Chapter 567 - 275: Flawless

Chapter 567: Chapter 275: Flawless

The Wang Family’s reaction was more vehement. Despite his advanced age, their Ancestor, Wang Xuanjiu, personally went to the Outer City District to hunt down the perpetrator.

No one knew what methods Wang Xuanjiu employed, but he eventually discovered a few traces of the culprit. On a dark and windy night, he had a fierce clash with a mysterious, black-clad individual in the Dongcheng District.

The fight ended in a draw.

After this battle, Linji City enjoyed a period of peace.

In early November, several more incidents occurred in Linji City.

Wang Xiongjie, the foremost talent of the Wang Family’s younger generation, and two Bone Forger Realm Martial Artists from the Xiao generation went missing one after another in the Outer City District.

While Wang Xuanjiu was out investigating, a mysterious Organ Refining Realm expert stormed the Wang Family’s estate, injuring and abducting two of Wang Tingxuan’s brothers, both of whom were at the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm.

Seething with uncontrollable rage, Wang Xuanjiu urgently sought out the Ancestors of the Jiang and Qin Families to confer. The three families reached a consensus: they would pressure the City Guard Department and the Inspection Department to assign them additional guards.

Mao Yong was already affiliated with the Jiang Family, so he readily complied, dispatching five hundred men from the City Guard Department and the Protectorate Army to guard the Jiang and Qin Families.

They also demanded that the Shen Family dispatch half its forces to guard the Wang Family, a request Chen Cheng flatly rejected.

In response, Wang Xuanjiu flew into a rage, declaring that if an Organ Refining Realm expert were to make a move against the Shen Family, he would not lift a finger to help.

The Ancestors of the Jiang and Qin Families remained silent, evidently sharing Wang Xuanjiu’s sentiment.

Still, Chen Cheng paid them no heed.

Time passed quickly. Another half a month went by in a flash.

On this day, Chen Cheng was on leave from his duties, cultivating the Martial Dao in seclusion at home.

Early that morning, Shen Mingyuan rushed to the Zheng Martial Arts Hall in a panic. When he learned that Chen Cheng was in seclusion and could not be disturbed, his anxiety only grew.

In the main hall of the True Disciple’s courtyard residence.

Shen Qingyao served Shen Mingyuan a cup of hot tea and asked, "Grandfather, what on earth has happened?"

Shen Mingyuan accepted the teacup but was in no mood to drink. He heaved a long sigh. "Last night," he said, "the Long River Gang, the Kongshan Gang, and the Yueyang Gang—all affiliated with our Shen Family—were wiped out by Jianghu Gangs loyal to the Wang Family."

"What?" Shen Qingyao exclaimed in shock.

The Long River Gang, Kongshan Gang, and Yueyang Gang were all large organizations, each with hundreds of members. They controlled many of the Shen Family’s businesses and generated over a hundred thousand silver taels in annual profit, accounting for a third of the family’s total income.

The members of these three gangs—from the Gang Leaders, Vice Gang Leaders, and Incense Masters down to the common chieftains and grunts—were all retainers who had served the Shen Family for many years. They were utterly loyal.

"What were our losses?" Shen Qingshuang asked, her voice filled with alarm.

Shen Mingyuan gave a bitter laugh. "Our enemy planned this long in advance. Aside from the Gang Leaders, Vice Gang Leaders, and the various Incense Masters of the three gangs, every other chieftain, major and minor, was killed.

"The majority of the common members were slaughtered, and those who managed to escape with their lives have already defected to the opposing gangs!"

"The Wang Family is as treacherous and ruthless as ever!" Shen Qingshuang said furiously.

"Sigh... It’s all my fault. I transferred the core members of those gangs back to the Inner City, which gave the Wang Family the opening they needed!"

"If we don’t handle this properly, I’m afraid we won’t be able to protect the other gangs under our family’s control either."

"If we lose all our allied Jianghu Gangs, the Shen Family..." He sighed again, unable to finish the thought.

The very foundations of the Shen Family were at stake. Even Shen Mingyuan, the family head, felt his mind thrown into turmoil and could not stop sighing.

"When will Ah Cheng finally come out of seclusion?"

...

「Cyan Dragon Courtyard, in a side chamber.」

After finishing his soak in the Herbal Decoction, Chen Cheng stepped out of the large wooden tub. As he slowly stretched, a rapid-fire succession of crisp cracks, like a string of firecrackers, echoed from his bones.

’The current fortitude of my bones has already far surpassed that of an ordinary Perfect Martial Artist of the Bone Forger Realm. My Qi Blood Power is even a fraction more potent than that of a typical Marrow Cleansing Realm Perfection Martial Artist!’

’But this still isn’t enough. Only by cultivating to the absolute pinnacle of the Bone Forging Realm—the Perfect Flawless Jade Bone—will I achieve something truly legendary!’

’And that legendary state is within my grasp. It will be realized soon!’

Carefully sensing his own condition, Chen Cheng felt a surge of excitement. He put on his underclothes, donned the Floating Light and Shadow Armor, and stood tall. He then began cultivating the Iron Armor Dragon Elephant Skill, making his final sprint within the Bone Forging Realm!