The Qinghuo Gang’s encampment.

This time, the Qinghuo Gang had dispatched two True Martial Realm masters, Gongsun Yangg and Chen Yidao, to assist Zhao Qiankun. They had thought the plan was foolproof.

However...

First, Gongsun Yangg was killed. Then, Chen Yidao was slain.

Even Zhao Qiankun had his right arm broken by Jiang Chen during the siege and had to recuperate elsewhere. Once his injuries healed, he had been hunting Demon Beasts in the Bluestone Mountain Range, only returning today. Looking at the thirty-eight slot tokens his subordinates handed him, one had to admit the Qinghuo Gang’s power was indeed formidable!

"Thirty-eight slots? I remember we snatched a full fifty-three slots the last time the Celestial Demon Ancient Realm opened!"

Zhao Qiankun’s eyebrow twitched as a cold glint flashed in his eyes. The Grandmaster’s Chair he sat on creaked. "It’s all because of that damn Jiang Chen. He killed Elder Gongsun and Elder Chen, and tied up a large number of my Qinghuo Gang’s experts. Otherwise, we definitely would have secured more than just a few slots. That hateful brat... who knows where he’s run off to. If I ever run into him, I’ll grind his bones to dust!"

"Young Master, Patriarch Qian, Patriarch Luoo, and Chairman Meng of the Money Commerce Association request an audience!" a master at the Ninth Stage of the Martial Arts Realm said respectfully.

Zhao Qiankun frowned.

Beside him, an old man with white hair and a beard, a gaunt face, and eyes that glinted with deep wisdom spoke. "Young Master, those three are likely here for Qian Jun and the others. Their families sent a majority of their elites to help us hunt down Elder Gongsun’s killer. With you away these past few days, Young Master, they couldn’t very well come asking questions. Now that they know you’re back, they’ve probably come to ask about Qian Jun’s whereabouts."

A sharp-eyed young man next to the old man said in a low voice, "Those three families didn’t manage to secure many slots this year. Besides asking about Qian Jun’s group, I’m afraid they have other ideas in mind!"

"Qian Jun and his men were all slain by the killer. What should we do?" another person asked.

Zhao Qiankun waved his hand dismissively, his face etched with impatience. "I wasn’t the one who killed them, so what’s there to be afraid of? If those three old geezers know what’s good for them, I don’t mind giving them a slot or two to appease them. But if they dare to make any outrageous demands, then they can’t blame me for being ruthless!"

No one spoke further.

They were well aware of Zhao Qiankun’s tyranny. If Qian Luohao and the other two dared to cross the line, Zhao Qiankun would truly kill them.

Before the might of the Qinghuo Gang, even the Four Great Clans combined could be annihilated with a wave of a hand!

Before long, Qian Luohao and the other two walked in.

Though all three were his elders, they dared not show the slightest arrogance in Zhao Qiankun’s presence. They spoke in unison, respectfully, "Qian Luohao (Luoo Ri, Meng Qing) greets the Young Master!"

"Mm, the three of you are my elders. There is no need for such formalities. Please, have a seat," Zhao Qiankun said flatly.

Zhao Qiankun sipped his tea and said nothing. All the experts of the Qinghuo Gang remained silent, leaving the three visitors feeling as if they were sitting on pins and needles.

The three exchanged a glance. Qian Luohao cleared his throat and said, "Young Master, we have come today to ask about my son, Qian Jun, and the others..."

He was cut off by Zhao Qiankun before he could finish.

Zhao Qiankun’s face was cold, his tone indifferent. "Qian Jun, Luoo Ming, and the others are dead. All the other experts are dead too. Not a single one survived."

"What?"

"All dead? Jun... my boy... How can this be?"

"My Ming’Er is dead too? Zhao Qiankun, what in the world happened? You have to give me an explanation!" Luoo Ri’s face was pale as he shot to his feet, glaring at Zhao Qiankun and roaring.

"Patriarch Luoo, are you sure you want an explanation from me?"

Zhao Qiankun shot Luoo Ri a cold glance.

That single glance made Luoo Ri feel as if he had been plunged into an icy cellar. Death, Darkness, and despair were like an invisible hand, gripping his throat so tightly he couldn’t breathe. Beside him, Qian Luohao’s eyes darted. He quickly rose and pushed Luoo Ri back into his seat, saying, "Young Master, please calm your anger. Patriarch Luoo has only lost his composure because he was suddenly struck by the pain of losing his son!"

"Hmph. If it weren’t for the fact that you just lost your son, you’d already be a dead man for offending me just now!"

Zhao Qiankun snorted coldly. His indifferent gaze swept over the three men as he said flatly, "All the elites your families sent out are dead. My gang’s Elder Chen Yidao was also killed. The one who murdered them is the same person. If you want revenge, you can go find that killer. Don’t come bothering me!"

