Chapter 160: Re-entering Jing

「Ah!! 」

「How could this happen? How could this happen!? 」

「My treasure map!! 」

「……」

Someone let out a frustrated roar, and the crowd plunged again into chaos and frantic scrambling—this time for fragments that had nearly lost all meaning…

Chen Mu watched silently as this absurd and bloody scene unfolded, picking up card after card.

The treasure map obtained by the Qi family was ninety percent likely fake.

It wasn't one hundred percent because the map was incomplete.

Only one-third of the geographical layout was present, and critical information was missing; even if the map were genuine, without the remaining two-thirds, the treasure could never be found.

Precisely because of this, Qi Jinghong, seeking revenge for Qi Mengjun, was willing to reveal the treasure map, frame Chen Mu, and incite countless others to hunt him down.

Otherwise, why not go dig up the treasure themselves?

……

The treasure map turned to shards, another batch of people died, and the rest reluctantly gave up.

Chen Mu turned and left at the right moment.

The Qi family had been wiped out; Qi Yunpan and the other young generation were caught up by Tong Yuanshan and slaughtered outright.

All of the Qi family's assets were confiscated by the state.

Zhou Bozhi led the Zhou family disciples to seize numerous prime properties in the process.

Chen Mu led his men to destroy the Qi family; that same afternoon, the entire Tai'an Fucheng was shaken.

「Qi Jinghong is asking for death! 」

「Who made Chen Mu capture Qi Mengjun, who ended up executed on the execution ground? 」

「Hmph, Qi Mengjun conspired with Pei Renguang and caused countless deaths—he deserved to die! The Qi family previously paid a heavy price to escape punishment; Qi Jinghong should've been grateful. But instead, he couldn't accept it ending there—he used the treasure map to scheme against Chen Mu, and now? The entire family is wiped out! 」

「The Wang family and Zhou family have both fallen into decline; now it's the Qi family's turn. The Wu Lin of Tai'an Fucheng is on its way out~」

「……」

Rumors and discussions spread endlessly through streets and alleys.

Chen Mu paid no attention.

After destroying the Qi family, he returned to his lodging and inventoried his gains.

First: four Qi cards, fifty-seven Neili cards, six cultivation cards, nine strength cards, twelve skill cards; the rest were either Jingli cards or Tili cards.

All the skill cards were post-heaven martial arts.

Chen Mu took out all the Neili cards and used them at once, activating the Duan Tianhe Scripture to convert them into his own Qi.

Then the Qi cards—he used them one by one, increasing his Duan Tianhe Qi.

After both types of cards were exhausted, his cultivation rose again, nearly reaching full completion of Fifth Stage of Heaven.

……

The next day.

Chen Mu went to Lu Tang's residence to bid him farewell.

Lu Tang's injuries had nearly fully healed; he no longer needed to stay in Tai'an Fucheng.

Next stop: Shenshan!

But before heading to Shenshan, he still had to make a trip to Jing'an Fucheng.

……

Night was ink-black in Chengxi of Jing'an Fucheng.

The headquarters of the Baji Men glowed brightly with lantern light; faint shouts and cheers from disciples drifted through the air.

Chen Mu moved like a ghost in the dark, slipping silently to a higher rooftop near the compound, coldly overlooking the courtyard below.

He had no prior grudge against the Baji Men—but earlier, Leng Yanfeng and Leng Yanhui had killed Tang Yiming and secretly framed him—that was a death sentence deserved.

Huh~

The night wind blew.

Chen Mu slowly drew out the fierce, menacing 「Wo Hu Bow」, along with three ordinary armor-piercing arrows.

The bowstring stretched slowly, emitting a faint yet chilling tension.

His 「Night Vision」 ability turned darkness into daylight before his eyes.

His 「Eagle Eye」 skill pulled the distance between him and his targets to near zero—every movement of each target was crystal clear.

Shh—!

