The sedan left Quanzhou District in South City, entering Xigang District forty-five minutes later. This area, filled with numerous abandoned factory districts, had become a hub for many gangs and a trading ground for contraband.

As the vehicle drove over the potholed road, Chen Chuan looked out at the rows of abandoned factory buildings. He remembered coming here once with Wei Chang’an to capture Tong Qianjiang. For various reasons, they had failed to catch him. It wasn’t until later that he dealt with that group at the Sentry Post outside the Cai Family Stronghold.

Just then, the car jolted again, apparently from another pothole. A faint rustle came from the case beside him.

Chen Chuan reached out and patted it, and the noise quickly stopped.

After driving a bit further, the driver slowly reduced speed and said, "Mr. Chen, that’s Li’an Old Factory up ahead. But it looks like the road is blocked by a barricade."

Chen Chuan looked ahead and saw two sections of a concrete barricade. The factory building behind it was already visible. He said, "It’s not far. I’ll get out here."

He opened the car door and stepped out, holding the Snow Monarch Blade. The driver also got out, retrieving the case for him from the other side.

He glanced at his watch. It was 3:45, fifteen minutes before the appointed time.

"Thank you," Chen Chuan said, then picked up the case and started walking toward the factory, Snow Monarch Blade in hand.

As he walked along the road, he could see sparse woods on both sides, along with simple, old benches. The road underfoot was just as pitted and uneven, covered in fallen leaves and loose gravel.

’Three years ago, Shen Zheng must have walked this very path.’

And today, he had come here as well.

But they were not the same.

He stared ahead, his strides steady and powerful. Each step landed on the withered leaves with a distinct crunch as he gradually approached the dark, looming factory building.

Around the same time, on East City National Path, a black stretch limousine was heading toward Yangzhi City. It was clearly coming from the direction of Central City. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

A man in his thirties with inlaid wiring across one cheek sat in the back seat, the car’s sound system playing soothing music. He took out a bottle, poured half a glass of an orange-colored beverage, and began to slowly savor it.

As a Fighter, he was strictly self-disciplined, neither drinking nor smoking. However, Central City’s technology had long since been able to make beverages with the same taste as high-end liquor, so he could still savor the flavor.

Just then, however, the car began to slow down.

Sensing something was wrong, he asked, "What is it?"

The driver replied, "Mr. Chi, up ahead..."

Mr. Chi looked over and saw a formidable figure standing in the middle of the wide road, his hair whipping in the wind like a lion’s mane.

He observed for a few moments, then muttered to himself, "Looks like I won’t make it by four." He set the glass down, pushed the door open, and stepped out of the car. After cracking his joints, he strode leisurely toward the figure ahead.

Meanwhile, Chen Chuan had arrived in front of the factory. He could see numerous high-end sedans parked outside, many with their headlights still on. Private security personnel stood guard. At that moment, a man who looked like a butler approached him, a servile smile on his face. "Might you be Mr. Chen?"

"I am," Chen Chuan said.

"Please, follow me."

The butler gestured, and a wide roll-up door at the front of the factory was slowly raised by two security guards. The opening instantly revealed the brilliant glare of multiple industrial lamps inside. Two spotlights, one on each side, cast long beams outward, as if to deliberately put on a show.

Chen Chuan stood before the tall, wide entrance, blade in hand. Behind him was the pitch-black night; before him, a piercing glare. It was as if the doorway divided two different worlds.

The butler gestured invitingly. "Mr. Chen, please."

Chen Chuan tightened his grip on the Snow Monarch Blade and stepped inside. After he had taken seven or eight steps, the roll-up door slowly descended behind him, landing with a final CLANG.

He paid it no mind, instead surveying his surroundings. The factory’s interior was vast. All around, about three or four meters off the ground, were steel platforms built from metal plates and scaffolding, with metal staircases leading down. Catwalks crisscrossed the space between them.

People were pacing back and forth on the platforms, their footsteps echoing with a dull THUD. Spotlights were positioned at the corners of the catwalks and on square pillars. They now snapped on, and more than a dozen beams of light from all around shot down toward him.

After a moment’s thought, Chen Chuan set the case down. He then walked forward, Snow Monarch Blade in hand, until he stood beneath one of the platforms. Looking up, he could see members of the Mutual Aid Association.

He recognized them at a glance. They were all wearing the bespoke attire of the Mutual Aid Association, which was embroidered with gold thread and featured its emblem of two clasped hands. The uniforms were somewhat similar to the academy’s formal wear, only far more opulent.

About five or six people stood on the platform directly in front of him, while hushed whispers came from further away on either side. Beyond them, on the other platforms and catwalks throughout the factory, he could hear the breathing of dozens more people—at least several dozen, perhaps even more. He guessed they were security guards and attendants.

