Chaotic World Book

"You want my saber?" Vice Leader Huang flicked the blade, slightly amused, "If you truly win against me, my position will be yours, and of course the saber as well. But I really don't know where your confidence comes from. Do you think that just because you live with her, you are also on her level?"

Zhao Changhe did not argue, but simply smiled slightly, "Please enlighten me."

The two went outside the courtyard, where a crowd of sect members solemnly gathered around, the atmosphere quickly turned tense.

It wasn't uncommon for someone at the First Layer of Mystical Gate to challenge the Second Layer, but did someone who had only practiced for a little over a month truly possess such ability?

Zhao Changhe was daring to fight, obviously having his confidence, as by now he was no longer the ignorant newcomer upon his initial arrival here.

He was well aware from the low martial level he had been exposed to that there wasn't much of a qualitative change between the First Layer and Second Layer of Mystical Gate—just stronger power and quicker reactions, but not by a significant margin. His concurrent cultivation of Inner Strength was sufficient to bridge this gap, and the opponent was not aware of this—a dissemination gap and the opponent's underestimation were his key to victory.

His real challenge was how to utilize this Inner Strength effectively while keeping it hidden...

Besides, as the saying goes, 'use it or lose it.' Zhao Changhe had been fighting daily within the stronghold, not sparing battles with the experienced sect members and earning nicknames like "Boss Zhao" and "Little Tyrant," his real combat experience also qualified. Considering how Vice Leader Huang had been idling in the city, preoccupied with embracing maids and indulging in wines, how much of his past fierceness could still be summoned?

Yue Hongling could challenge above her layer, and Luo Qi had already made a name for himself worldwide... If he himself didn't even dare to try, he might as well go home and farm. What right did he have to rejoin Worldly Society with these people!

Zhao Changhe took a deep breath and made the first move with a step adjustment.

His long saber swept through a space of about three feet, and the crowd only saw the flash of the saber followed by a whirl of Blood Evil, the bloody blade light reaching Vice Leader Huang's left neck in an instant.

"What a swift saber!" Many were startled.

"Based just on the technique of that one strike, who would guess that he's been practicing for just over a month?"

"I wouldn't be surprised if they said he's been practicing for three years..."

"Is there really such a genius in this world? And they all live under one roof..."

The thoughts in people's minds were momentary. On the other side, Vice Leader Huang's expression turned extremely grave, as he too was startled by the speed of that strike, breaking out into a cold sweat. He instinctively dodged to the right and swung his steel saber left trying to use his higher cultivation level and the crushing weight of the steel saber to parry Zhao Changhe's strike.

If he could parry it, Zhao Changhe's guard would be wide open, deciding the victor immediately.

On the side, Squad Leader Fang sighed heavily with a solemn expression, "Old Huang has lost his momentum, he shouldn't be this passive..."

As his words sounded, Zhao Changhe's strike, which seemed as swift as thunder and ought not to be retractable, suddenly stopped mid-air. Vice Leader Huang's heavy strike came over, but it was like chopping cotton; Zhao Changhe's saber had already smoothly slipped past his blade, gliding towards his wrist.

"This is indeed a move from the Blood Evil Saber Technique, but hardly anyone uses it, right?"

"The Blood Evil Saber Technique is broad and expansive; incorporating its intricate variations isn't easy and requires extra effort, usually people just abandon these cunning moves."

"So how long has he really been training?"

"This level of control like an extension of his arm, has he really only trained for a little over a month?" The thought also flashed through Vice Leader Huang's mind as he urgently retracted his saber.

He found out that after retracting his saber, it was instead he who was left wide open.

Zhao Changhe had a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth, one big foot already flying through the air, landing unabashedly on Vice Leader Huang's abdomen.

This kick was nothing like the earlier finesse of the saber moves; the wild and rampant power of Blood Evil burst forth forcefully. Vice Leader Huang felt his own Second Layer Blood Evil Skill was as if it were practiced in vain, unable to withstand this power originating from the same source. Knocked back several meters as if riding clouds, he crashed heavily into the courtyard wall and then fell to the ground.

"Cough cough..." he curled up painfully on the ground, "Give, give me the Blood Stabilization Pill... My Blood Evil Qi has been disrupted by him..."

The scene fell silent.

The same Blood Evil Skill, the same Blood Evil Saber Technique, from First Layer breaking the Second Layer, and they had only exchanged three moves!

Vice Leader Huang had not even found a chance to go on the offensive!

Even Zhao Changhe hadn't expected it to be this easy; he hadn't even had to use his Inner Strength. Elder Sun was right—the refinement of saber techniques is indeed just as important as cultivation techniques.

The saber he had practiced a thousand, or even three thousand, times daily, finally began to exhibit its brilliant light in this world.

Zhao Changhe pointed his saber horizontally: "Squad Leader Fang, have I won this challenge?"

Seeing those eyes that had become a bit bloodshot and brutal due to the activation of the Blood Evil Skill, Fang Buping, who was being pointed at with a saber, actually felt a bit terrified, always feeling that the fierce man was going to chop him next.

