“Wang Qiang.”
Seeing Wang Qiang, Chu Feng immediately moved to approach him.
“Chu Feng, be careful.” But before he could get close, the Chu Heavenly Clan’s Patriarch stopped him.
“Patriarch, I know him,” Chu Feng said.
“Oh?” At this, many turned to look at Chu Feng, clearly surprised by his words.
“You worthless worms dare to come for my treasure?”
To everyone’s shock, Wang Qiang suddenly spoke. His voice was still his own, but his tone was strange, unfamiliar.
And though he clearly saw Chu Feng, he ignored him completely, as if he didn’t recognize him at all.
“Wang Qiang, what’s wrong? Don’t you know me?” Chu Feng asked.
“How could a worm like you be worthy of knowing me?” Wang Qiang shot him a disdainful glance.
“Young friend Chu Feng, it seems you’ve mistaken him for someone else,” the crowd murmured.
At that moment, Dantai Yinjian, the strongest present, stepped forward. He positioned himself at the forefront of the vast crowd, facing Wang Qiang in a standoff.
“You, a mere junior, dare to insult us so brazenly? That’s rather impolite,” Dantai Yinjian said.
“There are indeed many juniors here, but it’s not me—it’s you,” Wang Qiang replied, a mocking smile curling his lips.
His gaze toward Dantai Yinjian dripped with contempt.
Such a look, such an attitude, infuriated Dantai Yinjian.
“It seems you won’t speak properly without a lesson.”
As his voice rang out, Dantai Yinjian unleashed his oppressive might.
The pressure of a Ninth-Rank Venerable swept across the heavens, like an invisible army charging toward Wang Qiang.
“You—”
But the next moment, Dantai Yinjian’s expression changed, his eyes wide with shock.
Around Wang Qiang, an invisible barrier seemed to exist. Dantai Yinjian’s pressure couldn’t breach it, let alone harm him.
Not only he noticed—many others did too.
A chill ran through the crowd.
They realized the figure before them wasn’t a junior, but a monster.
“Hmph, a worm like you dares to attack me?”
Wang Qiang’s lips curled into a cold smile as he faced the now-fearful crowd. With a wave of his sleeve—
*Thud!*
A muffled sound echoed, and Dantai Yinjian was sent flying. When he landed, he was a mangled mess of blood and flesh.
Though he clung to life, Dantai Yinjian had lost all ability to move. Undoubtedly, the strongest among the vast crowd was now gravely wounded.
“This…”
The crowd’s fear deepened as they looked at Wang Qiang.
Though they’d suspected this youth was strong, they hadn’t imagined he was this powerful—a casual strike nearly killed Dantai Yinjian.
Dantai Yinjian was a peak Venerable, just shy of Supreme. Yet this youth had easily crippled him, meaning his cultivation surpassed the Venerable Realm.
This was a terrifying monster, perhaps even beyond their ability to fathom.
“Don’t be afraid. I didn’t intend to act, but that worm insulted me, so I disciplined him.”
“As for you, yes, you’re worms, but I won’t drive you away or harm you without reason. Otherwise, wouldn’t people say I’m bullying the weak?”
“But I’m disappointed by the lack of worthy juniors,” Wang Qiang sighed, his tone that of an elder despite his youthful appearance.
His bizarre behavior led many to speculate: was this an ancient monster who’d lived for ages?
“Forgive my boldness, Senior. May I ask who you are and what your connection is to the Void God Tree?” the Chu Heavenly Clan Patriarch stepped forward, bowing respectfully and addressing Wang Qiang as a junior.
“You’re a worm, but you’ve got some manners.”
“My identity isn’t important. What matters is that you’ve stumbled upon a once-in-a-millennium opportunity—your destiny, your chance. But your strength is too weak. If you explore on your own, you’ll likely gain nothing.”
“Disappointing as it is, there’s no helping it. I’ll lend you a hand,” Wang Qiang said.
He slowly raised his palm, and a white radiance appeared, infused with barrier power and crackling with lightning.
*Whoosh!*
Suddenly, Wang Qiang raised his glowing arm.
A massive beam of light appeared above the crowd, descending swiftly.
When it faded, everyone enveloped by the light had vanished.
*Whoosh!*
Before anyone could react, Wang Qiang struck again.
Another beam fell, and those caught in it disappeared as well.
Panic gripped the crowd. No one knew what this terrifying figure had done to those who vanished.
Captured? Fine. But what if… he’d erased them entirely?
Terrified of death, many turned to flee, desperate to escape this fearsome being.
*Whoosh!*
But as they moved, light appeared above them, enveloping them. As it faded, they too vanished.
Beam after beam fell, and in moments, the vast coalition of forces was nearly gone.
Only one remained—Chu Feng.
Chu Feng and Wang Qiang stood in the void, facing each other, but the brotherly bond of old was gone.
Chu Feng’s gaze toward Wang Qiang was filled with caution.
Wang Qiang said nothing, but his look was strange.
“Who are you? What have you done to my friend?” Chu Feng demanded.
By now, Chu Feng suspected this wasn’t Wang Qiang. Perhaps Wang Qiang had encountered something in the Void God Tree, and his body… was possessed.
“Heh…” Instead of answering, Wang Qiang’s lips curved into a sinister arc.
*Whoosh!*
He raised his arm, and a beam of light formed above Chu Feng. Before Chu Feng could dodge, it engulfed him.
