Zhou Chuan watched the two figures standing in the rain, a look of unprecedented caution in his eyes.
"Gong Family people? And they still possess Ninth Tier Wind Power?" Zhang Chen's eyes showed a hint of curiosity.
Ninth Tier Power can already rival the Yang God!
Especially since one of them wields Yifeng that can blow away people's souls, and the other holds Yifeng that can confuse the mind. This kind of power seemingly restrains Yang God and Martial Dao Will.
"The wounds on my body were left by that old man in a black robe; this old fellow almost dug out my heart and liver." Zhou Chuan slowly slung his pack onto his back, then rose from the pavilion.
"Zhou Chuan, you can't escape; better surrender obediently and come with me to the Gong Family to confess." The white-robed elder's voice contained a peculiar force, not very loud but capable of penetrating the rain, reaching the ears of the two people upstairs.
"Heh, escape? What do you mean escape? I call this a strategic retreat." Zhou Chuan was defiant, his voice full of stubbornness: "Your Gong Family bunch are just a group of ants, always bullying the weak; one day I'll kill all your old turtles in Gong Family."
After speaking, Zhou Chuan had already jumped out of the teahouse, rushed into the downpour, and only his faint mosquito-like words reached Zhang Chen's ears: "Escape quickly! These two old turtles are not to be trifled with. My Martial Dao Will is not tempered enough; these two old turtles somewhat restrain me. Take care of yourself."
Having said that, Zhou Chuan had already gone far, his running speed breaking the sound barrier, leaving a clear waterline in the air.
The black-robed elder transformed into a black whirlwind, disappearing in the rain, chasing after Zhou Chuan, while the white-robed elder stood still, his eyes falling on Zhang Chen.
Zhang Chen had killed many Gong Family people, like that Gong Bao, so he and the Gong Family were bound by a sea of blood feud. Yet Zhang Chen felt the Gong Family might not know this, and even if they knew, they might not recognize him.
"Will you walk down yourself or shall I bring you down?" The white-robed old man looked at Zhang Chen, his voice gentle yet pure.
"Oh? You're looking for Zhou Chuan; what does it have to do with me?" Zhang Chen's eyes showed a hint of confusion: "Could it be that the Gong Family knows I killed Gong Bao and other direct descendants?"
"Zhou Chuan bows to you, showing your extraordinary status. I want to invite you to help me capture Zhou Chuan; what do you think?" The white-robed old man's voice was very polite, seemingly negotiating with Zhang Chen, yet the words were filled with undeniable force.
Zhang Chen raised an eyebrow at the words, looking up and down at the old man in front: "What if I refuse?"
"Your cultivation is only at Third Tier, absolutely no chance of resistance before me." The white-robed old man said with a cheerful smile.
"So I have no choice." Zhang Chen sighed softly.
"Correct!" The white-robed old man said: "I know you have a background, or else Zhou Chuan wouldn't kneel down to you. But Zhou Chuan killed too many of my Gong Family experts; he must die! Regardless of your identity today, you have to help my Gong Family capture Zhou Chuan."
"The Gong Family is too domineering!" Zhang Chen slowly stood up from the teahouse: "Moreover, you seem to be sure of me."
"My wind is Dizzying Wind; once hit by my Dizzying Wind, you'll be controlled by me, so it's best if you cooperate yourself. If you don't want to cooperate, it's not a big problem; I'll make sure you cooperate obediently." The white-robed old man smiled welcomingly.
"May I ask your name?" Zhang Chen asked.
"Gong Bai." The white-robed old man replied.
"Was the one just now called Gong Hei?" Zhang Chen smiled, teasing, his face showing no tension.
"Correct." Gong Bai nodded.
Zhang Chen's smile faded; he picked up the oil-paper umbrella beside him, slowly walked down the pavilion, into the torrential rain, and came to Gong Bai: "You're very confident."
"Because I've killed so many people, confidence gradually built over time." Gong Bai replied.
To survive continuously amidst slaughter, one naturally is proud. This is not due to luck but because one's strength is formidable.
"I really want to try your Dizzying Wind." Zhang Chen hid one hand in the sleeve while holding the oil-paper umbrella with the other, rain pattered down the umbrella's surface, wetting the ground's marks.
"If you're disobedient, you'll have the chance to try it. I don't care about your background or connections, even if you're from the Royal Family, I won't fear you." Gong Bai's words carried clear warning, yet were marked with confidence.
Facing Gong Bai's warning, Zhang Chen's hidden hand suddenly shot out, a blood-red light slicing through the rain towards Gong Bai.
No matter who the opponent was, Zhang Chen was confident; if hit by his Blood Transformation Divine Saber, they'd be finished.
Seeing Zhang Chen's Blood Transformation Divine Saber, Gong Bai's expression changed drastically. He instantly recognized the origin of the Blood Transformation Divine Saber, as it was the only Divine Artifact capable of easily cutting through the Eleventh Tier True Dragon Reverse Scale.
