Chapter 482 - 12: Why Bother Asking for Trouble?

TRAMP TRAMP TRAMP TRAMP!

"Surround them!"

The armored vehicle slammed to a halt. The Superpower Commander leading the team stood on the steel hood, barking out the cold command.

CLICK CLACK.

Warlord soldiers swarmed out of over a dozen pickup trucks. With guns aimed, nearly a hundred of them completely blockaded the building complex where the negotiation team was stationed.

This scene caught everyone off guard. The Mountain City residents on the streets outside froze in shock before instinctively shrinking back and fleeing in all directions.

The Superpower Captains standing guard downstairs reacted as if facing a formidable enemy, bewildered but acutely sensing the impending danger.

"Commander Ma, may I ask what the meaning of this is?" The lead Superpower Captain mustered his courage and stepped forward, a repeating rifle slung across his chest, his expression incredibly solemn.

He could tell these men had not come with good intentions, and he recognized the middle-aged leader as a commander of the White Bone Army—a genuine Superpower Level expert.

"What is the meaning of this?"

Unexpectedly, the man leapt down from the armored vehicle. SLAP! A heavy hand struck the Superpower Captain, sending his head snapping to the side.

"Take them all away!"

CLICK CLACK CLICK!

The warlord soldiers advanced with their rifles, clearly intending to use force.

Yan Zhengfeng immediately revealed himself, rushing into the crowd.

"Commander Ma, what exactly is the meaning of this?" he asked in a deep voice as he supported the struck Superpower Captain.

He stared dead at the warlord commander, only to see the man coldly scoff. "What is the meaning of this? I’m the one who wants to ask what the Alliance Country means by this!" His tone was furious, laced with icy hostility.

Everyone present sensed that something was wrong. Lu Chao, who stepped up right after, also narrowed his eyes, noticing the anomaly.

"Special Commissioner Chen, you people killed Mr. Xiao, didn’t you?" Commander Ma suddenly asked, staring at them with bloodshot eyes.

Lu Chao furrowed his brows. Beside him, Yan Zhengfeng and the others felt their minds buzz, realizing the situation had taken an entirely unexpected turn.

"The Second Boss? Xiao Chen is dead?" Yan Zhengfeng’s expression turned grave, filled with both shock and bewilderment. A grand Transcendence Level expert like Xiao Chen had actually been killed?

TRAMP TRAMP TRAMP!

While they were still reeling, three more White Bone Army Superpower Commanders stepped out from the other two armored vehicles one after another. They were dressed differently; some wore camouflage uniforms, while others sported high-collared overcoats.

As commanders of the White Bone Army—the only faction within Fortress Mountain City capable of rivaling the Red River Army—these warlords were naturally incredibly strong. The weakest among them was at the Peak of Limit-Breaking, and there were even two Exploration Level experts. Combined, their strength was scarcely weaker than that of the puppet boss, Yan Xiong.

At this moment, they were all staring furiously at Lu Chao, demanding an explanation.

"Special Commissioner Chen, we won’t waste words with you. See for yourself!"

BUZZ!

Someone projected a holographic screen, playing a video clip. Lu Chao and the others looked over. In the footage, Xiao Chen was slumped inside a stone building, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, just before a black-robed figure decapitated him with a black blade.

"You even dared to refuse our Alliance Country. What an ignorant fool."

THUD!

The head hit the ground, completely severed from the body. The headless corpse constantly sprayed blood. Finally, the black-robed figure let out a cold laugh and swaggered away.

"This..." Watching the scene, Yan Zhengfeng’s eyes widened in utter disbelief. He wavered for a split second, wondering if Lu Chao had done it, but quickly realized it was absolutely impossible.

"Someone is framing us!" Yan Zhengfeng hastily said, desperate to prevent a conflict from erupting.

He knew full well that their accompanying team did not possess a Transcendence Level expert. If they were truly being set up, their entire group might perish right here.

"What a load of fucking bullshit!" Commander Ma roared, his face contorted with rage. "Who else could it be but you? Men, get them!"

BOOM!

Without another word, several Superpower Commanders moved to attack, consecutively erupting with the sheer might of their Qi Flames.

At the critical moment... CLANG!

A blade rang out as Lu Chao took a step forward.

He stood in front of Yan Zhengfeng and the others, holding his blade, coldly sweeping his gaze over the warlord troops. At some point, he had gripped the black Ink Blade, which now harbored an icy sharpness.

