Why should I endure him, tolerate him, and be patient with him, waiting for the right time to see him fall?

Why can’t I toy with him, deceive him, trick him, and, at the first chance, completely destroy him?

If there’s no chance, I’ll create one.

How shall I destroy you, my enemy?

---

Sometimes, fate works in such strange ways.

This kind of unfortunate encounter has a special term: destined enemy.

All I planned to do was make a brief appearance at the competition, show a little presence, and observe my enemies—nothing more. But of course, fate had other plans, leading to this mess halfway there.

The reason Long Ming stopped to rescue someone was that he saw a familiar face!

So, saving someone? That’s just a side quest. The main event is meeting an old acquaintance and giving them a little taste of humiliation, right?

Feng Yang Yan—that’s the person who crippled the tendons in the hands and feet of Long Ming’s past self. While he wasn’t the mastermind, he was the one who executed the orders. If Long Ming hadn’t been strong and calm enough, it wouldn’t have been a hand being crushed just now—it would’ve been his neck.

However, it’s not like you can just crush his neck so easily. After all, that guy’s true strength is just a bit higher than his. If pushed too far, even the current pseudo-Holy Domain might not be enough to deal with him.

The turbulence inside his body was becoming more intense. It was the last lingering consciousness left behind by his previous self. Though they couldn’t communicate after Long Ming took over, he could still sense its presence, albeit faintly.

Calm down, that was just an appetizer. Can’t you control yourself?

The fragment of consciousness that had gotten all riled up after seeing Feng Yang Yan quickly quieted down under Long Ming’s soothing. In his mental sea, that fragment was no more than a small, glowing orb of light.

It seemed incredibly obedient to Long Ming, shivering lightly as if it was nuzzling against him.

Even though they couldn’t communicate, Long Ming could feel that the original self really liked him.

But the original self should be grateful to him—without Long Ming, that remaining wisp of consciousness would’ve gradually faded into nothing. The fact that it still existed was already a gift.

This guy used a heart filled with genuine devotion to serve a two-faced birdman.

See his true face now? The prettier someone is, the more poisonous they are. If we were to give this a bardic spin, it would be titled, Beauty is Poison.

Men like me, who are both powerful and beautiful, well, we’re the King of All Poison!

After a brief exchange with the remnant consciousness, Long Ming turned to face his five Dragon Guards, who were staring at him with wide, sparkling eyes.

For men, admiration is won through battle.

But even now, these loyal Dragon Guards who served the Crown Prince couldn’t let go of their mission. Especially Long Jing, the only one who made it into the top eight. He was fixated on Long Ming’s collar, carefully studying the angles and force needed to rip it.

Let’s be real, this task wasn’t easy. It’s not like they could outfight him, and that robe didn’t look easy to tear either. Was it made from golden silkworm thread? That’s the kind of robe only high-level magicians wore.

No, no, none of that was the point. Long Jing was worried that if he tried to tear it off when Long Ming wasn’t expecting it, he might get slapped to death.

After all, Feng Yang Yan had run off in fear, and Long Jing didn’t think he was much stronger than that guy.

After a long time deliberating, Long Jing finally came up with a compromise.

Picture this:

A dashing man in white, standing tall against the wind. His expression was noble and distant, and his hidden aura radiated a subdued power. His movements were casual yet hypnotic, like black hair bathed in morning dew, floating effortlessly in the breeze. His simple white robes outlined his perfect waist.

Around him, bodies lay scattered across the bloody grass, unmoving, their fates unclear. The scene resembled the aftermath of a fierce battle.

The contrast was eerie yet thrilling, as if glimpsing the ruthless cruelty beneath the man’s calm demeanor.

If he has no feelings, how can he be heartless?

Before him knelt several blood-soaked figures, their armor shattered, barely clinging to life. One man, face smeared with blood, shouted loudly, “Long Ming, may I tear off your robe?”

Long Jing was quite pleased with himself for this brilliant idea. Instead of enduring a painful fight and waiting for a chance to tear the robe while struggling under Long Ming’s overwhelming power, why not just ask outright?

