From Sword to Slaughter: Evolution

"Keep the Desert Bandit King's head safe. I need it to show to Commander Cheng later," Ren Xing ordered as he looked at Huang Conghui in the main hall of Star City's City Lord's residence.

"Understood!" Huang Conghui nodded and quickly left.

Once Huang Conghui was gone, Ren Xing sat back down and resumed his cultivation.

"The people from Qing City should be making their move soon," he murmured to himself, all while continuing to absorb energy from the nearby source stones.

Three days later...

Commander Cheng, looking disheveled and weary, rushed into Star City with a group of warriors.

"Damn those Earth Dragon people... damn the Earth Dragon Empire..." Cheng cursed under his breath, his clothes torn and his face bearing several injuries. He was escorted by the city guards toward the City Lord's residence.

"Report! Commander Cheng has arrived!" Huang Conghui hurried into the hall where Ren Xing was cultivating and informed him.

"Oh? He's here?" Ren Xing opened his eyes, a satisfied smile forming on his lips.

"Good. Now I can show Commander Cheng that I've completed the task. It'll help me secure a promotion," Ren Xing muttered as he stood and made his way outside.

"Bring me some fine clothing and the best medicinal powders!" Cheng bellowed angrily upon entering the main hall, glaring at the guards around him. "You useless fools!"

"Right away, Commander," the guards replied hastily and rushed to follow his orders.

"Damn Earth Dragon people, how dare they disrespect me and kill my men!" Cheng's face was twisted with rage, and a fresh cut on his cheek still oozed blood.

The Earth Dragon Empire and the Tianba Empire had recently clashed over territorial disputes, and Cheng had been sent to Earth Dragon City on a diplomatic mission just as tensions erupted. The negotiations had turned hostile, and Cheng barely escaped being killed by the city's warriors.

"Those bastards," he muttered, his face darkening as he recalled the humiliating events of the past few days.

"Commander Cheng, welcome back," Ren Xing greeted him respectfully as he approached.

"Hmm, how has Star City been under your watch?" Cheng asked with a quick glance at Ren Xing, his tone casual and indifferent.

"Everything is well managed," Ren Xing nodded slightly before adding, "And the task you assigned to me—I've completed it."

"Task? What task?" Cheng asked absentmindedly, not recalling the details.

"Huang Conghui!" Ren Xing called out loudly.

"Yes!" Huang Conghui, already prepared, rushed in carrying a large wooden box. Ren Xing took the box from him and motioned for him to leave.

"Inside this box is the head of the Desert Bandit King," Ren Xing said, handing it over to Commander Cheng.

Cheng's eyes widened in surprise.

"You've dealt with the people of Sand Desolation City?" he asked.

"Of course," Ren Xing nodded with a smile. "Would you like to see it?"

As Ren Xing moved to open the box, Cheng suddenly yelled, "Throw it away! Get it out of my sight!"

Ren Xing paused, surprised by Cheng's reaction.

"I said throw it away! Didn't you hear me, old man!?" Cheng shouted angrily.

"Very well," Ren Xing calmly handed the box to a servant, instructing them to take it away.

"I didn't expect you to actually kill the bandits of Sand Desolation City," Cheng grumbled as he winced from the pain of his injuries. He continued to apply medicinal powder to his wounds, though the sharp sting of the medicine made him grit his teeth in frustration.

"Stop standing there! Help me apply this medicine!" Cheng barked at Ren Xing impatiently.

Ren Xing nodded and stepped forward to assist, though he was inexperienced in such tasks. As he applied the powder, he accidentally used too much of the more potent, stinging remedy.

"You idiot!" Cheng screamed in pain, kicking Ren Xing hard enough to send him stumbling back several steps.

Ren Xing said nothing but clenched his fists behind his back.

"If you want to stay as the City Lord, you better behave! What's with that sour face?" Cheng snapped. He had no qualms about replacing the City Lord with someone more obedient.

"I don't want to just be a City Lord," Ren Xing replied suddenly, a peculiar smile forming on his face—a smile that sent chills down Cheng's spine.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Cheng asked, narrowing his eyes.

Ren Xing's smile only grew more sinister.

"Didn't you hear me? I said I don't want to just be the City Lord anymore," Ren Xing repeated, his tone serious now.

"What are you talking about?" Cheng's eyes narrowed further as a sudden, uneasy feeling crept into him. What did Ren Xing mean by this?

"You understood me correctly. I want to become a Commander," Ren Xing declared, laughing.

"Are you joking? The position of Commander is conferred by the Empire itself. You think you can just replace me so easily?" Cheng sneered, though there was a slight tremor in his voice.

"I've heard that if a Commander dies suddenly, there's a temporary election among the city lords under his command to choose a replacement," Ren Xing said, his voice cold as he gripped the hilt of his sword.

"I... will become Commander," he declared, drawing his Soul Cleaver from its sheath.

The moment the sword was unsheathed, a terrifying demonic aura filled the room, causing Cheng to visibly shudder.

"Ren Xing! What are you doing!?" Cheng yelled, reaching instinctively for the sword by his side. He could see the murderous intent in Ren Xing's eyes.

This old man wanted to kill him!

If it were any other time, Cheng wouldn't have feared Ren Xing. But now, Ren Xing was far stronger than before, and with most of Cheng's warriors dead, only a handful of fighters remained by his side.