Eliminating Hidden Threats

Over the past few days, Chen Zihang had not noticed any moves from Chen Cheng. Two days later, Chen Li had finished preparing all the poisons needed for cultivation and delivered them to the Chen Family.

Chen Zihang also noticed that Chen Cheng went to Chen Ye's courtyard early every morning to begin cultivating his Cultivation Method.

This was very good and left Chen Zihang quite satisfied. Chen Cheng did not care about a woman like Feng Ruoxue; his heart was focused solely on cultivation.

Only if Chen Cheng cultivated diligently, raised his cultivation, and did nothing else would Chen Zihang be satisfied.

Chen Zihang's own Cultivation Method was far too poor. With such a low-grade Cultivation Method, he had no confidence in developing the Chen Family.

This entire burden had to fall upon Chen Cheng, whose talent surpassed his own.

Chen Zihang sat alone in a pavilion within Qing Xing Courtyard. Looking at the clear pool water, a faint smile rested on his lips.

"In seven more days, I will head for Yan East County. A great war is about to begin, and I need to take command of the army. Before I leave, I'll help you eliminate one hidden threat." Chen Zihang muttered to himself.

On a bustling street in Anyang City, a handsome young man in white strolled cheerfully with two beautiful women.

Murong Zhi was the young master of the Murong Family and Marquis Anyang's sole disciple. With such a noble status, he could win the favor of girls wherever he went.

The two beautiful women beside him also came from excellent families, yet today, Murong Zhi had invited them both out at once.

As Murong Zhi chatted and laughed with the two beauties, he suddenly spotted a familiar figure not far ahead. The instant he saw that figure, his heart jolted. The smile on his face swiftly vanished, replaced by an incomparably grave expression.

Murong Zhi stopped and stared at the figure in the distance.

The two beauties beside him noticed his reaction. One of them asked in confusion, "Brother Murong, what's wrong?"

Following Murong Zhi's gaze, they saw a handsome young man in light blue clothes standing not far away, his arms folded over his chest and his eyes half-closed as he leaned against a wall.

"That's... Young Master Zihang?" one woman exclaimed in surprise.

Among the younger generation, who was the most outstanding? Naturally, it was Chen Zihang. Only after him came Murong Zhi, Marquis Anyang's sole disciple.

Chen Zihang possessed extraordinary talent, a fine background, and flawless looks. Yet he was aloof by nature and indifferent to women. Fang Siyao was the only one in his heart; he disdained every other woman.

Thus, most young ladies from Anyang City's prominent families chose Murong Zhi as their first choice for a future husband. On the contrary, no one dared try to seduce Chen Zihang.

"Murong Zhi."

Chen Zihang did not even look directly at Murong Zhi, his voice low and deep.

Since Chen Zihang had already noticed him, there was no need for Murong Zhi to hide. He released the two beauties at his side and quietly told them to move farther away. The two women looked worried, but the grudge between Chen Zihang and Murong Zhi was not something little women like them could meddle in.

They admired Murong Zhi and worried for his safety, but in this situation, their faces still turned pale with fright as they timidly moved aside.

Not everyone in this world had the courage to face Chen Zihang, the number one genius, head-on.

"Let me give you a warning. You'd best recognize your place. Chen Cheng is the Chen Family's Young Family Head. As an outsider, you'd best put away those little schemes of yours. If you dare plot against him, I will kill you." Chen Zihang's tone remained cold.

Murong Zhi's expression turned extremely grave at those words.

At first, he truly had harbored resentment toward Chen Cheng. He resented Chen Cheng's appearance for taking away his position. But later, Murong Zhi came to understand that his importance in Chen Yuan's heart was far inferior to Chen Cheng's.

So he changed his approach, seeking to befriend Chen Cheng in order to raise his own standing.

Yet now, Chen Zihang, Chen Cheng's greatest enemy, was saying that Murong Zhi intended to plot against Chen Cheng?

"The one plotting against him is you, not me," Murong Zhi said heavily.

Chen Zihang abruptly opened his eyes and straightened up, his gaze falling on Murong Zhi. His eyes were profoundly deep, and even from a distance, Murong Zhi could feel the icy chill radiating from those pupils.

Murong Zhi sensed that something was wrong. His pupils abruptly contracted as he swiftly gathered Dou Qi. A black-tinged azure Dou Qi Armor quickly formed over the surface of his body, protecting him from head to toe.

