Chapter 175 - 172: Surprised? Unexpected?

"What!!!"

The surrounding crowd was instantly stunned.

Just moments ago, a single punch had obliterated the fist of the Feng Family Patriarch, leaving one of his arms completely mangled and limp. Then, the boy had caught a weapon barehanded—a weapon wielded by an expert at the Seventh Level of Tongyou Realm. Yet, the only consequence was a trickle of blood from his palm; he was otherwise completely unharmed.

After that, he had sent an expert at the Eighth Level of Tongyou Realm flying. It looked as if the expert had been attacked from behind by an unseen force, shattering his cervical spine. His body went entirely limp, dying on the spot.

"Catching a weapon barehanded... He’s a Body Cultivator, and a formidable one at that! Furthermore, he’s a Spirit Master—one with special abilities!" someone exclaimed.

"Heavens, he’s only sixteen or seventeen, yet he possesses such power? Just how monstrous is his talent?"

"Dual cultivating as a Spirit Master and a Body Cultivator! Where did this monstrous youth come from? Why haven’t we ever heard of him?"

"The Feng Family has kicked an iron plate!"

The crowd broke into a chorus of astonished cries.

Even the female guard, as well as the guards stationed at the entrance of the Merit Mansion, revealed expressions of shock. Such a powerful and unique youth was something even they, members of the Black Dragon Army, had never encountered.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Mo Qianqian sent the Feng Family members flying one after another. His combat prowess was incredibly ferocious, with some of his strikes outright piercing through their bodies.

The Feng Family Patriarch, whose hands were practically crippled and temporarily useless for combat, had already retreated from the fray.

Initially, Mo Qianqian had planned to carve out a bloody path straight to the Merit Mansion to seek refuge inside. Now, however, it seemed unnecessary. He could simply wear them down quickly, continuously slaughtering the Feng Family members.

SWISH!

However, Mo Qianqian had been too optimistic. Before he could finish wiping out the Feng Family members, a formidable aura surged forth as an elderly figure flew toward them at breakneck speed.

"The Feng Family’s Void Spirit Realm expert is here!"

"That boy is doomed!"

"What a pity. That youth is an absolute monster. Who knows if there’s an expert backing him? If there isn’t, he’s going to fall right here!"

Waves of exclamations rippled through the crowd. At the same time, a booming roar echoed through the air. "Killing members of my Feng Family! Such insolence!"

"Stop!"

Just as the Void Spirit Realm First Layer expert charged at Mo Qianqian, another figure dashed forward rapidly, meeting the Feng Family’s Void Spirit Realm expert palm-to-palm in a resounding clash.

The Feng Family’s Void Spirit Realm First Layer elder was sent staggering backward. Another elderly man materialized in the air.

Mo Qianqian’s battle with the remaining Feng Family members ground to a halt. The scene unfolding before them had left everyone bewildered; even Void Spirit Realm experts were now clashing.

When Mo Qianqian saw who had intervened on his behalf, his mouth fell open in sheer astonishment. He recognized the man who had just struck.

It was none other than Lao Liu’s master!

To think that Lao Liu’s master had also appeared in Black Dragon City! What was more, the man was actually wearing the uniform of the Black Dragon Army, complete with a distinctive medal on his shoulder.

"General Jiang!" The expression of the Feng Family’s Void Spirit Realm First Layer elder drastically shifted. He addressed Lao Liu’s master in a grim tone, "Are you intending to interfere in this matter?"

The Feng Family Patriarch and his cohorts all wore extremely ugly expressions. In this single skirmish, their Feng Family had suffered catastrophic losses. They had lost an expert at the Eighth Level of Tongyou Realm, one at the Seventh Level of Tongyou Realm, and several other Tongyou Realm combatants were either dead or severely injured. Even the Feng Family Patriarch himself had sustained heavy injuries, his hands completely crippled.

If a General of the Black Dragon Army decided to intervene, their Feng Family would be absolutely powerless to resist. After all, not only was the opposing party a General of the Black Dragon Army, but he was also a Void Spirit Realm Second Level powerhouse.

"General? He’s a General of the Black Dragon Army?" Hearing the words of the Feng Family’s Void Spirit Realm elder, Mo Qianqian was immensely shocked.

Lao Liu’s master was actually a General of the Black Dragon Army?

Simultaneously, Mo Qianqian noticed a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old girl leading a squad of a dozen Black Dragon Army soldiers striding confidently toward them. The girl had a youthful, slightly round baby face. She stood a little over five feet tall, with a remarkably well-endowed figure.

