30: Chapter 30 The Chosen One Appears

"Huh?"

Xu Changsheng cursed his bad luck, his face darkening.

He had only been on the mountain for a day to hunt for treasures; how could his luck be this bad?

Given the Black Wolf Gang's reputation for doing evil, the righteous Cultivators they provoked would at the very least be Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivators, and there likely wouldn't be just one.

The worst-case scenario would be a Foundation Establishment level power like the Canglang Sect.

"My cultivation is at the Middle Stage Qi Refining; I'm supposed to fight a Foundation Establishment powerhouse?"

Seeing his expression was off, Xie Wenyang asked in confusion, "What's wrong, Gang Leader?"

"What do you mean 'what's wrong'? Quickly, come with me to face the enemy!"

Xu Changsheng waved him over, appearing calm on the outside while already plotting his escape in his mind.

The two of them moved quickly toward the stronghold gate.

A communication talisman burned away in Xie Wenyang's hand as he spoke with a look of disdain: "Gang Leader, there's a message from ahead. The intruder is alone and only has a cultivation of Qi Refining Level Two. He calls himself Lin Fan."

Hearing this.

Xu Changsheng let out a long sigh of relief in his heart: "Fortunately, it's just a small fry at the second level of Qi Refining. That should be easy to handle."

"Wait, Lin Fan? Could it be Lin Wan's younger brother whom I met once at the black market? The cultivation level fits, so it's quite possible."

While he was thinking.

The two had already arrived at the stronghold gate.

A crowd had already gathered, standing several layers deep, and the air was filled with noisy chatter.

Seeing the Gang Leader arrive, the Gang members spontaneously cleared a path.

He walked into the center of the crowd.

In the innermost circle, a heroic young man with a determined face held a Black Iron Heavy Sword over his shoulder.

Although he was only at the second level of Qi Refining, he showed no fear, sneering as he looked at the dozens of Robber Cultivators surrounding him.

Confronting him were three top Robber Cultivators at the Late Stage Qi Refining, who were also the three Alpha Wolves of the Black Wolf Gang.

First Wolf, Second Wolf, and Third Wolf were all battle-hardened veterans, their faces covered in various scars.

They were looking at Lin Fan mockingly.

"Kid, with just a measly second level of Qi Refining, you dare to come here alone and claim you'll wipe out my Black Wolf Gang?"

"I've lived for decades and have never seen someone so arrogant."

"Your sister is currently being favored by our Gang Leader. Just wait a bit; once he comes out and gives the word, your granddaddy here will cut you down right where you stand!"

Unable to bear the foul language.

"Shut up! In a moment, I'll slay Lu Yuanze first, then finish you all off, and finally smash your stronghold to pieces!"

"The Gang Leader is here! Everyone, move aside!"

Second Wolf and Third Wolf both stepped aside, but only First Wolf remained motionless.

Xu Changsheng frowned slightly; in Shi Rong's memories, this man had never been satisfied with his status as an Alpha Wolf.

He felt that since they were both at the Qi Refining Great Perfection Realm, his military achievements and strength were not inferior to Lu Yuanze's, and he had always wanted to replace him as Gang Leader.

At this critical juncture, there was naturally no need to provoke this person.

He bypassed First Wolf and faced Lin Fan directly.

Putting on a fierce and sinister expression: "Brat, I heard what you just said. If you kneel and beg for mercy, I might consider letting you leave the mountain with one leg."

"Good!"

Hearing this, the Gang members responded one after another. They hadn't been able to take action earlier and could only trade insults, which was truly unbearable for this group of thugs who lived on the edge.

"Steam him! Boil him! Divide and eat him!"

The corner of Lin Fan's mouth curled up as he laughed loudly, pointing a finger at his temple: "Come on, come and kill me!"

"Brat! Gang Leader, let me do it, I can't take it anymore!"

"He's too rampant, too arrogant! If I don't torture him, I won't be able to vent my anger today."

Everyone was exploding with rage, their tempers flaring. They jostled each other, the light of their blades and swords flashing as they prepared to swarm and kill Lin Fan.

Only Xu Changsheng remained calm.

Ridiculous; he wasn't actually part of the Black Wolf Gang, so his emotions weren't affected in the slightest.

He raised his hand to stop those who were stepping forward.

"Who dares to step forward?! I'll kill anyone who does!"

He then took a closer look at Lin Fan.

Considering his words and observing his actions.

"Something's not right, something is very wrong!"

A sudden chill ran down his spine, but he couldn't quite put his finger on why.

Suddenly, a light screen flashed before his eyes.

[Todays Intelligence (Danger): Lin Fan's Confidence]

[Lin Fan was visited by a prodigy from a Sect who broke off their engagement. He declared, 'Thirty years East of the River, thirty years West.' In his backyard, he was possessed and supported by a Nascent Soul level Divine Soul 'Old Grandpa'. Unable to bear his sister being taken away and tormented, he asked the Old Grandpa to help him reclaim Lin Wan. The Old Grandpa agreed, empowering him at the cost of falling into a deep sleep. Lin Fan's cultivation will rise to the Late Stage Foundation Establishment when he is near death or after the duration of an incense stick! Within a ten-mile radius of Black Wolf Mountain, no Robber Cultivator will survive!]

