To offend a man like that? The great bandit groups of the frontier fell silent. Although they all lived by the gamble of life and death, there was no need to provoke such a ferocious figure.

In just a few short days, several bandit groups publicly announced that they would no longer provoke the Luo family's caravans. As long as the Luo family caravan adhered to the customs of the frontier, they would absolutely not be robbed.

The so-called custom was giving a road toll.

This custom had existed since the profession of banditry began, and even Gan Jing alone could not change this rule, unless every single bandit in the frontier was wiped out.

That would truly be challenging all the bandit groups of the frontier, even including Ba Huang Wu Sheng within the scope of that challenge.

Gradually, more and more bandit groups issued the same statement. As for whether they would actually collect the road toll when encountering a Luo family caravan, that was another matter entirely.

No bandit group would provoke a madman over collecting an extra toll from one caravan. For the majority of the bandit groups, this was just posturing for reputation. If they truly encountered a Luo family caravan, the worst they could do was pretend not to see them and let them pass.

To actually go up and demand payment? If they provoked that madman named Gan Jing again, resulting in annihilation? How utterly unprofitable that would be? Bandits were human, they were demons, they were savages, and they only had one life.

Even the powerful bandit group ranked third was unwilling to deplete its strength by confronting Gan Jing. Even if they managed to kill Gan Jing, who knew how much strength it would cost? They might even risk dropping in rank.

The frontier was inhabited by a pack of cunning and cruel wolves. When they saw your strength wane, no demon or man would hesitate to pounce and take a bite.

The annihilation of one bandit group served to make not only the frontier bandits recognize Gan Jing, but also the mercenaries escorting goods came to know this name.

In the past, Gan Jing had done many astonishing things, but none of them had truly spread his fame widely.

Now, Gan Jing had inadvertently begun to truly make a name for himself. The names most discussed among traveling mercenaries were no longer some young Bloodline Warrior, nor was it the question of who the strongest Bloodline Warrior currently was besides the Great Demon King—it was Gan Jing.

This seemingly ordinary name became the most frequent topic of conversation among the mercenaries. As interest in Gan Jing intensified, all sorts of information about him began to surface.

An ordinary warrior, not a Bloodline Awakener.

Age under twenty.

A warrior cadet at the Conquest War Academy.

Severely wounded the genius Bloodline Warrior, the Griffin King, of the same age.

After appearing before the Gan family entrance, defeating several Bloodline Warriors of the same age as the Elven King, and defeating the established Elven King Bloodline Warrior, Gan Chenyu.

As these deeds were unearthed because people began to pay attention, the shock grew deeper and deeper, especially regarding the matters concerning the Gan family.

The Gan Prefecture, the Gan Family! Elven King Bloodline! One of the three ultimate bloodline power families of the True Strategy Dynasty! A family even the Demon Race dared not look down upon! And this young man actually dared to go there and cause trouble?

Was this valor? Or had he gone insane?

Insane! Soon, almost everyone concluded that Gan Jing was insane.

Very quickly, Gan Jing gained another title in people's conversations: Gan the Madman.

That’s right! Gan the Madman! Would any sane person go cause a ruckus at the Gan family gates? Causing trouble there was a faster path to death than joining a suicide squad on the Human-Demon battlefield!

Yet, this young man had survived! And he had returned to Yongliu hale and hearty, consolidating power and influence in his hands—power that even the Gan family now had to consider before moving against him.

Although the head of the Gan family, Gan Zhanxuan, was known for not fearing anything, Gan Jing's status was undeniably different now. In such a short time, he had integrated a faction, and his ascent was faster than the blink of an eye.

Compared to Gan Jing’s current status, people were more eager to know how Gan Jing managed to leave the Gan family alive. The domineering nature of that Gan Zhanxuan was famous throughout the True Strategy Dynasty, the Barbarian tribes, and the Demon Race alike.

Soon, people dug up new information: Gan Jing was connected to the Serpent Emperor, Pan Hongji of the Nine-Headed Serpent Bloodline Family, and moreover, they were... allies!

A young man who possessed no power at the time managed to forge an alliance with the Nine-Headed Serpent Bloodline Family. To be deemed worthy of alliance by the Serpent Emperor, whose discerning eye and inherent pride were no less than Gan Zhanxuan’s—what kind of capabilities did this young man possess?

News about Gan Jing grew deeper and more astonishing in the hands of gossip enthusiasts the more they dug.

Big shots who were usually hard to even catch a glimpse of apparently had close ties with this seemingly obscure young warrior.

Many bandits secretly congratulated themselves that they hadn't been impulsive enough to fight Gan Jing when they first heard about him.

Under that situation, whether they won or lost, there would be no good outcome. If they lost, Gan Jing would eliminate them.

If they won? Hell! This was a young man appreciated by Lord Serpent Emperor Pan Hongji, someone with whom he had even formed an alliance. To kill Gan Jing?

Currently, besides a select few top figures, who could withstand the wrath of Lord Serpent Emperor Pan Hongji? In the entire frontier, perhaps only Ba Huang Wu Sheng could stand against him.

