As Chen Xuan and the others entered the inn.

The entire town was buzzing with discussion.

Inside another spacious inn.

Two figures were lounging inside.

A man and a woman.

The man, handsome and looking to be in his early thirties, was dressed in a black robe. The woman wore a long, pink dress, her skin delicate and her features beautiful. Their faces were strikingly similar.

At a glance, they looked like twin sisters.

"Brother, that Chen Xuan actually showed up."

The woman in the long pink dress, lounging across the man’s lap, said lazily, "He’s that guy who likes to strip people naked. Tell me, just how much of a pervert does a guy have to be to do things like that?"

"Heh, who knows."

The black-robed man smiled, stroking the woman’s hair. "But I never expected him to join the Martial Alliance. Before we left, the Sect Leader told us to ’take good care’ of the Martial Alliance members. So, since this Chen Xuan is here, what do you think is the best way to deal with him?"

These two were none other than...

...the very twins from the Qingyun Sect.

Twins, born from the same womb.

The man, Zhao Qingchen, ranked seventeenth on the Human List.

The woman, Zhao Qingyue, ranked eighteenth on the Human List.

When the two of them joined forces, even those in the top fifteen of the Human List would be hard-pressed to defeat them.

The woman in the pink dress suddenly perked up. She shot up from his lap, her beautiful eyes shining brightly as she declared, "Is that even a question? He likes to strip people naked and hang them up, doesn’t he? Well then, let’s just use the same tactic on him. I’ll personally defeat him, and then, in front of everyone, I’ll strip him bare and hang him from a large tree. Let him have a taste of his own medicine. How does that sound?"

"You’re so cruel."

The black-robed man chuckled and gently tapped the space between her eyebrows with a long finger. "You’re a girl, after all. How could you do something like that?"

"What’s there to be afraid of? For martial artists like us, what does the difference between men and women matter?"

The woman snorted. "I just can’t stand how arrogant he is. If we hadn’t run into him, I’d let it go. But now that we have, I absolutely have to give him a taste of his own medicine!"

"Fine. With your strength, handling him will be more than enough."

The black-robed man gave a faint smile. "He’s only ranked twentieth on the Human List, and you’re eighteenth. There shouldn’t be any problem. As for Shen Qinghan from the Martial Alliance, she’s at the True Qi Fourth Layer and was once a Human List expert herself. She might be a bit tricky, so let me deal with her personally."

"Don’t worry. Leave it to me. I guarantee there won’t be any problems."

The woman in the pink dress chuckled, her large eyes crinkling into crescents, which made her features appear even more delicate and beautiful.

The black-robed man seemed captivated for a moment, his gaze freezing on her. He quickly broke into a smile, his expression returning to normal.

Since his sister had spoken.

Then Chen Xuan could only blame his own bad luck.

"Barring any surprises, the Ancient Tree of Life should appear tomorrow."

The black-robed man, Zhao Qingchen, chuckled. "When the time comes, we’ll join forces and secure a good spot. All things considered, there aren’t too many experts this time. Apart from Zhao Yunheng of the imperial family, who is ranked fourteenth on the Human List, there are three veteran masters: Zhang Yunhe of the True Martial Sect, Ling Feiyu of the Lingxiao Sect, and Hui Ming of Jin’gang Temple. Besides those four, everyone else is insignificant."

"The True Martial Sect, Lingxiao Sect, and Jin’gang Temple? They only sent one expert each?"

Zhao Qingyue asked doubtfully.

"Not exactly. It’s just that each of them only sent one person who poses a threat."

Zhao Qingchen smiled faintly. "As long as we work together, we can definitely secure two spots for ourselves!"

"Perfect!"

Zhao Qingyue’s large eyes crinkled as she smiled again.

At this very moment, all the factions were analyzing the situation.

Some factions had already begun to make contact in secret, preparing to form alliances.

The entire town was filled with the palpable tension of a brewing storm.

...

「Inside the inn.」

CREAK. The door was pushed open.

Mr. Zhuo walked in from outside with Shen Qinghan, his expression grave.

"Chen Xuan, we’ve gathered information on the various factions."

His voice was low and serious. "Besides the twins from the Qingyun Sect, there are four other experts, and every one of them is exceptionally difficult to deal with."

"Oh? And who would they be?"

Chen Xuan asked.

"Zhao Yunheng of the imperial family, ranked fourteenth on the Human List. He can also fight above his cultivation level."

Mr. Zhuo’s voice was heavy. "Then there’s Zhang Yunhe of the True Martial Sect, Ling Feiyu of the Lingxiao Sect, and Hui Ming of Jin’gang Temple. These three are even more troublesome—they’re all at the True Qi Fifth Layer!"

"The Fifth Layer?"

"Correct."

Mr. Zhuo said urgently, "The key is that the True Martial Sect and the Lingxiao Sect have already joined forces. Zhang Yunhe working with Ling Feiyu will make them incredibly difficult to handle. Once those two factions team up, they’ll likely force out all the other powers. I’m considering whether we should form an alliance with Jin’gang Temple tonight."

"Ally with them? My ass."

Chen Xuan said flatly, rejecting the idea outright.

