Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Road and Killing Intent

Holding the invitation, Murong Xiangming presented it to Jiang Chen with both hands.

"Master Jiang Chen, this is an invitation to our Treasure Elephant Pavilion’s auction. With this, you may attend the auction in three days’ time."

"You will be able to witness the auctioning of your treasure in person."

Jiang Chen was surprised to receive an invitation.

Murong Xiangming explained, "You can’t enter our Treasure Elephant Pavilion’s auction house without an invitation."

"I’ll have someone send an invitation to the Jiang Family later as well."

It finally dawned on Jiang Chen.

’Though, as I recall, VIP cards from the Treasure Elephant Pavilion should also grant entry to the auction house.’

"Take care, Master Jiang Chen."

She gave Jiang Chen one last, radiant smile.

Murong Xiangming waved her fair hand, seeing Jiang Chen off.

Jiang Chen smiled, nodded, and left the Treasure Elephant Pavilion alone with the invitation.

As she watched Jiang Chen depart, however, Murong Xiangming’s expression grew grim.

’Who in the world is his master? To be able to refine Purple Gold Quality Elixirs... I need to have this investigated thoroughly.’

She hastily turned and went back inside the Treasure Elephant Pavilion.

「The Ximen Family Estate, Hanwu City.」

Because Jiang Chen had poisoned his son to death, Ximen Gong harbored a bone-deep hatred for the Jiang Family.

He hated Jiang Chen in particular, a hatred that cut to the bone.

He had recently orchestrated a plot against the Jiang Family. He’d thought that by poaching Ling Xuan, their financial pillar would crumble and they would be utterly ruined.

But in the end, the Jiang Family had somehow found an even more incredible Alchemist. They emerged not only unscathed but stronger than ever.

This string of failures had only made the Jiang Family stronger while weakening his own Ximen Family.

Ximen Gong was seething.

BANG!

He slammed his hand on the armrest of his chair, his voice dripping with venom. "Keep a death watch on the Jiang Family."

"Since the Jiang Family won’t let me be, then I won’t let them have a moment of peace."

He issued the order to one of the Ximen Family’s masters.

"Remember, I don’t care about the others. But you must fix your eyes on one person: Jiang Chen, son of the Jiang Family’s Patriarch, Jiang Han."

"The moment you see him, do whatever it takes to kill him."

"I’ll offer his head to my son’s spirit. My boy’s death cannot go unavenged."

Ximen Gong spoke, his voice dripping with malice, to the man before him.

"Yes, Patriarch!"

The man was Ximen Fu of the Ximen Family. As a master of the Martial Master First Heaven realm, he was a formidable figure within the family.

He was a ruthless man by nature.

He often acted as Ximen Gong’s enforcer and was no stranger to murder and arson.

Seeing that Ximen Fu was about to leave, Ximen Gong added, "That Jiang Chen is just some kid with a Warrior Second Heaven Cultivation. Don’t worry."

Ximen Fu nodded eagerly in agreement. As the one leading the Ximen Family’s hunt for Jiang Chen, he took several other masters and went to lie in wait around the Jiang Family’s estate.

They were waiting specifically for Jiang Chen.

They waited for a few days.

Finally, one day, they saw Jiang Chen leaving the Jiang Family estate.

"Follow him."

Ximen Fu signaled to the others.

He, too, began to silently tail Jiang Chen.

’Huh?’

Then he saw Jiang Chen enter the Treasure Elephant Pavilion.

Ximen Fu was taken aback. Of course, they wouldn’t dare make a move inside the Treasure Elephant Pavilion.

Ximen Fu gestured for the others to continue lying in ambush on the road Jiang Chen would take on his way back.

They would look for an opportunity to kill Jiang Chen in one decisive strike.

Sure enough, after a while, Jiang Chen reemerged. To Ximen Fu’s astonishment, however....

’What’s this? The great lady of the Treasure Elephant Pavilion, Murong Xiangming, is personally seeing him out?’

As a high-ranking member of the Ximen Family, Ximen Fu knew that Murong Xiangming was the great lady of the Treasure Elephant Pavilion.

Her background was shrouded in mystery, and the Ximen Family would never dare to offend her.

Despite his surprise, he didn’t believe Jiang Chen had any real connection to Murong Xiangming.

But even if he did, now that the Ximen Family was set on killing Jiang Chen, they would not let this chance slip by.

He watched as Jiang Chen left the Treasure Elephant Pavilion, but instead of heading straight back to the Jiang Family estate, he turned and headed for a shop that sold Alchemy Materials.

’This bastard, running all over town. It’s making it hard to strike.’

Hanwu City wasn’t just home to the three great families; there were also powers like the Treasure Elephant Pavilion and the City Lord’s Mansion.

The City Lord’s Mansion, in particular, had guards who regularly patrolled the streets.

They couldn’t just brazenly attack him in broad daylight.

Doing so would expose the Ximen Family.

If they killed Jiang Chen so openly, it could backfire. An enraged Jiang Family might launch an all-out war, and in its current state, the Ximen Family was in a precarious position.

After weighing the pros and cons, he decided to continue waiting.

’Killing intent?’

After leaving the Treasure Elephant Pavilion, Jiang Chen had sensed a faint trace of killing intent.

’Looks like I’m being targeted.’

He quietly considered his options.

With an imperceptible movement, a dark brown elixir appeared in his palm.

The corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

’Killing me won’t be that easy.’

He knew the killing intent had been present even before he entered the Treasure Elephant Pavilion, so it definitely wasn’t anyone from there.

After a moment’s thought, Jiang Chen guessed it was most likely the Ximen Family.

He didn’t have many enemies at the moment.

Only the Ximen Family would be so desperate to have him killed.

Having figured this out, Jiang Chen paused for a moment on the bustling street.

Then he began walking in the direction of the Jiang Family estate.

He acted as if he were completely oblivious to the assassins’ presence.

In reality, his Nine Heavens Spirit-Seizing Technique made his senses extraordinarily sharp.

He had already detected them but didn’t want to tip them off.

They were the hunters, he was the prey.

But Jiang Chen was not merely the prey.

He remained perfectly composed, continuing toward the Jiang Family estate at a steady, unhurried pace.

The path to the Jiang Family estate passed through several secluded areas. He knew that was where they would most likely make their move.

And he knew they wouldn’t give him any chance to escape.

"Kill!"

Just as Jiang Chen entered a dimly lit street,

three figures suddenly shot out.

Each one radiated a shocking amount of killing intent.

Jiang Chen quickly identified their Cultivation levels, his heart lurching in shock.

’All three are at the Warrior Fifth Heaven.’

’They really flatter me.’

Even after these three appeared, a faint, hidden aura from somewhere else remained locked onto Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen grew wary. He knew the hidden one was the real master,

ready to deliver a killing blow at any moment.

These three were just the vanguard.

Though alarmed, he remained calm.

The stronger the enemy, the calmer Jiang Chen became.

Panicking would only put him at a disadvantage.

"Die!"

The three pounced in an instant, each brandishing a sword that glinted with a cold light.

They surrounded Jiang Chen from three directions.

At the sight of this, a Refined Iron Sword appeared in Jiang Chen’s hand.

He didn’t move, waiting for them to come to him.

He knew he had to wait for the right moment to strike.

He even wanted to test the true power of his current Warrior Third Heaven Cultivation.

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH....

Even in broad daylight, the three dark figures moved with the swiftness of ghosts.