The girl was unmistakably Lao Liu.

Lao Liu was also clad in a Black Dragon Army uniform, bearing a medal on her shoulder, though it differed in design from her master’s.

"We are indeed interfering in this matter!" Lao Liu declared.

Mo Qianqian was surprised yet again. Lao Liu was also a member of the Black Dragon Army in Black Dragon City? Had this master-and-disciple duo rushed back to Black Dragon City before him? Could they have communicated with Emperor Xia beforehand?

And why were they helping him?

It couldn’t possibly be because of what Lao Liu had said at the Hongyan Building—that she liked him, could it?

Nevertheless, regardless of their motives, with them covering his back, he had managed to survive this ordeal with the Feng Family. As long as he stepped inside the Merit Mansion, the Feng Family’s Void Spirit Realm expert would no longer be able to lay a hand on him.

"My disciple’s words represent my will," Lao Liu’s master stated.

The Feng Family’s Void Spirit Realm elder’s face darkened. "Hmph, let’s see if you can protect him forever!"

Without wasting any more breath, the Feng Family elder swept his gaze over his men. "Let’s go!"

After glaring viciously at Mo Qianqian, the Feng Family Patriarch and his surviving subordinates gathered their dead and swiftly departed.

This outcome somewhat exceeded Mo Qianqian’s expectations. If they had been outside the city, the opposing party definitely would have tried to "debate" the matter further with Lao Liu’s master. Yet here, despite their catastrophic losses, they didn’t utter a single word of protest.

Clearly, this was the absolute law of Black Dragon City: once the Black Dragon Army intervened, all arguments were rendered moot. In this domain, the Black Dragon Army’s word was final.

"Thank you for the assistance, Senior!" Mo Qianqian cupped his fists in gratitude.

"Fighting experts at the Eighth and Ninth Level of Tongyou Realm right off the bat, exposing your dual cultivation prowess as a Spirit Master and a Body Cultivator without holding anything back... You truly are a bold one," Lao Liu’s master couldn’t help but marvel.

"My hand was forced," Mo Qianqian replied, awkwardly scratching his head.

He had no choice but to reveal his strength. If he hadn’t, he feared no one would have taken him seriously.

"Senior, are you people from Black Dragon City?" Mo Qianqian subsequently asked.

"Lao Liu will explain these matters to you. I still have some business to attend to. Take care of yourself." With those parting words, Lao Liu’s master leaped into the air and flew off, quickly vanishing from Mo Qianqian’s line of sight.

Mo Qianqian was left speechless. Even her own master called her Lao Liu. It seemed her name truly was Lao Liu. He wondered if she even had another name.

"Let’s talk inside the Merit Mansion," Lao Liu said to Mo Qianqian.

Mo Qianqian nodded and strode forward. Upon reaching the entrance of the Merit Mansion, he presented his Token for the guards to inspect.

One of the guards respectfully offered, "I will take you to see the mansion selection courtyard."

After all, this was a ruthless individual who could slaughter experts at the Eighth Level of Tongyou Realm and injure those at the Ninth Level of Tongyou Realm. Furthermore, he had a General of the Black Dragon Army backing him. They absolutely did not dare to offend him.

Lao Liu followed Mo Qianqian into the Merit Mansion, while her subordinates remained outside to wait.

"Miss Lao Liu, so you are members of the Black Dragon Army from Black Dragon City, not personnel of the Great Xia Dynasty?" Mo Qianqian looked at Lao Liu, his eyes full of astonishment.

"That’s right, we are locals of Black Dragon City. What do you think? Are you surprised? Did you see that coming?" Lao Liu tilted her head, asking with a cheeky grin.

"It was definitely a surprise, and a pleasant one at that. If it hadn’t been for the help of you and your master, I’m afraid I would have been in grave danger," Mo Qianqian answered sincerely. He then followed up with another question, "However, there is something I don’t quite understand. Since you aren’t affiliated with the Great Xia Dynasty, why did you help me?"

It wasn’t just here in Black Dragon City. Back at the Ling Family, Lao Liu’s master had dealt with the Void Spirit Realm Second Level expert from the Realm of Chaos, which could also be considered as helping him. Moreover, when he first encountered Lao Liu in the Southern Wilderness, even though they had technically been cooperating, she had aided him then as well.

He simply couldn’t comprehend why they had repeatedly gone out of their ways to assist him.