Seeing the miserable expression on Jian Chen’s face, Hu Xiaotian could infer that there was most likely no one supporting Jian Chen from behind that could handle the power behind the third elder. As if to console him, he spoke,
Brother Jian Chen, don’t fret too much. Mercenary City is considered the safest spot on the continent. If you can’t deal with those people, then stay within the city. I’m sure these people here will be more than willing to help you out as well.
Hu Xiaotian pointed to the Heaven Saint Masters that had been willing to help Jian Chen fight off the four Heaven Saint Masters a few moments ago.
Hahaha, Jian Chen, you are truly powerful beyond imagination. I hadn’t expected to see you kill those four with nearly a single strike! I can say now that my eyes are fully opened to the world now.
The man in black-robes spoke. Holding his fan, the man laughed out loud as he spoke. But his words had been indeed spoken from the heart. They were all truly stunned by just how strong Jian Chen was.
Sire Jian Chen, the Imprint of Death on you is something that the men behind the third elder could use to find your position rapidly. If sire Jian Chen can’t fight them off, then my Vulcan Shrine would be more than happy to help you. Don’t worry about the Shi family, our Vulcan Shrine have no fear for them.
A red-robed elder smiled amicably to try and gain Jian Chen’s favor.
You have my Dayong clan. If sire Jian Chen requires it, then my clan would be more than happy to help you deal with the Shi family.
The black-robed man had been unwilling to give up their chance to earn Jian Chen’s favor as well.
Wiping away the blood from the corners of his mouth, Jian Chen cupped his hands to everyone.
I am thankful for everyone’s willingness to assist me, but I will deal with this matter myself. I won’t be imposing my troubles on you all.
There was no such thing as a free meal in this world, and Jian Chen knew just what had prompted these people to be willing to help him. He would not let himself owe another a favor so easily.
Well then, there isn’t much use in chatting for now. Brother Jian Chen is injured something fierce. We should treat his wounds back in Mercenary City first.
Hu Xiaotian spoke up. Taking a pure-white pill out from his Space Ring, he handed it over to Jian Chen,
Brother Jian Chen, this is a Class 6 Radiant Spirit Pill. It won’t be enough to heal your wounds, but it should speed it up a bit. Take a bite.
Looking at the thumb-sized pill in Hu Xiaotian’s hand, Jian Chen hesitated for a moment before finally taking it from him. With a word of thanks, he swallowed the pill. Jian Chen had a rather favorable impression of Hu Xiaotian and wouldn’t refuse the pill offered to him. That would be impolite to Hu Xiaotian.
After taking the pill, Jian Chen had felt his wounds healing faster than before. Even his pale face was beginning to regain some of its red flush from before.
Afterwards, before the other people around Jian Chen left, Jian Chen was able to take the Space Rings from the corpses of the elders he had just killed. Together, they returned to Mercenary City, leaving behind a stunned audience still standing far off to the side to stare at the wreckage of the battle.
This time, Jian Chen’s true strength had astounded every single person in attendance. It had been far beyond their imagination even. Soon, his name would spread rapidly throughout the entire continent with tremendous speed.
A man who had reached the Heaven Saint Master realm before the age of thirty. Furthermore, this same person was able to survive against not one Heaven Tier Battle Skill, but four. Even combined, those elders had been no match for Jian Chen. This was a gargantuas piece of information that would spread across the continent with great fervor.
Big brother, you’re hurt! Are you okay?
The very moment Jian Chen stepped across the barrier of Mercenary City, the clear sounds of a young woman could be heard echoing in his ear.
Jian Chen’s figure shook slightly as he looked around the place. But Little Spirit couldn’t be seen.
Big brother, Little Spirit is right here!
Following the voice, the young figure of a woman suddenly materialized in front of Jian Chen. It was the very same Little Spirit that had appeared in his room the night before. But this time, her body was slightly transparent. One would be able to see straight through her body.
Big brother, it’s good that you were able to beat those idiots! Otherwise, Little Spirit would have gone against master’s orders to not interfere with the world! Big brother, does your wounds hurt?
Little Spirit asked in concern from her perch a meter high in the sky. There had been a pained look on her face, as if she was looking at a hurt family member of hers.
The fact that this Little Spirit, a being that had only just been crying over the loss of her long-lost master yesterday, was so pained at his current situation, Jian Chen couldn’t help but feel slightly emotional as well. He had taken a liking to Little Spirit, and his feelings of her felt like a fellow orphan that was all alone in the world.
Stopping in his footsteps, Jian Chen smiled towards Little Spirit,
I’m fine. It was only a relatively minor injury, it won’t take long before I heal up completely.
Yea! Big brother, you have to make sure to heal up. Little Spirit feels really bad to see you like this.
She spoke in concern.
Seeing the expression on her face, Jian Chen couldn’t help but smile inwardly to himself.
Hey, brother Jian Chen, who are you talking to? Talking to yourself like that, are you sure you’re fine?
Hu Xiaotian spoke from besides Jian Chen. He had been waving his palm in front of Jian Chen’s face with an odd look.
Jian Chen had stared blankly back at him as he turned away from Little Spirit. Looking at Hu Xiaotian and the other men, he could see that each one of them were looking at him rather strangely.
