42: The Chen family is furious; a storm is brewing.

The entire street fell into a deathly silence at this moment.

Everyone stared with wide eyes, their mouths agape enough to fit an egg, dumbfounded by the scene.

What just happened?

In a single exchange!

No, it didn't even count as an exchange!

The notorious Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator of the prefecture city, Butler Fu of the Chen Family, just... died?!

He was instantly killed by that seemingly harmless young man with a casual flick of his finger?!

This... How is this possible!

That Young Master Chen was even more scared, his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, the arrogance and haughtiness on his face long gone, replaced only by boundless terror.

He looked at Shen Yuanmo, his legs gave way, and he slumped directly onto the ground, a foul stench slowly spreading from his crotch area.

Shen Yuanmo retracted his finger, not even sparing a glance at Butler Fu's corpse on the ground.

His gaze fell upon the utterly terrified Young Master Chen, his voice still calm.

“Did you not hear what I just said?”

“I told you to scram.”

“Ah! Yes! Yes! I'm scrambling! I'm scrambling!”

Young Master Chen awoke as if from a dream, scrambling up from the ground, not even daring to look at Butler Fu's corpse.

Leading the few equally stunned guards, he fled the scene in utter panic, disappearing at the end of the street in the blink of an eye.

Only then did the surrounding observing Cultivators gasp sharply, and the scene instantly erupted into chaos.

“Heavens! What did I just witness? Butler Fu... died just like that?”

“Who is that young man? Instantly killing a Late Foundation Establishment Stage with one finger! Could he... could he be a Golden Core True Person?!”

“This is terrifying! Since when did such a formidable figure arrive in this prefecture city?”

Discussion and exclamations were endless.

Meanwhile, the Shopkeeper was looking at Shen Yuanmo's retreating figure with a gaze reserved for a deity, trembling with excitement.

He knew Shen Yuanmo was strong, but he never expected him to be this powerful!

That was Late Foundation Establishment Stage!

He steadied himself, hurried forward, and bowed deeply to Shen Yuanmo.

“Thank you, Senior, for saving my life! This old man...”

“We are partners.” Shen Yuanmo turned around, interrupting him, his expression calm.

“However, I am curious, how did the matter of the Pill Formula leak out?”

Although his voice was calm, the Shopkeeper heard a hint of interrogation, instantly breaking out in a cold sweat, and quickly explained.

“Senior, please forgive me! It is this old man's fault! When I received the Pill Formula that day, I lost my composure and was overly excited. Perhaps... perhaps I was targeted by spies from the Medicinal Pill Shop across the street! I deserve to die! Please punish me, Senior!”

Shen Yuanmo glanced at him but said nothing more.

Human nature is like this; it is understandable.

“Don't let there be a next time.” he said flatly.

“Yes! Yes! This old man will certainly be prudent in speech and action from now on, and never repeat this mistake!” The Shopkeeper felt as if he had received a great pardon.

Shen Yuanmo nodded, then recalled another matter.

He briefly recounted the intelligence confessed by the skinny Cultivator regarding the Blood Hand of the Black Market.

“Do you know anything about this organization called Blood Hand?”

“Blood Hand?” The Shopkeeper frowned upon hearing this, pondered for a moment, and then a flash of understanding crossed his eyes.

“Reporting to Senior, this old man has heard a little about this organization. They are a group of Rogue Cultivators entrenched beneath the Tianbao Market. The Blood Hand leader is indeed a Late Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator, ruthless in nature, specializing in murder and seizing treasures. Because they operate secretly and never provoke major families, the Prefectural Governors Mansion and the major powers simply turn a blind eye.”

“Does Senior mean...” He paused, probing for an answer.

“Tonight, I intend to sweep away these flies.” A cold light flashed in Shen Yuanmo's eyes.

“I need you to provide a detailed map of their lair, as well as information on all their members.”

“No problem!” The Shopkeeper agreed without hesitation, patting his chest loudly.

“Senior, rest assured! Leave this matter to this old man! Within half an hour, all the intelligence will surely be delivered to your hands!”

This was the best opportunity for him to atone for his mistakes and demonstrate his value to this terrifying Senior!

He could already foresee that by latching onto this unimaginably thick thigh, his future would be bright!

Inside the Wanbao Pavilion, the Shopkeeper looked at the chaotic scene, took a deep breath, and his gaze became exceptionally resolute.

He immediately called the Shop Assistants, quickly disposed of Butler Fu's corpse, and used the Water Art to clean the bloodstains and foul odor from the ground, as if nothing had happened.

Having done all this, he immediately walked into the back hall, retrieved a specially made Sound Transmitting Conch, and transmitted messages.

“Attention, all personnel, spare no effort.”

“The intelligence on the Blood Hand organization, immediately, right now, I want the most detailed information! Find out everything, even what each of them ate last night!”

...Meanwhile, in Baiyue Prefecture City, at the Chen Family Residence.

Inside the study, a middle-aged man dressed in brocade robes with a dignified face was listening to a servant's terrified report.

He was the current Family Head of the Chen Family, Chen Tianxiong, a Late Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator.

“What did you say? Butler Fu... is dead?” Chen Tianxiong asked calmly, but a storm was brewing in his eyes.

“Y-yes, Family Head!” The servant knelt on the ground, trembling violently.

“The Third Young Master saw it with his own eyes, Butler Fu... Butler Fu was defeated by a young man in just one move, he...”

“One move?” Chen Tianxiong's eye twitched violently.

“Yes, just one finger... that person extended a finger and flicked out a spark of fire, and Butler Fu... Butler Fu died!”

“A spark of fire?”

“It was a golden spark!”

“Snap!”

A fine Spirit Jade Teacup in Chen Tianxiong's hand was crushed into dust by him.

A violent aura erupted from him, and the tables and chairs in the entire study trembled under this Qi.

“This is outrageous!”

Veins bulged on Chen Tianxiong's face, filled with fury and disbelief.

Butler Fu had followed him for decades, loyal and devoted, and his strength was only marginally inferior to his own.

In Baiyue Prefecture City, he was definitely someone who could walk sideways (act arrogantly)!

Now, for the sake of a mere Pill Formula, he had died at the hands of an unknown brat?

And he was instantly killed in one move!

This was not only a huge loss for the Chen Family but also a blatant slap in the face to Chen Tianxiong and the entire Chen Family!

“That young man, have you investigated his background?!”

“R-reporting to Family Head, we only know he is very young, his cultivation seems to be Mid-stage Foundation Establishment, and he wears an ordinary cyan Daoist Robe... The incident happened too suddenly, and no one dared to investigate his details. He is currently... currently likely staying at the Four Seas Inn.”

“Mid-stage Foundation Establishment? Instantly killing a Late Foundation Establishment Stage?” Chen Tianxiong laughed out of extreme anger.

“Do you take me for a three-year-old child?!”

He knew very well that there were only two possibilities for someone to achieve this.

First, the opponent is a Golden Core True Person!

Second, the Cultivation Technique the opponent practices, or the Spell they master, is of extremely high grade and overwhelmingly powerful, perfectly countering Butler Fu's Sinister Cultivation Technique!

Whichever it is, it proves that this young man is absolutely not to be trifled with!

“Pill Formula... Pill Formula...” Chen Tianxiong paced back and forth, pondering the value of that Pill Formula in his mind.

For such a terrifying powerhouse to personally step forward to protect it, the value of that Modified foundation establishment pill Formula must be far higher than he imagined!

“Butler Fu's death must be avenged! And the dignity of my Chen Family absolutely cannot be lost!”

“A Pill Formula that can attract such a powerhouse must never fall into the hands of outsiders!”

His chest rose and fell violently, and the killing intent and greed in his heart grew wildly like weeds.

He remained silent for a long time, and a ruthless determination flashed in his eyes.

“Someone come!”

“Family Head!”

“Prepare a lavish gift, I am going to visit Inspector Ma of the Prefectural Governors Mansion!”

He knew that the Chen Family alone probably couldn't chew through this hard bone.

But if he could bring in the Prefectural Governors Mansion, bringing along that equally greedy Inspector Ma... he refused to believe that there was anything the Chen Family couldn't accomplish, or anyone they couldn't kill, in the territory of Baiyue Prefecture City!

“No matter what your background is, if you dare provoke my Chen Family, I vow to make sure you... die without a burial place!”

A storm targeting Shen Yuanmo was quietly gathering over this prosperous prefecture city.