To others, Edward White seemed to have truly become an incorporeal ghost, passing through the ranks of the cleaver-headed ghouls as if they were walls of bronze and iron. With every place he passed, several cleaver-headed ghouls would convulse bizarrely, as if possessed.

Edward White had neither the time nor energy to waste on the cleaver-headed ghouls. Each time, he would only stab once at those blocking his way, causing them such pain that they could not pursue him, leaving no time to deliver a killing blow.

Chapter 8: Defying Fate

"Who is that?" Seeing Edward White charging unstoppably toward the altar—almost upon it—many people were astonished and overjoyed.

"What incredible footwork, I feel like I've seen it somewhere before." Baron Dalton rarely made a move in front of others; among ordinary barons, those who had witnessed the Blade Step could be counted on one hand.

"That sword looks like Miss Sophie's Lingluo Sword! How did it end up in that person's hands?" Someone recognized the Lingluo Sword.

As Edward White charged faster and faster, the cleaver-headed ghouls were completely unable to stop his advance. The crowd, who had already fallen into despair, felt hope rekindled in their hearts.

The closer he got to the altar, the faster Edward White ran. At the very instant he leapt onto the altar, his speed reached its peak. Without any pause, he charged straight at the skull-cleaver ghoul, sword in hand. Facing such a powerful foe, his only chance was to kill with a single strike—there would be no second opportunity.

The skull-cleaver ghoul raised its giant axe without hesitation, swinging it at Edward White with a force that tore through everything like thunder and lightning.

But this was exactly what Edward White wanted. As he charged, he suddenly stopped in place, pivoting on his right leg to spin and dissipate the tremendous momentum. The sharp edge of the giant axe grazed his body, tearing his outer garment, but not injuring his skin.

In the instant of his spin, his left leg stepped out without hesitation, landing on the giant axe. He then leapt up, thrusting the Lingluo Sword from a strange angle—not at the ghoul's heart or head, but at its wrist.

"Roar!"

Blood spurted. With a miserable howl, the skull-cleaver ghoul dropped its giant axe, clutching its wounded wrist and stumbling backward.

Edward White's gaze was icy and calm. He stepped forward, closely following the ghoul, the Lingluo Sword held in a reverse grip, ready to strike at any moment.

The skull-cleaver ghoul roared in fury, swinging its massive fist with its uninjured arm at the charging Edward White.

Edward White shifted to the side, dodging the blow, and rushed into the ghoul's embrace. The Lingluo Sword suddenly thrust upward from below, plunging deep into the ghoul's groin.

Everyone who saw this scene instinctively clenched their own legs, then erupted into wild cheers. Those who had thought all hope was lost now felt happiness arrive so suddenly it caught them off guard.

Their cheers were not yet finished when excitement froze on their faces. The grievously wounded skull-cleaver ghoul was not dead. With a ferocious expression, it reached out with both hands to grab Edward White. With its terrifying strength, if it caught him, it could crush all his bones in an instant.

At this moment, Edward White's Lingluo Sword was still embedded in the ghoul's body. There was no time to pull it out; he could only watch as the ghoul lunged at him, so fast he had no chance to dodge.

It was like falling from heaven to hell. Everyone felt a chill run through their bodies, unable to utter a sound, plunged into utter despair.

Squelch!

Just as the skull-cleaver ghoul lunged and was about to grab Edward White, a pure white greatsword suddenly appeared in Edward White's hand, its tip aimed directly at the ghoul's heart.

Without any resistance, the ghoul impaled itself on the greatsword, its hands frozen on either side of Edward White's body. It stood still for several seconds, then collapsed with a crash, dissolving into motes of light.

Four items fell to the ground: besides the Lingluo Sword and the pure white knight's greatsword, there was a blood-red two-handed axe and a life-scale light ruler.

Edward White picked up the three weapons and the life-scale, then immediately dashed to the central platform of the altar. He raised the pure white knight's greatsword and smashed it down hard on the red crystal orb floating within the pillar of black and red light, which radiated a mesmerizing glow and ripples.

The crystal shattered. The towering black and red pillar of light vanished without a trace, and the space around the altar began to twist violently. The altar slowly rose from the ground, about to pass through the shattered void.

Edward White dared not linger. He rushed down from the altar and watched as it gradually sank into the twisting void until it disappeared completely.

With the altar gone, the mutated skull-headed ghouls returned to normal. The survivors, having escaped death, vented their anger and excitement on them, and in no time, over a thousand cleaver-headed ghouls were slain.

When they finally calmed down and went to look for Edward White, he was already nowhere to be found.

News of the undying altar appearing in the jungle, and of someone shattering the Immortal Crystal, quickly spread throughout Knife-Lun City. Yet even those who had witnessed the battle at the altar did not know who had destroyed the Immortal Crystal—only that the title he gave was "Baron Mask".

Baron Mask soon became the four most frequently mentioned characters in Knife-Lun City. Although no one knew Baron Mask's true identity or appearance, that did nothing to stop their imaginations.