Chapter 23

(Here comes the fifth update, everyone, why aren't the red tickets and monthly votes exploding!)

Ge Yi walked over, took the secret fist technique scroll from Chen Xun's hand, and upon seeing that it was indeed the common goods found everywhere in Canglan, the surprise in his eyes deepened. He turned to Su Qingfeng and said, "Thirteenth Young Master, it really is the Great Peng Secret Fist..."

Su Qingfeng had an extraordinary spiritual sense. Although he had only glanced at it roughly the other day, at this close distance, he could clearly see through Chen Xun's true strength.

The youth in front of him had indeed only just completed the tempering of his entire body's bones; he had not been mistaken the other day at dusk.

Although he had practiced the Great Peng Secret Fist since childhood and had reached the fifth layer of the Savage Martial realm by the age of thirteen or fourteen, which was considered to be of exceptional talent, it was not particularly stunning; at least, he was far inferior to Zong Shouyang of the past.

Of course, Su Qingfeng did not know that Chen Xun had only officially practiced the Great Peng Secret Fist for less than three months.

Otherwise, Su Qingfeng would have skinned Chen Xun alive on the spot to find out the truth.

This matter was known only to Wu Gong Zongtu in the entire Black Python Stone Village.

Wu Sang, Nan Liao, and others were all unaware. They even thought that Chen Xun had gradually recovered some of his memory over the past three years, and the Great Peng Secret Fist was a family legacy.

Wu Gong Zongtu said that this boy was not a member of the Black Python tribe but had gotten lost in the depths of Python Tooth Ridge with his father more than three years ago and ended up in Black Python Village by chance. Su Qingfeng believed it.

Su Qingfeng recalled the shocking thunderstorm in the depths of Python Tooth Ridge three years ago. Although Canglan City was two or three thousand miles away, even those at the mid-stage of the Rebirth Realm could sense the thunderstorm.

However, no one dared to make any moves.

This time, when he came to the mountains to seek the Black Scaled Fox, he even rode a black vulture to the depths of Python Tooth Ridge for a cursory look.

More than three years had passed, but the remnants of the thunderstorm's power still lingered, inspiring awe. The deep mountains of Python Tooth Ridge, once towering and rugged, had been blasted into a deep valley by the thunderstorm.

The deep valley, filled with rainwater, had now become a large lake deep in Python Tooth Ridge.

In fact, before this, some of the world's greatest experts, who usually never involved themselves in worldly affairs, had already explored the depths of Python Tooth Ridge.

After seeing the traces left by the thunderstorm, they all deduced that it might have been a powerful expert at the Brahma Heaven Realm or a world-class demon that had already cultivated the Dao Essence Heaven Map, encountering a thunder tribulation in the depths of Python Tooth Ridge.

Canglan was the main gateway for Yunzhou to enter the Western Wastelands. Every year, many cultivators from Yunzhou would pass through Canglan to delve deep into the Western Wastelands to seek medicinal herbs or cultivate.

Su Qingfeng thought that this youth, who was around ten years old at most three years ago, must have gotten lost from his father during that thunderstorm and ended up in Black Python Village by chance.

Thinking of this, Su Qingfeng looked at Chen Xun with interest and asked, "You are not from Black Python Village, so where is your home?"

"Many things from the past, I can't remember; I only remember that my father and I went into the mountains to find medicine, encountered a thunderstorm, and then got separated," Chen Xun said.

Although Zongtu and the others had not pressed him about his background over the past three years, Chen Xun had already concocted a flawless story in his mind.

"Oh, you mean that thunderstorm," Su Qingfeng nodded and said, "Losing your memory in the deep mountains is still considered lucky."

Over the past three years, Chen Xun had been finding medicine and hunting in the deep mountains of Python Tooth Ridge, his skin tanned and rough from the wind and sun, but his figure was much slimmer compared to the Black Python tribe members. His clear and delicate features also differed from the deep-set eyes and broad noses of the barbarian tribes, more resembling people from Yunzhou.