Chen Zihang suddenly attacked. His body seemed to turn into a bolt of deep-blue lightning, appearing before Murong Zhi in the blink of an eye. He was so fast that there was no chance to react.

Lightning flickered across Chen Zihang's right palm as he slammed it against Murong Zhi's Dou Qi Armor.

Crack! Crack!

A crack began at the chest of Murong Zhi's Dou Qi Armor, then rapidly spread across his entire body. Murong Zhi circulated his Dou Qi to maintain it, but the energy contained in Chen Zihang's strike was simply too violent. After only two seconds, Murong Zhi's Dou Qi Armor shattered with a bang.

Chen Zihang's palm shattered Murong Zhi's Dou Qi Armor, yet its momentum did not lessen as it struck Murong Zhi squarely in the chest.

The enormous force instantly twisted Murong Zhi's face. The powerful impact sent him flying like a cannonball, smashing through the wall of a shop behind him. He flew a long distance before crashing heavily to the ground.

It was a general store, and there were quite a few people inside. The sudden turn of events startled them all, and they looked toward Murong Zhi, who had fallen to the ground.

Murong Zhi's clothes had already been torn to shreds, and blood stained his body. His hair hung loose, and a trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

"Who could have struck so heavily? This is simply too much," said a kind-looking middle-aged man, pointing and commenting.

"This young man is so pitiful. Who knows whom he offended to be beaten so badly?" someone said sympathetically.

"To so disregard the law in broad daylight—do they have no respect for the Yanling Law? No respect for Marquis Anyang?" said a righteous-looking middle-aged man indignantly, clutching a bottle of soy sauce in his hand.

The surrounding people merely stood at a distance and pointed at Murong Zhi. Not one of them dared step forward to help him up.

This world was far too dangerous. Ordinary people did not dare interfere carelessly in battles between Dou Zhes. If they were accidentally dragged into the fight, they could not bear the consequences.

Although Murong Zhi was quite famous, he had not yet become known in every household. This world was unlike a technological world with the internet, where someone's appearance could quickly spread everywhere. Quite a few people in Anyang City had heard Murong Zhi's name, and quite a few had seen what he looked like.

But there were not many who knew both Murong Zhi's name and his appearance.

Moreover, those who needed to personally visit a general store to buy things were basically from the lower strata of society. They simply had no chance to come into contact with Murong Zhi. Besides, Murong Zhi looked utterly disheveled at the moment, so no one would connect him with the elegant and refined Murong Zhi.

Murong Zhi braced his hands against the ground and pushed himself up into a half-crouch. The pain in his chest twisted his face.

He could only remain half-crouched on the ground, unable to stand.

At that moment, Chen Zihang entered through the general store's front door. He walked up to Murong Zhi, who was half-crouched on the ground, and looked down at him from above.

In a low voice, he said, "Murong Zhi, consider this a lesson from me. Remember today's lesson, and don't do anything you'll regret for the rest of your life."

Murong Zhi kept his head lowered, enduring the pain throughout his body. All he could see were Chen Zihang's feet. His hands clenched into fists as extreme humiliation and boundless fury threatened to erupt.

But Murong Zhi knew the gap between himself and Chen Zihang. He could only suppress the anger in his heart and remain silent.

Though they were both Da Dou Shi, Chen Zihang seemed like an insurmountable mountain. He had cast a massive shadow over Murong Zhi's heart, leaving him unable to ever face Chen Zihang head-on again.

Chen Zihang looked down at Murong Zhi, half-crouched at his feet, and gave a disdainful smile.

"You don't even have the courage to face me. How could you possibly have the ability to contend with Chen Cheng? Forget it. You are still Uncle Chen Yuan's disciple, after all, so I'll spare your life."

Seeing Murong Zhi in such a state, Chen Zihang instead lowered his guard against him. Someone who could not even face his opponent head-on was not worth his notice.

Chen Zihang had no intention of speaking further with Murong Zhi. Now that he had dealt with this hidden threat, he could leave Anyang City without worry.

Some time ago, fearing that the Chen Family would rebel, the Chu Yun Royal Family had directly granted the Chen Family three commanderies.

Although those three commanderies had secretly already pledged allegiance to the Chen Family, the Chu Yun Royal Family's move now allowed them to be brought into the open.

The three commanderies had considerable military forces and required a great many people to reorganize them. Chen Zihang was exceptionally capable, so he was entrusted with an important post.