But who knew when Pan Hongji might come knocking to avenge Gan Jing? Waiting for Ba Huang Wu Sheng to arrive and rescue him? By the time he arrived, it would be time to collect the corpse.

It is human nature: if no one speaks of a person, no one pays attention.

If someone starts to pay attention, it forms a group effect, and a large number of people join in the focus.

When the names of important figures appear within this focal event, it further stings the public's eye, and the tide of attention expands wider and wider.

In a mere ten-plus days, the name Gan Jing truly was no longer just circulating in the frontier; its influence began to spread to the borders of every nation, rapidly extending inland.

Any single event was enough to cause astonishment; any single event was enough to be discussed for a long time. When these events converged upon one person, and that person was just an ordinary person—then... everything changed!

The majority of the residents of the True Strategy Dynasty were still commoners. They possessed a natural sense of closeness and relatability towards this young man who relied on non-bloodline power. With a little exaggeration added to the narrative, many minstrels began to consider whether they should weave stories about Gan Jing.

People began to look forward: with such a rapid ascent, would this young man break the fate and records of ordinary warriors in the upcoming Newcomer King Tournament? Would he really have a chance to challenge the powerful Bloodline Warriors? Hadn't he defeated an Elven King Bloodline before? Surely that was worth anticipating, right?

"Gan Jing? He's still alive?"

Gan Zhanxuan frowned, idly rolling two iron balls between his fingers. The corner of his eye swept over the members of the Lei family kneeling on the floor. "And making such a spectacle? Get up, all of you. When the Newcomer King Tournament arrives, he will be knocked down from the pinnacle of his life. Wouldn't that be interesting? To let everyone know that Bloodline Warriors are forever the legends of this world. Ordinary people?"

Gan Zhanxuan stood up, hands clasped behind his back, looking up at the sky. A proud and disdainful cold smile reappeared on his lips. "They just need to keep their heads down and build! In the past, all glory belonged to the Bloodline Warriors. In the future, it will be the same! Glory belongs only to the Bloodline Warriors, and supreme honor belongs to the Elven King Bloodline!"

Lei Wei crawled backward toward the door, large beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He marveled inwardly at this man who commanded the peak of both power and authority, whose oppressive aura was so terrifying, a domineering presence capable of crushing everything into dust.

"Gan Jing?" Gan Wutian stroked his severed ear, the rage in his pupils flashing for a moment before transforming into a cold, confident smile. "To make a name for himself by using me as a stepping stone? In the Newcomer King Tournament, I will reclaim my glory, and... surpass you! Gan Wushuang!"

"Is that so?" Gan Wutian raised an eyebrow slightly, leaning against a thick tree trunk, holding a book loosely in his hand, a faint smile on his face. "I look forward to seeing you try, but it's impossible. I will definitely become the Ultimate Awakening of this generation and stomp the other five ultimate bloodlines under my feet. Gan Jing? He isn't worth my attention, nor is he worth your concern. Your performance just now was passable."

"Is that so?" Gan Wutian's brow twitched slightly. "Lei Long Li of the Three-Headed Golden Dragon Bloodline Family, and the Destroyer Jiuyang Fenghua of the War God Bloodline Family, both said the same. Even the Ten Great Bloodline Warrior Families want to win this Newcomer King title. Rest assured, after you are defeated, I will lead the Gan family to the true zenith of glory."

Gan Wushuang calmly glanced at Gan Wutian, the same confident and arrogant smile in the corner of his eye. From the moment he awakened, he had been the most dazzling Bloodline Warrior, and he would continue to be so in the future! Gan Jing? Just a small ant blocking the road; crush him with one foot, and it's done! His only true opponents were the Bloodline Warriors who achieved the Ultimate Awakening.

"If there truly are gods in this world," Gan Wushuang closed his book and looked at the sky, "then when I defeat all the Bloodline Warriors and lead the True Strategy Dynasty to unify the Human, Demon, and Barbarian races, elevating the Gan family to its highest point of glory, I will go look at the stars. I will see if gods truly exist. If they do... I will defeat them! And become God myself!"

Gan Wutian's expression faltered for a moment. Was this the gap between him and Gan Wushuang? Not a gap in strength, but a gap in mindset! While he was still struggling to surpass the other, Gan Wushuang had already set his sights on the gods who existed only in legend.

The Three-Headed Golden Dragon Family, Longshan...

"Gan Jing? Who is that? An ordinary person living within the Gan family? Pan Hongji allied with him? Tell him to become my attendant, Lei Long Li. After I defeat all the Ultimate Bloodline Warriors, I will help him bring his father out of the Gan family."

A massive waterfall thousands of feet high plunged from the mountain peak, crashing onto the man whose muscular body was submerged in the water. The roaring torrent could not drown out his domineering and self-assured voice.

: I recommend this book. This book, I personally checked it out, and I find it very interesting—a new book titled "Arrogant and Overbearing" (Fei Yang Ba Hu). You can find it via the main express route on the homepage of Chi Zha Feng Yun, or you can search for it yourself. It truly... has some substance. It's been a long time since I read a newcomer's work, or rather, a long time since a newcomer's work compelled me to follow it. I estimate I will follow this one for a while; it’s interesting, quite interesting. I recommend everyone take a look. RO