Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Another Advancement! Dark Energy Level 6
With her hair disheveled over her shoulders and her face stained with blood, Lu Yao crawled up from the ground. Tears mixing with blood, she dropped to her knees before Chen Xuan in humiliation.
"I’m sorry! Please, forgive me!"
The young woman’s weeping voice echoed all around.
The crowd was in an uproar.
No one could believe what they were seeing.
That someone as confident and proud as Lu Yao had actually been beaten and forced to kneel before Chen Xuan himself.
[An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. You have publicly humiliated the Young Gang Leader of the Giant Whale Gang. Retribution points +2400!]
"So I’ll ask you, what about the matter of the spirit fish farm?"
Chen Xuan’s tone was icy as he pressed her.
"It’s... it’s yours..."
Lu Yao responded miserably, her lips trembling.
"Get lost! Don’t let me see you again!"
Chen Xuan’s tone was cold as he turned and walked away.
’When dealing with self-important geniuses like her, you have to meet ruthlessness with ruthlessness, and force with force!’
’So what if she looks pitiful right now?’
He considered what would have happened if their positions were reversed.
If he had been the one to lose today, how would she have treated him?
’Would she have let me just go home quietly?’
’I’d probably have been forced to kneel and apologize, too!’
’This was the martial world!’
’Whoever has the stronger fist holds the power!’
’If your fist isn’t strong, you deserve to be humiliated!’
’The original owner of this body had his family burned alive and his sister violated. Wasn’t it all because he was too weak?’
’Conflicts in the martial world have always been like this!’
The members of the Red Sand Gang immediately followed Chen Xuan, each one strutting with pride, their grins stretching nearly to their chins.
They never expected their new Squad Leader to be so formidable!
He had even crushed a proud, stubborn broad like Lu Yao under his foot, forcing her to apologize in humiliation.
This was just too damn satisfying!
From now on, they could brag about this to everyone.
Every one of them felt like they were floating on air.
Who wouldn’t be happy to be the subordinate of a man like that?
"Young Mistress..."
A group of Giant Whale Gang members rushed over, quickly helped Lu Yao up from the ground, and hastily departed.
The spot where they had been erupted with stunned and fervent discussion.
Without a doubt, Chen Xuan had well and truly made a name for himself.
He was famous now, not just at this humble pier, but throughout all of Black Stone City.
From within the crowd, the Eagle Claw Elder watched Chen Xuan’s departing figure with a sinister gaze. His heart turned to ice as he turned and vanished.
’This kid cannot be allowed to live!’
’He must be killed!’
’Otherwise, he’ll become a major threat!’
He never thought that a jesting remark he’d made to Lu Yao earlier would actually come true.
Lu Yao had actually lost!
...
After returning to the courtyard, Jia Gui, wrapped in bandages and reeking of medicinal herbs, saw Chen Xuan walk in. His eyes lit up, and he hurried over with a fawning smile. "Squad Leader, how did it go? You won, right? You must have won!"
If he had really lost, there was no way that broad Lu Yao would have let Chen Xuan off so easily.
They knew her methods all too well!
None of her opponents escaped becoming withdrawn and broken. They would be beaten until they knelt and begged for forgiveness, stripped of all dignity, and left to live out their days in a daze, their confidence shattered, a laughingstock.
But looking at Chen Xuan now, did he seem like he had lost any confidence at all?
"Enough crap. Go back and nurse your injuries!"
Chen Xuan replied, striding toward his quarters.
He needed to get back quickly and upgrade his Martial Arts.
With this many retribution points, he could definitely break through to the next realm.
"Yes, Squad Leader!"
Jia Gui quickly responded, then immediately called over a gang member and asked curiously, "What happened? Did the Squad Leader really win?"
"Is there any doubt? The Squad Leader defeated Lu Yao with an absolute advantage, ground her under his foot, and forced her to apologize! That Lu Yao used to be the one who savagely humiliated others, but today the Squad Leader turned the tables on her!" the gang member said excitedly.
"What?"
Jia Gui’s heart pounded in his chest. He couldn’t believe it.
Guessing was one thing.
But having it personally confirmed was another thing entirely.
Their Squad Leader Chen had actually crushed that domineering woman Lu Yao under his foot!
This was truly exhilarating!
...
「Red Sand Gang Headquarters.」
The news reached the ears of the Gang Leader, the Left and Right Protectors, and the numerous elders almost instantly.
"Chen Xuan actually defeated Lu Yao?"
Gang Leader Hong Wentong looked startled as he read the latest report.
"What? He defeated Lu Yao?"
Beside him, Su Qingliu’s pupils constricted. She looked shocked as she quickly turned to Hong Wentong.
"See for yourself."
Hong Wentong casually handed the message to Su Qingliu.
Su Qingliu quickly scanned it, her heart trembling in disbelief.
’How is this possible?’
’Wasn’t Chen Xuan’s strength just a sliver stronger than mine before?’
’Back then, our fight was evenly matched.’
’How has it now become a one-sided steamrolling of Lu Yao by Chen Xuan?’
’What kind of joke is this?’
"Master, with Chen Xuan’s talent, it seems like a waste to just have him as a Squad Leader at the Qingshui Sect..." Su Qingliu said solemnly.
"You think I don’t know that?"
