Strongest War Emperor

Zi Lan was completely unable to fathom the astonishing, heaven-sent talent Shen Lang displayed in the Martial Arts.

What was even more terrifying, however, was his ability to effortlessly control the entire situation. With every move, as if playing a game of chess, he already held his enemies’ lives in his hands.

Even some of the older-generation experts within the Profound Dao Sect likely lacked such methods.

This wasn’t comprehension of the Martial Arts, nor was it martial talent. It was a profound wisdom, the kind born from the passage of countless years.

And yet, this young man was only sixteen or seventeen...

If he had truly wished it, even that expert at the Qi Martial Realm Eighth Heaven would have had no chance of escape!

As for Yao Chengjie, Shen Lang had simply chosen to let him live...

From the first moment she laid eyes on him, Zi Lan knew this young man was extraordinary. Now, she found him even more difficult to comprehend, utterly unfathomable.

...

Zi Lan’s assessment was spot on; those were indeed Shen Lang’s thoughts.

The Qi Martial Realm Eighth Heaven expert was formidable, but if Shen Lang had really wanted to eliminate him, it wouldn’t have been difficult with the cooperation of the Cyan-clothed Guard.

As for Yao Chengjie, Shen Lang couldn’t care less about the Holy Light Sect. In a sense, the War Emperor was Shen Lang, and Shen Lang was the War Emperor. How could a mere Profound Iron Level influence possibly enter his sights?

However, Shen Lang wasn’t so arrogant as to kill Yao Chengjie on the spot.

With his current cultivation, directly confronting a Profound Iron Level influence would be incredibly dangerous, if not a death sentence.

To needlessly bring such a powerful enemy down upon his family and friends wasn’t a sign of strength; it was pure stupidity.

Besides, Yao Chengjie was right: he was more valuable alive than dead...

Shen Lang had handled everything flawlessly.

Shen Lang was confident, but not arrogant.

”I’m tired. I’m going to bed,” Shen Lang said with a lazy wave.

Just as Shen Lang turned to leave, Mo Ge, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them.

”To the Profound Dao Sect.”

The ethereally handsome, silver-haired young man spoke very little, his words as precious as gold.

Shen Lang glanced at him and nodded. ”Right.”

’Of course I’ll go to the Profound Dao Sect. There’s something there that has been waiting for several thousand years. It’s about time I went and retrieved it.’

’The people of the Profound Dao Sect probably have no idea that this one item could change the fate of their entire Sect.’

’The Profound Dao Sect has fallen from a Spirit Copper Level influence to a Profound Iron Level one. They’ve declined so much that even a sect like Holy Light, which has been around for less than two thousand years, can bully them at their own front door. That must mean they still haven’t discovered the item.’

’An Elemental Power Fragment... that’s a truly good find...’

For the first time, a flicker of change appeared in Shen Lang’s perpetually tranquil eyes.

...

「As Shen Lang returned to the Shen Family home」

In a secret chamber within the City Lord’s Mansion, a group of people was in a state of extreme unease.

SLAP!

The crisp sound echoed through the spacious room, causing the two other people standing inside to flinch and lower their heads.

”Father... You... you hit me?”

Ye Xue clutched her face in disbelief, staring at the middle-aged man before her, his rage unabated.

The man who had slapped her was none other than the City Lord of Celestial Phoenix City, Ye Xiao Zheng.

He had always treated Ye Xue like a precious treasure, doting on her endlessly. Forget being slapped, she had hardly ever been scolded in her entire life.

But this time, unable to contain his fury, he had slapped her—and hard.

”Hit you? I’m hitting you because you’re an idiot!” Ye Xiao Zheng roared. ”I worked my fingers to the bone to raise you! I pulled every string to get you into Jialan Academy, hoping you would learn something, hoping you could enter the Imperial Dragon Sect! And this is what you do!”

”My Lord, the assassination of Shen Lang had nothing to do with the Young Miss. It was Tang Sheng who paid me one thousand Low Grade Spirit Stones and one Spirit Level Third Grade Dust-Settling Pill for my services. Tang Sheng concealed most of what happened at the Treasure Pavilion auction, which caused me to misjudge the situation and return in utter defeat. I ask for my Lord’s punishment!”

A pale-faced, middle-aged man dropped to one knee, his voice heavy.

From his build and voice, he was clearly the black-clad man at the Qi Martial Realm Eighth Heaven—the one who had attempted to assassinate Shen Lang and was the sole survivor to escape!

”Brother Cheng Kun, there’s no need to cover for her. No one knows a daughter better than her father. Without her consent, where would that scoundrel Tang Sheng get such courage? Tang Sheng was merely a tool she used to kill with a borrowed knife. A pity... my unfilial daughter thought she was being clever, but she’s only brought disaster upon herself! Hah...”

Ye Xiao Zheng let out a long, dejected sigh and slumped into his chair.

Tears welled in Ye Xue’s eyes, but she remained defiant. ”So what if that brat has some skills? So what if he has some connection to the Treasure Pavilion? Is our City Lord’s Mansion supposed to be afraid of him?”

”You!” Ye Xiao Zheng was so furious he nearly coughed up blood.

The man with the handlebar mustache, who had been silent until now, gently waved the cattail fan in his hand and spoke leisurely. ”Young Miss, you may not yet realize the gravity of the situation... Allow me to explain a few things on the City Lord’s behalf...”

”Uncle Feng, do you also think I was wrong?”

When Ye Xue heard this, her heart sank, and her expression turned even more grim.

