「The next day.」

The death of Long Shao infuriated the Long Chen Financial Group. Chu Hao had rescued the Ghost, which made it clear he had discovered Long Chen's secret.

Consequently, the Long Chen Financial Group publicly declared that Chu Hao was a Butcher who murdered people to seize the Netherworld Fruit.

This news quickly spread through major media outlets. The Long Chen Financial Group directed its media subsidiaries to disseminate the story of Chu Hao killing and looting.

As the story circulated, it sparked intense discussion among many people.

"Chu Hao, how ruthless."

"This guy is too dangerous! Isn't there anyone to stop him? People like him should be arrested and jailed."

"Chu Hao killed over ten people! He knew Long Shao had the Netherworld Fruit, so he just killed him and took it. He's truly brutal."

"So terrifying! Doesn't he have a conscience? If we came across an opportunity like that, would he kill us too, take the treasures, and leave?"

After the news spread, countless people condemned Chu Hao's ruthlessness, claiming he had no heart.

Chu Hao was unaware of the media reports. That day, as he walked the streets of the Holy City, some people saw him and began pointing and whispering among themselves.

Chu Hao, puzzled, glanced over at them. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"DING! Host receives 5,000 Pretentiousness Points for a Scary Show Off."

What's going on?

Those who had been pointing and whispering turned pale with fright. Some collapsed to the ground, scrambling away in panic before disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Chu Hao touched his chin. How could this rack up Pretentiousness Points? And why are people looking at me with such fear?

Chu Hao found it quite bewildering. He tried walking on crowded streets, but almost everyone who saw him didn't dare linger, immediately turning and fleeing.

Chu Hao stepped forward, blocking one man's path. The man trembled in fright and pleaded with a mournful voice, "Devil Chu, no! Master Chu, I don't have any treasures on me. Please let me go! I have elders to support and children to feed; they're all waiting for me to provide for them."

This man wept bitterly, and the onlookers pointed and whispered.

"It's starting! Devil Chu is at it again! Is he going to kill that man?"

"Too terrifying! Is there no one to control him?"

Listening to the surrounding chatter, Chu Hao shot them a sidelong glance.

Instantly, the group of onlookers, who had seemed to be gathering, scattered like headless flies.

"DING! Host receives 5,000 Pretentiousness Points for a Scary Show Off."

Impressive! These Pretentiousness Points come so easily! Chu Hao was delighted.

Chu Hao grabbed the man and asked, "Why are you afraid of me?"

The man was stunned. He wanted to cry. He's actually asking me? he thought. Is this the prelude to him killing someone? Does he need to find a reason first?

The man shuddered, saying fearfully, "You... you killed people from the Long Chen Financial Group and snatched their Netherworld Fruit! Everyone is saying you're a murderous demon."

Chu Hao finally understood. This had happened just last night, and already today, the Long Chen Financial Group had launched a counterattack, aiming to ruin his reputation.

But would I, Brother Hao, fear you?

I've roamed the martial world for over a year and never once backed down. Even when the Taoist sects joined forces to slander me, they failed. Could a mere financial group truly wield such power?

However, Chu Hao underestimated the power a financial group wielded in the secular world. They might not have much else, but a large financial group certainly had money and assets within many major media organizations.

Chu Hao wasn't afraid of the slander. On the contrary, the Long Chen Financial Group was actually helping him increase his notoriety. Although it was through negative news, it caused everyone to feel fear and dread at the sight of him—a clear case of invisible posturing.

The Long Chen Financial Group was, in effect, assisting Brother Hao with his act.

Chu Hao ignored the man and walked toward the busier parts of the Holy City.

Why not earn some more Pretentiousness Points while the opportunity is ripe?

In a bustling square in the Holy City, the crowd was immense. Apart from shops built by developers, numerous Yin-Yang Techniques were also available for public purchase.

One could even see an auction house here.

