Arrogance

On the other side, Wang Lun, holding Yan Po-xi hostage, entered the village. The villagers quickly stepped aside, not daring to intervene. Wang Lun went straight to Erlong Mountain’s main stronghold.

At that moment, most of the people in the fortress had hidden away in their houses, leaving only a handful cooking, cultivating, or on patrol. Clearly, they were terrified, afraid to be caught in the crossfire.

Wang Lun scanned the area and spotted Li Zhong. Li Zhong sat deep within the stronghold, eyes closed, seemingly in cultivation. Wang Lun estimated his strength to be on par with Yang Zhi and Ruan Wu.

Wang Lun strode to the center of the stronghold.

"Who are you?" Li Zhong opened his eyes. In an instant, a terrifying gleam shot from them.

"I came to talk," Wang Lun said.

Li Zhong arched his eyebrows, then suddenly burst out laughing. "Talk to me? Judging by your tone, boy, you’re here to beg for mercy, aren’t you? Hmph, if you want to live, kneel and kowtow nine times!"

"Kowtow? You think too highly of yourself," Wang Lun replied, shaking his head. Li Zhong’s arrogance disgusted him.

Li Zhong’s face darkened. He sprang from his seat and charged at Wang Lun.

Boom.

Li Zhong unleashed a tremendous force, throwing a full-powered punch at Wang Lun—no probing, just raw strength.

Yet Wang Lun blocked it with ease.

Bang.

The air rippled, then stilled. Li Zhong’s entire right arm went numb, pain shooting down his side.

"Impossible!" Li Zhong’s eyes widened. He was at the early Core Formation stage, while this young man was only at late Foundation Establishment. He should have had the advantage, able to defeat his opponent with a single blow—how had the roles reversed?

This guy is strong, fast, his body incredibly resilient, and his movements are strange. I can’t go head-to-head with him, Li Zhong thought, retreating rapidly.

"Trying to escape? Too late," Wang Lun said, tapping the ground with his toe and surging forward.

Bang, bang, bang. The two clashed in the stronghold, each collision resounding like thunder, deafening all around. Wang Lun’s speed was unmatched, his attacks merciless. Li Zhong could only rely on brute force to defend, quickly falling to a disadvantage.

Just then, a gang of fierce-looking men stormed into the stronghold, each with a scarred face and weapon in hand. They rushed to the center, only to be confronted with a sight they’d never forget.

Uncle Li was being beaten—by none other than the man who’d just kidnapped Yan Po-xi!

"Who are you, daring to interrupt our boss’s cultivation? You’re looking for death!"

"Brothers, get him! Slaughter them!"

The group charged at Wang Lun.

Swish.

Wang Lun stepped into the air, gliding just above the ground. All they saw was a blur, and then blood spurted from their boss’s neck.

A spray of blood. The bandits froze for a second before realizing what had happened and swarming Wang Lun.

Li Zhong’s corpse collapsed to the ground.

The bandits were terrified—not because Li Zhong was dead, but because they knew just how fearsome he was.

"Retreat!"

"Run! We can’t provoke this one!"

A few quick-witted bandits shouted and fled. The others hesitated, then followed suit.

Li Zhong had been a genuine early Core Formation powerhouse—yet he’d been instantly killed!

Having slain Li Zhong, Wang Lun didn’t leave at once. He had no intention of venting his anger on these men. He would use them to force Li Zhong to appear.

"You killed Li Zhong—you’ve killed our big brother!" one bandit shouted, summoning all his courage. Wang Lun glanced at him and slapped him unconscious. Then, in quick succession, he sent a dozen or more flying. Of the forty-some men, all were soon knocked out cold.

Outside the fortress, Bai Zongnan, who had followed Wang Lun, couldn’t help but smile. The commotion inside must have shaken all of Erlong Mountain, and one of the two powerful auras within had vanished.

Li Zhong was dead?

Bai Zongnan didn’t believe it. According to Yan Po-xi, this man had been entrenched on Erlong Mountain for years—he wouldn’t be toppled by someone as insignificant as Wang Lun.

It had to be a decoy! But now that the decoy was gone, the real one would likely emerge early from seclusion!

Thinking this, Bai Zongnan took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement as he prepared to leave.

Suddenly, his ears caught the sound of a long, resounding howl.

The howl echoed throughout Erlong Mountain, penetrating the layers of peaks and spreading far and wide.

"So he’s come," Bai Zongnan muttered, quickening his pace down the mountain. Yet he sensed no disturbance in the spiritual energy, nor any sign of a beast’s aura. Where had the howl come from?

No matter. Since Li Zhong was about to emerge, it was the perfect opportunity to draw him out!

Wang Lun was speaking to Yan Po-xi when he suddenly heard the howl and frowned. He was certain it hadn’t come from the "Li Zhong" he’d just killed.

Was another powerhouse approaching?

Wang Lun immediately activated his Insight Technique, scanning the surroundings.

He saw a fat man in white robes riding a chestnut horse at great speed, his cultivation evident. The man’s attire was unique to Erlong Mountain.

The master of Erlong Mountain.

Wang Lun guessed the man’s identity. Only the ruler of Yilong Mountain would dress that way.

The master of Erlong Mountain—Li Zhong!

In a flash, Wang Lun vanished, reappearing to block the white-robed fat man’s path.

The man pulled his horse to a halt.

"Who are you, daring to intercept me, Li Zhong? Do you have a death wish?" Li Zhong fixed Wang Lun with a cold stare. He was already aware of the carnage in the fortress, rage smoldering within him.

"You’ll know soon enough who I am. You have five minutes. Miss this chance, and you’ll face consequences you cannot bear," Wang Lun said, his body floating above, looking down on his adversary.

Li Zhong burst into furious laughter. "And who do you think you are, to speak to me like that?" As the master of Erlong Mountain and a peak early Core Formation cultivator, he would never tolerate such threats—especially from someone at late Foundation Establishment.

"Who am I? Li Zhong, have you forgotten?" Wang Lun said coldly. "After today, Erlong Mountain will be history—and I will replace you as the new chief!"

"Arrogant fool!"