Chapter 199

A crude, impolite voice rang out.

Chen Mu turned his head and saw a group from the Canal Guild, escorting an arrogant youth, shoving aside pedestrians on the road as they marched toward him.

"This guy must've forgotten how to write the character 'death'."

Lu Ziyi snapped, "Wudicheng isn't a place where the Canal Guild can run wild. You've come this far, yet still act so brazen."

"Ignore him. Someone will deal with this kind of trash." Chen Mu said calmly.

"True."

Lu Ziyi's beautiful eyes flickered, and she smiled as she nodded. "Then, Brother Chen, until we meet again."

"Take care!"

Chen Mu bowed his hands, watching Lu Ziyi depart.

Then he turned and walked toward Wudicheng.

Upon entering the city, he produced his invitation letter and was guided by a designated attendant to the registration point.

Chen Mu hadn't arrived early.

Outside the registration point for the "Dragon Tiger Storm Gathering," a long line had formed.

Young martial artists from every prefecture and province of the Great Zhou gathered here, each radiating sharp, potent energy, their eyes keen, brimming with confidence and anticipation.

Anyone who came to the "Dragon Tiger Storm Gathering" was unquestionably a prodigy of their region.

Chen Mu stood quietly in line, listening to the conversations ahead.

"I am Zhao Sheng from Qingyang Prefecture, Yunzhou, Tiannan Dao, age nineteen…"

"Liu Feng of the Liu Clan, Cangmu Prefecture, age seventeen…"

"Wang Hanyan, true disciple of the Xuanhuo Sect, Xia Prefecture, age eighteen…"

One after another, names were announced—each a renowned young talent from a prefecture or even an entire province, all under twenty.

The atmosphere was electric, thick with the sharpness and competitiveness unique to youth.

At that moment, commotion arose from the rear of the line.

It was the same youth Chen Mu had just seen—dressed in Canal Guild attire, face haughty—who boldly tried to push to the front of the queue, attempting to cut in.

"Hey, who the hell are you? Get to the back of the line!" The man cut in front of was a burly youth who immediately snapped in protest.

The haughty youth frowned, his face darkening with malice. "Do you know who I am? You dare make me wait in line?"

"I don't care who you are! In Wudicheng, if you're a dragon, you coil. If you're a tiger, you lie down!" The burly youth stood his ground, and those around them in line cast him disapproving glances.

The haughty youth's face flushed red, on the verge of exploding…

"What's the commotion?"

A deep voice rang out.

A soldier clad in thick black armor, his aura as solid and heavy as a mountain, stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the crowd like lightning.

The aura of a Xiantian martial artist radiating from him caused most of the post-heaven youths present to choke on their breath.

Feeling the overwhelming power far beyond his own, the haughty youth's arrogance instantly collapsed. His lips moved, but he dared not speak, slinking back sullenly to the end of the line.

After the Xuanwu Guard departed, low snickers erupted all around.

"Hah, where did this country bumpkin come from? Doesn't he know where he is, trying to act tough?"

"Canal Guild? Their influence is big, but here in Wudicheng, they don't get to act up."

"Truly ignorant of heaven's height and earth's depth…"

"More like ignorant of death!"

"…"

Hearing the murmurs around him, the haughty youth's face flushed alternately red and white. He clenched his fists but dared not act further, lowering his head and swallowing his resentment.

Chen Mu heard it all, finding it faintly amusing in his heart, yet his face remained utterly calm.

The Canal Guild's swagger won't fly in Wudicheng!

The line moved slowly forward.

Moments later, it was Chen Mu's turn.

Walking up to the registration desk, Chen Mu placed his invitation letter down. The clerk was an elderly man with a solemn expression.

"Name, age, affiliation." The old man didn't look at the invitation, didn't raise his head, asking in a mechanical tone.

"Chen Mu, seventeen, Inspector of the Great Zhou's Zhenwu Bureau." Chen Mu replied calmly.

His voice was quiet, but the words "Zhenwu Bureau" and "Chen Mu" struck like pebbles dropped into a still lake, instantly sending ripples through the crowd.

"Chen Mu? Which Chen Mu?"

"Who else? Seventy-seventh on the Dragon Pool List—the youngest Zhenwu Bureau Inspector!"

"It's really him! He's here too!"

"Seventeen… a Dragon Pool List prodigy! Good heavens, this martial gathering truly hides dragons and tigers!"

"Hasn't every 'Dragon Tiger Storm Gathering' hidden dragons and tigers?"

"…"

The crowd erupted in uproar. All eyes snapped to Chen Mu—filled with shock, envy, curiosity, even a trace of awe.

Simply put, those who made the Dragon Pool List before twenty were rare in every gathering—no more than ten per cycle!

Each one was a true child of heaven, with an unfathomable future.

Facing the stares and murmurs of the crowd, Chen Mu's expression didn't change a whit—as if he were long accustomed to it.

"So you're Young Master Chen."

The old clerk finally looked up, opened the invitation letter, glanced at it, then bowed to Chen Mu with a full smile.

"Young Master, please wait a moment—this old man will register you immediately."

"Sorry for the trouble, old sir." Chen Mu nodded with a faint smile.

"No trouble at all, it's only right." The old man nimbly picked up his brush and began writing.

The differential treatment made the onlookers click their tongues inwardly, yet they felt it was only proper.

Though they were the same age, anyone who could make the Hidden Dragon Ranking was a cut above the rest.

Envy was useless!

……

He calmly finished the registration and took from the old man's hand a bronze token representing a contestant's identity.

Wudicheng was grand and imposing; all token-bearing contestants could stay free of charge at designated inns within the city during the Martial Assembly, and meals were also provided by the City Lord's Manor.

Chen Mu pocketed the token and, under the gaze of countless complicated stares, left the registration point with an air of calm indifference.

After him, three more people passed; the one stepping forward to register was that arrogant youth from the Canal Gang.

"Qi Lilou, seventeen, Canal Gang… son of an Elder." The arrogant youth grudgingly gave his name, his tone still carrying a hint of unwillingness as he deliberately tacked on the word "Elder."

Chen Mu slowed his steps, understanding dawning in his heart.

Qi Lilou, son of a Canal Gang Elder—no wonder he was so arrogant.

However, in this Wudicheng where geniuses gathered, if one didn't know how to rein himself in, relying solely on family background would likely earn him a slap in the face very soon.

……

With token in hand, he checked into an inn.

After wandering the inner and outer cities for a few days, Chen Mu found that law and order within the city were remarkably good.

Not a single brawl or fight, let alone a killing.

At most, some quarrels.

Chen Mu refused to give up and made a trip outside the city.

Only thirty li from the city did he finally come across a skirmish.

On a road and path of just a few hundred meters, five pairs of combatants were clashing, blood splashing everywhere.

【Corpse discovered. Pick up?】

"Yes!"

……

The instant the card was in hand, Chen Mu suddenly understood.

Though Wudicheng had no strict prohibition on fighting and killing, in a city guarded by a Myriad Manifestation realm expert, who would dare act recklessly?

If they didn't dare fight in the city, they'd arrange to duel thirty li outside!

Thinking of this—

Chen Mu shook his head and chuckled.

The next instant, as if remembering something, his figure flickered and he darted into the forest on the right.

Not long after entering the mountains……

【Corpse discovered. Pick up?】

"Yes!"

【Corpse discovered. Pick up?】