Cleaning House

Cleaning House

Five days later, Chu Lu let out a long breath. His body was drenched in sweat, but his expression was one of great satisfaction.

After five days of sleepless, relentless practice, he had more or less mastered the "Illusory Concealment Art." So long as he was prepared, he would not fail again.

Although the invisibility effect still fell short of the flawless tracelessness described in the technique manual, and would always reveal a few slight flaws, it should be more than enough to deal with those people.

Chu Lu took a bath, changed into a fresh set of clothes, and set off for the Iron Fist Sect.

Qingfeng Town, Iron Fist Sect.

It was a simple, unadorned courtyard house that nevertheless possessed an air of solemn dignity. Its main gate was fashioned from heavy solid wood, set with a pair of bronze rings shaped like iron fists.

Beyond the gate lay a spacious front courtyard, its ground paved with clean and tidy bluestone slabs. Several ancient, vigorous pines grew along either side, lending the entire courtyard a touch of life and rustic antiquity.

The rear courtyard, meanwhile, was a broad martial training ground, furnished with stone locks, wooden posts, and all manner of training equipment. On ordinary days, groups of bare-chested youths would be here, dripping with sweat as they practiced their fist techniques.

But today, perhaps because this meeting was too important, Tie Zhanxiong had dismissed the Iron Fist Sect disciples in advance. The courtyard was now utterly silent.

Inside the main hall, Zhao Lihua, leader of the Dart Gang; Li Yifeng, Sect Leader of the Qingfeng Sword Sect; Daoist Wild Dog; and Tie Zhanxiong had all gathered.

At this moment, no one spoke. They seemed to be waiting for someone's arrival.

Only when footsteps sounded did Chu Lu slowly enter the main hall.

All of them immediately perked up. As they looked at Chu Lu entering, their gazes were complicated.

There was surprise, greed, suspicion, and eager anticipation.

The four then exchanged glances, as though they had silently reached some decision. Zhao Lihua was the first to speak, his brows raised and eyes blazing. "Isn't this a disciple of the Seven Profound Sect? Who let you in? Where's your master? Does that old thing not even know how to teach his disciples? This is where Sect Leaders discuss business. Is this a place someone like you is worthy of entering? Get out, now."

Hearing this, how could Chu Lu not know what he was thinking?

Now that his technique had been mastered, he could not be bothered wasting words on this lot. He stated bluntly, "Li Xuanfeng is dead. I am now the Sect Leader of the Seven Profound Sect."

"Hm?" Zhao Lihua looked astonished. "He's dead? How did he die?"

"Enough. Why are you all still putting on this act?" Seeing that he was still playing dumb, Chu Lu said directly, "Li Xuanfeng died by my hand, but none of you know exactly how he died. That is why you arranged this meeting—to probe my depth. If I proved weak, you would join forces and swallow up the Seven Profound Sect. If I had some skill, you would pretend nothing had happened. That was your plan, wasn't it?"

The moment those words fell, everyone revealed looks of surprise.

It did not surprise them that Chu Lu had guessed their intentions. What surprised them was that he actually dared to lay them bare.

Still, they were all old hands in the martial world. After trading a few meaningful looks, they adjusted their plan.

"The little brat does have some brains." Zhao Lihua sneered. "Since that's the case, let's speak plainly. But you only guessed half of it right. We never considered pretending nothing happened. What cultivation do you have? What makes you worthy of standing on equal footing with us? Hand over your sect obediently, and I can arrange a good position for you in my gang. Otherwise, heh heh..."

Chu Lu looked at him and suddenly said, "When the Young Sect Leader of the Iron Fist Sect invited me here, he said that in the cultivation world, the strong are revered. I agree wholeheartedly. So, Gang Leader Zhao, why don't we exchange a few moves and see whether I am worthy or not?"

Upon hearing that, Zhao Lihua laughed. The others laughed as well.

Their laughter was full of contempt.

A savage grin appeared at the corner of Zhao Lihua's mouth. "Boy, are you outrageously bold, or do you simply look down on me? Fine! Let me see what you can do!"

As the leader of the Dart Gang, Zhao Lihua's skills naturally lay in his throwing darts.

The instant his words fell, his fingers twitched as though he were about to strike. But Chu Lu's figure abruptly vanished—he had activated the "Illusory Concealment Art."

