## Chapter 22: Chu Yun!
2013-02-09 Author: Gu Zhenren
Tribulation Demons are gone, Chu Yun is safe.
“It’s time to leave the Endless Forest!” he wiped sweat from his brow, letting out a sigh. Although several treasures of inheritance remained scattered among various Demonic Beast tribes, time was of the essence.
The Endless Forest only opened for half a month at a time, and it was nearing its end. Only a day or two remained.
There wasn’t enough time to break through other Demonic Beast tribes and snatch treasures from under the noses of the Tribulation Demons.
“Regardless, the treasures are all here, and I know the secrets. It seems the Rouge Gate of my past life didn’t obtain the true inheritance.”
Looking back at everything that had happened, Chu Yun gained new insight.
He himself had obtained these inherited items through luck, by happening upon this situation.
With the Rouge Gate’s current strength, the possibility of acquiring the inheritance treasures was minuscule.
“It now seems the Ten Thousand Beasts King’s inheritance is divided into true and false. The Rouge Gate of my past life received the false one, quickly growing from a third-rate faction to a first-rate Wanderer sect. I, however, have received the true inheritance. But there are still seven map scrolls remaining with the bronze statue, which need careful consideration.”
Chu Yun walked back, contemplating.
“Yes, when the Endless Forest opens again, I will definitely explore it once more.” he vowed to himself.
Half a day later, guided by the map scroll in his hand, he casually avoided the main Demonic Beast activity areas, as if strolling through his own garden, and returned to the edge of the Endless Forest.
“Catch her!”
“Don’t let her escape!”
Chu Yun was walking casually when he suddenly heard a commotion of intense pursuit ahead. He looked up and saw several burly men chasing a woman.
Both parties rejoiced at the sight of Chu Yun.
“Hey, kid! Quickly block this bitch!”
“We from the Ironclad Alliance are conducting business, hurry up! You’ll be rewarded later!!”
The burly men, each riding a Demonic Beast, shouted incessantly.
“Young Master Chu Yun!” The woman’s eyes reddened upon seeing Chu Yun. “Young Master Chu Yun, please help! The Sect Master and the others are being surrounded by the Ironclad Alliance!”
“What? The Ironclad Alliance? How dare they!” The news struck Chu Yun like a bolt from the blue, and his eyes widened in anger. At the same time, he recognized the disheveled woman covered in blood as one of the Rouge Gate disciples.
“So they’re allies!”
“Kill, kill, kill! Chop this kid to death too!!”
The burly men howled, their faces extremely ferocious, filled with murderous intent. Several Demonic Beasts, whipped by their riders, charged madly towards Chu Yun.
“Lishan Dragon Eye Flower Branch!” Chu Yun clapped his Immortal Pouch, and the flower branch instantly appeared in his hand.
With a boom, the aura of a Spirit Monster surged.
“Spirit Monster combat power!”
“No good! We’ve encountered an expert!! Retreat quickly!”
Sensing the powerful aura, the pursuers’ faces turned ashen. Spirit Monster combat power was at least that of a minor general on an Island Country. Within a first-rate Wanderer sect, it was naturally considered high-level combat strength.
These fierce-looking men never expected that a young man casually emerging from the forest would possess Spirit Monster-level combat power!
“You think you can retreat? What a fantasy!” Chu Yun sneered, his killing intent erupting. With a flick of his wrist, the lush Lishan Dragon Eye Flower Branch unleashed a burst of radiant light.
*Swish!*
The divine light, a dazzling array of colors, crisscrossed and instantly pierced through. The pursuing Monster Tamers and their Demonic Beasts all died. Some were struck by the Ice Soul Divine Light and turned into ice sculptures, others were pierced by the Thick Earth Divine Light and became stone effigies, and more were riddled with holes, dying with their eyes wide open in disbelief.
…
“Hahaha, Hua Mei, I, this banner envoy, am giving you a chance. Surrender and hand over the Ten Thousand Beasts King’s treasures. My Bloody Axe Hand will spare your lives!” A middle-aged man with frosted temples but a strong physique, holding a blood-stained long-handled battle axe, stood proudly, looking down at Hua Mei on the battlefield, issuing his final ultimatum.
“Hmph! Despicable scoundrel, ambushing us! The Ironclad Alliance, a so-called first-rate sect, is so shamelessly acting. You won’t get any treasure, but you’ll get a dead body!” Hua Mei, dressed in a Tang suit, was covered in blood. Her hair was messy, she held the Winter Frost Proud Plum Spear, and wore the Treading Snow Without a Trace Boots. She stood on the battlefield like a Valkyrie, emanating an imposing aura.
“Well said! No treasure, but a dead body!”
“If you have the guts, come and take it!”
“We swear to follow the Sect Master to the death!!”
The women stood behind Hua Mei, all wounded. Some were bleeding profusely, their faces pale, while others had bone-deep injuries, gritting their teeth.
In their beautiful eyes, their will to fight burned like fire. The Ironclad Alliance Wanderers surrounding them felt their resolute spirit of preferring to shatter into pieces rather than remain unbroken. Their faces showed no relief of victory, only a somber expression.
Although it was a surprise attack, the battle had progressed to this point. While they had the upper hand and had successfully cornered the Rouge Gate, the Ironclad Alliance had also suffered significant losses.
This third-rate sect had inflicted unexpected casualties on the Ironclad Alliance.
“Hmph! A bunch of ungrateful wretches who refuse a toast and prefer a forfeit! Third Uncle, why stop? Let’s act directly, capture a couple of them alive, and interrogate them thoroughly. They’re just women; I have many kinds of torture to torment them. I’m not afraid they won’t confess!”