Feng Hai’s cultivation was not high, but his intellect was second to none. He and Cheng Kun—one the strategist, the other the warrior—were her father’s most capable subordinates, his true right and left hands.

For that reason, Ye Xue held him in high esteem.

”Much about this Shen Lang remains a mystery. However, Celestial Phoenix City is our domain. It’s not so easy for someone to operate here without us noticing. We began investigating him when those two old codgers from Tayun Academy... Mo Liusheng and Sima Yan, personally came to the City Lord’s Mansion to cover for him after he injured Tang Chaotian. As of now, this is what we know...”

”First, although he’s known as a good-for-nothing, four days ago at Tayun Academy, he soundly defeated the Shen Family disciple Shen Jianfeng, a cultivator at the Qi Martial Realm Third Heaven.”

”Second, he barged into the Artifact Refining Hall during Mo Liusheng’s Artifact Refining Class. Afterward, Mo Liusheng, who had no prior connection to him, had a complete change in attitude. He began calling Shen Lang ’little brother’ and even punished the Xiao Family disciple Xiao Chunfeng, who had some friction with him.”

”Third, he made a show of force at the Celestial Phoenix Tavern. He not only injured Tang Chaotian and his group but also completely intimidated the disciples from all the other prominent families. Not a single one dared to stand against him.”

”Fourth, the Treasure Pavilion suddenly began to court him in a very high-profile manner, even presenting him with a Profound Iron Token—an item of extraordinary significance—in front of everyone at the auction.”

”Fifth, at the auction, he went head-to-head with Profound Iron Level influences like Evil Wind Valley and the Holy Light Sect, refusing to yield a single inch. And sixth, Brother Cheng Kun, unaware of his true capabilities, led a team of assassins against him and returned in defeat...”

Feng Hai relayed the information he had gathered with a calm and easy manner. Then, his expression turned grave. ”In light of the sixth point, the first and third points seem almost trivial. That even Brother Cheng Kun... ahem. As for the second point, we have no other definitive information. I speculate it’s likely related to why those two old men suddenly decided to back Shen Lang. Perhaps he has an astonishing talent for Artifact Refining, or maybe he provided them with some treasure or piece of intelligence. But the later points... each one is more mind-boggling than the last...”

”It’s one thing for a good-for-nothing from a minor family to gain the favor of two major figures from Tayun Academy. But on what grounds does he earn the strong backing of the Treasure Pavilion? How did he get a Profound Iron Token, a rank higher than our own City Lord’s Mansion? Moreover, the Treasure Pavilion presented it with such fanfare, as if they wanted to bind themselves completely to this kid and let all of Celestial Phoenix City know that their connection runs deep.”

”Furthermore, even if he has astonishing talent in Artifact Refining or some other profession, what gives him the audacity to offend a Profound Iron Level influence? Evil Wind Valley is the power that oversees our City Lord’s Mansion, and it’s filled with countless experts. To put it bluntly, if they wished it, they could flatten Celestial Phoenix City overnight! And yet, this kid not only dared to offend Evil Wind Valley, but he also publicly humiliated the Holy Light Sect!”

”What kind of backing must he have to act so boldly? You could argue he’s just hot-headed and fearless like a newborn calf, but then why would a crafty old fox like Mo Liusheng dare to speak up for him? Isn’t he afraid of offending the Holy Light Sect, a sect renowned for being vengeful over the slightest offense?”

Feng Hai began to wipe sweat from his brow as he laid out his analysis. ”Of course, even with all that, I hadn’t yet rated him as a major threat. It wasn’t until Brother Cheng Kun returned in utter defeat that I truly realized how terrifying this person is... Utterly terrifying. If I’m not mistaken, it’s not just our City Lord’s Mansion that can’t afford to offend him. I’m afraid even the Holy Light Sect can’t afford to make an enemy of him...”

’That bastard Feng...’

Cheng Kun, standing to the side, shot a cold glare at Feng Hai, a sharp glint in his eyes.

’While he didn’t disagree with Feng Hai’s analysis, the bastard had only spoken for a moment and had already mentioned ”Cheng Kun’s utter defeat” three times!’

’The bastard was clearly doing it on purpose!’

Just then, Feng Hai resumed his analysis.

”Have either of you taken note of Xue Dangdang and Shui Qingwu? We already know Shui Qingwu’s identity. She is the granddaughter of the famous Lord Divine Marquis of the Empire’s Divine Marquis Mansion. The Shui Family is renowned throughout the Purple Chu Country. Although they aren’t officially classified by influence level, they are certainly no weaker than a Profound Iron Level influence, and are likely much stronger. As for Xue Dangdang, that girl is even more mysterious. According to the intelligence the City Lord received from the Imperial Dragon Sect, very few people even within the Sect know her origins. All they know is that within the Imperial Dragon Sect, she’s treated like a princess whom no one dares to offend. She’s doted upon by the Imperial Dragon Sect’s Elder Ancestor and gets anything she could possibly desire...”

Ye Xue, her face drained of all color, spoke with a trembling voice, ”Xue Dangdang has that powerful of a background? Father, is that why you told me not to get into a conflict with her? But even if her background is impressive, what does that have to do with Shen Lang?”

A smug look appeared on Feng Hai’s face. ”Well, that brings us back to the matter of Brother Cheng Kun’s utter defeat...”

Cheng Kun, whose expression had already turned sinister, nearly exploded with rage. ’This motherf*cker, is he ever going to stop?!’

’That’s the fourth time!’

’Feng Hai, you bastard. I’ll remember this,’ Cheng Kun thought, forcing himself to swallow his anger once again with a cold snort.