It was another dangerous piece of intelligence!

Xu Changsheng cursed incessantly in his heart: "If it weren't for the intelligence System today, I really would have fallen here."

This Opportunity, this progression—it was truly similar to the Xuanhuan novels he had read in his previous life.

"Could it be that this Lin Fan is the Child of Luck of this cultivation world?"

There was no time for deep thought.

Lin Fan, on the opposite side, had already made his move.

He brandished the Black Iron Heavy Sword and attacked him.

In a flash, Xu Changsheng made an immediate decision.

Relying on his Body Refining physique, he clapped his hands together and caught the heavy sword.

A thin layer of dust kicked up.

He pretended to be overwhelmed.

His knees buckled slightly, and sweat beaded on his forehead.

"How is that possible! The Gang Leader is being suppressed."

"It shouldn't be; this kid clearly only has the strength of the second level of Qi Refining. There's no reason for the world to be turned upside down like this."

Seeing this scene, the Gang members' jaws dropped in shock.

In the next moment, Xu Changsheng pulled the heavy sword hard and let it strike his own shoulder heavily.

While everyone watched in stunned silence.

His outer robe was torn, and blood flowed incessantly.

"Hiss!"

Countless gasps of cold air rang out.

"What am I seeing? The Gang Leader... the Gang Leader is wounded?"

"I must be going blind."

Xu Changsheng took two steps back, blood at the corner of his mouth: "Fellow Daoist Lin's cultivation is profound; I am no match for him!"

Lin Fan stood frozen in place; he hadn't expected his casual strike to wound Lu Yuanze.

"Did Old Yao's empowerment happen early? It shouldn't have; I don't feel anything."

"Whatever."

He quickly snapped out of it: "The legendary Robber Cultivator standout Lu Yuanze? You're nothing special, just a paper tiger. Now, hurry up and give me back my sister!"

"Let me do it!"

"I'll take on this kid."

First Wolf and Second Wolf could no longer restrain themselves and were about to step forward.

Xu Changsheng still used a verbal threat: "I said, anyone who dares to step forward dies!"

The aura of a Quasi-Second Grade Skin Changer manifested, and the pressure approaching the Foundation Establishment Realm was fully revealed.

"This..."

Second Wolf pulled back the leg he had stepped out with.

"Lu Yuanze, your performance today is truly a disgrace to the Black Wolf Gang's name. You're not fit to be the Gang Leader. Why don't you step down and let someone more capable take over? I'll lead the Gang to rise again!"

First Wolf spoke provocatively.

Xu Changsheng met his gaze coldly, his aura completely suppressing First Wolf: "Come then, feel free to try. Tomorrow, we'll settle this on the Life and Death Stage!"

Hearing this.

First Wolf's expression flickered, but seeing the wound on Xu Changsheng's shoulder, he finally grit his teeth: "Fine, let's do it!"

Xu Changsheng didn't say more. He turned back to Lin Fan and pointed at the distant woods: "Your sister is over there. Take her and go!"

Lin Fan was overjoyed: "I'm glad you've come to your senses!"

The crowd cleared a path, and Lin Fan and Lin Wan embraced, weeping.

"Brother, it's so good that you're okay. You scared me to death."

"Sister, I'll be fine."

"Sigh, you actually didn't need to come. The Great King has already sent all of us wives and concubines back today."

"Is that so?"

After listening to Lin Wan explain the whole story.

Lin Fan pondered: "This Lu Yuanze... did he find his conscience?"

He looked at the crowd in the distance; only the three wolves and the Gang members were watching like tigers eyeing their prey. There was no sign of Lu Yuanze anywhere.

"In that case, it wouldn't hurt to spare his life."

...

A few moments later.

"Run!"

Xu Changsheng didn't care about the Spirit Stones at all, pushing the Snow Shadow Flying Carriage to its full speed as he fled like the wind to the territory outside of Black Wolf Mountain.

Xie Wenyang was also inside the carriage.

"Gang Leader, what's this? Can you really not beat that kid?"

"Of course. You'll find out soon enough."

Xie Wenyang was confused.

Suddenly.

Boom!

A massive explosion echoed from the direction of the Black Wolf Gang.

The soaring flames turned the night into day.

He played the footage from the Shadow Recording Array.

"This is!"

Xie Wenyang cried out.

In the image, Lin Fan stood in the center of the destroyed main hall like a god of war. He looked up at the sky and, with a single sword strike, tore the Mountain-Protecting Grand Array that was pressing down on him to shreds.

Everywhere the eye could see, there were the corpses of the Black Wolf Gang members.

"What's the background of this Lin Fan? To think he's this terrifying. This combat strength has reached the level of the Foundation Establishment Stage, hasn't it?"

"Pretty much. Late Stage Foundation Establishment."

Xu Changsheng took a small sip of tea.

He was quite content: "Disaster is always one step behind me."