Free Web NovelChapter 72: Chapter 72: You Dare to Attack? You Think I’ll Put Up With That?
The man he’d singled out was named Cao Yunlong. With a grim expression, he let out a muffled grunt under the crowd’s watchful eyes and said, "The Twelve Alliances will follow Brother Xu’s command this time. We await your guidance."
He was seething with resentment.
Xu Tong was ranked ninth on the Wind and Cloud List.
He, on the other hand, was ranked eleventh. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
Their cultivation levels were identical—both were at the Transforming Force Ninth Layer. But unfortunately, despite being at the same level, he was simply no match for Xu Tong.
It wasn’t as if he didn’t have his own accomplishments; he had once killed an old-generation expert at the Transforming Force Ninth Layer.
’But what did that even count for?’
’Who at the top of the Wind and Cloud List *didn’t* have a record like that?’
Therefore, he didn’t pay much mind to the rumored Chen Xuan.
It was obvious he was still unaware that Chen Xuan had killed a Gang Energy Elder back at headquarters.
After all, he hadn’t been back in months.
"Very good. Then I, Xu Tong, will be in command here in Celestial Wolf Valley!"
The effeminate-looking man in the green robe spoke coolly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd like a razor’s edge. "Let me make things clear from the start. I don’t want to see any troublemakers. If anyone dares to feign compliance while secretly defying me, don’t blame me for being merciless. When your bones are broken and you’re left coughing up blood, you’ll have no one to blame but yourselves."
A chill ran through the crowd, and everyone nodded in agreement.
Most of them had heard of Xu Tong’s methods.
The man was vicious. If he said he’d break your bones, he meant it.
And you’d just have to take the beating.
So at a time like this, no one dared to stick their neck out.
FLUTTER!
Suddenly, a pigeon flew over from the distance and landed nearby.
A disciple from the Twelve Alliances immediately ran over, removed a small scroll from the pigeon’s leg, and quickly turned to Cao Yunlong. "Squad Leader Cao, the gang’s reinforcements have arrived! They’re at the foot of the mountain, asking us to come down and greet them. The one leading them is named Chen Xuan..."
"Chen Xuan?"
Cao Yunlong’s brow furrowed.
’He’s here already?’
"Interesting. This couldn’t be the guy I just mentioned, could it?"
The beautiful young woman from the Fulong Gang smiled radiantly, clapping her hands. "If that’s the case, what a coincidence. Never mind his actual strength, his arrogance alone is something else. He actually sent a message for you, Brother Cao, to personally come down the mountain and greet him.
When did you fall so low in the alliance, Brother Cao? The great number eleven on the Wind and Cloud List, being ordered around like that? Why don’t you join us at the Fulong Gang? No one would dare treat you this way with us!"
"Hmph!"
Cao Yunlong snorted coldly, crushing the slip of paper in his hand.
He hadn’t wanted to go down and greet them in the first place.
Now, after her casual taunt, he was even more infuriated.
"Zhao Mei, don’t you try to sow discord among the Twelve Alliances!" Cao Yunlong said coldly.
"I’m not trying to stir up anything," the woman named Zhao Mei chuckled softly. "From the look on your face, you don’t want to go down and greet him either, do you?"
"Enough. Cao Yunlong, go down the mountain immediately and bring him up. Tell him that I, Xu Tong, am in charge here. No forming cliques or factions. He is to return at once and follow orders. Also, tell him not to get a big head about his talent. No one here is any worse than he is!" Xu Tong’s tone was icy, spoken in a voice that brooked no argument.
Cao Yunlong’s expression was foul, but he could only nod.
"Yes!"
Rage surged within him. Clenching his fists, he stood and headed down the mountain.
’Damn them all!’
’Since when did the Twelve Alliances need some outsider meddling in our affairs?’
’And that damned Chen Xuan!’
’You motherfucker! You could have come any other time, but you had to show up now.’
’And you want *me* to personally come down the mountain to greet you!’
