The outcome of the battle struck like a bolt from the blue, shaking everyone present to their core.

Before the fight, some had speculated that the Jingwu Bureau might have a trick up its sleeve, perhaps even calling in experts from the Outer Mansion for support. But no one could have imagined such a crushing, one-sided affair.

Xiong Lie, hailed as the top fighter of the Iron Sword Sect below the Earth Fiend realm, had been utterly suppressed from start to finish, completely unable to fight back. In the span of a mere hundred breaths, he had gone from a high-spirited True Disciple to a defeated warrior, staining the sky with his blood as he crashed wretchedly to the ground.

For a moment, gasps of shock, sharp intakes of breath, and murmurs of disbelief rose and fell, merging into a cacophony of noise.

Li Xuanche’s fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white, his eyes filled with horror and bitter resentment. He could never have imagined that Chen Sheng’s strength was so terrifying, far surpassing all his expectations.

Any thought of avenging his prior humiliation had vanished without a trace. On top of that, he was about to lose a huge sum of Elemental Crystals!

Similarly stunned was the legitimate daughter of the Wang Family, Wang Zilan, who stood by the window.

Her usually cool, detached eyes were now wide with astonishment. She stared blankly at the figure in the air, who was cloaked in a protective Golden Light like a veritable War God, and her heart churned with tumultuous emotions.

She had a chance encounter with him once in Changshan County. Back then, in her eyes, while Chen Sheng showed some potential, he wasn’t yet worthy of her—the legitimate daughter of the Wang Family—stooping to befriend. Thus, while she had been perfectly polite, she had in fact maintained a deliberate distance.

Even when she later heard that Chen Sheng had been promoted to Deputy Captain of G Camp and had suppressed Zhan Fusheng with ruthless efficiency, she had only been slightly surprised and hadn’t given it much real thought.

But now, she was beginning to feel a faint sense of regret.

With the strength and potential Chen Sheng displayed today, once he succeeded in Condensing Evil, his ascension to the ranks of the Ning’an Ten Heroes was practically a certainty.

And she knew better than anyone what being one of the Ning’an Ten Heroes signified. Even a family with a profound heritage like the Wang Family would seek to befriend such a Martial Dao genius, not easily make an enemy of one.

Befriending Chen Sheng earlier would have been a great boon for both her and the Wang Family.

At this thought, Wang Zilan secretly made a decision. ’Once this is all over, I must find an opportunity to visit him and make up for my past aloofness.’

’I just hope Chen Sheng doesn’t hold what happened before against me.’

Not far away, Vice Governor Sun Yuzhi stood with her hands clasped behind her back, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on her lips.

Chen Sheng’s dominant performance today had left her deeply satisfied.

Although the man was a confidant promoted by Nie Xuanfeng, she couldn’t help but feel a sliver of admiration for him. She even began to wonder if it was possible to win him over to her side.

The problem was, anything she could offer Chen Sheng, Nie Xuanfeng could offer as well; after all, he held a higher rank. And anything she couldn’t offer, Nie Xuanfeng, it seemed, could provide.

This was because Nie Xuanfeng came from an extraordinary background and had powerful backers.

’So, how can I win Chen Sheng over?’

Sun Siniang’s eyes narrowed slightly as she secretly weighed her options.

...

"HRAAAGH... AHH!"

Before the gates of the Jingwu Bureau, as the dust had yet to settle, Xiong Lie forced himself to his feet and leaped up once more.

But he was a wretched sight compared to before. His upper robes were shredded, revealing a muscular torso covered in bloody gashes. A clear, deep fist print was indented in his left shoulder, where the scapula was obviously shattered.

The only thing driving Xiong Lie to charge again was the unyielding pride in his heart that refused to admit defeat.

He knew Chen Sheng was stronger than him, but this battle was about the honor of his sect. If he lost, all the praise he had received a month ago would instantly turn to scorn and slander. Therefore, even if he couldn’t win, he had to at least fight to a draw to preserve his own face and that of his sect.

CLANG!

The two sections of the Iron Long Spear snapped together in his hands, emitting a clear, metallic ring. Gritting his teeth against the searing pain, Xiong Lie poured all his strength into his right arm and thrust.

The long spear moved like a dragon. An earthy-yellow Spear Gang coalesced into a terrifying point of light, carrying an indomitable momentum as it shot straight for Chen Sheng.

However, the grievous injury to his left shoulder severely hampered his ability to put force into the attack. Though the thrust had impressive momentum, it ultimately lacked the fluid agility it should have possessed.

Seeing this, Chen Sheng snorted. Even facing Xiong Lie’s desperate, all-or-nothing strike, he still showed no intention of drawing his blade.

The next moment, Chen Sheng took a single step forward. The immense Innate True Qi within his Dantian Qi Sea surged, and the phantom of an even more solid Golden Bell instantly materialized before him. Runes flowed across its surface, gleaming with a brilliant Golden Light.

DOOONG—!!!

The tip of the spear slammed into the Golden Bell, unleashing a deafening crash.

The toll of the bell mixed with a concussive blast, a sound so sharp it made one’s eardrums ache.

The standoff lasted but an instant.

CRACK!

The phantom of the Golden Bell shattered, dissolving into motes of golden light.

Xiong Lie was not at all surprised. After all, no matter how strong an Innate Body-Protecting True Qi was, it couldn’t block a direct hit from a Treasure Soldier.

However, just as he was about to press his advantage and drive the spear straight through to Chen Sheng, he was horrified to discover something else. In the instant the Golden Bell had shattered, a hand glowing with a faint golden light had clamped onto the spear shaft like an iron vise.

’Not good!’

Alarm bells screamed in Xiong Lie’s mind. He abruptly put his strength into his right arm, trying to wrench the spear free by vibrating it.

But why would Chen Sheng give him such a chance?

The instant he caught the shaft, he used the momentum to surge forward, his left fist striking like lightning toward Xiong Lie’s injured left shoulder.

’His shoulder blade is already cracked. That’s his weak point!’

Xiong Lie’s expression changed drastically. He had no doubt that if that punch landed, his entire left arm would be crippled. In this moment of crisis, he could no longer afford to care about his weapon. He made a split-second decision to let go and retreat, his body blurring as he fell back.

And with that retreat, the Earth-shaking Treasure Spear changed hands, falling into Chen Sheng’s possession.