98: Chapter 98 The Conference Ends

When these three words intertwined in his mind, Chen Fan leaned against the mountain wall, feeling the majestic power within his body that was harmonious and self-contained. He actually felt a surge of heroic ambition: to lie drunkenly in the lap of a beauty and wake up to rule the world.

Although, he was currently just an ordinary swordsman.

The slaughter on the stage continued.

To fight for the remaining nine spots, those geniuses who had long been famous fought until they were bloodied. Light from blades and shadows of swords flashed, flesh and blood flew, and the sounds of screams and clashing weapons were incessant.

Yet the corner where he was located was as quiet as another world.

"So boring."

Hong Shao gave a lazy yawn, her whole body seeming as if it had no bones as she leaned softly against Chen Fan's shoulder.

A warm sensation was transmitted through his clothes.

A sweet scent with a hint of spice lingered at the tip of his nose, constantly challenging the self-control he had just adapted to in this body.

This woman was a natural enchantress.

Chen Fan did not move, and even his breathing frequency did not change. Luo Hengsheng's memories told him that this level of intimacy was already a common occurrence.

"Wait."

He squeezed out a single word from his throat, concise and to the point.

Not far away, several Martial Artists were peeking over here, their conversation clearly reaching Chen Fan's ears.

"Is that the Jade-Faced Asura? My goodness, that's the Living Yama who kills without blinking, and yet he's followed by such beauties—two of them!"

"What do you know! This is called a hero matching with beauties! But... look at him, he's like a wooden post. Those twin sisters are leaning so close to him, yet he doesn't have any reaction at all."

An old man who seemed quite experienced lowered his voice.

"This is a true expert. A heart like a fierce tiger, unmoving as a mountain. To him, female beauty is nothing more than pink skeletons, unable to shake his state of mind in the slightest."

Hearing these discussions, a strange feeling arose in the depths of Chen Fan's heart.

Unmoving as a mountain?

He was just trying his best to play the persona of a solitary swordsman.

"Master Luo, have some water."

The voice of the younger sister, Qing Luo, sounded as soft as a mountain spring.

She handed over an exquisite cowhide waterskin. As she walked, her lake-blue long skirt swayed gently, outlining her slender waist.

Chen Fan reached out to take it.

Their fingertips inevitably brushed against each other.

Qing Luo's fingers trembled slightly, and she quickly withdrew them, a moving rosy flush appearing on her fair cheeks.

Chen Fan brought the waterskin under his mask and tilted his head to take a sip.

The clear spring water slid down his throat, also suppressing the heat that had risen in his heart due to Hong Shao's proximity.

Time slowly passed in this bizarre atmosphere of one side being noisy and the other being quiet.

When the afterglow of the setting sun dyed the clouds on the horizon a magnificent blood-red, the final ownership of the ten stages was finally settled.

Except for Chen Fan, the remaining nine stage masters were all wounded and bloodied.

Some had broken arms, some were blinded, and the most miserable one had their Dantian ruined; even if they kept their title in the top ten of the hero ranking list, they would be estranged from the Martial Dao for the rest of their lives.

Cruel, yet real.

Above the main stage, Daoist Priest Qingxuan held his fly-whisk and loudly announced the final list of ten people.

"First on the hero ranking list, Jade-Faced Asura, Luo Hengsheng!"

When this name was called, the gazes of tens of thousands of people once again focused on the figure wearing the pale mask at the edge of the square.

This time, there was no longer any contempt or doubt in their gazes, only deep awe and wariness remaining.

The Righteous Alliance symbolically presented the rewards.

A long sword forged from hundred-refined steel and a brocade box containing three "Peiyuan Pills" that were said to enhance Internal Energy.

Chen Fan accepted them calmly, his heart showing no ripples.

To him, who was now a Sixth-Rank Martial Artist, these things were better than nothing.

The true reward was the prestige brought by the title of "First on the hero ranking list."

Soon, someone came knocking on his door.

"Senior Luo, I am Wang Qing, the Sect Master of the Qingtian Sect in Cangzhou. Senior's divine skills are unparalleled; this Junior admires you immensely. My Qingtian Sect is willing to honor Senior as an Elder, and all resources within the sect will be at Senior's disposal!"

A burly middle-aged man kept his posture extremely low, his face full of a flattering smile.

Chen Fan didn't even bother to look at him properly, only calling up Luo Hengsheng's pattern for dealing with such situations from his memory.

"Scram."

One word, cold and blunt.

Wang Qing's smile froze on his face, but he didn't dare to show the slightest anger. He could only awkwardly cup his hands and retreat dejectedly.

Immediately after, another man wearing a brocade robe with an extraordinary aura arrived.

He was not as flattering as Wang Qing, but instead carried a scrutinizing gaze of recruitment.

"Your Excellency is the Jade-Faced Asura? I am Li Zhao, a Captain under the Northern Defense Army. My General greatly admires your skills and has specifically ordered me to invite you. As long as you are willing to join the Northern Defense Army, the General can guarantee you a post as a Commandant. In the future, becoming a Marquis or a General will not be difficult."

The Northern Defense Army was the most elite border army of the Great Shang Dynasty.

If these words were said to any Jianghu Martial Artist, it would be an invitation to soar to the heavens in a single step.

In Chen... Luo Hengsheng's memory, there was only disgust for the court.

"I have no interest in being a dog of the court."

His answer was even more impolite than before.

Li Zhao's expression instantly darkened, and a surge of iron-blooded Evil Qi emanated from him.

"Your Excellency, it's best to be more polite. Insulting a court official is a serious crime."

Chen Fan slowly turned his head. Behind the mask, those calm eyes fell upon the other party for the first time.

There was no Killing Intent and no pressure.

But Li Zhao felt as if he were being stared at by an ancient Vicious Beast, and the hairs all over his body stood on end.

That was a pure suppression of life levels, from the top of the food chain to the bottom.

He had no doubt that if he said even one more word, his head would be separated from his body in the next moment.

Cold sweat instantly drenched his back.

He swallowed hard and squeezed out a few words from between his teeth.

"It was I... who was out of line."

After speaking, he turned around in a panic and practically fled.

Looking at Li Zhao's pathetic back, Hong Shao let out a charming sneer.

"A thing that doesn't know its own limits."

She leaned in again, her breath like orchids.

"Master Luo, this boring assembly is finally over. Where are we going next?"

Qing Luo also looked at him with anticipation.

"Yes, you promised us that you would take us to travel the Jianghu together."

Looking at the two beautiful faces, the loneliness Chen Fan felt from just having transmigrated seemed to be diluted quite a bit.

Traveling the Jianghu.

That was fine too.

He would treat it as changing his identity and experiencing a new life.

"Where do you want to go?"

He asked.

The two sisters looked at each other, and Hong Shao spoke first.

"To the Imperial City! I want to see what the legendary Chaoge City, the most prosperous city in the world, actually looks like!"

Chen Fan nodded.

"Alright."

The three of them no longer stayed, turning to leave this noisy place.

At the foot of the mountain, they found their boarded horses.

Three majestic Northern steeds.

Hong Shao and Qing Luo were clearly skilled in horsemanship as well. They lifted their skirts and nimbly flipped onto their horses, looking heroic and valiant.

Chen Fan also mounted his horse smoothly.

He took one last look back at Tianchi Mountain, which was still bustling with noise, and at those ten stages soaked in blood and sweat.

Then, he turned his horse's head, leaving without any lingering attachment.

"Hyah!"

With a light shout, he nudged the horse's belly with his legs. The steed beneath him let out a neigh and galloped toward the official road, taking the lead.

Hong Shao and Qing Luo smiled at each other and immediately urged their horses to follow, flanking him closely on both sides.

The crisp sound of horse hooves and the sisters' bell-like laughter echoed on the quiet mountain path.