Standing beside the middle-aged man, “Bloody Axe Hand,” was none other than the youngest banner envoy in the history of the Ironclad Alliance. A recognized prodigy among the younger generation of Xingzhou Wanderers, Li Zheng!
He had tanned skin, a tall and thin build, and stood with his arms crossed, observing the battle. His eyes scanned the battlefield before him, flashing with ruthless light.
“Although the opponent is cornered, their fighting will is fierce and their morale is high. If we attack directly, we will win, but it will be a costly victory, and many of our own will be sacrificed. It’s better to persuade them to surrender and break their will, which is more practical. Moreover, we know that Little Tyrant Chu Yun has always acted with the Rouge Gate. Since he’s not here now, he might be lurking in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity.”
Bloody Axe Hand sighed, patiently explaining to Li Zheng.
“Hmph! What is Chu Yun? He only has two Spirit Monsters, while I have three. With me here, there’s no need to be wary of him. Perhaps he sensed something was wrong and slipped away long ago. I was hoping to fight him and kill him. He’s lucky this time!” Li Zheng narrowed his eyes and snorted dismissively.
“Chu Yun is known as Little Tyrant, and there’s a reason he’s on the Talented Person Ranking. Li Zheng, when you’re out in the world, you must be cautious and not underestimate any opponent.” Bloody Axe Hand, seasoned and prudent, advised the future star of the Ironclad Alliance.
Li Zheng waved his hand dismissively, his tone indifferent. “Third Uncle, the older you get, the more timid you become. I’ve seen Chu Yun’s information. All along, he’s just been causing trouble in the Archipelago. What kind of place is the Archipelago? A godforsaken corner. If I went there, I’d be a great general! Chu Yun has only gained fame because he hasn’t encountered me. To be promoted to the Talented Person Ranking exceptionally, what is this world coming to? It’s so ignorant!”
“Hmph! Such arrogant talk. Young Master Chu Yun is only 15 years old, while you, Li Zheng, are already 19. When you were 15, could you compare to Chu Yun?”
“You’re four years older than him, and you haven’t even made it onto the Teng List yet. He’s already a member of the Talented Person Ranking, and you dare to say such things? Shameful!”
“You’re like a frog in a well, laughable. Compared to Young Master Chu Yun, you, Li Zheng, couldn’t even take ten of his moves.”
…
The women of the Rouge Gate sneered, taunting Li Zheng. Women’s argumentative skills were innate. At this moment, their collective criticism was even more potent.
Li Zheng’s face turned from green to white from their jests. Being humiliated like this in front of his own people, he couldn’t stand it. He took out a Spirit Monster battle halberd and leaped out, charging into the fray.
“You talk too much! You can tell me all about it in the Yellow Springs!” he roared, his aura fierce and wild, his eyes bloodshot and savage, like a true murderer.
Hua Mei parried with her spear, but due to prolonged combat and insufficient elemental energy in her Demon Soldiers, she was repeatedly forced back by Li Zheng’s River Swallowing Sea Extinguishing Halberd’s powerful cultivation methods.
“Alas, attack together!” Bloody Axe Hand gave the order, and the Ironclad Alliance launched a fierce assault. The Rouge Gate was plunged into a desperate crisis.
“Die!” Li Zheng, wielding the halberd with both hands, struck down fiercely. A gust of wind howled, mist filled the air, and the halberd’s power surged like a rolling great river, determined to slay Hua Mei.
“Not good!” Seeing the halberd’s power, Hua Mei’s heart trembled, and she gritted her teeth to resist. In her prime, she could have blocked this attack a hundred or a hundred times without issue. But now, it was different.
With a boom, the spear and halberd clashed. The immense force caused the battle spear in Hua Mei’s hand to be knocked away.
“Still not dead?!” Li Zheng trembled with excitement, his eyes shooting out bloodthirsty red light. Showing no mercy, he swung the halberd down vertically again, intending to cleave Hua Mei in two.
“Sect Master!” The women cried out in despair, unable to break free from the battlefield, forced to watch Hua Mei face certain death.
Even before the battle halberd descended, the fierce wind it generated was already whipping Hua Mei’s Tang suit.
“Do I have to use my trump card?” Hua Mei remained calm in the face of danger, a divine light hidden deep within her eyes. This trump card, she had originally planned to use against the most troublesome Bloody Axe Hand. Now, at the brink of death, it seemed she had to use it prematurely!
Hua Mei sighed inwardly, took a step back, and extended her jade hand, reaching for the purple jade hairpin on her head. Suddenly, a streak of earthy yellow divine light flew from afar.
*Clang!*
The divine light struck Li Zheng’s battle halberd, and the light halo spread. The halberd surprisingly turned into stone! This was a Thick Earth Divine Light; being struck by it meant petrification.
“Hmph!” Li Zheng quickly retreated, stabilizing his footing. He shook his halberd, and the stone fragments crumbled, revealing the sharpened blade.
“The dignified Ironclad Alliance is actually surrounding and killing a group of women, bullying the weak. Heh heh, what a fine Ironclad Alliance!” A voice then echoed across the battlefield.
“Who is it? I am Bloody Axe Hand of the Ironclad Alliance. This is the Ironclad Alliance’s business. I kindly advise you to mind your own business.” Bloody Axe Hand stared intently in the direction from which the divine light had come, a dense forest. His heart grew heavy, and he became fully alert. The way the divine light was retrieved, the timing, and the trajectory of its shot left a deep impression on him.
“This is mastery-level technique! The newcomer is not to be underestimated!” Bloody Axe Hand was extremely cautious and shouted, “Who exactly are you?”
“Chu Yun!”
