Zhang Tianwu Sweeps Aside the Rivals, Zhuang Thirteen Appears in the Night!

"Se—Senior, what is it you wish to ask?" Lei Xiong inquired cautiously. In the martial world, martial attainment came before seniority. Though the man before him looked young, he was a genuine Divine Strength Realm expert. Lei Xiong did not dare display the slightest presumption. Lu Changsheng withdrew his hand and asked calmly, "I want to know about the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure. Remember, any information at all." "Yes, Senior. It happened like this..." Not daring to hide a single detail, Lei Xiong recounted the entire matter of the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure from beginning to end. As it turned out, news had spread a while ago that the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure had surfaced in Yancheng. The rarity of the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure was beyond doubt, immediately drawing a large number of martial artists here, and Lei Xiong had been one of them. Lei Xiong wished to obtain the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure to temper his physique, thereby gaining a chance to advance to the Divine Strength Realm. "Who has the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure now?" Lu Changsheng asked. He was reasonably certain that the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure appearing in Yancheng was indeed the one required for the Qiantian Treasure Transformation Secret Method. "I am not entirely sure either. Lately, I have been investigating the Black Water Gang. They are the local tyrants in Yancheng. Since the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure appeared here, the Black Water Gang is under the greatest suspicion. "Even if the Black Water Gang has not obtained the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure, they should at least possess news regarding it." Lu Changsheng fell into deep thought. After a long while, Lu Changsheng simply turned and walked away. Lei Xiong was slightly startled, and before he could fully recover his senses, another sentence echoed by his ear: "By the way, you had best not get involved in the matter of the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure. You might die..." Lu Changsheng's words still reverberated in his ears, but Lei Xiong could no longer see any sign of him. Lei Xiong's expression shifted erratically. Ultimately, he gritted his teeth and muttered under his breath, "That's right, it's time to leave. An expert of the Divine Strength Realm has already gotten involved in the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure. If I stay any longer, I'm afraid it will be exceedingly dangerous." The Four-Eyed Toad Treasure was certainly important, but his own life was far more so... With that, Lei Xiong turned and left, departing directly from Yancheng. He would meddle in these muddy waters no longer... Lu Changsheng was actually watching from nearby. Seeing that Lei Xiong truly had left Yancheng, he nodded slightly. It seemed Lei Xiong had not lied. In truth, Lei Xiong possessed quite a chivalrous heart, and Lu Changsheng had not wanted him to throw away his life over the contest for the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure. After all, with himself here, how could Lei Xiong possibly seize the treasure? "The Black Water Gang, is it..." A strange glint flashed across Lu Changsheng's eyes. It was inconvenient to pay a visit now; he would see about it tonight. Afterward, Lu Changsheng went straight back to the Xia Manor. *** At the Black Water Gang's headquarters, patrols made their rounds across the entire complex. From inside to out, the gang maintained airtight security. The Black Water Gang had not had an easy time lately. News had somehow spread that the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure was in their hands. As a result, many martial artists had come, openly or covertly, to probe the gang's strength. Because of this, numerous members of the Black Water Gang had been beaten and wounded, and the worst part was that they could not even find out who had done it. After all, the martial artists who dared to make moves against the Black Water Gang were almost entirely at the Refining Organs stage. Each of them commanded a certain reputation in the martial world, and they were by no means easy to deal with. "Gang Leader, over a dozen men from my Third Hall were abducted and interrogated for three whole days! In the end, they were starved half to death, barely breathing! "The one who struck was 'Flying Daggers' Li Huan! You must seek justice for our Third Hall!" "Gang Leader, people from our Fourth Hall were also ambushed..." Inside the main hall of the Black Water Gang headquarters, leaders and hall masters one after another poured out their grievances to the gang leader. Gang Leader Zhang Tianwu's face was as dark as stagnant water. Such incidents had occurred frequently of late, yet the gang was powerless to stop them. Those martial wanderers came and went without a trace. What could he possibly do? *Swoosh!