Young Master He

Based on Iron-Faced Man's confession, Chen Xu gained a basic understanding of the Martial Alliance.

Of course, given that he was not even a Martial Artist, all he could learn was the most superficial information.

Its members were spread throughout the Great Abyss, and it even wielded some influence within the Federation.

The Martial Alliance had once been fully known as the Martial Artist Alliance. Its founders had intended to revive the Martial Dao, at the very least giving Martial Artists a place to survive amid the tide of industry.

But as time passed, all kinds of factions gradually emerged within it. In the end, it slowly turned against the Great Abyss and became a terrorist organization hated by all.

The Iron Mask Sect was one of the branch forces under a certain faction, and its sect master was an expert at the [Martial Form] level.

The Martial Alliance had gone more than twenty years without a unified alliance leader. All major matters within the alliance were decided through discussion among [Young Child]-level experts.

The information most beneficial to Chen Xu at present was that a certain [Young Child]-level expert planned to attack Jinning Commandery during the finals. Iron-Faced Man had been sent out to scout the area beforehand.

After he could no longer get any valuable information, Chen Xu casually finished him off and sent him to keep Xu Yeping company.

Returning to the martial arts school, Chen Xu cleaned up the remaining bloodstains.

"Boss Chen."

Chang Wei entered through the half-open door, his body covered in blood.

After giving him a glance, Chen Xu had not expected Chang Wei to look like this when they met again.

His wife and daughter had been violated while he had been powerless to stop it. The turmoil in his heart was easy to imagine.

"They're still unconscious, but their lives aren't in danger." Chang Wei's gaze fell upon Iron-Faced Man's corpse, filled with endless hatred.

"Boss Chen, if you ever need anything in the future, just come to me, Chang Wei. I will never say no." Chang Wei knew full well what would have become of his family without Chen Xu.

Hatred shone in his eyes. After bidding Chen Xu farewell that day, he had returned home only to find a group of unwelcome guests already there, with his wife and daughter in their hands.

Though his strength had improved and he had knocked down several people in succession, Xu Yeping had ultimately defeated him personally.

Xu Yeping had originally planned to come here and take Chen Xu down directly, but something had apparently delayed him, until Chen Xu dealt with him today.

Chen Xu scrubbed away the last trace of blood and asked, "What are your plans from here on?"

"I should leave Jinning first. For them, this place holds nothing but unbearable memories." Supporting himself with one hand, Chang Wei sat down on the floor.

He hated that he had not been stronger. If he had been, he could have protected everything he wanted to protect.

Chen Xu silently watched the man bow his head and sob. It was precisely because he understood that feeling that he wanted to become even stronger.

At the same time, he knew that he had gained a subordinate he could trust completely today.

Though Chang Wei was of no use to him for now, leaving him in place as a hidden piece might prove useful someday.

People always had to leave themselves a way out. Chen Xu strongly agreed with that saying. At the very least, if he were ever gravely injured and lost his ability to fight, he would have somewhere to recover.

He did not dare guarantee that he would remain undefeated forever, but he needed to ensure that he had a chance to rise again.

After assessing Chang Wei's injuries, Chen Xu sent his family of three to the hospital. He did not want the loyal subordinate he had just gained to die from excessive blood loss.

Ruijin Tower, thirty-sixth floor, chairman's office.

Dozens of people in different attire stood behind the four figures seated on the sofas.

Dressed in a tailored formal suit, Cao Wanjie glanced at the four figures before him, who faintly emanated powerful auras, and could not help revealing a hint of envy.

In the eyes of outsiders, he was one of Jinning Commandery's foremost entrepreneurs, possessing wealth that countless people could never attain in their lifetimes. Yet no one knew that he was merely one of the Martial Alliance's countless peripheral forces.

"How is the intelligence gathering on the Jinning Commandery Martial Pavilion going?" The young man in the seat of honor spoke lazily as he gently swirled the red wine in his glass. His black-and-gold formalwear fit him perfectly, adding to his noble air.

"He's merely an aged Martial Artist. Is he worth us going to such lengths?" The voice emerging from beneath the silver-plated ghost mask was slightly distorted.

"Sect Master Tie, don't be impatient. Our target this time is not just him, but the commandery governor and the others as well. Not one of them will escape." The young man raised a hand, cutting him off.

"Amitabha. If this old monk can deliver a few more people, that would be wonderful indeed.

All people suffer. Why not ascend to paradise sooner?"

Upon hearing the old monk speak, the dozens behind him could not help revealing traces of fear. They knew how much pain those supposedly being delivered had to endure.

If this old monk had not possessed considerable strength, someone in the Martial Alliance who could not stand him would have killed him long ago.

The woman dressed as a married lady covered her mouth and laughed sweetly. "Speaking of which, congratulations to Young Master He on obtaining the title of [Young Child]. At twenty-nine, you are the youngest [Young Child] in the Martial Alliance. Your future is limitless, Young Master."

"Madam Red, you flatter me. I merely happened to squeeze in because the requirements for [Young Child] were relaxed. It is not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning."

Though he said so, Young Master He looked quite pleased with himself.

"Even with relaxed requirements, one must still meet the prerequisite of opening seventy Essence Apertures. Young Master, there is no need for modesty." Sect Master Tie spoke with a smile.

"With Young Master's talent, reaching [Martial Momentum] within ten years and standing shoulder to shoulder with the older generation of [Young Child] is only a matter of time."

"[Martial Momentum]..." Young Master He reclined against the sofa. Out of a hundred Martial Artists, not even one might achieve [Martial Momentum]. Their strength was far beyond that of ordinary Martial Artists.

It could be said that every Martial Artist who achieved [Martial Momentum] was a powerhouse who ranked among the world's strongest. Conventional weapons could scarcely pose an effective threat to them.

It was precisely because of their existence that the Martial Dao had managed to linger on. Even with industrialization having reached its current state, the Martial Dao still held a place in the world.

The four were chatting idly when a rhythmic knock sounded at the door.

The door opened, and in came a pretty young woman with fair, rosy skin and long black hair falling to her waist. A women's suit wrapped around her petite body.

Her small hands tightly gripped the corners of the document, revealing that she was far from calm inside.

"This contains the Xu Family's sincerity. Please review it, Young Master He."

"The Xu Family?" Young Master He nodded in understanding and gestured for someone beside him to take the document.

"Yan Feng, appointed pavilion master of the Jinning Commandery Martial Pavilion in the year 143 of the Great Abyss Calendar. His strength is estimated to be below thirty apertures."

"Ling Xiangshan..."

Information on ninety percent of Jinning Commandery's upper ranks was openly laid before Young Master He for him to peruse at will.

"What a Xu Family, hahaha." Young Master He clapped and laughed, then gently said to the uneasy young woman, "Go back and tell your family head that I, He Dingwen, approve of the Xu Family joining the Martial Alliance!

I will certainly attend the celebration banquet for the Xu Family Head's breakthrough into a Martial Artist."