On the battlefield, Zhou Leng searched through the loot.

A Magic Spirit Bag, along with various demon items, weapons, and pills.

Even though he couldn't use them, they could be sold for cash.

The market price for a Magic Spirit Bag was ten million. Even if the demon's Magic Spirit Bag needed exorcism or alteration, it could still sell for around eight million. With the pills, he could make a small profit of ten million, which was more lucrative than hunting magical beasts.

Aunt Zhu is truly a lucky charm.

Zhou Leng put away the loot, marked the scene, and turned to walk toward Zhu Xiyuan.

As he got closer, Zhou Leng said, "Aunt Zhu, it's all settled. You can come over now."

Zhu Xiyuan retracted her tail and walked forward with graceful steps, completely unfazed by her Demon Arrival Guard being wiped out, her face full of smiles.

"Little Leng, I didn't expect you to be so powerful, hiding it well." She smiled.

Zhou Leng said, "I told you before, I had some encounters in the Dwarf World and the Giant World. I wasn't hiding anything."

Zhu Xiyuan walked over and joined him.

"You're much more powerful than I imagined. With you around, there's no need to worry about demons." Zhu Xiyuan said.

"Aunt Zhu is over-praising." Zhou Leng didn't think vanquishing these demons was anything special.

Zhu Xiyuan looked down at the demon corpses on the ground, then praised, "This is the true Giant's Power. It seems you possess the Giant Body of Wonders."

"Ahem…" Zhou Leng coughed lightly, neither admitting nor denying it.

"You're indeed a humble and kind child. Well done, very well done." Zhu Xiyuan's tone was full of joy.

The two walked forward for a while, and Zhu Xiyuan took out some human-like offerings, such as paper-burning items, from the Magic Spirit Bag and silently paid respects in the human way.

Zhou Leng stood behind Zhu Xiyuan, not disturbing her.

After Zhu Xiyuan finished offering, the two returned the way they came.

To remove the markings on the Magic Spirit Bag, Zhou Leng needed to return to the base to sell it to the Seventh Division.

Back at the base, Zhou Leng said, "It's safe now. I still have to hunt magical beasts, so I won't be accompanying you."

Zhu Xiyuan took out an old coin and handed it to Zhou Leng.

"Meeting you today might be a sign from my child. This is our family heirloom, and I give it to you. I hope you'll keep it with you, let it witness your growth, and fill the void of a mother who lost a son."

"This…" Zhou Leng hesitated about taking such a precious item.

"It's merely a token, not worth much. I hope you can keep it well." Zhu Xiyuan placed it in Zhou Leng's hand.

"Alright, then I will keep it," Zhou Leng glanced at the coin design; it bore an image of a flame, "Aunt Zhu, you probably aren't a native of Dragon Country, or perhaps you're mixed-race?"

Zhu Xiyuan smiled, "Yes, my father is from Dragon Country, and my mother is from the Seagull Alliance."

Zhou Leng nodded, realizing why she seemed different; her speech and mannerisms weren't quite like a pure Dragon Country native.

Zhu Xiyuan extended her arms, gently hugged Zhou Leng, then gave him the cheek-kiss greeting, their faces touching through veils.

Afterward, Zhu Xiyuan waved and briskly left.

Watching Zhu Xiyuan's departure, Zhou Leng suddenly realized he still didn't know what she looked like.

So he flipped through her Martial Faith circle, only to find it empty.

Zhou Leng headed to the Martial Arts Brigade to sell the miscellaneous items related to the Magic Spirit Bag.

Leaving the Martial Arts Brigade station, he walked toward the Shuizhou base exit, preparing to head to Deer Horn Mountain.

Near the gate, a large group—close to thirty people—approached from the opposite side.

"Zhou Leng?" Someone in the group suddenly greeted him with a smile.

Zhou Leng looked in the direction of the voice and realized it was Chang Luan, the former class leader ousted by Wang Boxiong.

"That's Zhou Leng; I'd like to have a few words with him," Chang Luan said to Chang Yuanzhong before quickly walking over to Zhou Leng.

Chang Yuanzhong gave a cold glance, noting how robust Zhou Leng looked, a hint of surprise passing through his eyes before continuing to walk out.

With a bright smile, Chang Luan said, "I almost didn't recognize you just now. You've at least refined your body, right? Congratulations on becoming Rucheng's new second-ranked freshman."

Zhou Leng gently nodded, speaking calmly, "Still, Eldest Young Master Chang is impressive."

Chang Luan said, "Hey, it's all my dad's people. You're here to help Xue Chengsong, right?"

"Are you here for the Five Tigers of Shuizhou?" Zhou Leng asked.

"I actually don't want to get involved in such matters, but my dad has connections with the Five Tigers of Shuizhou, so I just brought some people along for fun, to show some support. You wouldn't really participate in a death match, would you?"

"I'm just joining the excitement too," Zhou Leng's tone was indifferent.

Chang Luan, seemingly unaware of Zhou Leng's demeanor, said with a smile, "I know there have been some misunderstandings between us, but those are all past issues; what's meant to be let go should be let go. I advise you not to get too close to the Xue family; they might be driven out of Rucheng in a few days."

"At least the Xue family doesn't steal my Martial Arts Resources, right?"

If he hadn't known, Zhou Leng might have been polite, but knowing the other party had malicious intentions, he continued speaking.

Outed in public, Chang Luan's smile faded, but he, as always, did not get angry, and helplessly said, "If I did anything wrong, I apologize to you, hoping you'll forgive me. But I sincerely think it's a waste for you to follow the Xue family. If you're willing, you can come to my home as a Martial Arts Director; we'll pay you at least thirty million a year, how about it?"