In that instant, all the warlord commanders felt a jolt of alarm. They suddenly remembered how he had cleaved Yan Xiong apart earlier, and a flicker of struggle and hesitation flashed through their eyes.

"So what!" Commander Ma suddenly shouted coldly. "The Chief Boss is here!"

RUMBLE!

As he spoke, another convoy charged over. Three Superpower Commanders could be seen from afar. They could even spot Lu Weilong standing in the middle atop an armored vehicle. He was draped in an army-green military overcoat, his face dark and impossible to read.

The atmosphere instantly plummeted to the freezing point. Yan Zhengfeng and the other Superpower Captains paled, feeling that the situation was slipping completely out of their control.

Finally... VROOM!

The newly arrived armored vehicles parked outside the concrete building, blocking the street. Lu Weilong swept his gaze over the crowd and leapt down from his vehicle.

"Chief Boss, please seek justice for our White Bone Army!" Commander Ma hastily cupped his fists, shouting his plea.

Although the other White Bone Army commanders wore varying expressions, they shared the same bitter enmity at this moment, successively cupping their fists toward Lu Weilong.

"That’s right, Chief Boss! Please demand an explanation for Mr. Xiao."

"Chief Boss!"

Voices rang out, filled with expectation, all begging him to intervene.

Lu Weilong’s expression was heavy as he finally looked at Lu Chao, taking in all the members of the negotiation team.

"Tell me. Who killed Xiao." His tone carried a trace of sorrow.

As soon as the words left his mouth, Commander Ma and the others felt emboldened. They crowded around his side and glared at Lu Chao.

The atmosphere plunged into silence.

Yan Zhengfeng and the others opened their mouths, wanting to defend themselves but at a loss for words.

Lu Chao remained completely calm. He shook his head. "I don’t know."

"You don’t know?" Lu Weilong’s face darkened, and his aura, which bordered on the Peak Transcendence Level, surged once more.

Silver Qi Flames clung tightly to his skin, resembling flowing liquid alloy. The air solidified as if squeezed by an invisible, giant hand. Everyone present felt their breath hitch, a suffocating pressure weighing down on their minds.

"You don’t know?! Is the Alliance Country so cowardly that you dare to do the deed but refuse to admit it?" he demanded angrily in a deep voice. "Now, I will give you ten seconds. Tell me, who exactly..."

"Lu Weilong." A sudden voice cut him off. Lu Chao narrowed his eyes and fired back with a question, "Who exactly is the murderer... I think you should know better than anyone."

Lu Chao’s sudden statement came as he stared fixedly at the man. The conflict between Lu Weilong and Xiao Chen was no secret; everyone present knew about it.

At those words, Lu Weilong furrowed his brows slightly, while the other warlord commanders’ gazes hardened.

It wasn’t that no one had suspected him. But—

"What a load of fucking bullshit!" Commander Ma stepped forward yet again, cursing loudly. "The Chief Boss has been in a meeting with us all day today. Everyone saw it as clear as day. If it wasn’t you from the Alliance Country, who else could it be?!"

He was right! The Chief Boss had been right under their noses the entire time. How could he possibly have had the chance to strike? Furthermore, Transcendence Level experts didn’t just grow on trees. Other than the Alliance Country, who else could possibly dispatch one?

In a flash, the seven warlord commanders glared at Lu Chao even more coldly, looking as if they wanted to devour his flesh and blood to exact their vengeance.

Lu Weilong also looked down at him, his eyes icy. "Speak. Who exactly is the murderer."

Everyone held their breath, their eyes glued to Lu Chao. They didn’t believe he was capable of killing a Transcendence Level expert like Xiao Chen. Even with poison, it would be absolutely impossible. That was the absolute gap between the Transcendence Level and the Exploration Level.

In response, Lu Chao remained silent for a moment. Finally, he looked to the side at the Superpower Captain supported by Yan Zhengfeng, who still bore a swollen, red slap mark on his face.

"Which hand did he hit you with just now?" He pointed at Commander Ma.

The Superpower Captain was slightly taken aback, and Lu Weilong and the others were also momentarily stunned.

"Special, Special Commissioner Chen..."

"Speak. Don’t be afraid."

"His... his right hand," the Superpower Captain answered subconsciously, gripping his rifle tightly.

Lu Chao nodded. He then turned his gaze back to Lu Weilong and the assembled warlords.

"I don’t know who killed Xiao Chen," he said abruptly. The crowd furrowed their brows even deeper.

Before they could recover their wits...

CLANG!

"But."

SQUELCH!

