Chapter 13: Storming the Cao Gang

Wushan City, Cao Gang.

The headquarters of the Cao Gang was filled with a murderous atmosphere. In addition to the gang's own martial artists, many other fighters with connections to the Cao Gang had been invited to join.

At that moment, the Cao Gang headquarters boasted no fewer than a hundred Houtian-level martial artists, and even Zhou Yunqing, the Swift Wind Sword—a Xiantian-level fighter—had come to lend his support.

Cao Zheng was hosting a banquet to entertain these allies who had come to assist.

"Brother Cao, isn't this level of preparation a bit too cautious?"

Zhou Yunqing, seated beside Cao Zheng, downed a cup of wine and asked with some confusion. "With the strength of your Cao Gang in Wushan City, even if that young man is truly a Xiantian-level martial artist, he shouldn't be a match for you, right?"

Although Xiantian-level martial artists were far stronger than Houtian-level fighters, facing a group of several dozen Houtian-level attackers would still mean certain death.

At the banquet, there were already dozens of Houtian-level martial artists present, not to mention those hidden in the shadows. The Cao Gang headquarters was a veritable dragon's den, a tiger's lair. Even Zhou Yunqing himself wasn't confident he could break in, let alone escape unscathed.

Cao Xun, sitting nearby, nodded repeatedly.

He also thought that a random young upstart wasn't worth such a fuss.

Cao Zheng smiled slightly and said,

"Brother Zhou, I've invited you here for two reasons. First, to guard against that mysterious youth, and second, I don't want to wait any longer. Once this matter is settled, we'll join forces to eliminate Song Zhengwu, that old fool. After that, you'll receive a share of the Song family's assets."

Zhou Yunqing's expression turned contemplative at this.

He didn't have a large base like the Cao Gang. Moreover, reaching their level of cultivation required not only talent and effort but also various elixirs to boost internal energy and speed up their progress.

The Song family had been established in Wushan City for a century. Even the Cao Gang was but a mere upstart in comparison.

If he could gain a portion of the Song family's wealth, it would greatly benefit his cultivation.

"Deal!"

Zhou Yunqing nodded in agreement.

At that moment, a Houtian-level guard from the Cao Gang led Song Ruhu and Song Rujiao in through the main gate.

Upon seeing Cao Zheng, Song Ruhu immediately fell to his knees and cried out in grief,

"Gang Leader Cao, I had intended to capture that insolent brat and bring him to you, but I didn't expect him to be a Xiantian-level martial artist! The brothers I brought with me were all brutally killed by that scoundrel. You must avenge my fallen brothers!"

Song Ruhu's performance was full of emotion. Anyone who didn't know him might have thought he had deep bonds with those deceased members of the Song family!

Hearing this, the once lively banquet hall fell into complete silence.

A Xiantian-level expert!

Many of the martial artists who had come to assist couldn't help but frown. They had assumed that the young man opposing the Cao Gang was, at best, a Houtian-level fighter and had seen this as an opportunity to curry favor with the gang.

But now, hearing that their opponent was a young Xiantian-level martial artist, they began to reconsider their involvement.

"So he really is a Xiantian-level expert. Remarkable!"

Zhou Yunqing stood up and chuckled. "Brother Cao, it seems we'll have to take care of this personally."

"Let's all go together." Cao Zheng also rose, smiling at the people in the banquet hall. "I'll remember the kindness of all who came to assist!"

"Now, let us drink this toast. After finishing this cup, we'll go and slay that arrogant fool together. Once he's dead, I'll host you all again!"

But just then—

"Ah!"

"Someone has broken in!"

Shouts of alarm came from the Cao Gang's main gate, followed by silence.

The people in the banquet hall couldn't help but pale. They all knew how tightly defended the Cao Gang headquarters was, but in just a few breaths, the commotion outside had died down!

"Cough, cough…"

Cao Xun felt a discomfort in his throat. No one knew better than him how严密 the defenses outside were. Even a Xiantian-level martial artist shouldn't have been able to break in so easily.

"Father, don't worry. The intruders must have already been subdued by our men outside!"

But Cao Zheng didn't respond. His eyes were fixed on the banquet hall's entrance, his expression serious.

Zhou Yunqing's face also turned grave, and his left hand gripped the hilt of his renowned Swift Wind Sword.

A few breaths later, light footsteps sounded outside the banquet hall.

Boom!

The door to the banquet hall was flung open. Everyone looked to see a tall young man, around seventeen or eighteen years old, dressed in a green robe, standing there with a faint, mocking smile as he surveyed the room.

"Who are you?"

Cao Zheng barked.

Li Changsheng smiled slightly and said, "You don't even know who I am, yet you dared to send people to capture me?"

"Two days ago, the people from your Cao Gang came to me, but their attitude wasn't like this."

"Young man, I believe this is all a misunderstanding. Let's sit down and talk," Cao Zheng said solemnly. "Our Cao Gang was wrong in the past, and I'm willing to offer ten thousand taels of silver as compensation."

The people in the banquet hall were shocked. Cao Zheng, the strongest man in Wushan City, was actually backing down!

"Father, no—"

Cao Xun quickly interjected.

But before he could finish, Cao Zheng shouted, "Silence!"

Then, Cao Zheng turned to Li Changsheng and said, "Young man, it's better to resolve enmity than to perpetuate it. Our Cao Gang is showing great sincerity."

"Sincerity?"

Li Changsheng shook his head slightly. "A mere ten thousand taels is your Cao Gang's sincerity? It seems I overestimated you, Cao Zheng!"

"Do you know that Song Rulong sent me a hundred thousand taels of silver just to earn my protection?"

"Compared to Song Rulong, your sincerity seems rather lacking, doesn't it?"

After saying this, Li Changsheng turned to Cao Xun and said coldly:

"And as far as I know, it was your son who personally gave the order to attack me!"

"You're looking for death!"

Cao Xun roared in anger. As the young master of the Cao Gang, born with a silver spoon in his mouth, he couldn't tolerate such words.

With a sudden burst of movement, he leaped into the air, swung his longsword, and slashed at Li Changsheng!

Clang!

A crisp sound rang out.

Everyone saw the mysterious youth at the door use two fingers to shatter Cao Xun's blade, then casually flick the broken shards, sending Cao Xun flying backwards to crash heavily on the ground.

When everyone looked closer, they saw that Cao Xun's chest had been pierced by the blade shards. He lay on the ground, lifeless.

"Tch!"

Everyone gasped in shock.

Cao Xun was a renowned genius in Wushan City, a late-stage Houtian-level martial artist at a young age, with the potential to one day reach the Xiantian level. Even a peak Houtian-level fighter couldn't have killed him so effortlessly.

At this moment, no one doubted that the young man before them was indeed a Xiantian-level expert!