* Suddenly, a throwing dagger flashed through the air and instantly drove itself into the tea table beside Zhang Tianwu. Zhang Tianwu's expression shifted drastically as he glared coldly toward the outside of the hall. Outside, a gaunt, pale-faced man who appeared to be in his thirties walked in step by step. "'Flying Daggers' Li Huan? What is the meaning of this? Do you think there is no one left in my Black Water Gang?" Zhang Tianwu's face sank. Li Huan shook his head and offered a faint smile. "Gang Leader Zhang, I have come to your noble gang with no malice this time. I merely wish to take a look at the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure. I hope Gang Leader Zhang can indulge this modest wish of mine." "The Four-Eyed Toad Treasure? I, too, would love to see what this Four-Eyed Toad Treasure looks like! Unfortunately, it is not in my hands. You have come to the wrong person!" Without the slightest hesitation, Zhang Tianwu flatly denied it. "Since Gang Leader Zhang refuses to grant even such a modest wish, how about allowing me to take a stroll around your esteemed gang?" Li Huan stared at Zhang Tianwu with a half-smile. "Impudence!" "Li Huan, this is Yancheng, the territory of my Black Water Gang! Do not think that just because your flying daggers are formidable, my gang can do nothing to you!" The next moment, Zhang Tianwu waved his hand forcefully. *Clatter, clatter, clatter!* In an instant, dozens, nearly a hundred gang members encircled the area from all directions. Every single one of them aimed a crossbow straight at Li Huan. Below the Divine Strength Realm, mortals were ultimately made of flesh and blood; these crossbows posed no small threat. "My, what a crowd. The Black Water Gang is impressive indeed." A sultry, lilting voice reached everyone's ears. At the same time, a woman in a red dress descended from above, flicking her hand gently. A great plume of white powder drifted down over the members of the Black Water Gang. "Ah!" "What is this?" "It itches so much, it hurts!" Instantly, many of the crossbowmen collapsed to the ground, screaming and wailing in agony. The woman in the red dress glided into the hall. Zhang Tianwu's eyes narrowed slightly, and his face turned utterly livid as he spat out word by word, "'Pink Poison Maiden,' Yang Sanniang!" Zhang Tianwu felt trouble brewing. Yang Sanniang was skilled in poisons; having a large crowd of opponents was actually an advantage for her. With one scattering of poisonous powder, no matter how many people stood before her, they would all fall. "Hmph, who else is there? Come out together!" Zhang Tianwu barked coldly. *Crash!* Suddenly, the roof tiles above the hall rained down. A massive bronze cauldron plummeted from above and landed heavily on the floor, yet it produced no crashing sound whatsoever. Standing beneath the cauldron was a man holding it up with both hands. "Able to bear a cauldron? Could you be Zhao Yuanba, possessor of innate divine strength?" Zhang Tianwu's pupils shrank slightly. Zhao Yuanba, Li Huan, Yang Sanniang... Moreover, several other martial wanderers arrived one after another. Though their renown might not match those three, they were not to be underestimated; every one of them was a Refining Organs martial artist. Evidently, all of them had come for the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure! "Zhang Tianwu, hand over the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure. You cannot hold on to it," Zhao Yuanba said chillingly. These people had not banded together; rather, they had coincidentally converged upon the Black Water Gang at the same time. After all, none of them were fools. The Four-Eyed Toad Treasure had appeared and then abruptly vanished without a trace; naturally, their thoughts turned to the local tyrant, the Black Water Gang. "Gang Leader, what do we do?" "Gang Leader, is the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure truly in your hands?" "Gang Leader, consider the bigger picture!" Seeing this lineup, the hall masters of the Black Water Gang turned pale and began urging Zhang Tianwu instead. Zhang Tianwu took a deep breath, sweeping his gaze across the many martial artists in the hall, and sneered, "That's right. The Four-Eyed Toad Treasure is indeed in my hands. "But do you dogs even deserve it?" Zhang Tianwu's voice echoed through the hall, leaving everyone dumbfounded. Had Zhang Tianwu gone mad? "What do you mean by that?" "Zhang Tianwu, have you lost your mind?" "So many experts have gathered here at your gang. Even if you have gone insane, you will still hand over the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure!" Fierce glints flashed in the eyes of many martial artists. Regardless of whether Zhang Tianwu was truly mad or merely feigning it, he had to surrender the treasure! "Gang Leader, you..." Even the Black Water Gang's own men could not comprehend it. At a time like this, why would the gang leader admit that the treasure was in his hands? He could not admit to it! He should not have admitted it even on pain of death! Once this news got out, from this day forth, the Black Water Gang would truly never know another day of peace. *Swoosh!