’This is to be expected,’ he thought. ’Without an absolute guarantee of their own safety, these people wouldn’t dare to show their faces in front of me.’

’Just like now. They’re standing up high, ostensibly to project an image of power and status, but it’s more likely out of fear that they’re deliberately keeping their distance.’

With a few heavy footfalls, Wei Jun walked to the metal railing. He slammed one hand down on it with a loud CLAP and looked down. "Junior Chen, you’re right on time."

Chen Chuan said, "I never like to be late, so I don’t act that way myself."

Wei Jun grunted, then nodded. "A good habit," he remarked. "Saves us both some time. Since you’re here, let’s have a proper talk."

Now that Chen Chuan had arrived, Wei Jun felt less on edge. They had made extensive preparations for this evening; the factory was surrounded, inside and out, by their men.

Throughout Yangzhi City, the forces of various corporations and families had also been mobilized long ago, monitoring any other powers that might get involved. It was safe to say they would be the first to know of the slightest disturbance.

But so far, there hadn’t been any activity. With Chen Chuan coming to the meeting alone and walking right into their midst, the matter was as good as settled.

"Junior Chen, it really didn’t have to come to this between us. I know what you want, but do you really think this path is so easy to walk?"

He rested a hand on the steel railing, pacing sideways as he spoke, his fingers drumming against the pipe.

"I know you received the evaluation from the Foreign Affairs Bureau. The next step is obviously to test for the Unlimited Defense Certificate. The goal is a spot in Central City. But no matter how hard you try, you will never get that spot. Do you know why?"

As if certain of his victory, Wei Jun seemed completely relaxed, yet beneath his calm demeanor lay a trace of indescribable agitation.

"Oh, right. You’ve heard of Shen Zheng, haven’t you?" He suddenly turned to look at Chen Chuan, then nodded. "Looks like you have. As you should have."

"He was struck down on this very path. Do you know what his mistake was?"

"He overstepped his bounds!"

At this, Wei Jun pointed a finger down forcefully, as if for emphasis. "He failed to abide by the rules he should have followed. He crossed a line he never should have crossed, and that is what led to his fate!"

He spun around abruptly, slamming both hands onto the metal railing with a BANG. The structure vibrated, and dust trickled down from above. He glared at Chen Chuan below. "Now you’re heading in the same direction. It’s dangerous. Truly dangerous."

He softened his tone slightly. "You don’t have to do this. All you have to do is back down, abide by the rules, and play by them, and we can all get along peacefully. Do you understand? If you keep going, you won’t be facing us. The Mutual Aid Association? Hah. No..."

As he spoke, he slowly raised both hands. "You’ll be facing the great dam erected by the numerous powers of Yangzhi’s Upper Layer."

Standing below, Chen Chuan looked up. He understood the meaning behind the words. This world had a clear hierarchy. At its absolute center was Central City, followed by outer cities like Yangzhi City, then towns and villages, and finally, at the very bottom, the wilderness...

Each place was its own independent circle, with its own distinct way of life. In theory, they could exist without interfering with one another, but in reality, a vast chasm existed between them.

The path to ascend to the next level was narrow, and only a select few could pass. Those who were qualified to cross would do everything in their power to suppress anyone who tried to compete with them for a place on that path.

As long as one didn’t dream of reaching a higher tier, didn’t think of breaking through the boundaries, and obediently stayed in their place, there would be no trouble.

But the moment one tried to break through the boundary of those rules, they would be met with all forms of suppression.

"The fact that we’re willing to talk things over nicely is because we don’t want to take things to that extreme, either," Wei Jun’s voice drifted down from above once more.

"Junior Jiang invited you to join the Mutual Aid Association twice," he said, gesturing with an open hand toward Jiang Wei, who was standing to the side. "Now, I will extend that invitation to you one more time.

"We can waive all the tedious conditions. We won’t even ask anything of you. Contracts and agreements are for the mediocre; you are above them. We can provide you with resources. All you have to do is not cross that line."

Chen Chuan merely scoffed. ’He knew perfectly well that these so-called "conditions" were nothing more than a compromise, forced upon them by his strength. Their only goal was to placate him for the time being.’

’Once I agree and lower my blade, they’ll have a thousand ways to slowly dismantle and turn my supporters against me. Then they can leisurely mobilize their forces to deal with me.’

’If I obey, they’ll turn me into an enforcer for the Mutual Aid Association, siccing me on anyone who tries to cross the line in the future. If I disobey, my fate will be the same as Shen Zheng’s.’

"Since you’ve asked so nicely, Senior, allow me to give you a clear answer."

Chen Chuan spoke slowly. "I will continue down this path, and I will see it to the end. As for the so-called obstacles along the way..." He raised his head to look at Wei Jun and the other members of the Mutual Aid Association above, his gaze as sharp as a blade. "I will simply clear them all away."

...

...