Chapter 643

Chapter 643: Come Fight If You Dare!

Wang Chen followed the voice and saw that the one mocking him was a scar-faced guard.

Wang Chen vaguely remembered this man, known as "Old Knife." It was said he had once been a battle cultivator in the Yongle battalion and joined the Forbidden Prison Office after retiring. Two lines were tattooed on his sleeve.

Wang Chen recalled that Old Knife was on good terms with Hu Qi; they were part of the same group.

This was likely the reason for Old Knife’s malicious provocation toward Wang Chen.

Noticing that all the other guards had turned their attention to them, Old Knife bared his teeth at Wang Chen, revealing a menacing grin. "What, too scared to speak?"

His appearance was fierce, and with his towering frame and palpable killing intent, he radiated an aggressive aura.

Many guards looked at Wang Chen with a mix of pity and schadenfreude.

Numerous battle cultivators chose to join the well-paid Forbidden Prison Office after their contracts expired or they retired due to injuries.

Though being a guard was dangerous, it offered a higher survival rate than constant warfare. Moreover, seasoned battle cultivators could often condense the killing intent of a battle array, effectively resisting the invasion of negative energy.

Ordinary Evil Spirits wouldn’t dare approach.

In the Yongle dungeon, retired battle cultivators had always been the backbone of the guards.

Old Knife held a certain reputation among them.

As a newcomer, offending a seasoned old guard like Old Knife would make Wang Chen’s future difficult.

It was worth noting that retired battle cultivators had formed a tight-knit circle in the Yongle dungeon. Once excluded from that circle, a rookie guard’s fate was easy to imagine!

"None of your damn business!"

Just as everyone speculated whether Wang Chen would endure Old Knife’s bullying or submit, Wang Chen set down his goblet and sneered, "Who do you think you are, meddling in my affairs?"

Hiss—

Many in the inn gasped sharply.

No one expected Wang Chen to confront Old Knife head-on, even slapping back at him!

This newcomer truly had guts!

"Bold words!"

Old Knife’s face flushed crimson with rage, the scar on his face twisting like a worm.

It was so red it seemed ready to drip blood.

Those familiar with him knew this was a sure sign of Old Knife’s true fury!

A killing intent thick with the smell of blood immediately enveloped Wang Chen.

Yet Wang Chen remained seated, unflinching, as if a gentle breeze had brushed past him. His expression didn’t waver, but his words grew sharper. "Look at you, all bark and no bite. If you’ve got the guts, fight me here! If not, stop yapping like a fool!"

Everyone thought Wang Chen was tough, but he proved even tougher!

Many guards exchanged glances, while more patrons leaned forward, eager for the spectacle.

Especially those who had downed a few pots of spiritual wine and were feeling tipsy—they were practically ready to jump up and cheer: "Fight!"

Old Knife was seething, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles cracked ominously.

The killing intent he emitted was truly terrifying.

Wang Chen had hurled insults right into Old Knife’s face. If he were to swallow his pride now, he might as well forget about making a name for himself in the battle cultivator community.

A fierce confrontation seemed imminent as the surrounding guards stepped back, clearing ample space.

Just then, the innkeeper suddenly spoke up from behind the counter, "If you wish to fight, take it outside the city. This is no place for brawling."

The innkeeper looked utterly ordinary, the type who would blend seamlessly into a crowd.

Yet, his words acted like a bucket of cold water on the nearly erupting Old Knife.

His face shifted from a deep red to a pale gray, his clenched fists loosened unnaturally, and his eyes twitched uncontrollably.

"It’s fine if you’re too scared to fight here,"

Wang Chen sneered, "Set a time, and we’ll settle this outside the city!"

Wang Chen wasn’t being arrogant or dismissive; he didn’t wish to appear cruel either. He simply knew that reasoning with troublemakers was futile.

Only by being more ruthless, more brutal, and more savage could he effectively quell their arrogance.

The lower you go, the truer this becomes!

Yongle Immortal City was indeed a celestial city, fulfilling some of Wang Chen’s fantasies about the celestial realm.

But this immortal city was no paradise for Wang Chen.

As a smuggler from the lower realms, he needed to climb from the very bottom to truly appreciate the boundless wonders of the celestial realm.

What kind of place was the Forbidden Prison Office? And what of the Yongle dungeon?

To put it bluntly, this was Yongle’s sewer, a repository for all the filth of the immortal city.

People like Hu Qi and Old Knife, no matter how cunning, domineering, or arrogant they appeared…

At their core, they were nothing but flies and maggots in the sewer!

There was no reasoning with such scum; it was time to let fists and blades do the talking.

According to the rules of the Forbidden Prison Office, private duels were strictly forbidden within the dungeon. Had Old Knife dared to strike Wang Chen, regardless of the outcome, his fate would have been grim.

To settle scores, one must venture outside the city to determine who reigns supreme!

With Wang Chen’s current strength, he feared no one below the Golden Core.

Bring it on if you dare!

"Fine!"

Old Knife growled, ready to accept Wang Chen’s challenge, when suddenly someone intervened, blocking his path.

The person whispered something quickly into Old Knife’s ear, and his expression shifted once more.

He glared at Wang Chen with a ferocity that seemed ready to devour him.

"You’ll see!"

With a threat that carried little weight, Old Knife turned and shoved aside the person who had spoken to him, then bolted out of the inn, vanishing in an instant.

Huh?

The patrons, eager for a spectacle, exchanged puzzled glances.

They couldn’t fathom why, given Old Knife’s temperament and strength, he would falter at such a crucial moment.

This misstep cost him all his dignity!

How would he manage from here on out?

Could it be that this bold and confident newcomer held some formidable trump card?

The crowd now regarded Wang Chen with new eyes.

Gone were the disdain and mockery, replaced by curiosity and a cautious scrutiny.

Many guards made a mental note of Wang Chen’s features—just in case they crossed paths again and found themselves in a conflict without knowing the full story. That would be most unfortunate.

Wang Chen paid no heed to the myriad gazes around him. He calmly finished his spiritual wine and polished off the fried peanuts the innkeeper had offered, leaving not a single one behind.

Then, he leisurely took his leave.

The moment Wang Chen stepped out, the inn buzzed with activity.

Many patrons discussed the recent events, speculating about Wang Chen’s true identity, their conversations growing animated.

Some even mocked Old Knife, claiming he had lost his edge after years in the dungeon.

In short, from that moment on, Wang Chen was no longer seen as a mere rookie in the eyes of others.

Unless he failed to perform someday or met with an untimely accident.

Such was the world of cultivators in the Yongle dungeon.