Chapter 215: Wang’s Contempt
The Ashen Blood Organization, notorious for its blood-soaked terror, was a name that resonated with infamy in the New World. Their involvement in numerous bloody and chaotic incidents was the stuff of legend.
"Today, someone taught the Ashen Blood Organization a lesson!" This news spread like wildfire through specific circles, reaching major conglomerates and top organizations and causing a stir.
"Can Transcendents really achieve this?" someone wondered, deeply moved. Chen Yongjie had just returned from the Hidden Land and had already made such a bold move. The Ashen Blood Organization, with about ten branches in total, suffered a devastating loss with one of their main divisions destroyed so suddenly and unexpectedly.
The fact that only two people had carried out this clean and efficient obliteration of a core underground base left many in disbelief. It indicated that if such a force were to launch a surprise attack on the leadership of certain organizations, it could potentially decapitate them swiftly.
All sides were shocked and forced to contemplate. Chen Yongjie's actions, while seemingly driven by necessity, also served as a powerful deterrent. It was a message to all: anyone targeting or hunting Transcendents should be prepared for severe consequences.
"Dispelling the fog of myth, it seems to be walking from the ancient past, approaching reality from the realm of legends. Are we to gradually adapt to coexisting with Transcendents?" someone said gravely.
"The individual power of humans can reach such heights, annihilating one-tenth of the Ashen Blood Organization’s assets in such a short time – the mere thought of it is chilling!"
Core members of some major conglomerates paled upon receiving the news. Transcendents' movements would now need to be reported; there was no room for negotiation. In their view, such beings were no longer human, but rather an extremely dangerous “species.” Just two individuals had proven equivalent to a terrifying assassination organization.
"To be precise, it was mainly Chen Yongjie. He's a Transcendent, while Wang Xuan is just a Grandmaster," someone pointed out.
"No! When Wang Xuan appeared, the surge in Transcendent substances in the forest was abnormal, like a bursting dam. What if he's also a Transcendent?"
Some of the organization's advisors spoke with grave expressions, unwilling to completely discount Wang Xuan from the equation.
"If that surge in Transcendent substances truly occurred because of him, indicating his energy level is even higher than Chen Yongjie's, then he is the primary threat," someone proposed.
In major organizations, where manpower was never a constraint, suspicions led to action plans. "Keep tabs on Wang Xuan. If he's a Transcendent, it means Chen Yongjie is covering for him, which is a startling revelation and quite terrifying."
Despite Wang Xuan's caution, from that day forward, he found himself under scrutiny and suspicion. The top conglomerates and organizations, with their efficient systems, could be formidable once they decided to investigate, risking his exposure.
An image of Chen Yongjie tearing apart high-grade mechanical beings with his bare hands went viral online, instantly becoming a hot topic without needing any textual context. The 'Flat-Top Bro' soared into the top ten of the trending list.
Then, an image of Old Zhong carrying a warship was juxtaposed with the image of Chen Yongjie destroying a six-meter-tall mechanical being. "The times have truly changed. Both the New World and Old World have Transcendents now. Myths are becoming reality!"
Major platforms invited experts to explain to the public that Transcendents were real and that some ancient legends were true. This sparked intense discussions among the general populace, who experienced a Transcendent shockwave.
Soon, a composite image featuring three individuals was released – Old Zhong with the warship, Chen Yongjie ripping apart a mechanical being, and a young man's silhouette smiling down at them from a high vantage point. This image was deliberately created, carrying a profound message.
"Is this telling us there's a third, even younger Transcendent?" The inner circles recognized it as a deliberate probe, confirming some advisors' suspicions.
"Old Zhong carrying a warship, Old Chen taking down the strongest mechanical being, and a mysterious young man with an enigmatic smile."
Somehow, this narrative caught fire, stirring up a sensation and heated discussions. Someone was guiding public opinion, pushing 'Flat-Top Bro' to seventh on the trending list, with the 'Trio Image' as the cover topic.
"Can't be, right? That looks like Old Wang. Someone is trying to stir things up, pushing Wang Xuan into the spotlight."
Zhong Cheng immediately noticed the situation and called his sister to check the trending news.
On a luxurious yacht, Zhou Yun was hosting a sea party with his friends, resuming his vibrant and colorful old life. He too noticed the trending list and immediately boasted to his friends, "See that? Chen Yongjie, a real Transcendent. I've traveled with him, fought alongside him in the Hidden Land. And look... Wang Xuan is on there too, 'Wang's Contempt,' overlooking two mighty Transcendents from above!"
Though the faces were blurred, he immediately recognized the mysterious young man in the 'Trio Image.'
"Zhou Yun, you're not just bragging, right? We know you've been to the Hidden Land, but are those monsters and the Earth Immortal City really that incredible?" his friends asked skeptically.
"Yeah, we know about Chen the Transcendent, but who is this 'Wang's Contempt'?"
On the yacht, a group of young men and women, many from powerful families and major organizations, listened with keen interest.
"He's my brother, Wang Xuan. In the Hidden Land, he didn't hesitate to slay foreign Grandmasters and even more so, the monsters. He even intimidated a group of strong foreigners in the Earth Immortal City. Now that I think about it... could he actually be a Transcendent?!" Zhou Yun spoke, startling even himself with the thought. Recalling their time in the Earth Immortal City, Wang Xuan and Old Chen had been incredibly dominant, demanding protection fees from foreign powers.
But then, shaking his head, he added, "He's probably not a Transcendent yet. Too young. If he reaches that level now, where will he be in a few years? He might become an Earth Immortal!"
This sparked interest among the guests. "Zhou Yun, why don't you invite him over? He seems like a fascinating guy. We're all young; we'd surely have a great time together," one of them suggested excitedly.
