Chaotic World Book

Beimang was not any thousand-mile mountain range; it was just a big mountain. Since the Blood God Sect had aggressively moved into the mountain, no other powers remained there.

However, the surrounding areas still had other small hills and woods, and there were also some bandits holed up there. Even the towns outside the mountain had some "heroes," almost collectively known as the characters of the Beimang Mountain Path.

Unfortunately, Beimang's might belonged to a bygone epoch, and now it was just a remote place. The likelihood of breeding true heroes in such a place was still relatively small; those who could break through the First Layer of the Mystical Gate could walk with their heads held high and declare themselves a figure like Luo Qi did when he pretended to be the top outer disciple.

So, how many heroes could there be?

As Zhao Changhe descended the mountain, he suddenly thought, "There's really nothing interesting here. The pool is too shallow, the pattern too low. I can't even meet anyone from the Chaotic World List. When will I ever touch the mysteries like the blind? I'm just using this place for convenient cultivation; I don't know at what level it would be appropriate to leave."

His thoughts flashed, and he had already noticed the situation on the mountain path.

The roadblock set up by the stockade was kicked askew, and a few bandits from amongst them were hung upside down on a tree. As they swayed, the accumulated snow on the branches fell, landing right on them, causing the bandits to loudly shriek in pain while the robust men beside them laughed heartily.

Two young men in coarse short jackets stood honestly by the roadside, appearing to be the travelers who were originally intercepted. Seeing the melee between the Black Gangs, they looked somewhat at a loss, but they seemed to be holding back laughter.

"Tsks, First Layer breaking the Second, Hidden Dragon two hundred fifty, listening to that, how impressive is it?" the head of the opposite group laughed loudly, "I'm also at Second Layer, let him show his face and see how lavish it is!"

A sidekick chimed in, "That's just internal strife within his gang; they're definitely not serious, maybe even letting some moves slide. What's so great about leaping levels? When it really comes to a fight, leaping three moves? Taking us for fools! Would he dare a decisive battle against an outsider when he's merely at the First Layer?"

"Of course he wouldn't dare; didn't you see his men being hung, he didn't even dare to let out a fart, hahaha... pretending to set up a blockade, it's hilarious."

"There's indeed no need for setting up a blockade today." A loud voice suddenly came from the mountain; everyone turned to look, only to see a figure flashing through the air, a blade glinting brightly, and the rope hanging the bandits snapped, dropping several bandits to the ground. They flipped onto their feet joyfully, "Boss!"

"Zhao Changhe, you're finally here!" someone pointed at Zhao Changhe and laughed, "Just you, also a Hidden Dragon two hundred fifty, dare to compare with our boss for one..."

He hadn't finished speaking when he suddenly quieted down and awkwardly closed his mouth.

He saw that his boss's expression was extremely solemn, dark as the bottom of a pot. Where was the previous bravado of calling Zhao Changhe out?

He subconsciously glanced at the rope Zhao Changhe had just cut. He suddenly shuddered.

That slash just earlier, had he seen it clearly?

What if it had been his own neck? Would his head still be there?

"I already find it annoying being labeled a fool; I didn't expect the world to actually be full of genuine fools needing no certification," Zhao Changhe lazily picked his ear, flicking a finger at the head of the group. "Really brainless, even if you beat me, could you make it onto the list? Do you even know what the Hidden Dragon List means, or should you go home and look up in a dictionary? Believing whatever people say, and then fantasizing that someone else will let you hit them, thinking that you've grasped the truth of leaping levels... What kind of path are you guys really on, better go mix it up in online forums."

The big man dodged in a hurry, yet the earwax still smeared on his face.

He became furiously angry and pointed his blade, "Zhao Changhe! Do you really think there's no one in Beimang? So arrogant!"

"Scoff. With this level of dodging... if all the heroes of Beimang are like this, it's truly disappointing," Zhao Changhe yawned, "Didn't sleep well last night, rushing to catch up on sleep... all of you come at once."

"Scoundrel!" The big man was uncontrollably enraged and furiously struck with his blade.

Zhao Changhe, seemingly lethargic, suddenly flashed a gleam in his eye, his lazy demeanor vanishing in an instant, quick as a darting rabbit.

