Chapter 819: Being used as a Distraction

Although the secret domain was vast—seemingly endless with countless dangerous terrains and forbidden zones—many of the participants had been deliberately scattered across the outer regions under the arrangement of the elders who opened the portal. It wasn’t random at all, but a calculated decision meant to prevent immediate large-scale conflict between forces.

The seven overlord factions alone had sent at least twenty-five members each, and when combined with the independent geniuses and sect disciples from across the thousands of regions within the Middle Domain, the total number of people in the secret domain exceeded a thousand.

Naturally, with the scale of such deployment, it wasn’t surprising that fifty to sixty individuals had ended up scattered across the area known as the Black Mist Swamp. A number far too large for such a cursed land.

Unfortunately for them, they had become prey.

The Blood Ghost King, and perhaps others like it, saw them not as cultivators but as a feast. Most of the people here were geniuses, yes, but even geniuses had limits—especially when thrown into the jaws of such a ferocious monster.

Many of them were merely at the 1st or 2nd level of the Legend Rank, and even the strongest among them didn’t exceed the 3rd level.

Against the power and savage instincts of the Blood Ghost King, they stood no chance. One after another, they were slaughtered, their heads twisted off, their bodies left as headless corpses soaking in pools of their own blood. The fog trembled with screams, and the swamp began to resemble a hellish slaughterhouse.

Those who witnessed even a glimpse of the massacre fled in terror, running in every direction without order or coordination, driven only by the primal urge to survive.

Swish!

Max, however, did not stop. He had already seen the worst this place could throw at him and knew full well that no amount of righteous fury or sympathy would protect him in the secret domain. He wasn’t here to play hero.

His goal was growth, survival, and supremacy. He turned away from the bloody chaos erupting behind him and walked calmly, his breath even, his expression cold. The screams of the dying echoed through the black fog—pleas for help, cries of desperation, blood gurgling from open throats.

But Max didn’t even glance back. He hadn’t come here to save strangers.

They meant nothing to him.

But then, suddenly—

"Big brother, save me!" a voice rang out from behind him. It was desperate, trembling, and—unlike the others—directed at him.

A girl came running toward Max, her bare feet splashing through the swamp water, toes gleaming like delicate jade under the faint glow of the mist. She had a petite frame, almost fragile in appearance, and looked so sweet and well-behaved that anyone would instinctively want to protect her.

But Max knew better. He recognized her immediately—Luna, the daughter of the elusive and powerful leader of the Obsidian Order. Her face, though flushed with panic, carried a strange charm, a mixture of innocence and mischief, and as she rushed forward calling out for help, her doe-like eyes pleaded with Max in a way that could melt most hearts.

Max, however, was not most people. He turned his head in surprise upon seeing her but felt more annoyance than concern. He hadn’t expected someone like her to end up in this cursed swamp with him, especially not being chased by a Blood Ghost King. Still, despite her appearance, she wasn’t ordinary.

Though she was only at the 3rd level of Legend Rank, her speed was incredible. Max knew the bloodthirsty monster wouldn’t have spared her if she had faltered even a second. She had to be using something—some special technique or innate ability to survive this long.

That’s why, instead of feeling pity, Max inwardly cursed. He was certain she was trying to use him as a distraction, to throw the monster off her trail by dragging him into it.

And knowing her background, Max didn’t believe for a second that the young miss of the Obsidian Order would walk into the secret domain without at least a few powerful life-saving methods. His instincts screamed for him to avoid entanglement, so he didn’t even stop. He just kept moving forward, cold and resolute.

"Stop!" Luna’s voice rang out again, this time with clear urgency and a hint of anger. She stomped lightly mid-run, her tiny brows furrowed as her lips curled into a cute pout of frustration.

She had never been ignored like this before. Yet at the same time, her eyes sparkled with intrigue. Just how was this guy moving so fast? She could tell he wasn’t using any footwork technique, yet he was outpacing her.

And that puzzled her greatly. Someone at the 8th level of Master Rank, running faster than her—Luna, the daughter of the Obsidian Order’s ruler, who had practiced one of the best movement techniques in the Middle Domain? That wasn’t just odd, it was unnatural.

Sword aura radiated faintly from Max, and she began to wonder if he might be from the Absolute Sword Palace.

She chased after him while muttering to herself, irritation mounting as she glanced back at the incoming Blood Ghost King—its grotesque face snarling with hunger, its claws slicing through the air like death incarnate.

Realizing that the situation was becoming more dangerous, Luna let out a soft snort and lifted her palm, revealing a shimmering silver rune etched with swirling lines—her Wind Spirit Rune.

"I only brought three of these into the secret domain," she huffed with an adorably wrinkled nose, clearly displeased at wasting one. Then she shot Max a glare filled with playful vengeance. "You damn guy, you really ignored me? Fine! I’ll make you pay later!"

With that, she slapped the Wind Spirit Rune against herself. In an instant, gales of wind surged around her body, encasing her petite form in swirling currents. Her speed exploded, nearly doubling as the rune worked its magic. She shot forward like a silver arrow through the fog.

Max happened to glance back right at that moment, and his face darkened. "This girl... she actually brought a Wind Spirit Rune? That’s not good!" He muttered under his breath.

The Wind Spirit Rune might only be a sixth-grade rune, but it was tailor-made for escape. It was rare, precious, and outrageously effective in situations like this.

Now that she was speeding up to catch him, Max knew he couldn’t afford to ignore her anymore. She was about to catch up—and from the look in her eyes, she wasn’t about to let this go easily. For the correct order please visit

Seeing Luna getting closer and closer, Max’s face sank like a rock dropped into water. He didn’t have time for this. The Blood Ghost King was still behind him, relentless and savage, and now this little headache of a princess was trying to tail him like they were old friends.

Gritting his teeth, Max surged his speed again, darting through the mist with his movement enhanced by vital essence, trying desperately to shake her off. But no matter how hard he tried, she kept up—graceful and swift, the power of the Wind Spirit Rune making her practically glide through the black fog.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay