Chapter 24: Treasure

Chapter 24: Treasure

He watched as the tall figure in beast hide vanished into the distance, one arm now severed. Even as the figure faded into the night, Wu Yuan remained in place, motionless.

After a long time...

He should be far away now. Wu Yuan finally exhaled, his gaze sweeping over the wreckage around him. There were no longer any members of the Vicious Tiger Gang in sight. All that remained were lifeless bodies scattered across the ground, fragments of stone, toppled structures, and the faint glimmer of distant flames.

I never imagined that defeating a first-rate Adept would be so challenging. Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.

This encounter marked his first battle with a first-rate Adept. His opponent had proven to be far more formidable than he had anticipated. Wu Yuan conceded that he had underestimated the martial artists of this world. A first-rate Adept could expertly harness Twofold Power Surge, and their strength was truly astonishing.

In the martial grading system of the Middle Land, a first-rate Adept was only a third-grade martial artist. What about second-grade martial artists? First-grade martial artists? And what about the legendary martial artists who earned a place in the Heavenly Rankings? At the moment, Wu Yuan could not fathom how strong they were.

I can kill an ordinary second-rate Adept with ease. However, the martial skills of a first-rate Adept are remarkably impressive. Despite my superior skills, defeating one isn't an easy task.

All strategies were useless in the face of absolute strength. If the man in beast hide could consistently unleash a force of 100,000 catties, Wu Yuan might have found himself literally crushed to death. In such a scenario, being competent in martial skills would prove futile.

In truth, Wu Yuan didn’t pursue him not because he was feigning indifference, but rather because he was uncertain about his chances of success. Despite his opponent’s evident injuries, Wu Yuan, too, had pushed himself to his physical limits.

Although Wu Yuan had reached the Rigid Yet Supple stage which reduced his energy expenditure, his relentless use of Saber Power Surge had taken a toll that could not be ignored. The unceasing clashes and the formidable might of his adversary had left Wu Yuan with numerous internal injuries.

The execution of the Thousand Mountains Blade was his final stand. Though he forced his opponent to retreat, Wu Yuan also found himself at the limits of his physical and mental endurance, his arm throbbing with pain.

Pursuit? If he forced his opponent into a desperate counterattack, there was a good chance that he might lose his life. Wu Yuan wasn't willing to gamble on that.

This battle to the death was something I was forced into. The nature of such life-and-death battles is extraordinary, I believe it will have a profound impact on my future.

This? Wu Yuan inhaled deeply. Immediately, he felt the refreshing scent revitalize his mind, causing him to freeze for a moment. Then, he promptly resealed the vial.

A natural treasure? Wu Yuan recalled some passages from the texts he read that seemed to allude to a scent similar to the one emanating from the jade vial. However, he decided not to jump to conclusions. He had never seen a similar treasure.

The vast Middle Land abounded with innumerable treasures; natural treasures were the stuff of legend to the common populace. How was Yang Long, a second-rate Adept, able to get his hands on such a treasure? There had to be a reason.

Let's take a look. Wu Yuan opened the box. Inside, he found neither natural treasures nor silver notes. Only a radiant golden token.

A token? Wu Yuan reached out and picked it up. The token possessed substantial weight, much heavier than gold. The craftsmanship was also exquisite.

Chu-Jiang?

Wu Yuan scrutinized the token, closely examining the two ancient characters engraved on one side. His pupils subtly contracted. Could it be...

In an instant, Wu Yuan grasped the implications. If his guess was right, he might have inadvertently stumbled into big trouble this time.

If Yang Long and the first-rate Adept indeed share an affiliation with the long-extinct Chu-Jiang Empire, it implies that they are part of a formidable organization. But what brings them to a small, unassuming county like Li County? What could their purpose be? Wu Yuan was confounded.

However, he was certain about one matter. I mustn't delay any longer. It's time to leave!

Wu Yuan carefully placed the token back into its box, kept it along with the jade vial in his pack, and hastened toward the prison.

The wreckage of the huge battle was somewhat contained. The battle did not cover a widespread area and ended relatively quickly, hence the prison remained untouched, save for the original prison guards who had all abandoned the building.

The occupants of the various prison cells had long noticed the commotion outside, yet none dared to act rashly. After all, the Vicious Tiger Gang's ruthlessness was common knowledge.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Brilliant blade rays illuminated the cell frames, and the clinking of falling chains followed suit. Door after door swung open.

"The Vicious Tiger Gang has been eradicated. You are all free to leave now," a chilling voice resonated from the courtyard, leaving the prisoners dumbfounded. Their incredulous gazes collectively landed on the figure concealed behind a bronze mask.

The Vicious Tiger Gang has been wiped out? Really? Before the prisoners could process this revelation further, the figure leaped into the air and promptly vanished from sight.