Blood splattered, showering the robes of everyone nearby.

Commander Ma stood frozen in place. His severed arm detached from the shoulder, launching a spray of blood into the air.

Beside him, Lu Weilong’s pupils shrank. He hastily whipped his head around, staring fixedly at Lu Chao, who had suddenly slipped past him and now stood behind Commander Ma.

"None of you can stop me."

THUD!

The severed arm hit the ground, dyeing the stone-paved street red. Lu Chao’s trench coat fluttered in the wind. His profound eyes were wholly focused as he tilted his head, meeting Lu Weilong’s gaze with absolute calm.

A brief, deathly silence gripped the atmosphere, leaving only the rustling sound of windblown sand to echo in their ears.

The next instant, Commander Ma unleashed a furious, agonizing scream, clutching his bleeding stump in extreme pain.

All the warlord commanders were instantly enraged. One after another, their Qi Flames erupted as they channeled their Superpowers.

"Damn it! He’s too arrogant!"

"Kill him!"

"Attack together!"

SWISH SWISH SWISH!

Three Exploration Level experts took the lead, followed by four at the Peak of Limit-Breaking. A white Qi Flame soared through the air like a dragon, carrying the devastating might of a Fist Seal. It was the vice boss of the White Bone Army, who decisively struck out, unleashing the peak power of the Exploration Level straight at Lu Chao’s face.

Meanwhile, a Red River Army Exploration Level warlord commander exerted his full strength. His body rapidly hardened like stone as he spun into a tearing kick. Sweeping horizontally like a battleax, his leg shot straight toward Lu Chao’s waist.

CRACK!

In just a fleeting moment, a terrifying air pressure smashed against Lu Chao’s face, like a violent gale drilling into the earth. The stone pavement beneath his feet shattered and caved in, and the air within a several-meter radius was entirely displaced by the raging winds.

Piercing sonic booms rang out right before his eyes. Lu Chao instantly fell into a lethal trap, utterly besieged. It seemed he would be unable to dodge and would be severely injured by the two Exploration Level experts.

CLANG!

A blade rang out as Lu Chao violently swung the Ink Blade. Frenzy State instantly activated, and the Thunder Extreme Secret Skill explosively bloomed.

BANG!

He annihilated the incoming Qi Flame Fist Seal in a single slash. A streak of white Qi tore through the sky, carrying the residual sharpness straight toward the Exploration Level expert who had projected the Qi Flame, forcing him to halt and alter his move.

Lu Chao’s right arm, gripping the blade, remained steady without a hint of a tremor.

Even more so... WHOOSH!

Borrowing the momentum, he spun into another slash. His right arm suddenly bulged by a full half size. Mountain-Shattering Skill!

CLANG!

The Ink Blade clashed head-on with the hardened kick. A crisp sound shattered eardrums, and the black blade bent slightly.

Lu Chao remained firmly rooted in place, not retreating a single inch. Amidst the cracking sounds, the ground beneath his feet rapidly fractured, the fissures expanding to a five-meter radius.

This sight caused a subtle shift in the eyes of the besieging warlord commanders. Even the hardening Superpower user, whose kick was obstructed, sensed things going awry and attempted to change tactics.

However, in the very next instant... Sun-Piercing Skill! SWISH!

Lu Chao vanished from his spot. When he reappeared, he was merely half a meter away from the man’s side.

SQUELCH!

Blood sprayed out like a fountain. A savage gash stretched across the man’s entire chest and abdomen, instantly soaking his torn, army-green high-collared overcoat in red.

His formidable defense, comparable to manganese steel alloy, was effortlessly torn open. The bright red wound ran bone-deep, clearly severing every muscle and tendon.

THUD!

A peak Exploration Level expert, a hardening Superpower user most adept at defense, a mighty commander of the Red River Army, collapsed onto the ground just like that. Blood spilled out rapidly, staining the dirt below.

He stared with wide eyes, his breath faint as he lay gravely wounded and at death’s door, seemingly filled with sheer terror. But Lu Chao did not even cast him a single glance.

Instead, he raised a bent arm, smoothly running the Ink Blade across the crook of his elbow. The wiping motion erased all traces of blood from the blade.

With cold eyes, he looked toward the remaining warlord commanders converging on him.

"One by one..."

SWOOSH!

He vanished in a flash, as agile as a wandering dragon, dodging the combined barrage of all the warlords’ attacks.

The next instant.

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!

Screams erupted once more, and wails filled the area.

"Why must you bring this upon yourselves?"