Unfettered Retribution: Slaughtering My Way through the World Chapter 61: A Paltry Drum: Smashed in One Punch

The entire pier was in an uproar.

Voices buzzed with discussion.

Everyone stared at Chen Xuan, their faces filled with shock.

Chen Xuan, however, acted as if nothing had happened, walking off into the distance with Hong Wentong.

Just as they left the pier,

they saw a young woman standing in the distance. She stood tall and graceful, clad in a lake-green dress, her gaze sweeping the area.

When she saw Hong Wentong, her eyes lit up, and she imdiately ca over to greet them.

"Senior Brother Hong, you’ve finally arrived! My master asked to wait for you here!"

The young woman said politely with a faint smile.

"Ah, it’s Yunxing."

Hong Wentong smiled slightly. "It’s been two years. It seems your Martial Dao Cultivation has improved again."

"Senior Brother Hong, you’re too kind. Compared to you, I’m nothing."

A lovely smile appeared on her face. Then, her eyes showed a hint of curiosity as she looked at Chen Xuan beside them. "Could this be Squad Leader Chen?"

"That’s right. This is Chen Xuan!"

Hong Wentong smiled, then introduced her to Chen Xuan. "Chen Xuan, this is Yunxing. She’s a new disciple my master took in these past few years."

"A pleasure."

Chen Xuan said calmly.

"A pleasure."

The young woman offered a faint smile, but her heart was filled with doubt.

’Senior Brother’s letter said this Squad Leader Chen’s strength is profound and unfathomable, that he has the power to kill a Transforming Force Ninth Layer master with his bare hands.’

’Is that true?’

’He’s so young.’

As a mber of the younger generation herself, the young woman couldn’t help but feel a little skeptical.

"By the way, a lot of people are gathered at the pier. Did sothing happen?"

Yunxing asked, puzzled.

"It was nothing. Just a few flies I swatted away."

Chen Xuan said coolly. "Can we go see Elder Li now?"

"Yes, please follow !"

Yunxing smiled again and led Chen Xuan and Hong Wentong toward a horse-drawn carriage up ahead.

The group boarded the carriage, which traveled off into the distance.

After about an hour, they finally entered the prefectural city.

The prefectural city was indeed far more prosperous than Black Stone City.

It was densely populated and bustling. The streets were filled with vendors selling all sorts of goods, groups of martial artists, and even stage fights, performances, martial contests for marriage, and spontaneous duels.

It was a lively scene.

"The latest issue of the Wind and Cloud List is about to be posted. So many heroes from all over have been rushing here lately!"

Yunxing remarked, looking out the window.

"Wind and Cloud List?"

Chen Xuan looked puzzled.

"It’s a ranking unique to Canglan Province. It lists all the young masters from the four major prefectures of Canglan Province. Anyone under thirty-five who ets the combat power standard can make the list. There are only thirty-six spots in total, and every ti it’s released, it causes a huge sensation!"

Yunxing sighed softly.

"Is anyone from the Twelve Alliances on it?"

Chen Xuan asked.

"Of course, and quite a few."

Yunxing smiled, speaking with a hint of pride. "The Twelve Alliances is a major power in all of Canglan Province. We typically occupy six or seven spots year-round."

"What level of strength are they, roughly?"

Chen Xuan asked.

"Transforming Force, at the very least. True Transforming Force."

Yunxing smiled, subconsciously glancing at Chen Xuan.

It was as if she was still wondering if Chen Xuan’s Cultivation was fake.

"Is that so?"

Chen Xuan pondered this.

’It would be aweso if I could just sweep my way through that Wind and Cloud List.’

As they spoke, they arrived at the headquarters of the Twelve Alliances.

A massive plaque hung high above a wide gate. The calligraphy, written with powerful, sharp strokes, radiated an air of dominance.

The gate was flanked by masters, their vitality and blood strong and vigorous.

From the outside alone, it looked majestic and extraordinary.

After entering, Yunxing led them directly to Li Changsheng’s residence.

They passed through winding corridors and past nurous pavilions and towers.

Before long, they entered a spacious and tranquil little courtyard.

In the courtyard, an old man with silver hair and a silver beard was quietly watering flowers with a watering can.