"You have to be careful. Zhang Yunhe and Ling Feiyu are both at the True Qi Fifth Layer. They’re veteran masters..."

Mr. Zhuo said hurriedly.

"Veteran my ass!"

Chen Xuan said.

"Did you just curse?"

Mr. Zhuo looked stunned.

Beside them, Shen Qinghan let out a cold snort and turned her head away.

’How crude!’

"It’s only the True Qi Fifth Layer. In any case, you don’t need to worry about it. I know what I’m doing."

Chen Xuan said.

’With all these buffs I have stacked, you’re telling me I can’t beat someone at the True Qi Fifth Layer?’

’I could even beat a True Qi Seventh or Eighth Layer to death.’

’Don’t forget how ridiculously overpowered the Innate Tyrant Body is!’

’Unlimited stamina! Triple combat strength!’

’It’s like I’m using an invincibility hack! A critical hit hack!’

’Who could possibly stand against that?’

’As long as I’m not decapitated on the spot, my wounds will just keep healing.’

’If I just tough it out, I could probably even wear down a Ninth Layer expert until they drop dead.’

"Don’t be reckless."

Mr. Zhuo couldn’t help but try to persuade him again.

"Reckless my ass. You’re just old!"

Chen Xuan said dismissively.

"I... goddammit..."

Mr. Zhuo was left speechless.

’Am I really getting old?’

’Can’t I keep up with how these young people think anymore?’

"They can fight above their level, too,"

Mr. Zhuo added.

"Beating people who fight above their level is what I do. Alright, hurry up and go back to sleep. Stop bothering me."

Chen Xuan waved his hand, dismissing him.

"..."

Mr. Zhuo’s face darkened.

’I’m an elder!’

’How did I end up getting treated like some underling?’

’And another thing! I’m doing all this for his own good!’

"As they say, it’s better to make allies than enemies. What if we just consider an alliance..."

He couldn’t resist trying to persuade him one last time.

A smile spread across Chen Xuan’s face, but he didn’t bother arguing further.

’No matter what I say to this old geezer, he’ll never get it.’

Mr. Zhuo’s face was grim. Seeing that Chen Xuan wasn’t going to say anything else, he had no choice but to leave.

’Forget it. He’s at the True Qi Fourth Layer; securing one spot shouldn’t be too hard for him...’

’Damn it!’

He stomped his foot and left.

Shen Qinghan pressed her lips together, then also turned and departed.

...

「The night passed slowly.」

「Early the next morning.」

The rising sun cast its first rays, illuminating the entire town.

Everyone had gathered of their own accord just outside the town.

A dense sea of people.

The mountains, previously shrouded in mist, now seemed to be draped in a mysterious glow. From high above, the mist began to churn like a turbulent sea, as if influenced by some unseen power.

Even standing within the town, one could clearly feel the shift in power from outside.

Wave after wave of surging, powerful auras erupted just beyond the town’s edge.

The very space before them began to ripple.

It was as if a vast and mysterious dimension was about to be revealed.

A rich, refreshing floral fragrance washed over them, so invigorating that everyone felt their very pores open up.

Chen Xuan stood at the edge of town, carefully taking in the rich floral scent. The True Qi within his body began to surge...

Just as he was quietly taking it all in...

...he suddenly felt a gaze fall upon him.

His senses tingling, he turned to look.

There, in the crowd...

...a smiling young man in a black robe was looking his way.

Beside the young man was a woman in a long, pink dress. She too was smiling, and her resemblance to the young man was so striking that it was hard to tell them apart without looking closely.

"Brother, I think that Chen Xuan has spotted us..."

The woman, Zhao Qingyue, chuckled, revealing her pearly white teeth.

"Mm, his perception is quite sharp."

The man, Zhao Qingchen, smiled faintly. "Once we’re inside, he’s all yours. I’ll take care of Shen Qinghan next to him. It might cost me a little, but taking her down shouldn’t be too difficult."

"I’ll have no problem on my end. I’ll come help you after."

Zhao Qingyue chuckled.

"Good. If we work together, we should have no problem getting into the top four."

Zhao Qingchen nodded with a smile.

"Huh? Brother, it looks like that Chen Xuan is walking over here."

Zhao Qingyue said in surprise, her eyes flickering.

"So what if he is? We can toy with him for a bit first."

Zhao Qingchen chuckled.

’He wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to mess with a guy like this.’

As the siblings watched, Chen Xuan quickly arrived in front of them. His brow was furrowed, his eyes scanning them.

"You were looking at me?"

He asked, suspicious.

’So these are the two twins from the Qingyun Sect?’

A smile touched Zhao Qingchen’s face.

’This guy...’

’Is he really this arrogant?’

’Can’t even look at him now?’

"That’s right, we were looking at you. What are you going to do about it?"

Zhao Qingyue suddenly broke into a smile. She crossed her arms, her tall, slender figure standing close to Chen Xuan, her dress fluttering. "You don’t really think you’re invincible, do you?" she said with a laugh. "Honestly, you’re actually quite pitiful!"

’You’re only twentieth on the Human List!’

’But I’m eighteenth!’

’Even though it’s only a two-rank difference, crushing you won’t be a problem at all!’