You surely didn't think I was joking with you, did you?

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While the Guardians were holding their meeting, the Chongming organization was doing the same.

After Gu Changqing’s departure, Chongming’s commander hurried away from the Presidential Palace as well, returning to the organization’s headquarters.

When he entered the conference room, he saw more than a dozen people seated on either side of the long table. They were all senior officials of Chongming.

In addition, faces were projected onto the screen at the front of the room. They belonged to senior officials from Chongming’s headquarters in the various provinces.

The atmosphere here was completely different from that of the Guardians. Although half the people remained silent, the other half wore expressions of barely concealed excitement.

No organization could ever be perfectly united. The excited ones were all members of the hawkish faction.

Chongming had been suppressed by the Guardians for a long time, but now it had finally turned the tables.

Whatever else might be said, Gu Changqing was one of their own. Under no circumstances could things become worse than they had been before.

“The Guardians will be disbanded and merged with us,” the commander said bluntly.

The hawks who had already been showing their excitement slapped their hands down on the table.

“So they’ve finally gotten what was coming to them!” someone roared with laughter.

“After today, Southern Chu will be completely different. We must all be prepared. And in the meantime, keep your people under control!” Chongming’s commander did not say much more.

Though Gu Changqing belonged to Chongming, the commander was not at ease in the slightest.

After the meeting had continued for a short while, everyone left. A few people remained behind to discuss Yan Hao’s proposal.

Several files were then placed before them.

All the files concerned women.

The two at the top were Gao Wenxin and Luo Xiu.

Luo Xiu lived right next door to Gu Changqing, yet he had not beaten her to the point of serious injury. Moreover, on the Qingjiang battlefield, Gu Changqing had even tried to recruit her.

No one else had received such treatment. That was why her file had appeared here.

The objective of Chongming’s leadership was to place another shackle upon Gu Changqing. Even if they could guide or restrain him only slightly, persuading him to show a little more restraint would still be better than allowing him to act without the slightest scruple.

And that shackle would be a beauty trap.

…

Qi, in an ordinary manor.

A plain-looking, short-haired middle-aged man sat cross-legged on the training ground. Before him stood a stone stele.

Traces of earth still clung to the base. Though the area had been cleaned, faint marks remained.

“Master, news has just come from Southern Chu. Chen Daoling is dead!” a young man said respectfully. When he looked at the middle-aged man, a trace of worship flickered in his eyes.

The instant the middle-aged man opened his eyes, a sword seemed to flash within them.

He was the Sword Master.

Relying solely on bodily enhancement and swordsmanship, he had overpowered the other seventh-level Awakened and was known as the strongest.

Even the mysterious and unpredictable Nightmare Master ranked below him.

“Who killed him?” the Sword Master asked indifferently.

“A newly advanced seventh-level Awakened from Southern Chu—Gu Changqing!” replied his disciple.

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A flicker of surprise passed through the Sword Master’s eyes. A newly advanced seventh-level Awakened had actually killed Chen Daoling…

“What was the process?”

“There wasn’t one, apparently. They say the battle ended very quickly—within five seconds.”

The Sword Master frowned. Although he could suppress the other Awakened, even he could not kill Chen Daoling within five seconds.

After thinking for a moment, he nodded to show that he understood.

His first thought was the same as everyone else’s: Southern Chu was putting on an act, and Chen Daoling was not truly dead. As for their purpose, it was likely connected to the thing obtained on the Qingjiang battlefield—the very object standing before him.

The Martial Venerable Stele.

It was said that anyone who could comprehend the contents inscribed upon it would have a chance to become a Martial Venerable.

“I understand,” the Sword Master said indifferently, and once again prepared to close his eyes.

“Master, there is one more matter…” His disciple spoke again, then recounted what had happened to Gao Wenxin.

“Have them withdraw,” the Sword Master said at once.

The news that Southern Chu had produced another seventh-level Awakened was probably true.

There was no need to go on playing the villain for nothing.

Gu Changqing possessed certain things, but they could be obtained through informants within the Guardians and Chongming. There was no need to expend so much effort.

At present, all his thoughts were focused on comprehending the Martial Venerable Stele. He had no desire to concern himself with anything else.

…

Gu Changqing crossed the strait and reached Jiaoma Port. The city was quite prosperous, no less so than An Port.

