Heaven-Surpassing Divine Emperor

"Who’s causing such a ruckus? Are you looking to die?"

Hu Tao’s expression changed, and he spun around to glare at the newcomer.

But in the next moment...

The anger on his face crumbled. He swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue, his ferocious expression instantly replaced by an awkward, fawning smile. He looked at the man and stammered, "Cap-Captain... What brings you here?"

The man was completely bald.

A red mole was dotted between his brows, and his fierce eyes seemed to crackle with lightning.

This was a powerful expert.

This was none other than the captain of the Artifact Refiner Guild’s Law Enforcement Team, a Heavenly Destiny Realm Sixth Stage expert—Cao Hao.

Cao Hao snorted coldly, glaring at Hu Tao. His deep voice seethed with anger. "Hu Tao, look at this mess you’ve made."

"Captain... you’ve misunderstood me," Hu Tao said, his face a mask of grievance. "This kid started it all! He was causing trouble in the guild, seriously injured Master Qin, and even beat up Young Master Xiong..."

Cao Hao’s expression darkened. He glanced at Master Qin on the floor, then his gaze fell on Xiong Yingjie’s swollen face.

Only then did his expression soften slightly.

Seizing the opportunity, Hu Tao quickly added, "Captain, this kid is incredibly arrogant. You have to teach him a lesson!"

"You, shut your mouth!"

Cao Hao barked, then strode toward Jiang Chen.

A look of excitement flashed in Hu Tao’s eyes. He ground his teeth and hissed, "You little bastard, with our captain making a move, you’re a dead man!"

Everyone on the Law Enforcement Team held Cao Hao’s methods in both fear and awe.

Not only was he overwhelmingly powerful and decisive, but his methods were also utterly ruthless.

A scion of a powerful family once caused trouble at the Artifact Refiner Guild. As a result, Cao Hao crippled his cultivation, severed his limbs, and hung him at the guild’s entrance for three days.

After that, even members of the Royal Family had to be on their best behavior at the Artifact Refiner Guild.

Xiong Yingjie, who was well aware of Cao Hao’s reputation, had a look of excitement and vengeful glee in his eyes. He sneered, "Jiang Chen, if I don’t see you destroyed today, I’ll change my name!"

Everyone watched Jiang Chen with malicious delight.

A worried expression crossed Xiao Qingyi’s face. She moved to Jiang Chen’s side, her slender hand resting gently on his arm.

The fluctuations of aura coming from Cao Hao made Xiao Qingyi’s heart pound with fear.

Little White also bared his fangs.

If Cao Hao dared to make a move against Jiang Chen, he would be the first to lunge and bite.

"Are you, by chance, Jiang Chen?" Cao Hao asked, standing before him. Their eyes met.

Jiang Chen was taken aback. He frowned, nodded, and looked at Cao Hao. "How can I help you?"

He appeared calm on the surface, but inwardly, he was on high alert.

’After all, this is a Heavenly Destiny Realm Sixth Stage expert. If he launches a surprise attack, I won’t come out of it unscathed.’

"How dare that kid be so disrespectful to Captain Cao? He’s a dead man!"

"Captain Cao is about to blow!"

Under the crowd’s expectant gazes, Cao Hao’s tense face suddenly softened. A placid smile appeared as he said, "Young Master Jiang, I am Cao Hao. I’ve come here specifically to invite you. The president requests your presence!"

"Uh..."

"H-How is this possible?"

"Am I seeing things? Is that really the Evil Yama, Cao Hao?" 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"The last time that scion from a powerful family caused trouble, he crippled the guy without even blinking. Could this kid’s status be even higher than that?"

"This kid actually has a connection to the president?"

"How is that possible?"

Xiong Yingjie and Hu Tao stared at each other in utter dismay.

Shock was written all over their faces.

The president?

The president of the Artifact Refiner Guild was the one and only Third-Grade High-Level Refining Master in the Saint Martial Dynasty. His status was so revered that even the Emperor of the Divine Martial Dynasty had to treat the guild’s vice president as an equal.

