Stone slabs across the plaza shattered as debris flew everywhere.
“The Golden Thread Net!”
The moment the Golden Thread Net descended, Li Yao, already like a cornered stray dog, changed expression dramatically.
With a furious roar, he bellowed, “Break open for me!”
His black arms suddenly expanded, extending another three or four metres in length as he attempted to seize both ends of the Golden Thread Net and force it apart.
Snap!
The instant the Golden Thread Net wrapped around him, the loops along its edges moved as though invisible hands were tying knots.
Eight pairs of loops were fastened shut in an instant.
At that moment, Li Yao’s explosive strength exceeded one million kilograms.
Creak. Creak.
The Golden Thread Net tightened under the strain, but Li Yao failed to tear it apart.
Once it had completely wrapped and secured him, how could he possibly break free?
This was a net left behind by the King level monster Black Widow Spider King, specifically used to trap King level monsters.
Even King level monsters required tremendous effort to escape from it.
How could Li Yao possibly succeed?
“Not good!”
Unable to free himself, Li Yao caught sight of Luo Feng’s murderous gaze and the sixteen streaks of light through the corner of his eye.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The sixteen streaks roared towards him like sixteen raging dragons.
“I can’t die!”
Li Yao screamed inwardly.
Snap! Snap!
Bound tightly and unable to escape, Li Yao did only one thing in that crucial moment.
His black legs suddenly extended and became thinner, shrinking to roughly half their previous thickness.
The long black legs slipped through the holes of the Golden Thread Net and planted themselves on the plaza below.
Immediately, Li Yao possessed two slender black legs over two metres long.
Boom!
The sixteen streaks struck him once more.
“Arghhhh!”
Li Yao gritted his teeth.
His eyes turned bloodshot.
“I can’t die! I can’t die!”
The impact exceeding eight million kilograms slammed into him.
Even after the Black God Suit weakened it, the force still caused blood to erupt from his mouth.
His internal organs felt as though they were about to rupture.
Yet his desperate will to survive kept him going.
Whoosh!
Using the immense impact force generated by the sixteen blades, Li Yao kicked off the ground with his elongated black legs.
His speed had already been astonishing.
Combined with the momentum from the sixteen blades, he became like a black meteor.
He smashed through a statue in the plaza, reducing it to rubble.
His long black legs struck the ground once more, slightly changing direction as he charged towards the crowded street nearby.
“Still alive?”
A cold light flashed through Luo Feng’s eyes.
“He’s gone mad. Luo Feng has gone completely mad.”
Li Yao’s thoughts raced.
“He’s actually trying to kill me publicly inside a base city, right in the HR Alliance Plaza.”
“He’s insane.”
“As long as I can seize a large group of ordinary people as human shields, I’ll still have a chance to survive.”
Using the two elongated black legs created by his Black God Suit, Li Yao raced desperately towards the street.
The pavement was packed with people.
Many drivers had left their cars due to the traffic congestion.
Thousands upon thousands watched the scene unfold, many visibly excited.
Luo Feng’s pursuit of Li Yao had happened so quickly that most people had barely reacted.
Now Li Yao was charging straight towards them.
“Ah!”
“What is that thing?”
Covered entirely in black and standing on nearly two metre long legs, Li Yao looked bizarre and terrifying.
His rapid approach sent many people into panic.
At that moment, Luo Feng’s speed instantly surged beyond 1,300 metres per second.
A deafening sonic boom followed him.
He descended directly in front of Li Yao.
“You can’t escape.”
Standing before him, Luo Feng remained expressionless.
The sixteen throwing knives floated before him.
He stared coldly at Li Yao.
“Luo Feng, you can’t kill me!”
Li Yao roared.
Blood continued flowing from his mouth.
Luo Feng’s two attacks had already inflicted severe injuries.
The only reason he could still run was his desperate desire to survive.
Luo Feng merely smiled coldly.
Suddenly, his expression changed slightly.
Among the crowded street packed with vehicles and people, a blonde woman raised a small device towards him and revealed a strange smile.
“Luo Feng, release my husband.”
“Venina?”
Luo Feng frowned.
With a thought, he controlled the Golden Thread Net to rise into the air.
Li Yao, wrapped up like a trussed pig, was lifted high above the ground.
Unable to gain leverage in mid air, escaping became even more difficult.
“Venina!”
Li Yao shouted from inside the net.
“Why should I release your husband?”
Luo Feng calmly looked at her.
His instincts told him that killing Li Yao immediately might lead to extremely serious consequences.
He had never regarded Venina as much of a threat.
In his mind, Li Yao had always been the mastermind.
What Luo Feng did not know was that the astronomical bounty placed on him had been initiated by Venina.
The laser cannon used during the hunt across Australia had also been obtained by her.
Even the plan to target Luo Feng’s family had been her suggestion.
Li Yao was known as Vulture.
The nickname reflected his ruthlessness.
Venina, meanwhile, was known as Scorpion.
The name came from her cruelty.
A barking dog rarely bites.
Luo Feng did not realise that the truly calculating and venomous one in this couple was actually the woman.