* While the crowd cursed in confusion and the hall descended into noisy chaos, a throwing dagger silently flew toward Zhang Tianwu. The dagger was a fleeting flash, so fast that many present did not even notice it. By the time they realized what was happening, the dagger had already reached Zhang Tianwu's throat. The same held true for Zhang Tianwu. The dagger traveled without a whisper of sound; even he only faintly sensed its biting edge once it was right before his eyes. "It's Li Huan's flying dagger!" "Li Huan's daggers are silent, killing without a trace. Whenever he strikes, he never misses!" "Zhang Tianwu might have had some trump card, or else he wouldn't have dared expose the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure. Too bad Li Huan doesn't play by the rules; he gave Zhang Tianwu no chance to reveal any card, aiming for a lethal strike!" "Zhang Tianwu is dead. Once he falls, we'll see whose hands the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure lands in..." In an instant, countless thoughts flickered through everyone's minds. "Flying Daggers" Li Huan never struck in vain—every throw was meant to kill! In the eyes of many, Zhang Tianwu was doomed! Only Zhang Tianwu, watching the dagger close in as if about to pierce his throat, curled his lips into a bizarre smile. *Snatch!* The next instant, Zhang Tianwu reached out with just two fingers, catching the dagger like a bolt of lightning. Between his two fingers, the razor-sharp dagger remained utterly motionless. This sight caused everyone's eyes to widen in disbelief. That was Li Huan's flying dagger! Reputed never to miss, dealing death in a single blow! Even a peak Refining Organs martial artist would be doomed if Li Huan found the opportunity to loose his blade. Yet how could Zhang Tianwu have caught the flying dagger barehanded? It was not even merely barehanded—he had clamped it between just two fingers! *Snap!* Applying force through his fingers, Zhang Tianwu snapped the dagger in two. He casually tossed the broken blade onto the floor, where it produced a crisp clinking sound. That crisp sound felt as though it had struck right against Li Huan's heart. His face drained of color in an instant. His flying daggers were forged from hundred-refined steel, further blended with special materials to make them exceptionally sharp and resilient. Yet a dagger so sharp and tough had been snapped barehanded by Zhang Tianwu! Zhang Tianwu stood up and walked step by step toward the crowd. "'Flying Daggers' Li Huan... nothing more than this!" Zhang Tianwu shifted his gaze toward Zhao Yuanba. "Hmph, Zhang Tianwu, take my cauldron!" Zhao Yuanba snorted coldly, raised the massive cauldron with both hands, and hurled it violently at Zhang Tianwu. The cauldron already weighed over a thousand jin, and thrown with Zhao Yuanba's full might, its force was terrifying beyond measure. A mere brush from it would wound; a direct hit would kill. Yet Zhang Tianwu simply extended a single palm and caught it lightly. The thousand-jin cauldron was held up effortlessly by Zhang Tianwu's palm. He did not even take a single step back, appearing completely composed and unbothered. "Zhao Yuanba, bearer of cauldrons?" "I wonder if you can bear this cauldron of mine?" A cold sneer played on the corner of Zhang Tianwu's lips. The next moment, he shoved his palm forward, hurling the massive cauldron straight back toward Zhao Yuanba. The cauldron howled through the air, arriving before Zhao Yuanba in an instant. Undaunted, Zhao Yuanba thrust his hands forward, aiming to catch the cauldron. Yet the moment his hands made contact with it, his expression transformed drastically. A terrifying force, crashing like an overwhelming tide, crushed down upon him in an instant. "Ah!" Zhao Yuanba shrieked in agony. *Boom!