Unfettered Retribution: Slaughtering My Way through the World

Chapter 161: Chapter 127: Wang Qinglian Knelt Down

Wasting no time, Chen Xuan bid farewell to Mr. Zhuo, then immediately unleashed his Body Technique and sped toward Canglan Province.

He had already bought a map for the journey.

He would take no horse carriages or large ships.

He intended to rely solely on his superb Lightweight Skill to race back to Canglan Province.

Besides, with his cultivation at the True Qi Eighth Layer, he had no fear of depleting his energy.

And so, after a full day of travel, he finally neared Canglan Province.

However, the journey back was far from peaceful.

He encountered vast numbers of refugees along the way—a dark, dense mass of people traveling in groups, with their families in tow. They were all migrating from Nanlin Province, fleeing to various other provinces.

Every face was etched with panic and unease.

Upon asking, he learned that their home province was suffering a drought the likes of which hadn’t been seen in centuries.

To be precise, the drought had appeared suddenly just half a month ago.

All the lakes and rivers had run dry, farmland had cracked open, and trees had withered away...

Even the ground had become unimaginably hot.

Many dense forests had erupted into raging infernos.

Countless people were burned alive.

This was what had driven the terrified refugees to grab their families and flee for their lives.

"...A Drought Fiend has escaped... Someone saw it with their own eyes."

"That’s right, the demon beast—the Drought Fiend. It’s fiery red and scorchingly hot. Not even a blade of grass can grow where it passes..."

"That demon beast is too terrifying. Many of the Martial Dao sects in our Nanlin Province couldn’t stop it; their headquarters were burned to the ground."

"The court of Great Xia is doomed. Whenever the world falls into chaos, vile creatures emerge..."

Countless such discussions could be heard.

Chen Xuan frowned.

’A Drought Fiend?’

He was skeptical.

But he didn’t ask any more questions, instead resuming his mad dash toward Canglan Province.

Nanlin Province was located to the north of Canglan Province, separated by Celestial Essence Province.

He had no interest in getting sidetracked.

WHOOSH!

Chen Xuan’s speed surged, and he quickly vanished from the area.

...

「By dusk on the second day.」

Chen Xuan finally arrived in Qinghe County. He let out a long breath, circulating his True Qi to restore his stamina. His entire body felt relaxed and comfortable, completely free of the fatigue one would expect from such a long journey.

’The True Qi Eighth Layer truly is on another level.’

His expression was placid.

He looked at the Twelve Alliance Headquarters before him and strode right in.

The disciples guarding the gate spotted Chen Xuan at once and hurried to report to the Alliance Leader.

Luo Hongtian rushed over immediately.

He breathed a silent sigh of relief when he saw Chen Xuan arrive safely.

"Chen Xuan, you’re... done?"

Luo Hongtian asked in shock.

’He’s out of the secret realm this quickly?’

’He must have been beaten and thrown out, right?’

In the past, whenever the secret realm opened, the competition was always brutal beyond imagination.

It never ended in less than five to eight days.

"Yes, it’s over."

Chen Xuan nodded. "How are things in the alliance? Did anything happen?"

"No. But... someone is waiting for you."

Luo Hongtian’s expression grew complicated as he spoke in a low voice.

"Someone’s waiting for me?"

Chen Xuan was puzzled.

"You’ll know when you go see for yourself. She’s in your courtyard right now..."

Luo Hongtian added in a low voice, "Let me give you a piece of advice: that young lady has been in a rather foul mood for the past two days."

"A young lady? A woman?"

Chen Xuan was confused.

’When did I ever get to know a ’young lady’?’

’Is she here to pick a fight?’

"You know her. It’s Wang Qinglian..."

Luo Hongtian whispered.

"She’s here?"

A glint appeared in Chen Xuan’s eyes, and he was overjoyed.

’Excellent! This saves me a trip to the Wang Clan.’

’Time to go show her what’s what.’

’Let’s see how proud she can be after this!’

Unable to wait, Chen Xuan immediately rushed toward his residence.

Luo Hongtian watched Chen Xuan’s receding figure and sighed to himself.

’It’s great to be young.’

’He even managed to capture the heart of a cold, arrogant firebrand like Wang Qinglian.’

’It’s simply incredible.’

’So much for being a firebrand. When she’s lovestruck, she’s just like any other young maiden...’

’And a cradle-robbing one at that.’

’A pity. Why don’t I get this kind of treatment?’

Luo Hongtian rubbed his chin.

’I, Old Luo, am not bad-looking myself.’

’So why doesn’t Shen Qinghan give me the time of day?’

He shook his head lightly and returned to his own quarters.

...

Inside a clean and spacious room.

On Chen Xuan’s bed.

A beautiful figure in white lay quietly, her features as delicate as a painting, her expression cool and distant. She was covered with Chen Xuan’s blanket, savoring its warmth.

She had almost her entire body curled up inside.

Only her head was visible, and she was gently sniffing the lingering masculine scent on the blanket.

