Chapter 110: So What If He

Two days later.

A dusty horse caravan entered the city through the West Gate of Wulong Fucheng.

Upon entering the city, it drew gasps from pedestrians lining the road.

Because the horses ridden by this caravan were anything but ordinary.

Not only did they bear horns on their heads, but their hooves were sheathed in fine scales, and their open mouths revealed rows of sharp teeth.

Their towering frames inspired dread.

Strange beasts!

Ten strange beast mounts entered Wulong Fucheng, under the gaze of the townsfolk.

Half an hour later.

Inside the inner city, in a guesthouse beside the "Hero Hall."

"Master Wu, we've identified the man who killed the young master!"

A tall, stern-faced young man stood before Fang Hongtu, clasped his fists in salute, and said, "The killer is named Chen Mu, Ninth Stage Innate, just ranked one hundred seventh on the New Issue/Phase 'Dragon's Nest List.'"

"He is a hall master from a gang in Wulong's outer city; he has a cousin with the 'Great Strength Martial Body' taken away by Di Di Chunlei of the Giant Spirit Sect…"

"Giant Spirit Sect?" Fang Hongtu, his face grim and expressionless, stirred slightly at this, and growled, "Is this true?"

"Confirmed!"

The young man replied respectfully, "Shi Shi Kuangsheng of the Worshiping Jianmen, Huang Keqin of the Jiuyou Sect, and Wei Dongliang of the Heaven's Assembly have all seen Di Di Chunlei!"

"…."

Fang Hongtu fell silent for a moment, then coldly asked, "What other relatives does this Chen boy have?"

"None."

The young man answered, "Only one cousin, who married earlier this year. The couple has already followed Di Di Chunlei to 'Shenshan.' Chen Mu himself is missing…"

Pah~!

Fang Hongtu suddenly raised his hand and slammed it onto the round table beside him.

The sound was not loud, but the entire table instantly cracked apart—"crash!"—splintering into pieces the size of an infant's palm, scattering across the floor.

"…." The young man lowered his head.

Fang Hongtu's Breathing Heavily, his eyes blazing with murderous intent.

He ran!

That Chen boy actually ran!!

Fang Yuanfu and Fang Yuanzuo—both sons—died in Wulong.

One killer was Shi Shi Kuangsheng of the Worshiping Jianmen; the other just made the 'Dragon's Nest List.'

Fang Hongtu wished both of them dead!

But Shi Shi Kuangsheng is a disciple of the Worshiping Jianmen, with a master in the Heavenly Palace Realm.

Even if Fang Hongtu hated him in his heart, he dared not touch Shi Shi Kuangsheng.

But Chen Mu is different!

He didn't even join the Giant Spirit Sect himself—only his cousin did. Fang Hongtu feared nothing.

As for being ranked on the 'Dragon's Nest List,' hailed as a Heaven's Prodigy…

'So what if he's a Heaven's Prodigy!'

Fang Hongtu's eyes swelled with killing intent; the aura of a Ground Altar Realm filled the entire room.

Over the years, hundreds—even nearly a thousand—Dragon's Nest Prodigies have died.

"Find him!"

Fang Hongtu growled, "Send out every man. Offer ten thousand gold. Find that Chen boy!"

"I want him dead! Worse than dead!!"

……

……

In Hannan Road, at the northern boundary with Shannan Road, lies the Dahe River.

Xu Family Village sits along the edge of this river.

The village is barely five hundred meters from the riverbank.

Established over two hundred years ago, it dominates the region.

The current head of Xu Family Village is Xu Congtang, a Ninth Stage Innate martial cultivator.

He has a son named Xu Yibai.

Five years ago, inspired by the leader of the Heaven's Assembly, he left home to join it.

The Heaven's Assembly is young, but its current leader is a genius of extraordinary brilliance—a once-in-a-millennium prodigy.

Xu Yibai's goal is to become his disciple.

Xu Congtang welcomed this wholeheartedly—if Xu Yibai succeeded, Xu Family Village would rise another level.

But…

This morning, terrible news arrived.

Xu Yibai was dead!

Killed by Chen Mu, the newly risen Heaven's Prodigy on the Dragon's Nest List!

"Chen~Mu~"

In the spacious room, Xu Congtang sat alone, motionless; his bloodshot eyes betrayed his inner turmoil, grief, and murderous rage.

He clenched his teeth, uttering the two words slowly, his killing aura nearly solidifying.

"Chen boy! How dare you kill my son — I'll have you dead! DEAD!!"

A hidden dragon, a pride of heaven?

Prides of heaven die too!!

……

……

Whoosh~ whoosh~!

The night wind blew; the silver moon hung high in the vault of heaven.

On a mountain path, Chen Mu's figure flickered — each stride spanning dozens of zhang, darting forward like teleportation.

Since leaving Nanyun Prefecture, traveling by day and moving by night, half a month had already passed.

Hurrying through the night, just a moment ago Chen Mu crossed a river and formally set foot onto Shannan Dao.

For half a month, no one had come to kill him.

Or rather — no one had tracked him down?

Chen Mu wasn't clear on the situation either.

Not showing himself by day, not entering cities — over this half month, Chen Mu had cut off all contact with the outside world.

Having now entered the borders of Shannan Dao, he could finally breathe a little easier.

He let himself relax.

Chen Mu found a spot halfway up a cliff and buried the remains of "Duan Tianhe, the Sword Revered One."

He took the chance to circulate the *Heavenly River Art*, scanning his surroundings — nothing at all.

Just as expected.

Though Chen Mu had spent this half month rushing nonstop, his sensing of the "Sword Armor" had never ceased.

The "Sword Armor" had been broken apart — piece by piece.

So long as he found any single fragment, his strength would greatly increase!

……

"Run!"

"Mercy! Mercy~"

"Die! All of you, die!"

"……"

Over a mountain ridge, a burst of screams, roars, and wails suddenly rode the wind into his ears.

Chen Mu's steps halted. He tilted his body slightly, looked up, and gazed toward a small town at the foot of a not-distant mountain.

Beneath the curtain of night, flames shot skyward in the town; thick smoke billowed.

The "Wind-Listening" skill activated — he listened downwind.

The next instant, Chen Mu tapped his toe, his body leapt into the air, and he shot toward the small town.

Whoosh~ whoosh~

The night wind howled.

In a few breaths, Chen Mu arrived above the small town and saw several dozen bandits — some on horseback, some wielding blades — charging back and forth through the town, their savage laughter unending.

On the only street in the town's center, more than ten corpses already lay.

Fleeing residents on all sides were hunted down by the bandits as if it were sport.

From the burning thatch-roofed houses, women's shrieks and wails rang out without cease.

"…… A pack of beasts!"

On Chen Mu's cold, stern face there was no ripple; killing intent flashed through his eyes.

Swoosh~ swoosh~ swoosh~

His palm-space opened, and scrap-iron shards instantly pierced the night, whistling as they streaked toward the bandits.

"Puchi~"

Blood sprayed. A bandit, blade raised and about to slash at a weeping boy, suddenly had an extra blood-hole in his head; his ferocious face still wore its viciousness.

"Puchi!"

Scalding blood spurted. Inside a thatch-roofed house, a bandit just about to pull down his pants had a blood-hole punched through his chest.

"Pu~!" "Pu~!" "Pu~!"

In a string of strange sounds, five bandits riding on horseback had their throats pierced almost at the same instant; their bodies — some forward, some sideways — tumbled from their mounts and slammed onto the ground.

【Corpse detected. Pick up?】