’You arrogant motherfucker!’
’Do you really think you’re the gang’s new pet?’
’You’d better have the strength to back it up. If you don’t, I don’t mind teaching you a lesson on how to behave.’
"Heh heh."
Zhao Mei let out a peal of laughter, like the tinkling of silver bells, as she watched Cao Yunlong walk away.
Her laughter only made the flames of rage in Cao Yunlong’s heart burn even hotter.
...
The Black Dragon Mountain range was vast and seemingly endless.
Chen Xuan and his group had been wandering for a long time without finding the main assembly point. With no other choice, they finally had someone release a messenger pigeon.
Now, they were all resting at the foot of the mountain, waiting for the masters from above to descend.
Shen Yunfei, ever the observant one, immediately took out dried rations and fresh water while they waited. He handed them to Chen Xuan with a fawning smile, looking every bit the perfect lackey.
Of course, no one else had a problem with it.
Everyone was now looking up at the vast, dark forest.
After what felt like a long time,
Suddenly, someone’s eyes lit up. "He’s here! Senior Brother Cao is coming!"
Everyone raised their heads to look.
Chen Xuan also looked up immediately.
They saw a grim-faced Cao Yunlong emerging from the depths of the forest with four members of the Twelve Alliances. His expression was as foul as it could possibly be, and he practically radiated pure fury.
"Something seems wrong," Shen Yunfei whispered, a look of alarm on his face. "Could it be that things aren’t going well up there?"
"Which one of you is Chen Xuan?" Cao Yunlong’s voice was grim as he approached, his eyes rapidly scanning the group.
"I am," Chen Xuan replied with a simple nod.
"MOTHERFUCKER!"
With a furious roar, Cao Yunlong showed no courtesy. He stomped his foot, kicking up a violent gust of wind, and charged straight at Chen Xuan. He threw a vicious punch right at Chen Xuan’s stomach.
’You dare put on airs for me, you motherfucker!’
’Make *me* come down to greet you personally?’
’And make me the butt of everyone’s jokes?’
’Get on your knees!’
BAM!
With a deafening crack, Chen Xuan’s fist struck with unbelievable speed, landing squarely on Cao Yunlong’s abdomen. The terrifying force shattered his bones. Cao Yunlong screamed in agony as his entire body shot backward like a meteor. With a series of sickening CRACKS, he plowed through several large trees before landing in the distance, on the verge of death.
"Are you insane?" Chen Xuan asked, furrowing his brow as he pulled back his fist.
’What was that all about?’
’Why was he spewing such crap at me the moment he showed up?’
’And he even dared to attack me?’
’As if I’m going to put up with that.’
[...retribution point +3000!]
With an indifferent expression, Chen Xuan started walking forward.
The four members who had come with Cao Yunlong were all frozen in place, their faces a mask of terrified disbelief.
Shen Yunfei and his men, however, showed no shock, as if they were already accustomed to such things.
With placid expressions, they followed him.
They all seemed to be wondering if Cao Yunlong was drunk. How else could one explain him spewing such venom at Chen Xuan and even daring to attack him?
’Didn’t you know he beat Elder Li, a Gang Energy Realm expert, to death with his bare hands?’
’Oh, right. You’ve been away, so you wouldn’t know.’
’Well, never mind then.’
’Serves you right for getting your ass kicked!’
"Cough, cough..."
Amidst the forest debris, Cao Yunlong coughed painfully, feeling as if every bone in his body had been shattered. Blood streamed from his mouth and nostrils, and he couldn’t move an inch.
’What... what just happened?’
’What happened to me?’
"Hey, I didn’t offend you, did I? Why did you start cursing me and attacking me the moment you arrived?"
A huge shadow enveloped his body.
It brought with it an intangible but terrifyingly oppressive aura.
A pair of piercing eyes stared down, like those of some terrifying behemoth, causing Cao Yunlong to tremble uncontrollably. Overwhelmed by terror, every muscle in his body began to twitch...
