Chen Residence

The vermilion gates of the Chen Residence reflected the blood-red afterglow. Li Chen Zhou's black iron bracers gleamed coldly beneath the sun as he stared at the gilded plaque above the gate that read, "The Emperor's Boundless Grace." His knuckles cracked as he clenched his fists.

"Surround them!"

The Brocade Guard swept over the rooftops like night crows, sealing off the Chen Residence so tightly not even water could seep through.

Li Chen Zhou suddenly raised a leg and kicked the stone lion by the entrance. The entire white marble statue crumbled like tofu, and he sent its head flying into the gates with another kick.

With a bang, the vermilion gates buckled beneath the marble lion head. Web-like streaks of blood seeped through the wood grain before the gates finally shattered.

The other Brocade Guards surged inside like a tidal wave.

Hearing the commotion, Chen Cang immediately led a group of household servants and thugs rushing over.

He looked at Li Chen Zhou, then at his ruined gates, and fury instantly shot to his head. Striding forward, eyes wide with rage, he cursed, "You've got some nerve! How dare you come to my Chen Residence and make trouble! Are you tired of living?"

A moment later, seeing the Flying Fish Uniforms on them, reason overcame anger.

"What imposing authority, sir!" Watching the Brocade Guards file in one after another, Chen Cang would have been a fool not to panic. "Do you know that every brick in this Chen Residence belongs to Prince Rong's estate...?"

He tried to invoke Prince Rong in an attempt to frighten them away.

Li Chen Zhou's face was dark and cold, killing intent glinting in his eyes. He paid no heed to Chen Cang's words.

"Search!" Li Chen Zhou's voice was like rusty chains. "If anyone resists..." He suddenly spun, his Embroidered Spring Blade cleaving the bronze bell beneath the eaves in two. "Make them like that bell!"

Chen Cang stepped directly in front of him. "Let's see who dares! Li Chen Zhou, if you cannot produce an order to confiscate this estate, I will have Prince Rong accuse you before His Majesty!"

The Brocade Guards immediately moved into action, confronting the people of the Chen Residence.

"You still dare resist arrest? Kill..." Li Chen Zhou showed no mercy.

At that moment, Chen Cang shouted to the side, "What are you standing around for? Get them! Kill the leader first! I'll take responsibility if anything happens!"

Before his words had faded, two black shadows shot out from the side chambers. They were the Nether Twins, wanted in the martial world for a bounty of one hundred thousand taels.

The blood-red datura embroidered on their cuffs bore exactly the same pattern as the one on Chen Cang's jade pendant.

Seeing the two sixth-rank experts, Zhang Biao grew cautious. "The renowned Nether Twins of the martial world? Never thought you'd become someone's dogs here."

The pair was unconcerned. "We're all dogs. It's just that our price is higher."

Zhang Biao fixed his eyes on them. "Be careful. These two have been famous experts in the martial world for a long time. At most, I can hold one of them off. I only hope my brother can get here quickly once he finishes what he's doing."

Disdain flashed through Li Chen Zhou's eyes. "Move aside. Leave them to me. You deal with the others."

The blade skimmed forth like a cold crow skimming water, while the sword struck like a venomous snake flicking its tongue. The two attacked Li Chen Zhou together.

"Bold!" Instead of retreating, Li Chen Zhou advanced. When his palms shot out, they carried the roar of a dragon. The floor tiles within two zhang suddenly cracked, turtle-shell patterns emerging amid the fissures. It was the protective force of the Thirteen Guardian Golden Bell Shield—the outward release of its power.

The blade struck Li Chen Zhou's shoulder, spraying sparks three feet high. Seizing the chance, the swordsman thrust for his throat, only to see the sword tip distort three inches from his skin, as though it had plunged into a deep pool.

The twins exchanged glances, then bit through their tongues and sprayed out blood essence at the same time. Their weapons instantly extended three feet. Skull faces surfaced along the blade, while black smoke reeking of corpse oil wrapped around the sword's edge.

