Free Web NovelChapter 31: Chapter 311: Your Nephew Is Dead; It Only Means He Was Short-Lived
"Not a bad kid. To think he was still hiding his strength..."
Hong Wentong narrowed his eyes, watching Chen Xuan’s retreating back as he murmured to himself.
He had mastered the Transforming Force. Even without moving, he could sense the origin and direction of any force.
His control over force could be described as reaching a microscopic level of precision.
In that brief moment, he sensed that Chen Xuan had clearly held back power in that punch...
"He was still hiding his strength?"
Su Qingliu was dumbfounded.
"Yes."
Hong Wentong’s expression was calm. "Setting aside his Innate Divine Strength, his Cultivation should be between the Dark Force Sixth and Seventh Layer. It seems this Squad Leader Chen is no simple man. I just wonder if he’s directly connected to the deaths of Elders Ge and Fang."
"That’s impossible, isn’t it? Elders Ge and Fang were both at the Dark Force Ninth Layer. There’s no way he could defeat them both, not to mention their injuries were from completely overwhelming power."
Su Qingliu said quickly.
"It’s hard to say."
Hong Wentong said calmly, "However, it’s good for the Red Sand Gang to have an injection of fresh blood like this. Let’s see how he performs. If he’s a genius, I won’t hesitate to cultivate his talent. I just hope I’m not raising a traitor..."
"Chen Xuan is definitely not that kind of person!"
Su Qingliu stated firmly.
Hong Wentong gave a cynical smile and said no more.
...
「On the way back.」
Chen Xuan sat in the carriage, clutching the five Qi and Blood Pills. His brow was furrowed as he replayed the earlier scene in his mind. freewēbnoveℓ.com
’Did he suspect me?’
’He probably didn’t, right?’
’Otherwise, why would he give me Qi and Blood Pills?’
’These Qi and Blood Pills aren’t poisoned, are they? No, I have to find someone to inspect them when I get back!’
His thoughts churned.
Then, he opened his panel again.
Name: Chen Xuan
Heart Method: None
Martial Arts: Diamond Fist (Eighth Layer), Blast Palm (Perfection · Soul-Severing Palm), Black Evil Palm (Perfection), Thunderbolt Step (Perfection), Tongbei Fist (Mastery)
Cultivation: Dark Force Eighth Layer
Talents: Innate Divine Strength, Bronze Skin and Iron Bones (Unlock one new talent for each level of fame increased. Current Fame: Minorly Famous)
Retribution Points: 1825 (Can be used to deduce Martial Arts)
...
As soon as he got back last night, he had spent points on his Diamond Fist.
His Cultivation had risen from the previous Dark Force Seventh Layer to the current Dark Force Eighth Layer.
The remaining 1825 retribution points were not enough for another breakthrough.
’I’m still too weak. If only I could reach the Transforming Force Realm.’
Chen Xuan sighed to himself.
The Transforming Force. It sounded simple.
But to master it, besides needing more retribution points, a top-grade martial technique was also essential.
Unfortunately, when he examined the two martial techniques last night, he found a problem.
Both the Red Fiend Palm and the Great Strength Eagle Claw Skill were of the same grade as his Diamond Fist.
Mid-grade, superior-tier!
’Transforming Force... where a feather cannot be added and a mosquito cannot land. Where you can use the minimum force to unleash the maximum destructive power against an enemy... That is a true expert of the Martial Dao...’
Chen Xuan pondered.
That move from Hong Wentong just now was truly incredible.
Even if he went all out, he probably couldn’t have harmed a single hair on his head.
When one trained to that level, the body became like a perfect, chaotic Taiji symbol. No matter where a force struck, it could be neutralized and repelled with the flow.
Even arrows could not pierce their bodies.
’I wonder, if I upgrade the Great Strength Eagle Claw Skill, the Red Fiend Palm, and the Diamond Fist all to Perfection, can I fuse them into an even stronger Martial Art?’
A look of anticipation appeared in Chen Xuan’s eyes.
...
After returning to the docks, he started looking for someone to appraise the Qi and Blood Pills.
He quickly got his answer: all five Qi and Blood Pills were normal, with no impurities mixed in. freewebnovёl.ƈom
This made him inwardly delighted.
’Could the Gang Leader really be trying to cultivate me?’
With the help of these five Qi and Blood Pills, he might be able to break through again.
Just then, Jia Gui came running in from outside in a panic. "Squad Leader, people from the Han family are here! They say one of their young masters has gone missing on the river and want our help to search for him."
"The Han family?"
Chen Xuan frowned.
"The Han family is a famous, powerful family in the city. They control the Dragon Soaring Martial Arts Hall and have experts as numerous as clouds. They’ve always been on good terms with our Red Sand Gang, allies of a sort."