Su Qingfeng was also very interested in how this youth, with only the fifth layer of the Savage Martial realm, could kill one and severely injure another of the Black Mountain Tribe's mid-stage Savage Martial experts. He propped his elbow on the stone table and asked with a smile, "Tell me, how did you manage to kill Gu Lei and severely injure Gu Shan?"

"… They guarded the stone beam outside the eagle's nest all night and only split up to chase me at dawn. Gu Shan was overly confident and searched alone down the cliff, not realizing I was hiding at the entrance of a cave. I used a short spike to pierce his abdomen first, then cut his leg tendons. Gu Lei believed his words, thinking I was seriously injured, and was easily deceived into the dense forest, where I ambushed him…" Chen Xun started from the fierce battle with the Green-eyed Eagle and recounted the details of how he ambushed Gu Shan.

He naturally would not reveal everything about killing Gu Lei, attributing it all to Gu Lei's underestimation and his successful ambush.

Given that Gu Lei's body was likely devoured by the gray wolves, Chen Xun was not afraid that the Black Mountain Tribe would find any evidence to confront him.

"Nonsense, Gu Lei had already cultivated to the point of externalizing divine light, just two or three years away from the upper stage of the Savage Martial realm. How could he be ambushed by you?" Gu Hu was so angry that he roared, his hand slamming the stone table, sending stone chips flying, and his body trembling with rage upon hearing Chen Xun's words.

"I can also externalize divine light," Chen Xun said, not afraid of Gu Hu in the Black Python Stone Hall, his气势 (momentum) not weakening in the slightest, and he retorted.

"The Great Peng Secret Fist, that common goods, is just a physical manifestation, how can it compare to our Black Mountain Wolf Martial?" Gu Hu was so angry that he spat blood, his eyes almost popping out, wishing he could tear this boy to pieces on the spot.

Gu Hu believed that the Black Mountain Tribe's Savage Martial legacy was inferior to the Black Python Tribe's Nine Nether War Spear, but it was certainly not comparable to the Great Peng Secret Fist, a common good.

"Gu Hu, calm down," Su Qingfeng, however, found Chen Xun's story interesting and asked, "Although Gu Lei and Gu Shan had not cultivated to the point of bone hardness like vajra, their bodies were not easily injured by ordinary weapons. What kind of short spike did you use that was so powerful?"

Chen Xun took out the pair of bone spikes:

"I found these in the Green-eyed Eagle's nest. I don't know what kind of animal bones they are, but they are very sharp. I was chased by the Green-eyed Eagle for half a day because I stole a few bones."

Chen Xun deliberately reversed the cause and effect, thinking: That animal skeleton is definitely extraordinary. These Canglan people are unscrupulous, so I can't tell them everything.

"This boy is too despicable. He clearly obtained a great treasure the other day but still acted innocent, tricking a Yuan Gathering Pill from Ge Yi," the broad-browed youth, who had understood the whole story, now looked at Chen Xun standing in the middle of the stone hall with even more hatred and anger.

"Mongoose bones!" Su Qingfeng's eyes were sharp, and he immediately recognized what the short spikes in Chen Xun's hand were made of. He said in surprise, "There is a mongoose skeleton in the Green-eyed Eagle's nest, truly impressive. However, if the Green-eyed Eagle picked up the mongoose skeleton and dropped it in the nest, there must be more than just a few…"

Chen Xun steeled himself and said, "The rest are at my place. If General Suxu likes them, I can fetch them and offer them to you, General Suxu…"

"… I am currently refining some feather arrows and need some materials. The mongoose bones can be used, though勉强 (barely) suitable," Su Qingfeng smiled, "However, I won't take them for free. I came to Python Tooth Ridge representing the Su Clan to establish trade and friendship with the tribes. I have brought many goods from Canglan to exchange for the resources of Python Tooth Ridge. If you are interested in anything, we can trade. Of course, if you are unwilling to part with the mongoose bones, that's fine too…"

Is the Su Clan really so humble and submissive when establishing trade and friendship with the tribes in the northern foothills of Python Tooth Ridge?