Standing among the crowd, Venina looked towards Luo Feng.
“Luo Feng.”
Holding the small device, she continued,
“I’ve planted T111 bombs in a residential district near the HR Alliance and also somewhere along this street.”
The surrounding crowd immediately erupted.
People screamed and fled in all directions.
“If I press this button…”
Her voice became like that of a devil from hell.
“…then boom. Tens of thousands of people in that residential area will die.”
Fear.
Panic.
The emotions spread instantly.
Luo Feng’s gaze merely sharpened.
Like needles, his eyes locked onto the woman before him.
“You’re ruthless.”
He spoke softly.
“If you’re going to kill my husband, then everyone dies together.”
Venina’s voice remained gentle.
In truth, she had little choice.
She and her husband had accumulated far too many enemies over the years.
Fortunately, Li Yao had risked his life entering Ancient Civilisation Relic No. 9 and obtained a Black God Suit.
Only then had they been able to live peacefully.
If Li Yao, her shield, died, her own future would become miserable as well.
“Everyone stand down!”
“Stand down!”
“Put your weapons away!”
Troops stationed near the HR Alliance Plaza rushed over.
Personnel from various government departments arrived as well.
Leading them was a middle aged man dressed in traditional Chinese clothing.
Internally, he cursed bitterly.
“Damn it.”
“Three high level War Gods fighting is bad enough.”
“But now ordinary civilians are involved.”
“This could result in tens of thousands of casualties at any moment.”
The power of a T111 bomb was terrifying.
“Everyone.”
The man forced a smile.
“War God Luo Feng, Madam Venina, let’s discuss this calmly.”
He was terrified of provoking either side.
His position was relatively high.
But the people before him were high level War Gods.
“I advise you not to search for the T111 bombs.”
Venina glanced at him.
“They’re hidden very carefully.”
“Even if you find them, you know how difficult they are to disarm.”
“The moment you begin trying, I’ll know.”
“And then I’ll press the button.”
Cold sweat formed on the man’s forehead.
He hated dealing with powerful individuals like this.
A high level War God who was also the HR Alliance’s Executive President for China was incredibly difficult to handle once they turned criminal.
“Luo Feng.”
Venina stared directly at him.
“There are only two outcomes.”
“Either my husband and I die together with tens of thousands of innocent Chinese civilians.”
“Or you release my husband and everyone walks away alive.”
“The choice is yours.”
Luo Feng remained expressionless.
His gaze only grew colder.
“War God Luo Feng.”
“Madam Venina.”
The man in traditional clothing became increasingly anxious.
Internally he thought,
“Why hasn’t Mr Lan arrived yet?”
Whoosh.
The shattered HR Alliance Plaza suddenly began cooling rapidly.
It was already winter.
Now temperatures plunged below freezing.
The water in the fountain instantly froze solid.
Cold mist spread through the air.
A middle aged man with faintly green hair flew over from the sky.
“Councillor Lan.”
Venina, Li Yao, and Luo Feng all recognised him.
“Hmph.”
The Councillor’s entire presence resembled ancient ice.
Even his gaze felt freezing.
“Whatever grudges you have, don’t involve ordinary civilians.”
“Councillor Lan.”
Venina shook her head.
“I have no choice.”
“Luo Feng intends to kill my husband within the base city itself.”
“I can’t stop him.”
“I’m not his opponent.”
“This is my only option.”
“If my husband dies, then those tens of thousands of innocent people will accompany him.”
“Besides, the choice rests with Luo Feng.”
“If he releases my husband, everyone benefits.”
Earth possessed only fifty two councillors in total.
More than ten of them were of Chinese descent.
Only three or four were fully loyal to the government.
Many lived as recluses within the country.
Sometimes they helped the military.
Sometimes they helped the government.
Sometimes they assisted the HR Alliance.
They maintained relationships with all sides while enjoying peaceful lives.
Ice Blade Lan Ran was one such recluse living within Jiangnan Base City.
Only major incidents could bring him out.
This situation demanded his intervention.
“Luo Feng.”
Councillor Lan floated before him.
“You know the laws of the nation.”
“You know the regulations of the War God Palace.”
“There are several absolute bottom lines.”
“No one is permitted to cross them.”
“Killing the family members of martial artists is one.”
“Publicly killing martial artists inside a base city is another.”
“War Gods fighting each other within a base city is another.”
Lan Ran’s voice was low and powerful.
“War God level experts are humanity’s precious assets.”
“Every one of them is important.”
“Here, in front of thousands upon thousands of witnesses in HR Alliance Plaza, you’ve openly pursued and attempted to kill a martial artist.”
“That alone is a capital offence.”
“And the target is a War God recognised by the War God Palace.”
“That makes the crime even worse.”
“Even if you kill him, you’ll still face a death sentence.”
“These regulations were established by the five Chairmen.”
“Are you truly willing to trade your life for Li Yao’s?”
“And risk the lives of tens of thousands of innocent citizens of China as well?”
“Among them are children who have only just begun growing up.”
“There are even newborn infants who know nothing of the world.”
“Is it worth it?”
Councillor Lan stared directly at Luo Feng.