Chen Xian flashed his credentials.
But the Caojia Alley enforcers didn’t even blink.
Their attitude remained the same. People came here to trade, and they were here to uphold order.
They hadn’t done anything reckless—they were just following the rules and protecting their own interests.
"Apologies, sir, but even if you’re a 749 Bureau investigator, you still have to follow the rules. The item belongs to someone else. Are you trying to forcefully take it?"
"If that’s the case, we’ll fight you to the death. If we die, our families will be taken care of by our boss."
"We’ll do everything we can."
"But you might end up with some serious trouble. To minimize losses and avoid unnecessary conflict, I should remind you—Caojia Alley is under the jurisdiction of Lu Ding, the Corpse-Shattering Taishui, Investigator Lu."
"Lu Taishui has a bad temper. If you break the rules here, the only way you’re leaving Bao Fan District is on a stretcher."
What the hell was wrong with these Bao Fan District cultivators?
They weren’t giving him any face at all.
Sure, they started with words before fists, but these guys weren’t messing around. Their message was clear:
If you insist on fighting, then we fight to the death.
If he didn’t kill them, he wasn’t getting the item.
But if he did kill them, the punishment from above would be severe.
Yet if he didn’t act, he wasn’t getting out of here today.
And who the hell was this Lu Ding? Was he really that terrifying?
Though Chen Xian didn’t say it aloud, he didn’t quite believe it.
He let go of the item, making it seem like he was giving up. The crowd thought he was backing off, ready to let things de-escalate.
But then—
BOOM!
Chen Xian channeled his Qi, his hands surging forward.
"You have your beliefs, and I have mine! Chen Xian, Investigator of Yaodu 749—let’s spar!"
He had to take that item!
Since words didn’t work, fists would!
As long as he didn’t kill anyone, he’d be fine!
——
Meanwhile, at the Yunhai 749 dormitory.
Fresh out of the shower, Lu Ding was casually scrolling through the 749 App announcements.
At this moment, he was already a Linghai Realm Ninth Layer Cultivator.
Taishui Honey, various Heavenly Treasures, plus Oneness with Heaven and Man—
In just three days, he had skyrocketed from Linghai Fifth Layer to Ninth Layer.
This was beyond genius level—this was monstrous talent.
Using the least amount of resources to gain the most levels while maximizing combat power.
A true genius wasn’t someone who just hoarded treasures and supreme techniques only to perform at an average level.
A true genius was someone who, even with basic techniques and ordinary resources, could outperform others by a landslide.
That’s what separated true talent from the rest.
The stronger you became, the more Heavenly Treasures and top-tier techniques you could obtain, slowly snowballing into absolute dominance.
That was what being a genius truly meant.
Lu Ding finished reading the announcement and put his phone down.
Originally, he thought the Year-One Combat Trials were boring.
Now, though?
It was starting to sound fun.
Even before his breakthrough, if any of his Yunhai 749 colleagues faced him in the arena, they wouldn’t even bother fighting—they’d just accept defeat.
It would’ve been a straightforward climb to the top for Lu Ding.
He wouldn’t even need to fight to secure a spot for advanced training.
Everyone else would only be fighting for second and third place.
But now, things were different.
With three regions competing for thirty slots—with the top nine earning advanced training—the competition just got interesting.
They were all Cultivators of Qi.
No one would admit someone else was stronger unless they saw it for themselves.
And they were all the same age.
Lu Ding knew for a fact that, whether it was Yunhai 749, Yaodu 749, or Qingsheng,
each group would assume the others were weaklings.
When fighting for just ten slots, things might’ve seemed difficult.
But with thirty slots available, the increased competition was barely a factor in everyone’s minds.
For Lu Ding, this was the perfect opportunity to stretch his muscles.
There would always be arrogant idiots who didn’t know their place, itching to challenge him.
Especially the so-called genius investigators from the other two regions.
It was inevitable.
And that thought put him in a great mood.
More weaklings to crush.
"Since I’m in such a good mood, let’s grab some hotpot with Bai Hemen and Yan Feifan."
Lu Ding picked up his phone.
He sent them both a message.
Bai Hemen replied: "I’ll head to the parking lot to get the car."
Yan Feifan said: "I’ll come pick you up."
Before Lu Ding could even reply—
A message from Xie Shunan popped up.
She detailed everything that had just happened.
After reading it, Lu Ding’s mood immediately soured.
A Yaodu 749 investigator was trying to strong-arm a deal in Bao Fan District.
And now, he was already fighting the Caojia Alley enforcers.
Lu Ding really didn’t get it.
Why did people always start trouble the moment he was in a good mood?
A 749 investigator resorting to strong-arming merchants?
What happened to rules and regulations?
What, did laws mean nothing to this guy?
And in his jurisdiction, no less?
Lu Ding stood up.
He quickly messaged Bai Hemen and Yan Feifan.
[No need to pick me up. Meet me at Caojia Alley. Someone’s stirring up trouble—I’m flying over.]
[Bai Hemen: Wanna race?]
[Lu Ding: Sure. I’ll let you start first—I just need to put on my shoes.]
As soon as he sent the message—
BOOM!
A black shadow shot out from the 749 Base, streaking into the distance.
At the same time, in Bao Fan District’s Public Security Bureau, vehicles roared onto the streets.
Meanwhile, Lu Ding took his time, slipping on his shoes.
Then, he stepped onto the windowsill—
And launched himself into the sky.
The ground blurred beneath him, shifting rapidly as he soared.
Before long, he caught up with Bai Hemen, sensing his Qi trail speeding across the landscape below.
Lu Ding grinned.
"You’re still too slow."
With Spiritual Qi surging, Lu Ding’s speed jumped to another level.
——
Caojia Alley.
The ground was littered with fallen cultivators from Caojia Alley.
Chen Xian stood tall, radiating oppressive energy.
"DON’T PUSH ME!!!!"
Cao Ying activated his magical artifact, turning back with a cold sneer.
"Push you? A trade happens when both the buyer and seller agree—that’s how business works. You want to buy, but she doesn’t want to sell, so you just try to take it by force?"
"That’s what you call being pushed??"
"What kind of twisted logic is that?!"
"We, Caojia Alley, provide the marketplace and ensure security. You start strong-arming people, we step in to stop you—and that’s us pushing you?!"
"You really have a way of justifying your own bullshit."
"You’re just making excuses!"
"This Yimu Knot is useless to you lot—why not just sell it to me? It’s not like I’m not paying!"
Chen Xian shouted, but he knew exactly what he was doing.
Everyone present knew exactly what he was doing.
But if you called it robbery, you were the one in the wrong.
Because he was offering money—he just didn’t care whether the seller wanted to sell or not.
"Are you f***ing deaf?! She said she’s NOT SELLING!!!"
Cao Ying snapped.
Just then—
One of the fallen Caojia Alley cultivators suddenly sprang up, locking onto Chen Xian’s leg with a tight grip.
"Big Boss! I GOT HIM!"
Cao Ying immediately unleashed his artifact again.
"You’re forcing me!!"
Chen Xian’s Spiritual Qi exploded outward, blasting the cultivator off him.
The man spun through the air, vomiting blood.
Chen Xian stepped forward, hands forming a stance.
Behind him, a phantom image of a raging bull solidified.
BOOM!
At that moment—
A shadow plummeted from the sky.
One foot slammed down.
The raging bull phantom shattered instantly.