Li Bu

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The entrance was a complete mess, shattered stones piled all over the ground. Looking at the rock wall again, it was covered in claw marks several feet deep, as though it had been made of tofu.

Ye Chen secretly counted himself lucky. He did not dare linger and sped off along the route he had taken before.

The lesson from last time had been etched deeply into Ye Chen's mind. Thus, in this dangerous region, he did not travel on the ground. Instead, he leaped from one towering tree to another, releasing his Soul Force to its limit along the way. At the slightest disturbance, he immediately concealed his aura and curled up motionlessly.

By afternoon, Ye Chen finally reached the place where he had left the large leather bag.

"Hm, someone?" Concealed behind a large tree, Ye Chen's gaze sharpened.

Beneath a towering tree.

Three youths stood there. One of them held a large leather bag, swollen full—the very harvest Ye Chen had gathered over the past few days.

"Haha, our luck is incredible. We found Demonic Beast materials just walking along the road, and there's even an Inner Core inside. Altogether, it could sell for at least twenty or thirty thousand Taels of Silver."

The slightly older youth sneered, "Who knows which idiot hid Demonic Beast materials up in a tree, thinking no one would spot them. What a joke."

Another youth flattered him, "Zhang Kun, you're the impressive one. You spotted something in the tree at a glance, while we didn't notice a thing."

Zhang Kun proudly said, "That's why following me is your good fortune. Once my cousin Zhang Haoran becomes an Inner Sect Disciple, we'll be able to swagger through the Outer Sect sideways."

"Of course, of course!"

The two nodded and fawned over him.

Ye Chen could not bear to watch any longer and stepped out directly. "Put down the Demonic Beast materials."

Zhang Kun turned around. "It's you!"

During the Wooden Man Alley Competition that day, with Zhang Haoran's help, Zhang Kun should have secured third place as easily as taking something from his pocket. Unfortunately, plans could not keep up with changes. Ye Chen had appeared out of nowhere and snatched third place away, leaving Zhang Kun furious.

"Zhang Kun, who's this little bastard? Want us to teach him a lesson and make him kneel on the ground, kowtow, and admit his mistake?" The square-faced youth at his side read the room and understood that Ye Chen had offended Zhang Kun.

"That's right. I have the most experience dealing with Outer Sect Disciples with such low cultivation. I can make them beg for mercy through tears. Hey, little bastard, crawl over here yourself." Relying on his Qi Cultivation Realm Ninth Layer cultivation, the youth did not put Ye Chen in his eyes at all, his face full of contempt.

Zhang Kun grinned viciously. "He offended my cousin, so he definitely won't have a good ending. But for now, we can humiliate him a little and let him know how high the heavens are and how thick the earth is."

Ye Chen said coldly, "Are you done talking? Put down the Demonic Beast materials, then each slap yourselves ten times. Otherwise, don't even think about leaving."

"What!"

Hearing Ye Chen's words, Zhang Kun and the other two suddenly changed expression. It was not as though they had never seen arrogant people before, but they had never seen anyone with such low cultivation acting so arrogantly. Ye Chen was simply courting death. Rage rose in their hearts, and the three began entertaining thoughts of killing him to silence him.

"Say that again." Zhang Kun did not bother concealing the killing intent in his eyes as he said darkly, "If you kneel and admit your mistake now, there's still hope for you."

"Why waste words with him? Little bastard, die!" The square-faced youth took a step forward, spread the five fingers of his right hand wide, and slapped toward Ye Chen's face.

If that slap landed, even if Ye Chen did not die, his face would be ruined. The method was exceedingly vicious.

"You don't know life from death." Although the other party's cultivation was two layers higher than his own, Ye Chen ignored it completely. He casually took a step forward, and his body appeared before the youth in an instant. Stretching out his right hand, he seized the other's throat and slammed him down hard.

Boom!

A shallow pit was smashed into the ground. The square-faced youth's head was buried half a foot deep, and it was unknown whether he was dead or alive.

"Bastard, you dare attack? I'll have your life!"

Zhang Kun and the other youth were greatly alarmed. They joined forces to attack Ye Chen, each unleashing a martial skill they had practiced for a long time.