Moreover, on the day of that great battle, anyone who wasn't blind could see it.
Gong Bai transformed into a wisp of breeze and slipped away from the Blade Wind slashed out by Zhang Chen, his form appeared ten zhang away: "I have mastered Wind Escape, and the Blade Wind you unleash is also wind. As long as there is wind, it is under my control."
"How did you get that saber in your hands? What is Xie Xuan to you?" Gong Bai glanced at the Blood Transformation Divine Saber, his eyes filled with greed. If he could seize the saber, his future combat power would surely rise to a new height.
"What a pity, couldn't this even kill you?" Zhang Chen's eyes showed a trace of regret as he turned and fled into the rain.
He didn't use Escape Technique because he still had tricks up his sleeve. If he used the Escape Technique, how would Gong Bai take the bait?
"Do you think you can escape?" Gong Bai watched Zhang Chen's retreating figure with a mocking smile: "No matter how fast you are, can you be faster than the wind?"
Gong Bai stood still and blew a mouthful of yellow air towards Zhang Chen. The yellow air elongated into about a meter and rushed towards Zhang Chen. Before he could run ten meters, the yellow wind enveloped him, and he stood still, like a sculpture.
Zhang Chen only felt a breeze hit his face, then his brain went foggy, as if he were in a half-awake, half-dream state, losing control over his body.
At this moment, the Wind Stabilizing Pearl in his Spiritual World trembled slightly, and all anomalies disappeared, restoring his control over his body. Yet, he still stood there dumbly like a dried-up wooden stake.
"Turn around." Gong Bai commanded.
Zhang Chen obediently turned around, his eyes vacant and confused as he looked at Gong Bai.
"Which family are you from?" Gong Bai asked.
Upon hearing Gong Bai's question, Zhang Chen's mind raced before he replied: "White Lotus Sect."
He had a grudge against the White Lotus Sect. If he could divert the trouble, causing the White Lotus Sect to clash with the Gong Family, it would be for the best.
Sure enough, hearing Zhang Chen's response made Gong Bai's heart jolt. The White Lotus Sect was a formidable power, not one to be provoked easily. Even the Gong Family would prefer not to incite them.
"Yet since I have already provoked them, there's no room for hesitation." Gong Bai muttered to himself.
Then he asked again, "What is your status and rank within the White Lotus Sect?"
Knowing the enemy and oneself is vital. Having already offended the White Lotus Sect, it was crucial to grasp all the details to devise a fitting response.
"I am the son of Hall Master Chen Zhifei of the Flood Banner." Zhang Chen replied blankly, "My name is Chen Ming."
"So, you are Chen Zhifei's son?" Gong Bai felt a twinge of apprehension. Chen Zhifei, a descendant of the previous dynasty, had deep roots and wasn't easy to provoke.
"But what does it matter if you are Chen Zhifei's son? With such a divine artifact in hand, I wouldn't hesitate to wage war against the White Lotus Sect." Gong Bai's gaze fell upon the Blood Saber, his eyes burning with desire.
With such a divine artifact, combined with his Bloodline Power, he dared to challenge even a Tenth Tier powerhouse.
So Gong Bai cheerfully asked, "What is your relationship with Xie Xuan?"
He desired the Blood Saber but needed to clarify the relationship between Xie Xuan and the person before him. After all, Xie Xuan not only had formidable cultivation but also held an official position with the court, making Gong Bai cautious.
"I have no relationship with Xie Xuan." Zhang Chen replied woodenly, like a puppet.
"Then why does the Blood Saber appear in your hands?" Gong Bai asked, puzzled.
"I was searching for the Dragon Pearl outside the city when the saber suddenly fell from the sky and landed in front of me, so I pulled it out and took it with me." Zhang Chen replied.
Hearing this, Gong Bai was overjoyed. The saber didn't belong to this kid but was picked up when Xie Xuan lost it. If Xie Xuan lost even his treasured saber, he must have encountered a formidable enemy, and his situation might not be good.
If he seized the treasured saber, even if Xie Xuan came looking for it later, he could claim he took it from the White Lotus Sect, keeping it for himself.
Having understood the entire scenario, Gong Bai no longer hesitated and reached out his hand: "This saber doesn't suit you; give it to me, and I, as your elder, will find you a new one more suitable for you in the future."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen's expression wavered, hesitating with the Blood Saber in his hand.
"Such greed, no wonder he dared to take advantage of the chaos in Xie Xuan's backyard to snatch his saber. Even my Dizzying Wind couldn't fully shroud him; this kid's obsession with the saber runs deep." Gong Bai wasn't surprised to see Zhang Chen's struggling expression. Such a prized saber was not something one would hand over easily.
At this moment, as Zhang Chen gripped the hilt of the Blood Saber, both his hand and the hilt were concealed within his sleeve, hidden from Gong Bai's view. Within Zhang Chen's body, the Blood God Child silently transformed into a drop of blood, already attaching itself to the hilt.
He knew well he was no match for Gong Bai, but does killing always require strength? Perhaps not!