The magic apprentice hesitated, biting back the pain racking his body, but remained silent. “Speak!” Chen Feng spat out the single word, kicking the apprentice’s right leg.

With a snap, the apprentice's remaining right arm broke off completely at the joint. “Ah…” Giant beads of sweat rolled down the magic apprentice’s cheeks.

The intense agony nearly sent him into unconsciousness. “I…” Seeing his continued hesitation, Chen Feng stomped his left foot down.

Snap. The apprentice’s right leg broke off entirely as well.

Yet, the apprentice possessed a tenacious spirit, enduring the pain without fainting even under such brutality. “I’ll tell you…” The magic apprentice quickly opened his mouth just as Chen Feng raised his left foot again.

“It… It was my brother who gave it to me!” the apprentice managed, gritting his teeth against the searing pain. “Who is your brother?

Where is he now?” Chen Feng felt a surge of rage swirling in his chest, his entire body trembling uncontrollably. The disappearance of the Jade Bangle was the primary reason for his humiliation.

Now, encountering it unexpectedly in this strange land, his anger was mingled with a faint sense of shock and exhilaration. “My brother’s name is Stuart…” the magic apprentice said.

“Stuart…” Hearing the name, a deafening boom echoed in Chen Feng’s mind. His fists clenched instantly.

The Cyclic Force within him erupted from his body in a sudden burst, manifesting as a ball of pale blue flame in the air around him. Stuart—that perjurer!

The one who swore solemnly before the Demon God in the family that he was the one who had taken the Jade Bangle! “Ah…” The magic apprentice let out another piercing scream as the searing heat radiating from Chen Feng incinerated all the hair on his head.

A stench of burnt flesh immediately filled the air. Taking a deep breath, Chen Feng gradually forced himself to regain clarity.

Hearing news of his enemy had nearly cost him his sanity. “Where is Stuart?” “He is…” The apprentice’s voice gradually faded.

Due to Chen Feng’s excessive brutality in his outburst, the apprentice was barely breathing out, much less in, clearly close to death. Chen Feng snatched the apprentice by his tunic and hauled him up, pressing his ear close to the man’s mouth.

“Where?” “Oh…” As he spoke, the apprentice’s eyes slowly closed. Chen Feng, anxious to hear the crucial information, leaned closer to check his breathing, only for the magic apprentice’s eyes to suddenly snap open.

His mouth opened, and a thin, shimmering blue needle shot out, aimed directly at Chen Feng’s brow. Chen Feng was barely a foot away.

He never expected an assassination attempt from someone on the verge of death. The poison needle struck with terrifying speed, actually causing ripples of Battle Qi fluctuation in the air.

Had the needle hit, let alone the poison, being struck on the brow would guarantee death or permanent disablement. In desperation, Chen Feng thought to let out a shout, punch towards the needle, and simultaneously unleash the Cyclic Force to leap backward rapidly.

Boom. His spine slammed against the wall of the adjacent alley.

The wall collapsed with a resounding crash. The magic apprentice lying on the ground, battered by Chen Feng’s violently erupting Cyclic Force, was sent flying flat, smashing straight through four or five layers of thick stone walls, turning into a pulp of flesh and mud.

A silent curse of relief escaped him. Chen Feng realized the magic apprentice was actually a dual cultivator of both Magic and Martial arts.

Dual cultivators referred to those who pursued both magical arts and Battle Qi. Such individuals were rare.

After all, human energy was finite; abandoning neither path usually resulted in being inferior to specialists in both, forever barring them from reaching the pinnacle of cultivation. It was based on this very consideration that Chen Feng had refused Lobu’s invitation to study magic at the Dragon Clan.

Looking at the dead magic apprentice, Chen Feng felt no regret. Even if he hadn't killed the man just then, the apprentice certainly wouldn't have revealed Stuart’s location.

Anyone who, with broken limbs, still plots murder—if they were someone prone to revealing secrets under pressure—no one would believe they possessed such resolve. However, having finally obtained a lead on his enemy, he felt an unbearable urge to find and kill Stuart to soothe the hatred burning in his heart.

A commotion arose nearby. The sheer violence of Chen Feng killing the magic apprentice—shattering several walls—had drawn out the local residents, who were now beginning to clamor and approach.

A sudden thought sparked in Chen Feng’s mind. He had an idea.

………… “Stupid Eight Gods Hermit, dead Eight Gods Hermit…” Judy kicked small pebbles under her feet, muttering under her breath. She was furious that she had let the fellow slip away through a moment’s inattention.

Just then, a shadow materialized silently behind her. It bowed, holding its fists together.

“Third Miss!” “Did you find him?” Judy turned and asked the shadow. “Uh… He killed a magic apprentice in a small alley and then vanished,” the shadow replied somewhat hesitantly, clearly embarrassed by the failure to track the target.

“Hmph. Even you lost him!

What kind of freak is this Eight Gods Hermit? Tell every mercenary of the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group in Kuta Town to start searching.

Tell them we’re looking for a red-haired youth!” “Miss,” the shadow said, “Master learned about your encounter with the bandits. He is very angry and demands you return immediately!” “Return?

