Shen Qinghan’s face was filled with terror as she struggled desperately. Waves of suffocation washed over her, and a searing, stinging pain emanated from her neck, as if her skin was about to melt...

Her True Qi defense seemed completely useless.

She thrashed violently in Chen Xuan’s grasp like a fish out of water...

"What was all that nonsense you were spouting? Have you had enough now?"

Chen Xuan said calmly, holding her by the neck with one hand. His body radiated intense heat as his golden True Qi burned.

"Huh? Have you or haven’t you?"

He shook her neck lightly, as if rattling a scarecrow.

Shen Qinghan’s face was contorted in pain. She had no doubt that if he wished, he could snap her neck on the spot.

"I... I submit..."

Shen Qinghan said in a pained voice, her eyes rolling back. Her heart had long been consumed by endless fear.

’She never imagined such a huge gap could exist between experts of the same realm.’

’She was once an expert on the Human List, too, capable of fighting those in higher realms!’

’But why!’

’Why couldn’t she even withstand a single move from Chen Xuan?’

"If you submit, then show some sincerity. Kneel!"

Chen Xuan’s tone was flat. With a THUD, he tossed Shen Qinghan’s body to the ground.

"Kneel?"

Shen Qinghan gasped for air, her face deathly pale and horrified.

"Actually, I’m already going easy on you. If it were anyone else, I would have stripped them naked and then made them kneel. As for you, seeing as we’re both from the Martial Alliance, you don’t have to take your clothes off!"

Chen Xuan said faintly.

Terror bloomed in Shen Qinghan’s heart, and she quickly looked toward Mr. Zhuo.

"Chen Xuan, we’re all allies. Qinghan meant no harm; it was just a simple spar. How about we let this go..."

Mr. Zhuo said hurriedly.

He truly couldn’t bear to see Shen Qinghan forced to her knees...

If that happened, her Dao heart would surely shatter...

She would be left with an eternal psychological scar.

"Is that so?"

Chen Xuan frowned. "Alright then. Out of respect for Mr. Zhuo, I’ll waive the kneeling. But a bow of apology should be acceptable, right?"

Shen Qinghan’s face was filled with despair, turning pale once more.

Finally, under Chen Xuan’s gaze, her body trembled. She bent at the waist, bowing a full ninety degrees to Chen Xuan, and said pitifully, "I’m sorry. Please forgive my ignorance!"

[You have taught a lesson to a True Qi Fourth Layer master and made them realize their mistake. Retribution points +9800!]

A line of text appeared.

"Alright, can we set off now?"

Chen Xuan looked at Mr. Zhuo.

Mr. Zhuo was utterly shocked, still reeling in disbelief.

He still didn’t know when Chen Xuan had broken through.

’When did advancing from the True Qi Third Layer to the True Qi Fourth Layer become so easy?’

’Heavens knew how many pills he had consumed and how many days he had toiled back then...’

’Yet this Chen Xuan had broken through without a sound.’

’Is there any justice in this world?’

"..."

Mr. Zhuo’s expression was grave. He nodded and said, "Let’s go."

He led the two of them and set off into the distance.

After that, Shen Qinghan was indeed much more subdued. She became humble and meek in Chen Xuan’s presence, no longer daring to utter any nonsense...

About half a day passed.

A range of majestic, rolling mountains appeared before them, entirely shrouded in a layer of mist. Chen Xuan looked up, and a question soon formed in his mind.

"An Array?"

"Yes, the entire mountain range is enveloped by a powerful Array. It only activates during a specific time each year. When it does, that’s when the Ancient Tree of Life will blossom."

Mr. Zhuo said.

He looked at a hazy town in the distance. "We can just wait there. The other powers will gather there as well."

"How many people will be coming here?"

Chen Xuan asked.

"Combining those from the True Qi Realm and the Gang Energy Realm, there will be several dozen people."

Mr. Zhuo replied, "However, those in the Gang Energy Realm naturally won’t dare compete with you for a spot by the Ancient Tree of Life. The ones you need to watch out for are the experts from the True Qi Realm!"

The True Qi Realm!

Aside from a few experts on the Human List.

There were also the old powerhouses who had long since left the Human List!

The latter were the most difficult to deal with.

"Also, since this is your first time here, you must be careful of a power called the Qingyun Sect."

Mr. Zhuo said in a low voice.

"Do they have a grudge against the Martial Alliance?"

Chen Xuan asked.

"Not a grudge, just competition."

Mr. Zhuo replied, "In recent years, the Qingyun Sect produced a pair of twins, a boy and a girl. They’re fraternal twins with heaven-defying strength and talent. They can also sense each other, and when they fight together, their power multiplies."

"Oh, and they are both on the Human List. The man, Zhao Qingchen, is ranked seventeenth, and the woman, Zhao Qingyue, is eighteenth. Both are at the True Qi Third Layer... The key thing is, this brother and sister are not to be trifled with. Their methods and personalities are both extremely ruthless. I don’t know if they’ll show up."

"I see."

Chen Xuan suddenly smiled.