The written language and architectural style were much the same, however.

After all, the Liang Dynasty had once unified the two continents. The people and cultures of the two lands were virtually identical.

If there were any differences, they lay only in the small changes brought about by three hundred years of separate development.

When Gu Changqing reached the center of Jiaoma Port, he did not even look at the address he had been given earlier. Throwing back his head, he laughed.

“You pieces of trash from Qi, I’m here!”

His voice rolled across the city like thunder.

The Awakened from Qi stationed in Jiaoma Port heard the voice from above and all revealed angry expressions. When had Qi ever been attacked on its own territory?

Countless people emerged from rooms and shops, leaping onto rooftops before converging beneath Gu Changqing.

Some of the more hot-tempered ones even unleashed bolts of lightning and flames at him.

Qi had originally intended to keep Gu Changqing here. But moments earlier, a piece of news that seemed unbelievable to everyone had arrived: Gu Changqing had reached the seventh level.

Then came the Sword Master’s order.

Only afterward did the others withdraw reluctantly, leaving Gao Wenxin behind.

Yet it was not long before they heard Gu Changqing’s voice in the sky. The Awakened of Jiaoma Port immediately swarmed toward him like moths rushing into a flame.

Everyone realized at once that something was wrong.

“Go and take a look!” a man said through clenched teeth.

Under such circumstances, they could not possibly remain hidden.

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Before they could arrive, a river of blood suddenly burst from the top of a skyscraper. The first group of Awakened to reach the scene was swept into it.

“Stop!” a sixth-level Awakened roared furiously.

But as the river of blood surged past, all of the dozen or so Awakened in that first group were devoured. The strongest among them were two fourth-level Awakened; the rest had not even reached the fourth level.

Eight sixth-level Awakened swiftly descended onto the rooftop where Gu Changqing stood, surrounding him in the center.

Every one of them looked as though they were facing a deadly enemy.

If the news was accurate, the man before them had already broken through to the seventh level.

It was utterly inconceivable.

“Hmm… So it’s you people.” Gu Changqing smiled pleasantly. “Where is she?”

“We can hand her over to you. But you killed so many people the moment you arrived. Don’t you think you owe Qi an explanation?” one of them said through gritted teeth.

“Let’s say I give you a chance. If I kill only you and don’t massacre the entire city, would that count as an explanation?” Gu Changqing grinned at them. He looked like a savage beast, his entire body radiating a vicious aura.

The moment he said this, the expressions of the others changed drastically, and a chill ran through them.

“You didn’t think I would let you off, did you? First I’ll kill you, then I’ll kill that so-called Sword Master of yours!” Gu Changqing threw back his head and laughed.

“How dare you!”

Two of the Awakened could bear it no longer. They vanished in an instant, reappearing above Gu Changqing’s head. Sword light, beautiful as a painting, descended and completely enveloped him.

“Too slow!” Gu Changqing sneered.

Under the perception of his spiritual sense, their movements were unbearably sluggish.

He reached out and seized both swords. A river of blood surged from his hands, swallowing the men along with their weapons.

The two managed only half a scream before disappearing.

The river of blood then swept toward the others.

The remaining Awakened stared in disbelief. Could the gap between them really be this vast?

“Don’t you want to know where your people are?” a woman shouted desperately.

“Hmm? Then I only need to leave you alive.” Gu Changqing glanced at her.

The river of blood swept through the others. Those who tried to flee were unable to escape and were swallowed one after another.

Only the woman remained, trembling.

“Where are they?” Gu Changqing walked up to her and asked with a genial smile.

“You’ve killed so many of us. Did you really think I would tell you?” Her eyes burned with fury. If looks could kill, Gu Changqing would have been hacked to pieces long ago.

“Then I’ll massacre this entire city. You don’t think I’m joking, do you?” Gu Changqing gave a cold laugh and slapped her across the face.

Half her face shattered, and her body was sent flying hundreds of meters away.

Gu Changqing moved and caught her, dragging her back. In the sky, the river of blood transformed into countless threads, spreading like fireworks over the streets below.

“I’ll tell you!” The woman saw what was happening with her one remaining eye. Tears streamed from it, and her shrill voice made Gu Changqing’s ears itch.

Gu Changqing used his little finger to scratch inside one ear.

[End of Chapter]

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