chsdbacks Chapter 280: Unknown Threat
Chapter 280: Unknown Threat
The immortal world contains hundreds of millions of worlds where immortals reside. And far beyond the world Arthur currently was in, in a distant planet a threat was brewing that he wasn’t even aware of.The sky above the world carried a dull crimson hue due to the setting sun in the horizon, while the forests stretched endlessly with massive trees whose branches curled outward, and the air was dense with immortal spiritual energy.
It was from within one such forest that a figure slowly emerged, his steps were unsteady yet deliberate as he walked toward a distant city visible beyond the tree line. His body was drenched in blood from head to toe, he was soaked entirely, as if he had bathed in it.
Some of the blood had dried into dark, crusted layers along his clothes and skin, while fresh streaks still dripped from his fingers, leaving a faint trail behind him likely from a recent kill. His hair clung messily to his face, partially obscuring his eyes, but what little could be seen of them revealed something deeply unsettling, an emptiness that wasn’t natural, paired with a flicker of madness that seemed to grow with every step he took towards the city.
As he approached the city gates, the guards stationed there immediately noticed him. Their posture shifted instantly from routine vigilance to alert readiness, their hands moved toward their weapons as they stepped forward to intercept him before he could get any closer.
One of the guards raised his voice, and said in a commanding tone which cut through the otherwise quiet atmosphere near the entrance. “Hey! You there…stop right now!”
The unknown man did not respond, nor did he slow down. He continued walking forward as if the command hadn’t even reached him, his pace remained unchanged, and his gaze unfocused yet somehow locked onto the guards ahead like a predator.
The guards exchanged glances, their expressions tightening as they sensed something was off. Spiritual energy began to circulate through their bodies, faint ripples of energy forming around their weapons as they prepared for confrontation.
Another guard stepped forward, his voice carrying more force this time. “This is your final warning! Stop where you are or we will attack!” Still, there was no response. The man kept walking until the distance between them shrank to barely ten meters, and only then did he finally come to a halt.
The sudden stop created a brief moment of tension that stretched just long enough to make everyone uneasy. The lead guard took a cautious step forward, gripping his weapon tightly as he began to speak again, his tone was measured but firm. “Now, state your identity and…”
He didn’t get to finish what he was saying. The unknown man’s lips curled upward into a slow and twisted smile, one that didn’t reach his eyes and carried no warmth, and carried a hint of something deeply unhinged.
In the next instant, he lunged towards the guards. The attack was so swift the guard at the lead only got to shout, “Attack!”
But the command came too late to matter. What followed couldn’t be called a fight in any sense, but a complete massacre. The man’s movements were erratic yet precise, his hands tearing through flesh and bone with utmost brutality.
One guard’s chest was pierced before he could even react, another lost his arm mid-swing as it was torn from his body, his scream was cut short as his throat was crushed. Panic spread instantly, but there was no time to reorganize, or time to call for reinforcement. Within seconds, the formation broke, and in less than a minute, the ground was littered with dried up bodies.
Only one guard remained alive, his body trembling uncontrollably as he was lifted off the ground by his neck, his feet barely touching the dirt. Snot and tears streamed down his face as he struggled to breathe, his voice breaking into sobs as he pleaded desperately. “P-please… spare me…”
The man tilted his head slightly, as if genuinely considering the request, but the expression on his face didn’t change. Instead of killing him outright, something far worse began to happen. A strange, invisible force started getting pulled from the guard’s body, and almost immediately, his skin began to wrinkle and shrink, his vitality draining at an unnatural rate.
His muscles withered, his veins darkened, and his voice turned into a choked gasp as his body rapidly aged before their eyes. “A… argh…”
The sound barely escaped his throat before it disappeared entirely. In mere seconds, what remained was nothing more than a lifeless husk, only skin stretched over bone, devoid of any trace of life. The man released the corpse casually, letting it fall to the ground before throwing his head back and laughing.
At first, the sound was low, almost contained, but it quickly escalated into something wild and unrestrained, echoing across the gate with a manic intensity that sent a chill through the surroundings.
“Ha… ha ha… hahaha… HAHAHAHAHA!” The energy he had absorbed surged through his body, causing faint distortions in the air around him as if something within him was feeding on it.
The commotion did not go unnoticed for long. From within the city, more guards rushed toward the gate, their footsteps heavy as they arrived at the scene only to freeze at what they saw. The dried corpses, the blood-soaked ground, and the lone figure standing in the middle of it all painted a picture that needed no explanation.
Anger quickly replaced shock, and one of them stepped forward, his voice filled with both fury and fear. “What… what did you do to them… you demon!”
Without waiting for a response, they charged with their weapons raised, their energy surging as they attempted to overwhelm him with numbers. The man simply glanced at them, the smirk was still present on his face as if he found the situation amusing.
“Heh…” was all he said before moving again, his figure blurring as he launched himself toward them, and the next clash began with the same inevitability as the last.
