Chapter 58: So It Was Only Two Thousand?

“To join the Demonic Cult… Haha, to think your esteemed cult would take notice of me—what an honor,” Song Qi managed a strained smile.

“But I wonder, why have you chosen me in particular?”

“It’s simple. You’re young enough,” the woman in red answered leisurely. “To venture beyond the city means your level is at least around sixty. And youth suggests not only talent or a privileged background, but you’re also a Summoner—a profession renowned among the wealthy. You… are perfectly suited to offer everything to my lord. Now, make your choice.”

She seemed to receive a signal then and glanced into the distance. “Don’t even think about running. Our people… are already here.”

Song Qi followed her gaze. There, to the left, a burly man in heavy armor trudged through the snow, gripping a massive battle-axe as tall as two men. On a branch not far away, an assassin dressed in midnight gear stood poised, his gaze so piercing it sent a chill down Song Qi’s spine. Beneath the tree, a paladin with a golden warhammer was praying devoutly, clutching a tome entwined with tentacles—utterly at odds with the Holy Light.

With the red-clad woman before him, they made a textbook four-person squad.

“A warrior, mage, assassin, and a paladin who could almost pass for a priest? Such a perfect lineup—you really think highly of me. All this for a novice who’s barely left the city?”

Song Qi’s mouth twitched. With a team like this, they could be hunting high-level monsters deep in the tundra.

“Kid, don’t flatter yourself,” the armored warrior said impatiently. “We’re just here to fulfill the leader’s orders. Recruiting you is only a side task. Hurry up and answer. We don’t have time to waste.”

“Oh, and by the way, here’s a bit of despair for you. All four of us are devout followers who’ve received our lord’s blessing multiple times. Though we’re only level sixty-five, with our gear, our primary attributes all exceed two thousand.”

He sounded quite proud, and the other three seemed equally pleased. Clearly, for a level sixty-five professional, having over two thousand in primary stats was something to boast about.

But Song Qi was momentarily taken aback.

Wait a second!

Two thousand? Fully geared, your primary stats “all” exceed two thousand? In other words…

“You say your main stats are all above two thousand, but what’s the average?” There’s a world of difference between 2001 and 2999.

The armored warrior blinked, clearly not expecting the question. He scratched his head and counted on his fingers. “Uh… on average, about fifty points over.”

So, your highest stat is just over two thousand?

Song Qi raised an eyebrow.

The woman in red smacked her forehead with a sigh. “You actually answered… But I suppose it doesn’t matter anymore.”

She turned, her gaze sharp. “Well then, handsome, what’s your answer? Will you join, or become nourishment for the snowfields? Ten seconds to decide.”

With a bang, a blazing ball of fire flared in her palm. At the slightest sign of resistance, she’d attack without hesitation.

Yet, Song Qi suddenly relaxed.

“So it really is just over two thousand. You could have said so earlier.”

Their dramatic entrance—a Demonic Cult four-person squad—had nearly intimidated him.

The woman in red frowned, puzzled. “What do you mean?”

“I mean…” Song Qi’s smile was dazzling, radiant as sunshine.

“You can all go die now.”

With a rustle, a book-shaped artifact appeared in his hand. Before the squad could react, Song Qi pointed directly at the red-clad mage.

Boom!

After a strange spatial ripple, both Song Qi and the mage vanished.

“What’s going on?!”

The sudden disappearance of their mage threw the other three into a panic. But before they could move…

Splat!

A rain of blood burst forth as the mage reappeared in midair. The entire process had lasted less than a single breath. But now, her head was severed from her body, flying high, her eyes wide with lingering terror.

[Seven Deadly Sins: Envy]
[Effect 1: Select a target. If any of the target’s attributes exceed the bearer’s, it forces a stun for 1–5 seconds.]
[Effect 2: The bearer may issue a duel challenge to an enemy. If any of the enemy’s stats exceed the bearer’s, the enemy cannot refuse, and no one can interfere.]

A legendary treasure, combined with Lü Bu’s terrifying combat prowess, allowed Song Qi to instantly dispatch one of their strongest.

Gazing at the bloodied corpse, Song Qi’s expression softened with a trace of pity.

“Poor girl. Don’t blame me. I honestly wanted to leave you for last.”

“But to be safe, I had to take you out first. Blame your teleportation skill.”

As members of the Demonic Cult, if any escaped, endless trouble would await him. Thus, the mage with a teleport ability had to be his first target.

Song Qi did not relish killing, but he despised trouble even more.

For that reason, the entire squad had to be annihilated.

“Red!” roared the armored warrior, stunned at first, then overcome with rage. His massive axe gleamed coldly white, surging with unstoppable force as he brought it crashing down on Song Qi.

This was his trump card—the strike that could instantly unleash twice his strength. He had used it to slay countless high-level monsters above his rank.

But today…

Clang!

Metal clashed as the blow was effortlessly deflected by the Sky-Piercer halberd. Lü Bu didn’t even budge.

“Impossible!” The burly man stared in disbelief, even as pain shot through his hands—a harsh reminder of reality.

“Four thousand strength… is that supposed to be impressive?” Lü Bu’s pupils glowed crimson as he looked down at the warrior. His eyes narrowed, rage smoldering, veins bulging on his forehead, barely contained.

“Lowly vermin, petty thieves…” He was livid. How could he have let these weaklings get so close to his lord without even leaving the field? What a dereliction of duty!

“You dare raise your blade against my master?!”

“Unforgivable!”

The halberd was raised high and then came crashing down.

No fancy techniques—just sheer, unadulterated power.

Boom!

A wave of white energy exploded outward. Snowflakes, mingled with pulverized flesh and blood, burst into the air. The burly warrior, who just seconds ago had sworn vengeance, was now obliterated—nothing left of him but a spattering of gore.

Clink.

A storage ring dropped onto the snow, its clear chime ringing in the silent field.