The onlookers saw the blade light reappear, and with a "clang" sound that was deafening, Zhao Changhe did not dodge or avoid; he opposed the blade purely with strength!

In that instant, the Blood Evil Qi surged wildly. The people around could even feel an overwhelming murderous aura rushing toward them, even the flying snow seemed to grow harsher, and Zhao Changhe's eyes had already turned as red as blood, ferocious and unmatched.

"Clang!" The big man's self-initiated blade was wildly flung open by this clash, numbing his hand.

He was terrified and wanted to dodge, but where could he escape?

Zhao Changhe changed his chopping motion to a lifting one, delicately shaving off the hair on top of the man's head, revealing the scalp exactly, not a hair more or less.

The entire place was as silent as the grave.

Earlier, he had spoken of three moves… What about this time?

One move? Or should it be considered one and a half moves?

That big man stood in place, sweating profusely, his eyes rolling upwards, trying to see what had happened to his own head. Zhao Changhe swung his left hand and slapped the man on the ear with a resounding "smack": "With your little ability, you also dare to covet the Chaotic World List? Boys!"

Beside him, Wang Dashan quickly responded, "Here!"

"Search these people, gather all the valuables and weapons on them and bring them back for our use. Hang all of these fellows here, upside down for one day and one night before we reconsider."

"One, one day and one night? In this heavy snow, someone will...will die..."

Zhao Changhe suddenly turned his head and stared into his eyes, "Do you not know that his knife was aimed at my neck just now? If I had been defeated by his blade, do you think I wouldn't die? Hanging them for one day, letting them face life and death, and you feel pity for them?"

Wang Dashan stepped back and dared not make a sound.

Zhao Changhe strode toward the thickest tree by the mountain path. With one stroke, he stripped a patch of bark and carved a line of words on it: "Zhao Changhe dares Beimang heroes, 100 taels of silver for a challenge, Hidden Dragon position here, waiting for your retrieval."

After writing, he confidently walked back up the mountain, "Today we earned some extra, and found a way to generate revenue. Let those two passersby go, bullying the innocent is not the deed of a true man."

Wang Dashan followed him and asked, "Boss, you're still on the wanted list, aren't you worried about your life?"

"If even such people know my whereabouts, who else can I hide from? Why continue to cower? Better to speak openly! If the officials come, I'll have my reasons!"

"... Are we not robbing passersby anymore?"

"Whether there's Heavenly Dao or not, I follow my own path!"

Wang Dashan and the others, not understanding, reluctantly went to hang those people and search their belongings. The two young passersby in plain short coats watched Zhao Changhe stride back up the mountain with bewildered expressions. One of them whispered, "Truly like a tiger roaring across the mountains, silencing all beasts. How could such a person be just a mere mountain bandit, a low-level follower of the Blood God Sect… It's unbelievable..."

The other also said, "And he's only at Mystical Gate First Layer, yet his presence is like the Ninth Layer Heaven."

"Presence, this thing, doesn't necessarily correlate with cultivation. Hidden Dragon, Hidden Dragon, heh, the Chaotic World Book indeed does not deceive me."

"Weren't you also? Are you praising yourself?"

"Hush, keep it down."

"Hey, do you think with this one move defeating the Second Layer, the Chaotic World Book will flicker again?"

"The Chaotic World Book isn't that frivolous, it doesn't accumulate credits without significant changes… In fact, he covertly used his Inner Strength this time, truly integrating the Inner and the First Layer Heaven. The real comparison of strength might not even be on par with the previous occasion. He looks rough on the surface but is quite cunning; he hid his Inner Strength very tightly, I almost couldn't notice it."

"I see...I understand now." The latter person, stroking his chin, said, "The show is over, I came here to capture a wanted criminal. If you want to empathize with him, go find Yue Hongling in the city yourself, I can handle him alone. I'd like to see what reasons he has when the officials arrive."

The previous person shook his head, "I'm worried you might fall into his hands if you go alone..."

The latter person, looking unconvinced, widened his eyes, "How could that be!"

"Since you're just on the verge of breaking through to Mystical Gate Third Layer, why not stay in the city for two months and make your breakthrough first?"

"Oh... Then let him act arrogantly for two more months; he's quite an amusing person…"