Who is the real murderer?

With murderous intent blazing, Castel lunged at Bai Ci.

This strike had been long prepared.

Feeling the killing aura,

Bai Ci already knew—this man was likely the final boss.

But to be safe, he still wouldn’t reveal his full strength yet.

He decided to play along.

Pretending terror, Bai Ci deliberately took the full force of Castel’s attack.

“Ugh… ahh…”

Bai Ci feigned defeat,
crashing into the wall corner, gasping dramatically:
“Damn… so strong… power…”
“Who… are you?”

“Hahahaha!”

“I’m Castel—the Lord of the Temple of Life.”

Castel looked down at the trembling youth, satisfied.

This guy… not even worth my time.

“Kid, with skills like this, you dare challenge me on my turf?”
“What arrogance…”

Seeing Bai Ci cowering in fear, Castel whistled proudly.

Then, cultists swarmed in, surrounding Bai Ci completely.

Lord of the Temple of Life?
Perfect.

Hearing this, Bai Ci smiled.
Slowly rising, brushing dust off his clothes.

“The farce ends here.”

He murmured.

His eyes darkened—then erupted with light. Eight elemental energies danced around his fingertips.

In an instant, chaotic magical currents surged through the entire bunker.

The cultists couldn’t even resist—blown away by overwhelming pressure.

Castel staggered back, slamming against the wall, face pale.

??

What?!

A Sorcerer…?

No… IMPOSSIBLE!!!

Staring at Bai Ci—radiating vast elemental energy—Castel turned deathly white.

This presence… definitely Fifth-Tier…
No—maybe even Sixth or higher!

He trembled.

How could such a being come after him in Sin City?!

Meanwhile, Bai Ci wanted to kill Castel.

But he knew—this Temple of Life lacked the means to create and breed monsters.

There was a greater power behind it all.

He had to bring Castel back alive, to expose the true mastermind.

It was his promise to the old man:
Send every culprit to hell.

Castel’s expression twisted in humiliation.

“Run!” he roared, turning to flee.

He knew—he stood no chance against Bai Ci.
Better to grasp one last hope than die here.

“Castel… where do you think you can run to now?”

At that moment, a cold, feminine voice echoed—like a curse.

Gleaming silver armor. Long, shapely legs stepping forward with rhythm—she emerged from the corridor.

Behind her, the Holy Heaven Army flooded in, their silver armor reflecting light, illuminating the bunker like daylight.

Castel froze. His face turned ghost-white.

The girl before him—none other than Commander Qi Qiao.

She’d finally found the monster incident’s culprit… thanks to Bai Ci, admittedly.

“It’s you?”

After confirming it was her, Bai Ci dissipated his magical aura, sighing wryly.
“How did you get here?”

“The sounds of battle were heard clearly by patrolling soldiers.”

Qi Qiao shrugged.

With Qi Qiao’s arrival, the Holy Heaven Army instantly seized control of the bunker.

The battle ended as quickly as it began.

Remaining monsters were wiped out—by both Bai Ci and the soldiers.

Surviving cultists surrendered, kneeling under Holy Heaven Army guard, staring at Castel with desperate eyes—begging their once-almighty “lord” for a miracle.

Castel’s face twisted in fury.

He knew—if he wanted to become King of Sin City, he dared not cross Qi Qiao.

Even in this dire situation,
as long as he didn’t break ties with her, the higher-up might still save him.

“Commander… there must be some misunderstanding…”
“You see, certain matters… perhaps you’re aware of them too?”

Castel’s meaning was clear:
Without your Holy Heaven Army backing me, how could I dare commit such atrocities in Sin City?

Hearing this, Bai Ci casually glanced at Qi Qiao—
his teasing gaze made her inexplicably annoyed.

Her expression turned icy:
“So you’re saying I ordered these monsters to be created?”

“No, no! That’s not what I meant!”
“I only suggest you investigate your subordinates first—before punishing me.”

Seeing Qi Qiao’s anger, Castel panicked, scrambling to explain.

“Enough. Take him away. Any accomplices—I’ll uncover them all. No cover-ups.”

Qi Qiao turned sharply, refusing to engage further. She waved a hand—soldiers dragged Castel away.

To her, every second spent with this man tested her physical and mental limits.

Castel’s vile face, his despicable actions—made her stomach churn.

Yet his words reminded her—this wasn’t simple.

He was right. The Temple of Life lacked the courage—and the capability—to pull off such large-scale horrors.

Deeper shadows waited.

“Is that so…”
“I might not be able to go with you today.”

Castel’s eyes flashed with madness.

Now exposed, seeing the soldiers approach,
he knew—he’d be the first to take the fall.

Back at the barracks, he faced the cruelest judgment.

Since allying with that person, there was no turning back.

Only two paths remained:
Become King of Sin City…
Or eternal damnation.

Seizing a moment of distraction, Castel pulled out a pouch of powder—ready to swallow it.

This powder would transform him—into a monster hundreds of times stronger than a human.

“Behave.”

Bai Ci’s cold gaze swept over Castel.

A black pillar of energy tore through the air—severing Castel’s arm mid-motion.

“What?!”

Casting magic… faster than his own movement?
Before he could pour the powder into his mouth—his arm was gone.

Maybe… I should’ve never trusted that person…

Castel’s soul seemed to vanish.

Once a proud Fourth-Tier Knight—now a broken dog, stripped of all arrogance.

Four soldiers restrained him, shackling him with special sealing cuffs.

Qi Qiao gave a slight nod, looking at the broken Castel, and signaled for his removal.

With Castel taken, Qi Qiao sealed the entire Temple of Life.

Meanwhile, Bai Ci descended to the bunker’s lowest level.

He remembered the grunts’ words when he entered:
“More fools coming to die…”

Was it referring to him?

Now, in the deepest lab,
within massive cultivation tanks, floated many familiar faces.

Bai Ci recognized them.

The thugs who tried to extort him upon entering Sin City—
now bloated in viscous fluid, bodies swollen.

One still clutched the pendant Xiya had given them.

“I’m sorry…”

Opening the final door,

Bai Ci saw the figure he expected.

On the innermost operating table, Luo Yu lay—twisted into a grotesque pose, unable to move.

If Bai Ci had arrived just a minute later…
Luo Yu might’ve been the next one submerged in a tank.

Bai Ci stepped forward, unlocking the chains binding Luo Yu.

“It’s you?”

Feeling sudden relief, Luo Yu weakly opened his eyes—
and upon seeing Bai Ci, let out a faint, bitter laugh.

“Sorry… I owe you my life…”