The first arrow left the string, tearing through the night sky with a piercing shriek.

Below, in the courtyard, a Baji Men disciple on patrol collapsed instantly, a bloodied hole in his throat, his eyes still filled with confusion.

「Attack!! 」

「There's an archer! Watch out! 」

Shouts and screams shattered the peace of the Baji Men in an instant.

The disciples panicked, scrambling for cover—but the lethal arrows in the darkness were like Death calling out names.

Shh! Shh! Shh!

Chen Mu's face remained expressionless—drawing the bow, nocking the arrow, aiming, firing—his movements flowed like water, astonishingly swift.

Each arrow fired brought a Baji Men disciple screaming to the ground—either pierced through the heart or blown apart by a skull shot!

「Damn you! Who dares attack the Baji Men!? 」 A thunderous roar erupted from the inner courtyard.

Immediately, several powerful auras surged into the sky.

Swoosh~ Swoosh!

The towering figure of the Baji Gate's patriarch led the way, followed by four or five elders with white hair and beards or solemn, imposing auras—all were Xiantian martial artists.

They were both shocked and furious, tracing the arrow's origin, and quickly locked onto Chen Mu standing atop a rooftop ridge!

"Little brat! Give me your life!"

The Baji Gate patriarch roared, his body shooting forward like a great roc, directly lunging toward Chen Mu's position.

The other elders also unleashed their cultivation techniques, roaring as they encircled him!

Chen Mu's eyes were cold, utterly unafraid.

The Wolhu Bow was drawn again, but this time, it was loaded with its exclusive arrow, infused with Metal-element true qi—Ruijin True Qi—transformed from the Five Elements Soul-Transmutation Scripture!

Shiiii!

A shaft glowing with pale golden frost-light shot out, faster and more piercing than before!

The protective true qi of the foremost elder shattered like paper, his chest exploding into a bowl-sized blood hole—he never even cried out before falling lifeless from the air.

Shiiii! Shiiii!

Two more arrows.

Golden light flashed and vanished!

Two other elders attempting to flank him—one had his skull pierced, the other cut clean through the waist—both died in horrific agony.

The Baji Gate patriarch's eyes bulged with rage, his heart trembling with dread—but now he was trapped, forced to furiously surge his true qi and accelerate toward Chen Mu.

Chen Mu discarded his bow, drawing the Zhan Sha Blade with a metallic ring; facing the Baji Gate patriarch, now charging up close, eyes bloodshot, palm slamming forward—he did not retreat, but slammed out his left fist.

Huu~

The Flame Fist Seal roared forth, colliding violently with the palm wind.

Boom!

Qi exploded, sparks of fire spraying everywhere.

The Baji Gate patriarch's momentum halted—he felt a searing, hateful heat pierce his heart, his blood boiling wildly.

Just as his old strength faded and new strength had not yet formed, an invisible blade-sharp gleam flashed in Chen Mu's eyes.

The Reverse Fate Blade

Spirit forged into blade, striking the spirit and consciousness!

"Ughhh~!"

The Baji Gate patriarch, caught utterly off-guard, felt his skull split open in agony—his movements froze, his vision darkened.

Shhh!

The Zhan Sha Blade, gleaming with cold light, sliced through the night, its blade-light reflecting in the Baji Gate patriarch's pupils.

"No…"

Puchiiii!

Blood sprayed, his severed head flying high into the air.

【Corpse detected. Collect?】

"Yes!"

……

Swoosh! Swoosh!

Sheathing the Zhan Sha Blade, Chen Mu switched back to the Wolhu Bow and once again shot down fleeing enemies from afar.

Shiiii-shiiii-shiiii!

Puh~ Puh~ Puh~

The whistling of arrows continued, the screams of the dying never ceased.

Chen Mu moved while shooting, killing as he went.

Along the way, he collected card after card.

Fifteen minutes later.

The Baji Gate encampment had no one left standing—except Chen Mu.