Chapter 119: It Is Enough That I Am the Only One Who Is Both Handsome and Cultured

The young man felt the surging power within his body, as if nothing in the world could rival him.

One sleeve of his garment was missing, and his body was covered in gashes and charred marks, his blood clotted and dried. Combined with his fierce aura, he looked like a demon god returned from the battlefield.

"Hahahaha! Kid, even if you possess a Heaven-tier martial art, I do not fear you. That treasure is not something you deserve to own; I shall keep it for you instead!" the young man laughed toward the sky, acting as if victory were already in his grasp.

"Oh? So you’ve set your sights on my Heaven-tier technique. What a pity, you shall never have it," Chen Xiang said calmly, raising an eyebrow.

He then shook his head and sighed at the young man.

The young man was taken aback by Chen Xiang’s expression, then sneered. "Heh, realizing it’s over now? Don't worry, I won't let you die so easily. I will rip out your soul and refine it day and night—only then will my hatred be satisfied!"

He assumed Chen Xiang’s sigh was a sign of resignation. He prepared to seize Chen Xiang, extract his soul, and then subject him to excruciating torture. After all, today had been a bitter battle that forced him to use a forbidden technique—a technique that cost him decades, if not a century, of his lifespan to execute. Even though he was still young and had plenty of longevity left, the loss stung deeply. No one knew if he would ever have the chance to survive the Five-Nine Heavenly Tribulation and ascend to the Infant Transformation stage; that realm was not something one could reach through talent alone.

"Sigh!" Chen Xiang sighed again, as if he hadn't heard a word. He tilted his head forty-five degrees to look at the sky and muttered, "Damn it, I went through all this trouble and still couldn't take out this cockroach. It seems today just isn't the day."

Hearing this, the young man’s heart tightened. No chance today? Did he mean there would be a next time?

"Hmph, what? You still want to escape? Where can you go? Your speed is decent, but you cannot escape my palm!" the young man sneered.

Chen Xiang glanced at the young man indifferently, then suddenly smiled.

He pulled out a mid-grade Space-Breaking Escape Talisman and crushed it right before the young man’s eyes. Instantly, a surge of spatial energy enveloped him.

The young man was shocked when he saw the talisman. He immediately unleashed his "Heavenly Yin Blood-Dissolving Hand" to strike at Chen Xiang, but his speed was no match for that of the talisman. After all, a Space-Breaking Escape Talisman was designed specifically for fleeing; how could it be slow?

BOOM!

With a deafening roar, a crater over a hundred meters wide appeared where Chen Xiang had been standing, but Chen Xiang himself had vanished.

"AAAHHH!!!"

The young man let out a howl toward the heavens, his voice filled with fury.

"Damn it! You little bastard! I will flay your skin, strip your bones, and refine your soul!" the young man roared.

***

A hundred miles away, a figure appeared in a small mountain ravine.

Chen Xiang did not stop. He identified his bearings and headed toward the nearest town. Ever since he arrived in Biyun City, he had collected every map he could find, ensuring his mother would no longer have to worry about his lack of direction.

Chen Xiang contemplated his situation. Although his strength had surged, he could only roughly contend with a cultivator at the fifth level of Spirit Transformation. Moreover, the Li family seemed to be in trouble, so he saw no need to get involved in that mess. He also needed to investigate the Heavenly Yin Sect properly; after all, knowing oneself and the enemy was the key to victory.

A day later, Chen Xiang arrived at a place called Liuxin City.

He observed that this was a first-tier city in the Southern Wing Kingdom—relatively prosperous and famous for its tea and wine, which fueled the city's economy. It was said that even the wine served to the Wing Emperor was tribute from here, which spoke to the fame of its spirits.

Upon entering Liuxin City, Chen Xiang sensed a difference from second-tier cities like Biyun or Tianxuan. Most people here were dressed in long robes, holding folding fans, and wearing the scholarly attire of intellectuals. Even the women appeared to be refined ladies, looking educated and cultured at a mere glance.

This made him wonder if he had walked into the wrong place.

"Hey, kid, what are you spacing out for? You're blocking my way!" A coarse voice rang out from behind him.

*What the hell! Why so loud? This road was built by the state, what's wrong with me standing here for a moment?*

Chen Xiang was about to retort, but when he turned around, he saw a man about two meters tall, with a burly build, a face full of whiskers, and wearing coarse linen clothes, looking at him with displeasure.

Seeing this man and looking around, Chen Xiang suddenly felt a surge of familiarity. *This is what a normal person looks like! I’m the only one who needs to be handsome and cultured; why would anyone else need to be?*

Chen Xiang immediately forgot his annoyance and said enthusiastically, "Haha, sorry about that, brother. Please, go ahead!"

"Hmm," the big man grunted, his expression flat. He walked past.

Suddenly, Chen Xiang’s eyes darted, and he stepped forward to greet him.

"Hey, brother, the first moment I saw you, I felt you were a hero who upholds justice and saves the common people from suffering! Might I ask your esteemed name?" Chen Xiang fawned shamelessly.

His words hit the nail on the head for the big man, whose eyes lit up. He laughed three times, patted Chen Xiang on the shoulder, and said loudly, "Hahaha! Little brother, you have a good eye. I felt you were right up my alley the moment I saw you. I don't like all that pretentious scholarly stuff. My surname is Hu, and my given name is Han. My friends and I have formed an organization to rob the rich and... er, no, to save the common people. We are dedicated to contributing to the public good!"

Chen Xiang felt cold sweat break out. *Good grief, a bandit is a bandit—what kind of 'saving the common people' is this?*

But on the surface, he responded with pleasant surprise: "Really? Brother Hu, you truly are a hero. I admire you!"

"Haha, little brother, I was just about to go have a drink at the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion. Come, my treat!" Hu Han patted him on the shoulder again.

"Oh, drinking? Great! It’s been a long time since I’ve had a drink," Chen Xiang said.

And so, the two walked toward the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion under the gaze of curious onlookers.

"Was that the night-thief Hu Hansan?"

"Yeah, that’s him. I’ve seen him before!"

"Sigh, that young man is in for it. Hu Hansan is a notorious bandit and bully in these parts. He loves to act with a fake smile, and they say he has connections to the officials—no one can touch him."

"Forget it, we can't do anything about it. Let's go; my poetic inspiration for the day is ruined!"

"Hmm? Me too. I'm not in the mood to write poetry anymore."

As Chen Xiang and Hu Han walked away, whispers erupted around them. It was clear everyone knew what kind of person Hu Han was.

Chen Xiang’s hearing was sharp, and he naturally caught their words.

*Heh, Hu Hansan? So he really is a bandit!* Chen Xiang sneered inwardly.

But it didn't matter. He only wanted to gather some information about the area, and no matter how much Hu Hansan strutted, it wouldn't matter—Chen Xiang had already realized the man was only a Qi Refining stage cultivator.

"To be continued..."