Chapter 612 Duncan''s Plot


    "What does Samson think he is doing? Even if he kills Martin, he may end up perishing with him


    because of the blood sacrifice. There is a big price to pay for borrowing power from the ancestor of the


    Nanchao n," Terrence said in a low, anxious voice. "He will lose at least half his life, that stupid


    fellow!" Terrence wished he could stop Samson, but it was already toote.


    "Maybe this is exactly what he wants—sacrificing himself. I mean, he''s been ming himself for the


    death of members of his n, and he wants to atone for it. So perhaps sacrificing his own life is his way


    of apologizing and freeing himself from the guilt," Ricky exined tofort Terrence.


    "But don''t worry. I won''t let him die, I promise."


    "That''s good to hear. I do have faith in you, Ricky. Honestly, I have no idea how you''re going to make it,


    but you haven''t disappointed me so far," Terrence replied. Terrence expressed his gratitude to Ricky


    and breathed a sigh of relief. He truly thought that it was a blessing that Ricky was here to help at the


    moment.


    The truth was, Samson''s death was thest thing Terrence wanted to see. It was true that he and


    Samson had not known each other for long, but he somehow had the feeling they would be really


    good friends one day. Watching a friend die was difficult for anyone, so Terrence could not be more


    worried now.


    ...


    "You''ve got to be kidding. What do you think you''re ying at? You can''t have mastered the blood


    sacrifice. Well, show me then. Let me see what the ancestor of your Nanchao n could do," Martin


    challenged mockingly. Although a bit shocked by the powerful energy released by the virtual shadow of


    the malevolent spirit, he did not flinch.


    But he didn''t look as confident as moments ago. Perhaps he could sense that the power form the


    virtual shadow was even stronger than that from his golden sword.


    Samson ignored Martin''s taunts. He could not afford to waste time humoring him now, for he knew that


    his peak form would notst very long. There was no more time for trash talk.


    The virtual shadow''s pale, cold eyes glimmered as it conjured a huge, miraculous water trident out of


    thin air and swung it straight at Martin.


    It all happened in a split second. There was nothing fancy about the attack. It was simple but most


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    merciless—a strike driven by sheer, immense power.


    "You can keep dreaming about killing me, Samson!" Martin yelled as Samsonunched his attack. "But


    don''t blink as you might miss me tearing your ancestor''s ghost apart, you bastard!"


    Martin braced himself as he waited for Samson''s strike tond. He was scared, all right, but he was not


    going to let his opponent see that on his face. He kept his arrogant bravado stered all over his face.


    Defeat meant death here, which was a price no one wanted to pay. But if he was going to pay the price


    for defeat today, then he would do so with pride.


    Martin roared as his golden sword started to glow brightly and expand. Mustering all his strength,


    Martin turned his weapon into a human figurerge enough to block Samson''s attack. Then, the trident


    wielded by the virtual shadow of the malevolent spirit crashed against Martin''s figure.


    Bang! The collision created a deafening metallic sound that left Martin''s and Samson''s ears ringing.


    Energy exploded all around and sparks flew.


    It was the sort of awesome but horrifying scene one could expect from a battle between two warriors on


    their way to bing upper spiritual kings. It took everyone''s breath away, watching glowing ripples of


    energy radiating in all directions. Every surge of magnificent but terrifying power rocked the earth like a


    deadly earthquake.


    All the warriors present including Ricky and Duncan quickly stepped back for their own safety. Without


    the time to activate any powerful skills to protect themselves, there was no way for them to get too


    close to the battleground and shield themselves from harmful energy surges.


    When the crashing sounds died away and the energy in the air abated, all the warriors held their breath


    and stared in the direction of the two rivals, knowing that after such a violent sh, the fight would be


    over and the oue would be decided.


    "Aaaaaargh!"


    Before anyone could see things clearly, a heartrending cry pierced the air. Then, a beam of golden light


    shot out from the st andnded a few feet away. It took the warriors a few seconds to recognize that


    it was Martin''s golden sword. Following the weapon, a ragged man staggered away from the center of


    the sh.


    From the golden clothes he wore, one could tell that it was Martin.


    Pale and shaking, Martin fell on his face right beside his sword. Every shallow breath he took felt like a


    dagger to his lungs. He rolled on his back and coughed violently. Blood sprayed in the air. The sh


    certainly did him profound damage.


    Momentster, the virtual shadow''s trident, still intact and powerful, appeared above Martin. It was


    floating in the air with its center prong pointed directly at his heart. Onemand from Samson and he


    would die.


    ''Say hello to Death for me, Martin, '' Duncan mused with a cruel smile on his face. He was not about to


    help Martin now, seeing that his life was finally hanging in the bnce.


