By the time Chu Sheng and the others returned to the surface, it was already dawn.
Silver radiance shone bright, while killing intent hung thick in the air.
Right in front of the Earth Abyss entrance,
a burly man built like a small mountain stood with one hand resting on his saber.
His gaze was vicious, and an oppressive aura that made people suffocate radiated from his entire body.
Behind him, twenty figures stood separately on either side like ghosts, their killing intent surging.
Gu Ruhai recognized at a glance that the burly man was Min Yue's brother, Min Xiong!
He thought that he was saved this time. Though he had little connection with the Min Family, Chu Sheng had a grudge against them.
Once Chu Sheng died, not only would Gu Changge's vengeance be avenged, but he himself would also be free.
"Was it you who killed my sister!?"
Min Xiong spoke coldly, his voice like rough sandpaper grinding across a blade.
"You're from the Min Family?"
Min Xiong tightened his grip around his saber, and a vast pressure erupted with a boom!
"Answer me! Was it you who killed my sister!?"
Chu Sheng nodded. "You came at just the right time. This saves me the trouble of looking for you."
"Let me tell you, this stronghold is not compliant."
"This is Great Xia. Only Great Xia's laws are recognized here. Setting up a private torture chamber is illegal! Harboring criminals is even more illegal among illegal acts!"
"I give you three days to rectify it. If you fail to do so by then, our Jingwu Bureau will forcibly seal it up."
Everyone froze, their faces full of dark-skinned question marks.
Even the enraged Min Xiong was dazed for a moment.
He dearly wanted to ask Chu Sheng,
"Are you messing with me? Do you not understand the situation you're in?"
One of his subordinates said in a low voice,
"Family Head, he's making a fool of you..."
Min Xiong raised his saber, but before he could strike,
a shout came from behind them.
It was one of the guards who had originally been watching over the stronghold.
Min Xiong had specifically ordered them to remain outside and keep watch.
"Family Head, this is bad! There are so many people, at least a hundred of them..."
!!!
Min Xiong instantly froze, then roared in alarm, "Where did a hundred-man army come from!?"
Immediately afterward, laughter rang out.
"Family Head Min is exaggerating a little too much. It's only a hundred people. How could that count as an army..."
Clang—
The saber in Min Xiong's hand fell to the ground.
He recognized who that voice belonged to.
He whirled around in horror.
Lu Huaimin strode out from the shadows.
He wore a black-and-gold fitted uniform specially made for the Jingwu Bureau Director.
A cloud-swallowing white tiger was embroidered over his shoulders and arms, and beneath its claws, the two words "Jingwu" could vaguely be seen outlined in golden thread.
Behind him, a vast force of a hundred men rolled over the darkness like an iron torrent.
Every one of them wore Jingwu Bureau uniforms.
Waist badges of every color flashed with cold light beneath the moon, like ice-tempered iron blades slicing open the night.
The earth trembled.
Everyone from the Min Family and Gu Family shook from head to toe.
Was the Jingwu Bureau powerful?
Of course it was!
It was an existence capable of crushing any Noble Clan in Shengze City.
But it was, after all, an official institution, and it would not act recklessly.
Normally, when the Noble Clans joined forces, they did not need to fear it.
But when facing it alone, they finally realized just how terrifying the Jingwu Bureau was.
Director Lu Huaimin was at the True Origin Realm Peak.
Under his command were two Gold Patrolmen at the fourth level of the True Origin Realm.
Five Silver Patrolmen ranging from the first to third levels of the True Origin Realm.
And over a hundred Bronze Patrols in the Qi Sea Realm.
If they all mobilized, calling them a colossal monster would not be an exaggeration!
But the question was,
what the hell was going on here!
Why had they all mobilized!!!
Gu Ruhai could not understand it, and Min Xiong understood it even less!!!
Even Su Qing, a Jingwu Bureau patrolman, could not understand it!
After arriving nearby, Lu Huaimin lightly raised a hand.
The hundred-plus patrolmen immediately obeyed orders as if they were one, standing motionless in place.
They shouted in unison.
"Young Master Chu!!!"
Chu Sheng froze. Only after a moment did he realize they were calling him.
To be honest, he was somewhat confused too.
He did not understand what Lu Huaimin was playing at.
How had he, perfectly well and part of the common people, suddenly become some young master?
However—
This feeling was really damn good!
Chu Sheng gave a slight nod, then turned his gaze toward Min Xiong.
"Pick up your saber."
Seeing him stand there blankly, his face filled with fear,
Chu Sheng snorted coldly.
"I told you to pick up your saber!"
Min Xiong came back to himself and hurriedly, trembling, picked up the saber that had fallen to the ground.