"The Young Master is absolutely right. Every injustice has its perpetrator, every debt its debtor. We understand," Qian Luohao said, forcing a smile as he suppressed the pain of his son’s death.

The pain of losing his son was unbearable!

But he understood even better that provoking the Qinghuo Gang would lead to the ruin and death of his entire family!

Luoo Ri and Meng Qing wore grim expressions and said nothing.

Seeing the anger fade from Zhao Qiankun’s face, Qian Luohao asked cautiously, "May I ask the Young Master, who exactly is the killer? Have you already killed him?"

"No!"

Zhao Qiankun shook his head. The mere mention of Jiang Chen made him uncontrollably irritated. He waved his hand dismissively. "Alright, I’ve told you what happened to Qian Jun and the others. If there’s nothing else, you can leave. The Celestial Demon Ancient Realm is about to open, and I need to prepare in peace!"

Qian Luohao summoned his courage and said, "Young Master, we have one more favor to ask!"

"What is it?"

Qian Luohao immediately told him about Jiang Chen. "We hope the Young Master can lend us a hand and kill that brat!"

"Oh? Since that’s the case, fine, I’ll agree to it. When the Celestial Demon Ancient Realm opens tomorrow, I will personally kill that brat. I’ll give you the silver taels and the two remaining slots he has as compensation for Qian Jun and the others," Zhao Qiankun nodded, then closed his eyes.

"Then we thank you, Young Master!"

The three of them immediately took their leave.

They knew Zhao Qiankun had grown impatient. If they lingered any longer, the malevolent star before them might actually cut all three of them down.

Only after they had left the Qinghuo Gang’s camp did Zhao Qiankun say coldly, "I am going to rest. All of you, withdraw! Unless the Celestial Demon Ancient Realm is opening, do not disturb me!"

"Yes!"

Everyone withdrew.

......

「The next day, at noon.」

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Three earth-shattering thunderclaps exploded in the sky above the Celestial Demon Canyon. Bolts of lightning filled the air as barrel-thick, violet-gold flashes descended from the heavens, turning the entire Celestial Demon Canyon into a roiling sea of violet-gold thunder.

This lightning struck directly upon the ancient gravestone in the center of the Celestial Demon Canyon.

BUZZ...

The gravestone began to vibrate violently, and a colossal Light Gate rose from it.

A majestic voice suddenly echoed throughout the Celestial Demon Canyon: "The Celestial Demon Ancient Realm has opened. Those who wish to enter, bring forth your Celestial Demon Order and come quickly!"

The entire Celestial Demon Canyon instantly erupted into a commotion. Everyone left their camps and converged on the gravestone.

The Red Flame Army guarded the area around the entrance, preventing anyone from trying to slip through unnoticed.

One expert after another gathered at the spot. Jiang Chen stood with the members of the Lui Family.

The Qian Family, the Luoo Family, the Money Commerce Association, the Demon Hunter Guild, and so on...

There were more than ten True Martial Realm Powerhouses gathered here alone.

Experts were as numerous as clouds in the sky!

Qian Luohao, Luoo Ri, and Meng Qing stood together. From a distance, they saw Jiang Chen, and a grim, murderous intent filled their eyes. The loss of most of the elites they had sent to besiege Jiang Chen was an irreversible fact. The killer’s whereabouts were unknown, and the Qinghuo Gang was an entity they could not afford to provoke. Thus, they could only transfer all their hatred and anger onto Jiang Chen.

’You little bastard, when Zhao Qiankun arrives, that will be the day you die!’

’You won’t live past noon today!’

’I’ll grind your bones to dust!’

As the three of them seethed with vicious thoughts, Qian Luohao’s eyes suddenly lit up. He saw Zhao Qiankun approaching with the confident stride of a dragon and the prowl of a tiger. The crowd automatically parted, not daring to obstruct him, and Zhao Qiankun walked straight to the very front.

He had naturally seen the three patriarchs as well and said flatly, "Where is the person you want me to kill?"

"Young Master, it’s that brat!" Qian Luohao quickly pointed at Jiang Chen.

"Oh?"

Zhao Qiankun responded indifferently and followed the direction of the finger. His expression suddenly froze, and his half-lidded eyes flew wide open.

A terrifying killing intent radiated from his body, so intense that a layer of frost formed on the grass blades at his feet.

The veins on Zhao Qiankun’s forehead bulged like roaring thunder. His fists clenched so tightly they cracked. A roar, filled with infinite rage and killing intent, exploded like a thunderclap throughout the Celestial Demon Canyon...

"You little bastard! It’s you?!"