Strongest War Emperor

Shen Lang looked at Yi Hongchen and said, "The Young Valley Master and his group discovered a Demon Iron Vein in the Tala Prairie. Xu Daolin was following them, so he naturally found out as well. If the Xu Family truly seizes the City Lord’s Mansion, they’ll need resources to expand. They’ll turn around and snatch this vein for themselves."

"Whether you think they will or not, Yuwen Huaji certainly will. I’ve met him once. He’s the kind of ruthless tyrant who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. He will absolutely not give up on a currently ownerless mineral vein. And if you don’t act this time, it will show that Evil Wind Valley is wary of him and doesn’t dare to offend him. That vein... it’ll be his for the taking."

Ling Chen shot to his feet and barked, "Hongchen, send a message back to Evil Wind Valley immediately! Tell your father everything that’s happened here, and repeat Elder Shen’s exact words! Also, have him dispatch experts to help me deal with that old scoundrel, Yuwen Huaji! This time, we must ruin the Xu Family’s plans! Hmph, they seem to have forgotten that this is Evil Wind Valley’s territory!"

"Understood!" Yi Hongchen replied loudly and immediately walked into another room.

"Well then, the show is about to begin," Shen Lang said leisurely.

Everyone in the room exchanged wry smiles, each seeing the shock in the others’ eyes.

As for Shen Haoxuan and the several Elders, they had long since started seeing Shen Lang as a monster.

Zeng Wuming and the others, who had been silent all this time, also had a new perspective on Shen Lang. Now, the more they looked at him, the more they liked what they saw.

The resentment they had once felt about being assigned to the Shen Family had long since been tossed to the nine heavens.

’He’s making it obvious to Evil Wind Valley that he’s manipulating them to do his dirty work, yet he’s making them willing to be used—and even grateful for it... This... Elder Shen is simply terrifying! When I first saw him in Halan Valley, his voice sounded a bit youthful. I never would have imagined he was actually so young. But now, seeing his cunning, who could believe he’s only sixteen...’

Luo Fengling looked at Shen Lang, an expression of uncontrollable awe in her eyes.

"Brother Lang, let’s drink."

Xue Dangdang poured Shen Lang some wine, and the two began drinking cup after cup as if no one else was there, making the onlookers smile wryly.

Only those two could be so carefree at a time like this, still in the mood for drinking.

Shui Qingwu watched Shen Lang, her delicate brows slightly furrowed. Her heart was in turmoil. ’Shen Lang’s cultivation... seems much stronger than the Ghost-faced People. How is that possible? According to previous information, he was supposed to be one of them... Or has he raised his cultivation to the point where he can fight Xuanwu Realm Powerhouses in just a few short days? Impossible... If someone could accomplish that in such a short amount of time, even the number one genius of the Shui Family would be a complete joke in comparison...’

Suddenly, Shen Lang put down his wine cup, stood up, and steadied his father. "Dad, you just drank the Potion made from the Seven-Star Begonia not long ago. You need to rest more. You should head back first. Don’t worry about all this messy business."

"Mm, I know." Shen Haoxuan gently patted the back of his hand and said, "No matter how much you have things under control, remember, you must be careful. Don’t take too many risks, or your mother and I will worry."

"I understand."

Only in front of his parents did Shen Lang act like the boy next door—obedient, cheerful, and handsome.

Shen Moran smiled and patted his head without a word, helping Luo Dieqi support Shen Haoxuan as they started to walk out.

CREAK!

The door was suddenly pushed open, and a travel-worn Chu Qingcheng burst in. "Weren’t you having a banquet? Why is everyone gone?"

Shen Lang’s face darkened with frustration. "Expecting you to get something done is harder than climbing to the heavens! I sent you to investigate Xu Daolin, and you’re only just getting back..."

"Hey, Uncle Tian, Auntie Die, long time no see! Qingcheng pays her respects to you both."

Chu Qingcheng completely ignored Shen Lang and bowed to Shen Haoxuan and Luo Dieqi. The two parties then exchanged some pleasantries.

Throughout all this, Shen Moran’s expression never changed. She didn’t even spare Chu Qingcheng a single glance.

The moment the three of them left, Zeng Wuming and his men vanished into the shadows at almost the exact same instant, disappearing without a trace.

Only then did Chu Qingcheng chuckle and say, "I took a wrong turn on the way back and had to take a lot of detours... Xiaolang, Xu Daolin has already started his plan."

"If we had waited for you to report back, it would’ve been too late," Shen Lang said, rolling his eyes.

As he spoke, he started walking outside.

’Now that Evil Wind Valley is taken care of, even if Yishu Saint doesn’t send more experts, Ling Chen will definitely make a move. In that case, there’s something that needs to be done right away.’

With this in mind, Shen Lang spoke without turning his head, "The curtain has been raised. I need to go out and take care of something. The rest of you can go have a look at the City Lord’s Mansion."

Before anyone could react, Shen Lang turned to Xue Dangdang and asked, "Dingdang, do you know Yuwen Huaji? Within the Imperial Dragon Sect, have you two...?"

Xue Dangdang shook her head. "I don’t know him, but he definitely knows me. He wouldn’t dare provoke me."

After a moment of contemplation, Shen Lang said with a grave expression, "Dingdang, in that case, you should stay at the Shen Family estate. I can only be at ease if you’re here."

Xue Dangdang really wanted to go with Shen Lang, but after hearing his words, she nodded firmly. "I understand, Brother Lang. You go. With me here, no one will dare to touch the Shen Family!"

As she spoke, she suddenly flew straight up into the sky. With a light wave of her jade-like hand, she tossed out a glittering golden Token.

