Chapter 17 Under the Spotlight

As rumors of the Deep Rock City disaster spread, two voices emerged in the royal capital. One praised the Imperial Hunters, celebrating Jess as the "Savior of Deep Rock City." The other was a denunciation of the Bloodforged warriors, a collective outburst of fear towards those with extraordinary powers.

Hunters held a lofty position in the hearts of the people for resisting the monstrous beasts. However, if Bloodforged warriors outside the Hunter organization turned evil, their threat was no less than that of the beasts. The Deep Rock City incident was an example, triggering unease among many citizens.

In the past, only the elite warriors of various tribes received enhancements. These were seasoned veterans with a spirit of tribal dedication and unity against external threats. After the establishment of the Terra Empire, due to increased production capacity, institutional changes, and the promotion of transcendence, the composition of the population using Bloodforged potions became more complex. Those who successfully enhanced had more choices, leading to a steady increase in the frequency of malicious incidents after the widespread adoption of transcendence.

The Terra Empire chose to expand the scope of Bloodforged enhancements after its founding, using a large population base to cultivate more powerful individuals to protect the country, essentially relaxing control over the spread of extraordinary power. Therefore, while the Deep Rock City disaster was an accident, the common people's increased fear and prejudice against Bloodforged warriors seemed to be a historical inevitability. Even without the Deep Rock City incident, other incidents would have occurred.

As times changed, people's thoughts and ideas often evolved from simple to complex, and this was generally an irreversible process. The Terra Empire, as the first national regime in the current world, had been established for forty years. Where it would go in the future, and what changes it would bring to the world, were difficult to predict.

However, these subtle changes in people's views were currently just a spark, not yet significantly affecting the Hunter community. Moreover, "Jason" benefited from his reputation as a typical figure promoted by the Empire, and the public generally only had words of praise for him.

Zhou Jing spent a few days keeping a low profile, and soon the day arrived for Dotun's public execution. King Becky Tarn had agreed to his condition and invited Zhou Jing to be the executioner.

A platform was erected in the center of the royal capital's square. Dotun was bound hand and foot, kneeling before the platform with disheveled hair, wearing coarse linen clothes, his body covered in wounds from whipping, cutting, and other interrogation methods.

Becky Tarn, along with Roman and other imperial ministers, sat on the platform. A circle of guards surrounded the execution platform, blocking the citizens who were trying to get closer and maintaining order.

The square was filled with royal capital residents who had come to watch. They were emotionally agitated, and occasionally someone threw stones at the dying Dotun, accompanied by angry shouts.

"You're just a butcher!"

"Look at his dirty, evil face! He's a born villain! His parents should have strangled him at birth!"

After the Empire's announcement, the royal capital residents knew that the mastermind behind the Deep Rock City disaster was the Son of the Bloodforged, and they deeply hated the leader, Dotun.

Dotun lowered his head, silent, neither dodging nor avoiding, allowing the weak stones to hit his tough body.

Becky Tarn stood up, looked down at the crowd, raised his hand to quiet them, and said in a cadence:

"To protect people from beast attacks, we have built fortress cities one after another, and have protected countless people to this day. But this mad villain, for his own selfish desires and malice, attempted to loot a city that holds the safety of tens of thousands of people by despicable means, and even slaughtered a large number of civilians! Under the glorious rule of the Terra Empire and the Tarn royal family, such evil behavior is doomed to failure. Such a tyrant who tramples on law and human heart cannot be forgiven. Today, Imperial Hunter Jess will personally execute him!"

"That's right!" "Kill him!" "Cut off his head!"

The people below the stage responded loudly and shouted excitedly.

Becky Tarn nodded in satisfaction, turned to look behind the execution platform, and signaled to begin the execution.

Receiving the signal, Zhou Jing strode onto the execution platform.

His appearance caused a commotion below the stage, with shouts of "Savior of Deep Rock City" and "Dual-Blade Jess."

After the Empire's propaganda, the process of Zhou Jing defeating Dotun was also revealed. The royal capital residents gradually gave him a new nickname, calling him "Dual-Blade."

Some famous Bloodforged warriors had different nicknames. For example, Clay Berre had the titles of "Chief Imperial Hunter" and "Dwarf." The royal guard captain, Erin Tarn, had the title of "Blade of the Royal Family."

Triple-enhanced hunters were outstanding, but they had not reached the level of top combat power and were not conspicuous enough. In a place like the royal capital, they would generally not be famous. "Jason" was an exception because of the Deep Rock City incident, and he became famous overnight.

Zhou Jing continued walking, came behind Dotun, and slowly drew his blade, placing it on the back of Dotun's neck.

In the eyes of the people below the stage, Dotun, kneeling on the ground waiting to be executed, was ugly and defeated, while "Jason" standing behind Dotun was full of glory. It was the contrast between the winner and the loser.

Zhou Jing raised his knife.

The square fell silent, and everyone held their breath, waiting for the scene of the bandit leader's head falling to the ground.

At this moment, Dotun, with his back to him, suddenly opened his mouth in a low voice, seemingly mixed with indescribable madness and laughter:

"Look at their hateful expressions. I'm dead, but have I really lost?"

"You're just a bandit trying to justify his atrocities. Don't pretend to be a martyr. You're not worthy."

Zhou Jing was expressionless and slashed down with his knife.

*Puchi!*

Blood spattered, and the head fell to the ground.

*Hua la la——*

The people below the stage cheered excitedly.

"Hero! Hero!"

Zhou Jing was not used to this kind of title. He kept a straight face and did not show it, retreating from the execution platform.

Becky Tarn said another speech, emphasizing the inevitable failure of Bloodforged bandits who committed evil deeds, warning others not to have such thoughts, and then ended the public execution.