A beautiful girl with sparkling eyes chimed in, "Yeah, invite this 'Wang's Contempt' to join us. Let us see this future Transcendent, or even Earth Immortal!"
......
......
In the westernmost region of Zhongzhou, amidst the dense forests of the Yunwu Plateau, harrowing screams filled the air. Zheng Hui, drenched in blood, lay writhing in agony. His right arm had been shattered by Wang Xuan's flick, bones splintered and flesh nearly torn off.
Earlier, he had arrogantly used a mechanical clone to bait Chen Yongjie with Wang Xuan as mere collateral. But his plan had backfired disastrously, leading to the rapid annihilation of an Ashen Blood branch.
"You can kill me, but I have nothing to say. Truthfully, I don’t know where the headquarters is. We operate on a need-to-know basis, following orders from above without question. I’ve never been there!" Zheng Hui declared.
Wang Xuan, unmoved, flicked his finger again, causing Zheng Hui's leg to explode, bone shards protruding grotesquely. Wang had no mercy for the leader of a cold-blooded assassin organization, especially after witnessing their inhumane experiments.
Old Chen wasn't lenient either. His slap left the other two high-ranking members half-rotten, their bodies almost separating from their bones.
Despite their brutal interrogation, the three Ashen Blood members remained tight-lipped, enduring broken bones and torn sinews without yielding any secrets. Wang Xuan and Old Chen didn't really expect confessions; they were subtly guiding the conversation while using their spiritual domains to capture the thoughts of their captives, hoping to uncover secrets.
Alas, these three genuinely knew nothing about the headquarters of the organization. Ashen Blood's security measures were impeccably stringent, with lower members blindly following orders without knowledge of the core operations. There was no communication between different branches.
"What use are you if you know nothing?" Old Chen scoffed, his palm strike sending one of them flying before disintegrating into a mist of blood in the dense forest.
Zheng Hui and the remaining members paled, realizing their imminent deaths. Despite their fear, they recognized the immense trouble their organization had stirred by provoking such formidable opponents.
"I didn't expect you to be a Transcendent too, so young... If this gets out, every organization in the New World will be shaken," Zheng Hui uttered, just before a flying sword sliced him, reducing his body to a cloud of blood. Not even his bones remained.
"Old Chen, do you think some of the Celestials have returned and are observing everything in the New World? Maybe even through the widespread network and information channels, they've seen news about us?" Wang Xuan pondered.
"It's possible!" Old Chen replied.
......
After leaving the Yunwu Plateau, Wang Xuan and Old Chen arrived in the grand city of Yuancheng in the western region of Zhongzhou. By then, it was deep into the night. The aftermath of the kidnapping incident had left Wang Xuan without a phone, prompting him to purchase a new one in Yuancheng.
"Old Chen, you've become an internet sensation!" Wang Xuan remarked as they boarded a hovering train speeding towards Suzhou in the central region of Zhongzhou. Old Chen, looking grim, wasn't thrilled with his newfound fame. He had hoped for a low profile, but now, it seemed as if everyone was scrutinizing him, catapulting him to the fifth spot on the trending search list. He was even surpassing the popularity of a recently jailed celebrity and a sweet-voiced female singer holding her concert.
Old Chen decided then to grow his hair long, aiming to change his public image. "Don't just talk about me; you're about to be exposed as well. With the advanced technology of the New World, it's hard to stay hidden without leaving some traces. Now, even the term 'Wang the Disdainful' is being circulated about you. It seems people are starting to suspect your true strength."
Wang Xuan nodded in agreement but didn't seem overly concerned. Living in a city of millions, close to the financial powerhouses, he doubted anyone would dare to attack the city with a warship. Without resorting to such extreme measures, other weapons were ineffective against him. He was ready for his identity to be revealed.
Even though the hovering train was fast, it was still no match for a spaceship, so they only reached Suzhou the next morning. Upon arrival, Old Chen was inundated with invitations for various banquets and gatherings. Their action of taking down a branch of the Ashen Blood organization had reverberated overnight, making them highly sought-after figures for close interactions by various parties.
Old Chen, ever polite in conversation, found himself fielding a flurry of invitations - some he managed to politely decline, others were too pressing to brush aside. Amidst this bustle, he inquired if Wang Xuan would accompany him.
"No, I won't go!" Wang Xuan declined outright.
However, Old Chen's demeanor shifted to one of intrigue upon receiving a phone call. "Ah, we must attend this one. Someone has invited us to view their collection of ancient scriptures and texts!" he exclaimed with a smile.
"An invitation to view ancient texts?!" Wang Xuan was visibly stunned, the prospect seemingly out of the ordinary.
Nodding, Old Chen explained, "The extraordinary powers we've displayed through the Old Arts have caught attention. It's natural for some to extend an olive branch, seeking to woo us with such treasures."
Yet, Wang Xuan voiced his skepticism, aware that the powerful families and organizations would hardly part with valuable assets so readily. Old Chen conceded, "Let's just go and see."
Their host was none other than the Qian family, closely acquainted with Old Chen, especially the elder who had escorted him to the Yunwu Plateau.
As dusk enveloped the sky in a canvas of reds and oranges, Wang Xuan and Old Chen arrived at the Qian's grand estate, situated beyond the outskirts of Suzhou. Guided to an ancient Taoist temple, they learned each element of its structure had been meticulously relocated from the Old World.
Old Qian awaited them at the temple entrance. As Wang Xuan drew near, he sensed an unusual concentration of mystical elements. In a world starved of transcendent substances, such a place was a rare haven for cultivation. His heart raced with the possibility of discovering items that could facilitate his ascension or plunge him into perilous ancient traps. The potential for unlocking realms within his Inner Landscape tantalized him, yet he remained acutely aware of the hidden dangers lurking in these relics of a bygone era.
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