Chapter 23: Chapter 23: A Complete Break! The Challenge Arrives
Elder Ge’s fingers, strong as steel, dug slowly into Chen Xuan’s shoulder with terrifying force. Immense killing intent surged within him; he wanted to take the risk and cripple Chen Xuan.
’This damn bastard, does he really think he won the position of Sect Leader all by himself?’
’Without me putting in a good word for him with the Gang Leader, Chen Xuan would be nothing!’
’So what if he’s strong? What good would that do?’
’When the Left Protector first told me to come recruit Chen Xuan again, I thought it was pointless. I didn’t think Chen Xuan would dare to rebel.’
’But from the looks of it now, this animal has definitely thrown his lot in with the Right Protector behind our backs.’
’In that case...’
A cold glint flashed in Elder Ge’s eyes.
"Elder Ge, have you had your fill of squeezing?"
Chen Xuan’s gaze was indifferent, and he remained unmoved, looking at Elder Ge like an invisible, ferocious beast.
"What?"
Elder Ge’s heart jumped, and he stared at Chen Xuan.
’I squeezed him with my Tiger Claw Skill, yet he didn’t even budge?’
’How is that possible?’
’His shoulder is so hard!’
’No, even his skin is hard!’
BANG!
Chen Xuan shook his shoulder, and an invisible surge of Dark Force erupted, instantly prying Elder Ge’s five fingers loose.
"Your strength...?"
Elder Ge’s eyes narrowed as he stared at Chen Xuan.
"Elder Ge, since you’re not interested in staying for a drink, we’ll call it a day. Show him out!"
Chen Xuan paid him no mind and turned to leave.
"Good! Good! Good!"
Elder Ge laughed in fury.
’I really misjudged him!’
’How dare this little animal treat me like this!’
A chill rose in his heart, and killing intent surfaced.
"Elder Ge, I advise you to calm down!"
Suddenly, Chen Xuan stopped, turned his head, and glanced at Elder Ge. "Once some things are done, there’s no turning back!"
"Hmph!"
Elder Ge snorted coldly, flicked his sleeves, and turned to leave.
’Damn him!’
’He must be killed!’
’He must be killed!’
’He must be killed!’
He was practically hysterical.
"Elder Ge, this way please!"
Jia Gui walked over with a cheerful smile.
"Get out of my way!"
With a flick of his sleeve, Elder Ge sent Jia Gui flying back more than ten meters like a rubber ball. BANG! He slammed into a wall and immediately cried out, spitting up a mouthful of blood.
Chen Xuan whipped his head around, a cold light shooting from his eyes.
’Old bastard!’
’How dare he touch my men!’
He quickly rushed to Jia Gui’s side.
"Sect Leader..."
Jia Gui’s face was contorted in pain; at least seven or eight of his bones were broken.
Killing intent surfaced in Chen Xuan’s heart.
’Fine, fine, fine!’
’So this is how you want to play, is it?’
He looked again in Elder Ge’s direction.
...
A chilling rage churned in Elder Ge’s heart. He boarded his carriage without a word and headed directly for the main headquarters.
「An hour later.」
He entered the main headquarters once more and immediately went to confer with the Left Protector.
"What did he say?"
The Left Protector’s tone was calm.
This attempt to win over Chen Xuan was to prevent him from fully siding with the Right Protector.
After all, he was a decent talent.
’Let’s just treat what happened before as a misunderstanding.’
"That damn bastard has completely gone over to Xiang Tao! He has to be killed! We must kill him! He actually dared to snarl at me this time!"
Elder Ge’s tone was grim.
He could barely contain himself.
"He’s sided with Xiang Tao?"
The Left Protector’s expression darkened.
"Yes."
Elder Ge immediately recounted everything that had happened at the docks to the Left Protector.
"Damn it!"
The Left Protector’s face instantly turned grim, and he began pacing around the room.
’So he really did betray his benefactor?’
"Left Protector, Chen Xuan’s aptitude is extremely strange. Since a person like him can’t be used by us, he absolutely cannot be used by Xiang Tao either. We have to kill him. We must kill him!"
Elder Ge whispered grimly.
"Easier said than done. I’m being watched by the Gang Leader’s spies right now. My every move is restricted. If the Gang Leader finds any leverage against me, it will be a huge disaster!"
The Left Protector’s face was grim, his heart seething with killing intent.
’That hateful Gang Leader is too wary of me, making me hesitant and fearful in everything I do.’
’Once I break through the final stage...’
’I’ll tear that old bastard Gang Leader to pieces! And kill his entire family!’
’And Chen Xuan, too.’
’How dare he betray me?’
’He can’t be spared either!’
"You don’t need to get involved personally. To kill a mere Sect Leader, I have plenty of methods!"
