Young Master He

Based on the Iron Mask Man's account, Chen Xu gained a basic understanding of the Martial Alliance.

Of course, given that he was not even a Martial Artist, all he knew was the most superficial part of it.

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

The Martial Alliance's former full name was the Martial Artist Alliance. Its founders had originally intended to revive martial arts, or at least give 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 gradually turned against the Great Abyss and became a terrorist organization condemned 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 powerhouses.

The information most favorable to Chen Xu at the moment was that a certain [Young Child] powerhouse was preparing to attack Jinning Commandery during the finals. The Iron Mask Man had been sent ahead to scout the area.

Once he could get no more valuable information, Chen Xu casually killed him and sent him to keep Xu Yeping company.

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

"Boss Chen."

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

After glancing at him, Chen Xu had not expected Chang Wei to be in such a state when they met again.

His wife and daughter had been violated, yet he had been powerless to stop it. One could imagine how he felt at this moment.

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

"Boss Chen, if you ever need anything in the future, just call on me, Chang Wei. I won't say no to a single thing." Chang Wei knew full well what would have become of his family without Chen Xu.

Hatred showed in his eyes. After parting with Chen Xu that day, he had returned home to find a group of uninvited guests already there, with his wife and daughter in their hands.

Although his strength had improved and he had taken down several men 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 vigorously wiped away the last trace, then asked, "What are you planning to do next?"

"I should leave Jinning first. This place only holds unbearable memories for them." Chang Wei propped himself up with one hand and 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 lower his head and sob. It was precisely because he understood that feeling that he wanted to make himself even stronger.

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

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

Everyone had to leave themselves a way out. Chen Xu agreed strongly with that saying. At the very least, if he were ever seriously 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 make a comeback.

After examining Chang Wei's injuries, Chen Xu sent all three members of his family to the hospital. He did not want the loyal subordinate he had just acquired 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 well-tailored custom suit, Cao Wanjie glanced from the corner of his eye at the four figures ahead, each faintly emanating a powerful presence, and could not help showing a trace of envy.

In outsiders' eyes, 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 Jinning Commandery's 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 formal attire fit him perfectly, lending him an added air of nobility.

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

"Sect Master Tie, calm down. Our target this time is not merely him, but also the commandery governor and the others. Not a single one will escape." The young man raised a hand, cutting him off.

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

All beings suffer. Why not ascend to paradise early?" The gaunt old monk, who looked like little more than skin draped over a skeleton, gently stroked his prayer beads with a sorrowful expression.

Upon hearing the old monk speak, the dozens of people behind them could not help showing fear. They knew how much pain those supposedly being "ferried across" had to endure.

If the old monk had not been fairly strong, those within the Martial Alliance who could not stand him would have killed him long ago.

The woman dressed like a married lady covered her mouth and giggled. "Speaking of which, we must congratulate Young Master He on obtaining the [Young Child] title. At twenty-nine, you are the Martial Alliance's youngest [Young Child]. Your future is limitless, Young Master."

"Madam Hong flatters me. I only barely squeezed in because the requirements for [Young Child] were relaxed. It's not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning."

Though he said that, Young Master He looked rather pleased with himself.

"Even with the requirements relaxed, one still needs to meet the prerequisite of activating seventy refined apertures. Young Master, there is no need to be modest." Sect Master Tie spoke with a smile.

"With Young Master's talent, you will surely reach the [Martial Momentum] level within ten years. Standing on equal footing with the older generation of [Young Child]s is merely a matter of time."

"[Martial Momentum]..." Young Master He leaned back on the sofa. Out of a hundred Martial Artists, there might not even be one capable of attaining [Martial Momentum]. Their strength was far beyond that of ordinary Martial Artists.

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

It was precisely because of their existence that martial arts had managed to linger on. Even with industrialization having reached its current level, martial arts still held a place.

As the four chatted idly, a rhythmic knock sounded at the door.

The door opened. The newcomer had delicate features, fair skin tinged with pink, and long black hair falling to her waist. Her petite body was wrapped in women's business attire.

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

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

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

"Yan Feng, appointed director of Jinning Commandery's Martial Pavilion in the one hundred and forty-third year 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 echelon was openly laid before Young Master He for his perusal.

"What a Xu Family, hahaha." Young Master He clapped and laughed, then said gently 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 definitely attend the banquet celebrating the Xu Family Head's breakthrough to Martial Artist and lend my support."