Jia Gui quickly whispered, "Now that one of the Han family has gone missing, we can’t refuse to help."
"How did he go missing?"
Chen Xuan asked.
"They say he disappeared while out enjoying himself."
Jia Gui replied.
"Then let’s go take a look!"
Chen Xuan walked straight outside.
Before long, he saw an old man in a grey robe pacing back and forth with an anxious expression.
When he saw Chen Xuan, his eyes lit up. "You must be Squad Leader Chen. Please bring your men and come with us to find the young master. The Han family will reward you generously."
"In which area did your young master disappear?"
Chen Xuan asked.
"He suddenly disappeared while boating near the Thirty-Mile Reed Marsh."
The old man said anxiously.
"The Thirty-Mile Reed Marsh?"
Chen Xuan frowned.
That was no peaceful place.
It was shrouded in white mist year-round, easy to defend but hard to attack!
’Of all the places to go for fun, why did he have to go there?’
’Isn’t that just asking for death?’
"Jia Gui, take our men. Let’s go see!"
Chen Xuan ordered, stepping onto a small boat.
"Yes! Follow me, everyone, follow me!"
Jia Gui immediately called everyone to board the small boats.
A total of eight small boats quickly departed, rowing toward the distance.
Before long, they had crossed several miles of water and arrived at their destination.
Vast stretches of reed marsh appeared ahead, surrounded by a thick white mist that blotted out the sky and sun, making it difficult to see.
A large ship and numerous small boats were already there, all searching.
Soon, Chen Xuan’s boat arrived before an isolated island.
The group disembarked onto the island.
The mist on this island was even denser. It was deep, silent, and seemed to stretch on without end.
On the outskirts of the island stood a middle-aged woman, her face filled with anxiety, constantly shouting orders for her people to search everywhere.
Suddenly, she received a report and whipped her head around, her phoenix-like brows shooting up.
"You only brought this handful of losers? What the hell does the Red Sand Gang even do?"
She berated them harshly.
"Madam, please watch your words. This is Squad Leader Chen of the Qingshui Squad..."
The old man from before quickly whispered.
"I don’t care if he’s Squad Leader Chen or Squad Leader Zhou! All I care about is finding my nephew as soon as possible! Go, tell them to search deeper into the white mist!"
The woman shouted.
Jia Gui gave an embarrassed smile and was about to order the men to head deeper.
"Don’t go!"
Chen Xuan’s tone suddenly turned cold as he stopped Jia Gui.
Jia Gui looked at Chen Xuan, completely stunned.
"It’s so dangerous deep in the white mist. Why doesn’t she go herself?"
Chen Xuan said calmly, glancing at the noblewoman.
’She comes at me with this attitude right off the bat.’
’Like hell I’m going to put up with you.’
"What did you say?"
The woman’s gaze sharpened, fixing on Chen Xuan. "What’s your name? How dare you speak to me like that? Even the elders of your Red Sand Gang wouldn’t dare!"
"What does my name have to do with you?"
Chen Xuan said calmly.
’This is just outrageous.’
’I came here to help out of good will, and this is the damn thanks I get?’
"Good. Very good, boy."
The noblewoman suddenly laughed in anger. "If anything happens to my nephew, Han Tian, because of this delay, it’ll be your fault. The Han family will never let you off. Boy, you had better pray that nothing has happened to Han Tian."
"If Han Tian is dead, it only means his life was meant to be short. It has nothing to do with anyone else!"
Chen Xuan retorted.
"How dare you curse my nephew?"
The noblewoman shouted, her hand gripping the hilt of her sword.
"You want to fight?"
Chen Xuan’s expression turned cold. Unafraid, he looked directly at the noblewoman.
"Madam, calm down! You must calm down! Let’s find the young master first!"
The old man from before pleaded with her.
"You had better pray Han Tian is alright!"
The noblewoman ground her teeth.
"And if he dies, there’s no one to blame but himself!"
Chen Xuan didn’t mince words.
"We found the young master!"
Suddenly, a loud shout came from the white mist not far away.
The noblewoman quickly ran over.
Chen Xuan also walked over.
Before long, a group of martial-world figures appeared, running over quickly. They were carrying a mangled, bloody corpse that looked as if it had been gnawed on by some unknown beast.
Half of the corpse’s body was gnawed down to the bone, making it almost unrecognizable as human. Only the ornaments on its clothes remained.
"Tian!"
The noblewoman let out a grief-stricken cry and ran over. "How could this be? How could this be?"
Chen Xuan’s brow furrowed as well.
’Could there be demon beasts on the island?’
’Otherwise, how could a Martial Artist be chewed up like this?’
