Chapter 654: Protection Fee? Reverse Snatching

Chapter 655: Fierce Battle with Nefarious Cultivators

As of now, these lower-realm genius cultivators were completely broke. Several of them could not bear to part with their Spirit Gathering Pearls and could not even buy an Inferior Grade Quintessence Gathering Pill.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Chen could purchase a Superior Grade Quintessence Gathering Pill. The amount of Spirit Stones he had brought from the lower realm must have been much more than theirs.

A few of these fellows started looking around, trying to gauge Xiao Chen, their thoughts unknown.

Zhuo Yushi extended an enthusiastic invitation: “Oh, by the way, Xiao Chen, we just accepted an escort mission. The round trip should take half a month. It is very safe. Do you want to come with us?”

“There is no need. I already accepted a mission to kill loose cultivators. If there is another opportunity, let’s work together then.”

Half a month was too long, and the reward was low. Xiao Chen did not wish to take such a mission. So, he waved his hand and tactfully rejected Zhuo Yushi’s invitation.

When Zhuo Yushi and his group heard that, they had extremely strange expressions on their faces. Clearly, Xiao Chen’s words came as a considerable shock.

“Why did you take a mission killing loose cultivators? The reward may be high, but the risk is high as well. Even the regular inner disciples with some wealth to them would not easily accept such a mission,” Zhuo Yushi said.

Loose cultivators were normally vicious and ruthless. They killed countless people and roamed about unconstrained. They had rich combat experience and lived as they pleased. They immersed themselves in blood; none of them feared death.

The competition within sects might be intense, but death rarely occurred.

Naturally, the aura of a sect disciple and that of a loose cultivator would have a clear difference. There would also be a vast gap in combat experience. Missions to kill loose cultivators were usually done by inner sect disciples working in groups of two or three.

Zhuo Yushi spoke a lot, hoping to convince Xiao Chen to change his mind and join them in their escort mission.

“I have made up my mind. I’ll be taking my leave first.”

Xiao Chen was very clear about his own strength and did not wish to say too much. After he took his leave, he left immediately.

“Brother Zhuo, stop trying to convince him. If he wants to seek death, there is no point in stopping him.”

“We have just arrived in the Kunlun Realm. How can we go and risk our lives so fast? We have to consolidate our strength properly first.”

“This fellow is really overestimating himself. If he was really that powerful, he could form a new faction like Gui Wu and Situ Gang. There would not be any need to hand any Spirit Gathering Pearls to Gui Wu.”

As the few discussed among themselves, they revealed expressions of disdain as they watched the departing Xiao Chen. They felt that Xiao Chen was just asking to die.

Zhuo Yushi seemed somewhat displeased as well. He had advised him out of good faith, but Xiao Chen still paid no heed to his words.

Since ancient times, the strong were destined to be lonely. They looked down from the pinnacle alone. Probably, none of Zhuo Yushi’s group understood this principle.

When Xiao Chen heard them speaking, he did not even think of rebutting them.

----

After taking the transportation formation to Sky Mound City, Xiao Chen spent some Spirit Stones at an information broker to obtain word on the movements of this group of loose cultivators.

That group of loose cultivators consisted of seven people, all middle-stage Inferior Grade Martial Monarchs, except for their leader, who was a peak Inferior Grade Martial Monarch. Furthermore, their leader had consumed the extremely expensive Quintessence Gathering Pill obtained from the black market.

These seven people had become infamous, committing crimes in the nearby provinces. Now, several provinces had issued bounties on these people and given them the nickname “Seven Black Wind Killers.”

Loose cultivators were rather crafty. The Seven Black Wind Killers were even more so. Several times, the true inheritors or elders of big sects were sent to deal with them. However, when the Seven Black Wind Killers heard of it, they would scatter and flee, choosing not to fight. However, inner sect disciples that were sent after them did not return. This caused the big sects a massive headache.

