Qian Luo was lying in wait outside Celestial Palace City, while Shen Lang, the one who had driven Qian Luo half-mad with rage, was currently sipping tea at his leisure in the Treasure Pavilion’s VIP room, looking quite content.

Xia Qing, the Pavilion Master of the Treasure Pavilion in Celestial Palace City, was seated across from him. She wore a strange expression as she stared at the paper in her hand, which was covered with a list of various materials.

"Lingxiao Celestial Scale, Biluo Strange Jade, Crane Spirit Fruit... The Treasure Pavilion has plenty of these materials in stock. They can be delivered to you very soon, Young Master. If you don’t mind, you can wait here in this private room for a while. I can accompany you to look at some of the rare items the Treasure Pavilion has recently acquired."

Xia Qing parted her vermilion lips, her voice gentle, charming, and magnetic.

It was an invitation filled with such allure that no ordinary man could possibly refuse.

But to Shen Lang’s ears, it sounded no different from any other woman’s voice.

The surface of the tea in the cup Shen Lang held didn’t even ripple, a steadiness that made Xia Qing feel utterly frustrated.

He said nonchalantly, "Very soon... how soon is that? I need an exact time."

Xia Qing was left speechless with frustration.

She had always been Heaven’s favored daughter. Whether at the Treasure Pavilion or elsewhere, as soon as she appeared, all eyes would be fixed upon her.

She was of unparalleled grace, bewitching all who saw her. Any man who heard her voice or saw her smile would be utterly captivated.

From a young age, she had grown accustomed to the feeling of being the center of attention, the object of everyone’s affection.

Between her nation-toppling beauty and the immense power backing her, it was impossible for her to be given the cold shoulder anywhere.

But this young man before her ignored her time and time again.

This was definitely not some "playing hard to get" tactic employed by the young masters of Noble Families.

Because from the first moment he saw her, Shen Lang’s gaze hadn’t wavered in the slightest.

This made Xia Qing feel quite uncomfortable, a deep sense of disappointment welling up in her heart.

Given the power of the Treasure Pavilion and her status as its Pavilion Master in Celestial Palace City, she ordinarily wouldn’t have used those two words, "very soon," to put off a client.

If a specific time was needed, she could even be precise down to the minute!

If she wanted to, and said the items would be gathered within three minutes, it would absolutely not take a second longer!

And yet, she had still used them with Shen Lang...

Ultimately, she wanted to use such words to keep Shen Lang here for a while.

As long as Shen Lang waited here for a time, she was confident she could dig up more information from him during their conversation and learn more about this mysterious young man.

But not only did Shen Lang fail to appreciate her subtle, flirtatious ploy, he had even asked for an exact time with a hint of dissatisfaction!

This stirred an indescribable feeling within Xia Qing.

’Embarrassment and anger...’

’Defiance...’

’And even more curiosity...’

"Miss Xia Qing, you still haven’t answered my question." Shen Lang’s voice finally pulled Xia Qing back to reality.

Xia Qing tilted her head slightly and picked up the paper from the table, using it to perfectly conceal her awkwardness. "Half an hour," she said. "It will only take half an hour for everything to be delivered here. So, relatively speaking, it would be better for you to wait here than to go out."

"Very well. I’ll wait here, then. Thank you for your trouble, Miss Xia Qing."

Shen Lang gave a slight nod, formed a Hand Seal with both hands, and actually began to meditate on the spot.

"..." Xia Qing shot Shen Lang a fierce glare, wanting to speak but holding her tongue.

Xia Qing’s control over the Treasure Pavilion was indeed astonishing. She had said the materials would arrive in half an hour, and it took exactly that long.

As Shen Lang walked out of the Treasure Pavilion, Xia Qing watched his retreating back with a sullen face.

During that half an hour, aside from a couple of polite phrases at the very end, the two of them hadn’t exchanged another word...

Shen Lang glanced indifferently at the South Gate, then turned and left Celestial Palace City through the North Gate.

He then flew off at full speed toward the Western Wilderness.

