Arrogant and Overbearing, Black Wind Stronghold!

As the brocade-clad young man entered the tavern, the diners inside all showed expressions of fear and unease.

Chen Changqing glanced indifferently at the young man, noting that he was no ordinary commoner—he had a cultivation of Body Refining Eighth Layer.

Besides that, the several guards following behind him were all Qi Refining level cultivators. To mortals, such strength was already formidable.

However, in the eyes of Chen Changqing and Qing Yang, it seemed somewhat unimpressive.

By now, Qing Yang's cultivation was nearly at Core Formation, while Chen Changqing was at Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

Body Refining and Qi Refining levels were indeed too weak to mention before them.

"Make way, everyone! This is Dai Hai, the Young Master of Black Wind Stronghold!"

"Watch yourself, don't court disaster..."

"Offend the Young Master, and you might lose your head."

"I heard that some days ago, someone accidentally bumped into him, and the very next day, their entire family was wiped out!"

"Black Wind Stronghold! That's a force you don't provoke!"

"... "

The diners in the tavern murmured quietly, and upon seeing Dai Hai enter, they all chose to retreat.

Yet Chen Changqing and Qing Yang remained completely at ease, paying no heed to the whispers.

"Junior Brother Chen, have a drink."

Qing Yang raised his wine cup.

Chen Changqing smiled faintly, then drank a cup with Qing Yang.

Meanwhile, Dai Hai swaggered as he scanned the tavern, seeing how the many diners feared him like a tiger.

A smug look spread across Dai Hai's face.

Suddenly, his gaze fixed on the spot where Chen Changqing and Qing Yang sat.

The other diners, upon seeing his arrival, had all wisely chosen to keep their distance.

But Chen Changqing and Qing Yang acted as if nothing was wrong, their demeanor clearly ignoring him, the Young Master of Black Wind Stronghold!

The mere thought ignited a blaze of fury in Dai Hai's heart.

"See that this young master has arrived?"

"Get the hell out of here, now!"

Dai Hai said coldly, his face vicious as he glared at Chen Changqing and Qing Yang.

As the Young Master of Black Wind Stronghold, he had long been used to throwing his weight around in this area. His father, Dai Xiongfeng, was the local tyrant, his cultivation having reached Core Formation Realm—who would dare show disrespect?

Hearing Dai Hai's shout, the diners in the tavern were scared out of their wits and scattered in panic.

Only Chen Changqing and Qing Yang remained completely oblivious to his words.

"Ha!"

Seeing that the two still didn't budge, Dai Hai's anger flared even hotter. His eye twitched as he roared:

"Guards!"

"Throw them out for this young master!"

With Dai Hai's command, the guards behind him grinned viciously and charged forward.

"You bastards! Seeing our young master, and you still don't retreat?"

"Courting death!"

"... "

Several guards rushed forward angrily, unleashing their Qi Refining cultivation.

But what they never expected was that before they could even close in, Chen Changqing suddenly swung a palm out.

"Boom!!"

In an instant, a surge of overwhelmingly powerful spiritual force swept out from his palm.

"Boom, boom, boom..."

Before those few guards could even react, Chen Changqing sent them flying with a single slap.

When they looked again, they saw the guards had crashed heavily into the wall, each spitting blood.

"You..."

Dai Hai, upon witnessing this, couldn't help but stare wide-eyed, his face full of disbelief.

He hadn't expected Chen Changqing's strength to be so formidable.

With just one swing of his palm, he had sent several Qi Refining guards flying.

Beyond that, what Dai Hai found even more unacceptable was this:

On the territory of Black Wind Stronghold, someone actually dared to lay hands on him, the Young Master of Black Wind Stronghold?

The more he thought about it, the more furious Dai Hai became. He glared viciously at Chen Changqing and said:

"Kid, you've got some nerve!"

"How dare you hit my men?"

"Do you know my father is a Core Formation cultivator?"

"If you kneel and beg for mercy right now, this Young Master might be in a good mood and spare your dog's life!"

"If you don't..."

Before Dai Hai could finish his words, Chen Changqing suddenly turned his head to look at him, his cold eyes like lightning!

"How annoying!"

Before his voice faded, Chen Changqing backhanded Dai Hai.

Invisibly, a surge of spiritual power swept forth.

In an instant, it was as if an invisible hand of spiritual force slapped across Dai Hai's cheek.

"Slap!"

A crisp sound of a slap rang out.

"Pfft!"

Dai Hai was sent flying backward, teeth flying from his mouth.

After hitting the ground, he felt dizzy and dazed, half of his face swelling up instantly.

"You... you dare hit me?"

Dai Hai was furious, his eyes filled with venom as he glared at Chen Changqing.

Chen Changqing's expression was indifferent; he didn't even spare Dai Hai another glance.

Just then, the guards Chen Changqing had slapped away earlier scrambled fearfully to Dai Hai's side.

"Young... Young Master!"

"Let's go!"

"They're Foundation Establishment cultivators. A wise man knows when to retreat."

Hearing this, Dai Hai's heart trembled, and he stood up with the help of the guards.

"You... you just wait for me!"

At the doorway, Dai Hai turned back to glare at Chen Changqing.

As the Young Master of Black Wind Stronghold, when had he ever been so humiliated and bullied before?

Chen Changqing stared at Dai Hai with a cold expression, a faint, almost imperceptible glint flickering in his eyes.

Before long, Dai Hai had already left with his guards in disgrace.

Inside the tavern, the diners who had earlier stepped aside all looked on in astonishment.

"What?"

"Am I seeing things?"

"Someone actually dares to touch the Young Mistress of Black Wind Stronghold on this turf?"

"Does he have a death wish?"

"That kid's clearly a hothead. He's just brought a heap of trouble on himself."

"..."

As the diners murmured quietly, the tavern's owner rushed forward in panic.

"Two immortal masters, you've stirred up a huge disaster!"

"Black Wind Stronghold runs rampant here, and its chief, Dai Xiongfeng, is a Core Formation powerhouse."

"Now that you've beaten up Dai Hai, the Young Master of Black Wind Stronghold,"

"Black Wind Stronghold will never let this go."

"You... you should leave quickly!"

Chen Changqing smiled faintly, glanced back at the innkeeper, and said:

"No matter."

Perhaps the Black Wind Stronghold was infamous in this region, but he and Qing Yang were Shushan Disciples.

Moreover, a mere Core Formation cultivator was nothing to fear.

Ever since breaking through to Foundation Establishment Late Stage, Chen Changqing had been looking for a Core Formation Realm cultivator to test his skills against.

Unexpectedly, on this trip with Qing Yang to Hundred Herbs Valley, someone had willingly come knocking.

"Ah..."

Seeing Chen Changqing and Qing Yang completely unmoved, the innkeeper didn't bother persuading them further.

After eating and drinking their fill, the two settled in for the night at the tavern.

Unnoticed, night fell.

"Swish!"

A streak of light flashed past.

When the eye could focus again, Chen Changqing had already landed north of the tavern.

The next moment, with a flick of his fingertip, a transparent silk thread materialized.

This was the Tracking Silk, the most basic tracking technique of Shushan.

When Dai Hai had left during the day, Chen Changqing had secretly planted it on him.