Arrogant and Overbearing, Black Wind Stronghold!

As the young man in fine silk entered the tavern, the patrons inside all revealed expressions of terror and unease.

Chen Changqing swept a cold, indifferent glance over the youth.

He discovered that this person was no ordinary commoner, possessing the cultivation of the eighth level of Body Refining.

Beyond that, the several guards following behind him were all cultivators at the Qi Refining stage.

To a mortal, such strength was already considered formidable.

However, in the eyes of Chen Changqing and Qingyang, it appeared somewhat insufficient.

Presently, Qingyang's cultivation was nearing Core Formation.

As for Chen Changqing, he was at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

The Body Refining and Qi Refining levels were indeed too weak to be worth mentioning in front of them.

"Everyone, move aside! This is Young Master Dai Hai of the Black Wind Stronghold!"

"Be careful, don't bring trouble upon yourselves..."

"Offend Young Master Dai, and you'll be lucky to keep your head."

"I heard that a few days ago, someone accidentally bumped into him, and by the next day, their entire family had been wiped out!"

"The Black Wind Stronghold! That is an existence one simply cannot provoke!"

"..."

The patrons in the tavern whispered among themselves, and seeing Dai Hai walk in, they all chose to retreat.

However, Chen Changqing and Qingyang remained calm and composed.

They turned a deaf ear to the surrounding chatter.

"Junior Brother Chen, let's have a drink."

Qingyang raised his wine cup.

Chen Changqing smiled faintly, then shared a drink with Qingyang.

At the same time, Dai Hai scanned the tavern with his nose in the air.

Seeing the numerous patrons fearing him like a tiger, Dai Hai wore a look of self-satisfaction.

Suddenly, his gaze locked onto the table where Chen Changqing and Qingyang were sitting.

While the other patrons had all sensibly chosen to give him a wide berth upon his arrival, Chen Changqing and Qingyang acted as if nothing were happening.

The way they looked, it was clear they were ignoring him, the Young Master of the Black Wind Stronghold!

At that thought, the anger in Dai Hai's heart was instantly ignited.

"You see this young master has arrived."

"Why haven't you scrambled to get out yet?"

Dai Hai said coldly, glaring at Chen Changqing and Qingyang with a vicious expression.

As the Young Master of the Black Wind Stronghold, he had long been accustomed to acting like a tyrant in this region.

His father, Dai Xiongfeng, was the local warlord, and with his cultivation having reached the Core Formation stage, who dared to show him any disrespect?

Hearing Dai Hai's shout, the patrons in the tavern were scared out of their wits, scrambling to flee in every direction.

Only Chen Changqing and Qingyang remained completely indifferent to what he had said.

"Hmph!"

Seeing the two still unmoved, the fire in Dai Hai's heart burned even brighter. His eye twitched as he roared:

"Men!"

"Go and throw them out for this young master."

Following Dai Hai's order, the guards behind him rushed forward with sinister grins.

"You dogs, you see our young master, yet you don't retreat?"

"You are simply courting death!"

"..."

The several guards charged forward in a rage, their Qi Refining cultivation erupting.

However, what the guards did not expect was this:

Before they could even reach them, Chen Changqing suddenly swung his hand out.

"BOOM!!"

In an instant, an incomparably powerful spiritual force swept out from his palm.

"Bang, bang, bang..."

Before the guards could even react, Chen Changqing slapped them all away.

Looking closer, the guards had slammed heavily into the wall, each of them coughing up blood.

"You..."

Seeing this, Dai Hai's eyes widened in utter disbelief.

He had not expected Chen Changqing's strength to be so formidable.

With just a single wave of his hand, he had sent several Qi Refining guards flying.

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

Within the territory of Black Wind Stronghold, how could anyone dare to lay a hand on his people, 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 have some nerve!"

"You dare to hit my men?"

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

"If you kowtow and beg for mercy right now, I might just be in a good enough mood to spare your dog life!"

"But if you don't..."

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

"Noisy!"

Before the words had even faded, Chen Changqing backhanded a slap toward Dai Hai.

An invisible surge of spiritual energy swept forth.

In less than an instant, it was as if an invisible, massive hand of spiritual energy had struck Dai Hai across the cheek.

"Smack!"

A loud, crisp sound of a slap echoed through the room.

"Pfft!"

Dai Hai was sent flying, his teeth shattering and spraying out as he tumbled backward.

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

"You... you dare hit me?"

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

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

Just then, the guards who had been slapped away earlier scrambled over to Dai Hai's side in a panic.

"Young... Young Master!"

"Let's go!"

"They are Foundation Establishment cultivators; a wise man doesn't fight when the odds are against him."

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

"You... you just wait!"

As he reached the doorway, Dai Hai turned back to glare at Chen Changqing.

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

Chen Changqing stared at Dai Hai with a blank expression, a subtle, unnoticeable glint flashing in his eyes.

Before long, Dai Hai and his guards fled in a sorry state.

Inside the restaurant, the diners who had previously retreated watched in astonishment.

"This?"

"Did I see that right?"

"Someone actually dared to touch the Young Master of Black Wind Stronghold in this territory?"

"Are they tired of living?"

"That kid looks like a reckless fool; he's brought a huge disaster upon himself."

"..."

Just as the diners whispered among themselves, the restaurant manager approached, his face pale with panic.

"Two Immortals, you have brought a great disaster upon yourselves!"

"This Black Wind Stronghold runs rampant, and the Stronghold Master, Dai Xiongfeng, is a Core Formation powerhouse."

"Now that you have beaten the Young Master of Black Wind Stronghold, Dai Hai,"

"Black Wind Stronghold will certainly not let this go."

"You... you all should leave quickly!"

Chen Changqing smiled faintly, looked back at the shopkeeper, and said, "It is of no concern."

Perhaps Black Wind Stronghold had a fearsome reputation in this region, but he and Qingyang were disciples of Mount Shu.

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

Ever since he had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, Chen Changqing had been thinking about finding a Core Formation realm cultivator to spar with.

He had not expected that while traveling to Hundred Herbs Valley with Qingyang this time, someone would proactively deliver themselves to his doorstep.

"Sigh..."

Seeing that Chen Changqing and Qingyang remained indifferent, the shopkeeper did not try to persuade them any further.

After finishing their meal, the two of them checked into the inn.

Before they knew it, night had fallen.

"Whoosh!"

A streak of light flashed by.

When it settled, Chen Changqing had already landed to the north of the inn.

The next moment, he flicked his fingertip, and a transparent thread appeared.

This was a Tracking Thread, the most basic tracking technique of Mount Shu.

Chen Changqing had secretly planted it on Dai Hai earlier that day when he had departed.