Chapter 563 - 553: For a Disobedient Dog

Chapter 563: Chapter 553: For a Disobedient Dog

As she spoke, a calculating glint appeared in Mu Junwu’s eyes. She changed the subject. "If I recall, the Black Camp hasn’t won a single time in four straight years, have they?"

Chu Aoqing nodded. "Ever since Shan Tianyu entered the Venerable Realm, the Black Camp hasn’t won. After that, their numbers kept dwindling while the White Camp’s grew, which ultimately created the situation we have today."

"But!"

The two suddenly exclaimed in unison, then turned to Mu Chen with knowing smiles. Mu Chen, however, was lost in thought about the system of rewards and punishments, completely oblivious to the change in their expressions.

But now, it seemed the goddess of victory was about to deliver a spark of hope to the Black Camp’s side...

"So that’s how it is." Mu Chen stroked his chin, finally getting it. ’Wait a minute.’ He was startled when he suddenly noticed the two women looking at him with strange, smiling eyes. His heart skipped a beat. "But what?"

"Nothing," the two replied in unison once more.

This only made Mu Chen more curious, but since they weren’t talking, he decided to drop it. Shaking his head, he asked, "When does registration for the Faction War open?"

Mu Junwu calculated the time in her head. "The designated time is from noon until midnight," she told Mu Chen. "You still have a few hours. You could go register now, then fight in a few solo matches to earn some time-based Cultivation Resources. Otherwise, if you lose the Faction War, you won’t even have enough to cover the penalty."

Mu Chen thought that made perfect sense. He nodded. "Alright, I’ll do that. But where do I go to register?"

Mu Chen was like a complete newcomer, totally clueless. Chu Aoqing couldn’t help but crack a small smile. "Follow me."

With that, Chu Aoqing grabbed Mu Chen’s hand and started pulling him toward one side of the hall. Mu Junwu watched them go with a soft chuckle. An invisible Elemental Barrier expanded out from her, reaching a five-meter radius. ’The registration point isn’t as deserted as it is here.’

After running with Chu Aoqing for a bit, Mu Chen discovered a hidden corner in the massive hall. Behind it was a narrow alleyway, currently packed with people. Nearly ninety percent of them wore the white Concealing Garment; only two people in black Concealing Garments stood at the very back of the line.

Just as Mu Chen and Chu Aoqing were about to get in line, three students in white Concealing Garments came up behind them. All three were large, but they didn’t exude a particularly strong Primordial Power aura.

They carried themselves with an air of arrogance, striding right past Mu Chen and Chu Aoqing. They continued past the two Black Camp students ahead, and then one of them shoved the first student in the black Concealing Garment aside, swaggering into their spot. His two companions quickly squeezed in front of the Black Camp students as well.

’These bastards are cutting in line in broad daylight!’

The two students in black Concealing Garments trembled with barely suppressed rage. They clenched their fists as if about to do something, but in the end, they endured it.

"Hmph!" The man in the white Concealing Garment had obviously seen them. He let out a cold snort and shot them a sideways glance. In a deliberately coarse, disguised voice, he said, "You Black Camp trash had better know your place. If not, we’ll demolish you in today’s Faction War."

The two Black Camp students didn’t say a word, meekly choosing silence. Mu Chen found this utterly repulsive. ’They’re all students of Holy Tomb Mountain, yet they let themselves be humiliated like this without fighting back.’

"You just watched them cut in front of you. Why didn’t you resist?"

Mu Chen didn’t bother to lower his icy voice. In the narrow confines of the alley, the sound echoed, reaching the ears of everyone present. As a result, all eyes turned to him.

"He’s with the Black Camp?"

"Tsk. Must be new. Reckless youth, a real babe in the woods. He’s about to get a harsh lesson."

"A little suffering will do him good. Otherwise, with an attitude like that, he won’t last long."

"Exactly. Every year, some clueless newcomers think this place is as peaceful as the Inner Mountain. They don’t understand their station. It’s about time someone taught them."

"Heh, let’s just sit back and watch the show."

A steady stream of jeers and taunts came from further up the line, but Mu Chen paid them no mind. He continued in that same frigid tone, "I’m talking to you. Why don’t you fight back? Do you enjoy being insulted and trampled on?"

The two students in black Concealing Garments were taken aback. Then, the one in front spun around, glaring at Mu Chen and shouting, her voice trembling with emotion, "And who are you?! What right does a newcomer like you have to lecture us?! Do you have any idea what our Black Camp’s standing is in this arena?! Nobody wants to be this pathetic! But in here, strength is everything! Just look at the numbers! Do you think you can fight all of them by yourself?! If you can’t fight back, what else is there to do but endure?!"

