CHAPTER 862: Rising Reputation

Salas felt as if he had been spat in the face once again. As he hesitated whether or not to attack, Han Shuo disappeared in front of him in an instant, just like Han Hao. Salas was consumed with rage.

Salas had annihilated several material planes that worshipped him. He was forcibly draining the power of faith from the souls of his worshippers to temporarily increase his power. Now that Han Shuo had escaped, Salas had killed his golden-egg goose for nothing.

Although Salas was angry when Han Hao escaped from him, it was nothing compared to Han Shuo's escape. Salas knew that given Han Hao's strength, he could not have done much damage even if he had managed to escape. But Han Shuo was different. Not only had Han Shuo massacred a large number of his experts, but even the glorious Empyrean Peak had been flattened.

Most importantly, Salas felt seriously threatened by Han Shuo's power!

Salas felt that if Han Shuo didn't die soon, he might not be able to defeat Han Shuo the next time they met. A character who could destroy the entire Land of Chaos must not be kept alive for too long!

Salas surveyed the scene of devastation around him. At the foot of his devastated mountain lay the bodies of his most trusted followers. Many of the survivors were badly injured.

After the unfortunate incident, Salas' power in the Fringe had diminished greatly. He was now far behind the other four Sovereigns in terms of the power they wielded.

His eyes glowing with fierce light, Salas plotted his next move. He gathered his followers who were lucky enough to survive the attack and commanded with a dark face, "Find out everything you can about this guy. Find him at all costs. He must die!"

After instructing his followers, Salas hesitated for a while before deciding to discuss the matter with the other Sovereigns. He thought that the other Sovereigns would agree that a person who could threaten the status quo must not be allowed to live in the Fringe. Although they had not worried about Han Shuo when he could not threaten their interests, it would be a different matter if he could.

Having made up his mind, Salas took one last look at the devastated Empyrean Peak before turning into a bolt of lightning and disappearing into the distance.

***

Thousands of miles away from Empyrean Peak, Han Shuo lay under thick layers of mud and weeds.

He had used up all his energy defending himself against the Demonic Calamity. His demonic body, which had been injured when his defences against Salas failed, had been further damaged by the attacks of the Demonic Calamity and the activation of the Demonic Blood Disassembly. Han Shuo felt not only weak, but also tired and lethargic.

With what little energy he had left, he dragged himself deeper and deeper into the swamp. Then he hid his consciousness and became indistinguishable from the swamp...

New knowledge and concepts flowed into his mind like a steady stream of water. Abstruse and wondrous runes were etched into his mind. Han Shuo realised that he had made a breakthrough in his mental realm.

Although Han Shuo only had an incredibly small amount of Demonic Yuan left in his body, the Demonic Yuan remained extremely tenacious. It also seemed to have changed in quality. With each strenuous circulation through his body, it would become slightly thicker, while his wounds would gradually close up...

Han Shuo opened his mind and fell into a deep state of meditation. He pushed all thoughts out of his mind and allowed his body to repair itself in this wonderful state...

***

"Wha- What?!" In an underground palace was Sovereign Ossora, who wore an astonished expression.

"My lord, the Empyrean Peak has been destroyed and is currently being rebuilt. Salas has suffered great losses. Five to six hundred of his experts have been killed. Among the dead were several dozen Highgods," Luolong reported respectfully as he knelt before Ossora.

The palace lay deep beneath a mountain range not far from the Omphalos. It belonged to Ossora, who cultivated the elemental energy of the earth. Many of his most trusted experts lived there with him. Upon receiving the information, Luolong rushed to the underground palace to inform his sovereign of the shocking incident at Empyrean Peak.

"Are you sure it was Bryan?" Ossora asked incredulously. "The last time I met him, I felt him very carefully. There's no way he has that kind of power!"

Luolong smiled bitterly and replied, "He must be. Salas' followers are looking for him everywhere. I have also heard that Salas has gone to Wasir and Logue and asked them to help him find Bryan. It seems he is determined to make Bryan disappear from the Fringe!"

Ossora stroked his chin and knit his brows. After thinking for a while, he instructed, "You try to locate Bryan as well. Also keep an eye on his followers and their activities. But do not take sides yet. We will remain neutral."

"Understood, my lord," Luolong bowed and excused himself respectfully.

After Luolong left, Ossora soliloquised, "Bryan, O, Bryan. If you are so capable, what shall I do with you? Should I help you, or should I finish you?"

