Chapter 81: Bad Start?

Xuantian Town, bordering the beast-infested forests, serves not only as a training and labor ground for Xuantian Sect’s probationary disciples but also as the second-largest resource transit hub after Danyang County.

Merchants, peddlers, bounty hunters, and major factions from Tongzhou all regard Xuantian Town as a lucrative ground.

They buy and sell various resources here, opening shops, inns, blacksmith forges...

Of course, it’s not free—the land is terrifyingly expensive, and the Xuantian Sect holds partial tax rights over Xuantian Town.

In the southern part of Xuantian Town, several streets are long occupied by nearly a hundred gangs founded by the Xuantian Sect’s outer-disciples, their power structures extremely complex.

Among them, a two-court, five-hundred-square-meter mansion bears a wooden plaque inscribed with “War Wolf”—this is Cang Luo’s War Wolf Gang base.

The gang base was rented by Wang Fuhai at his own expense for two years, plus weapons, elixirs, and other supplies—he reportedly spent every last bit of his savings.

Wang Fuhai declared he had staked everything on Cang Luo and the War Wolf Gang; if he failed to recoup his investment, he would lose all chance of competing for his family’s inheritance.

Cang Luo was deeply moved and told Wang Fuhai he would repay him ten thousandfold within a year.

Wang Fuhai’s family runs a trading house—they sell goods. After the two worlds connect next year, simply smuggling a few Earth products could make the Wang family the richest in Danyang County.

Of course, only if Cang Luo survives and returns to Earth!

Immediately after the War Wolf Gang’s founding, Cang Luo decided to enter the beast-infested forests for training that same day. After gathering weapons and elixirs at the base, the group marched en masse toward the forests.

Since all were Warrior-level cultivators, unable to fly and lacking funds to equip each man with a warhorse, they ran—the long-distance endurance of martial artists on Yuanwu Continent being a basic skill.

As gang leader, Cang Luo sprinted ahead, fully unleashing his Infinite Qi, never pausing for breath or rest; no one could match his pace, yet he frequently stopped to wait for the others to catch up.

This was deliberate—he aimed to display his strength before them, impressing them into awe and submission, making it easier to command them.

It worked: seeing Cang Luo’s astonishing stamina and Qi reserves, everyone was stunned, speculating he must have cultivated an advanced core technique.

Yin Mengruo wiped sweat from her brow and sat aside to rest; immediately, male disciples rushed to serve her—offering water, fanning her—but she smiled and declined each, maintaining a reserved demeanor to attract Cang Luo and uncover his identity.

Along the way, she seized every chance to draw near him, yet he showed no interest, deliberately keeping distance.

Yin Mengruo couldn’t understand: was she not beautiful enough? Or had he already taken someone else’s heart?

Was she really any less than Xiang Yunjiao?

Could he prefer petite women?

Confused, Yin Mengruo fell silent as the group pressed on.

After over an hour of running, the group finally reached the beast-infested forests.

Zhao Renwu glanced at the sky and said: “In another hour, night will fall. After dark, beasts become harder to track and far more dangerous. Let’s camp here tonight and enter tomorrow.”

Everyone nodded in agreement, but Cang Luo shook his head: “Fortune favors the bold. If you can’t endure this much danger and hardship, how can you hope to change your life or create miracles?”

The greater the danger, the more it awakens potential—and right now is precisely when some beasts leave their dens to hunt.

Don’t worry—we’ll only operate within the range of First-Stage beasts.”

With that, Cang Luo activated his satellite surveillance and stepped into the beast-infested forests. The others reasoned: if beasts were out hunting now, and Cang Shiye had survived nearly a month alone in these forests, why should they fear?

Realizing this, Zang Feng, Wang Fuhai, and Baili Wunan immediately followed Cang Luo; the rest quickly followed suit.

Zhao Renwu, stung by Cang Luo’s rejection of his advice, gritted his teeth but led Zhao Renli and the others onward—he dared not show any cowardice before Yin Mengruo and the other three junior sisters.

This was Cang Luo’s second time entering the beast-infested forests; they looked exactly as before.

Towering sequoias stood tall, vegetation thick—human footprints left no trace, erased completely within a day by the movements of beasts and plants.

Upon entering the range of First-Stage beasts, unfamiliar roars erupted around them—but only sounds, no sightings. After a quarter-hour’s march, not a single beast appeared.

Zhao Renwu glanced at Cang Luo ahead and sneered inwardly.

You ignored my advice and insisted on entering now? Let’s see how you find beasts—I don’t believe they’re your pets.

He longed to see Cang Luo humiliated, so he spoke: “Cang Shiye, from my experience, there are no First-Stage beasts here. You’d need to go dozens of li deeper to find any—but by then, night will be fully upon us...”

Everyone understood his implication: Why didn’t you listen to me and wait until tomorrow? Why force us to spend the night in the forests?