If sneaky won’t work, let’s be upfront!

Genius! He was truly too smart for his own good!

Dragon Guards One through Four maintained stoic, bloody faces, their heads hanging in shame: Boss, you idiot!

Long Ming, ever alert, noticed a group of people rushing down a narrow path in the valley.

Yes, a whole group, a mixed bunch of fish and dragons alike.

↓↓

Rumor had it that Phoenix City and Divine Dragon Valley had clashed again!

Rumor had it that Feng Yang Yan was slaying foes left and right this time!

Rumor had it that the five masters of Divine Dragon Valley were on their knees, begging for mercy.

Everyone wanted photos! Everyone wanted the truth! Everyone wanted to witness the drama!

Alone, no one dared to go. But with a crowd? The power of numbers is unstoppable! And so, groups of people came flooding in.

Naturally, this news reached the ears of many, including the representatives of the two warring families—Long Zi Wu and Feng Shi. Other family representatives and onlookers soon followed, gathering in droves.

Long Zi Wu arrived just in time to hear Long Jing’s ambitious declaration. He stood there, face dark, glaring at Long Jing, who was lying in a pool of blood. Can we stuff this idiot back into his mother’s womb and remake him?

I asked you to tear his robe, not shout it for the whole world to hear!

At the same time, Feng Shi, who had also arrived, ignored the admiring, lustful, or awestruck gazes around him. His perfect form paused, eyes wide in shock as he stared at the man in white.

Long Ming’s calm, cold gaze happened to land on him as well, their eyes meeting in midair.

Holy crap, what a perfect opportunity!

Now, it was time to put on a performance!

At the moment their gazes locked, Long Ming’s aura surged to the max.

What kind of people get under Feng Shi’s skin the most?

Three words: those who don’t care.

Don’t care about his beauty, don’t care about his connection to Phoenix City, don’t care about his status as a prince, or his title as a genius.

Feng Shi was both proud and fragile. From his experiences, he believed that everyone who approached him had ulterior motives.

Only someone who cared nothing for him would pique his interest.

As the saying goes, if you want to seduce someone, it’s not a one-day thing. You slowly, subtly infiltrate them until, before they realize it, they can’t get rid of you. That was Long Ming’s ultimate deception tactic.

Deception Rule No. 9: The best things are those you can’t have.

Feng Shi’s eyes darkened. Even though this man wore a mask, even though he was fully dressed now, even though he only saw his back before—he was certain this was the same person from the hot springs.

That indifferent, lofty aura as if the world didn’t matter—that left a lasting impression.

When their gazes briefly met, Feng Shi felt his heart skip a beat. He saw me!

But before he could react or arrange his expression, that man’s gaze was like a feather that gently landed on him—and then floated away.

There was nothing in those eyes, as black as grapes.

He saw Feng Shi as he would anyone else—no different at all.

Feng Shi had met people who pretended to act cold to catch his attention, but he knew that wasn’t the case here. This was genuine indifference. Normally, this wouldn’t bother Feng Shi much, but just a moment ago, he had been peeping at this man bathing, so now his conscience was uneasy.

And so, the two events combined, leaving an indelible impression on Feng Shi, like something was stuck in his throat.

Previously, in Feng Shi’s mind, there were only three types of people.

1. People to be used.

2. People who have been used up.

3. People waiting to be used.

Now, a fourth type had appeared—the type he wanted to kneel at his feet and lick him!

Just imagining such a noble person submitting beneath him made Feng Shi’s twisted heart tremble with excitement!

No one noticed Feng Shi’s internal drama. The others were too busy waiting for the next big showdown.

All eyes turned to Long Zi Wu, as if to say: Your guard sure is bold!

Long Zi Wu pretended not to see. Every family has its issues. Theirs just happened to be one that everyone had been gossiping about for years.

Of course, if he hadn’t been arguing with Feng Shi, no one would’ve noticed his displeasure. “Is this the way of your Feng family, bringing so many people to besiege a few of my guards? Phoenix City should give me an explanation.”