Dotun's body was not left in place. It was collected by the guards, and his head was stuck on a spear and placed on the city wall as a warning.

Many residents of the royal capital had joined in the fun, vented their emotions, and then dispersed.

After the crowd dispersed, Zhou Jing was stopped by Erin Tarn to receive the reward promised by the king.

First, five thousand silver coins were placed in a small box.

Besides the money, Erin also took out a long knife and handed it to Zhou Jing.

"This is a new weapon developed by the Imperial Workshop. This knife incorporates special material parts from several beasts that can breathe fire. During swinging and collision, it will slowly catalyze the fire core inside the hilt. The blade gradually heats up, and when the heat is sufficient, it can ignite the fire core. The resulting flame is sprayed out through the special holes in the guard and adheres to the specially treated blade, allowing it to cut out flames..."

Zhou Jing's eyes widened, surprised.

If it were in the main world, this kind of creation would not be surprising to him. Enchantment, technology, blessings, and a series of methods could achieve similar effects... but the Beast World had never seen such equipment that used special abilities.

What is the principle behind this? Could it be related to witchcraft?

He carefully examined the knife. The blade flowed with a faint red color, like a piece of red crystal with a metallic texture, which was quite beautiful. The guard and hilt were a circle larger than ordinary weapons, as if something was stuffed inside.

Zhou Jing was curious: "When did the Imperial Workshop develop this weapon?"

"Not long ago." Erin explained, "This weapon is called Miracle Gear. It hasn't been officially released yet and isn't for sale. Because the manufacturing process is extremely difficult, even master craftsmen find it difficult to replicate a successful product, and the material requirements are also quite harsh. The Imperial Workshop has only made less than ten Miracle Gears. The King specifically ordered that this 'Blazing Fire' be bestowed upon you."

So it's a secret technology... It seems that King Becky appreciates him and is deliberately using this novel thing to win him over.

Zhou Jing casually swung the Blazing Fire a few times. It was much heavier than an ordinary long knife.

"Why can this knife breathe fire?"

Erin casually said, "I'm not a craftsman, how would I know? Anyway, I heard that it uses a special process to process materials such as flame sacs and fire mucus from beasts to make a fire core, which is placed in the hilt... By the way, the fire core is not infinitely usable. It is said that it can breathe fire thirty to fifty times. Here are three fire cores for you to use as spares. When they are used up, apply to the workshop. You can remove the hilt weight to replace the fire core."

As she spoke, she took out three black-red thin rods, about the length of a palm, which were the fire cores she mentioned.

After listening, Zhou Jing roughly knew that this was an improvement in the processing of beast equipment. The fire core was probably similar to solid fuel and had nothing to do with witchcraft.

Although it required "hitting iron to fill the heat bar" to release a flame attack, it was still a new means of attack.

If Miracle Gear was difficult to manufacture, it seemed that it would not become popular on a large scale in the future. It was estimated that only powerful hunters could equip it.

'The name sounds nice, but the effect isn't that strong... Maybe the technology isn't mature enough yet.'

Zhou Jing shook his head secretly, accepted Blazing Fire and the three spare fire cores, and decided to replace one of the dual blades.

Erin suddenly said, "Jess, are you interested in becoming my subordinate?"

"Oh?" Zhou Jing looked at her in confusion: "I'm not a member of the Tarn royal family. Can I also be a royal guard?"

"Royal guards are not all members of the royal family. Your strength is good and meets our conditions."

"Is this the King's intention?"

"No, it's my intention." Erin raised her eyebrows.

...What's going on? Is this female warrior taking a fancy to this macho man's body?

Zhou Jing was surprised and waved his hand to refuse: "I'm still used to being a hunter."

"Okay, if you change your mind, you can come to me."

Erin didn't mind and turned to leave.

Zhou Jing watched her walk away before opening the panel to check the achievement for killing Dotun.

[【First Kill - Bloodforged Warrior (Triple Enhancement)】]

[Received 1500 Star Realm Points! 【Aptitude Improvement - Physique (Small)】 x1, 【Aptitude Improvement - Resistance (Small)】 x1]

"A small profit." Zhou Jing was satisfied.

Now that Dotun had been executed, nothing would happen to Jason for the time being. It was not yet time to agree to Lynn's request to find the Spirit of Nature. He needed time to prepare, and he was not working for nothing. Helping Lynn obtain the Spirit of Nature was ultimately to allow his apostle to enter the realm of witchcraft.

There was no hope for Jason, so he could only see if Bill would do.

However, Bill was still in closed-door development of potions. The most important thing now was to wait for Bill's research to produce results.

…

Jason's fame spread widely, gradually reaching the entire territory. During this time, Bill had been buried in developing new Bloodforged potions.

Because there were many people and it was not easy to hide his tracks, and also because there were no materials for entering witchcraft, Zhou Jing did not try to practice witchcraft when he switched to Bill.

Two months later, at a secret imperial workshop.

Dozens of pharmacists surrounded a medicine-making platform, staring intently at the medicinal liquid in the pot that was slowly undergoing a change in properties.

At the moment when the medicinal liquid changed, Zhou Jing, who had personally descended into Bill's body, took out the prepared potion bottle and seized the opportunity to pour all the medicinal liquid into it.

Ignoring the scalding heat, he gently sipped a bit of the medicinal liquid, squinted his eyes, and tasted the quality of the medicinal liquid.

After a while, Zhou Jing turned his head and spat out the medicinal liquid. Facing everyone's expectant and nervous gazes, he smiled:

"Everyone, the new Bloodforged potion has been successfully produced!"