Chapter 87: Chapter 83: Settling the Grudges

Despite the protection of his Fierce Qi, Wu Kuang’s terrifyingly powerful blow had still left Gao Yuanfeng grievously wounded. He had several broken ribs, and even his internal organs were damaged.

Anyone else might have surrendered, but Gao Yuanfeng, who had already resolved to die, still had some fight left in him. He forced himself to stay on his feet, refusing to collapse.

His skin even began to turn red. It was clear he had taken a Blood Burning Pill—the same one Gao Yuanhe had used—to forcibly boost his strength, no matter the cost.

"KILL!!!"

Gao Yuanfeng’s eyes were completely bloodshot. The instant he hit the ground, he scrambled back to his feet and lunged at Wu Kuang, employing a suicidal tactic that traded a life for a life.

"Hmph!"

Wu Kuang snorted coldly. Showing no signs of backing down, he clashed his twin hammers together and charged forward once more.

「A moment later.」

A figure was sent flying backward again. It was Gao Yuanfeng, but he had lost all his previous composure. Covered in blood and with his longsword bent nearly to the point of breaking, he was a wretched sight. His left shoulder had been completely shattered, and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

Wu Kuang glanced at him with an indifferent expression and casually handed his Silver Horn Hammer to a nearby subordinate.

"Take him away."

As the former commander of the Mountain Camp, Wu Kuang had also fought his way up from the bottom ranks. Though he rarely took action within Changshan County, that didn’t mean he was weak. It was simply that Chen Sheng was so exceptional that there was usually no need for him to intervene. In truth, Wu Kuang was strong enough to be considered an expert in the Marrow Transformation Realm. If he weren’t, he would never have been so highly valued by Nie Yuanliu, nor would he have dared to dream of accumulating the resources needed to pursue the Innate Realm. This was all because he had great confidence in his own strength.

.....

SPLASH!

A basin of cold water was unceremoniously dumped on the unconscious Gao Yuanfeng’s head.

The bone-chilling cold felt like a thousand steel needles stabbing into his torn Meridians and open wounds. A wave of intense pain forced a muffled groan from his lips, violently yanking him from the depths of darkness.

His vision was a blur, and his entire body throbbed with agony. The shattering pain from his left shoulder, in particular, was so intense it almost made him pass out again.

He struggled to blink, his unfocused gaze slowly coming into focus.

The first thing he saw was a pair of cold eyes filled with mocking scrutiny, and the young face he hated to his very marrow, the one he cursed day and night.

"Clan Leader Gao. I trust you’ve been well."

Chen Sheng said, his hands clasped behind his back as he scrutinized the man before him.

"Chen... Sheng..."

Gao Yuanfeng’s vicious glare was fixed on the man who had destroyed his clan. He wished he could flay him alive and eat his flesh. But right now, what he wanted to know most was what had happened to Demon Monk Shanxin.

"I know you have many questions right now."

Chen Sheng said calmly, as if reading his mind, "But I’d advise you to save your strength. Even if you were to ask, I wouldn’t give you a straight answer."

At his words, Gao Yuanfeng’s body shuddered. The last glimmer of hope in his eyes died out. He closed them and rasped,

"In that case... just give me a quick death!"

"Of course you’re going to die."

Chen Sheng’s voice remained flat, as if stating the most obvious fact. "The whole Gao Family must be kept together, of course. But before I send you on your way, I’ve prepared a special ’gift’ for you. Something to help you go... with more peace of mind."

As he spoke, he raised his hand and beckoned.

The tent flap was thrown open, and several expressionless soldiers, reeking of blood, strode inside. Each carried a crudely preserved but still gruesome and terrifying human head.

They were placed in a row right in front of Gao Yuanfeng. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"Take a close look, Clan Leader Gao. Do you recognize any of them?" Chen Sheng chuckled.

Gao Yuanfeng instinctively opened his eyes. His gaze swept over the heads. A single glance was all it took. He froze as if struck by lightning, then began to tremble violently. His ashen complexion instantly flushed crimson, and his eyes looked as if they would tear from their sockets.

"You bastard!!"

Gao Yuanfeng roared, because those heads belonged to the very people he had secretly sent out of the city—the last hope for continuing his family’s bloodline.

’He had thought his plan was flawless, but they had been under surveillance the entire time. Chen Sheng intended to utterly erase the Gao Family bloodline from this world!’

"I always eliminate my enemies, root and stem. I am a man of my word. I said I wouldn’t spare even a chicken or a dog of the Gao Family, and I don’t go back on my promises. Now, Clan Leader Gao, you can finally die with no regrets, can’t you?

Oh, right. Your Gao Family still has that one outside... Gao Yuanzhao, wasn’t it? Don’t worry. It won’t be long before he comes to join you."

Chen Sheng paid no heed to his furious curses.

The only reason he had woken the man was to force him to witness the end of the Gao bloodline. When it came to his enemies, Chen Sheng never shied away from using the cruelest methods of revenge.

"You...?"

A savage sneer appeared on Gao Yuanfeng’s face.

"You? With your paltry Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivation, you dare boast of killing an Innate Grandmaster?! You’re dreaming!"

’Gao Yuanzhao was the most outstanding genius the Gao Clan had produced in fifty years. Decades ago, he had joined an Upper Sect in the Prefecture City to cultivate, and twenty years ago, he had successfully achieved a breakthrough to the Innate Realm.’

’How could Chen Sheng possibly be his match?’

Chen Sheng let out a soft laugh, one filled with an indescribable mix of confidence and indifference.

"If I could kill the Demon Monk, why not Gao Yuanzhao?"

"What?! Shanxin... he’s really dead?! You... how could you... Do you have any idea who was behind him...?"

Hearing Chen Sheng confirm the one suspicion he had been most afraid to believe, Gao Yuanfeng felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head. The immense shock instantly overwhelmed his anger and pain, leaving him momentarily speechless and incoherent.