Chapter 38: Black Market Shaken, Rising Fame
“So... so strong!”
Everyone stared at the figure quietly sitting on that shattered train seat.
Despite the crude surroundings, in their eyes, it was as if they were looking at a Vajra King of Hell seated upon a lotus throne.
Involuntarily, the nickname given by the chubby one surfaced in their minds.
Brother Fierce!
What they had thought was merely a joking name turned out to be a massive underestimation.
In their eyes, the Fly Boy—someone who easily slaughtered Spirit Awakening Stage peak cultivators like a boss—was nothing more than a rag doll before him, casually manipulated and effortlessly slain.
Even until his fall, the Fly Boy never forced him to stand!
This disparity... was far too great!
“Brother Fierce’s external avatar... is utterly terrifying!”
The chubby one looked visibly shaken. He had known Jiang Yan was formidable, but he didn’t expect...
What he knew was merely the tip of the iceberg!
This guy was definitely a genius from some top-tier power!
“Is it the Wild History Club? Or the Yama Celestial Prince Hall? The World’s Shadow Society associated with shadows? Or perhaps a local monster cultivated in Jiangnan Province...”
Names of several top-tier dark forces flashed through the chubby one’s mind, but none he could confirm.
Originally, the most likely suspect should have been one of the official forces that widely recruited talents, but due to this combat style and abilities being too...
Sinister.
What kind of upright cultivator would have a shadow that transforms into a bizarre dual-headed serpent, devouring everything, with even a headless corpse growing multiple arms to wield swords and kill powerful foes?
Even more terrifying than Mutated Beings!
It was impossible to associate the Brother Fierce before them with the justice-executing Bureau of Historical Revision.
The chubby one had previously felt a bit of superiority, thinking that once Brother Fierce arrived in Modu and met his own faction, he could astonish him and then naturally bring him in as a guest cultivator.
But now...
It seemed he was the one who needed to build rapport and leave a good impression.
‘Father once said, the mutation of the Historical Long River is still deepening, pushing a massive amount of Diseased Domains into the real world. Though this brings danger, it also offers more opportunities.
In this increasingly chaotic era, the future will definitely belong to these geniuses. Father always says I lack ambition, not realizing that luck is also a part of strength. I just casually went out and ran into Brother Fierce. If I can cling to his leg, with our combined power, won’t we be unstoppable? Gagaga...’
Excited, the chubby one was about to cozy up further to Brother Fierce, but then he realized...
The other party had disappeared once again.
Whether it was the Shadow-Eating Serpent, the Fly Boy’s corpse, or the massive Fly Swarm, they had all vanished without a trace.
Only the ruins left behind from the battle proved that everything just now hadn’t been an illusion.
With the Fly Boy’s blockade gone, Coachman “Four” quickly contacted the Five Madness Dharma Assembly via phone.
When the reinforcements from the Five Madness Dharma Assembly arrived, leading them was a white-haired middle-aged man in a black robe—the president of the Five Madness Dharma Assembly, a Law Seed Stage powerhouse.
After listening to everyone’s account, he looked at the nearly leveled small grove ahead, his expression shocked.
It was hard to believe these were traces left behind by Foundation Establishment Stage combat?
It was nearly on par with the Law Seed Stage!
The president spoke, “Regarding today’s incident, our Five Madness Dharma Assembly will not shirk responsibility. Shortly, each of you will receive a Historical Relic of Foundation Establishment Stage as compensation. We’ve also arranged for Foundation Establishment Stage guest cultivators to escort you home. As for the deceased guests, if their families come forward, we will provide the same compensation.”
Although this incident was caused by a monster attack and the Five Madness Dharma Assembly was, in principle, only obligated to provide humanitarian aid at most...
Unfortunately, Coachman “Ten” was parasitized by Insect Eggs. Even if it wasn’t voluntary, luring other coachmen with information sent by the Fly Boy was an undeniable fact.
Too many people had died, and such news couldn’t be hidden.
Therefore, the Five Madness Dharma Assembly couldn’t evade responsibility—unless they were willing to abandon this cash cow, they could only hold their nose and accept it.
Reputation mattered more than profit!
If the Fly Boy hadn’t already been slain by Sima Luoshui, the president of the Five Madness Dharma Assembly would have wished to tear him to pieces!
Thinking of Sima Luoshui…
President of the Five Madness Dharma Assembly’s mouth twitched. This name was far too inflated. He spoke, “Sima Luoshui has eliminated a menace for us History Walkers. As long as he personally comes forward and verifies his identity, he may claim a top-grade Foundation Establishment level item at the Five Madness Dharma Assembly.”
After speaking, the president of the Five Madness Dharma Assembly didn’t linger. He still needed to send Coachmen “Ten” and “Four” for treatment, or it would chill the hearts of those under his command.
What a bunch of troublesome matters!
He decided then and there—no more flies allowed in!
Ningning, who was still doing part-time work, rushed to the medical hall inside the Dharma Assembly’s base as soon as she heard a coachman had been harmed. Seeing the barely alive Coachman “Four” being supported by “Seven,” her eyes immediately turned red.
“Thank goodness you’re okay!”
Ningning rushed into Coachman “Seven”’s arms. When she first received the news, she had been trembling with fear.
Terrified that something had happened to her father.
“The one who died was Coachman Three. Four was lightly injured. Ten was parasitized by fly insect eggs and is in critical condition—he’s already been sent to Grandpa Chu for emergency treatment.
Ningning, your dad has great luck. I just happened to be dropping off a guest in the opposite direction. Because I was too far, I didn’t receive the message in time and managed to avoid the disaster.”
Coachman Seven patted Ningning’s head, still not expecting such a major incident to happen tonight.
He sighed, “This world is getting messier and messier. I don’t even know if I’ll live to see you get married... Forget it. I can’t bear such injustice. Zhang Ningning, you’d better stay home. Your dad will take care of you in old age.”
“Dad, what nonsense are you talking about!”
Ningning stomped her foot, smiling through tears. She then turned to Coachman Four, who had just been flooded with a wave of father-daughter affection, and said, “Uncle, I’m just glad you made it back safely!”
“Yes, a misfortune within a fortune. Luckily, that person was in the carriage!”
Coachman Four was also thankful, his words filled with gratitude.
Ningning’s curiosity was piqued, and she asked for the details.
However, the more she heard, the more familiar it sounded. Her mouth shaped into an “O,” and after asking about his attire, she could already confirm...
That Sima Luoshui was the Big Brother!
Very soon,
The news spread throughout the Five Madness Dharma Assembly, causing a sensation. Many were filled with lingering fear and relieved they hadn’t left in haste.
Some, upon hearing the Dharma Assembly was compensating, loudly claimed to be friends of the deceased guests and demanded an explanation.
And thus, the name Sima Luoshui also spread.
After all, sitting like a King of Hell, killing a Foundation Establishment Stage enemy with a flick—he had completely stolen the limelight.
For a time, discussions surged.
In the crowd, a skinny man trembled upon hearing that his external avatar was a dual-headed Shadow Serpent, silently thinking he had narrowly escaped death.
Just a little closer...
And he’d never have to work again in this lifetime.
...
...
...
At the same time,
Jiang Yan, at the center of the storm, had mixed feelings.
It wasn’t because he had quietly left in pursuit of anonymity or to avoid fame and fortune.
In truth, he didn’t even have the strength to move around—
He hadn’t even caught his breath before he was ambushed by the Historical Long River,
And dragged into a new Diseased Domain!