It felt like the bow wanted to devour everything in the shop. Its aura was wild and unruly, as if it acknowledged no one.
“This demonic bow can only be used by those of the Ancient Demon Race. I'm giving it to you, whether you can control it is up to you,” the puppet-like man said calmly.
As Xu Zimo felt the aura of the bow, his body’s Hell-Suppressing Demon Physique stirred restlessly. There was a strange sense of familiarity.
“Come,” he said quietly.
The Heaven Demon Bow trembled as if it heard his call. It flew straight into Xu Zimo’s hand.
Once he held it, he felt like it had fused with his arm. The bow recognized him as its master and moved with his will.
Dark Infernal Force surged around him. Xu Zimo realized the bow was just a vessel, arrows had to be formed from Infernal Force. As long as his energy held out, he could create endless arrows.
The bow wasn’t extremely powerful, likely once used by a powerful demon and later lost here in this shop.
“Young master, you’re really something. For this demonic weapon to recognize you… your strength must have risen again,” said the middle-aged man nearby with a smile.
Xu Zimo gave him a glance and a slight nod.
“May I ask where you're from?” the man asked, then introduced himself first. “I am Huangfu Xuan.”
“Red King, Huangfu Xuan?” Before Xu Zimo could respond, Jiang Changsheng shouted in surprise. “You’re the Red King of the World Sovereign Empyrean Sect!”
“You can call me Red King,” Huangfu Xuan smiled, not minding.
“We’re disciples of the Nine Heavens Imperial Sect. This is my senior brother, Lin Qiu,” Jiang Changsheng quickly introduced.
“Oh, disciples of Nine Heavens. I was going to say, if you didn’t belong to a sect, I would’ve invited you to join our World Sovereign Empyrean Sect,” Huangfu Xuan said with a hint of regret.
“You’re here for the auction too?” Jiang Changsheng asked, curious.
“Yes, and just to get out and about,” Huangfu Xuan said, then looked at the young man and woman beside him.
“Hao’er, Yue’er, you’re all the same age, get to know each other.”
“He’s just an Imperial Sect disciple. Why should I associate with someone like that?” Huangfu Hao said, clearly dissatisfied.
He was upset that his father praised Xu Zimo. No matter what he did, his father was rarely pleased, yet now, he was admiring a complete stranger.
Huangfu Xuan frowned slightly and looked at his son. But before he could speak, a man rushed in and whispered something to him.
Huangfu Xuan’s expression turned serious. He told his son and daughter, “I need to leave for a day. I’ll return in time for the auction. You two settle in the city for now.”
With that, he turned and left.
Xu Zimo turned to Jiang Changsheng and asked curiously, “Who is he? You seem pretty worked up.”
“You don’t know the Red King? Senior Brother, you really don’t keep up with the world,” Jiang Changsheng said with emotion.
“He’s said to be the strongest person under the ancestral elder of the World Sovereign Empyrean Sect. Once, he fought eight Fusion Heaven-level powerhouses by himself and killed them all. He became famous from that battle. Everyone in the Southern Region knows him.”
“Oh,” Xu Zimo responded calmly.
Looking at the Heaven Demon Bow in his hand, he thought: since coming to this world, he hadn’t brought Shadow Tyrant (his previous weapon). He hadn’t had a good weapon until now.
This bow would serve him for a while.
He still had his eye on the wooden box atop the central pillar, but he would have to wait until he could get the Blood Lizard Heart.
As he was about to leave, Huangfu Hao stepped forward and blocked his way.
“What is it?” Xu Zimo frowned.
“My father praised you. You must be very strong then,” Huangfu Hao said coldly.
“If you’ve got something to say, spit it out. Don’t waste my time,” Xu Zimo said impatiently.
Huangfu Hao’s face darkened.
“I want to fight you. Loser cuts off a hand. Do you dare?”
“Fuck off. Don’t block my view,” Xu Zimo replied flatly. “There’s no reason to fight someone as weak as you.”
“You’re looking to die!” Huangfu Hao snapped. His aura flared, he was at the early World Paragon realm, and his meridian gates were opening one by one.
He punched at Xu Zimo, flames burning around his fist.
Xu Zimo casually raised the Heaven Demon Bow. The black bowstring alone sent Huangfu Hao flying backward.
“You really want to be the first offering for my bow?” Xu Zimo said coldly.
He began to draw the bow. Infernal Force flowed from his arms as a jet-black arrow began to form, with golden streaks through it.
The arrowhead was triangular and sharp, glowing with a cold light. Infernal Force swirled fiercely.
Xu Zimo loosed the arrow. It shot forward faster than the eye could follow, cutting through the air and space itself.
“Scarlet Sun Barrier!” Huangfu Hao panicked. He stood up and stretched out both arms, summoning a golden barrier before him.
The barrier rippled with spatial power, forming a self-contained realm.
The demonic arrow struck the barrier and seemed to vanish into it.
Huangfu Hao sighed in relief, only to hear a loud boom.
The space twisted violently. The arrow broke through the barrier, pierced through layers of space, and reappeared in front of him.
“Ahhh!” he screamed.
The arrow shot through his chest and pinned him to the wall of the shop. Blood poured from his wound as he struggled in agony.
“Not bad,” Xu Zimo looked at the bow, satisfied. He turned to Jiang Changsheng and said, “Let’s go.”
The two left the shop.
Struggling, Huangfu Hao turned to the girl beside him. “Sister, help me.”
The girl, Huangfu Xianyue, finally looked up for the first time.
No one noticed, but her eyes gleamed like radiant moonlight, breathtakingly beautiful and sharp.
“That arrow was strong,” she said with a soft smile.
She walked over and touched the arrow that had pinned her brother to the wall. Then, all the Infernal Force vanished, absorbed directly into her body.
“Sister, are you satisfied now?” Huangfu Hao asked fearfully.
“If Father could praise him, he’s obviously capable. That wasn’t his full power, not something a single arrow could reveal,” Huangfu Xianyue said calmly.
“Too bad you’re so weak. You couldn’t even make him go all out.”
“Yes, yes,” Huangfu Hao lowered his head, not daring to argue.