Shi Chou was a legendary figure from Chen Xiao's previous life.
Dressed in hemp, carrying a black coffin, and calling himself His Highness Corpse, he was a madman who traveled everywhere challenging people. Whenever he appeared, he would inevitably chant those words.
My coffin holds the corpse of Heaven.
So-and-so, Heaven wants you buried with it!
In his previous life, cultivators of every level—even Mahayana Realm cultivators—turned pale with fear when they heard those two lines.
Shi Chou was a Mahayana Realm cultivator, and could be called invincible among those at that level. He spent thirty years challenging people, and no one could match him.
Moreover, every person Shi Chou challenged was a major figure among the renowned cultivators of their region. After killing them, he would put their corpses into the black coffin he carried behind him.
According to the course of history, Shi Chou should have emerged three years later, one year after the Chen Clan was destroyed. But in this life, because of Chen Xiao, the original course of events had been thrown completely into chaos.
First, the Chen Clan had truly settled in Moon-Gazing City, and Chen Fengyang had obtained the Town-Suppressing Seal, saving the clan from annihilation.
Then Chen Xiao himself had awakened an Immortal Spirit Root, shaking the entire cultivator world of the Xuhe Immortal Realm and drawing the attention of most of its cultivators to Moon-Gazing City.
That was what had drawn this Mahayana Realm monster, Shi Chou, here and brought him out early.
Shi Chou's origins were extremely mysterious. In Chen Xiao's previous life, he had incurred deep enmity from cultivators. Some sects had even sent immortals to kill him, but in the end, every one of those sects had been wiped from existence.
Even the Glazed Heaven Palace was extraordinarily indulgent toward Shi Chou. In just thirty years, the name His Highness Corpse had resounded throughout the Glazed Heaven. It was not only because he was invincible at the Mahayana Realm, but also because of his mysterious background—even the Glazed Heaven Palace had to give him some ground.
What Chen Xiao hadn't expected was that this fellow had actually come to Moon-Gazing City. His teeth ground with resentment.
"Father, I'll go."
Chen Xiao stopped Chen Tiannan and the clan elders, who were about to rush out. They were only at the Body Integration Realm; going there would just be serving themselves up on a platter.
Besides, Chen Xiao had spent some time with Shi Chou in his previous life and knew how to deal with him.
"Xiao'er, this person's cultivation isn't weak. He's even stronger than your grandfather. You..."
"Don't worry, Father. This fellow has powerful backing, so we can't fight him head-on. Leave everything to me."
With that, Chen Xiao ignored Chen Tiannan's protests and darted through the gate.
"Hey! What stray cat or dog dares to run wild in front of the City Lord's Mansion in Moon-Gazing City?"
Chen Xiao gathered his breath in his dantian and shouted at the top of his lungs.
The City Lord's Mansion guards nearby nearly toppled over.
"My young master, did you not notice his presence? He's at least a Tribulation Transcendence Realm expert. He even shook the City Lord's Mansion's Guardian Array. And you show up and call him a stray cat or dog? This..."
The guards had already gone deathly pale. Feeling the terrifying spiritual pressure radiating from Shi Chou, they slowly backed away.
But Chen Xiao acted as if he hadn't noticed. With an arrogant, overbearing look, he frantically waved the gold-trimmed folding fan in his hand.
Shi Chou lifted his head and gave Chen Xiao a cool glance, but paid him no mind.
"Chen Fengyang, Heaven wants you buried with it. Come out and meet your death."
Shi Chou's voice was hoarse, numb, and devoid of emotion.
"You insolent madman! How dare you insult the lord of Moon-Gazing City? Are you tired of living? If you have the guts, fight me for three hundred rounds!"
Chen Xiao's face darkened at Shi Chou's words. He was genuinely furious. What grandson could hear someone telling his own grandfather to be buried with them and not fly into a rage?
And at that moment, Chen Xiao's behavior was exactly what one would expect of a spoiled young master.
The City Lord's Mansion guards nearly collapsed when they heard this. My little ancestor, this man is at least a Tribulation Transcendence Realm expert. You want to fight him for three hundred rounds? He could crush you with one hand.
