Chapter 284
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Chapter 284: Standing
Bang!
A fist brimming with destructive force smashed heavily into the chest of a gray-clad cultivator.
The fist power exploded abruptly, clashing fiercely with his Protection.
Bang!
Before the gray-clad cultivator could retaliate, another punch landed on the same spot.
He could no longer endure and stumbled backward uncontrollably, his back hitting an invisible barrier.
The gray-clad cultivator was instantly struck with terror.
As a seasoned battle cultivator, he had honed unique skills in body cultivation and had vanquished numerous foes on the Stage of Life and Death.
Never had the gray-clad cultivator faced a Qi Training cultivator who surpassed him in strength.
Yet, in today’s duel, he was immediately overwhelmed, unable to unleash even half of his power before being driven to the brink of the Stage of Life and Death.
Within him, Qi and blood churned violently, and his Protection had already been shattered and dispersed.
Caught between life and death, he was enveloped by the dread of demise, instinctively crying out, “I yield…”
But before the gray-clad cultivator could finish the word “defeat,” a third punch from his adversary struck his head with the speed of lightning.
Bang!
Around the Stage of Life and Death, spectators in the inner and outer circles simultaneously shut their eyes.
It was too gruesome to watch!
[Heavenly Merit +9]
Meanwhile, Wang Chen on the stage calmly retrieved the storage bag from the corpse.
He opened it to inspect the contents.
Heh!
Just moments ago, he had anticipated some valuable loot, but instead, he found a pitifully meager bag!
The storage bag contained only a few spirit fragments and some minor spirit fragments.
He couldn’t even be bothered to expend the Rebirth Talismans and Exorcism Talismans, tossing aside the shabby storage bag as he descended from the Stage of Life and Death.
After all, the cleanup would undoubtedly be handled by the Scarlet Guards.
As Wang Chen reached the ground below the stage, the crowd of onlookers immediately parted to make way.
Their gazes towards him were filled with awe and even reverence.
An idol indeed!
Today marked Wang Chen’s third appearance on the Stage of Life and Death, each time decisively defeating his opponents without sustaining a single injury.
Now it was clear to all; they had mistaken Wang Chen for a talisman cultivator, but in truth, he was a body cultivation battle cultivator, likely an innate martial artist, which accounted for his formidable combat prowess.
None of Wang Chen’s three opponents were weak, yet from the moment the duel commenced, their fates were sealed.
Today, this Qi Training ninth level cultivator had fortified himself with spiritual light armor before stepping onto the stage.
However, it was completely futile!
Wang Chen shattered the spiritual light armor with just two punches, and with a third, he decisively ended the battle.
While his victory was partly due to the unique environment of the City of Ten Thousand Cultivators and the constraints of the Stage of Life and Death, it was nonetheless impressive.
For example, mana was suppressed while vital energy remained unaffected, and the limited space of the Stage of Life and Death prevented either combatant from retreating; thus, the one with superior close combat skills had the upper hand.
Yet, Wang Chen’s triumph was clear and honorable, free from any deceit.
It was a victory that commanded respect!
As Wang Chen returned to his stall, many onlookers quietly wondered if the Iron Hand Li family would persist in challenging him.
The cultivators who frequented the marketplace were no fools; Wang Chen’s repeated troubles likely stemmed from his refusal to join the Iron Hand Li family, a snub that bruised their pride.
Would the esteemed Purple Palace family tolerate such disrespect?
Wang Chen had effectively slapped them three times!
This turn of events was quite intriguing.
Now, even a battle cultivator at the Qi Training ninth level had their skull crushed by Wang Chen.
Surely, Li Tieshou wouldn’t step in personally!
The rules of the City of Ten Thousand Cultivators wouldn’t allow it!
In this city of loose cultivators, a Purple Palace master could use his influence, connections, and resources to suppress Qi Training cultivators.
That was to be expected.
But direct intervention by the Purple Palace against Qi Training cultivators would be a serious breach.
Any Purple Palace daring to do so would face retribution from the Scarlet Guards!
There was a reason the City of Ten Thousand Cultivators was revered as a sanctuary by countless loose cultivators.
No matter how enraged Li Tieshou was, he had to play by the rules!
Everyone was watching.
Yet, in the days that followed, no further challenges came Wang Chen’s way.
However, a new stall appeared near his, selling the same type of legal symbols.
These symbols were identical to Wang Chen’s in variety, though inferior in quality, and were offered at a much lower price.
This made them an attractive bargain.
Given the high cost of living in the City of Ten Thousand Cultivators, loose cultivators were always looking to save spirit stones.
Previously, Wang Chen’s talismans had been in a class of their own, far surpassing those of his competitors, which justified the higher price for some.
But with a cheaper alternative now available, buyers were bound to weigh their options more carefully.
This inevitably impacted Wang Chen’s sales.
While he still made sales, the days of his stock being snapped up instantly were over.
After all, his legal symbols were quite pricey.
"Wang Chen…"
The neighboring stallholder approached stealthily and said, "This isn’t sustainable! If this keeps up, your business will be overtaken by the new stall!"
Wang Chen smiled and replied, "Let them have it! If they can sustain the loss, I can certainly wait."
Selling advanced level legal symbols at such low prices was essentially cutting into their own profits!
What was there to fear? Let’s see who can outlast whom.
Truth be told, Wang Chen had been in the City of Ten Thousand Cultivators for two months now.
He appreciated the city’s fair treatment of loose cultivators.
Free from the threats of magical beasts and Evil Spirits, anyone willing to work hard could secure a livelihood. Although there were hierarchies, the powerful couldn’t oppress the ordinary without consequence.
This was why Wang Chen had chosen to reveal some of his strength and retaliate forcefully.
With the Purple Palace unable to intervene, who beneath it could possibly challenge him?
Being invincible, why should he endure any humiliation?
The answer was clear: he shouldn’t!
For Wang Chen, the worst-case scenario was simply abandoning the reputation he had built.
He found the tactics employed against him rather laughable.
They were truly scraping the bottom of the barrel!
"But they are, after all, a Purple Palace family," the neighboring stallholder advised earnestly. "You’ve deeply offended Li Tieshou. He will undoubtedly seek to make trouble for you. No matter how strong you are, you’re still only at Qi Training; you can’t possibly contend with the Purple Palace."
Wang Chen looked at him with a faint smile. "So what do you propose? That I kneel and apologize?"
The stallholder next door chuckled awkwardly, then said, "Actually, the best course would be to seek protection, perhaps from the Song family. If you join the Song family, even Li Tieshou would have to back down and leave you alone."
Wang Chen turned his gaze away and lightly remarked, "I prefer to earn my spirit stones standing tall."
"I fear that if I kneel, I might never rise again."
