Chapter 327: Establishing Dominance

The near-miraculous effect of the Heaven-Cloaking Talisman stirred up a storm among the reincarnators in City 14.

News spread like a virus, not only among those active on the surface, but even the deep-hiding lone wolves could no longer remain indifferent.

Ever since stepping into this bizarre cyberpunk version of a world, these once all-powerful veterans who had dominated countless realms began to truly understand the meaning of powerlessness.

The God of Intelligence hanging high above the sky was like a cold and omnipotent overseer, rendering all their strength pale and laughable.

Even those mighty enough to stir oceans or shatter stars found themselves as fragile as newborns under the gaze of the Eye of God.

Particularly the few who stood at the peak of the Title-Level, who once believed they had touched the pinnacle of transcendence—beyond which nothing could suppress them other than the elusive Lord God.

Not even the creator gods of mission worlds or the Dao-immortal Golden Immortals were more than equal opponents in their eyes.

But the appearance of the God of Intelligence was like a loud slap across their proud faces.

They began to doubt—was there a realm even higher, more unimaginable, beyond the Title-Level?

They yearned to uncover the secrets behind the Sky Canopy and the God of Intelligence, yet feared the apocalyptic divine punishment that came with it—until the Heaven-Cloaking Talisman appeared, offering a faint but irresistible glimmer of hope.

Almost the moment the talisman’s existence became known, more than ten Title-Level reincarnators—each radiating abyss-like auras—turned their attention to Blood River Demon Lord.

At this moment, above the ruined border zone of City 14, Blood River Demon Lord stood alone amidst a distorted realm of light and shadow.

The spatial structure here had long been torn and reshaped by powerful forces. The void showed bizarre folds and fractures, and time had become chaotic—sometimes crawling like a snail, other times flashing like lightning.

If ordinary reincarnators accidentally stepped into this rift in space-time, they would likely lose their sense of direction instantly, torn apart by the chaotic temporal currents.

But to a Void Refining-stage demonic overlord like Blood River, such a scene was merely a minor trick.

If he wished, he could easily tear apart this twisted time-space with his physical strength alone.

Yet he didn’t.

Because he clearly sensed several terrifying auras lurking in key nodes of this warped dimension—each locking onto him with hostile and greedy intent, like tigers ready to pounce.

Each of them was a Title-Level reincarnator capable of standing toe-to-toe with him.

“A Heaven-Cloaking Talisman that defies the heavens—such a thing determines our life or death in this realm. You will not keep it to yourself!” A low growl like heavenly thunder exploded in the rift.

With the voice came blinding lightning, writhing like silver serpents across the realm, radiating a suffocating aura of destruction.

“Blood River old demon, hand over the source and method of acquiring the Heaven-Cloaking Talisman!” A chilling voice, like a venomous snake spitting its tongue, echoed with killing intent.

“We’re not here to rob you—we’re willing to trade equivalent treasures. Please don’t make the wrong choice,” came a comparatively gentle but equally oppressive voice.

“No matter how many tricks you have, today, before so many of us, don’t think you can get away with any advantage. Be smart and share the secret of the Heaven-Cloaking Talisman—or don’t blame us for being ruthless!”

This time, the situation was entirely different. It was no longer a few scattered Title-Level figures testing Blood River Demon Lord.

Last time, Blood River did seize the initiative with his ties to the city council, but he paid the price in pride. Out of respect for his power, the others refrained from tearing things apart.

But now that the talisman’s heaven-defying effects were public knowledge, every reincarnator realized: this thin piece of paper might very well be the key to completing the impossibly difficult legion warfare mission.

Such a treasure—how could they allow someone to monopolize it?

Surrounded by waves of greedy, threatening gazes, even the ruthless Blood River Demon Lord felt alarmed.

Among these people were some whose auras he had never sensed before—mysterious figures whose identities were barely recorded even in the Lord God’s database. Clearly, they were deep-hidden monsters.

Fortunately, the inscrutable Lord Lu had foreseen this and never intended to hoard the Heaven-Cloaking Talisman. Instead, he planned to use it as leverage to mobilize the entire reincarnator population via task-based rewards.

Though Lu Yan intended to wait three days to make the announcement, Blood River could no longer afford to delay. The situation was on the verge of explosion—if he waited any longer, he might be consumed in the flames.

“Fellow Daoists, please hear me out!” Blood River Demon Lord took a deep breath, suppressing his inner turmoil and speaking in a loud voice that echoed across the twisted space-time.

“I’m sure all of you understand how terrifying the God of Intelligence is. A talisman that can block its detection—do you really think that’s something I, Blood River, could create alone?”

His gaze swept around him, his tone earnest. “The Heaven-Cloaking Talisman does indeed come from City 14. As for its true origin, I cannot reveal it. But the mysterious figure behind it is willing to give everyone a chance to obtain it.”

“Three days from now, City 14 will launch its counterattack against the Universal Conglomerate.

At that time, any Title-Level reincarnator may come to me, Blood River, to receive a Heaven-Cloaking Talisman for free.”

