Chapter 49 Shocking the Town of Shifting Sands! (Fourth Update)

"Old Shen, please see to the bodies."

Xiahou Sheng, having survived the ordeal, laughed with pride. "Who would have thought that I, Xiahou Sheng, could survive a joint hunt by a grandmaster of Internal Force?"

Old Shen’s face remained grave. As a grandmaster himself, on par with Zheng Tianming, he had crossed swords with Zheng several times since last night and knew all too well how formidable he was. If not for Master Jiang’s intervention tonight, subduing with supreme divine power, both he and Xiahou Sheng would have perished on the spot.

"President Xia, the fact that we survived the pursuit of Zheng Tianming and three top secular fighters is thanks to the sacrifice of those dozen bodyguards. Had they not risked their lives to hold off our pursuers, even for a short while, neither of us could have escaped."

Xiahou Sheng nodded. "When we return, I’ll arrange an honorable burial for each of them and give their families five million apiece."

Old Shen smiled and nodded, moved by such loyalty and gratitude—this was the true Xiahou Sheng.

"Very well, I’ll see to the bodies," Old Shen said, preparing to act, but was stopped by Jiang Yu.

Jiang Yu spoke calmly, "No need. Let their bodies lie exposed in the wild. The corpse of a grandmaster and three consummate internal experts will serve as a warning to the entire Liusha Town."

Old Shen was deeply shocked—using the corpse of a grandmaster as a deterrent?

With Jiang Yu’s word, Old Shen dared not disobey.

"This matter is settled. I should be on my way," came a lingering voice.

When Xiahou Sheng and Old Shen looked again, Jiang Yu had vanished.

With a sigh, Xiahou Sheng said, "Perhaps Master Jiang’s strength has already surpassed the greatest of our time."

Old Shen shook his head. "President Xia, your understanding of the martial world is still too superficial. Until you set foot on the path of martial cultivation, you’ll never truly grasp Master Jiang’s power. No matter how much you interact with martial artists, you’re still an outsider."

Curious, Xiahou Sheng assumed a humble air. "Old Shen, what do you mean by that?"

Old Shen gazed in the direction Jiang Yu had disappeared, his eyes shining. "Master Jiang’s strength is but a hair’s breadth from Gu Changsheng’s."

"Which Gu Changsheng?" Xiahou Sheng blurted.

Old Shen stroked his beard and smiled. "How many Gu Changshengs could there be in this world?"

A chill ran down Xiahou Sheng’s spine, his mind blank.

Though he had repeatedly tried to estimate Jiang Yu’s power, hearing Old Shen equate him with Gu Changsheng left him utterly speechless.

In five hundred years of China’s history, only one Gu Changsheng! The last of the Earthly Immortals, rumored to have reached the Unity of the Divine Realm—no one alive knew the true extent of Gu Changsheng’s abilities.

"Could it be that our great China is about to produce another Earthly Immortal?" Xiahou Sheng looked up at the starry sky in awe.

...

Jiang Yu returned to his residence to find everyone in high spirits, drinking and chatting around a table laden with late-night snacks.

"Jiang Yu, where did you run off to just now?" Lin Dong, setting down his glass, sounded rather displeased.

Jiang Yu replied coolly, "Just went out for a walk."

Xia Qinghan stood up, meeting Jiang Yu’s gaze. "It seems you still haven’t heeded what I said the other day. Liusha Town is chaotic at night, and with so many outsiders pouring in lately, I don’t want anyone’s foolishness putting us all at risk."

Though Liu Shao and the others showed little on their faces, their eyes brimmed with ridicule as they looked at Jiang Yu.

Lin Dong had repeatedly warned of the dangers in Liusha Town, yet Jiang Yu did as he pleased, sneaking out at midnight. That he returned unharmed was simply luck. But then again, Jiang Yu was a man of no wealth or influence, with no background—who would waste effort on someone so ordinary?

Of all present, only Li Mengxue watched Jiang Yu thoughtfully, silent and pensive. She still remembered the night when the alpha wolf had treated him with utmost respect. Clever as she was, she said nothing, lowering her head to continue eating.

Gu Feifei, meanwhile, blinked her bright eyes, studying Jiang Yu with curiosity.

The matter passed as a mere interlude, and soon everyone resumed drinking.

Jiang Yu accepted a beer from Gu Feifei, smiling. "Thank you."

Gu Feifei’s cheeks were rosy and her eyes dreamy; she was captivating after a few drinks.

"Jiang Yu, who are you really? Why do I feel such familiarity with you?" she asked.

Jiang Yu’s gaze softened, and he smiled. "You’ll know soon enough. If you ever run into trouble in your career, just let me know."

At this, Liu Shao and the others burst out laughing.

