Published: February 10, 2025
The Demon Gold peeled away the black meat tumors, revealing a strong body mostly covered by white bone scales.
On his arms, shoulders, knees, and even on his chest and back, sharp bone blades protruded, significantly more slender and sharp than what was on his arms just moments ago.
These bony structures were intertwined with black patterns, clearly a result of the black mist entering his body. From Ye Zhongming's perspective, the patterns formed a depiction of a wolf's head, with a pair of fierce, bloody wolf eyes located right at the chest area.
The crescent-shaped scar on his heart resembled a wound on the wolf's head, slanting from the side of the ear onto the wolf's face, adding a touch of ferocity.
Even if the Yama Tree hadn't spoken, Ye Zhongming would have known what energy made him feel sick; it was this blood-red meat strip!
Ye Zhongming could easily sense an extremely uncomfortable presence from it, as if the scar had a life of its own and was a natural enemy of humans.
Just now, Demon Gold referred to this thing as a demonic mark, didn't he?
Ye Zhongming tried hard to recall, hoping that his memories from his previous life would have knowledge of this thing, but unfortunately, he couldn't remember anything.
"Stop wasting time guessing; you'll never understand where my power comes from." Demon Gold moved his body, the bony scales clashing against each other, emitting a harsh friction sound, a sound he seemed to revel in, completely immersed in it.
"It cannot be denied that you are powerful. If it weren't for the demonic mark, I might have to look up to you for the rest of my life. Not only would I lack the urge for revenge against you, but I would even kneel before you to preserve my life when necessary."
Perhaps feeling that he had everything under control, Demon Gold was stretching his bony scales while speaking to Ye Zhongming.
Ye Zhongming stayed still, just listening. He understood this behavior; in psychology, when people are on the verge of final victory, they often feel a desire to express themselves, especially to their enemies, as if this dual torment physically and mentally could bring some form of satisfaction.
Of course, what the victor says at this time is usually true.
While paying attention to Xia Lei and Qinghua's battle, Ye Zhongming listened to Demon Gold's last words before he struck.
"But I encountered someone who could give me power; he is so powerful that he can make others equally powerful."
As he spoke, Demon Gold instinctively touched the red meat strip.
Ye Zhongming understood that the so-called giving power to others must be related to this meat strip, which was clearly not an organ from Demon Gold's own body.
"Originally, I could only submit to him, for he was the only one who mastered the ability to upgrade the demonic mark. The initial black ink mark had already allowed me to regenerate from a severed limb, restoring my power to its peak. At that time, I couldn't help but imagine how it would be when I reached the next level, the red mark."
"Now, I have finally experienced it."
"Do you know? In front of the ink mark, the evolution level no longer matters because this power transcends the roulette! Just like now, you are a seven-star evolver, while I am merely a six-star, yet you still cannot compete with me."
Before Demon Gold could finish his words, Ye Zhongming suddenly moved, retreating back around the corner he had just turned!
Demon Gold, who was reveling in his power, felt like a rooster with its neck squeezed, swallowing his next words back down. This feeling was even worse than being punched.
He roared in anger, and gas expelled from beneath his bony scales, allowing him to nearly turn into a shadow as he chased after Ye Zhongming.
But the next second, with the sound of a gunshot, Demon Gold was forcibly knocked back. A gaping blood hole, several centimeters in diameter, appeared on his chest, out of which copious amounts of blood flowed!
The bony scales that were supposed to protect him did not stop Ye Zhongming's bullet.