Xiao Chen frowned slightly. He had not expected this group of loose cultivators to be so infamous. It looked like the danger of this mission was much higher than he had expected.

----

The night was dark; the moon and stars were absent from the sky. When one stretched their hands out, they could not see their fingers.

Lanterns lit up the residence of the Feng Clan, one of the four great clans of Dingshui City. The compound was under tight security. Guards constantly patrolled the place. The expansive residence seemed ready for the attack of a big enemy.

Half a month ago, a group of loose cultivators had mercilessly slaughtered the two of the four great clans of the city. Even the women, the old, and the young all died miserably.

The Seven Black Wind Killers had even said that they would be back in half a month. This made the Feng Clan very restless. They were terrified that they would end up like the first two clans.

The elites of the Feng Clan all gathered in the hall. These included the Feng Clan’s Clan Head, five Inferior Grade Martial Monarchs, twenty-odd Martial Kings, and hundreds of Martial Saints.

Even so, no one felt a sense of security. Everyone knew that if the Seven Black Wind Killers really came, this little bit of strength would not be enough.

The Feng Clan’s Clan Head was a middle-aged man about forty years old. He had a worried expression as he muttered, “I wonder if the Supreme Sky Sect has accepted our mission request or not.”

After thinking for a while, the Feng Clan’s Clan Head felt that his hopes were extravagant. The true inheritors would definitely not come. Given the reward that he offered, it would not attract the inner sect disciples with vast resources. Even if one or two people came, they would not be of much use.

No matter how the Feng Clan’s Clan Head thought about it, it was a dead end.

“Ha ha ha! Who is the Feng Clan’s Clan Head?! Hand over all your women and Spirit Stones. We, the Seven Black Wind Killers, can let you have an easy death!”

As the Feng Clan’s Clan Head pondered his problem, maniacal laughter came from the distance. The voice was rough, carrying an uncomfortable killing Qi.

“They are coming!”

The expressions of everyone in the hall changed. Panic flashed in their eyes; even the hands that held their weapons trembled.

The Seven Black Wind Killers were infamous for their ruthlessness and cruelty. Even before the battle began, everyone felt immense psychological pressure.

However, five minutes after the Seven Black Wind Killers issued that statement, they still had not appeared. Everyone felt very suspicious.

The voice earlier was clearly part of the modus operandi of the Seven Black Wind Killers. How could it be that they had not arrived?

Suddenly, the Feng Clan’s Clan Head thought of a possibility. He grasped the sword in his hand tightly and said, “Let’s go out and take a look!”

A group of people left the hall and looked up. They saw a young bladesman standing on a tall building in front. His appearance was indistinct. He just stood on top of the building as his white clothes fluttered in the wind.

Seven black-clad men with ferocious auras and surging killing intent stood on the rooftop opposite Xiao Chen.

The seven black-clad men reeked of blood—a killing intent that had infused their marrows. No matter how they washed themselves, they would not be able to get rid of this stench.

The person in front only had a left eye; his right eye was just a grayish-white blotch. There was even a scarlet scar around his right eye, making it appear to be a bloody hole.

The eye looked extremely horrifying. A timid person might not be able to look at it directly. They might decide to give up even before they fought.

“Where did this brat come from? How dare he block our way?” a skinny man beside the one-eyed man shouted. He revealed a vulgar gaze in his eyes.

As that person spoke, a baleful aura melded with the sound waves, trying to infiltrate Xiao Chen’s brain.

Xiao Chen’s expression remained the same as the Mental Energy in his sea of consciousness swelled like waves. He said coldly, “So what if I am blocking you?”

Xiao Chen’s voice also carried strong Mental Energy. The sound waves surged and clashed with the skinny man’s voice, easily negating that skinny man’s killing intent.

Xiao Chen’s sound waves did not stop there, continuing forward. The skinny man groaned and took a step back, suffering a small loss at Xiao Chen’s hands.

