Celestial Demon Canyon.

At the encampment of the City Lord’s Mansion, all the elite experts of Yulan Mansion were gathered.

Everyone couldn’t help but gaze at the young man seated in the position of honor, their eyes filled with awe.

It was this very youth, who always wore a bright, sunny smile, who had almost single-handedly eradicated the once-unbeatable Qinghuo Gang!

He inspired deep reverence!

It was like they were worshiping a god!

"Jiang Chen," Yulan Shouqing said, standing before him. His usual tone of an elder addressing a junior was gone, replaced by a hint of reverence. "The elites of the Qinghuo Gang, the Qian Family, and the Luo Family have all been eliminated. All that’s left is for us to return to Yulan Mansion and launch the final strike against the Qian and Luo Families. From this day forward, those three powers will be erased from Yulan Mansion!"

Wang Yizhou felt the same way. "The two of us are prepared to return to Yulan Mansion immediately. We will ensure not a single member of the Qian or Luo Families escapes. However, the Money Commerce Association... their background is quite profound. It’s impossible for us to uproot them completely!"

The Money Commerce Association.

They had branches in every city throughout the Saint Martial Dynasty, a true behemoth.

Even the Emperor of the Saint Martial Dynasty wouldn’t dare to speak lightly of uprooting them!

Jiang Chen nodded, his expression calm as he said, "The Money Commerce Association is a massive power. We can pin the blame for wiping out their elites here in the Celestial Demon Canyon entirely on the Qinghuo Gang. Everyone present participated in this encirclement. I trust no one would be foolish enough to draw the enmity of an organization like the Money Commerce Association onto themselves!"

His indifferent gaze swept over the crowd, seeming to pierce right through their hearts.

The crowd nodded repeatedly. "Young Master Jiang is right. The Money Commerce Association was ambushed by the Qinghuo Gang and completely wiped out. By destroying the Qinghuo Gang, we’ve avenged the Money Commerce Association!"

"That’s exactly how it happened. Nothing wrong with that!"

Jiang Chen nodded in satisfaction, then said, "You are all correct. We destroyed the Qinghuo Gang, the Qian Family, and the Luo Family to avenge the Money Commerce Association. In this matter, everyone has paid a considerable price..." He looked at Yulan Shouqing. "Mansion Master, I suggest we leave the matter of raiding the Qian and Luo Family estates to everyone present!"

’A carrot and a stick—the ultimate way to manage subordinates. To get everyone in the same boat, besides intimidation, it was also necessary to give them some benefits. Besides, though the Qian and Luo Families might be wealthy, how could they possibly compare to the Qinghuo Gang?’

Yulan Shouqing and Wang Yizhou exchanged a glance and nodded repeatedly. "We’ll do as Jiang Chen says... Patriarchs, the matter of raiding the Qian and Luo Family estates is now in your hands. I hope you will all cooperate sincerely and that no unpleasant incidents occur!"

"Lui Yifa, you’ll be in charge of leading the men to raid the Qian and Luo Families!" Jiang Chen said.

Lui Yifa nodded, his entire being exuding a cold, dark aura. "After I’ve buried my father, I will lead the men to the Qian and Luo Families!"

After Jiang Chen and the others had destroyed the Qinghuo Gang, Lui Yifa had rescued Lui Guan.

The father and son spent a short while together before Lui Guan breathed his last and died.

Lui Yifa’s demeanor had also become cold and silent.

Jiang Chen let out a long sigh and said gravely, "Everyone, there’s no time to lose. Let’s get moving!"

"Yes!"

Everyone eagerly prepared themselves, ready to set out for Yulan Mansion.

Wang Yizhou had already gone out to organize the troops for departure. Yulan Shouqing looked at Jiang Chen. "Jiang Chen, will you be returning with us?"

"No!"

Jiang Chen shook his head. "I still have some things to take care of. I’ll head to Yulan Mansion after I’m done."

"Very well. When I get back, I’ll have my men start taking inventory of the Qinghuo Gang’s assets. I’ll hand them over to you when you return!" Yulan Shouqing said solemnly.

"Then I’ll have to trouble you, Mansion Master!" Jiang Chen smiled, then looked at Yulan Tianpeng and Si Xiaosheng, who were standing awkwardly to the side. He laughed, "What’s with the long faces? It’s not like I’m going to eat you..."

Yulan Tianpeng, with his baby-fat face, let out a sigh of relief and said with a wry smile, "It’s not that we’re afraid you’ll eat us, it’s just that your strength is too terrifying. That was Zhao Qinghuo, a master of the True Martial Realm Sixth Stage, and you actually killed him. I honestly don’t know how strong you really are. Are you some old monster reincarnated or something...?"

"Hahaha, don’t worry. Even if I am some old monster reincarnated, I’m still your brother!" Jiang Chen waved his hand, grinning.

"That’s true!"

Yulan Tianpeng relaxed and smiled again.

Si Xiaosheng hesitated for a moment before saying, "Jiang Chen, you’re a disciple of the Saint Martial Sword Sect too, right?" When Jiang Chen nodded, he took a deep breath and continued, "Then I advise you not to go to the Sword Sect. After things with the Qinghuo Gang are settled, you should leave the Saint Martial Dynasty as soon as possible!"