Judging from the broad-browed youth's behavior, it doesn't seem like the Su Clan of Canglan would act so humbly towards weaker tribes!

Chen Xun said, "Xun is willing to offer them to General Suxu. And this long spear, which was a gift from General Suxu to the Black Mountain Tribe, Xun will also return to you, General Suxu."

"I will trade for the mongoose bones; I, Su Qingfeng, won't take advantage of you. As for this long spear, I gave it to the Black Mountain Tribe, so it belongs to them. Who it ends up with afterward is a matter between your tribes, and I won't interfere," Su Qingfeng turned to Wu Gong Zongtu and asked, "Little Zong, I'm not bullying your Black Python Tribe, right?"

Chen Xun thought, as expected, there must be some restriction that prevents the powerful Su Clan from openly extending their reach into the northern foothills of Python Tooth Ridge. However, hearing Su Qingfeng call Wu Gong Zongtu "Little Zong," he guessed they had some past connection—thinking of this, Chen Xun felt more at ease.

Zongtu said, "General Suxu, you are too kind. Xun is truly a guest of the Black Python Tribe, and we cannot constrain his decisions—please handle it as you see fit."

"Since this boy is not from your Black Python Tribe, can I take him and deal with him now!" Gu Hu asked, his eyes bloodshot.

"The Black Mountain Tribe is really shameless," Zong Sang said with a scowl, mocking, "Gu Lei and Gu Shan, two grown men, chased a half-grown boy and ended up one dead and one injured. Gu Hu, you should bury your face in cow dung and reflect for two days, instead of saying such things. Handing him over to you is like handing him to a donkey—do you want it?"

"You!" Gu Hu was so angry that his nose almost exploded, and he pushed himself up from the stone table, wishing he could poke a bloody hole in Zong Sang's face with his thick, carrot-like finger.

"What's wrong with me!" Zong Sang straightened up, unafraid.

"Enough, don't make a fool of yourself in front of General Suxu," Zongtu calmly scolded Zong Sang, making him sit down, and said, "The Black Mountain Tribe lost two great warriors, and Gu Hu, in his haste, said some rash words. Don't argue with him."

Zongtu's words were sharp, directly rebuking Gu Hu for his rashness, which made Gu Hu even angrier.

However, with the Deputy Commander clearly stating he would not interfere in tribal affairs, Gu Hu knew that if he lost control and acted rashly in the Black Python Village, the only possible outcome would be being killed by Zong Sang and Nan Liao together.

Gu Hu's black face instantly turned purple with anger, and he sat down, saying, "The Black Mountain Tribe can overlook the matter of this boy killing Gu Lei, but after killing Gu Lei, he sneaked back to the valley and tried to harm Young Masters Su Ling and Su Yi, harboring murderous intentions. The Black Mountain Tribe will not stand idly by!"

Hearing Gu Hu, even in his rage, still trying to sow discord, Chen Xun spat in disdain. But seeing the anger in the broad-browed youth's eyes, he guessed that Gu Hu had successfully provoked him.

Although Chen Xun hated the broad-browed youth's arrogance, he could not offend the Su Clan at this moment. He immediately knelt before General Suxu and explained:

"After killing Gu Lei, I sneaked back to try to kill Gu Shan and eliminate a threat. However, when I returned to the valley, I saw the two young masters with Gu Shan and retreated. First, I would never dare to show any disrespect to the two young masters, and second, their cultivation is far above mine, so I had no chance of winning. Please, General Suxu, investigate the matter clearly!"

"Enough, stand up. It's as if we are being unreasonable," Su Qingfeng said impatiently, waving for Chen Xun to stand up.

"Alright, you can go back for now; I'll call you if there's anything," Zongtu said, dismissing Chen Xun.

Chen Xun then left the stone hall.

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