Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Advancing Again! Dark Energy Level 2

Inside a spacious room.

CRACK! An exquisite teacup was smashed to smithereens.

"That little bastard! He’s completely out of control! I can’t handle him anymore!"

Zuo Qiuyun was furious.

He had told him to apologize, but not only did the boy refuse, he turned around and beat up Liu Zifeng, Zhou Yang, and Zhao Hai!

’Does he have any fucking respect for me at all?’

"Alright, Left Protector, there’s no need to put on an act right in front of me. Who do you think you’re fooling?"

Beside him, the black-robed Right Protector, Xiang Tao, spoke with a cold and indifferent tone, utterly unimpressed.

Behind him stood a grim-faced Elder Fang Tingyun, along with Liu Zifeng, Zhou Yang, and Zhao Hai—the three who had just been severely injured.

Their breathing was faint, and they were a ghastly sight. If they hadn’t been found in time, they would still be lying unconscious on the ground.

But even after being rescued, their severe injuries wouldn’t heal for at least three to five months.

"Left Protector, this subordinate of yours has ruthless methods. He’s sinister and malicious. When he attacked, he showed no regard for his brothers in the gang. It makes me wonder... is he perhaps emboldened by someone’s support?"

Right Protector Xiang Tao’s gaze swept indifferently toward Zuo Qiuyun. "I’ve heard," he said coldly, "that someone openly declared in a courtyard that they would back Chen Xuan and told him to act without restraint!"

"You!"

Zuo Qiuyun’s expression changed dramatically.

’How could Xiang Tao have found out about that?’

"That’s right. If you don’t give us a proper explanation for this, don’t blame us for reporting it to the Gang Leader. We’ll let him be the judge of who’s right and who’s wrong!"

Fang Tingyun’s face was also cold as he stared at Zuo Qiuyun.

"Enough, Xiang Tao! Don’t think I don’t know what you’re trying to do," Zuo Qiuyun said, his voice like ice. "Just say it. What do you want?"

"How refreshing. I’ve heard you obtained three Creation Pills once. I want one of them," Xiang Tao said lightly.

"A Creation Pill?"

Zuo Qiuyun’s expression shifted drastically. He waved his hand dismissively. "Absolutely not!"

"Absolutely not?"

Xiang Tao’s face darkened. "Then don’t blame me for reporting this to the Gang Leader. When he gets angry, you’ll be the one facing the consequences!"

"Threatening me?"

Zuo Qiuyun sneered. "A mere Chen Xuan? He has nothing to do with me. He’s just someone I recruited on a whim. Who the hell is he? Go on, report it if you want!"

With a flick of his great sleeve, he decided to abandon Chen Xuan completely.

"Then we’ll just wait and see!"

Xiang Tao snorted coldly, turned on his heel, and strode out.

Fang Tingyun and the others followed, cold smirks on their faces.

"Left Protector, are you really abandoning Chen Xuan?"

Ge Xuan’s expression flickered, and he couldn’t help but ask.

"At this point, do you think I can still protect him? That little bastard completely ignored my words. Since he refuses to bow his head, let him face the Right Protector’s wrath alone. He’ll regret it soon enough!"

Zuo Qiuyun’s tone was glacial.

He stormed away with a flick of his sleeve.

...

Outside the main hall.

Right Protector Xiang Tao and his group departed in a hurry.

Fang Tingyun frowned, glancing back over his shoulder. "Right Protector, that old fox is as decisive as ever, abandoning Chen Xuan without a second thought. It seems we’ll need to apply more pressure if we want to take him down."

"That’s nothing. Zuo Qiuyun is an old, deep schemer who acts ruthlessly. I expected as much from him."

Xiang Tao spoke indifferently, waving his hand slightly. "The only reason I pressured him was to force him to abandon his own subordinates. The more men he gives up, the more disillusioned his remaining followers will become. Sooner or later, he’ll collapse on his own without us having to lift a finger."

Fang Tingyun nodded slowly. "And what about Chen Xuan?"

Xiang Tao stopped walking. He looked at Fang Tingyun, then at the heavily injured and humiliated trio of Liu Zifeng, Zhou Yang, and Zhao Hai. "Isn’t he going to the Qingshui Sect?" he said. "Find someone to tell Su Qingliu. With her personality, she won’t let him have an easy time. After that, once Su Qingliu is gone, we can have anyone take him out. I guarantee he’ll die without a whisper."

"Su Qingliu?"

"That genius girl?"

"The Gang Leader’s only female disciple?"