He took a deep breath, tightly gripping the armrest of the recliner, "Indeed, according to the sect's rules, from today the office of Vice Leader Huang is yours."

Zhao Changhe laughed loudly, "Good, as the Vice Leader in charge of finances, I naturally have a say in the allocation of funds and grain. Wang Dashan!"

Wang Dashan, trembling with fear, replied, "Y-yes, here."

"Speak up, dammit; you're my Vice Chief, after all!" Zhao Changhe pointed towards the warehouse, "Take a few brothers, get three hundred taels of silver, pull three carts of sorghum, take half of the meat, and support the construction of the Beimang Mountain stronghold. Be careful not to empty it, leave some for the brothers in the city, don't be stingy and clueless."

Fang Buping's face turned green.

Zhao Changhe strode to the courtyard wall, bent down, and fed Vice Leader Huang a Blood Stabilization Pill, "Zhao is entrusted by Sect Hierarch Xue to manage the Beimang Mountain stronghold; let Vice Leader Huang continue to manage the finances."

At this moment, Zhao Changhe's pocket had more than just the Blood Stabilization Pill he had initially left on purpose. There were seven or eight pills, quietly given by Master Sun before leaving. Vice Leader Huang hadn't expected that the first to solve his problems would be Zhao Changhe rather than Fang Buping. Having swallowed the pill, he remained silent for a while before murmuring quietly, "Thank you. The saber is yours."

The man looked like a bandit as well, but he was still straightforward. Zhao Changhe wasn't polite with him either; he took the thick steel saber, liked it very much after a few gestures, and hung it at his waist. Then, turning around, he picked up the stack of books from earlier and smilingly said to Fang Buping, "Unless the squad leader has other directives, I will take my leave now."

Fang Buping took several deep breaths—if he hadn't been injured right now, he might have recklessly split Zhao Changhe in two. However, he was so injured that he couldn't even leave his bed, and was rather afraid that Zhao Changhe would recklessly split him in two, judging by the swift and unmatched sword light from before, nobody would probably have time to come to his aid.

He desperately suppressed the irritation in his heart, forcibly maintaining a calm tone, "Squad Leader Zhao is brave; it's fortunate for the Holy Sect to have such a great general. However, since joining the sect, there are still some rules that need to be clarified with Squad Leader Zhao."

Zhao Changhe said, "Please speak, squad leader."

"The stronghold is not your personal property, but a hall under the squad for gathering resources. This is the case everywhere. If the stronghold has earnings, half should be retained each month, and half must be submitted to the squad; if official soldiers or orthodox forces come to suppress bandits and you capture them, you cannot handle them arbitrarily, but must bring them to me for judgment. These matters, Squad Leader Zhao must be aware of, otherwise, if it escalates to the Main Temple, the Four Symbols Sect will not protect you for such matters. Our internal affairs in the Blood God Sect are autonomous."

Zhao Changhe replied with a smile, "Of course, I understand. However, similarly, if there truly are official soldiers or orthodox forces suppressing bandits, I hope the squad can provide support."

"That's only right." Fang Buping really didn't want to see Zhao Changhe's bright, sunny smile anymore and waved his hand in disgust, "Go on then."

Zhao Changhe watched as Wang Dashan and others pushing carts approached; he waved his hand grandly, "Brothers, back to the mountain!"

At that moment, a golden light flashed across the sky.

Such continuous shining of the Chaotic World Book within such a brief moment was rare in the world; almost the whole world was looking up, wondering which list was changing this time.

It was the Hidden Dragon List again.

"December, Minor Cold. Zhao Changhe, Mystical Gate First Layer, triumphed over the Second Layer within three exchanges, potential commendable."

"New seat added to the Hidden Dragon List."

"Hidden Dragon 250, Zhao Changhe."

That's it, the ranking was quite ridiculous, lacking the kind of final commentary that Yue Hongling and Xia Chichi received, seemingly not regarded as very important.

After all, it was only the low-level game of the First and Second Layers of the Mystical Gate; such level-jumping by others was not rare, only the victory within three exchanges was relatively noteworthy. In fact, this kind of strength on the Hidden Dragon List wasn't much of an honor; being weak yet envied, these new talents on the list often didn't survive long.

Most people in the world glanced at it and didn't care much, at most feeling that the name Zhao Changhe sounded slightly familiar...

Thousands of miles away, in a hidden place, Xia Chichi opened her eyes from a deep meditative state, looked up at the sky, and a charming smile curled on her lips.

"Are you following behind me on the list to remind me of something? Is this a way of expressing affection through competition? Hehe."

"In fact, I've known all along, no matter how late you and I start, when the Chaotic World Book shines across the sky, there will be a place for both of us."

"The Hidden Dragon List is not the end; the Heaven, Earth, and Human List is waiting for us."

As summer dominates the sky, why delay?

She is Xia Chichi, and isn't Zhao Changhe the same?

In a city somewhere, Yue Hongling stood at the top of a tall building, quietly watching Zhao Changhe below as he directed his subordinates in transporting supplies.

That day, Zhao Changhe's words suddenly flashed through her mind: "I, Zhao Changhe, came into this world not to idly roam the countryside."