’Twins...’

’I’ve never encountered any before...’

’I wonder what it’s like to fight them?’

As they spoke, they swiftly flew toward the town ahead.

As soon as they got close, they saw many figures in the town...

They were all martial artists from various powers.

As a town specially built by the Royal Family, it was strictly forbidden for anyone to reside here year-round. People were only allowed in when the Ancient Tree of Life blossomed.

All who could enter were major powers that had secured a spot...

"Let’s go. The great Array hasn’t activated yet. We’ll have to stay here for a day first."

Mr. Zhuo said.

"Sounds good."

Chen Xuan nodded and followed behind Mr. Zhuo.

The moment they arrived, people on the street turned their gazes toward them.

"The Martial Alliance is here..."

"Who’s that? Such a young face. Why isn’t Zhou Kang here...?"

"Zhou Kang and Shen Qinghan are both at the True Qi Fourth Layer. They’ve always been the public faces of the Martial Alliance. Why did only Shen Qinghan come this time...?"

"That young man looks familiar..."

"Familiar? Take a closer look! That’s an expert from the Human List, ranked twentieth—the ’Iron-faced Yama,’ Chen Xuan!"

"What? He’s Chen Xuan?"

"The Chen Xuan who defeated the Little Sword Immortal and Asura Hand?"

"When did this person join the Martial Alliance?"

The martial artists one by one showed looks of astonishment.

Whenever a new expert made it onto the Human List, not only would information about them spread throughout the martial world, but their sketch portraits would be circulated as well.

Therefore, Chen Xuan’s face wasn’t hard to recognize.

For a moment, all the various powers were stunned.

Although many experts had appeared here, Chen Xuan’s arrival still sent a tremor through their hearts.

It couldn’t be helped.

Chen Xuan’s reputation was just too great.

First, he was an expert who had parachuted into the top twenty of the Human List.

Second, he was only twenty years old.

Third, his methods were too vile. It was common knowledge throughout the martial world that he had forced Su Wanqing to strip naked and kneel to him. He had also stripped the Little Sword Immortal and Asura Hand bare and hung them from the city walls.

Was this something a human being was capable of doing?

Thus, Chen Xuan’s name had long since spread far and wide.

Countless people wanted to see this newly-risen "Iron-faced Yama" with their own eyes.

「In the crowd.」

Shi Pojun, the "Mountain Shattering Palm" who had just arrived, was the first whose expression changed.

’This is the bastard who knocked me out of the twentieth spot on the Human List...’

’He had originally planned to absorb the flower pollen, break through another minor realm or two, and then go find Chen Xuan to settle the score...’

’But now Chen Xuan had also come to participate in the baptism of the Ancient Tree of Life.’

’So how the hell was he supposed to settle the score now?’

’He’d have even less of a chance against Chen Xuan now.’

’Dammit, the Celestial Dao is unfair!’

Shi Pojun cursed inwardly.

For a time, countless people discussed in low voices.

"Young Master, it seems we won’t have to go to the trouble of seeking him out."

An old servant in grey robes smiled as he looked at the young master beside him—a man with fair skin so exquisite it was almost unreal. "This Chen Xuan has also come for the baptism of the Ancient Tree of Life. For you, Young Master, this is a perfect opportunity!"

’Challenge the twentieth on the Human List.’

’First, let the Young Master build his confidence!’

’Then, take the next step and challenge the tenth...’ 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

This was the goal they had set in advance.

"Can I really do it?"

The young master asked, feeling a little nervous.

"Rest assured, you are the successor of the Sword Sect, born with a natural sword heart, and at the True Qi Third Layer. With your true combat power, you can even defeat a True Qi Fifth Layer with ease. Chen Xuan is no match for you."

The old servant smiled. "Based on past Human List rankings, your strength should place you around eighth, or even seventh. If you use a Forbidden Technique, you could even challenge the top five!"

"Alright!"

The young master took a light breath, his eyes eager. "Then when should I make my move?"

"It’s not convenient here. The Martial Alliance’s Zhuo Yun won’t let the two of you fight."

The old servant whispered, "So wait a little longer. Once the secret realm opens and you’re inside, you can make your move. Remember, do not hold back. You must crush him with absolute style. That way, you’ll get a higher ranking on the Human List later."

"Good, I understand."

A glint flashed in the young master’s eyes.

Amidst the crowd’s hushed discussions.

Chen Xuan followed Mr. Zhuo toward an inn up ahead.

His own gaze swept curiously across the crowd...

’It seems there aren’t that many experts here this time.’

’Most of them are people I could crush on the spot...’

’I hope I can fleece some sheep after we get inside...’

Chen Xuan thought to himself.

He refused to believe that no one would try to pick a fight with him.

As long as someone started trouble, he could squeeze at least ten or twenty thousand retribution points out of them.

Of course.

The more people who came looking for trouble, the happier he would be.

After all, he now possessed triple combat power and an indestructible body!

He wasn’t afraid of people starting trouble in the slightest.

...

Three Chapters!

Fourteen thousand! A small burst!