The eyes of the men around him lit up.

’Good!’

Su Qingliu was known for being proud and aloof, and she specialized in dealing with troublemakers.

Su Qingliu had been responsible for the Qingshui Sect during its initial development phase.

Now that Chen Xuan was headed there, given Su Qingliu’s nature, she would absolutely give him a hard time once she learned of his exploits.

The two of them would most likely end up fighting.

...

Inside the carriage heading to the Qingshui Sect.

Chen Xuan sat quietly, once again looking at the panel before his eyes.

’I can’t believe I got another 1,200 retribution points just for stepping out for a bit.’

’Why hesitate?’

’Time to go all in.’

’Use retribution points to upgrade Thunderbolt Step!’

Chen Xuan thought to himself.

[Ding! You have consumed 900 retribution points. Beginning to evolve Thunderbolt Step. Your Thunderbolt Step is improving once more...]

[Congratulations, Host! Thunderbolt Step has reached the Mastery level! Cultivation increased to: Second Level of Dark Strength!]

A series of notifications chimed in his mind.

BOOM!

The bones and tendons throughout his body trembled, crackling and popping. Waves of powerful Dark Energy surged within him, powerful as a galloping horse and relentless as a tidal wave, circulating endlessly through his limbs.

His strength had increased significantly.

’I’m already at the Second Level of Dark Strength? It’s a shame all my Martial Arts are already at the mastery level. If I’d known, I would have picked up a few more from the Sutra Pavilion.’

Chen Xuan frowned.

’Although the Martial Arts on the first three floors of the Sutra Pavilion were low-level, they would have been better than nothing.’

’I wonder if they sell any at the wharf.’

CREAK! CREAK...

His carriage trundled toward the Qingshui Sect’s branch headquarters.

From a long way off, he could smell the thick stench of fish, accompanied by the shouts of fishermen, the crack of whips, and waves of curses.

"Squad Leader Chen, we’re here."

The driver brought the carriage to a halt.

Chen Xuan immediately lifted the window curtain and looked outside.

On the muddy road ahead, countless laborers were hard at work.

Beyond them was a boundless river, its surface a forest of sails. Countless large ships, laden with cargo, were docked there.

Several members of the Red Sand Gang stood before the carriage, smiling as they waited respectfully.

"This lowly one is Jia Gui! I greet you, Squad Leader Chen!"

The gang member in the lead was scrawny, all skin and bones. He had a wide smile plastered on his face, crinkled up like a daisy, and his body was so frail it looked as though a gust of wind could blow him over.

"Jia Gui?"

Chen Xuan stepped down from the carriage, a look of surprise on his face.

’Can’t deny it.’

’He really does look the part!’

"Where’s our sect headquarters? Take me there," Chen Xuan said.

"Yes, sir! Please, this way!"

Jia Gui immediately beamed, bowing as he led the way.

"Oh, by the way, Squad Leader Chen," Jia Gui said suddenly in a low voice, "word of your great name has already spread all over the wharf these last couple of days."

"Everyone knows about your profound strength. However, when you meet Squad Leader Su, it’s best not to clash with her directly. Just bear with it for a little while. Once she’s transferred back to the main headquarters, everything will be fine."

"Oh?"

Chen Xuan raised an eyebrow. "Is she that fierce?"

He already knew that a woman named Su Qingliu was in charge of the Qingshui Sect.

His purpose in coming here was to take over her post.

"Not exactly," Jia Gui hesitated, then whispered, "Squad Leader Su has a cold and detached personality. She takes the gang’s rules extremely seriously—she’s an absolute perfectionist. She will personally deal with anyone who violates them... Besides, her strength is formidable, and she’s the Gang Leader’s direct disciple. If you just defer to her a little, you’ll be fine."

Considering what Chen Xuan had done within the gang, Jia Gui was one hundred percent certain that Su Qingliu would try to put him in his place.

If Chen Xuan deferred to her, Su Qingliu would, at most, scold him a little and leave it at that.

But if he didn’t, given her personality, she would definitely attack him on the spot.

He couldn’t even imagine what would happen then.

"I see."

Chen Xuan nodded with a smile. "Thanks for the heads-up. Any idea what her strength level is?"

"Dark Force Fourth Level."

Jia Gui whispered.

"I see."

Chen Xuan’s tone was calm.

’She’s the Gang Leader’s disciple, so I should show her some respect.’

’But if she decides to push her luck...’

’Then I’ll just have to show her...’

’...that the world can be a very cruel place!’