Indeed, it was an auction house. Many wealthy tycoons in the Holy City had established it as a place for transactions, making it convenient for everyone to share treasures.

Of course, in addition to Curse Marks and Netherworld Fruits, some ancient items were available. It's important to understand that once these items surfaced, they were all considered antiques.

Foreigners, in particular, were very interested in antiques from Huaxia Country. Anyone who found such items would come here to sell them.

Most people couldn't find such opportunities. Making a fortune in the Holy City, however, was a pretty good outcome.

This was also why many people chose to remain in the Holy City: to hunt for treasure.

When Chu Hao arrived, he saw that the square had transformed into a marketplace, crowded to the brim.

A few large financial groups managed this place. Afraid of troublemakers, they hired many Yin-Yang People as bodyguards. Consequently, no one dared to rob or cause trouble here.

A hulking man with dyed golden hair and tattooed arms, looking quite formidable, walked through the market with a group of men following him.

The blond hulk took a fancy to a Bronze Artifact and approached the stall owner, asking, "How much for this Bronze Artifact?"

Seeing that the burly man had brought so many people, the vendor was somewhat concerned and said, "Three hundred thousand."

The blond hulk snorted. "For a broken Bronze Artifact, you want three hundred thousand? I'll give you three thousand for it, and I'm taking it."

The vendor was startled and clung tightly to the Bronze Artifact. "No way! I went through a lot of trouble to find this."

Nowadays, every inch of the Holy City had been scoured, nearly every stone turned over. Bronze Artifacts, once relatively common, had become scarce.

The blond hulk said angrily, "Cut the crap! Three thousand."

Of course, the vendor was unwilling. Selling a Bronze Artifact for three thousand was a joke. This was clearly robbery!

The blond hulk said coldly, "It's no use calling for help. My uncle is a high-level executive at the Long Chen Financial Group. If you still want to make a living in the Holy City, you'd better be sensible."

The vendor despaired. Outnumbered by the hulk's crew, he was just an ordinary citizen.

"One hundred thousand! Please, I worked hard to find this. I need this money for my wife's medical treatment," the vendor pleaded desperately.

"Skinny, pay him," said the blond hulk, too lazy to argue further.

A skinny man beside him promptly paid the three thousand and took the Bronze Artifact.

The blond hulk was smug. He could flip this item for a profit of several hundred thousand, and its value would only increase later, as there weren't many Bronze Artifacts left in the Holy City.

Suddenly, as the blond hulk turned, he bumped into someone. Stumbling back, he cursed, "Which son of a bitch isn't watching where they're going?"

The hulk looked up to see a young man dressed in casual attire. His face had sharply defined features and a cool, handsome air, complemented by deep, dark eyes and an imposing stature. He wasn't handsome in the conventional sense, yet he possessed a compelling attractiveness.

The young man didn't speak, merely giving him a faint glance.

The hulk bellowed, "What the hell are you acting all cool for, punk? I'm talking to you! Are you looking for death? Daring to bump into me!"

The young man asked, "Where is the Long Chen Financial Group's auction house?"

The blond hulk was livid that the youngster completely disregarded his words. He roared, "I'm talking to you, and you're feeding me bullshit? Go to hell!"

The blond hulk was about to throw a punch when a nearby skinny man quickly pulled his Boss back, exclaiming, "Boss, don't hit him! You can't!"

The blond hulk, frustrated, said, "What are you doing? This kid is asking for a beating! Doesn't he know who I am?"

So terrified he dropped the Bronze Artifact, the skinny man clutched the blond hulk's waist and stammered in fear, "Boss, he... he is Chu Hao."

The blond hulk froze. This young man was Chu Hao?

Damn it! It was as if the deadly Killing Star Liu Kui himself had descended from the heavens! His luck couldn't possibly be worse.

This was the man who had killed Long Shao just yesterday.

The blond hulk's neck went rigid. He turned, engulfed by extreme fear, and stammered, "I... I..."

He was so scared he couldn't utter another coherent word.