Chapter 407

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Chapter 407: Change of Number

“Simozi, stay here and don’t move. I’ll bring your body back.”

“Brother, can you stop saying such terrifying things with a straight face?”

Bai Wei chuckled softly, reaching out to pat his sister’s head. His gaze then flickered to Guan Ling, observing her figure with a tinge of emotion.

“It’s odd… You seem to have grown up overnight. It’s a strange feeling, and honestly, I’m not sure I like it. I’d prefer it if my sister stayed a bit younger.”

“Brother! Stop teasing!”

“Haha, can’t help it—this comes straight from the heart! I’m off now!”

With a firm nod, Bai Wei leaped onto the back of the Crouching Tiger. The majestic beast roared as it bolted toward the center of Broken Paradise, its footsteps shaking the ground.

Once Bai Wei disappeared from view, Yagyū Simozi turned to the two remaining companions.

Hatsurai Wagaizuma crouched by the massive dragon carcass, her fingers tracing its weathered scales with curiosity. The ancient dragon was completely dead, its insides hollowed out, leaving only brittle bones wrapped in hardened skin and scales. A brief touch of its razor-sharp scales pricked her finger, and she winced, marveling at its defense and latent counterattack ability.

Her mind wandered. Would it be possible to carve off a piece of these scales and attach them to her guitar? Maybe it could double as a weapon in the future.

Meanwhile, Michelle stood silently nearby, lost in a whirlwind of thoughts.

She replayed the puzzle pieces in her mind:

Bai Wei is a member of Black Rose.

Black Rose remains unaware of Mr. Devil’s existence.

Combining these facts only led her to one plausible conclusion, though she wasn’t ready to accept it just yet.

“How could this even be possible?” Michelle muttered, her voice barely audible.

The doubt lingered. Bai Wei had not explicitly denied the connection, leaving the door of suspicion wide open. She considered another possibility: what if “Mr. Devil” was merely a codename used within Black Rose, akin to a nickname like “Whiskey”?

But speculation built on speculation was a dangerous road.

Yagyū Simozi approached her. “What did you talk about with my brother?”

“Just some small things,” Michelle replied softly before asking, “Simozi, does your brother… know magic?”

“My brother? A warrior dabbling in magic? That’s impossible.” Simozi rested her chin in her palm, mulling it over. “At least, I’ve never seen anything like that.”

“That move earlier…” Michelle hesitated.

“Wasn’t that the Eastern Wind Sword Qi? It’s pure martial arts,” Simozi explained. “Brother always says martial arts are much simpler and more reliable.”

Michelle fell silent. The few casual exchanges only deepened her realization—Simozi might not truly understand her brother.

Even close siblings, united by trust and affection, often didn’t probe into the deeper truths of one another. Love could obscure curiosity, and even secrets weren’t always born of distrust.

Michelle sighed. Still, Bai Wei reminded her of Sasha Capesh—the only other person she’d known who could hide their true nature so thoroughly.

Her resolve hardened. As long as Bai Wei remained within Broken Paradise, she would have her chance to unearth the truth. But opportunities were fleeting—miss it once, and it might never come again.

Her gaze shifted toward Simozi, new questions forming in her mind.

“Simozi,” Michelle said thoughtfully, “there’s something I want to ask you…”

Crouching Tiger raced through Broken Paradise.

Having defeated both the ancient dragon and the one-eyed giant, Bai Wei had reached the final stretch. Only four hours remained.

Pausing briefly to recover his strength, he noticed something peculiar. The oppressive forces of Broken Paradise were waning as he ascended higher.

The mysterious suppression had eased, allowing Bai Wei’s Golden Power to emerge freely.

Paradise was the realm of supreme will, where the laws of its master reigned absolute. But the weakening pressure signaled proximity to the core—the exit.

The journey felt less burdensome, yet it demanded greater caution.

Suddenly, the ground beneath him crumbled.

A deafening roar echoed as a colossal bull-headed warrior descended, its giant axe gleaming with thunder. Lightning crackled, illuminating the fearsome figure.

The mighty beast towered over Crouching Tiger, making the tiger appear small in comparison.

The thunderous axe came crashing down, splitting the earth with a howl of death.

Bai Wei closed his eyes.

In the next instant, a golden aura surged from his clenched fist. The radiant energy entangled the bull-headed warrior, immobilizing it mid-swing. It struggled, muscles straining, but to no avail.

With a sharp twist of his fingers, Bai Wei snapped its neck, the beast collapsing lifelessly in a pool of blood.

The axe it wielded, still crackling with residual energy, lay on the ground. Bai Wei casually picked it up, tucking it away.

“Go gather dust,” he muttered dismissively.

From here on, anyone crossing paths with the ancient god residue would meet death. Bai Wei’s golden power, now unrestricted, made him a force of nature. Yet, he had to tread carefully—not for his own sake, but to avoid exposing his true identity.

To prevent unnecessary bloodshed, he made a decision.

“I’ll just disguise myself.”

A soft golden light enveloped him, reshaping his appearance.

When the glow faded, a new figure emerged—a king in black and gold.

A long black cloak adorned with a golden tree flowed behind him. His golden hair and eyes matched his regal attire, and white gloves embroidered with golden threads completed the look.

Even his tiger companion had transformed, now appearing as a majestic golden lion.

Bai Wei examined his new form, a wistful smile crossing his lips.

“Since I rarely change, I figured you deserved an upgrade too,” he said, patting the lion’s head.

The lion roared in approval, and together, they headed toward the heart of Broken Paradise.

The central area of Broken Paradise.

“Are you sure the exit is here?” a nervous voice asked.

“Of course, little hedgehog,” Alena replied calmly. “The Blood Holy Relic led us here. The exit must be ahead.”

She glanced toward the looming sanctuary in the distance.

But just as they moved closer, Alena stopped abruptly. Her keen senses flared.

“It seems… someone else got here first.”