    "Young master!" cried Edward and the other young man from the Golden Leopard Valley as they


    rushed to Martin, ignoring all dangers. Even in the face of their master''s certain defeat, they were still


    loyal enough to risk their lives for him.


    Soar and Terrence were there to stop them.


    "Duncan, you treacherous bastard!" Martin cursed. It could not be more obvious now that Duncan was


    thinking about leaving him to die in Samson''s hands. "You would still be no match for Ricky even if I die


    before you do, you fool. You won''t stand a chance against that ace genius without me," Martin hissed


    through clenched teeth.


    "Take care on your way to hell, Martin. Don''t worry. I will avenge you." Duncanughed mockingly,


    making no secret of his satisfaction over Martin''s defeat.


    Ricky shook his head at the turn of events. One could not be more careful when choosing allies, for if


    you trusted a traitor like Duncan, you might get stabbed in the back when you were in trouble. In the


    end, it would not be your enemy who took you down, but your so-called friend.


    Nheless, Ricky did not feel sorry for any of them at all. For one thing, they had asked for it. For


    another, they were both his sworn enemies. After all, he who shows mercy to his enemy denies it to


    himself. Ricky had fought enough battles to learn that.


    "Damn you! You will die a much more painful death! You can be sure of that, Duncan!" Martin swore


    with what was left of his strength. Having condemned his crafty ally, Martin strained every muscle in his


    body and prepared himself to jump into the Ghost Corridor.


    The Martial Corridor or the Enlightening Corridor would have been good choices, but Martin was well


    aware that Ricky and his men would catch and kill him easily in either of those corridors.


    Things might be different if he escaped into the Ghost Corridor or the Resentment Corridor. He would


    turn into a ghost or an entity of resentment before the enemy could catch him. Of course, it was the


    best choice he was left with now.


    "You all think you could finish me? Not today. I would rather be a ghost than die in your dirty


    hands," Martin dered, his eyes red from madness. As soon as he was done with hisst words, he


    dived and disappeared into the Ghost Corridor without looking back.


    "Young master, no!" called Edward and the other young man from the Golden Leopard Valley in


    despair. They could only watch as Martin got swallowed by the darkness of the Ghost Corridor.


    They descended into panic. Staring hopelessly into the Ghost Corridor, they felt as though Death itself


    stared back at them. They just lost their young master, which meant that they, too, were doomed.


    Without Martin, they were but two weak insects among powerful warriors.


    On the other hand, all the explosive energy Samson had pushed out gradually faded. With half his life


    drawn out of him, Samson hadpsed into aa and crashed to the ground.


    "Brother!" Carley cried and rushed toward Samson. Ricky and Madeline followed suit.


    "Your brother is dangerously weak now. He needs to rest. I will let him recover in my spiritual space


    tool. He will be safe there," Ricky told Carley reassuringly after examining Samson.


    He then ced the unconscious Samson into his Devourer Zone that he activated to refine some


    precious Treasures from Heaven and Earth to help with Samson''s recovery.


    "Thank you so much, Ricky," uttered Carley and Madeline in unison, their eyes gleaming with gratitude.


    "You''re wee. That''s what friends are for," Ricky answered with a gentle smile.


    While Ricky attended to Samson, Soar and Terrence pinned Martin''s two men down.


    The two men were certainly no match for the two warriors. After a few strikes, they were finished.


    It ended easily and quickly.


    But this was not yet the end. Several of their enemies were still alive, and another fight might break out


    any moment.


    "Well, well. Looks like you still hold that spiritual space tool, Ricky," Duncan told Ricky with a


    meaningful smile. His eyes twinkled with so much depravity that anyone could see it from a mile away.


    Everyone present certainly felt that he was up to no good. Surprisingly, they could sense his


    "Now I really don''t understand you, Duncan. How can you be this calm and wear that nasty smile? Do


    you seriously think you stand a chance in this game?" Ricky asked coldly, turning to face Duncan.


    He wanted to kill Duncan now more than Martin ever did.


    Ricky despised treacherous men the most, and he would not hesitate to end anyone who betrayed an


    ally or a friend.


    "Honestly, I''ve got a lot to thank you for, Ricky. Martin wouldn''t have brought out the best of his sword if


    it weren''t for you. You know, I wouldn''t have dared turn against him otherwise, for I myself don''t hold


    that sort of power. It''s stupid to betray him before he''s weak from exhausting all his energy and skills,


    don''t you think?" Duncan said casually, like he had done nothing wrong.


    "Ah, now I see. You think you''re clever to benefit from the fight and win the game without breaking a


    sweat. I''m afraid you''re forgetting something really important," Ricky answered sharply.