Yulan Tianpeng’s expression tightened, and he nodded. "Little Saint is right. Jiang Chen, you not only killed Zhao Qiankun and destroyed the Qinghuo Gang, but you also killed Luo Zhen. This is a complete break with the Luo Family. Even if you enter the Saint Martial Sword Sect, the Luo Family can’t use their clan’s power against you. But Luo Qing... he’s a Core Disciple. He has plenty of ways to deal with you..."

Faced with their advice, Jiang Chen merely smiled faintly.

’Never mind a mere Core Disciple like Luo Qing. Even if the Saint Martial Sword Sect were an Asura Purgatory, a mountain of swords and a sea of fire, I wouldn’t retreat an inch! That woman who deceived me for six long years, and that insufferably arrogant Lan Haichen—they are both in the Saint Martial Sword Sect! How could I possibly back down?’

Jiang Chen waved his hand dismissively. "Alright, let’s not talk about this anymore. I will definitely return to the Sword Sect before the Celestial Fate Hunting next year. By the way, Little Saint, here’s your Profound Ice Sword back!"

As he spoke, Jiang Chen handed the Profound Ice Sword to Si Xiaosheng.

Si Xiaosheng hesitated for a moment before accepting the Profound Ice Sword.

Then, Yulan Tianpeng took out a Storage Ring and handed it to Jiang Chen. "These are some of the treasures we found in hidden stashes and ruins while following the Dragon-Horned Demon Flood Dragon. Little White divided them into several shares, and this one was specifically left for you!"

"Great!"

Jiang Chen accepted the Storage Ring and asked in confusion, "Where’s the Dragon-Horned Demon Flood Dragon? Why haven’t I seen it?"

Si Xiaosheng gave a wry smile. "After we were teleported out, we discovered that both it and the Sharp Sword Tiger were gone."

"Maybe it’s because they didn’t have a Celestial Demon Order, so they couldn’t get out!" Yulan Tianpeng said.

Jiang Chen fell into thought.

After exchanging a few more words with the others, he departed alone and found Lui Yifa deep within the Celestial Demon Canyon, crouching before a low grave mound.

Lui Yifa was crouched before the low grave, holding two wine jars. He poured for himself and drank, occasionally spilling some wine before the mound. "Dad, I remember I stole your wine once, and you beat me black and blue. Look, I’m drinking again now. Come on out and hit me. I’m begging you, please come hit me, okay? Is it because I’m not drinking enough? I’ll keep drinking. I’ve drunk so much already, come and hit me..."

His voice grew lower and lower, choked with sobs.

His body trembled slightly.

"Boss... Afa, he..." Little White, who had been crouching nearby guarding Lui Yifa, whispered upon noticing Jiang Chen’s arrival.

Jiang Chen raised a finger to his lips in a hushing gesture, then walked over and sat down beside Lui Yifa. He helped himself to a large gulp of wine from the jar and said, "Afa, are you just going to waste away like this?"

"Boss, I don’t know what to do. Before, my father’s greatest wish was for me to enter the Saint Martial Sword Sect, become a strong expert, and bring glory to the Lui Family. But now... Father is gone. I don’t know what the point of doing all that is anymore..." Lui Yifa said.

Lui Yifa buried his head between his knees.

He was like a lost child at a crossroads, bewildered and helpless.

Jiang Chen patted his shoulder and said lightly, "Afa, I’ve heard that when a person’s power reaches a certain level, they gain the ability to transcend space and time. They can pull their deceased loved ones back from the river of time! If one day you can possess such power, perhaps there will be hope for your father’s rebirth!"

"What? Boss, is what you just said true? Does such power really exist?" Lui Yifa’s eyes lit up as if he had seen a glimmer of hope.

"It does!"

Jiang Chen nodded with a solemn expression. "But if you continue to waste away like this, then your father will have no hope at all."

Lui Yifa fell silent.

A moment later, he threw his head back and drained half the jar of wine in one go. His face flushed red, and he clenched his fists. "Boss, thank you. I know what I have to do now. I will train with all my might. One day, I will master that power that transcends space and time and bring my father back to life!"

The despair in Lui Yifa’s eyes was swept away, replaced by an unyielding determination.

This was the heart of one who yearned to be strong!

Jiang Chen clapped him on the shoulder. "Good. I’ll be waiting to see your family reunited!"

"Yeah!"

Lui Yifa nodded firmly and bowed deeply toward his father’s grave. "Dad, wait for me. I will definitely bring you back to life. But for now, I must first lead the Lui Family to renewed glory, and I’ll start by raiding the estates of the Qian and Luo Families..."

Watching Lui Yifa, now filled with renewed hope, head back toward Yulan Mansion, Jiang Chen breathed a sigh of relief.

Little White looked at Jiang Chen curiously. "Boss, can people really have that kind of power?"

"I don’t know either!"

Jiang Chen shrugged. "Uncle Lui’s death caused the conviction that Afa had held onto for so long to collapse. To help him get back on his feet, I had to give him a new conviction to strive for. It seems my approach was the right one!"

"Boss, you’re amazing! I’ve heard people say that some can talk the birds out of the trees. They must have been talking about you, Boss!" Little White said with an innocent expression.

Jiang Chen felt his face darken. ’What the hell? Is that supposed to be a compliment? It feels more like an insult, doesn’t it?’

He shook his head, speechless.

Jiang Chen’s gaze shifted to the pitch-black tombstone. A faint smile appeared on his face as he spoke softly, much to Little White’s astonishment...

"Little Black, it’s time you handed over the Divine Demon Tyrant Body, isn’t it?"