Don’t you know how dangerous that is? Are you willing to endanger the entire gang?

Cang Luo ignored Zhao Renwu, focused entirely on scanning for beasts.

Another quarter-hour passed—still no trace of beasts. Some grew impatient; Zhao Renwu’s group slowed their pace, and others followed suit. The sixty-man team moved slower and slower.

Cang Luo frowned and turned: “What’s going on? Why are we slowing down?”

He asked aloud, but he knew perfectly well—Zhao Renwu was behind this.

Damn it!

Zang Feng and Wang Fuhai had no objections—why must you, Zhao Renwu, oppose me? Clearly, two tigers cannot share one mountain. I must recruit his men first, then kick him out of the gang.

Facing Cang Luo’s question, the group fell silent—they dared not openly challenge their leader’s decision.

Then Zhao Renli, face drawn with worry, spoke: “Leader, we all feel continuing is pointless. As Zhao Shiye said, no beasts are here now. Let’s set up camp early, before we’re caught unprepared.”

Zhu Que Tang’s leader, Zhao Jin, added: “Yes, Leader. Since we can’t find beasts now, why not camp here?”

Upon his words, Zhao Renwu’s disciples urged Cang Luo, Zhu Que Tang members especially clamoring.

“Do you not trust me?” Cang Luo glanced at Zhao Renwu, calm: “If I told you two First-Stage Iron-Scaled Lizards are fighting over food, both wounded, one li ahead—would you believe me?”

At this, the group froze in surprise, then exchanged skeptical glances.

We might accept you detecting Iron-Scaled Lizards by their roars—but you claim exact numbers, distance, and even their condition?

But you actually specified the exact number and distance, and even said they were fighting each other to death over food?

Did you see them with your own eyes? Or are they your pets?

“Heh!” Zhao Renwu widened his eyes mockingly: “Leader, are you joking with your juniors?

Not finding beasts now isn’t a problem—we can camp and return tomorrow. But don’t abuse our trust!”

Zhao Renwu’s words found many supporters—even He Cheng and others now doubted Cang Luo.

True, Cang Luo’s claim was outrageous.

Baili Wunan leaned against a giant sequoia, silent. She thought Cang Luo was too eager—this wasn’t a good sign.

But what if he was telling the truth? How could he know what lay one li ahead? It sounded so certain.

Cang Luo was indeed impatient—he was driven by Earth’s dire situation. He had to gain strength every second, or he might never return alive, let alone protect his family or seek revenge.

At that moment, Wang Fuhai asked: “Cang Brother, how do you know two Iron-Scaled Lizards lie one li ahead?”

“Iron-Scaled Lizard scales are prime material for Grade-One rune armor—intact ones sell for thirty low-grade Qi Stones, far more valuable than their cores. If true, we’re rich.”

Eyes lit up: thirty low-grade Qi Stones? Two meant sixty—each person could get one, and the cores alone were worth two each.

If the Leader was telling the truth... but was that even possible? Only if he had precognition.

Cang Luo had no precognition—but he had satellite surveillance. To them, it was as good as precognition.

Cang Luo smiled: “Whether true or false, let’s go see. It’s only one li away. What do you think, Zang Brother?”

Zang Feng, head of the Council Chamber, held the authority to question the leader’s decisions and initiate a vote—if over two-thirds opposed, the leader’s order could be overturned.

He could do so now—vote down Cang Luo’s command.

But he wouldn’t waste his authority on trivial matters: “The Leader is right. We’ll go see for ourselves.”

Seeing the Council Chamber head didn’t oppose, the group had no choice—they’d follow Cang Luo and see for themselves.

Cang Luo ordered: “Qing Long Tang and Bai Hu Tang leaders, take five men each and flank left and right. Don’t alert the beasts. The rest follow me.”

The War Wolf Gang had sixty members: eleven high-ranking, forty-nine common. Forty were divided into four halls, ten per hall.

The remaining nine: eight assigned to the Left and Right Protectors.

Originally, these eight were to guard the base—but the base was empty, worthless, so no need to station anyone.

The last one was appointed Assistant to the Leader—to relay orders. The Leader couldn’t personally deliver every command.

The Assistant’s name: Yun Jiao...

At Cang Luo’s command, Qing Long Tang’s leader He Cheng and Bai Hu Tang’s leader Liu Xuande immediately led their men to the designated flanking positions.

Cang Luo gave the order, and the Green Dragon Hall Master He Cheng and the White Tiger Hall Master Liu Xuande immediately accepted the command and led their men away to ambush the two armored lizards at Cang Luo’s designated location.

The group moved swiftly as ordered.

At the rear, Zhao Renli muttered: “Bad start...”

His voice was low—but loud enough for all to hear. The group halted, pace slowing.

Cang Luo said nothing, but sneered inwardly: The gang’s been formed for hours, and you’re already defying me?

Wait—watch how I make you eat your words.

Wait and see how the boss of this gang will slap your faces!