Chapter 280 - 16: Great Harvest, Favors and Resources

"Senior Brother Lu!"

"Senior Brother Lu is incredible!!"

Excited shouts surged like a tide from all directions. The disciples of the Storm Club, their faces flushed with excitement, watched in awe as Lu Chao stepped down from the ring.

He gave a calm nod in response to the crowd.

Lu Chao weaved through the crowd of people and walked up to Ge Hongfeng.

"Master Ge, I’m glad I didn’t fail you."

He smiled faintly, his voice clear and confident.

Ge Hongfeng wore a complex expression, his eyes filled with both gratitude and relief.

It took him several moments to collect himself before he sighed and said, "Back when I was young, I owed your master a favor."

"I never thought that now, in my old age, I’d still be relying on your master’s help, asking you to solve my problems for me."

Beaming, he spoke several sentences in a row, then paused and clapped Lu Chao on the shoulder. "Well done."

"If you ever need anything in the future, don’t hesitate to come find me!"

He promised solemnly, his attitude far more earnest than before.

It was no longer just about feeling close to him because of the favor he owed Luo Qianshan.

Lu Chao smiled, nodded, and accepted with composure.

Nearby, the Martial Artist known as Old Feng also nodded at him with a smile of approval. "As expected of Brother Luo’s disciple."

"It’s not just Old Ge. If you need anything in the future, feel free to come find me too!"

He added his own promise, his eyes full of admiration.

A genius is certainly worth befriending.

But a genius who values loyalty and honor is even more worthy!

They knew full well that Lu Chao could have simply stayed silent, but he had chosen to step up and fight for them, risking the wrath of Li Gusha.

That alone was a rare display of character, something far more important than talent.

Amidst the flurry of warm words, Lu Chao found himself at the center of the crowd.

Cao Lin’s expression flickered as he stood on the ring. In the end, he lowered his head, clutched his chest, and shuffled off in disgrace.

"Useless trash."

Li Gusha shot him a cold glance, his eyes filled with displeasure.

Before he could say another word, Ge Hongfeng and Old Feng both turned to look at him.

"You old fiend, you’re going to have to answer for what happened today."

The two Martial Artists, one on the left and one on the right, advanced slowly with cold expressions.

The match between the disciples was over. It was time to settle the score between them.

Even if they couldn’t make him stay, they had to make him pay a price and offer an explanation.

However, Li Gusha just snorted coldly and flicked his sleeve. "Just the two of you?"

"Don’t think this is over."

"Today is just the beginning."

BZZZT!!

He suddenly thrust out his palm, and a blood-red Qi Flame erupted into the air.

BOOM!!

Old Feng, who had leaped forward to attack, met his palm with one of his own. His expression changed slightly.

When he focused his gaze again, he saw it.

A blood-red mist filled the air, obscuring most of their vision.

The surrounding floor tiles and equipment were being corroded by a toxin, visibly pitting and decaying at a rapid rate.

BZZZT!!

At that critical moment, Ge Hongfeng charged in, unleashing a palm strike of his own.

A silver Qi Flame whipped up a gale-force wind, instantly scattering the bloody mist.

But when they looked closely, the main door of the club was swaying gently. Li Gusha and Cao Lin were gone.

"They’re gone?"

Ge Hongfeng frowned slightly and gave chase at top speed.

「A few minutes later.」

He returned, shaking his head, his expression grim.

...

「Half an hour later.」

Storm Club, back courtyard.

"Li Gusha hasn’t been seen for so long, having vanished for years. There’s definitely something suspicious about him suddenly showing up now."

"We need to investigate this further."

Ge Hongfeng’s tone was firm and rather grave.

A Super Martial Artist hiding in the shadows was a threat anyone would be wary of, especially since there was already bad blood between them.

"That’s right. I remember his injuries were quite severe back then, yet now he’s fully recovered and has even grown stronger. There’s something fishy about that, too."

Old Feng nodded in agreement, his gaze equally serious.

As the two spoke, Lu Chao, Xu Fengling, and several other Elite Level true disciples stood to one side, listening quietly to their analysis.

They gradually revealed details of their past feuds, most of which were conflicts between martial arts dojos.

Both sides had been right and wrong in some respects, but Li Gusha’s methods were truly venomous and despicable. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have joined forces to drive him out.

Just as Lu Chao was listening in silence,

WHOOSH!

A cool breeze swept through, and a figure suddenly appeared at the entrance to the back courtyard.

He was dressed in a white Martial Arts uniform with a cloud pattern, and his graying hair gave him the appearance of a middle-aged man.

He had a lean, powerful build and a slender face. His eyes were as bright as stars, and he exuded an air of effortless calm.

"Brother Chen!"

"Master Chen!"

Ge Hongfeng and Old Feng rose to their feet one after another to greet him, and the Elite Level true disciples also called out respectfully.

Without needing an introduction, Lu Chao instantly knew this was the third Martial Artist here.

Chen Xuanxing.

He walked over with a steady, even gait, looking rather ordinary.

However...

[Carbon-based Human]

[Life Energy: 175]

The data that appeared in his intuitive sense surprised Lu Chao. This man was arguably the strongest Superpower Level individual he had ever met, aside from Ji Lixian.

The Superpower Three Gates: Limit-Break, Exploration, and Transcendence.

Each gate was a world unto itself, with immense, several-fold gaps in power between them.

Only by stepping into the second Superpower Gate could one’s Life Energy break the 170-point limit. If one could break through again to enter the Superpower Third Level, their Life Energy would be at least 240 points.

And now, without a doubt...

...this Master Chen of the Storm Club’s White Cloud lineage was a bona fide expert of the second gate.

With such strength, he would surpass most of the team leaders even within the Superpower Bureau. He would be considered a top-ranked figure in the entire Red Maple City Circle.

"Xiaolu, come, this is your Master Chen."

Ge Hongfeng quickly beckoned him over, proactively making the introduction in hopes of helping him build a connection.

Taking the cue,

Lu Chao walked forward, cupped his fist in a salute, and respectfully addressed him as "Master."