But suddenly, her delicate brows furrowed. As if sensing something, her head whipped toward the door.

CRASH!

The door was thrown open from the outside as if by a whirlwind.

A tall, burly figure in black burst into the room, bringing with him a great gust of wind.

The moment he entered, Chen Xuan’s expression froze.

He stared, dumbfounded, at Wang Qinglian lying on his bed.

"...What are you doing?"

’Why is she sleeping in my bed?’

’And using my blanket?’

"..."

Wang Qinglian pressed her lips together. Without a word, she slid out from under the blanket and rose to her full height. Her expression was composed, her cold arrogance quickly returning as if nothing had just happened.

"You’re back."

Wang Qinglian’s voice was cool. "I heard you joined the Martial Alliance?"

"Yes!"

Chen Xuan nodded.

"That’s not bad. The Martial Alliance is one of the most established powers in the world, far stronger than even my Wang Clan."

Her voice was as cool and crisp as a silver bell, and her indifferent gaze swept over Chen Xuan. "Don’t get the wrong idea. I only arrived yesterday. I was prepared to wait one day for you. If you hadn’t shown up, I would have left. But now that you’re here, speak. If there’s anything about the Martial Dao you don’t understand, you can ask me now. I will do my best to teach you."

’The Wang Clan has recently been fighting a two-front war against the Celestial Sword Sect and the Mixed Element Sect.’

’Even she was stretched thin.’

’She had even suffered internal injuries after several taxing battles.’

’But she was still worried that some elder-level expert might slip past the Wang Clan’s defensive lines, break into the Twelve Alliance Headquarters, and go after Chen Xuan.’

’Chen Xuan might have joined the Martial Alliance, but his Guardian from the Alliance hadn’t arrived yet, had he?’

’So...’

’She didn’t mind giving him some pointers ahead of time.’

’And make him forever indebted to her!’

"Things I don’t understand?"

Chen Xuan raised an eyebrow. "Actually, I understand everything!"

"You’re getting ahead of yourself!"

Wang Qinglian’s tone was icy. "Don’t think you’re so amazing just because you’ve broken through to the True Qi Third Layer. This world is vast, and there are countless geniuses. Being so shortsighted will only lead you to..."

BOOM!

Before she could finish, Chen Xuan unleashed his full power without any reservation.

Waves of terrifying, scorching golden True Qi erupted from his body—bright, vast, and horrifying, like a humanoid volcano. The immense pressure was like a colossal hand closing around Wang Qinglian’s heart, and her words caught in her throat.

She stared, dumbfounded and in utter disbelief.

Her beautiful, dark pupils contracted violently.

She seemed to be questioning her very existence.

"..."

’Had she fought too many battles? Was her Spirit so exhausted that she was hallucinating?’

’Chen Xuan...’

’True Qi Eighth Layer...’

"Go on. Is there anything *you* don’t understand? You can ask me now!"

Chen Xuan’s tone was casual as he took a step forward, his expression placid.

The boundless light and heat radiating from him was so immense that it forced Wang Qinglian’s eyes wide, and a tempestuous storm raged in her heart...

Especially since he was a full head taller than her.

It made the feeling of being completely dominated all the more real.

"You... Your Cultivation?"

Wang Qinglian tried her best to remain calm, but she couldn’t manage it.

"Just broke through. Surprising, isn’t it?"

Chen Xuan smiled.

"Im... impossible..."

Horrified and unable to accept it, Wang Qinglian said, "Let me see for myself!"

SWISH!

Her body flashed, moving with incredible speed as she lunged at Chen Xuan.

She aimed a palm strike at his chest.

But Chen Xuan was even faster. The moment she moved, he seized her wrist. He began to swing her around, but his brow suddenly furrowed.

"You’re internally injured?"

"Kneel!"

SLAM!

With a casual flick of his arm, he slammed her delicate body to the ground. Amidst her horrified, ashen-faced shock, she landed with a THUD, forced to her knees right in front of him.

Her hair fell loose around her shoulders, her face dazed. She couldn’t believe it.

’Did I... Did I really just get forced to my knees by Chen Xuan?’

But before she could even react, something was shoved into her parted, crimson lips with lightning speed.

POP!

"Hold it in your mouth!"

"Mmph... mmph..."

Wang Qinglian’s mouth was stuffed full. Her face flushed crimson, drool spilling from her lips. She flailed her hands, looking as if she were about to go mad.

’What is this guy doing?!’

’I’ll bite it off! I’ll make you regret this for the rest of your life!’

But suddenly, her eyes widened.

She realized something was different.

’This is...’

’A jade bottle?’

It contained a mysterious energy that was surging ceaselessly into her body. Not only was it rapidly healing her internal injuries, but it was also loosening the bottleneck on her True Qi Seventh Layer Cultivation. She was rapidly advancing toward the True Qi Eighth Layer she had only dreamed of reaching...

Stunned, she looked up and once again saw the teasing smirk playing on Chen Xuan’s lips.

Instantly!

A crimson blush spread across Wang Qinglian’s face.

’Bastard!’