Meanwhile, at the South Gate, Qian Luo received a Sound Transmission Talisman from one of his disciples at the North Gate. He immediately gave chase, using every ounce of his strength.

In this manner, one chasing and one fleeing, it wasn’t long before they were more than two hundred li from Celestial Palace City.

On Wo Long Ridge, two hundred and thirty li from Celestial Palace City, a furious Qian Luo finally intercepted Shen Lang.

Wo Long Ridge was a place of overlapping, undulating mountain ranges, resembling a colossal dragon lying prone upon the earth. Within its vast, dense forests, the roars and cries of Fierce Beasts and raptors echoed, enough to make anyone who heard them tremble with fear.

"Run! Why’d you stop running?"

Qian Luo hovered in the air, a sinister smile on his face. "You damn little bastard. Last time you made me wait for days, baking in the sun and drenched by the rain. Let’s see you run now!"

"This time, not only will I avenge Gao Jingtian, but I will also get revenge for my two disciples who died at your hands!"

"I will take your head back to offer it to their spirits in heaven!"

A murderous glee filled his eyes; he already saw Shen Lang as a lamb to the slaughter.

Across from him, more than twenty meters away, Shen Lang stood with his arms crossed, watching him with a mocking expression.

"So you’re Qian Luo?" Shen Lang said flatly.

Qian Luo sneered. "A dead man has no need for questions."

As he spoke, Qian Luo slowly drew the Longsword at his side.

As the Longsword left its sheath, he stared coldly at Shen Lang.

He always did this at times like these.

He liked to drag things out, to see the despair and fear in his victims’ eyes...

He savored it.

’But something’s not right, is it?’

’This kid has had the same expression from start to finish. His eyes haven’t changed one bit!’

’Looks like I need to be a little clearer.’

Qian Luo felt frustrated and could only say, "I am Qian Luo, cousin of Gao Jingtian, the leader of the Lone Wolf Mercenary Corps from Illusion Mist City..."

"Alright, I know," Shen Lang interrupted him rudely.

The rage in Qian Luo’s heart was simply beyond words.

’Poise. I can’t lose my poise in front of a junior like this! I have to make him understand that I’m here to kill him, and *why* I’m here to kill him! Only then will fear take root in his heart...’

At this thought, Qian Luo infused his voice with a bit of his Power and declared loudly, "You killed my cousin, causing the Lone Wolf Mercenary Corps to be wiped out, and you killed my beloved disciples. Today, I’ve come to claim your life on their behalf!"

"So, boy, what method do you think I should use to kill you?"

Shen Lang smiled. "Skinning and deboning, death by a thousand cuts, Soul Extraction and Refining... all are worthy of consideration. But before that, tell me, do you want a one-on-one fight, or a group beatdown?"

"..." Qian Luo was startled. He immediately spread his Divine Thought to cover the surrounding twenty li.

But after a quick scan with his Divine Thought, Qian Luo found nothing.

’What a cunning brat, playing these little tricks even now... A pity for you, this place is deserted for a hundred li in every direction. There’s no one coming to save you.’ Qian Luo thought, staring at Shen Lang as he once again began to draw his Longsword.

However, before he could fully draw his Longsword, Shen Lang waved his hand. Eleven figures appeared out of thin air with a series of SWOOSHES, completely surrounding Qian Luo from all directions!

Each of these figures wore a bizarrely shaped mask, and their Momentum was as vast as the abyss and as deep as the sea.

The auras of two among them felt like wood and stone, even more unfathomably deep!

Qian Luo was dumbfounded...

Among this group, at least five or six had Cultivation far surpassing his own.

In the past, whenever he encountered experts of this caliber and a conflict arose, he would have run as far away as he possibly could!

And now, so many had appeared at once!

And the others didn’t seem much weaker than him, either...

’The crucial point is, where in the world did these people come from?’

’And why are they with a mere Outer Disciple from the Profound Dao Sect?’

"Qian Luo, long time no see."

