When Xiang Ning’s strength reached tier five, four-star, Jiang Youyou felt her world turn upside down. Both Jiang Xuan and Zi Luo felt their vision darken as they realized Xiang Ning had not only held back all this time, but could even power up further.

“Would you believe me if I were to say I was training my body?” Xiang Ning laughed as he saw the confused look on Jiang Youyou’s face.

Her face reddened as she saw the previously disheveled Xiang Ning become energetic once more. Didn’t that mean that she was the one who held him back?

Fury Points +444

Fury Points +555

As for Jiang Xuan? He almost exploded in anger when he heard what Xiang Ning had said. Shit! To think that they had become training tools for him. Who would be able to bear it if they were the ones in his shoes?

Imagine fighting someone until you thought you won, but they suddenly didn’t want to play anymore and unleashed their full strength. As your tired body was barely holding together, the enemy was still energetic and even thanked you for helping them improve themselves. Anyone would be pissed!

A voice suddenly caught their attention. “Truth be told, this is still my district. Can’t you show me some face, Jiang Xuan?” Chief Zhang walked out of an alley. He was now the strongest one on the field. He wasn’t wearing his uniform, but some casual wear instead. His intentions were clear. He didn’t intend to use his position to pressure them, but if things escalated any further, he wouldn’t hesitate to reveal his uniform to maintain order.

Jiang Xuan felt that this was the limit. Chief Zhang had already been very lenient toward him by only appearing now, even though they had fought for so long. But how could he let Jiang Youyou escape from his palm?

Chief Zhang stood between them as he stared at Xiang Ning. He was surprised to see Xiang Ning’s oppressive strength, even though he had just arrived not too long ago. How could someone this young have such strength? No wonder his information is restricted to the highest level of confidentiality. 

Thanks to the pause in their attack, he could finally step out. He didn’t want to come out as one of them was attacking to avoid them thinking that he was taking sides. He nodded and turned toward Jiang Xuan. Jiang Youyou was worried—she knew that her second uncle had some power, what if he had bribed the chief?

Xiang Ning was already prepared to open both the Gate of Joy and the Gate of Death. 

While he was carefully observing the situation, chief Zhang warned Jiang Xuan, “It isn’t too late to stop now. I know a little bit about the situation in the Jiang family. Jiang Youyou won’t be able to harm you, but if you were to offend someone above you, there’ll be consequences.”

“Someone I can’t offend?” Jiang Xuan scoffed. The Jiang family was a league above the rest, to the extent that they were comparable to some of the ancient families with a prestigious lineage in North Star City. Even though it was a bit chaotic right now, they would still band together if an external force were to threaten them.

“Don’t be so stubborn. I’m not interested in the affairs of the Jiang family, but you can’t harm the man in front of you. Let me tell you now that his background information is restricted to the extent that not even the superior of my superior has access to it. Do you think the Jiang family is ready to get entangled with whoever’s behind him?”

Jiang Xuan hesitated and turned to look at Xiang Ning. He had to admit that Xiang Ning was mysterious. Even the superiors of chief Zhang couldn’t find his information, so who was it that was backing Xiang Ning? How could such a young man be given so many benefits? If so, who was the one training him?

Jiang Xuan fell silent as he furiously thought. Even though the Jiang family wasn’t afraid of the influences of the other families, Xiang Ning’s background could affect his position in the family. This trouble was caused by him.

As he deliberated, chief Zhang was growing anxious. He was afraid that Jiang Xuan would make the wrong decision. “Think about it. Look at all the scientific inventions he has on him. I should let you know that not only does he have an armor that isn’t available to the public, he even has a bioweapon. Aren’t you from the Jiang family? How many bioweapons do you think there are? Even if you had one, would you give it to a teenager?”

That was something obvious, so how could Jiang Xuan not know? “Do you mean… he’s most likely from a family of scientific inventors?”

“That’s highly likely. Only they have the resources to do so.” Chief Zhang affirmed his suspicions.

A household that specialized in scientific inventions. There were a lot of differences between them and the ancient households of martial artists. The latter were extremely powerful compared to the former, but even the strong required weapons. Even if one didn’t personally need them, other families and households would.

Within the world of martial artists, there was an unspoken rule. You can offend anyone but those from households of inventors. You never know how many families they had helped by forging weapons and scientific inventions. As peace was spreading, the rate of advancement for scientific inventions was booming. If the Jiang family offended a family of inventors, they would miss out on all the new equipment and decline.

That was the most basic rule. The ancient families of martial artists needed an exorbitant amount of money, so where could they obtain it? They relied on their strength and prestige to fight for a foothold in the market to sell their wares. If they didn’t update their wares while the other families were already selling newer equipment, their families would gradually lose their status and strength, and when everyone else pressured them, their demise would soon come.

Jiang Xuan was a man of knowledge, so he had already thought ahead. Such was humanity. Those that had no thoughts would rush forward without fear. On the other hand, the more they thought, the more their feet would refuse to move. While he knew that the chances were low, he would rather be safe than sorry.

Jiang Xuan finally relented and Chief Zhang nodded.

“Jiang Youyou, you’ll always be someone from the Jiang family.” Jiang Xuan calmly told her as he walked away with Zi Luo. There was no reason to stay there any longer.

As they watched him leave, Chief Zhang stood in front of Xiang Ning. “Xiang Ning, a student from Marsh City’s Qiling Academy. The only one capable of holding the title of the ‘Strongest Student’ since the establishment of Marsh City. The change in the rules of the competition this time isn’t as simple as you think. Let me tell you something bad, there’s more than one Beast King gathering outside of Hang City. Be careful.”

Chief Zhang left after having said that; he had done what he could. As for the rest, it was up to the future now. It could be said that he left a good impression on them today.

Chief Zhang is a bro to everyone haha