Chapter 11: I, Wu Xian, Captain of the Central Plains Team! (Please continue reading! Please bookmark!)

Thud—

However, its stillness did not mean the opposition would remain idle.

With a heavy stomp that caused the metal floor beneath to cave in, Wu Xian’s agile form shot forward like an arrow released from its bow. He appeared instantly above the Licker, swinging his black iron staff with a thunderous force.

Bang—!!!

With a muffled explosion, the Licker’s body, which had only just breached the doorway, burst apart. Flesh and brain matter splattered everywhere, staining the surrounding walls.

Yet, seeing this, Wu Xian did not lower his guard. He retreated rapidly, his form blurring into a translucent silhouette, narrowly dodging a crimson streak that would have otherwise pierced his body.

It was the Licker’s tongue. Clearly, another one was lurking behind the door, waiting to strike.

But with Wu Xian’s mental power, he had long since detected its presence. Shifting his stance, he thrust the staff forward. The black iron weapon, originally only about two meters long, suddenly elongated by more than double. Accompanied by a dull, explosive sound, the God’s notification for points earned echoed in his ears.

Thrusting technique: Retreat an inch, gamble on victory, advance a foot.

Three distinct movements performed in one fluid motion, reaching a state of pure mastery. This was the true weight of a level 72 "Black Wind Mountain Staff God"!

"So... so strong!"

Although Zheng Zha could not clearly see what had transpired due to the lighting, nor did he know that Wu Xian had killed two Lickers in an instant, the mangled corpse missing half its body on the floor was proof enough of his formidable combat prowess. It left Zheng Zha yearning, his desire for power growing even more intense.

But just as this thought surfaced, Zheng Zha heard the jarring sound of steel tearing directly above him.

Startled, the newcomers of Team China, including him, looked up. Sure enough, they saw a terrifying head with exposed brain tissue emerging, letting out a chilling hiss.

"Freeze!"

"Ah—!!!"

A deep, low command and a cry of terror rang out simultaneously, followed by a continuous barrage of gunfire. Zheng Zha, Li Xiaoyi, and the others raised their pistols, frantically pulling the triggers at the Licker above.

Had they been able to see clearly, they would have been astonished to find the Licker caught in a bizarre, frozen position at the breach in the corridor. Its entire body was wrapped in a faint golden light, and above its horrific head floated a fist-sized character for "Freeze."

Because of this, even though Zheng Zha and his companions were experts at missing their targets, many bullets still found their mark, splashing blood everywhere.

Bang—!!!

Within the span of a breath, Wu Xian had returned from the doorway. He delivered a two-stage charged overhead strike, claiming another 100 reward points.

It was not over. Just as the members of Team China breathed a sigh of relief, a sudden rush of air whistled past their ears. Wu Xian, still in mid-air, had shifted the direction of his staff and was swinging it down directly toward them.

What is happening!

Is he going to kill us? Didn't he say reincarnators couldn't harm their teammates?

Thinking this, they could only close their eyes in despair, waiting for the end.

One second, two seconds...

No pain came. Zheng Zha slowly opened his eyes to see Wu Xian’s black iron staff suspended in mid-air, vibrating incessantly as if blocked by an invisible force. The spot where the staff landed was precisely on the chubby man who, from start to finish, had never had the chance to introduce himself.

"As I thought, you are the Guide..."

Wu Xian curled his lips into a smile, abruptly retracting his staff and landing on the ground. After a few rolls, he put distance between himself and the man, whose temperament had undergone a drastic change.

"It seems you noticed long ago. Could you tell me why? Was it because of my performance on the stairs?"

The unnamed chubby man smiled slightly at Wu Xian. His entire body drifted into the air, and invisible mental fluctuations expanded, gently pushing the shocked Zheng Zha and the others against the wall on the other side of the passage.

Guides were only assigned to captain candidates; harming ordinary team members was strictly prohibited.

"You could say that."

Wu Xian spun his staff, letting one end hang by his feet. Significant energy fluctuations began to gather at the tip, emitting a searing red glow.

Charging up!

"You know, because of your refusal last time, you weren't my initial choice for captain. It was someone else. Unfortunately, his performance was far too poor, so by comparison, I decided to give you a chance... provided, of course, that you pass my trial."

The chubby man smiled, his mental power spreading to manipulate the steel shards torn off by the Licker, which hovered in the air like flying swords aimed at Wu Xian.

"Defeat me, and you will be the captain of Team China."

"Is that so? Looks like I’ll have a chance to stretch my muscles today... By the way, do you Guides have names?"

As Wu Xian said this, his eyes glazed over with a misty white hue, with a hidden, ghostly blue aura flickering within.

"My name?"

The chubby man seemed surprised by the question, but he replied anyway: "I had actually made one up, but I was always interrupted. Since you ask, I'll tell you. My name is—"

"Squelch—"

Before he could finish, the chubby man’s smile froze on his face.

Immediately after, a fissure-like wound tore open on his forehead, and blood began to trickle out.

Bang—!!!

The staff struck like a thunderbolt. A strike fueled by three stages of momentum pierced the man’s chest, running him through completely.

The chubby man, still not fully comprehending what had happened, stared blankly down at his chest, then back at Wu Xian.

Following that, a silver blade emerged from the wound on his forehead, whistling through the air like a swallow returning to its nest, flying to Wu Xian’s side and circling him.

"You idiot, did you really think I wanted to know your name? It was just to distract you so I could find an opening. You’re quite easy to trick; I managed to land the hit on the first try."

Wu Xian remarked, lifting his left hand to catch the swirling silver blade. A triumphant smile played on his face.

This silver blade was forged from Adamantium exchanged from the God. While not a telekinetic weapon, it was sufficiently strong and sharp. Controlled by his mental power, it could exert twenty tons of force in an instant, easily breaking several times the speed of sound—even anti-material armor-piercing rounds were nothing compared to it.

In the previous two horror movie scenarios, Wu Xian had never used this technique, nor had he exchanged for any telekinetic skills from the God, all in preparation for dealing with the Guide. Having succeeded in one strike, he felt a secret thrill.

"Shameless..."

The chubby man spat out the word, his face turning ashen. Then, his expression grew mechanical and indifferent. A pure white glow radiated from his eyes, nose, mouth, and the two wounds.

In the next second, two beams of light shot from his eyes, striking Wu Xian before he could react.

Feeling the unique fluctuations within the light, the tension on Wu Xian’s face gradually smoothed out. He tucked his black iron staff and silver blade back into his storage space, then spread his arms, allowing the force to lift him into the air.

[Qualification for Team China Captain confirmed. Reincarnator Wu Xian, do you accept the position of Team China Captain?]

The voice he had heard once before echoed again. This time, Wu Xian gave the opposite answer.

"Accept!"

As the words fell, more white light poured into his body. At the same time, a indescribable, peculiar change began to occur quietly deep within his genes...