"Wuji Loose Hand!"

"Cloud-Crushing Palm!"

Facing the two men's fierce assault, Ye Chen stomped. The hard earth beneath his feet instantly crumbled, and his Momentum surged without limit. Then, without moving his body, he sent both fists forward to meet them.

Bang! Bang!

"What's going on? He's clearly only at the Qi Cultivation Realm Seventh Layer!" Zhang Kun and the other youth were struck as though by lightning. They spat out blood as their feet left the ground, flying backward as if riding clouds and mist.

While still in midair, a vicious gleam flashed across Zhang Kun's face. With a flick of his hand, he shot out a streak of black light.

"Die! When you descend into hell, don't forget that I, Zhang Kun, killed you!"

Whoosh!

The black light was a poison-coated Willow Leaf Dart. It flew incredibly fast, reaching Ye Chen almost the instant it was launched, purple light flickering from its tip.

Just as Zhang Kun smiled smugly, his expression suddenly froze. In his sight, Ye Chen merely raised his right hand and pinched the Willow Leaf Dart between his index and middle fingers. It could not advance even an inch.

"Impossible! Even Qi Cultivation Realm Tenth Layer martial artists can't catch my hidden weapon technique!" Staggering as he landed, Zhang Kun's face was half fury and half terror.

Ye Chen could not be bothered to argue. With a flick of his wrist, he sent the Willow Leaf Dart shooting back. "I hope you brought the antidote!"

With a pfft, the Willow Leaf Dart buried itself deeply in Zhang Kun's arm, and the poison instantly entered his body.

"Bastard! I'll have your whole family wiped out! My cousin won't let you off either!" The poison on the Willow Leaf Dart was Five-Step Snake venom. Any Qi Cultivation Realm martial artist struck by it was certain to die, and even a True Condensation Realm martial artist might not be able to withstand it. Zhang Kun knew its power well. Seeing that he had been poisoned, his face turned ashen. Terrified that the poison would attack his heart before he could detoxify himself, he did not dare delay. In a panic, he pulled a bottle of antidote from his robes, removed the stopper, and poured the entire bottle over his wound.

What Ye Chen hated most was anyone insulting his family. Fury immediately flared within him. He pushed Golden Goose Steps to its limit, turning into a wisp of green smoke as he swept out, intending to kill Zhang Kun in one stroke.

Just then, a cold shout rang out.

"Get back!"

A figure appeared abruptly, intercepting him in front of Zhang Kun.

Unable to withdraw his Momentum in time, Ye Chen threw a punch.

Violent force radiated in every direction, forcing the grass and trees to bow low. Ye Chen drifted lightly back to where he had stood, his gaze settling on the young man before Zhang Kun.

The youth looked about eighteen. His face was gloomy, with a faintly mocking smile hanging on his lips.

"Li Bu." Zhang Kun cried out in delight. Li Bu was one of the foremost Outer Sect Disciples. His cultivation was the same as Zhang Haoran's, at the peak Qi Cultivation Realm Tenth Layer. However, because he had failed to break through the bottleneck and become an Inner Sect Disciple for a long time, he had remained in seclusion, striving to make a breakthrough before the end of the year. Moreover, he had not participated in this Wooden Man Alley Competition. Otherwise, Wu Zongming might not necessarily have taken second place.

With him here, no matter how capable Ye Chen was, it would be useless. He would surely be blasted into scraps.

"Li Bu, my cousin told you to protect me. Kill him for me now." Zhang Kun was severely injured. As he spoke, copious blood spilled from the corners of his mouth, making him look utterly miserable.

Li Bu said indifferently, "You couldn't even beat a mere Qi Cultivation Realm Seventh Layer martial artist. You've truly disgraced your cousin. As for him, don't worry. I'll let him know what it feels like to kneel." Zhang Haoran was known as a genius, and Li Bu could not afford to ignore him. Once Zhang Haoran became an Inner Sect Disciple, he could look after Li Bu all the more.

Turning around, Li Bu said playfully, "Kid, I'll give you one chance. Kneel and admit your mistake, and I'll spare you. Otherwise, you know my methods, Li Bu."