When he sensed soone entering, the old man put down the watering can, turned around, and broke into a smile. "You’re here!"

"Chen Xuan, this is my master!"

Hong Wentong gestured, then imdiately stepped forward to pay his respects. "Greetings, Master."

"Greetings, Elder!"

Chen Xuan said, cupping his fist.

"No need for formalities."

The old man was all smiles, his spirit and energy exceptionally vibrant. He looked at Chen Xuan and chuckled, "So you’re Chen Xuan? Wentong has already told all about your deeds in his letter. To think a hero like you would erge from a place like Black Stone City. Even in the prefectural and provincial capitals, there wouldn’t be many like you."

"You’re too kind, Elder."

Chen Xuan replied.

’Not many, huh?’

’So that ans there are still so?’

"Chen Xuan, let see your true strength."

The old man smiled faintly and pointed to a stone drum in the courtyard. "That is a Strength-Testing Drum. Use your full power and strike it."

"A Strength-Testing Drum?"

Chen Xuan raised an eyebrow and turned to look.

"Yes. This Strength-Testing Drum is made from a special beast hide. A skilled Array Master was also hired to inscribe mysterious array runes on it. Not even a Transforming Force master can destroy it."

The old man said.

"You need to be careful. That drum is tricky."

Yunxing pursed her lips, seemingly unable to bear the thought of Chen Xuan being put at a disadvantage. She whispered a reminder:

"However much power you strike it with, it will rebound with the sa force. When I was just starting out, I struck it and was nearly crippled with internal injuries. It took more than ten days to recover. It tests your control over your energy. The more skilled your control, the less you have to fear its rebound.

There are ripples on it. The greater your strength, the more ripples will activate. To this day, no Transforming Force master has ever been able to activate all the ripples."

"Is that so?"

Chen Xuan turned and walked up to the stone drum.

’So many rules for a re drum?’

Without hesitation, he clenched his fist. The energy throughout his body instantly gathered into a single force, like a savage dragon awakening. He swung his arm and smashed his fist into the stone drum.

BOOM!

CRACK!

An explosive sound erupted as a terrifying wave of Qi Energy surged out like a savage dragon.

The stone drum, which had been standing there quietly, exploded on the spot as if it were made of straw, shattering into countless pieces.

Sheets of Qi Energy flew everywhere.

Chen Xuan let out a light breath and turned around calmly. "It doesn’t seem all that impressive. What happens now that it’s broken?"

’It was too fragile.’

’I didn’t even use that much strength.’

"..."

The entire courtyard was stunned into silence.

Everyone’s eyes were wide with disbelief.

Yunxing, who had just been skeptical of Chen Xuan, looked as if her eyeballs were about to pop out.

’Is... is this so kind of joke?’

’The Strength-Testing Drum that almost gave her internal injuries back then was shattered by Chen Xuan with a single punch?’

’Am I dreaming?’

Li Changsheng’s pupils constricted, and a storm raged in his heart.

’My Strength-Testing Drum... the one that cost a thousand taels of gold...’

’A monster!’

’This is a goddamn monster!’

’Where did Hong Wentong find him?’

"You!"

He whipped his head around to look at Hong Wentong.

"Master, you believe now, don’t you?"

Hong Wentong gave a bitter smile.

Li Changsheng sucked in a sharp breath. He turned back and suddenly shot toward Chen Xuan.

Chen Xuan’s vision blurred, and the old man was suddenly right in front of him, grabbing his wrist. The shock almost made him unleash his full power.

"Do you have a master? How about you beco my disciple? Even just in na is fine! If you just call ’Teacher’, you’ll be my student, and I guarantee no one in the Twelve Alliances will ever dare to bully you. What do you think?"

His voice was urgent, almost desperate.

’This kid is a goddamn prodigy!’

’If he’s nurtured properly, his future achievents will be limitless.’

Chen Xuan frowned, completely baffled by this sudden turn of events.

Even Yunxing was stunned once again.

She had never seen her master act like this.

When she beca his disciple, her family had offered many treasures and spoken countless words of praise. Even then, she had only managed to beco a nominal disciple. It was only through years of hard work and her diligent, uncomplaining character that she finally earned his recognition and beca an official successor.

’But now...’

’Master has no integrity at all, does he?’

...