Ying Huo spoke coolly. His fingers slid slowly across the glazed body of the sword in his hand, and the Power of Thunder and Lightning erupted from the blade, making Qian Luo’s heart pound in terror.

"It’s... it’s you! Thunder Guard Commander Ying Huo!" Qian Luo’s heart sank completely.

He had seen Ying Huo, the Thunder Guard Commander of the Profound Dao Sect, once or twice before.

Every single time, a batch of Xuanwu Realm Martial Artists from the Holy Light Sect would die at his hands.

This was a Demon with tyrannical Cultivation and heaven-shaking methods who killed without batting an eye!

’Even more terrifying, if he’s the Thunder Guard Commander, then this group of people... are they all Thunder Guards?’

Qian Luo suddenly felt like crying...

Just a few minutes ago, he had wanted to see fear and despair in Shen Lang’s eyes. He never expected that in the blink of an eye, that same fear and despair would appear in his own.

This huge reversal of fortune truly made him feel an urge to vomit blood.

Ying Huo alone could have hung him up and beaten him senseless. With this whole group, even if he had three heads and six arms, there was no way Qian Luo could escape!

’Forget it. A wise man knows when to yield. I’ll surrender... Surrendering is better than being killed.’

Just as Qian Luo was about to lay down his arms and surrender, Shen Lang pointed two fingers at him and said, "Go. Beat him up first, we’ll talk later. Just be careful not to kill him."

Qian Luo was shocked, but before he could even react, the members of War Wolf had already lunged forward!

Ying Huo was especially fast. Moving like a bolt of lightning, he kicked Qian Luo in the face in the blink of an eye, sending him flying!

Qian Luo honestly didn’t know whether he should feel fortunate to see Ying Huo attack personally, or lament his own terrible luck.

Ying Huo was the Thunder Guard Commander; in past confrontations with the Holy Light Sect, he rarely ever made a move himself.

Usually, he would command the Thunder Guard from the rear, only acting personally if he encountered a powerful enemy expert.

’So why the hell is he acting like he’s trying to snatch credit this time? Attacking without a word, and with a flurry of kicks, no less!’

BAM! BAM! BAM!

This was the first time the members of War Wolf had gone on a mission with Shen Lang. They were eager to show him their strength, their most powerful Techniques and Cultivation Techniques, in the shortest time possible. Thus, they attacked with nearly all their might, only avoiding Qian Luo’s vital points.

They beat Qian Luo until he was crying for his parents, his heaven-shaking wails of agony echoing all around.

When had the mighty Peak Master of the Holy Light Sect’s Qi Yun Peak ever suffered such a miserable fate?

After just thirty or forty seconds, he was covered in wounds from head to toe. His head was swollen like a pig’s, and he could only lie on the ground, whimpering, unable to move a single finger.

’Fuck, my beef is with Shen Lang, not you Thunder Guards! Why are you beating me to death without a second thought...?’ Qian Luo felt he was incredibly unlucky and had been wronged beyond measure.

At that moment, Shen Lang descended from the sky and hovered above Qian Luo, looking down on him. "I asked if you wanted a one-on-one fight or a group beatdown," he said. "You wouldn’t choose, so I had to choose the group beatdown for you. I didn’t expect them to beat you so badly... These guys really don’t know how to hold back."

Qian Luo was so "moved" he wanted to cry. He roared, "Damn it, you were the one who told them to attack! Don’t you shed your crocodile tears!"

Shen Lang grinned. "I have important things to do and no time to waste on you. I’ll give you two choices: submit or die. You have ten breaths to give me an answer. Ying Huo, start the countdown."

"Yes, sir!" Ying Huo acknowledged and immediately began counting down. "Ten, nine, eight... three, two, one!"

In just ten short seconds, before Qian Luo could even react, Ying Huo had finished the countdown.

"Kill him." Shen Lang gave Qian Luo an indifferent glance and began to ascend.

The light of the Thunder Sword in Ying Huo’s hand flashed brilliantly as he brought it down on Qian Luo, carrying with it a ferocious Thunder Power!