Chapter 216: Imperial Clan Pursuit Order, Azure Lotus Sword Venerable

The high-level members of the Ying Family and Jiang Family were furious.

"Bastard! Who did this?!"

"According to the two Young Masters, it was a mysterious young man whom some call the Azure Lotus Sword Venerable."

The Clan Chiefs of the two Imperial Families looked at each other, both seeing the killing intent in the other's eyes.

"Pass down the order!"

"Issue the Imperial Clan Pursuit Order!"

Soon, a pursuit order that shook the entire Eastern Wasteland was released:

"Joint Announcement from the Jiang Family and Ying Family: The Azure Lotus Sword Venerable has maliciously harmed the Prodigies of our two families. His crimes are heinous!"

"Anyone providing accurate information on this scoundrel's whereabouts will be rewarded with five hundred thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones!"

"Whoever takes his head will be rewarded with five million Top-Grade Spirit Stones, granted the position of Guest Elder in both the Jiang and Ying Families, and bestowed with one Imperial Rank Low Grade Cultivation Technique!"

"This order remains valid indefinitely. Even to the ends of the earth, we shall not rest until he is dead!"

As soon as the news broke, the entire Eastern Wasteland went completely wild.

"Five million Top-Grade Spirit Stones! And an Imperial Rank Cultivation Technique!"

"The position of Guest Elder—that means being able to enjoy the resources of an Imperial Clan!"

"Quick, look for him! We must find him even if we have to search every inch of the Eastern Wasteland!"

In an instant, countless bounty hunters, assassin organizations, and powerful Loose Cultivators swarmed toward the Eastern Wasteland like sharks scenting blood.

Meanwhile, Zhou Chen was leisurely sitting in a teahouse, listening to the discussions around him.

"The Prodigies of two great Imperial Families were hung from a tree; what an unprecedented scandal!"

"I heard they were even stripped bare. That scene…"

"A friend of mine saw it with his own eyes. He said the two of them were pressed very close together!"

Zhou Chen picked up his teacup, a cold smile curling at the corners of his mouth.

He checked the status of the two's Opportunities through the System.

Zhou Chen put down the tea money and stood up to leave.

An Imperial Clan Pursuit Order?

Zhou Chen was somewhat disdainful; he truly didn't take it seriously.

He wasn't even afraid of a Quasi-Emperor Evil Spirit, let alone anyone else.

As long as the old monsters didn't make a move, he had the confidence to slay any powerful enemy.

Many years later, when people mentioned this past event, they would still be unable to help but laugh.

The Prodigies of two great Imperial Families were actually stripped naked and hung from a tree; this was likely the greatest humiliation in the history of the two families.

"Isn't that right? I heard that when the two of them woke up, they were recorded by hundreds of Cultivators using Image Recording Stones. Now the whole Eastern Wasteland is talking about it!"

"They deserved it! So what if they're Imperial Clan Prodigies? Failing a sneak attack and getting humiliated instead is truly heart-warming!"

The crowd was still discussing the hot topic.

Zhou Chen smiled slightly and continued to sip his tea.

Just then, his brow twitched slightly.

Three bursts of killing intent locked onto him from different directions.

"So they've finally come."

Bang!

The teahouse door was kicked open, and three men in black rushed in: "Azure Lotus Sword Venerable, give us your life!"

"Run! It's the assassins from the Shadow Pavilion."

The other tea drinkers fled in panic.

Zhou Chen unhurriedly set down his teacup: "Just the three of you at the tenth level of the Saint Realm?"

"It's enough!" the leading man in black sneered. "You're just a man of hollow reputation!"

The three attacked simultaneously, with Sword Qi, poison mist, and hidden weapons overwhelming the area!

Zhou Chen didn't move from his seat; he merely blew a gentle breath.

Whoosh—

A clear breeze swept past, and all the attacks vanished into thin air.

The three assassins froze in place, maintaining their attacking postures.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

The three ice statues shattered into powder, clearly the effect of the Ice Spirit Cold Flame.

"The first wave."

Zhou Chen muttered to himself and continued drinking his tea.

Over the next few hours, no matter where he went, assassination attempts were constant.

After all, providing a clue alone was worth five hundred thousand Spirit Stones; no one could refuse such a temptation.

An hour later.

Seven Loose Cultivators joined forces for an ambush and were killed by Zhou Chen with a single sword strike.

The Blood Wolf bounty hunter group of twenty people laid siege, but the entire group was wiped out.