"You think you can help her? Jiang Yu, the troubles Feifei faces are beyond your imagination. Even Li Mengxue’s connections can’t help her, and her family owns the largest entertainment company in Jiangbei, having launched more than a dozen famous actors. Compared to Li Mengxue, what do you have to offer?"

Wang Shao sneered, "Are you going to claim you’re the young master of Thunder Entertainment? If you were, maybe you could help Feifei."

Xia Qinghan shook her head ever so slightly, her meaning unclear.

Lin Dong spoke up as well. "Jiang Yu, have you said enough?"

Jiang Yu smiled. "I’m not the young master of Thunder Entertainment..."

Liu Shao’s smile only broadened, but Jiang Yu’s next words nearly made his jaw drop.

"But my abilities surpass ten Thunder Entertainments!"

It was as if he had told the greatest joke ever. Liu Shao and Wang Shao roared with laughter.

Lin Dong’s face darkened. "Jiang Yu, shut up. Haven’t you embarrassed yourself enough?"

Liu Shao, laughing, pointed at Jiang Yu. "Do you even know what ten Thunder Entertainments means? That’s like three Hollywoods! Jiang Yu, I get that you want to get close to Feifei, but this isn’t the way."

Only Li Mengxue’s expression grew more serious. To command such respect from the alpha wolf—perhaps, just perhaps, he really did have such capabilities.

Gu Feifei smiled gently. "Enough, Jiang Yu meant well. I appreciate what you said. But you really can’t help with my situation. Still, thank you."

The next day, explosive news rocked Liusha Town.

Last night, Zheng Tianming—the head of Shadow Kill in China—was killed near the western part of town, his body mangled, as if crushed by an overwhelming force into the sand. Moreover, Arnold, the South Asia head whose power was nearly that of a grandmaster, had his life token shatter abruptly, marking his death. The other two veteran Shadow Kill assassins, both consummate force experts, were also slain.

Countless martial artists were stunned. A grandmaster of Internal Force, three top secular fighters—none survived. By morning, Liusha Town was in an uproar. The news spread to the major powers of Jiangbei, and after confirmation, the fallen grandmaster was indeed Zheng Tianming—a top assassin whose name struck terror throughout the underworld.

All eyes turned to Shadow Kill. With a grandmaster slain, everyone waited to see their response.

More than that, people wondered: what kind of terrifying power could kill a grandmaster and three consummate experts? To think that such a person was here in Liusha Town sent shivers down many spines, despite the sweltering heat.

In the secular martial world, news of a grandmaster’s death was rare. At such a level, most sat in authority and avoided unnecessary enmity. After all, at equal strength, if a grandmaster wanted to escape, none could stop him—unless the killer’s power vastly surpassed Zheng Tianming’s.

Many noticed the enormous footprint on Zheng Tianming’s corpse, as if some ancient giant had stomped him into the ground.

The entire town fell silent, as if under a spell.

That evening, more news arrived.

Shadow Kill’s headquarters had dispatched a "half-step titan," who would cross oceans and do whatever it took to kill the one responsible, to restore Shadow Kill’s reputation. The term "half-step titan" sent chills through the secular martial world—this time, even a half-step titan had been drawn to the Jiangbei tournament.

The situation only grew more intense. Countless martial artists waited eagerly for the killer of Zheng Tianming to reveal himself.

Who could possibly dare to kill a grandmaster of Internal Force? And then, to leave his corpse as a warning to Liusha? Such audacity and dominance drew the admiration of many female martial artists—for them, idols weren’t pop stars, but the truly powerful.

The massive footprint, sunk several inches into the earth, remained a shadow in countless hearts.

That night, at nine, a helicopter flew into Liusha Town, circling high above at a hundred meters. The roar of its rotors thundered across the land, drawing hundreds outside to watch.

On the eighth floor of a hotel in the east district, Li Hao stood by the window with a wine glass, gazing at the civilian chopper a thousand meters away.

On the rooftop of a private club, sixth floor, Xiahou Sheng stood with arms folded. "Shadow Kill moves fast," he remarked calmly. Behind him, Old Shen stood with hands clasped, his eyes cold and sharp.

On the bustling streets of the north district, Jiangbei’s richest man, Ma Tianzong, looked up.

In that moment, countless powerful figures stared at the helicopter, all with fear in their eyes.

Minutes later, cries of shock rang out—what was that person doing?

In the darkness, a figure leaped from the helicopter!

A hundred meters above the ground, descending in the blink of an eye.

"Shadow Kill—Shen Wan’an!"

A voice of authority swept across the night, resounding through Liusha.

That night, countless martial artists would remember a name—

Shadow Kill, Shen Wan’an!