Translator: CinderTL
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"Buzz! Buzz!"
The moment Jin Guangming saw Mo Lei's head pierced through by the sharp sword, his mind roared as if struck by a giant hammer, leaving him dizzy and disoriented.
It took him a full second or two to recover before he looked again at the battlefield right before him.
The prestigious Commissioner Mo, who—if not for the fact that Jin's family had a cultivator—was of even higher status than him, had already collapsed backward, dead on the spot.
Jin Guangming had endured countless storms and trials in his life.
Not long ago, he had even suffered the tragic deaths of his wife and child.
Yet now, seeing firsthand how a man who was just laughing and talking with him moments ago—someone equal to him in power and influence—was slain with a single sword strike from a rampaging killer, the sheer visual and emotional shock made him widen his eyes in disbelief, his breath frozen in his chest.
A fear beyond words rapidly spread through his heart, overwhelming even his rage and hatred for Li Chunjun, the man who had killed his wife and child. Instinctively, his body staggered backward.
...
"Die!"
"You dare kill the Commissioner of the Security Bureau? No one can save you today!"
"Li Chunjun! Give me back my uncle's life!"
As Jin Guangming recoiled in fear, several warriors and guards fiercely loyal to Mo Lei had already drawn their weapons and charged at Li Chunjun at full speed.
Some even rallied additional security forces, swiftly surrounding him.
In the blink of an eye, more than a dozen people had already attacked Li Chunjun.
Seeing this, Jin Guangming, who had retreated into the safety of the gathered guards, suddenly realized something.
Li Chunjun was indeed fearsome, but everyone attending his wife and child's funeral today was a powerful figure in Guangzhou City.
In today's world, high-status figures were always accompanied by personal bodyguards.
And anyone hired as a bodyguard had at least mastered external martial arts. Those of higher status were even protected by internal martial artists. In other words, the number of internal martial artists present easily exceeded what two hands could count.
Individually, these people might not be a match for Li Chunjun, but in a group of dozens? Even if he were made of steel, death was inevitable!
With this realization, Jin Guangming, now standing at the center of the guards, loudly declared:
"Everyone! This madman is devoid of humanity and has committed unforgivable crimes! Not only did he slaughter my wife and child, but now, in broad daylight, he has assassinated Commissioner Mo! His sins are monstrous, and the heavens will not tolerate them! I implore all righteous men here to join forces and put an end to this villain! The Jin family and the Mo family will forever be in your debt! We shall honor you as our most esteemed friends!"
His words stirred the hearts of the many influential figures attending the funeral.
Anyone who had come to the Jin family estate had at least some connection to them.
Even those who were on equal footing with the Jin family or ran rival business conglomerates didn't mind strengthening their ties—or earning a favor from them.
Besides…
Li Chunjun had just killed Commissioner Mo in front of countless witnesses. With this act, not only had he made an enemy of Guangzhou City, but of the entire Xuanzhou and Great Shang nations.
Moreover, he was already a wanted criminal by the combined forces of the business world, the political world, the martial world, and the underground world. A man despised by all.
Killing him wouldn't just mean upholding justice, as Jin Guangming had declared—it was the act of enforcing the nation's laws. And on top of that, it was an excellent opportunity for everyone present to showcase their abilities and gain prestige.
Their standing and influence in Guangzhou City would skyrocket instantly!
As for whether their actions were truly righteous…
What a joke!
In Guangzhou City, they were the law!
With this thought, many prominent figures could no longer sit still.
"Second Brother, Chairman Jin has been kind to our Chang Le Group. This time, I'll have to trouble you."
"Mr. Zhao, we're counting on you and your disciple to show your might today."
"Capturing criminals is our duty! Besides, this man dared to kill Commissioner Mo before all of us—he clearly holds us in no regard! If we don't take him down today, how will the world view Guangzhou's martial community?!"
One by one, multimillionaires, billionaires, and renowned internal martial artists all spoke up.
Some offered manpower, others resources, all expressing their unwavering determination.
Their bodyguards, too, did not hesitate to respond.
Businessmen pursued fame and fortune—so did martial artists!
Killing Li Chunjun would be the perfect way to prove their strength.
Even if they didn't land the fatal blow themselves, as long as they showcased their skills before Guangzhou's most powerful people, their worth would soar!
The warriors present immediately responded:
"Chairman Wang, don't worry. Leave it to me!"
"Hahaha! I've trained my Iron Palm Floating Water technique for 30 years! At last, a battle truly worthy of my full power!"
"Third Brother, just watch! Today, our Four Dragons Society will make a name for itself in Guangzhou!"
Even so-called righteous men swiftly sent their guards forward.
At this moment, the battle to kill Li Chunjun had turned into a grand stage for personal ambition, and Li Chunjun himself had become nothing more than a stepping stone for their rise to fame.
As for whether they would emerge victorious…
Was there even a question?
Dozens, perhaps even over a hundred external and internal martial artists charging together—unless a true cultivator descended, no martial master could survive this.
And judging from his fight with Mo Lei earlier, Li Chunjun was merely slightly stronger than the Commissioner.
His swift victory had come from the advantage of a surprise attack and weaponry against Mo Lei's bare-handed defense.
Had Mo Lei been fully prepared, properly armed, and engaged in a fair duel, the outcome might have been uncertain.
With this reasoning, martial artists stepped forward, joining the ten or so loyal subordinates of Mo Lei and the five nearest Jin family guards, all attacking Li Chunjun.
The strongest internal martial artists even rushed ahead, fearing they would miss their chance to claim the kill.
…
"Killed Level 7 creature. Gained +165 experience!"
…
[Life Level: 9 (209/900)]
…
Amid the encirclement, facing the six loyal subordinates of Mo Lei and the five closest Jin family guards, Li Chunjun did not engage them head-on. Instead, he swiftly sidestepped, dodging to the side.
The greatest mistake when facing overwhelming numbers was getting surrounded!
If he allowed himself to be trapped by dozens or even hundreds of martial artists, even with his physique and reflexes enhanced to Level 9, he would still suffer severe injuries—or be hacked to death by sheer numbers.
This was precisely why martial arts masters couldn't charge into battle formations.
If he wanted to continue fighting, he needed to choose a battlefield where he wouldn't have to face more than three enemies at once!
And that battlefield…
He had already found it.
The staircase.
(End of the Chapter)
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