"I'll ask you again. What were you trying to do just now?"
"I..." Min Xiong sweated profusely, and the saber in his hand looked ready to slip from his grasp and fall again.
Forget so many people—even Lu Huaimin alone could slaughter every last one of them.
And the most crucial part was that shout of "Young Master Chu" from the Jingwu Bureau.
Someone worthy of having the dignified Jingwu Bureau Director personally lead men to rescue him, while also being respectfully addressed as "Young Master"—
Heaven knew how terrifying his background had to be!?
If they mishandled this, not only would these people be finished, but perhaps the entire Min Family would vanish from existence!
Seeing him hesitate for so long without daring to make a sound,
a cold gleam abruptly flared in Chu Sheng's eyes.
"Answer me. Were you trying to raise your saber against me!?"
"No, I wouldn't dare... I was only..."
Min Xiong's mind spun rapidly, and he inexplicably thought of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which he had loved reading as a child.
Fuck...
Min Xiong cursed inwardly. At a time like this, why the hell am I thinking of that?
But suddenly, his entire body jolted.
He recalled what the guards had said—that Chu Sheng's saber art was formidable.
He looked at Chu Sheng, then at the ancestral treasure saber in his own hand.
Thus, he made a decision that betrayed his ancestors.
"Young Master Chu, I heard that my younger sister inadvertently disturbed you. I am deeply terrified.
"I have long heard that your saber art is exquisitely peerless. I have come especially to present my Min Family's ancestral treasure saber, and hope that you will graciously accept it."
The air instantly fell silent. No one had expected Min Xiong to pull something like this.
Especially the Min Family members who had come with him.
In that instant, everyone let out a breath of relief.
From now on, if anyone dared say their Family Head possessed nothing but brute strength and had worrying intelligence,
they could use this matter to slap them in the face!
Who said our Family Head had no brains?
He had far too much brain!!!
The next second, Chu Sheng let out a scoff.
"So that's how it is. It seems I misunderstood you."
"Fine, bring your saber over and let me take a look."
Min Xiong walked forward fawningly. Just as he was about to present the saber, he suddenly froze.
He had thought of a fatal oversight.
"What? Are you reluctant to part with this ancestral treasure saber? Or do you think Chu does not deserve this saber?"
The moment Chu Sheng saw the saber, he could tell that it was extraordinary.
Its blade was long and narrow like a frozen river.
A dim blue chill gleamed across its entire body.
Its edge was thin as a cicada's wing, yet it carried the distinctive heavy, muted luster that only premium alloy, hammered a thousand times over, could possess.
Though he did not know what material it was made of, one thing was certain—it was no ordinary item.
"No, it's just that this saber is somewhat... somewhat... heavy."
Though Min Xiong's treasured saber looked light and thin, it weighed over a thousand kilograms.
Punching strength was not the same as raw lifting strength. He had no problem wielding this saber himself.
But for someone in the Qi Sea Realm, forget wielding it—
even lifting it was extremely difficult.
Chu Sheng frowned, then snatched the saber away.
"Give it here!"
It was indeed heavy in his hand, but not so heavy that he could not wield it.
Though Chu Sheng was only at the sixth level of the Qi Sea Realm,
he possessed the Thunderous Saint Body. His physique was in no way inferior even to those at the first or second level of the True Origin Realm.
He suddenly wanted to test the saber.
As he raised his hand, qi light surged sharply, like a blazing sun tearing through clouds.
The perfected Spirit Wind Saber Technique!
Before the saber force even emerged, the sound of tearing wind was already like ten million iron arrows streaking across the sky.
Green qi light plowed over the ground, exploding with a boom into a crack more than ten feet deep and stretching over a hundred feet.
Shattered stones mixed with residual spiritual energy, forming a green tornado that shot straight into the heavens.
Everyone's eyes widened.
Could someone in the Qi Sea Realm truly unleash a strike like that?
But if anyone was the most shocked, it had to be Lu Huaimin.
"Sixth level of the Qi Sea Realm? Fuck, this is truly seeing a ghost!"
Chu Sheng nodded in satisfaction.
"Damn, what's this saber called?"
"Zhan Yue, a top-grade item among Stage Four weapons..." Min Xiong answered respectfully.
"Since you have offered it with such sincerity, it would be rather embarrassing for me not to accept it.
"However, this is not bribery. It is an apology.
"If this stronghold has not been rectified in three days, do not blame Chu for turning hostile and refusing to recognize anyone."
With that, Chu Sheng did not delay any longer and left directly.
He wanted to ask Lu Huaimin exactly what the hell he was doing.
Before you continue