No. I will find this Eight Gods Hermit before I go back,” Judy declared with firm resolution.

“But… this subordinate doesn't understand. Why is the Miss so concerned over a mere youth?” the shadow finally couldn't help but ask.

“Don’t you know I need teammates for the Rookie Selection Tournament?” Judy replied. “I know, but Master already arranged for Danny and Moco, didn’t he?” “Danny and Moco only show off in front of me.

In a real fight, how can they compare to the violently tempered Eight Gods Hermit?” Judy clearly expressed her dissatisfaction with the candidates her father arranged, pouting her bright red lips adorably. The shadow seemed to agree with her assessment.

It nodded. “Yes, this subordinate understands.

I will proceed immediately.” With that, its form began to fade, vanishing into thin air in an instant. “Hmph.

You wretched Eight Gods Hermit, you got away this time. Next time I see you, you’ll see how I deal with you for daring to disrespect this Young Miss!” Judy recalled Chen Feng’s aloofness and cool demeanor in her presence, and anger flared.

She stamped her foot, her delicate eyebrows furrowing, then seemingly recalling something. She turned and melted into the crowd, disappearing from sight shortly after.

………… Brent was incredibly excited today, because he had encountered someone even cooler than himself. As the Young Lord of Kuta Town, his favorite pastime was cruising around the city to show off and look dashing.

Spotting a youth at the city gate, he had intended to throw a punch to scare him, then magnanimously wave his hand and order him to pass. Unexpectedly, his plan to showcase coolness was thwarted by a red-haired youth.

A fellow who looked no older than sixteen managed to block his full-power strike using only physical strength, without any Battle Qi. It was certainly strange, but to Brent, that wasn't the main point.

The fellow casually pulled out a silver coin and didn't even spare a glance for the youth he had just helped. Tsk, tsk, that was unbelievably cool!

Truly an idol for our generation! After years of honing my own experience in projecting coolness, I was utterly defeated in a single exchange.

This guy is truly formidable. “Young Master!

Young Master…” A hurried voice called from outside the door. “I’m not dead, why the shouting?

It sounds like you’re calling a spirit!” Brent grumbled, annoyed. These servants made a fuss over the smallest things; they lacked all perspective.

A young boy, looking relatively small, rushed in, panting heavily from running too fast, frantically patting his chest. “Young Master!

Something interesting has appeared on the city wall!” the boy gasped, breathless. “Something interesting?” Brent’s eyes lit up with keen interest.

“Quick, tell me! What interesting thing is it?” After a few breaths, the boy finally managed to regain his composure and said, “I just got to the South Gate in the outskirts when I saw a naked male corpse hanging from the city wall.

One male corpse alone wouldn’t be strange, but beside the corpse was a dead female dog! On both the man and the dog were signs indicating they were executed for the crime of adultery.

It was hilarious!” “A man and a dog executed for adultery?” Brent was clearly intrigued, his eyes shining again. “Hurry, take me there!

What a pity I wasn't the first to witness such a fun event!” He sighed twice, clearly lamenting that he hadn't thought of such a brilliant scheme himself. The two mounted their horses and galloped recklessly through the city.

Fortunately, the City Lord’s Manor wasn't far from the South Gate, and they arrived in less than fifteen minutes. From a distance, they could see the naked male corpse hanging on the city wall.

Indeed, right next to him was a female dog, positioned side-by-side. Both the dog and the corpse bore large banners inscribed with the word "ADULTERY." Seeing the scene, Brent felt an overwhelming urge to burst out laughing, but doing so would compromise the dignity he was trying so hard to maintain.

Thus, he forced himself to stop, staring intently at the man and the dog suspended in the air without blinking. “Finlanje…” Suddenly, a sharp roar echoed from the back of the crowd.

Brent turned to see a slightly slender figure in a magic robe shouting at the corpses while trying to rush forward. “Stuart, don't rush,” a richly dressed middle-aged man beside him stopped his impulsive move.

He glanced at the dense crowd surrounding them. “You expect people to believe your brother committed adultery with a dog?

I suspect your brother offended someone important, and this is a calculated revenge.” This man turned out to be Stuart, the one who had framed Chen Feng. “Revenge?” Hearing this, Stuart’s expression shifted dramatically, flushing red then pale.

He immediately thought of one person—a thin, stubborn youth… “What happened today, as long as I live, I will return!” “I will have my revenge! For this arm!

And these two teeth! In two years, I swear I will make you pay in blood!” The thin youth’s venomous words seemed to echo in his ears.

Recalling those beast-like eyes, Stuart couldn't help but shudder. “Impossible.

It can’t be such a coincidence. Besides, that guy is probably already dead in Dragon’s Mountain by now,” Stuart reassured himself, shaking his head.

He bowed towards the middle-aged man beside him, looking at his brother hanging on the city wall. “Alva, sir, Finlanje is my brother.

Please help me find the murderer! You must avenge my poor brother!” “Revenge?

You have no hope,” a cold voice suddenly cut in from a dark corner. A red-haired youth dressed oddly stepped slowly out of the shadows.