This was a man who stood at the very pinnacle of power in the Saint Martial Dynasty.

’Jiang Chen actually knows the president of the Artifact Refiner Guild?’

’If that’s true, then even with Master Yu Dan backing him, Xiong Yingjie is in for a world of hurt!’

At this thought...

The color drained from both of their faces.

Jiang Chen was also taken aback. "Your president is looking for me? What for?"

Cao Hao smiled. "I don’t know the specifics."

"Alright, I’ll go with you. However..." Jiang Chen’s gaze fell upon Xiong Yingjie and Hu Tao.

Cao Hao understood immediately. He glanced at Hu Tao, a cold glint in his sharp eyes. "Hu Tao, are you not going to kneel and await Young Master Jiang’s judgment?"

Hu Tao hesitated.

’Kneel to Jiang Chen in front of all these people? How could I ever show my face again?’

Cao Hao snorted coldly. "Get on with it."

"Yes..."

With a bitter laugh, Hu Tao knelt before Jiang Chen. "Young Master Jiang, I was in the wrong. I beg you to spare me this once!"

Standing to the side, Cao Hao remained perfectly composed and said coolly, "You think a few simple words are enough to earn Young Master Jiang’s forgiveness?"

Hu Tao froze for a moment, then understood. He hastily took out a Storage Ring and placed it respectfully before Jiang Chen. "Young Master Jiang, there are twenty thousand Lower-Grade Spirit Crystals in here. I implore you to accept them and forgive me this one time!"

Jiang Chen glanced at Cao Hao.

His mind was sharp; how could he not see that Cao Hao was deliberately trying to protect his subordinate? Since the captain had shown him so much respect, Jiang Chen wouldn’t disrespect him in turn. He smiled, accepted the Storage Ring, and said coolly, "In the future, remember to enforce the law impartially. Understand the situation before you act, and don’t be so reckless. If it were anyone else today, I’m afraid you would have already crippled them!"

"This humble one understands! Thank you for your forgiveness, Young Master Jiang!" Hu Tao was moved to tears with gratitude.

Jiang Chen then turned his attention to Xiong Yingjie.

Xiong Yingjie’s face fell. He knew he couldn’t escape this. In a strained voice, he asked, "Jiang Chen, what are you going to do?"

"Settle our score."

Jiang Chen sneered and advanced on Xiong Yingjie.

Xiong Yingjie’s expression changed drastically. He shrieked, "Y-Y-You, stay away! My master is the Alchemy Master, Master Yu Dan! If you dare to hurt me, he will never let you get away with it!"

"Then let him try."

With a cold, indifferent expression, Jiang Chen suddenly struck out, tapping a finger on Xiong Yingjie’s lower abdomen.

BUZZ—

Xiong Yingjie’s entire body trembled. His face turned ashen as he stared at Jiang Chen in disbelief. "You... you... you actually destroyed my cultivation? No... My cultivation..."

"This is the price for sending Xiong Li and his men to kill me!"

Before he finished speaking, Jiang Chen raised his foot and stomped down hard. With a sickening CRACK, he crushed both of Xiong Yingjie’s arms, leaving them like mangled pulp. Xiong Yingjie shrieked in agony.

He writhed on the ground in pain, his eyes filled with venomous hatred for Jiang Chen.

"And this is the price for trying to harm me time and time again." Jiang Chen crouched beside Xiong Yingjie and patted his cheek. "In your next life," he said coolly, "remember to be more magnanimous. When you lose, you lose. Don’t be such a sore loser."

"No... I beg you, don’t kill me..."

Xiong Yingjie shrieked in despair.

Expressionless, Jiang Chen placed his hand on Xiong Yingjie’s neck. His fingers tightened. With a sharp CRACK, he snapped Xiong Yingjie’s neck, and the young master died on the spot.

Even Cao Hao raised an eyebrow, a new, more serious light entering his eyes as he looked at Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen stood up and dusted off his hands as if nothing had happened. He smiled at Cao Hao. "Captain Cao, shall we go see your president now?"