* The cauldron shattered his arms, and the impact mangled his entire body into a bloody mess, sending him flying backward to crash heavily onto the ground. Dead! Zhao Yuanba had lost his life in the very realm of strength he excelled at most. The onlookers stared at one another in shock. Only now did they realize something was terribly wrong. Was Zhang Tianwu truly this strong? Or rather, could any Refining Organs martial artist possibly be this strong? They had some understanding of the Black Water Gang. Zhang Tianwu was merely a Refining Organs martial artist, without much of a reputation in the martial world. Yet now, he had accomplished one impossible feat after another—catching Li Huan's dagger barehanded and crushing Zhao Yuanba to death with a cauldron. How could this be possible? "Is that all?" Zhang Tianwu shook his head and continued walking toward the crowd, step by step. Yet as he approached, those Refining Organs experts from the martial world all retreated several paces in unison. Clearly, Zhang Tianwu had struck profound fear into their hearts. "Divine Strength? You've advanced to the Divine Strength Realm?!" Li Huan blurted out suddenly. Li Huan knew the power of his own flying daggers better than anyone. For Zhang Tianwu to catch his blade so effortlessly was unnatural in itself. Coupled with how Zhang Tianwu had just crushed Zhao Yuanba to death with the cauldron, Li Huan became even more certain. Zhao Yuanba was a peak Refining Organs martial artist capable of hoisting heavy cauldrons. The only person who could overpower him in raw strength had to be an expert of the Divine Strength Realm! After all, even innate divine strength was far outmatched by a true Divine Strength Realm martial artist! "Zhang Tianwu is a Divine Strength Realm expert? Impossible!" "How could Zhang Tianwu have reached the Divine Strength Realm?" "If he really is in the Divine Strength Realm, could he have already consumed the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure?" "That is very possible!" Many eyes converged upon Zhang Tianwu. The Four-Eyed Toad Treasure! It could significantly strengthen the physical body, render a person impervious to a hundred poisons, and aid in advancing to the Divine Strength Realm. For Zhang Tianwu to use it to achieve a breakthrough was entirely plausible. "Li Huan..." "You are sharp enough to see that I have already advanced to the Divine Strength Realm. "Originally, I did not wish to expose myself so soon, as I have yet to wipe out the various factions across Yancheng. But since you pressed me so aggressively and came foolishly knocking on death's door, I shall naturally lend you a hand." *Whoosh!* The next instant, Zhang Tianwu kicked off the ground and shot toward Li Huan. Without hesitation, Li Huan unleashed several flying daggers in succession. *Swish, swish, swish!* Three daggers sealed off almost every angle of Zhang Tianwu's approach. Yet Zhang Tianwu did not even look, simply flicking his fingers. *Crack! Crack! Crack!* Three sharp snaps rang out as the three flying daggers shattered beneath his flicking fingers, reducing them to fragments that rained to the floor. At the same time, Zhang Tianwu's terrifying qi and blood surged across the entire hall. His vast, majestic momentum bore down upon Li Huan, shaking the man to his core and rendering him utterly unable to move. "You..." Li Huan parted his lips, but before he could say another word— *Boom!* Zhang Tianwu smashed Li Huan's head to pieces with a single punch. Blood splattered in every direction, filling the hall with a pungent stench of gore. Zhang Tianwu's gaze was ferocious and savage as he swept his eyes across the remaining Refining Organs martial artists. Under that terrifying pressure, these martial artists found it difficult even to budge. This was the Divine Strength Realm! "Useless! A bunch of useless trash!" "A pack of worthless dogs like you dared to fight over the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure?" Zhang Tianwu laughed without restraint. "G—Gang Leader, so you truly swallowed the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure?" one of the Black Water Gang's hall masters asked tremulously. "Indeed, I swallowed the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure. "However, the leaked rumors were also true: I do possess the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure. "After all, who ever said the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure only comes alone and cannot come in a pair?" For a moment, everyone present stood frozen in shock. Even if there were a pair of Four-Eyed Toad Treasures, so what? Could anyone wrest the treasure from the hands of a Divine Strength Realm expert? Those who had sought to seize it—Zhao Yuanba and Li Huan—served as clear warnings! Just as everyone trembled in dread, an unfamiliar voice drifted in from outside the hall: "So there really is another Four-Eyed Toad Treasure... It seems this trip won't be in vain!" Accompanying this unfamiliar voice, a burly man stepped out from the darkness of the night, one stride at a time. Seeing this unfamiliar figure, many were taken aback. Zhang Tianwu was an expert of the Divine Strength Realm. At a time like this, who dared attempt to snatch the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure? "Who are you?" Zhang Tianwu narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze landing on the figure like the keen edge of a blade. The burly figure entered the hall. Ignoring everyone else, he stared straight at Zhang Tianwu. "Zhuang Thirteen of Nanyang greets Gang Leader Zhang!" The newcomer was none other than Lu Changsheng in disguise!