"Excellent!" Li Chen Zhou threw back his head and roared. Translucent golden Buddhist script suddenly appeared behind him.

His left hand formed a claw and seized the blade, while the fingers of his right hand came together like a sword and stabbed at the sword's spine. Two utterly different forces exploded in his palms.

The locust trees in the courtyard suddenly shed their leaves in a flurry. Before the falling leaves could touch the ground, blade force ground them into powder. Blue-white snow abruptly began to fall in the courtyard.

Even Zhang Biao at the side was left dumbstruck. "At such a young age, he has already cultivated the Thirteen Guardian Golden Bell Shield?"

Yet the pair showed no fear. "The two of us cannot hurt you, but neither can you hurt us. Still, we can keep fighting until we find the weak point in your shield."

"Then try it." Li Chen Zhou stopped probing them and directly drew the Blood Demon Blade from his waist. "First slash of the Three Abyssal Slashes... Sever Samsara."

In an instant, blade energy ran rampant. Demonic aura churned around Li Chen Zhou, and killing intent towered in his eyes. The blade's radiance bore endless resentment and destructive power. As its shadows flashed, it was as if they stood amid mountains of blades and seas of fire, crisscrossing blade energy seeming ready to carve the entire world into countless fragments.

The Nether Twins' expressions changed drastically, terror flashing through their eyes. They hurriedly circulated all their power, trying to withstand the ferocious slash.

Under the impact of that violent blade energy, the Nether Twins' protective true qi shattered instantly. Like dying candles in the wind, it could not withstand a single blow.

Their bodies flew away like kites with severed strings, smashing heavily into the walls of the Chen Residence. The walls instantly collapsed, bricks and stones scattering everywhere. The Nether Twins were buried beneath the rubble, their fate unknown.

Holding the Blood Demon Blade, Li Chen Zhou stood amid the dust like a demon god descending into the world.

The Blood Demon Blade suddenly gave off a hum, blood-red patterns surfacing across its body. This was the Blood Demon Blade's excitement after killing.

Having just unleashed the Three Abyssal Slashes, Li Chen Zhou could also feel that this demonic blade technique had begun to affect him, though the effect was negligible.

His gaze was icy as he swept it across the surroundings.

The household servants and thugs of the Chen Residence were frightened out of their wits by the sight. They threw down their weapons and fell to their knees, begging for mercy.

Seeing the devastation before him, Chen Cang's legs gave way and he collapsed onto the ground. His face was white as paper, his lips trembling as he tried to speak but could not force out a word. Li Chen Zhou walked toward him step by step, each footfall making the ground tremble faintly.

"You... what do you want?" Chen Cang looked at Li Chen Zhou in terror, his voice shaking.

Li Chen Zhou looked at him coldly without speaking, only slowly raising the Blood Demon Blade. Cold light gleamed along its edge, reflecting Chen Cang's despairing face.

"Don't kill me! I can give you money, lots and lots of money!" Chen Cang hurriedly pleaded.

"Don't worry, I won't kill you. Dying like that would be letting you off too easily," Li Chen Zhou said coldly. "For the sins you have committed, someone will naturally seek justice for those wronged souls."

"Take them all away. Throw them into the Imperial Prison as gifts for the brothers there." A cruel smile appeared at the corner of Li Chen Zhou's mouth.

After taking everyone in the Chen Residence into custody, Li Chen Zhou turned to the Brocade Guards who were searching the estate.

"Keep searching. Do not overlook a single corner," he said in a deep voice.

The Brocade Guards answered in unison and searched even more carefully.

"My lord, we found a secret chamber in Chen Cang's room. These were all found inside it."

He then pointed to the great quantity of evidence discovered in the Chen Residence's secret chamber: ledgers of human trafficking, accounts of bribes paid to court officials, records of silver payments sent to Prince Rong's estate, exchanged letters, and more.

They had also uncovered a great many rare treasures.

Li Chen Zhou noticed a box and opened it. "A Greater Revitalization Pill from Shaolin." Without a word, he put it away.

As for the remaining items, he had the men carry them back first.