Returning to the Mysterious Era-Chapter 640 - Even White Bird Has Already Fallen

Holy Fist Evil Heart jumped, horror flashing in his eyes. "De... Defeated!?"

That was the leader's avatar! An embodiment that could slay an extreme combat artist as easily as killing a chicken; a being unquestionably on par with a Holy Fist. Yet such a frightening avatar had left for the Hongli Federation only moments ago and suddenly perished? That was tantamount to a Holy Fist falling... Utterly absurd!

Holy Fist Evil Heart's heart pounded as fear and relief surged together. The fear needed no explanation. On the other hand, the relief came from not having let rage cloud his mind and foolishly attacking Golem Sect in person. Otherwise, he would surely have met his own end. After all, if even Lord Xiadu's avatar had fallen, what chance did he he have?

Just thinking about it sent a chill down his spine.

A voice rolled out from the Arctic Abyss once again.

"If nothing unexpected happened, my avatar did fall to Golem Sect's master. It means Golem Sect's master is no ordinary Holy Fist, and certainly not a newly ascended one. A new Holy Fist could never match my avatar, much less destroy it..." Xiadu's vast Will rumbled.

Its meaning was clear: Golem Sect's master was powerful.

It was a rare thing for Xiadu to pay a price. Xiadu didn't even tell Holy Fist Evil Heart that part of its own mind had descended into the avatar to assist and even then, had failed. It had lost both its avatar and shard of Will without a trace.

That highlighted how extraordinary Golem Sect's master Cassius was. In truth, losing contact with an avatar was troublesome. Without its intel, they had no idea of the sect master’s true strength. Since the risk was unclear, the Gate Organization had to act with shackles.

The only way was for Xiadu to dispatch another powerful avatar for a second bout, but that was highly impractical. Xiadu was still wounded from White Bird Holy Fist's strike a century ago, and he needed strength to suppress that Will. Thus, any further avatar would drain a limited power pool.

Furthermore, with the sect master's might unknown, a second avatar might be defeated again. That would be a colossal loss for Xiadu. Moreover, one in the Gate Organization could force out a Holy Fist’s full strength. Sending any other person would be mere fodder. Therefore, the Gate Organization could not handle the current situation in the short term.

The best course was to hide and avoid Golem Sect's unchecked global expansion for now. They needed to act quietly, scheme in secret, and await the right moment. Of course, that moment was not far off. Once it came, Xiadu would fully rise from slumber and wipe out all who dared resist. He would reopen the Gate of Heaven to release his true body, letting calamity engulf the surface world!

By that time, the grand calamity tide would be like a flood. Anyone who resisted it would be a mantis against a chariot. The Golem Sect's master would be no exception. It would be better to let him be. Sooner or later, the reckoning would come.

The Arctic Abyss quaked again as Xiadu's Will echoed outward.

"Evil Heart, order all Gate Organization forces to hide for the moment. Cease everything non‑essential beyond the core plan. Do not clash with Golem Sect for now. Above all, let not Golem Sect trace any key Gate Organization member and expose the core plan. If Golem Sect wishes to grow in the Covert Martial Arts world, let it. When the calamity flood returns, all struggle will be futile..."

"Yes!"

Holy Fist Evil Heart received the order, paused, then turned away. His body melted into the night's darkness and receded. He had already given Xiadu a concise report on Golem Sect.

Xiadu had many conjectures. For example, Cassius was a Southern Dipper Holy Fist, the Golem Sect's physical transformation seemed to imitate the Ultimate Dark Form, Golem, and so on. However, guesses were guesses and details ultimately remained unknown, since its avatar had sent back no information at all. Even if those guesses proved true, Xiadu felt neither troubled nor worried. The strength it truly feared had faded in these short hundred years. All else were mere small kittens.

Even a new Southern Dipper Holy Fist was useless without ages of battle experience to reach White Bird Holy Fist's level. Moreover, once the partially unbound true body finished recovering from its wounds and awakened, even that bygone all‑burning White Bird Holy Fist would scarcely matter. Icy winds howled over the abyss like spirits wailing.

The dark Devil Mouth glowed red‑hot.

Whoosh!

The stirring colossal Will rose like an unseen dragon, roaring into the sky. It swept masses of snow from the surrounding expanse.

"Heheheh, no one can stop me now. White Bird has fallen, Blood Vulture is but a remnant, and Sonic Snake is stalled by Yumila. Once I reopen the Gate of Heaven, the Well of Sin will swallow the entire world..."

Xiadu's Will dimmed and sank back into the icy abyss.

"Soon, the time is near... just a little longer..."

***

October 7 was the final day of the seven-day Federal Combat Championships. It was also the last day of the combat artist competition.

By day five, the youth event had decided a victor. The ultimate winner was Golem Sect's Broken Moonlight, Dragon. He was the tournament's biggest dark horse. Previously unknown, he had erupted suddenly with a ferocious style backed by real strength. He battered domestic and foreign prodigies alike, including the youth top eight on day five. Both Magic Mirror Kara and Blood Light Fruke were not his match.

At last he stood alone, fists dripping in blood. Naturally, the youth division's ultimate prize went to him. However, if an Golem Sect disciple won, he did not count toward the prize quota. As such, the runner‑up claimed the prize slot—the lucky one being Magic Mirror Kara. He barely won in the melee with the other six.

He was battered all over and covered in blood. Yet when he won, his face twisted with joy, almost baring fangs. After all, the reward was guidance from a Holy Fist. Tutoring from a Holy Fist was fortune three lifetimes couldn't earn.

