Chapter Twenty-Two: The Approaching Storm

Zhang Chen’s stronghold was located on the eastern side of the entire Lingyun District. Though his character was lacking, he was nonetheless the shrewdest leader in this region. His stronghold, larger than Qi Tianba’s, was filled with clusters of tents. Groups of men basked in the sun inside, but upon seeing Chu Jie approach, they all stood up, their faces fierce and threatening.

When Zhang Chen went to participate in the Spirit Seizing Battle, he took only a small portion of his men; the majority remained in the main stronghold.

“Kid! Where do you come from? Go back to where you belong!” a burly man growled menacingly.

Chu Jie casually tossed Zhang Chen’s bloody head over to them. “From now on, I’m the one in charge here.”

“Boss!” The burly man gasped in shock at the sight of Zhang Chen’s head, his eyes instantly reddening. “How dare you kill my boss!” He roared in fury, grabbing a nearby machete and swinging it at Chu Jie.

The blade’s energy surged, accompanied by a gust of force, slashing toward Chu Jie.

Boom!

The momentum around them billowed outward; the snowy flash of the blade collided directly with Chu Jie’s fist. The burly man had imagined Chu Jie’s hand would break, but nothing of the sort happened. He stared in astonishment at Chu Jie’s hand, which had transformed into a bronze hue. His machete had left nothing but a white mark.

This was the glove formed by Chu Jie’s Qian Kun Treasure Wheel, covering his hand. With a slight exertion, Chu Jie snapped the long blade in two, stepped forward, and with a flash of light on his arm, punched the burly man’s head, blasting it apart.

Devastating, ruthless, and merciless!

The other men in the stronghold instantly fell silent, not daring to speak. Chu Jie strode forward step by step. “I am your new leader now. Who has any objections?”

The group exchanged glances, their expressions reluctant, but none dared speak.

“I have an objection!” A young man stepped forward, his face sinister. “I don’t care that you killed Boss Zhang! But I don’t want to follow you. What then?”

Chu Jie glanced at him and spoke calmly. “It’s natural for you to resist, but in this Dark City, the strong rule. If you want to leave, it’s not impossible—just withstand three of my attacks.”

The young man licked his lips, eager and brimming with excitement. “Let’s try it!”

He suddenly let out a wild roar, his body glowing with light, and his eyes flickered with sparks.

He was at the ninth level of the Body Strength Realm, just half a step from the Spirit Gathering Realm!

Chu Jie stepped forward, his aura exploding. The momentum of the Spirit Gathering Realm condensed instantly, and he extended his finger, unleashing a torrent of energy. It swept out like a rampaging dragon, distorting the air around it.

The young man’s aura surged, his long hair billowing, his momentum reaching its peak. He punched at Chu Jie like a shooting star.

Bang!

His fist collided with the energy at Chu Jie’s fingertips, producing a muffled sound in the air. The young man’s body was flung away in an instant.

Chu Jie smirked disdainfully and shook his head. “Pathetically weak.”

The surrounding men watched him in fear, terrified they would be slaughtered next.

Chu Jie leapt onto a massive boulder, surveying the crowd below with arms crossed. His voice was cool and calm. “If you don’t want to follow me, that’s fine. As long as you can withstand three of my moves, you may leave.”

He paced atop the boulder, then spoke again. “But until you leave, I am your new leader. If anyone dares disobey, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

Seeing the apprehension in their eyes, Chu Jie nodded in satisfaction. He knew that to establish himself here, ferocity was indispensable.

Squinting, Chu Jie continued, “Now, dismantle all your tents!”

The group hesitated, exchanging nervous glances. In this Dark District, a good tent and a favorable spot were worth more than a life.

Chu Jie’s palm shimmered with iridescent light. “Are you disobeying me now?”

The young man whom Chu Jie had sent flying earlier walked calmly toward his tent. With someone leading, the rest—though grumbling—followed.

“Once you’ve dismantled them, each of you will draw lots to determine your new place!”

Chu Jie wanted more than just a band of thugs; he sought a fearsome yet orderly force.

He summoned Xu Meng to prepare slips of paper, and then hurried about.

It took over two hours to dismantle more than a hundred tents. By then, Duan Kun and his brothers had arrived.

“Chu, why are the tents coming down?” Duan Kun scratched his head, puzzled.

Chu Jie smiled. “Tell our brothers not to rush to set up their tents. We’ll draw lots for tent placement.”

Duan Kun’s eyes lit up. He gave a thumbs-up. “Good idea! The two groups can mingle and integrate.”

After a while, Duan Kun pulled Chu Jie aside, lowering his voice. “Our two factions are strong, but our men’s strength is too weak. It could be a disadvantage when it comes time to enter the Outer City. Any ideas?”

Chu Jie frowned. “Recruit more brothers, and focus on their training!”

Duan Kun pursed his lips. “That’s all we can do. Tomorrow, I’ll start recruiting. That’s our best chance to enter the Outer City.”