Hong Wentong smiled faintly. "But he just joined the gang. How am I supposed to cultivate him? Giving him the position of a Squad Leader is already a great honor. How many of our brothers have risked life and limb for decades and still haven’t climbed that high? Besides, he’s a newcomer. Do you know his character or disposition?"
"That, I do not know."
Su Qingliu mused.
She only knew that Chen Xuan was vengeful and had an explosive personality.
But whether he was the treacherous type, that was unclear.
"There you have it."
Hong Wentong said calmly, "If we don’t even know his character and disposition, how can we entrust him with greater responsibilities? So, for now, let’s keep him at the Qingshui Sect and observe. When the right opportunity arises, I will naturally promote him. As for the Giant Whale Gang, I’ll send some men to keep an eye on them to prevent any rash reactions or actions that might harm Chen Xuan!"
"Yes, Master!"
Su Qingliu replied.
...
「The Left Protector’s Estate.」
Zuo Qiuyun’s expression changed. The hand holding his teacup trembled subconsciously.
Chen Xuan defeated Lu Yao...
Lu Yao...
His expression remained placid, but inside, his mind was in turmoil.
"Go, inform Elder Ge. Tell him to act as soon as possible. No more delays!" Zuo Qiuyun said with a dark expression.
"Yes, Protector!"
A trusted subordinate at his side quickly rushed off.
...
「Dusk.」
「In a dim alley.」
「Inside an inconspicuous room.」
A tall figure and a short figure were seated there, faint smiles on their faces. They looked at the person before them, who was shrouded in a black cloak with a hood pulled over their head.
"Making the two of us come out at the same time? Brother Ge, aren’t you being a little too cautious?"
The short man scoffed and flicked his fingers. "A mere junior. How strong can he possibly be?"
"Enough. I told you to do it, so just do it right. The silver here is enough to last you a long time. I have only one requirement: it must be a sure thing!"
Elder Ge’s hoarse voice came from under the black hood. "I don’t want any accidents!"
"Accidents?"
A mocking smile crossed the short man’s lips. "You really look down on us two brothers!"
"Relax. When we, the Black Wind Double Fiends, make a move, we never fail!" the tall man chuckled.
"Just wait for the good news!"
"You’d better be right!"
Elder Ge’s eyes narrowed as he replied coldly.
...
The entire Black Stone City was stirred by a considerable commotion.
Undercurrents surged within the various factions.
「Inside the Qingshui Sect」
Chen Xuan sat cross-legged on his bed, his brows knitted together.
He could feel scorching waves of Dark Energy surging within his body.
’That Lu Yao really is something else.’
’Especially that final move of hers, the Crimson Blood Burning Heart Palm. It actually caused me a fair bit of trouble.’
’It felt great at the time, I just wanted to crush her in the most savage way possible.’
’I didn’t think about the consequences at all.’
’Now that the fight is over, I can feel a fiery energy spreading through my body, bringing with it a faint, searing pain.’
"A mid-grade, high-tier Martial Art really lives up to its reputation!"
However, all this discomfort still stemmed from his own weakness.
’Once I upgrade my stats again, this discomfort should probably disappear, right?’
He took out a Blood Qi Pill and tossed it directly into his mouth.
’Retribution points, upgrade Vajra Fist!’
Chen Xuan recited in his mind.
This Vajra Fist was a mid-grade, mid-tier martial technique, even more powerful than the Blast Palm.
Mastering it could take a person all the way to the Dark Force Ninth Layer.
To practice any higher, one would need a mid-grade, high-tier martial technique.
[Ding! Qi and Blood Pill effect detected!]
[You have consumed 500 retribution points. Under the effect of the Qi and Blood Pill, your Vajra Fist has gained an eight-fold Cultivation Speed. Your arms begin to glow with a golden luster, your body becomes full and powerful, the qi and blood in your body surge, and you experience immense strength...]
[You have successfully practiced Vajra Fist to the Second Layer...]
[You have consumed another 600 retribution points. Your Cultivation Speed has now reached sixteen times that of an ordinary person. You can clearly feel your skin thickening and your bones growing denser... Your body seems to be transforming into vajra...]
[You have successfully practiced Vajra Fist to the Third Layer...]
[You have consumed another 800 retribution points... Cultivation in progress...]
[Your Vajra Fist has reached the Fourth Layer...]
[Congratulations, Host. You have broken through to the Sixth Level of Dark Force!]
...
BOOM!
As the final line of text appeared, Chen Xuan instantly felt a warmth spread throughout his entire body.
The fiery energy that had invaded his body was now expelled like a stream of air. His skin became tough and resilient, as if forged from ancient bronze.
He leaped to his feet and immediately threw a Vajra Fist punch inside the room.
CRACK!
The air let out a sharp crack, as if he had torn a piece of invisible fabric with a single punch.
Vajra Fist!
A nine-layer technique!
At the fourth layer, the circulation of his qi and blood already produced a surging sound, like a great river, rushing endlessly.
Beneath his skin, his fascia writhed like dragons and snakes, and from deep within his bones came an unprecedented feeling of density and solidity.
"This Vajra Fist, combined with my Bronze Skin and Iron Bones, is truly even more domineering!"
Chen Xuan was exultant.
Having now reached the Sixth Level of Dark Force, his strength had nearly doubled once again.
Now, he no longer had to fear Elder Ge.