"If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now." Zhou Leng said.

"Since you're not interested, then forget it; such a pity. Goodbye." Chang Luan left with a calm demeanor.

Zhou Leng watched Chang Luan's back; he's never seen him get angry since knowing him.

Even when outed openly.

After standing for a while, he entered the Martial Guard System to check the intel.

Tian Wenhua had already entered Demon City, lost signal, and could not get messages out from his informants.

But there was other related information.

Chang Yuanzhong, who I just met earlier, is already preparing to assist Tian Wenhua.

Besides that, there are also other small forces preparing to lend a hand.

Zhou Leng watched for a while and then stepped forward, walking out the door.

Chang Luan's team was already heading towards Deer Horn Mountain.

Zhou Leng slightly changed direction, moving to the right to avoid Chang Luan's team.

Zhou Leng maintained a speed of 70 km/h, gradually distancing himself from Chang Luan's team.

In the team, Chang Yuanzhong glanced at Zhou Leng's back and asked, "What did you say to him?"

"Just testing his attitude, pretending to invite him. He indeed supports the Xue Family and has no appreciation; he actually refused my invitation," Chang Luan sneered at Zhou Leng's back.

"What do you think of him?" Chang Yuanzhong asked.

Chang Luan frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and said, "For now, he's not threatening. Judging by the Martial Arts Index, he's still at the Body Refining Stage; he just has impressive momentum. But the future is hard to say; he at least could become Innate, a troublesome menace."

Chang Yuanzhong said, "The biggest issue is that Tian Wenhua couldn't deal with him."

Chang Luan said, "Tian Wenhua is truly getting old. If I had his strength, hmph..."

Chang Yuanzhong asked, "What will you do now?"

Chang Luan said, "Me? My strength is insufficient; it'll take a while before I advance to Body Refinement, so I'll definitely avoid the sharp edge and wait for a better opportunity."

Chang Yuanzhong chuckled and said, "You say Tian Wenhua is old, but you're too green. Hasn't the opportunity already arrived?"

Chang Luan's heart skipped a beat as he glanced at the people around him.

Including his father, there were five Vitality Stage, two of them in Late Stage.

Except for himself being in Blood Transporting Period, the rest were in Body Refining Stage.

This isn't a small force.

Chang Luan glanced at Zhou Leng's increasingly distant back and whispered, "You mean to act after passing the Red Spot Forest?"

"A bit further, after all, he has connections in the Martial Guard Department," Chang Yuanzhong said.

Chang Luan nodded firmly, saying, "I agree, now is the perfect timing!"

"Let's hurry as well, maintain a distance of about five kilometers, and once we penetrate into the heart of Demon City, a few of us in Vitality Stage with half of those in Body Refining Stage will deal with him, while you and the rest stay put."

"Alright. Old ginger is indeed spicier," Chang Luan sincerely praised his father.

Chang Yuanzhong smiled lightly, saying, "There's still much for you to learn."

"It's a pity, though I had a favorable view of him initially." There was no sign of remorse on Chang Luan's face, nor hatred or anger; his expression was as indifferent as swatting a mosquito.

The team accelerated, and Chang Luan could not keep up, forcing him to consume Qi Nourishing Pills to replenish True Qi.

Before long, Zhou Leng arrived at Red Spot Leaf Forest.

There was still a signal here, within the monitoring range of the Seventh Division.

After passing through Red Spot Leaf Forest, it entered a blind spot.

Zhou Leng inadvertently glanced back to the left side.

Chang Luan's team, five kilometers away.

Ten minutes ago, they were at this distance too.

Zhou Leng seemed unperturbed, continuing at the original speed.

After passing through Red Spot Leaf Forest and running for over half an hour, he reached a sparse forest.

After running for a while, heavy running noises began coming from behind.

Zhou Leng stopped and turned toward the direction of the sound, quietly waiting.

Soon, five Vitality Stage Martial Artists formed a semicircle, closing in from five directions like casting a large net.

From further away, sounds of fast running continued, and soon ten Body Refining Stage appeared.

Chang Yuanzhong looked at Zhou Leng and praised, "Mount Tai collapsed in front yet unmoved; no wonder you're ranked second on the new talent list."

"You must be Chang Luan's father, right?" Zhou Leng asked.

"Correct."

"Did you come to find me for something?" Zhou Leng resembled an innocent youth ignorant of the ways of the world.

Chang Yuanzhong chuckled, and the others joined in the laughter.

Chang Yuanzhong turned to the other Vitality Stage and said, "We were just as naive at his age."

"Yes, indeed, it makes one nostalgic for those days," one Vitality Stage reminisced.

Chang Yuanzhong looked at Zhou Leng and said, "You're still too young. You might indeed believe we're here merely to teach you a lesson. Unfortunately, we're the Pioneer Team; the blood on our hands outweighs the water you've drunk..."

Zhou Leng slightly bent his legs, channeling Power through his feet, launched the Flying Crane Technique, and the ground exploded beneath.

Dust and fallen leaves flew upward as Zhou Leng's figure vanished from his position.

Before anyone could react, Zhou Leng was already in front of Chang Yuanzhong.

Though Chang Yuanzhong was in Late Vitality Stage and far from weak, even without any defense, he hurriedly raised his arms to block.

Zhou Leng bypassed his arm; his right hand landed quietly on his neck as if gently gripping.

Crack.

Chang Yuanzhong's neck snapped, his head tilted and fell.

His gaze slowly dimmed, without fear or despair; filled mostly with confusion and perplexity.

What just happened?

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