Long Chen had guessed Dongfang Xuanyu’s objective correctly. Her hatred for him had not diminished. While using this piece of secret information to save herself, she was also laying a trap for Long Chen.
“Seeing as this thing is indeed important to me, I won’t be petty about it. Just tell me the power structure of the Dawn Trading Alliance at Fire Thunder Town. I don’t have much patience. If you don’t answer me well, I don’t mind taking you right here in the wild,” he said mildly.
Her plan had been exposed and she was truly terrified of this teenager who was perverted both in the mind and in strength, so she said hurriedly, “The Dawn Trading Alliance places great importance on the Blazing Thunder Crystal mine and usually sends five late Heavenly Core Realm emissaries to guard the place. Also, in order to suppress and collect the crystal soul, Li Ziling will likely be there.”
“Why do they need to suppress the Blazing Thunder Crystal Soul?” he asked.
“The soul has a violent, manic energy. Any cultivator below the Divine Core Realm will die if they come within a hundred meters of it. Even Heavenly Core Realm cultivators can barely withstand it. Only a suppressed crystal soul can be merged with. When Li Ziling got the soul, it was because it had been suppressed by a Heavenly River Realm cultivator. Now she has a Level Three Blazing Thunder Body, and due to it being elementally the same, she will have a much easier time suppressing the soul. I’m guessing she will be there!”
Due to Long Chen’s threat, she did not dare hide more information from him.
Li Ziling? Level Three Blazing Thunder Body? She’s just a girl. If she trains her muscles until they’re too firm, there’s no way it’ll feel good to touch her. In his mind, he automatically thought that she was one of those extremely muscular women.
That was a total of six Heavenly Core Realm cultivators. It would not be easy to snatch the Blazing Thunder Crystal Soul from them. However, he knew that he didn’t need to fight them directly. Plus, with Mo Xiaolang’s help, he might stand a chance.
“Get out.” Long Chen ignored her and headed to the Silver family. When he found Mo Xiaolang, he told him about the information he had received from Dongfang Xuanyu.
“Six late Heavenly Core Realm cultivators? Big Brother, I’ll go with you.” Mo Xiaolang agreed without hesitation.
“You’re definitely a good brother to me!” Long Chen laughed and patted his shoulder. “Go get your Grand Elder to help me verify if this information is true. If it is, we will leave immediately. There are still twenty more days before the Ninth Prince arrives, so it’s enough for me to try my luck here.”
Mo Xiaolang nodded. After he managed to verify the information with the Silver family’s Grand Elder, both of them packed their necessities, borrowed a Savage Wind Peng from the Grand Elder, and flew towards Fire Thunder Mountain Range!
***
In the outer families’ compound, Jin Luan and Chu Tianxiong were playing chess in the yard. Long Chen’s quick rise had made them completely unable to remain calm.
“Brother Chu, if this goes on, we will never be able to avenge Sheng’en and Yunxi. Long Chen now has his master backing him, and even the inner families are afraid to touch him. We …” Ji Luan put down his chess piece and sighed.
“I am unable to do anything either. My only regret is that I didn’t kill him while he was still weak. Now he’s gotten arrogant and can even defeat Miss Tianxuan, who is at the mid Heavenly Core Realm. He’s almost caught up to us already. There’s no chance we can take revenge.”
“My son Sheng’en originally had a bright future ahead of him, yet he died because of Long Chen. If I can avenge him, it will be worth it even if it costs me my life,” said Jin Luan through gritted teeth.
That was when a plump woman entered the yard.
Jin Luan and Chu Tianxiong were startled and hurriedly bowed. “Madam Xuanyu, may I ask why you are here?”
They were worried because their conversation had been a little loud and she must have heard them.
Dongfang Xuanyu’s expression was dark. The moment she walked over, she said directly, “I will not waste any time. All I have is one question—if you could kill Long Chen in a way where no one would find out, would you two do it?”
They both looked at each other and quickly understood what she was implying. They answered hurriedly, “Madam Xuanyu, what instructions do you have for us?”
“Long Chen has left Yuanling City to go to the Fire Thunder Mountain Range to fight the Dawn Trading Alliance for a Blazing Thunder Crystal Soul. You two, go there and see if you can find a chance to kill him!” When Dongfang Xuanyu recalled how Long Chen had almost raped her, a chill went through her body.
She would never live in peace if he was not dead.
“We’ll go!” The Grand Elders were overjoyed.
“Remember! Even if you manage to kill him, you are not to reveal your identities! It will be best if you can pin the blame on the Dawn Trading Alliance. That way, his master won’t come to the Lingwu family looking for trouble!”
“We understand, Madam Xuanyu!”
She then lowered her voice and said confidently, “I’ll give you two something. With it, I’m sure you’ll be able to kill him easily!”
Then she started to explain to the two shocked men.
After everything was settled, she left with a grin on her face.
“The Ninth Prince visited Yuanling City once when he was young. Many people know that Jin Luan had a sudden growth in strength, even catching up to the sixty-year-old Chu Tianxiong at only fifty years of age, mainly because of the Ninth Prince’s reward to him. Unfortunately, he was naturally not talented enough, so he never progressed further within the Lingwu family.
Dongfang Xuanyu’s plan was this: even if they couldn’t kill Long Chen, and he ended up killing Jin Luan instead, then he would still die once the Ninth Prince arrived.
