely to die nine times out of ten.”
A fierce premonition surged up in his heart—if he entered the Death-Tower Grounds, he'd seize something heaven-defying, something that would flip fate itself. He didn't know why he was so sure, but one thing was certain: he had to go.
He looked to the distant sky and forced a bitter smile. "Time to settle things with the Nether Monarch. But hell if I know how to handle it!"
Then, with a burst of speed, Evan Chu shot through the void like a meteor, dragging a streak of cyan behind him as he flew toward his next battle...
Evan Chu glanced at Logan Shaw’s corpse and laughed. “Pathetic. So much for a Human powerhouse!” Though Evan himself was human, he had no qualms about going too far for the Netherghost Violet Orchid. But he had no intention of wiping out the human race—he could always choose another strong contender to be Human King. He already had someone in mind.
Logan Shaw’s corpse had already fallen, but he was a Human powerhouse—dying like that was too undignified. Evan Chu landed beside him and cast Fireshift.
“If you’d treated me as a friend from the start, maybe the humans would rule the Netherworld and the Netherkin would just be a special race on the side. But you looked down on me, and this is the end you deserve.”
Logan’s corpse was burned to ash. Evan Chu flashed back into the air, pulled out Logan’s severed arm from his storage ring, took off the storage ring, then burned the arm away with Fireshift. He slowly poured his divine sense into the storage ring.
What he saw nearly made him fall out of the sky. If the Ghost King’s storage ring was a huge surprise, then the Human King Logan Shaw’s was a surprise within a surprise—there were thousands of Netherstones inside.
But Netherstones weren’t much use to Evan Chu. He could only trade them for something useful when leaving the Netherworld. What really mattered was the huge pile of Netherghost Violet Orchids.
Evan Chu did a quick count—there were over three hundred Netherghost Violet Orchids. That was an astronomical fortune. With these, his mission in the Netherworld was complete. It was time to go home, though he still wanted to check out the Death‑Tower Grounds.
A strong premonition welled up inside him—he was certain that if he entered the Death‑Tower Grounds, he’d gain something against the heavens. He didn’t know why, but one thing was clear: he had to go.
He glanced at the distant sky and smiled bitterly. “Time to settle things with the Nether Monarch. But I really don’t know what to do about it!”
Then, with a flash, Evan Chu shot through the void like a meteor, trailing a cyan afterimage as he flew into the distance…