Chapter Fifteen: A Terrifying Man

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“Fire? A piece of Taiyi Geng Metal inscribed with the character for fire, absorbing a vast amount of Yin Sha energy—how intriguing.” Xu Zhe smiled and put away the small iron fragment.

The Yin Sha energy contained in this iron piece was already sufficient to temper his physical body; after all, his foundation was excellent, and once tempered to a certain degree, such energy would no longer yield much effect.

The sky remained pitch-black, a dense darkness pressing over the ancient city, swirling ominously.

Xu Zhe glanced upward, then paid it no mind and strode back toward the Tower of the Proud.

At this hour, the Tower of the Proud was still silent and empty.

But across from it, the Changyun Inn was a different story—apparently bustling with activity.

A horde of fiendish figures had surrounded the inn’s entrance, sealing it off completely, while sounds of fighting and shouts echoed from within.

“Hm, living people—and familiar faces, too!” Xu Zhe’s spiritual sense swept over and detected several human presences.

They were the same Jade Pool female disciples he had met earlier in the day.

Previously, after being knocked unconscious by Lin Keyi’s avatar, these women had remained insensible within the Changyun Inn.

At the time, Xu Zhe had considered ending their lives, but had decided to leave Lin Keyi a shred of face—a final gesture of respect for the past.

“Sister, what should we do? There are more and more of them.” A woman’s voice sounded from within the inn.

“We might die here. Every time we kill one, Yin Sha energy spreads and corrodes us.”

“Since ancient times, the number of cultivators who survived Soul Suppression Night can be counted on one hand.”

“Was it Lu Lin who set us up? Why would she do that—does she want to claim those things for herself?”

“Lu Lin doesn’t seem capable of that; she was likely manipulated, given some treasure that knocked us out instantly.”

“Don’t get distracted. There may be many fiends, but we’re not weak. Hold out until dawn, and we’ll survive.” Someone cut in, halting the conversation.

Xu Zhe recognized the voice—it belonged to the sharp-tongued, older woman.

His arrival soon drew the attention of the fiendish crowd.

“Another human?”

“This is bad—run!” A few fiends, seeing Xu Zhe, paled and tried to flee.

“What are you running for? Just a Qi Refining human.” Another grabbed them, curious.

“You know nothing. The four from the Qian residence died at this guy’s hands.”

A few fiends looked anxious.

“That’s not all. I was hiding on a rooftop in a side alley and saw Lord You’er flee at the sight of him, chased for several streets before barely escaping.”

“No way—even someone as ruthless as Lord You’er… cough, cough, is afraid of him?”

“That’s nothing. I saw Granny Iron Crutch drop her staff and run straight back to the sealing formation after seeing him.”

A collective gasp swept through the fiends.

Granny Iron Crutch?

She was one of the top ten powers within the sealing formation—her iron crutch was formidable, and even late-stage Foundation Establishment humans couldn’t match her.

Such a figure, frightened into retreat by a mere Qi Refining human?

All at once, every fiend outside the inn eyed Xu Zhe warily.

Unconsciously, the crowd shuffled several meters backward, nearly crowding into the inn itself.

Xu Zhe stood unmoving, counting the fiends.

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Not too many, not too few—exactly forty.

Most were at Qi Refining level; a few at early Foundation Establishment.

Within the inn there seemed to be quite a few fiends as well, locked in combat with the Jade Pool female disciples.

“Are you tired of living? I told you not to set foot inside the inn, yet you’re all crowding in—why?”

“Fools! Are my words, You’er’s words, useless now? Get out! Once we take down these humans and sate our hunger, we’ll leave some scraps for you.”

Several shrill voices rang from within.

The fiends at the door shuddered, faces pale.

“Lord You’er, it’s not that we don’t want to leave—it’s someone blocking us in!” A fiend disguised as a little girl pleaded pitifully.

Someone?

Inside, the Jade Pool disciples were stunned.

How could that be? Besides themselves, how could there be any other cultivators in Tianhe City?

Everyone knew that on Soul Suppression Night, staying in the city meant certain death.

Just look at these fiends—if a few more of Foundation Establishment strength showed up, even with their protective artifacts, they’d be devoured clean.

But soon, the Jade Pool disciples froze.

The fiend leaders who had been fighting them abruptly stopped.

The one called You’er was powerful and authoritative—she stopped first, and the others followed.

What was happening?

“Lord You’er, what’s wrong?” someone asked in a low voice.

You’er’s gaze was locked outside the inn, just as she caught sight of Xu Zhe. Her face darkened.

“Xu Zhe—Master Xu, is that right?”

Suddenly, she addressed him.

“What?” The Jade Pool disciples exclaimed in shock, faces pale, dumbfounded.

Xu Zhe?

The newcomer was Xu Zhe?

Hadn’t he only just awakened from the Sky Chamber—a mere mortal, not yet cultivating—how could he be here?

The key was, these fiends seemed terrified of him.

The Jade Pool disciples exchanged confused glances, wondering if they had misheard or if it was merely someone with the same name.

Meanwhile, outside, Xu Zhe heard You’er’s voice.

He rose on his toes, peering past the fiends at the door, finally spotting You’er and her companions.

Well, eleven fiends inside.

You’er looked familiar—wasn’t she the woman he’d seen in the alley just now? Chased for several streets and now here?

“Miss, yes, I am Xu Zhe,” he replied, smiling with impeccable manners.

“Very well, Master Xu—let’s be clear. What exactly do you want?” You’er decided to negotiate.

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By rights, with over fifty fiends gathered here, they should stand a good chance against Xu Zhe.

But… expecting them to work together to besiege him?

Impossible!

She knew full well that if Xu Zhe showed any formidable strength, the rest would scatter instantly.

Just as she and the other fiends had fled after witnessing the four slain at the Qian residence.

Still, with these human women finally cornered and nearly within reach, she was reluctant to run and resolved to bargain.

Yet Xu Zhe, upon hearing her, was momentarily surprised, then waved dismissively, “No worries, I’m just here for the spectacle. Don’t mind me—pretend I’m not here.”

His words left You’er stunned.

Here for the spectacle? Pretend you’re not here?

Damn it, I still remember you killing Laifu.

How am I supposed to pretend you don’t exist?

“Master Xu, let’s not beat around the bush—name your price. What must we give you for you not to interfere?”

“Price? I don’t want anything. What I wanted, I’ve already received.”

Xu Zhe said this as he took out a black iron fragment, flaunting it before the fiends.

See? This hefty piece of Taiyi Geng Metal, so thick with Yin Sha energy—envy it, do you?

I got it as a reward for helping an old lady cross the street.

“That’s… Granny Iron Crutch’s treasure…” You’er stared in disbelief, mind reeling.

Granny Iron Crutch was immensely powerful—now her treasure was in his hands. Does this mean…

I understand.

He’s hinting that Granny Iron Crutch fell victim to him, her crutch crushed by his ruthless hand.

He’s making a show of force, applying pressure.

He’s warning us—unless we offer enough, it won’t be as simple as not interfering.

Terrifying man!

…

Meanwhile, inside the inn.

The Jade Pool disciples were equally stupefied.

They were now certain—the man outside was the same Xu Zhe they’d met during the day.

The one they had mocked for his mortal bloodline, schemed against, planning to seize his storage ring—the mortal prodigy.

But now?

After just an afternoon, he was already at Qi Refining stage?

And these fiends were so afraid of him, even negotiating terms?

…