"Chang’an, could you tell me your true realm now? The power you just displayed in that battle was a real eye-opener for me!"
To be honest, Hu Xiuyuan was both anxious and excited as he asked this somewhat presumptuous question.
He was anxious because he had lived for over fifty years and traveled through countless Rebirth Worlds. He’d always considered himself quite talented, especially when it came to the Martial Dao.
But now, Li Chang’an’s appearance had once again taught him the meaning of the saying, ’there’s always someone better out there.’
A young man who’d been a Reincarnator for less than three years had just defeated a Tier Eight Early Stage and a Tier Seven Peak Evolver in a single battle, cutting down several others in the process...
It made him feel as if his decades of hard work and struggle had all gone to waste. His accomplishments couldn’t even compare to a newcomer who’d only been a Reincarnator for two and a half years.
What excited him was that this young man, quite possibly a prodigy the likes of which Xiangnan had never seen, was now one of the rising stars from his own territory.
He had played a part in the young man’s growth and rise to power.
Hearing Hu Xiuyuan’s question, Li Chang’an hesitated for a moment before saying with a wry smile, "Governor Hu, I recently finished another rebirth and just raised my Martial Dao Evolution Level to Tier Seven Peak..."
Both Hu Xiuyuan and Su Ruobing were his most trusted partners and allies in the Main World. It was precisely because of their help and protection that he had been able to grow so smoothly.
Therefore, Li Chang’an didn’t hide his realm. Besides, at this level, he was already capable of facing and resolving most situations on his own.
Besides, he had already revealed his strength; he couldn’t hide it even if he wanted to.
Being evasive would only create a sense of distance and distrust.
Upon hearing the words ’Tier Seven Peak’...
Even as the dignified governor of a province, Hu Xiuyuan’s cheek still twitched involuntarily, and he sucked in a sharp breath through his teeth.
Reaching Tier Seven Peak was certainly astonishingly fast progress, but that wasn’t even the most terrifying part.
The most terrifying part was that Li Chang’an was *only* at Tier Seven Peak. In a single fight, he had not only killed a Secret Mage of the same realm, but had also jumped an entire major realm to kill a Tier Eight Martial Arts Evolver.
A combat record like that could only be described as monstrous.
If even Hu Xiuyuan was feeling this conflicted, one could only imagine what Su Ruobing—who had witnessed everything firsthand—was going through. Her face was still a mask of shock and numbness.
Seeing them both silent, Li Chang’an knew his promotion speed was ridiculously fast, as if he were using a cheat. He quickly changed the subject. "Governor Hu, Chairman Su, Gu Yizhi went to great lengths to deal with me this time, but he didn’t get the results he wanted. I’m afraid he’ll become even more frantic now and won’t let this go so easily. I’d like to ask for your help in finding a group of High-level Evolvers to station themselves in Cangxuan City. I’m willing to pay thirty percent above the going rate!"
Although the Gu Family hadn’t acted openly in this assassination attempt, it meant that any pretense between them and Li Chang’an was now gone.
Hu Xiuyuan didn’t answer right away. After a moment of thought, he said, "Although the Cao Family of Kyoto is a step below the Gu Family in terms of power, they are still one of Kyoto’s most prominent major Reincarnator Families. Yet now, they’re willingly doing Gu Yizhi’s bidding... I don’t know what the Gu Family paid for this, but I imagine the price was steep!"
He paused, glancing at the carnage and corpses strewn across the ground, and continued with a hint of regret, "It’s a pity we couldn’t capture anyone alive. Otherwise, after some harsh interrogation, we could have tied them to the Cao Family or the Gu Family. Both families would have had to shed a layer of skin, at the very least... But it’s alright. The body of this member of the Cao Family’s direct lineage is still here. Don’t you worry about hiring High-level Evolvers. I’ll make the Cao Family ’willingly’ cough up the money for it!"
Hearing this, Li Chang’an felt a warmth spread through his heart. He nodded and said, "In that case, thank you, Lord Governor!"
Strictly speaking, his cash flow wasn’t exactly abundant at the moment.
The funds required to hire powerful Evolvers were substantial. If the Cao Family could be made to ’willingly’ foot the bill, it would be a great help.
’After all, what could be more satisfying than using the enemy’s money to fight the enemy?’
Hu Xiuyuan nodded, looking Li Chang’an over for a moment before pulling an elixir from his coat. "This is a Muscle and Bone Rejuvenation Pill for healing. Take it and treat your injuries. I’m taking these bodies to Kyoto immediately to demand an explanation!"
Li Chang’an took the elixir and swallowed it. He felt it dissolve quickly, and a searing, warm current spread through his body, healing his frame, which had been left somewhat depleted from the high-intensity battle.
Hu Xiuyuan cleaned up the battlefield, his main task being to pack up all the bodies. Although there were no living witnesses, the physical evidence alone could prove a great deal.
Of course, the Cao Family could deny everything or pin all the blame on the deceased Cao Hui. But doing so would break the unspoken rules of their circle, easily earning them the enmity of numerous other families.
Beyond certain unwritten rules established among the major families, reason held no sway.
Only fists—and hard ones at that—could force these great families and clans to abide by the rules.
After Hu Xiuyuan left, the independent space that had enveloped the battlefield slowly collapsed, and Li Chang’an and Su Ruobing found themselves back in the Main World.