…
More than a week had passed and Arthur’s Spirit Tool Pavilion had already moved past its initial surge of curiosity and entered a stable phase of recognition. Even after increasing the prices of his artifacts following the first three days, the number of customers had not decreased as one might expect.
Instead, it stabilized into a steady stream of cultivators who came not just to browse, but with clear intent to purchase. The shop had earned a reputation, and in a cultivation world where reputation often determined survival, that alone carried significant weight.
On that particular day, however, the usual flow of customers was accompanied by a presence that stood out immediately. A middle-aged man entered the shop with calm, measured steps, his gaze became sharp as it moved across the interior. His clothing was simple, but the way he carried himself was different from the other cultivators.
He was the same middle aged man from the Artifact Refiners Union. They have been trying to find some information about Arthur but even after a week they were unable to find any making them helpless. And that was the reason the Chief of the Artifact Refiners Union decided to visit Arthur personally.
Chen Yuze paused briefly after stepping inside, his eyes taking in the structure, the arrangement, and the overall design of the shop. Even for someone of his experience, who had seen high-end refinement halls and elite artifact pavilions, there was something here that caught his attention immediately.
It wasn’t extravagance, but how different the style looked compared to what could be seen in this world, nothing felt unnecessary and nothing felt misplaced. It was like everything had been designed with purpose.
His gaze shifted toward the displayed artifacts, and with just a glance, he could guess they were all well made just like the ones he had inspected before arriving here. The quality was consistent, and far beyond what should be possible from an unknown individual operating alone. Finally, his attention settled on Arthur, who was seated behind the counter, casually reading something.
Chen Yuze approached him slowly, stopping just close enough to speak without raising his voice. “Excuse me,” he said, his tone was polite but direct. “Are you the one who made these artifacts?”
…
Arthur looked up, his gaze meeting Chen’s calmly as he assessed him in a single glance. The man appeared ordinary at first, but he could feel beneath that ordinary facade was a man with terrifying strength. He couldn’t even sense how strong this person was.
Arthur nodded. “Yes. I made them.”
Chen’s expression shifted slightly, a faint smile forming as he continued. “If you don’t mind me asking, where did you learn artifact refining?”
Arthur didn’t answer, he simply looked at him, and the silence itself carried enough meaning. Chen understood immediately, letting out a soft chuckle as he raised his hand slightly. “My apologies, that was inappropriate of me.”
He reached into his storage ring and took out a token, placing it on the counter and sliding it toward Arthur. “I am Chen Yuze,” he introduced himself. “Chief of the Artifact Refiners Union’s branch established in this world.”
Arthur glanced at the token briefly before returning his gaze to Chen. “What can I help you with?” he asked directly.
Chen didn’t hesitate. “I would like to formally invite you to join our organization.” The statement was straightforward, carrying no hidden intent.
Arthur leaned back slightly, considering it for a moment before asking, “What do I gain from that?”
Chen’s smile deepened slightly as he tapped the token lightly. “The first thing you will receive is this token, and don't underestimate it. This alone is worth more than you think. The Artifact Refiners Union is one of the top five organizations in the Immortal Realm. With this, you will receive priority treatment almost anywhere you go. And that is only the tip of the iceberg, we provide resources, connections, and a network that spans across regions you cannot reach alone. Your artifacts won’t just be sold in this city, they will reach far beyond it.”
Arthur was a bit surprised coming across such a big organisation in less than two months after coming to this world.
Chen Yuze paused briefly before continuing, his tone was steady. “In exchange, we only take fifty percent of the revenue generated from artifacts refined using our materials.”
Arthur didn’t respond immediately, instead asking another question. “And if I use my own materials to create artifacts, how much is your cut?”
Chen nodded, as if expecting the question. “Then we take only ten percent, you retain control over production, and we provide distribution and support.”
Arthur considered that carefully, weighing the value of access against the cost.
Chen said seeing Arthur in deep thought, “Not only that, if you improve your skills and are able to create higher grade artifacts in the future our organisation would offer even better benefits to you.”
A brief silence followed as Arthur tapped his finger lightly against the counter, his thoughts moving quickly as he evaluated the offer. He didn’t need the union to survive, but aligning with them would grant him access to information, networks, and opportunities that would otherwise take time to build independently; it was something that could accelerate his plans significantly.
Finally, he nodded. “I have no problem with working with you, but I don't want anyone to disturb me while I am working.”
Chen smiled hearing Arthur, he understood Arthur wanted to protect his craft’s technique and he respected that so he nodded, “That’s acceptable,” he replied immediately. “You can work in peace.”
He stood up, giving a final glance around the shop before turning toward the exit. “Whenever you want to sell your artifacts or want anything, you can inject a trace of spiritual energy into the token. Someone would arrive to assist you.” Arthur nodded once, watching as Chen left.
As the door closed behind him, Arthur leaned back slightly, his gaze shifting toward the token resting on the counter. He could have refused the man, but in a world where power, information, and influence dictated everything, aligning with a major organization wasn’t a limitation. And for now, leverage was exactly what he needed.
***
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