***

The shocking news that Empyrean Peak had been breached and razed to the ground quickly spread throughout the Fringe. The stringers of the Omphalos became extremely busy as the leaders of the various powers flocked to seek their services. They spared no crystal coin to learn the truth.

However, for some reason, many of these stringers, who would normally sell even the most humiliating information about themselves for crystal coins, were behaving rather abnormally. They would immediately shut up to anyone who asked them anything about the incident, as if they were afraid to talk about Empyrean Peak.

The more silent they were, the more curious the Fringedwellers became. The desolate scene of the Empyrean Peak was visible from a great distance. It was impossible to hide such a thing. The Fringedwellers secretly exchanged information about the attack on the mountain. The name 'Bryan' became the most spoken word in the Fringe.

***

In a rocky valley, Polo had also learned of the massacre on Empyrean Peak from his follower Kodiak. He too was shocked by the news. Kodiak knew from various sources that Han Shuo and Han Hao were very close. As a result, he began to take Han Shuo and Han Hao's presence in the Fringe very seriously.

"Who is it?!" Kodiak suddenly shouted as he looked warily at the entrance to the valley.

An indifferent face gradually emerged from the shadows. Han Hao's cold eyes scanned the valley before turning to Polo and fixing on him. He marched on without saying a word.

Kodiak's eyes widened as he saw that the newcomer was Han Hao. He remembered all the amazing and remarkable deeds Han Hao had done in the Fringe before he respectfully saluted Han Hao, bowing and welcoming him to the valley. Polo's followers, who were scattered throughout the valley, also looked at Han Hao with admiration.

For the past two years, Han Hao and his band of godhunters had been wreaking havoc throughout the Fringe. They were the fastest growing power in the Chaotic Lands. The open murder of the late Highgod follower of Salas a few months ago had instantly made Han Hao's Godhunters the most powerful faction in the entire Fringe.

Compared to Polo, Han Hao now possessed greater prestige and power. Since they were all Godhunters, it was only natural that these followers of Polo would treat him with respect.

Since escaping from Salas, Han Hao had gone on a rampage against all the Death Element cultivators in the Borderlands, consuming the energy in their bodies in order to replenish the energy he had used up when using the Demonic Blood Disassembly. By now, Han Hao had not only fully recovered, but his strength had also improved.

Through his followers scattered throughout the Fringe, Han Hao had also learned of Han Shuo's storming of Empyrean Peak. However, Han Hao was not the least bit concerned for Han Shuo's safety. It didn't bother him at all.

This was because Han Hao had the experience of escaping from Sala's pursuit using Demonic Blood Disassembly. Since Han Shuo had a much deeper understanding of demonic arts, it should be even easier for him to escape from Salas.

From the detailed information provided by his followers, Han Hao had some idea of what was currently happening to his father. He knew that Han Shuo was at a critical stage where he needed to stabilise his mental realm. When Han Shuo finally reappeared, he was sure to upset the status quo of the fringe!

Han Hao therefore planned to pave the way for Han Shuo in advance. Of all the Godhunters factions in the Fringe, the one led by Polo was the most powerful. And so Han Hao came to visit Polo.

Polo was also surprised to see Han Hao come to visit him. He put on a big friendly smile and asked, "Hello! What brings you here?"

Looking calmly at Polo, Han Hao gently raised the six-foot bone spear in his hand and asked, "Polo, about my proposal, have you given it any thought?"

Polo stared for a moment and immediately remembered that years ago, Han Hao had asked him to submit to his rule. Polo had not responded to that invitation in all that time, and he had not expected Han Hao to bring it up so abruptly.

"I'm still thinking about it. I don't have an answer yet," Polo smiled.

Han Hao's enchanting purple demon eyes glittered as he sternly threatened, "Polo, I'm going to unite every Godhunter in the Fringe under my rule - and you will be the first. If you do not submit, I will have to kill you!"

With these words finished, Han Hao roared at the sky. A large number of shadows swooped down and surrounded the valley in an instant. They were Han Hao's followers, far more numerous than Polo's and better at large-scale combat. They wore ghoulish faces and bloodthirsty eyes as they stood in position, ready to massacre at Han Hao's command.

It seemed that Han Hao was not going to give Polo any more time to think!

"Han Hao, you want my loyalty, but do you have the strength to keep me under your control?" Polo, unexpectedly, was not angry, but rather amused. He sneered, "In the Fringe or in the Alliance, I, Polo, am more senior than you. Tell me, on what basis should I obey you?"

"You were right. I did not have the power to tame you. But that was two years ago," Han Hao said calmly, before he unsheathed his bone spear and attacked without further ado.