MTLNOVEL CHAPTER 220
Everything had happened in the blink of an eye. From Lu Ming being pummeled to Li De's explosive demise, it had taken mere seconds.
As the dust settled, a gasp echoed through the air, drawing Lu Ming's attention.
He turned to see Roxin sitting on the ground, her face a mask of astonishment.
She was awestruck by Lu Ming's power.
How did he become an Origin Realm powerhouse so quietly?
Could it be that Brother Lu Ming has been a mysterious Origin Realm expert all along?
A newfound admiration bloomed within her.
Meanwhile, in the royal ancestral hall...
The silence was deafening. The members of the Divine Dao Alliance exchanged bewildered glances, unsure how to react.
The traitors within the hall were equally stunned, their eyes wide with disbelief.
It wasn't until Lu Ming, having reverted to his Self-Limitation State, flew back to the scene that the silence was broken.
"Spare me!"
"Lord, please have mercy!"
The pleas for clemency were swift and desperate.
A group of Spirit Realm experts from the Divine Dao Alliance knelt before Lu Ming, tears streaming down their faces, their former arrogance replaced by abject terror.
Their reaction was understandable. After all, strength dictated everything in this world.
Roda, supporting the injured Uncle Lu, slowly emerged from the ancestral hall.
His gaze fixed on Lu Ming, who hovered in the sky, a complex mix of emotions swirling within him. Disbelief mingled with a tinge of fear, and a deep sense of unease gnawed at his heart.
He remembered their first encounter just a few days ago. Lu Ming's strength had been undeniably impressive, but it was certainly within the realm of the Physique Realm, perhaps Level 3 or 4 at most.
There had been no trace of Spiritual Pressure, no hint of the absolute control over Origin Power that he now displayed.
How could Lu Ming have changed so drastically in such a short time?
The question burned in Roda's mind, but he swallowed it back down.
It was pointless to pry.
Roda, born into a major clan, understood the importance of respecting secrets. The Black Mist Zone was a world filled with mysteries, and many individuals carried burdens they chose not to share. Prying too deeply could shatter trust and turn allies into enemies.
And Lu Ming, having demonstrated the power of the Origin Realm, had earned the right to keep his secrets.
"After all, that's the Origin Realm..." Roda thought to himself, a hint of awe in his voice.
Even in the current era, an Origin Realm expert was a force to be reckoned with, capable of establishing dominance over an entire region. As long as they didn't violate any major taboos, they could act with impunity.
Roda's mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Relief at their narrow escape mingled with astonishment at Lu Ming's true power.
Perhaps even he himself didn't fully understand what he was feeling or what he wanted to say to Lu Ming.
Suddenly, the commotion stilled.
Then, Lu Ming made his move.
His colossal form trembled, unleashing a torrent of explosive fist-force dragons that enveloped him in a swirling vortex of power.
Looking down at the kneeling members of the Divine Dao Alliance, Lu Ming spoke calmly.
"The evil leader of the Divine Dao Alliance has been eliminated."
A collective sigh of relief swept through the kneeling figures.
"However..." Lu Ming's voice hardened, "Just because the chief villain is gone doesn't absolve you of your own sins."
With that, the explosive fist-force dragons surrounding him roared and descended upon the terrified crowd.
The sounds of "Pfft, pfft, pfft" echoed through the air, punctuated by screams of agony.
Lu Ming's eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of sadness in his gaze. He wasn't inherently bloodthirsty.
Logically, with Li De dead, the lives of these others seemed insignificant.
But a sense of justice lingered within him.
"There's a price to pay for wrongdoing," he thought. "Can these bandits erase their evil deeds just because their leader is gone?"
"No, they can't."
He turned and looked towards Roda.
A familiar figure caught his eye.
His figure shot forward, reaching Roda's side in a blur. Before Roda could even offer a greeting, Lu Ming's hand slammed against the chest of one of the men beside him.
Explosive power surged through the man's body, culminating in a sickening pop as his chest erupted. Apelo, the traitorous Black Feather Tribe member, collapsed to the ground without a sound.
Lu Ming turned to Roda, who looked slightly startled. "This is a personal grudge," he said, his smile returning. "Don't worry about it."
The Black Feather Tribe was Lu Ming's old enemy. He remembered his first encounter in the Black Mist Zone, when they had forced him to advance prematurely. Although, in hindsight, they hadn't caused him much trouble, a grudge had been formed.
Back then, Lu Ming had vowed to kill any Black Feather Tribe member he encountered. Killing Apelo was simply fulfilling that oath.
Whether Roda had any reservations about his actions was irrelevant to Lu Ming.
But Roda held no such reservations. Apelo had betrayed them first; his death warranted no mourning.
He looked at Lu Ming, a mix of gratitude and awe in his eyes. After a moment, he bowed deeply.
"Thank you," he said sincerely.
Lu Ming waved his hand dismissively. "It's nothing between friends. No need for formalities."
Roda remained silent, his mind still processing the swift and brutal display of Lu Ming's power.
Lu Ming's transformation had been too drastic. Roda, witnessing the raw power Lu Ming now wielded, was unsure how to interact with him.
In the distance, the explosive fist force dissipated, leaving behind a scene of devastation.
The Spirit Realm experts of the Divine Dao Alliance had been decimated, with only two survivors left clinging to life.
One of the survivors, seeing Lu Ming approach, scrambled away in terror, his eyes wide with fear.
The other, however, let out a sigh of relief. He quickly rose to his knees and bowed before Lu Ming.
"Thank you, Lord, for sparing our lives!"
Lu Ming nodded. "You have some sense," he acknowledged.
He had no interest in flaunting his power in front of these weaker individuals. A single explosive punch could have ended their lives, but he had chosen to show restraint.
One move was enough to settle the score; there was no need for further bloodshed.
A thought crossed Lu Ming's mind, and he addressed the kneeling survivor. "What's your name?"
The man responded with deference. "My name is Quan Chao, from the Firestone Tribe."
Members of the Firestone Tribe were known for their imposing stature and tough, dark red-patterned skin. They possessed innate strength and exceptional defensive capabilities. It was likely due to his racial talents that Quan Chao had survived Lu Ming's onslaught despite being only at Spirit Realm Level 3.
After a moment's pause, Lu Ming asked, "Do you know where the Divine Dao Alliance's treasure vault is located?"
Quan Chao nodded eagerly.
The tables had turned, and the once-dominant Divine Dao Alliance was now at Lu Ming's mercy. Quan Chao, sensing the shift in power, eagerly offered his cooperation.
"I know where it is," he said, his voice trembling slightly.
"Take me there," Lu Ming commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.
The Divine Dao Alliance had occupied the Flame Clan Ruin for a considerable time, amassing a trove of treasures. All their loot was stored in Li De's residence, under his watchful eye.
Now, those treasures were about to change hands.
Quan Chao led the way, his steps quick and eager. They navigated the labyrinthine streets of the Inner City, the air thick with the lingering scent of blood and burnt flesh.
Soon, they arrived at an imposing mansion.
Divine Dao Alliance members still stood guard outside, oblivious to the recent events in the Imperial City District. They had no idea that their entire organization had been crushed by a single man.
Quan Chao stepped forward, his voice ringing with newfound authority. He dismissed the guards, scattering the Physique and Mortal Realm warriors like startled birds.
He led Lu Ming deeper into the mansion, stopping before a heavily fortified door.
"Everything of value is in there," he said, his voice hushed with reverence.
The air crackled with anticipation. Behind that door lay the spoils of war, the accumulated wealth of the Divine Dao Alliance.
And it was all about to belong to Lu Ming.
End of Chapter 220