For Du Chengfeng, this might be the most severe aftereffect of sharpening a blade.

In the past, sharpening the blade might have let him be immersed in the blade’s memories, yet having been tempered by Evil Qi, he could always quickly recover his consciousness—as no matter what, blades and humans are different. Humans have hands and feet, and don’t have blades growing from their faces, these are things blades lack.

Even after experiencing a blade’s life through its memories, as long as he moved his limbs, he could remember who he was.

Despite experiencing a blade’s life, he remained human.

However, this time was different.

Du Chengfeng had never imagined a living person could serve as a blade. This time what he underwent was not the life of a blade, but the life of a living, breathing person.

Although it was just a brief moment ago, he had already passed through an extremely long period from the perspective of the founding emperor of Southern Chen, from before Southern Chen was established to now—hundreds of years. Compared to this massive memory, his own small experiences were hardly worth mentioning.

No matter how solid his sense of self, his consciousness within the torrent of centuries-old memories was precarious. Though he’d escaped the sharpening trance and regained sensation, the identity confusion and fierce inner conflict from intertwined memories nearly split his mind.

The ideal scenario would be for him to firmly hold onto his sense of self and fully digest the founding emperor’s memories, absorbing this vast legacy. Yet what seemed more likely was that his mind would be overwhelmed by the emperor’s massive memory, turning him into another founding emperor, or something else entirely.

That was a far more dangerous trap than merging with a blade, nearly splitting his head open.

"But now, it’s much better."

Flexing the two heads on his neck, Du Chengfeng’s mind regained clarity.

Yes, if one head couldn’t hold two minds, then having two heads would do.

As for whether two heads still count as human...

Of course that counts as human, anywhere it counts as human. Though viewing people with four eyes felt a bit strange for Du Chengfeng, expelling him from humanity just for having an extra head seemed too harsh.

The extra head was still part of him, at most serving as an extra piece of medical equipment, so how could he not be human?

Instead, the founding emperor of Southern Chen before him, though maintaining a human body, was fundamentally different from a real human.

Humans were never such weak creatures.

"Come."

This time, Du Chengfeng didn’t even draw his blade—he simply raised a fist and shattered the head of a shadowy soldier.

Pure, dense Evil Qi flowed into his body—the same Qi originally forming the shadow soldier—absorbed by Du Chengfeng as effortlessly as eating and drinking.

Just like that founding emperor of Southern Chen.

The raging Evil Qi tore at Du Chengfeng’s body, pushing him further toward inhumanity. Once again, small scales grew on his skin, with tiger-like patterns emerging on his bare skin.

Du Chengfeng had never felt so good.

It was then that the grassland khan on the other side also burst into laughter.

"I said we should go together a long time ago!"

With these words, the grassland khan inverted his three-prong spear and directly plunged this divine weapon named Surutung into his chest and abdomen.

In an instant, the grassland khan’s figure surged, with a pair of enormous wings growing on his shoulders.

"Come! I’ll take you flying!"

In mid-air, the golden-winged roc, spear-stuck in its chest, laughed wildly.

Drawing the trident from his chest, transformed to half-man half-beast, the grassland khan flew skyward, tumultuous Evil Qi swirling around him like the descent of a Demon God.

"And you..."

The massive giant’s expression grew darker.

"Do you wish to shed your human identities so much? Do you desire so much to become monsters?"

"Human?"

Like hearing something amusing, the grassland khan laughed heartily in mid-air.

"Who is human! I am khan! I am the god of the world!"

This is well-known, that in the heart of the desert’s royal court, a god-like khan ruled over all the grasslands, ruling shepherds, chieftains, and all under heaven.

Humans are too ordinary; the whole world is filled with them. They are born to be ruled by gods.

"And you actually think you’re human?"

Seeing the massive giant, the grassland khan laughed more freely in mid-air.

Just from a few words, he had discovered this massive giant’s weakness.

Clearly possessing a body like a Celestial God, yet considering himself human... this Southern Chen founding emperor was so weak! So indecisive!

"Since you’re human, then kneel to the god!"

With this proclamation, the grassland khan forcefully swung the three-prong spear!

"Bow before me!"

Thud——

Surging Evil Qi crashed against the massive giant’s forehead, but the noise from this seemingly mountain-cracking strike was like striking solid cowhide with a stick.

This lethal blow didn’t even scuff the giant’s skin.

It caused a pit to open in the grassland khan’s chest.

"This is the god you speak of?"

Wiping his forehead where he had just been struck, the massive giant squinted.

"Is this all?"

"You..."

The instinct between life and death prompted the grassland khan to immediately descend, just avoiding the deadly grasp of the giant hand.

Just an ordinary grip would’ve been enough to crush his entire skeleton.

The situation wasn’t as predicted—he thought he had seen through the giant’s weakness, but looking at it now, no matter how weak or indecisive, how much the Southern Chen founding emperor seemed like garbage, his strength was still as solid as could be.

Even a dying camel is bigger than a horse.

"So let’s join forces!"

The grassland khan once again invited the other challenger—Du Chengfeng.

"Quick! I want his life! You want his blood! Let’s work together to kill this monster!"

"That’s the plan."

One head focused on the giant’s movements while Du Chengfeng’s other head turned to the grassland khan.

"But what do you mean, pointing your weapon at me?"

"Sorry."

He said, but the grassland khan’s three-prong spear was already stabbing towards Du Chengfeng.

"I’m a little hungry."