“An explanation?” Feng Shi narrowed his eyes, a hint of menace in his gaze that, thanks to his beautiful features, appeared seductive. “The situation isn’t clear yet. Isn’t the Crown Prince being a bit hasty? Besides, the ones lying on the ground, maybe dead, are from my Phoenix City!”

His tone turned icy at the end—this was the real Third Prince of the Feng Clan, Feng Shi, not backing down. Judging by the scene, Phoenix City did seem to have suffered the most.

“Why don’t we ask?” Long Zi Wu suggested, thinking of the only neutral party—Long Ming.

But when he turned to look, Long Ming was gone!

Where’d he go?

Long Jing and his fellow guards had once again witnessed Long Ming’s mysterious disappear-reappear-disappear act. He’s gone again!

In the world of masters, you pitiful mortals will never understand ╮(╯▽╰)╭!

Invisibility potions had been lost to time for thousands of years.

And if not now, when would be the perfect time to vanish? Long Ming hid his aura after disappearing. With his pseudo-Holy Domain abilities, unless someone far stronger came along, no one could detect him. This allowed him to observe the newcomers freely.

Long Ming was full of flaws, countless points to criticize. But one of his greatest strengths was that all his flaws were hidden away in secret, while his outward image was flawless, especially when it came to the bigger picture.

He never underestimate anyone, always analyzed new environments, and then made decisions based on a mix of convenience and strategy. It was a habit, part of his very nature.

While the crowd remained fixated on the drama, none of them noticed a dangerous figure creeping closer.

Long Ming’s dead-fish eyes scanned the so-called crowd of onlookers.

That group of beauties over there? They were Blood Clan generals from the Higher Plane’s Ao Miao Continent. As for that continent, it was under the iron-fisted rule of the Blood Clan ancestors. Over there, there were only two kinds of people: those who eat, and those who are eaten.

In other words, if you weren’t Blood Clan, you were just an ordinary human.

One of the top three criminals on the Dimensional Prison’s wanted list, the escaped Blood King Sa Na, hailed from there. The Blood Clan hadn’t bothered anyone for a long time, but the number of strange things about their race was endless.

With the environmental deterioration on their continent, more and more people were dying, and the Blood Clan urgently needed to expand their territory.

And the best way to expand territory? Start a war, of course!

In Long Ming’s view, Sa Na’s escape was far more complicated than it seemed on the surface.

Especially now, with another Blood King, Lewis, making it into the top eight—what exactly were they planning, trying to control the Dimensional Prison?

Long Ming shifted his gaze again. There were people from the seven major families of the Higher Plane, acting all high and mighty, just watching. Whether they were really just watching was anyone’s guess. In the Higher Plane, aside from the Four Divine Beast families, there were seven other powerful families made up of humans. Each of these families excelled in different areas, keeping each other in check. On the surface, they seemed united, but where there are people, there is no peace.

Right now, their main conflict was over power struggles with the Four Divine Beasts, so their internal disputes had been smoothed over. But Long Ming wondered what would happen if an irreconcilable conflict arose among them.

And this was where Long Ming excelled—manipulating from the shadows!

Next, in the center, were representatives from various families on the mid-level planes. This was where most of the grassroots talent came from. Their resources weren’t bad, but they weren’t great either. The same went for talent, and their family strengths varied greatly. On the surface, this was the most competitive of the nine planes, and thus appeared to be the most prosperous.

Lastly, there were the lower planes, home to the most planets, the most people, the most poverty, the most mixed races, and the most wars.

With so many “mosts,” it’s clear it wasn’t exactly a great place. Naturally, it was the least respected by the other planes.

And then there was Long Ming, who had caused such massive waves across the lower and mid-level planes, going down in history. In two words: a comeback. In four: a grassroots comeback!

Long Ming came from the Ao Miao Continent, and in his plan, taking control of the warden position was just the starting point—the bridge to all the other planes.

He was going to stir up this seemingly calm, peaceful pot of soup.

And from it, he would gain the ultimate power!

Grimm Space, tremble before me!