This was a flawless plan. It didn’t matter if Long Chen lost or won, he would still end up dead!
***
Despite having defeated Dongfang Xuanyu, Long Chen was well aware that he wasn’t as strong as the top cultivator of Yuanling City’s younger generation. But if he could get the Blazing Thunder Crystal Soul, the gap would be closed.
The Fire Thunder Mountain Range was not far, so it only took a quarter of the time it had taken to get to the Nine Devil Mountains. After about two hours, Long Chen and Mo Xiaolang could see a huge town beneath them. They left the Savage Wind Peng outside town, where there was a shop that had people who specialized in taking care of carrier animals.
Then they both walked into Fire Thunder Town.
“It’s still early spring, but I can’t believe that the temperature is already so high in Fire Thunder Town,” remarked Long Chen as he eyed the people in the crowd while he walked.
“The Blazing Thunder Crystal is indeed peculiar. It doesn’t just strengthen the body, it also boosts your Qi,” said Mo Xiaolang, nodding.
“Xiaolang, what level is your Body Tempering technique?” asked Long Chen.
“I have an Earth-tier Body Tempering Technique left behind by my family, but I haven’t used it. I’m not strong enough right now, and I’m worried that the people of the Imperial Capital will recognize it. That is why I haven’t cultivated any Body Tempering techniques,” Mo Xiaolang replied with sorrow.
Mo Xiaolang didn’t have a Body Tempering Technique, yet he had managed to achieve such heights. Long Chen was speechless.
“Don’t worry. Once you cultivate an Earth-tier beast’s Beast Soul, your post-Beast Soul Transformation form will be equivalent to a formidable combat body,” Long Chen comforted.
To Beast Warriors, Beast Soul Transformations and Body Tempering techniques were not in conflict because the first strengthened the outer body, while the latter strengthened the internal organs and muscles.
The duo continued walking ahead.
Although Fire Thunder Town was just a town, it was a busy one, and their people were the violent type. There were many brawls at street corners, but there were not many powerful cultivators.
“Walking around blindly won’t gain us any information on the Dawn Trading Alliance. There’s a place called Fire Thunder Restaurant in front, and it should be the largest one here. We can go there to ask someone and also get some rest,” said Long Chen when he saw a large, bright building up ahead.
“Whatever you say, Big Brother.” Mo Xiaolang grinned.
They entered the restaurant.
They were both aristocratic men at first glance, completely different from the people of Fire Thunder Town. That was why they attracted a lot of looks when they walked in.
One of the sharper waiters hurried over to welcome them, warmly leading them to the elegant seats of the second floor. Soon after, delicate dishes and good wine were served.
“Don’t go yet. I need to ask you something.” Long Chen waved him over after the food was served.
“Me?” The waiter was a little nervous and hurried over. There had been many foreign, powerful cultivators like Long Chen in town for the past few days. This led to many bad things happening where stupid people died.
“That’s right, you.” Long Chen grinned.
“Young Master … What would you like to know?” he asked nervously.
“Has there been anything different these past few days?” Long Chen asked.
“Anything different?” The waiter froze, then he said, “There have been many more visitors to Fire Thunder Town. However, the town is controlled by the big shots of the Dawn Trading Alliance, so the troublemakers have been cleaned up.”
Indeed, the whole town was already under the control of the Dawn Trading Alliance.
“Where are the Dawn Trading Alliance people now?” This was Long Chen’s objective. He could only learn more if he knew where they were. Right now, he didn’t even know where the Blazing Thunder Crystals were mined in the Fire Thunder Mountain Range, and he didn’t even know where the Blazing Thunder Crystal Soul had been found.
“There have been rules set about information related to the Dawn Trading Alliance. Please forgive me, because I can’t answer you!” The waiter took a few steps back fearfully when he heard the question.
Long Chen took out fifty spirit jades and said, “These are all yours. What do you think?”
The waiter looked at the fifty spirit jades. It was equal to half a year of pay, so it was tempting. In the end, he gritted his teeth and walked up to Long Chen’s side. He said, “The Dawn Trading Alliance acts mysteriously, but I know they have a base in town. The Blazing Thunder Crystals they mine are aggregated there before being sent to Yuanling City.”
Leaning close to Long Chen’s ear, the waiter told him an address.
“This is yours.” Long Chen pushed all the jades to the waiter, who put them away hurriedly, excused himself, and left excitedly.
“Big Brother, do you know the location now?” Mo Xiaolang asked.
“Yes. Based on this situation, it looks like news of the Blazing Thunder Crystal Soul hasn’t circulated yet. Don’t waste the food here. Once both of us are full of this good wine and good food, we’ll storm the Dawn Trading Alliance.”
This would be his second time stealing from the Dawn Trading Alliance. Last time, it was with Ling Xi, but it would be with Mo Xiaolang this time.
“Alright.” Mo Xiaolang nodded, forever looking like an obedient child. However, Long Chen knew that he was also filled with passion, hatred, violence, and insanity.
They had just picked up their chopsticks when a huge commotion came from downstairs.
Long Chen turned to peer downstairs, only to see a group of blue-armored cultivators walk into the restaurant. The crowd parted for them. These people were at least at the late Human Core Realm, each of them glaring coldly. They were obviously experienced in killing.