"Who do you think you are, coming here to—" A guard charged straight at
Jiang Chen's gaze sharpened. He swung his arm in a wide arc and delivered a thunderous slap.
"Get lost!"
The slap was ferociously powerful. A peak Saint Realm martial artist was sent flying like a toddler who'd just learned to walk, swatted aside by a single blow.
"Someone's causing trouble!" "Enemy attack! Enemy attack!" "Notify the head steward—there's an enemy attack!"
This time, Jiang Chen had fully resolved to make a scene. He charged forward without a shred of restraint, his momentum terrifying, like a demon god descended upon the mortal world.
He didn't bother with any other techniques. He simply swung his arms wide and slapped anyone foolish enough to get in his way.
Though the slaps seemed casual, when combined with his cultivation and Divine Abilities, each seemingly simple slap contained attack profundities that were nearly impossible to evade.
Crack, crack, crack—he slapped his way through with reckless abandon. Not a single guard could withstand a single blow from his palm.
It was as though his slaps carried some extraordinary magic, making it impossible for anyone to dodge.
Before long, tougher opponents appeared.
Several Emperor Realm experts burst from the inner courtyard and surrounded Jiang Chen. Among them, a high-stage Emperor Realm elder appeared to be their leader.
"What exactly is the meaning of this? Our shop has only just opened, and you're already here to pick fights? Isn't that a bit too hasty?"
"Elder Mo speaks the truth. We've only just opened and have no grudge with anyone. If you're going to come here and cause trouble on purpose, do you even dare to give us your name?"
"Exactly—skulking in the shadows, what kind of skill is that? You tricked King Dan Hong into making a wager with you, then drove him to his death."
Jiang Chen was caught somewhere between laughter and exasperation.
King Dan Hong had been killed by his own people, yet here they were, pinning his death squarely on Jiang Chen. Such savage logic left him simultaneously annoyed and amused.
"Hmph, you know best how King Dan Hong died." Jiang Chen couldn't be bothered to argue. "Get your boss out here. King Dan Hong was your man. He lost the bet, but the wager was never honored. Since you're the ones who brought him here, I'll have no choice but to demand answers from you!"
"Young man, know when to stop!" the high-stage Emperor Realm elder snarled. "King Dan Hong may have been affiliated with our shop, but he was nothing more than a wandering rogue pill king—a guest pill king we simply invited. You pushed relentlessly, and now he's dead because of you. What more do you want?"
With every sentence pinning King Dan Hong's death on him, these people wielded their bandit logic with practiced ease.
"Wandering rogue pill king? Guest pill king?"
Jiang Chen sneered. "If he truly was just a wandering rogue pill king, why would he have hesitated to reveal which force was pulling his strings behind the scenes? Don't tell me there's no conspiracy here."
"Believe it or not—that's your choice. But you drove our guest pill king to his death and now you've come here to cause trouble. Today, no matter who you are, you'll have to give us an explanation!"
The Emperor Realm elder seemed to have received some signal, and his tone turned resolute.
Jiang Chen noticed the sudden shift in their demeanor.
Without a word, Jiang Chen let out a cold laugh, swept his sleeve, and charged forward again.
Seeing Jiang Chen treat them as though they were nothing but blocks of wood, the high-stage Emperor Realm elder erupted in fury. "Boy, don't get cocky!"
Jiang Chen gave a cold snort. "Cocky is exactly what I am!"
With his current cultivation at the Emperor Realm, Jiang Chen absolutely had the strength to face the high-stage Emperor Realm elder head-on. Add to that the various trump cards at his disposal, and he naturally had the confidence to come and go as he pleased.
Fists and feet collided, and devastating waves of energy swept in all directions, sending the surrounding counters crashing left and right. Fortunately, the shop had just opened, and all its counters were reinforced with special defensive formations.
Had they been ordinary counters, they would have been reduced to dust under such terrifying waves of energy.
But even though the shop was filled with protective formations, Jiang Chen had clearly come to destroy. His attacks were sweeping and expansive, his movements enormous, and his destructive power more than sufficient.
Of these Emperor Realm experts, only the high-stage elder could roughly match Jiang Chen in direct combat. The other three or four early-stage Emperor Realm experts all struggled mightily before Jiang Chen's overwhelming fighting prowess.
Jiang Chen thrust both hands forward, unleashing a modified Vermilion Bird dharma idol that surged toward the enemy like a wall of volcanic fire.
Though this Vermilion Bird dharma idol wasn't as powerful as when used by someone with an actual Vermilion Bird bloodline, Jiang Chen's version contained the essence of an ancient heavenly fire—Gu Yan.
A powerful wave of heat rolled forth, immediately making those Emperor Realm experts feel an indescribable dryness throughout their bodies—as though all the moisture within them was being rapidly absorbed and evaporated.
Their faces drained of color in horror, feeling as though every last drop of moisture in their bodies was about to be wrung dry.
"This fire is abnormal—everyone, retreat now!"