Chapter 173: Chapter 170: Conflict and Threat
When Shen Changchuan followed Nangong Cheng to the entrance of the mountain ravine, four or five figures suddenly leaped out, blocking their path.
"The Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance? What an arrogant name!"
"I don’t understand. This is clearly untamed, ownerless land. Since when did it become the territory of your Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance?!"
Nangong Cheng’s face darkened as he spoke coldly.
"This place was discovered by people from our Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance, so of course it belongs to us!"
"Is that so? Then why didn’t I see any of you when I was here two months ago?"
"Cut the fucking crap! This place was discovered by the Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance, so it’s ours!"
"If you’re looking to die, I’ll be happy to send you on your way!"
The men, who called themselves members of the Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance, all drew their weapons. They aimed them at Nangong Cheng, glaring furiously, ready to attack at the slightest disagreement.
"Heh heh! What a ’Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance’ indeed!"
"I’ve heard that your so-called ’mutual aid alliance’ uses all sorts of threats and enticements to force smaller Immortal Cultivation Clan forces to join you and pay exorbitant Protection Fees. If any dare to refuse, they’re ambushed in the dead of night by some ’unknown force’ that slaughters everyone, young and old, and burns their years of accumulated wealth to ash... I didn’t really believe it before, but seeing your posturing now, I’m afraid the reality is even worse than the rumors!"
Nangong Cheng was so furious he began to laugh.
He couldn’t be bothered to waste any more words on them.
BOOM!
The aura of the Qi Introduction Ninth Layer erupted, sweeping across the area and kicking up visible shockwaves of air!
At that moment,
the Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance Cultivators blocking the path felt their hearts clench. Cold sweat dripped from their foreheads.
’We’ve kicked a plate of steel!’
The men froze, their bodies rigid and limbs ice-cold.
"I have long heard of Hero Nangong’s great fame. You wander the lands upholding justice, helping the weak and curbing the strong—a true model of the Righteous Dao. Why would you stoop to intimidating a few Low Tier Cultivators with your power today?"
Just then,
a booming voice echoed out of nowhere.
A tall and imposing man in a violet-gold cloak was seen striding over from a distance with the gait of a dragon and the prowl of a tiger.
At the same time,
an aura, also at the Ninth Layer Realm, rose from his body to counter Nangong Cheng’s.
The air
grew heavy and oppressive.
"You must be the Alliance Leader of the Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance, Cao Hongshang?"
"When it comes to bullying others with power, I am no match for Alliance Leader Cao. Did you really think outsiders don’t know how those dozens of villages under your command were ’convinced’ to join your so-called Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance?"
"The rumors say a certain Alliance Leader has a petty disposition but is a master of turning the tables with false accusations. It seems those rumors were true!"
"I won’t waste my breath on you. Is your Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance truly set on stopping me?!"
Nangong Cheng’s voice was ice-cold.
Done wasting words with these thugs, he adopted a combat stance and issued his direct challenge.
Cao Hongshang’s gaze turned grim, his expression ugly.
Not a sound could be heard.
The atmosphere was terrifyingly oppressive.
The clash of their auras left the men who had been blocking Nangong Cheng’s path completely frozen, not daring to move a muscle.
It was as if the slightest movement would mean instant death!
Cao Hongshang’s expression flickered several times,
but in the end, he did not act.
"Fine. Since the famous Hero Nangong himself has spoken, I must naturally show some respect!"
"All of you, move aside!"
Cao Hongshang’s face returned to a calm, emotionless mask.
He waved his hand,
and the four or five Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance Cultivators blocking the way immediately parted to form a path.
"Hmph!"
Nangong Cheng snorted and led Shen Changchuan through the crowd.
His Heart Spirit remained on high alert, ready for a sudden attack from Cao Hongshang.
Fortunately,
Cao Hongshang never made a move.
Nangong Cheng led Shen Changchuan through the ravine and into a dark, seemingly bottomless abyssal cave.
Back at the entrance,
Cao Hongshang stood motionless.
The surroundings were deathly silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop. No one dared to make a sound.
After a long moment,
the leader of the group finally dared to ask in a low voice,
"Alliance Leader, those two showed no respect for our Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance. Are we just going to let it go?"
"Are you telling me how to do my job?"
Cao Hongshang shot him a cold glance, and the man felt as if a bucket of ice-cold water had been poured over his head.
"This subordinate wouldn’t dare!"
The man hastily bowed his head, begging for forgiveness.
Cao Hongshang paid him no more mind.
He raised his head, clasped his hands behind his back, and gazed toward the horizon.
"However, you were right about one thing. This isn’t over!"
"No one can show such disrespect to me and live!"
"Go contact the Qi Family. Tell them I have a great opportunity to offer them!"
On Cao Hongshang’s face,
a savage look faintly appeared.
’The one following Nangong Cheng... if I recall correctly, that must be Shen Changchuan, the one the Tian Nan Shen Clan sent to oversee Dawan Village!’
’A dignified disciple of the Shen Clan, venturing so deep into this dangerous place... could it be that he’s discovered some precious Heavenly and Earthly Treasure inside?’
’It’s not impossible!’
’According to my calculations,’
’Cyan Essence Water Grass usually grows in areas rich with water veins.’
’But the surface rivers and streams have all been more or less explored, and nothing has been found.’
’So if it’s not on the surface, it must be in an underground river or something similar.’
’And a subterranean karst cave,’
’is very likely an entrance to an underground river...’
’Hmph!’
’It doesn’t even matter if they’ve actually found any Heaven and Earth Treasures.’
’This is a perfect opportunity.’
’New grudges and old scores,’
’can all be settled at once!’
...
"Brother Nangong, given that man’s character, I fear this matter won’t be resolved so easily..."
"I know that, but I just can’t stand to see thugs like them bullying people... Besides, Brother Shen, you can rest assured. The Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance is a large organization; they wouldn’t dare to casually make a powerful enemy..."
Inside the subterranean cave,
Shen Changchuan followed behind Nangong Cheng, the two of them conversing as they ventured deeper into the cave system.
At this point,
the light inside the cave was dim.
The occasional stalactite hanging from the ceiling gave off a strange halo of light,
and some insects also emitted a faint, subtle glow, serving as light sources in the dim cavern.
However, both Nangong Cheng and Shen Changchuan were considered masters of the Qi Introduction Realm, and both possessed powerful Divine Soul Perception.
For Late Stage Cultivators of the Qi Introduction Realm, who were already Extraordinary beings, the dim environment was not a major problem.
Coupled with their Divine Soul Perception,
the effect was actually minimal.
"Don’t worry, I’ve got this!"
Nangong Cheng said confidently as he walked ahead.
Large, established powers generally avoid provoking solo wanderers.
Because the latter can cause too much destruction to an organization.
Although he often acted chivalrously and was called a hero by outsiders, when faced with an enemy, he wasn’t above using certain methods.
Therefore, he didn’t believe Cao Hongshang would dare to do anything.
"Let’s find a safe place to rest first. After that, we’ll head straight to our destination..."
Seeing this, Shen Changchuan, who was behind him,
didn’t say anything further.