When the one-eyed man, who was the leader, saw this, he smiled sinisterly and said, “You are quite capable. Brat, which sect are you from? After you die, I will get someone to send your head back.”

“I am Xiao Chen, an inner sect disciple of the Supreme Sky Sect. It’s the Xiao with a grass ‘head’ and the Chen with a sun ‘head,’” Xiao Chen replied unhurriedly. “However, I’m afraid you will not be able to get my head. Instead, you should lend me your head!”

[TL note: This was explained once in chapter 91. The Xiao is written as 萧; the grass head refers to the top of the character for grass 草. You will notice that they share the same “top” or “head.” As for Chen 晨, the “head” is 日, which is sun.]

When Xiao Chen spoke unhurriedly, his cadence initially made his listeners feel lazy. This induced them to somewhat unconsciously drop their guard.

However, when Xiao Chen said the last word, he moved very efficiently, not wasting any time at all. By the time everyone reacted to what he had said, Xiao Chen was already in the air.

“Oh no!” The one-eyed man’s expression changed as he shouted, “Seventh Brother, be careful!”

Suddenly, a strong wind blew in this quiet, moonless, and starless night. The ‘whoosh’ of a fist moving blended with the wind.

Xiao Chen had executed Azure Dragon Tail Whip and moved in an arc. He headed for the weakest of the seven, attacking at lightning speed.

When that person sensed Xiao Chen’s sudden attack, he did not panic even though he was astonished—which showed his rich combat experience.

This person twitched his right eye slightly, listening carefully to the sound of the wind. Then, he quickly reacted. He tilted his body and clashed head-on with Xiao Chen without hesitating.

“Bang!”

Two fists met in midair, producing surging shock waves. A fierce wind blew everywhere, making it hard for people to keep their eyes open.

The man Xiao Chen attacked did not move at all. As he watched Xiao Chen slowly disappear into the gust of wind, he smiled coldly. “Just some parlor tricks. Do you know how many inner sect disciples like you we, the Seven Black Wind Killers, have killed?”

“Is that so?”

A voice came from above that person. Before he could even panic, he discovered there was also a Xiao Chen above him when he looked up.

Xiao Chen did not give that person any time to react. He circulated all his Vital Qi and executed the Dragon Claw Fist’s Breaking Armor Fist, punching with sharp energy that broke his opponent’s protective Quintessence.

Xiao Chen’s blow landed on that person’s Tianmen Acupoint—one of the death acupoints of a human body. The energy flowed from the fist right into the acupoint. That person then leaked blood from the corner of his lips and died on the spot.

All this happened in the time it took for a spark to fly. In less than a breath of time, Xiao Chen had killed the weakest among the seven.

When the others looked carefully, they discovered that the figure hidden in the wind was only a clone.

“You are seeking death!”

The Seven Black Wind Killers moved anywhere they wanted, living free and unfettered. They had seen many difficult times and survived them. Even the true inheritors and elders of big sects could not do anything about them.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Chen took down one of them in an instant. Furthermore, he was only an inner sect disciple of the Supreme Sky Sect.

The one-eyed man roared, and killing Qi erupted out of him. He drew a large cavalry saber and fired a dazzling saber light as he attacked.

The other five also reacted right away. They quickly moved and blocked off all of Xiao Chen’s escape routes.

In the blink of an eye, the five formed a tight encirclement, trapping Xiao Chen within.

The purpose of these people in trapping him was to force him to clash head-on with the one-eyed man, preventing him from retreating.

However, did Xiao Chen need to retreat?”

Xiao Chen smiled gently, and with the flip of his hand, the Lunar Shadow Saber appeared from his Universe Ring. As his right hand grasped the saber handle firmly, a bright light flashed out of the scabbard.

“Xiu! Xiu! Xiu!”

Every time Xiao Chen took a step in the air, he left behind an afterimage. Each afterimage sent out a different attack.

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