With the youth event over, October 6 saw the combat artist competition. Elders and heads of countless domestic and foreign Covert Martial Arts sects entered, pummeling each other's brains out.

Some once‑famed masters of past eras returned to the ring, stirring awe and nostalgia. Many contestants had white hair, yet their blades were still sharp. With their formidable strength, rich experience and exquisite technique, they overwhelmed many reputed current elders.

Of course, it was an unsustainable last burst from the old men. Some aged fighters whose Qi had waned too far were defeated on the spot. After losing, they were carried off by younger disciples. Coughing blood and weeping, they lamented their age. Had they been born decades later, they could have seized this chance at their peak.

Regret and remorse saturated every bout, but that was reality. You never know when life's greatest chance would come, or whether you'd still be able to grasp it when it did.

Some defeated elders kept brooding, even chiding themselves for not dying earlier. Hope had appeared, yet their deteriorated selves couldn't grasp it and they had to watch it slip like sand between one’s fingers. That feeling hurt worse than having no hope at all.

Naturally, the Federal Combat Championships continued, unshaken by the gloom of the losers. On October 7, the final day proceeded as usual. It had reached the tournament's awaited match.

Demon Dog Simone versus Tsunami Blade.

After aiding Cassius in scouting an Ultimate Dark Form on Eternal Island, Simone had received a rich reward. On Cassius's orders, he had led Golem Sect elites back to East Sea County.

A few days of absorption had let Simone fully master his new top‑tier combat artist strength. He had already been confident about defeating Blade. Now, he felt zero pressure. Blade, a thirty‑seven year old veteran combat artist famed for "mountain‑crushing tsunamis," was a perfect stepping stone!

At 2.30 p.m., on the main arena of Golem Sect headquarters, Simone and Blade faced off. Their gazes were so sharp it could spark gunpowder.

Simone wished to beat Blade, and Blade wished to crush Simone. After all, Simone was a traitor to Cloud Dog Fist. He'd betrayed his sect to join Golem Sect. Since the sect was powerful, Blade dared not act openly. However, he would gladly teach Simone a lesson on the stage!

Simone had shown his strength during the sect's expansion. However, Blade believed that as a fellow veteran combat artist, he could outmatch him. He would defeat the traitor right here. Thus, Blade attacked at the opening bell. His Cloud Dog Fist Qi surged, billowing like mist. His limbs lashed out with the sound of roaring tsunamis. Blade aimed to suppress Simone quickly and finish the bout.

Win beautifully, and win cathartically.

However, his assault produced little effect. Punches and kicks strong enough to crack alloy were lightly caught or slapped away by the other's hands. Simone's gaze had never left Blade's face. He seemed not to mind Blade's rapid strikes, parrying them at ease.

What Simone wanted was to see Blade's shocked look and his dazed collapse beneath a crushing defeat. Yes, he was toying with Blade. He was letting him use every move he had and accepting them all. Then he would smash him with one overwhelming strike! His dark humor oddly resembled Cassius. Perhaps Golem Sect followers, by worshipping Cassius, had picked up his style.

The main arena was watched by every spectator, and all could sense Demon Dog Simone's might. He was surely a strong contender for the combat artist grand prize. Were all Golem Sect members so strong? It made sense since the sect guided was by a Holy Fist...

Cloud Dog Fist's Tsunami Blade seemed doomed.

In the ring, Blade felt huge pressure. The surprised and pitying looks all around angered him further. He abruptly sprang back and coiled his legs. Arms wreathed in cloud‑like Qi thrust forward like dark pythons to strangle. He unleashed all his Qi, performing Cloud Dog Fist's killing move.

"Wind Roaring Tsunami!"

Rumble.

His Qi whipped the wind fiercely as it swept forth. This was Blade's strongest punch, his everything!

Rumble...

The grand roar was like a hurricane, resonating with the sky itself! Spectators saw a furious gale sweep from the sea, hurling heavy clouds aloft. Twisters bridged the sky and earth. It was both wild and fearsome. The dreadful spectacle resembled nature's own wrath. Tsunami Blade's punch was that terrifying!

A strong expert flashed to a peak by God's Tears Lake and saw a massive tsunami racing toward the coast! Layer upon layer of surging waves seemed set to demolish everything. It was beyond human strength.

Some spectators were stunned, eyes wide and faces aghast.

"Shit! Cloud Dog's master has enough strength to shake heaven and earth!"

On the platform, Simone too was startled. He realized Blade's punch was actually...!

Not that strong...?

Watching the strike, he hesitated briefly then instinctively punched back. Because of the vast uproar, he almost unconsciously used his full strength.

A gigantic black demon dog phantom roared forth! It pounded the ground and slammed into Blade. As a result, Blade's Wind Roaring Tsunami was smashed like brittle glass. Blade was grievously hurt by Simone's top-tier combat artist Qi, spitting blood as he hurtled back. He traced a long parabola and crashed hard onto the ground.

"That's it?"

"Huh?"

Then, everyone realized the grand commotion wasn't Blade's killing move but a coincidence of nature. In other words, the approaching tsunami was beyond puny human strength. A tsunami had just happened to strike at the moment.

Still, such a disaster drew many sects' attention. Experts flocked to mountaintops to watch the coast.

A sharp‑eyed elder spotted a detail within the tsunami.

"Eh? What is that?"

A lone figure was sprinting ahead of the distant raging waves. He was moving at unimaginable speed.