Elder Ge’s expression was sinister as he said, "Leave this matter to me. I will definitely give you a satisfactory result!"
"You really have a way? Make sure to clean up your tracks. We absolutely cannot let anyone find any evidence!"
The Left Protector turned his head sharply, his voice low.
"Don’t worry, the martial world is full of experts!"
Elder Ge gave a savage grin. "I can just find a few, and it’ll be done!"
’If all else fails, I can also have someone secretly inform the Giant Whale Gang.’
’Knowing the Giant Whale Gang’s methods, they would be more than happy to do it!’
...
"Has the message been delivered to Chen Xuan?"
A faint smile appeared on Right Protector Xiang Tao’s face. He casually tossed some fish food into the pond and smiled faintly.
"Yes, and I also saw Elder Ge when I arrived!"
Yang Rong said.
"Ge Xuan?"
The Right Protector’s smile widened. "Excellent. With Ge Xuan’s temper, he would certainly have asked Chen Xuan, ’What are you doing here?’ As long as Chen Xuan didn’t answer, their relationship was doomed to shatter. They might even become bitter enemies from now on. You’ve performed a great service. You may leave!"
"Yes, Right Protector!"
Yang Rong cupped his fists and respectfully retreated.
"Right Protector, what should we do next?"
Fang Tingyun asked.
"What else can we do? We’ll just sit back and watch the dogs bite each other. If that Elder Ge kills Chen Xuan, won’t that be the perfect revenge for you? And if he can’t kill Chen Xuan, that’s also to our advantage. We’ll just let Chen Xuan keep nipping at their heels. It’s bound to save us a lot of trouble!"
The Right Protector chuckled.
He hadn’t expected that a single pawn could play such a significant role.
’How strange and wonderful!’
He was actually looking forward to it.
’Just how big of a surprise can this pawn, Chen Xuan, give me later on?’
...
「Inside the Qingshui Sect.」
Chen Xuan’s face was grim as he swiftly practiced a set of fist forms in his courtyard. His movements were powerful and heavy, accompanied by a thunderous roar. He generated short, explosive bursts of force, his momentum fueling his power. This was precisely the Vajra Fist.
The name "Vajra" was taken from Buddhist scriptures, meaning solid, sharp, and indestructible.
Once mastered, when one channeled their energy, their entire skin would even take on a golden hue.
The force it produced was fierce and domineering; brute force overcoming any technique.
’The infighting in the gang is truly intense. That old bastard will probably try to attack me in secret next. Strength... I desperately need greater strength right now!’
Chen Xuan’s fists were like the wind, whistling through the air.
With his Innate Divine Strength, it was difficult to maintain an absolute advantage after reaching the Dark Force stage.
Unlike in the Bright Force stage, where he could defeat opponents at the Fourth and Fifth Layers of Bright Force without ever having trained in Martial Arts.
But upon reaching Dark Force, this gap was shortened by two layers.
With his current Dark Force Fifth Layer, he was at most equivalent to a Dark Force Seventh Layer.
’If I add my Bronze Skin and Iron Bones, I should be able to defeat an Eighth Layer!’
’When that old bastard attacked, it was silent and without a trace. The force contained in his fingertips was concentrated into a single point. It seems he’s around the Eighth or Ninth Layer. In other words, if I advance one more layer, I won’t have to fear him at all!’
Chen Xuan’s heart grew cold.
’Good!’
’I’ll just have to find a way to get some more retribution points and level up to the Sixth Layer as soon as possible.’
WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH!
His fist forms grew more intense, thundering with ferocious power and accompanied by a series of heavy booms.
Just then, a gang member came running from outside in a panic, burst through the door, and said, "Sect Leader, something’s happened! The Giant Whale Gang... the Giant Whale Gang has sent a letter of challenge!"
He handed a letter to Chen Xuan.
"What?"
A cold light gleamed in Chen Xuan’s eyes as he snatched the challenge letter.
[We have heard that you, contemptible rat, relying on your paltry skills, have repeatedly offended the might of our Giant Whale Gang. You have harmed our brothers, seized our fishing grounds, and spread malicious rumors throughout the streets!
Your disgraceful conduct is sickening!
If you still possess a shred of courage, meet me at the docks at noon for a duel! Should you do so, I may spare your dog’s life and allow you to return!
If you do not dare, then hand over the Spirit Fish grounds, tuck your tail between your legs, and withdraw from this place in exchange for a moment’s peace!]
--Lu Yao of the Giant Whale Gang.
"Fuck your mother!"
Chen Xuan exploded in a rage and tore the challenge letter to shreds.
’They’re fucking trying to act all literary with me?’
’Where the hell did this come from?!’
But he quickly took a deep breath and calmed down.
"Who is this Lu Yao?"
He immediately asked the gang member beside him.