I was talking with Little Spirit, can you not see her?
Jian Chen asked curiously.
Looking around the area, Hu Xiaotian answered,
Brother Jian Chen, have you gone blind perhaps? There’s no such Little Spirit anywhere. I can only see you standing off to yourself and speaking to no one but yourself. No matter where I look, I can’t see anyone else.
Big brother, Little Spirit doesn’t wish to let them see Little Spirit, only you can.
Little Spirit had spoken in the midst of his confusion.
Hearing her explanation, Jian Chen had realized what was happening and smiled towards everyone. Continuing to walk with everyone else, Jian Chen smiled awkwardly while trying his best to not ‘talk to himself’ any longer.
Looking for an inn to rest up in for the night, Jian Chen holed himself up for the night while Hu Xiaotian and the other two groups returned to their own rooms.
Shutting the door to his room, Jian Chen tore off the clothes he had been wearing with a pained grunt. Using a clean towel to wipe off the dried up blood on his chest, the wounds on his chest could now be clearly seen. In some parts of his chest, parts of his bones could be seen almost.
How fortunate that my body was tempered by the Chaotic Force to become far stronger than before. If not, then I would have most likely not the strength to stand out anymore after that.
Jian Chen muttered. Placing down the tiger cub, he allowed for it to continue sleeping in peace on the bed.
Since the cub was sleeping off the heavenly resources it ate, the cub was completely unaware of the outside world. So when Jian Chen had been fighting those four elders, it hadn’t been shaken awake and continued to sleep. Jian Chen himself had no solution on how to change that either.
Doing a simple treatment of his wounds, Jian Chen took out two Radiant Spirit Pills from his Space Ring and swallowed it down. There were plenty of experts and major families within Mercenary City, so he didn’t dare use his Radiant Saint Force to heal himself. Furthermore, he was resolved that until he was a Saint Ruler, Jian Chen wouldn’t disclose the fact that he was a Radiant Saint Master.
Just as Jian Chen closed his eyes to focus on healing, Little Spirit suddenly materialized within the middle of the room. When she saw the horrifying wound on Jian Chen’s chest, Little Spirit had a pained look in her eyes. Reaching out with a finger, a small burst of energy emanated from her before entering into Jian Chen’s body.
Following the energy entering Jian Chen’s body, the wounds began to heal at an extremely accelerated pace. The speed at which the wounds were healing were far faster than if he were to use his Radiant Saint Force to heal.
Sensing the drastic change within his body, Jian Chen’s heart had skipped a beat. Opening his eyes, he realized that Little Spirit had been in the room with him. From her appearance, he could infer just what had just happened.
Big brother!’ Seeing Jian Chen open his eyes, Little Spirit had revealed a sweet and affectionate smile.
Little Spirit, thank you for your assistance!
Jian Chen thanked her.
Hee hee, as long as big brother is fine, then Little Spirit will be happy to help.
She giggled.
With her assistance, Jian Chen hadn’t needed to do a thing. His own body had been recovering at a terrifyingly rapid rate. What would had needed two or three full days to heal was taking only a single scant minutes before it had fully recovered, allowing Jian Chen to be shocked beyond belief.
Big brother, Little Spirit wants to ask a question. Big brother better not lie to Little Spirit.
She stared carefully at him with apprehension.
Little Spirit, what question is it? As long as I know, I’ll be sure to help you.
Jian Chen asked.
Hesitating for a brief moment, she looked hopefully at Jian Chen,
Big brother, have you really not seen master before?
There had been no hesitation when Jian Chen shook his head.
Little Spirit, I won’t lie to you. I have never seen your master before.
He sighed regretfully.
Little Spirit had turned melancholic as she listened to Jian Chen’s denial and drooped her head down. She was more than aware that her master had been gone for plenty of years, but she was desperate to see her master once more since he was like a parent to her. He was an important figure that she longed to see.
Big brother, Little Spirit will be leaving first then.
She spoke as her body began to fade away from the room.
Looking to where Little Spirit had previously been in, Jian Chen let out another long sigh before washing away the rest of the blood trails on him. Changing into a new set of clothes, he sat on his bed and began to think about the Imprint of Death the third elder had placed onto him.
The Imprint of Death looked like a very complicated pattern formed from a series of abstruse runes that imprinted itself on his body as if it were branded deep into his skin. But there had been nothing out of the ordinary that Jian Chen could sense from it.
But the fact that he had it had made Jian Chen feel worried. Although he had killed the third elder, this blood debt did not leave any feeling of happiness in him.
Since the Imprint of Death was on him, Jian Chen had no other choice but to give up on going to Longevity Valley and stay within the confines of Mercenary City in order to evade on being killed by the Saint Ruler of the Shi family. While elder Xiu in Longevity Valley was a Saint Ruler himself, Jian Chen had no idea just how strong he was. In the case that elder Xiu stood no chance against him, then Jian Chen would have only allowed for harm to befall the entire Longevity Valley.
Furthermore, there was no guarantee that elder Xiu would even help Jian Chen fight the other Saint Ruler. Becoming the enemy to one Saint Ruler was after all something that would require a far closer relationship with elder Xiu before Jian Chen could even suggest it.