A Half-Emperor lone wolf nicknamed Nether Ghost Hand sneaked an attack on Zhou Chen, only to be slapped to death by Zhou Chen's backhand.

Finally, the Jiang Family could no longer sit still.

"Useless! All of you are useless!"

The Jiang Family Grand Elder was enraged: "You can't even kill a wild brat of unknown origin!"

"Grand Elder, should our Law Enforcement Team take action personally?"

"Go! Take the Imperial Rank Low Grade Formation Plate. This scoundrel must be killed!"

Five figures soared through the air, their auras all surprisingly at the Half-Emperor Realm!

"The Barrier-Breaking Pill is not bad; it will come in handy for breaking through to the Quasi-Emperor Realm."

Zhou Chen's figure flashed as he headed toward Eastern Wasteland City.

Three days later, at the Antique Street of Eastern Wasteland City.

Ying Xuan, wrapped in a black robe, sneakily walked into an inconspicuous little shop.

The humiliation of being hung from a tree made him afraid to show his face, but he couldn't miss out on an Opportunity.

"Boss, what treasures do you have? Any ancient relics?"

"Young Master has a good eye. I happen to have a treasure here…"

Just as the boss took out a simple jade box, a figure flashed by.

"I'll take it."

Ying Xuan was stunned, then flew into a rage upon seeing the newcomer: "Ji Wuming?! You dare to snatch my things?"

The newcomer was none other than Zhou Chen disguised as Ji Wuming.

Imperial Clan Prodigies often had interactions with each other.

A playboy like Ji Wuming was well-known, so how could he not be recognized?

"You're Ying Xuan? Why are you wrapped up like a zongzi? Oh right, I heard you were stripped naked and hung from a tree? Hahaha!"

"You're looking for death!"

Ying Xuan attacked in a rage, but was forced back by a single punch from 'Ji Wuming'.

"With this little strength of yours, no wonder you were hung from a tree."

Ying Xuan wanted to attack again, but seeing more and more people gathering around, he left with a livid face.

Zhou Chen sauntered away with the jade box, leaving behind a dark-faced Ying Xuan.

The stall owner, looking at Ying Xuan's appearance, thought of the images he'd seen on the Image Recording Stones over the past few days and couldn't help but feel a chill.

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for intercepting Ying Xuan's Opportunity: Barrier-Breaking Pill. Tenfold return triggered! Obtained Imperial Rank Medium Grade Barrier-Breaking Pill!]

"Not bad."

Zhou Chen showed a satisfied smile. He was only one Opportunity away from breaking through to the Quasi-Emperor Realm.

However, Zhou Chen couldn't be sure when this Opportunity would appear.

After all, a forced Breakthrough would lead to an unstable Foundation. Unless it was absolutely necessary, Zhou Chen would not force a Realm Breakthrough.

Seven days later, at East Mountain Lake.

Jiang Yifei brought a dozen guards secretly to a small island in the middle of the lake. According to the Family's latest intelligence, a Treasure Artifact fragment might be hidden here.

"This is the place! Dig it up for me!"

However, when they dug open the secret chamber, it was empty, containing only a note:

"To Jiang Yifei: I've taken your Treasure Artifact fragment, thanks. —Azure Lotus Sword Venerable."

"Zhou Chen!!!"

Jiang Yifei's anger reached the heavens: "I will exterminate your entire clan! I'll execute nine generations of your Family! I'll make your life worse than death!"

"Oh? Such a big temper?"

A teasing voice rang out.

Jiang Yifei turned his head sharply and saw Zhou Chen standing not far away, playing with a brick in his hand.

"You… why are you here?"

"Waiting for you."

Zhou Chen smiled, "I heard you want to exterminate my entire clan?"

"Kill him!"

The guards rushed forward.

Zhou Chen's figure flashed, appearing behind Jiang Yifei in an instant.

Bang!

The brick slammed solidly into the back of his head.

Jiang Yifei's eyes rolled back, and he fell unconscious once again.

A moment later, on a large tree by the shore of East Mountain Lake, another stripped-bare figure was added.

This time, Zhou Chen thoughtfully left a note: "Commemoration of Jiang Yifei's second naked hanging."

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for intercepting Jiang Yifei's Opportunity: a fragment of the chaos bell. Ten-thousand-fold return triggered! Obtained a core fragment of the chaos bell!]

When the news spread, the Jiang Family was completely enraged.

"Useless! To be knocked out and stripped by the same person twice! From today onwards, all Imperial Clan resources for Jiang Yifei are revoked!"