The Token spun in the air, then instantly grew more than ten times in size, releasing a massive golden barrier of light that enveloped the entire Shen Family estate.

It was already evening. Under the setting sun, the Token slowly rotated. The character for "Emperor" on its surface glowed brightly, immediately drawing the attention of countless people in Celestial Phoenix City.

"A Token from the Imperial Dragon Sect! It looks like it’s in the direction of the Shen Family. What’s going on?"

"What’s the relationship between the Shen Family and the Imperial Dragon Sect? How strange."

"The sounds of battle are shaking the heavens over at the City Lord’s Mansion right now. They say some of the attackers are from the Imperial Dragon Sect. This is getting more and more confusing!"

"City Lord Ye Xiao Zheng is backed by the Imperial Dragon Sect, but now people from the Imperial Dragon Sect are attacking the City Lord’s Mansion. And the Shen Family is supposedly controlled by Evil Wind Valley, so why has a Token from the Imperial Dragon Sect suddenly appeared over their home? I don’t get it!"

Just as the Token appeared above the Shen Family estate, several figures soared into the air from within the Phoenix Mountain Range.

"That aura... it feels like Dingdang’s... For her to toss out that Token, something unusual must be happening. We should hurry over and take a look."

"It’s over. It looks like the Little Witch, Dingdang, is throwing a fit. The people of Celestial Phoenix City are in for some bad luck."

From within the jungle, a series of wry chuckles could be heard. Immediately after, several powerful momentums surged, and a few figures shot into the sky, streaking across it like meteors as they blazed towards Celestial Phoenix City!

Under the impact of these immense momentums, the dense jungle bent over in swathes toward Celestial Phoenix City, like blades of grass on a prairie.

Among these people were, shockingly, the very same individuals who had hunted the Blood Race Saintess, Alice!

Back at the Shen Family estate, a pair of pitch-black wings unfurled from Shen Lang’s back, and he too flew up to Xue Dangdang’s side.

In the air, Xue Dangdang in her red dress and Shen Lang in his black robes stood side-by-side, suspended in the sky. In an instant, they captured the attention of countless onlookers nearby.

"Brother Lang, go do what you need to do. Leave the Shen Family to me. There won’t be any problems," Xue Dangdang said, her face slightly flushed.

"Mm, I know."

Shen Lang smiled and gently pinched her nose.

In the crowd below, Shui Qingwu watched the intimate display between the two, her expression dimming. A moment later, a trace of unease bloomed in her heart.

’No matter how strong his cultivation is, there’s no way he can clash with a Half-Step King Martial Realm powerhouse like Yuwen Huaji! But this time, a confrontation between him and Yuwen Huaji seems unavoidable, and I can’t help at all... What should I do?’

Shen Lang nodded to the crowd below, then dropped down, flying towards the City Lord’s Mansion, staying close to the ground.

Ling Chen, who was near Shui Qingwu, waited until Yi Hongchen came out before speaking. "Elder Shen has already gone to the City Lord’s Mansion. The few of you, disguise yourselves and blend into the crowd. Go to the Martial Arts Arena at the City Lord’s Mansion and act according to the situation. Remember, do not act rashly!"

"Then what about you, Uncle Chen?" Yi Hongchen asked with a solemn expression.

A sword-like glint flashed in Ling Chen’s eyes. "If I go over right now, I might attract Yuwen Huaji’s attention and alert the enemy. I’ll stay at the Shen Family estate for now and wait for reinforcements from the valley. If you run into danger, remember to send a signal immediately. I’ll rush over at once!"

As he spoke, he suddenly turned to face Hua Zhong, the Dean of Tayun Academy who had been mostly silent, and asked, "I wonder what Dean Hua’s opinion is?"

Hua Zhong let out a long sigh. "Tayun Academy is a neutral power and has never interfered in the struggles between the various forces in Celestial Phoenix City. Besides, if Yuwen Huaji is truly overseeing things in Celestial Phoenix City, with my cultivation, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be of much help anyway. I’ll stay here at the Shen Family estate with Dingdang. If something happens, I can at least look after the Shen Family. That’s all this old man can do. Old Mo and Sima can take a trip to the City Lord’s Mansion."

While these few were still discussing how to respond, Shen Lang, who had already left the Shen Family estate, suddenly flew up to a high rooftop and stopped.

’I hope that guy isn’t dead yet. Even if he has to die, he has to die by my hand.’

’That bastard is a crucial part of Xu Daolin’s plan, so he shouldn’t die so easily. Xu Daolin needs to capture him and expose his collusion with Ye Xiao Zheng in front of all the major powers of Celestial Phoenix City. Only then can he raise the Xu Family’s prestige to a certain level.’

The "he" Shen Lang was referring to was, of course, the Demon Martial Artist Ji Chengwu, from whom he had stolen the Nine Immortals Lingzhi.

Now, the first thing Shen Lang had to do was find this person.

He activated his Silver Eyes of Truth, and the entirety of Celestial Phoenix City was laid bare before his eyes.

However, this one look was anything but trivial. Shen Lang, who had been calm and composed until now, was suddenly scared out of his wits!

It turned out that under the scrutiny of his Silver Eyes of Truth, four incomparably powerful auras from the four cardinal directions of Celestial Phoenix City were all revealed to him!

’Emperor Martial Realm Powerhouses! How is this possible?! How could Emperor Martial Realm Powerhouses appear in Celestial Phoenix City, and so many of them at once?’

*Note: Recommending a friend’s great fantasy novel, "Rebirth of the Strongest Tyrant".*