Chapter 67: Leaving the City

On the rooftop,

a shadow slipped through soundlessly.

His attire was ink-blue, nearly merging with the night, and his aura was as lifeless as withered wood and rotting stone; not a single one of the several Qi Refining cultivators constantly watching the grocery store noticed him.

In just a few breaths, the shadow had left the tightly sealed surveillance net, miles away, silently observing from atop a tall building.

“Commander Chen Chen, the target has not stepped out even once.”

Long Shi stared at the line of iron-clad soldiers ahead, his breath catching, nearly suffocating.

Five men formed a wu, ten formed a shi—here were ten shi, over a hundred! Besides Commander Chen Chen, the handsome young man Hei Jin, and the black-robed elder—all were Qi Refining perfected—all other shi leaders and wu leaders had qi auras no weaker than his own; some shi leaders were even Qi Refining small accomplishment cultivators stronger than him! And every soldier was fully Body Tempering perfected, muscular, robust warriors.

The elite guard shi was even more formidable—all ten were Qi Refining cultivators! Yet Chen Chen didn’t even glance at the one-armed boss of the Wild Wolf Gang.

The old man with the runny nose trembled, stepping to the grocery store’s front door and pounding hard.

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“Pity. A true hero.”

Deep night. The city gate had long been closed; lanterns blazed on the watchtower, soldiers patrolled constantly, in full wartime readiness—no trace of the usual complacency found in other cities.

A Wolf Guard growled harshly.

The shi leaders turned back, saw no new orders, and began digging. They excavated several meters deep—still no trace.

Qiu Di nodded slightly.

“Ha!”

On the drone’s screen, his figure moved to a stretch of wall where only a few soldiers patrolled, spaced dozens of meters apart.

Chen Chen said coldly.

A faint smile crossed Chen Chen’s face as he looked at the black-robed elder Qiu Di: “Elder Qiu, how does my Black Cloud Unit compare to Zhou Kun’s Tiger Troops from Tiger Den?”

“Monkey! One!”

“Old man understands.”

Hei Jin of the “Black Flame Saber” grew cold-faced.

Old Zhang pounded the door hard, but inside, no one responded—as if deaf—sweat drenched his brow.

“Yes!”

Long Shi’s face turned pale, his body trembling uncontrollably.

Chen Chen gave a glance.

The scout’s face was ashen, hands shaking, prostrating himself on the ground: “For the sake of my years of service, even if I’ve had no merit, please, General, look after my family.”

The shi leaders around the grocery store moved simultaneously; thin wooden planks and low walls offered no resistance—wood splinters and dirt flew everywhere.

The arrogance vanished from Chen Chen’s face; he bowed deeply: “As you say, Elder, where might this thief have gone? Has he already fled?”

“Commander Chen, my Wild Wolf Gang’s men have found nothing either…”

“Thank you, General!”

“Yes!”

Qiu Di didn’t mind his pride.

“Far beyond.”

Chen Chen said calmly.

Jiang Ding withdrew his gaze, stepped lightly, and walked swiftly toward the city gate.

The scout drew his gleaming long blade and slashed hard across his throat—blood sprayed, his body collapsed to the ground.

Over a hundred immensely strong soldiers immediately acted, tearing down beams, clearing tables, counters, wooden planks, even roof tiles.

I surround him with my army—what if he’s among the top ten on the Dragon Phoenix List? Forget the Dragon Phoenix List; if I had more troops, even a Primordial Realm cultivator would be crushed under sheer numbers!

Soon, the grocery store was reduced to an empty plot.

“Understood, General.”

The scout moved efficiently, kneeling on one knee: “Report, General—the thief has not left.”

“Second shi found no trace.”

“Caged beast. No need.”

Chen Chen laughed: “Naturally. Zhou Kun was inferior to me even when we studied military tactics at the Marquis’s Military Academy—now even more so!”

“Good then.”!。

“Master Jiang, please come out—I’ll bring you water…”

He ordered sharply.

“As long as I live, your family won’t starve.”

Qiu Di softly uttered three words.

“Old Zhang, you’ve always delivered water to this store—think of your whole family!”

“Break!”

A large wave of heavily armored soldiers poured into the small grocery store. “First shi found no trace.”

Chen Chen spoke slowly, each word squeezed from his teeth, staring fixedly at the scout and Long Shi.

He looked as if he knew Zhou Kun, perhaps even studied military tactics with him.

In the distance,

Each shi leader shouted reports; Chen Chen’s triumphant expression vanished, his face dark as if dripping with ink: “Search thoroughly—look for secret passages!”

“The rest—enroll in the Criminal Camp!”

“If successful, reward two taels of silver.”

He waved his hand; a scout in black night attire emerged silently from beneath the eaves.

“Break down the door!”

Cold sweat poured down the scout’s face; he swore to heaven: “General, my ten comrades and I have not slackened for a single breath! Our eyes haven’t left this courtyard for a moment!”

Chen Chen sheathed his bloodied longsword, coldly: “I’ll personally report to the Marquis and take my punishment. Do you understand?”

The city wall stretched ten kilometers around—impossible to guard every section with such intensity.

He knew the man was displaying military might.

“Blue Glow Butterfly!”

Long Shi immediately understood, ordering his Wolf Guards to bring forward a trembling old man with a runny nose.

“Master Jiang, Master Jiang, I’ve come with water—Master Wang’s household pressed me hard, so I brought it to you first.”

“Master Jiang…”

Long Shi was startled—he had never noticed anyone here.

The soldiers below obeyed immediately; one swung a heavy axe and smashed open the door, then a shi of soldiers poured in.

“Third shi…”

Chen Chen felt a bad premonition.

Around them, silence so deep a pin could be heard falling—only breathing, scouts’ pleas, and the Wild Wolf Gang’s warriors’ moans.

“Yes!”

Before his words ended, a head shot skyward, blood spurting three inches high.

“Master Hei, shall you challenge Jiang Ding? After all, he may rank among the top ten on the Dragon Phoenix List—fighting him might break through your cultivation.”

…

As they spoke, soldiers had already surrounded the nearby grocery store—spears like a forest, bows drawn and ready; even a flying bird could not escape.

Jiang Ding stopped.

Chen Chen, though somewhat arrogant like a scholar, was extremely cautious in tactics—not only summoning the two of us to check for gaps, but even exploiting the last advantage. He’s someone who can accomplish things.

“Chen Chen erred. I beg Elder Qiu’s forgiveness.”

Qiu Di glanced regretfully at the corpse: “You should’ve moved during the day. This man’s stealth and lightness techniques are exceptional—just as they were at Tiger Den, so they are now.”

Chen Chen said grimly.

He tapped his toe, leapt several meters high, barely touching the wall, his sword unsheathing soundlessly—he lightly pressed the blade into the wall, sinking it an inch, then pushed gently, launching himself another several meters upward.

Repeating this several times, Jiang Ding stood atop the twenty-meter-high city wall.

In the dim firelight, his camouflage suit shifted to blend in, his Small Stillness Technique at small accomplishment level fully active—only a few physically robust soldiers failed to notice him.

Jiang Ding glanced left and right, leapt into the shadow beneath the wall, fell freely, paused midair several times, his figure vanishing completely.

(End of Chapter)