Zhao Lihua turned deathly pale in shock and desperately searched for Chu Lu's figure.

But how could Zhao Lihua possibly see through such an exquisite technique?

When Chu Lu reappeared, he was already behind Zhao Lihua. A dagger had appeared in his hand, pressed against Zhao Lihua's throat. Its tip had already pierced the skin, and a thin trickle of blood flowed out.

Zhao Lihua's entire body trembled. He did not even dare circulate his cultivation to defend himself, terrified that he might provoke Chu Lu.

They were in the same major realm. With his vital point in another's grasp, he had no possibility of escaping alive.

His face was ashen, filled with disbelief. He had actually lost just like that.

His face was gray with despair. Just as he was about to beg for mercy, Chu Lu suddenly exerted force and sliced off Zhao Lihua's head.

The head, still wearing an expression of shock and terror, fell to the floor.

Chu Lu showed no expression at all, as though he had merely killed a dog.

Turning to look at the remaining people, he said, "Everyone, what do you think of my technique?"

The expressions of the remaining few were exceedingly grave, with traces of fear in their eyes.

Before Chu Lu made his move, they had believed Zhao Lihua's victory was certain.

After all, according to their intelligence, Chu Lu's apparent cultivation was only at the mid Qi Condensation Stage. Even if he had concealed something, he could at most be at the Late Qi Condensation Stage. The odds were that he had relied on some underhanded methods to kill Li Xuanfeng.

Once brought into the open, he would naturally crumble at the first blow.

Yet they had never expected Chu Lu to be so formidable.

"Sect Leader Chu, this technique of yours for concealing your tracks and hiding your presence is truly formidable." Tie Zhanxiong of the Iron Fist Sect was the first to speak. "You have proven your strength. You are absolutely qualified to stand on equal footing with us."

"That's right—perhaps you even surpass me. This old Daoist is impressed."

The others hurriedly echoed their agreement.

Zhao Lihua's head rolled about in lonely silence, but no one spared it so much as a glance.

But Chu Lu was not satisfied. Looking at them, he said, "Just being on equal footing... is that all?"

The men froze for a moment, then understood what Chu Lu meant. Their expressions changed slightly.

Chu Lu continued, "If I wanted Qingfeng Town to acknowledge me as its master from now on, would you resist?"

The faces of the Sect Leaders immediately darkened.

The sects behind them were either the lifeblood they had poured their entire lives into, or foundations built through the toil of several generations. How could they possibly be willing to hand them over?

Tie Zhanxiong snorted coldly. "Your techniques may be formidable, but they are hardly invincible under heaven. Don't let them go to your head. I have inherited treasure armor; with that little dagger in your hand, even if I stood still and let you stab me, you still couldn't kill me!"

Daoist Wild Dog also said, "The Profound Yin Art I cultivate can attack when advancing, using chilling yin to erode an enemy, stiffening their flesh and slowing their movements. It can defend when retreating, condensing frost to ward off attacks. Even if you can force your way close to me, you may not necessarily be able to hurt me."

Chu Lu merely smiled faintly. "I have no intention of testing whether what you two say is true. I only want to ask everyone a few questions. First..."

Chu Lu's figure vanished once more, leaving only his voice echoing through the main hall. "If I leave right now, who among you can stop me?"

Everyone sneered, thinking Chu Lu was afraid.

"Second." Chu Lu spoke again. "If I were to find an opportunity in the future to sneak into your sects and come to your bedside, who among you could notice me?"

Their smiles instantly froze. They suddenly understood what Chu Lu meant.

"Third." Chu Lu continued. "Treasure armor, cultivation arts—whatever they may be. Who among you can guarantee that for decades, day and night, you will remain vigilant at all times and never reveal the slightest flaw?"

Cold sweat immediately broke out across their foreheads. A chill rose behind them, as though someone were standing there with a dagger in hand.

Chu Lu's figure appeared again, this time at the doorway.

Looking at them, he said, "I'll ask one more time. From now on, Qingfeng Town will acknowledge me as its master. Who has an objection?"

The Sect Leaders looked at one another, each seeing fear and compromise in the others' eyes.

Then, slowly, they rose from their chairs and knelt before Chu Lu.