Chu Jie frowned again. “Anyone at the Spirit Gathering Realm can enter the Outer City—what’s the catch?”

Duan Kun glanced around warily. “You’re at Spirit Gathering too—why don’t you just enter? It’s because you’ve got a grudge with the three great families, isn’t it…”

Chu Jie laughed. “Which family did you offend?”

“The Luo Family!” Duan Kun clenched his fists, his chest heaving.

Chu Jie smiled. “I offended the Luo Family too.”

Duan Kun stepped back, sizing up Chu Jie. “Chu… Chu Jie! Are you the one who destroyed the Luo Family’s Spirit Herb District and enraged Young Master Luo Long so much he coughed up blood?”

Chu Jie nodded. “So?”

Duan Kun gave him a thumbs-up. “You really are bold!”

He bowed his head slightly and sighed. “I’m not like you. I was originally from the Outer City, but the Luo Family persecuted me. I can only rely on this method to return—and reclaim everything I lost!”

He patted Chu Jie’s shoulder. “Rest up. I’m off to knock some sense into the brothers.”

Watching Duan Kun’s departing figure, Chu Jie narrowed his eyes. He sensed a resentment in Duan Kun akin to his own.

Thus, Chu Jie was willing to trust him.

“Where’s Zhang Chen?” A voice sounded behind Chu Jie.

He turned to see a young man standing behind him, arrogant and irreverent, staring at him with impatience. As Chu Jie turned, the young man barked, “What are you looking at? Get your boss Zhang Chen over here!”

“And you are?” Chu Jie asked.

“I’m here to deliver a message from Elder Zhang! Where’s Zhang Chen? Bring him out!” The young man, only at the sixth level of the Body Strength Realm, was full of arrogance.

“Fine, follow me.” Chu Jie turned and walked ahead.

The young man followed, sneering. “Zhang Chen’s neglect will earn him a lesson from Elder Zhang.”

A few steps later, Chu Jie led him into a small tent. Inside, not seeing Zhang Chen, the young man grew even more agitated and pointed at Chu Jie. “Where’s Zhang Chen? Bring him out!”

Chu Jie looked at him. “Zhang Chen is dead.”

The young man’s face paled with panic. Chu Jie continued, “I killed him.”

The young man’s expression changed, stepping back in alarm. “What are you going to do?”

Chu Jie sat in a chair. “Tell me—who is Elder Zhang, and what’s his relation to Zhang Chen?”

At the mention of Elder Zhang, the young man straightened a bit, regaining some arrogance. “Elder Zhang is the tenth protector of the Luo Family. Zhang Chen is his distant nephew. This time, Elder Zhang came to bring Zhang Chen into the Outer City. Now that you’ve killed him, Elder Zhang won’t spare you!”

“What is this Zhang protector doing in the Dark District?” Chu Jie asked.

The young man sneered. “Some brat offended the Luo Family and destroyed their Spirit Herb District. Doesn’t even know his place! The Luo Family has already sent the eighth, ninth, and tenth elders to hunt him down. Don’t you know?”

“So they’re after me,” Chu Jie muttered, frowning. “What are the elders’ strengths?”

The young man, thinking Chu Jie was afraid, grinned triumphantly. “All three are fifth level Spirit Gathering experts! I advise you to let me go, or Elder Zhang will crush you into pieces.”

Chu Jie blinked and sighed.

“Why are you sighing?” the young man asked, bewildered.

Chu Jie walked toward him. “I sigh because there are so many fools in this world.”

“Who are you calling a fool… Are you going to kill me?” The young man retreated. “Elder Zhang will destroy you!”

Chu Jie shrugged. “Let him try.”

The young man panicked and shouted, “Help! Somebody help!”

Chu Jie shook his head, exasperated, and knocked him out with a flick of his finger.

Just then, Duan Kun entered the tent, having heard the commotion. “What happened?”

Chu Jie told him everything the young man had said. Duan Kun frowned deeply. “A fifth-level Spirit Gathering Elder Zhang is manageable, but if we kill him, the whole Luo Family will notice.”

Chu Jie paced inside the tent. “True. You may be safe, but if the Luo Family recognizes me—even with my mask—it would spell disaster for us!”

“Tomorrow, I’ll lead the brothers for training. We’ll go to the Abyss of No Man,” Chu Jie declared, clenching his fist.

Duan Kun hesitated. “Isn’t that too dangerous?”

Chu Jie replied firmly, “No. Elder Zhang will likely come tomorrow. We can’t let him die inside our stronghold, but we can ambush him on the road.”

Duan Kun nodded. “I’ll have men monitor the surrounding roads. As soon as the elder appears, we’ll take him out!”

“And my identity must remain secret. Otherwise, we’ll face annihilation.”

Duan Kun nodded. “Right. Three days—we have only three days!”

Chu Jie clenched his fist, his eyes blazing with murderous intent. “Within three days, Elder Zhang must die!”