At those words, the tense atmosphere loosened slightly. Several reincarnators showed thoughtful expressions.

Blood River continued, “However, there is a condition. After receiving the first talisman, you must destroy three Soul Towers constructed by the Universal Conglomerate using its power—alone and unaided.

Only after completing this mission may you receive a second talisman.”

After listening to his explanation, many nodded quietly. The terms were acceptable.

Since entering this world, they’d gathered some intelligence about this cyberpunk realm—especially about the Soul Towers.

Legend said the God of Intelligence was attempting to construct a purely soul-data-based virtual world, and the globally scattered Soul Towers were the core nodes supplying the massive soul-based computing power for that goal.

Generally, a city’s number of Soul Towers was directly tied to its population. Only the top fifty megacities had more than three Soul Towers.

These supercities spanned thousands of kilometers and were guarded by innumerable automated weapons and elite psychic defenders trained by the conglomerate.

To normal reincarnators, such defenses were impenetrable.

But to Title-Level powerhouses, thousands of kilometers was merely a breath’s distance, and no weapon or defender could withstand their overwhelming might.

As long as they could evade the Eye of God, destroying a few Soul Towers was trivial.

The tension in the rift eased even further, but some reincarnators still showed signs of dissatisfaction.

A cold-faced young man in a plain grey sorcerer’s robe emerged from the shadows, his eyes snake-like and icy.

His voice was hoarse and chilling. “Only one talisman per time? And we have to finish that bullshit mission to get another? Blood River, are you joking with us?”

This youth was the Witch Lord, famed for his soul sorcery and curses in the Reincarnation Space.

He sneered, scanning the others with disdain. “It’s one thing to be driven by the Lord God, but some mere native power wants to order us around?”

His eyes gleamed with madness and greed as he raised his voice.

“Since we now know how to resist the God of Intelligence, why should we obey them?

I say we seize the natives and force them to mass-produce Heaven-Cloaking Talismans!

With enough of them in hand, not only Soul Towers—even the entire Sky Canopy could be destroyed!”

Seeing the Witch Lord publicly inciting rebellion and attempting to derail Lu Yan’s plan, Blood River Demon Lord erupted in fury. Blood-red killing aura surged around him.

“Witch Lord, you dare go this far?!”

But the Witch Lord only laughed shrilly. “Blood River, looks like you’ve been playing dog for these natives for too long—you really think you’re their loyal guard dog now?

I can guess that the talisman must’ve been created by that Lu Yan clown. If we capture him, everything will be solved.”

He stared sharply at Blood River, his words laced with threat.

“For bringing us this info, I’ll cut you in on the profits once we succeed.

But if you stand in our way—don’t blame us for being ruthless and clearing you out first before going after Lu Yan.”

Before his words even faded, three sinister, equally powerful figures silently appeared behind him, clearly already in league.

As for the other Title-Level reincarnators, they simply watched coldly, amused.

The Witch Lord’s proposal suited their lawless nature. If he failed, they lost nothing. But if he succeeded, they could get more talismans for less—why not?

Blood River Demon Lord’s face turned purple with rage. His chest heaved violently.

Though he knew he had little chance of winning four-on-one, he also knew how terrifying Lu Yan was. If the Witch Lord ruined his plan, his own fate would be miserable beyond belief.

With that thought, he hardened his heart. Blood and demonic qi surged around him as he stood firm before the Witch Lord’s group, ready to fight to the death.

He opened his mouth to shout—

But before he could speak, a sudden change erupted!

In an instant, the entire twisted rift seemed strangled by an invisible hand. Everything froze.

Colors, time, energy—all paused as though someone had pressed a universal “pause” button.

Then, a terrifying pressure descended—vast, boundless, like an awakening ancient god.

Under this pressure, even Blood River’s surging blood mist and the Witch Lord’s sinister aura flickered like dying flames, ready to be extinguished.

From the deepest part of the rift, a radiant portal opened.

Beyond it loomed a godly kingdom shrouded in solemn darkness. Grand temples floated among the stars, and divine order chained the rift shut.

At the peak of the temple, Yin and Yang qi twisted and condensed into an ancient black-and-white calligraphy brush that silently fell into a waiting hand.

It was held by a Yama Lord seated among the gods.

His expression was calm. His eyes were cold and indifferent, as if these mighty Title-Level reincarnators were no different from ants.

With a casual flick, he pointed the brush toward the Witch Lord and his three comrades.

No earth-shattering boom. No destructive energy surge.

Like a deity inscribing names into a death ledger—at the moment his brush touched the void, destiny was sealed.

A wave of pure annihilation rippled silently outward, engulfing the Witch Lord and his three allies and everything within a hundred meters.

They didn’t even have a chance to resist.

Their vicious grins, their greed—all frozen.

Then, their bodies, souls, laws, and power—all vanished like snow under a scorching sun, leaving no trace behind.

The entire process was unimaginably fast—and chillingly quiet.

A moment later, the frozen time melted away. The rift flowed again.

The reincarnators who had watched on with amusement were now deathly silent, their faces pale with fear.

(End of Chapter)