By now, quite a few onlookers had gathered around the gates of the City Lord's Mansion, all watching Chen Xiao with glee. How could they fail to see how terrifying Shi Chou was? Only this useless Third Layer of Qi Refining couldn't sense the horrifying spiritual pressure coming from him.
"Hmm? Who is this? Why did he come straight here to pick a fight with Chen Fengyang? Is he also trying to use the Chen Clan to seize that treasure?"
At that moment, Nangong Xiangyan, concealed within Nangong Mansion, furrowed his brow slightly. He had sensed the Mahayana Realm aura that had appeared out of nowhere in Moon-Gazing City and had come in person to investigate.
He gave a slight start when he saw Shi Chou. His keen instincts led him to think of the treasure in the depths of Mingyu Mountain.
A Mahayana Realm cultivator had come to Moon-Gazing City for no apparent reason to challenge Chen Fengyang, who had obtained the Town-Suppressing Seal. Nangong Xiangyan would never believe there was no purpose behind it, even if someone beat him to death.
Shi Chou looked at Chen Xiao again and said, "You're quite good, but you're too weak right now. Train for another hundred years, and you'll earn the right to fight me. Bring Chen Fengyang out."
Chen Xiao's heart gave a jolt at Shi Chou's words, but he quickly calmed down.
"Kid, don't act so high and mighty here. Do you know who I am, or who you are? Believe me, with one order from me, every cultivator in Moon-Gazing City will come beat you to death."
A talisman was already pinched between Chen Xiao's fingers.
No matter how powerful Shi Chou's backing was, he absolutely could not be allowed to harm his grandfather. Shi Chou's background was indeed formidable, but if he were defeated by a Golden Core Realm cultivator, the people behind him would never be able to bring themselves to stand up for him. That would be a humiliation beyond measure.
Those great sects cared about their reputations, too. It was just like how Chen Xiao had been taunting Shi Chou with every word, yet Shi Chou hadn't gotten angry in the slightest.
At that moment, Chen Fengyang was in seclusion, refining the Town-Suppressing Seal. He had reached a critical juncture and absolutely could not be disturbed. Chen Xiao had had some dealings with Shi Chou in his previous life and understood his temperament, so he chose to meet him head-on rather than keep backing down.
What a shameless fellow! Just now he said he'd fight the man for three hundred rounds, and now he was changing his tune and calling for a crowd to beat him up. No wonder he was one of Moon-Gazing City's great spoiled young masters.
The people around them cursed Chen Xiao silently.
"I didn't expect a Mahayana Realm cultivator to be hiding in this city."
Suddenly, Shi Chou's brow twitched as he looked in one direction.
"Chen Fengyang's strength comes only from relying on an immortal artifact. His cultivation is merely at the Tribulation Transcendence Realm. For my first battle after emerging, a late-stage Mahayana Realm cultivator is just right..."
Shi Chou slowly turned around, no longer paying attention to Chen Xiao in front of the City Lord's Mansion. His nearly hollow, lifeless eyes fixed on a corner.
"Chen Fengyang, I'll spare your life today. Once you've weathered your tribulation, I'll come back to take it."
As he spoke, the black coffin beside Shi Chou shuddered, then shot up from the ground and hurtled toward the spot his gaze had fixed upon.
"Damn it, he really did come for Mingyu Mountain!"
Seeing the coffin flying toward him from his hiding place, Nangong Xiangyan's face changed. He opened his mouth and spat out a dark-red flying sword, sending it to meet the black coffin.
Boom!
The black coffin and flying sword collided in midair with a muffled boom. The spiritual energy in Moon-Gazing City instantly fell into chaos.
"Activate the Guardian Array! Quickly!"
Chen Tiannan, who had been watching from inside the City Lord's Mansion, turned pale. Now he had truly realized what was happening: two Mahayana Realm experts had collided in the city. Cities in the Immortal World all had Guardian Arrays to prevent fighting from damaging them.
"Damn it, you two idiots! If you want to fight, take it outside!"
Chen Xiao was hurled backward by the terrifying shockwave and spat out a mouthful of blood. He couldn't help but holler at them.
The other cultivators had scattered and fled the moment the black coffin shot out.