After her outburst, the figure whirled back around, lowering her head. Her fists were clenched, and her arms trembled uncontrollably.

Mu Chen was genuinely stunned by the voice—not because of what was said, but because it belonged to a woman. The black Concealing Garment was so loose, and her face was hidden by a mask, so he hadn’t been able to tell her gender.

Just then, the other student in a black Concealing Garment, the one standing behind the woman, turned and said apologetically, "Senior, I’m so sorry. My sister speaks without thinking. Please don’t take it to heart. She’s not normally like this. We used to get our spots taken all the time, so we came extra early today to avoid it. There was no one in front of us when we got here, but while we were in the middle of registering, two seniors from the White Camp showed up, and then... and then..."

"You’ve been waiting in line ever since?" Mu Chen finished her sentence, his expression turning even darker. "Why not fight back or file a complaint? Don’t the staff handling registration do anything about it?"

The timid girl explained, "You’re absolutely forbidden from initiating a conflict in the arena. Whoever starts a fight is considered the aggressor. The person who gets attacked is then granted the right to self-defense, exempting them from any punishment. Not only that, but this right to defend isn’t limited to just one person. Anyone who witnesses the attack also gains the right to defend the victim and counterattack the aggressor. If you attack someone stronger than you, you’ll face their retaliation. If you attack someone weaker, anyone who sees you has the right to step in and help them against you. What’s more, if an Elder from the arena finds out, the person who started the fight will be heavily penalized with a deduction of ten days’ worth of Cultivation Resources. So... we can only endure it. It’s not a big deal, anyway. It just means waiting a little longer. My sister and I are used to it."

At that moment, Mu Chen finally understood why they didn’t resist. But their explanation only made him angrier. ’What do you mean, "it’s not a big deal"? What do you mean, "just waiting a little longer"? What do you mean, "we’re used to it"?’ His face darkened as he asked, "How long have you been waiting?"

The younger sister was about to speak, but the older one pulled her back. She then glanced behind them. The three White Camp students who had cut in line had stepped out of the queue. They looked down at Mu Chen with contempt. "Kid! You’ve got a lot of nerve, don’t you?"

Mu Chen’s expression turned grim. ’There are three kinds of people I despise most in this world. First, those who use their power to bully and humiliate the weak. Second, strangers who butt into other people’s conversations. And third, bloodthirsty, irredeemable criminals.’

These three had just crossed two of those lines. Mu Chen tilted his head, his voice devoid of warmth. "Didn’t your parents ever teach you that when people are talking, dogs are supposed to stay quiet? Scram."

He spat out the insult, completely ignoring the trio’s stunned expressions. His gaze fixed back on the younger sister. "How long have you been waiting?"

"I told you! If you want to play the hero, do it yourself! Don’t drag my sister into this! We don’t want to get beaten up because of you!" the older sister yelled.

But when the younger sister met Mu Chen’s unwavering gaze, for some reason, all her fear vanished. She answered clearly, "Three—"

But before she could finish her word, the leader of the trio suddenly shoved her hard. She slammed into the alley wall with a loud BANG. Clearly, he hadn’t held back.

"I believe I told you to scram, didn’t I?"

Mu Chen clenched his fists, his voice chillingly devoid of emotion. His expression hardened. In an instant, he became a whirlwind, vanishing from the spot with a WHOOSH. Before the leader of the bullies could even react, an immense surge of Primordial Power erupted! It was followed by a blue-glowing fist that smashed into his face with a CRACK!

The tremendous impact sent the man’s body flying straight through the alley wall. But the fist was like a leech, stuck fast to his face! It followed his body as he shot through to the other side! His body was already airborne, but then the fist slammed downward, smashing his head brutally into the ground! A deep THUD echoed as spiderweb cracks instantly spread across the pavement, forming a large crater.

But that wasn’t all! The force behind the punch was immense! Instead of lessening, the impact seemed to grow stronger! The fist remained glued to his face, dragging his body toward the opposite wall. All the while, his head was scraping along the ground! In an instant, a long, narrow trench exactly the width of his body was gouged into the ground, stretching all the way to the base of the far wall!

BOOM!!

With a final crash, the explosive Primordial Power vanished, replaced by the sound of sparse applause. Mu Chen then emerged from the hole smashed through the alley wall. With his hands clasped behind his back, he said coldly, "For a dog that won’t listen, you just have to beat it until it does."

As he spoke, Mu Chen turned his gaze back to the two sisters. "How long have you been waiting?"