「Elsewhere.」

Inside a bustling city.

Shi Pojun’s expression was also extremely grim.

He stood tall on a wide street, staring at the newly updated Human List rankings, feeling as if a thousand wild horses were trampling through his heart.

He had fought so hard to finally break into the top twenty of the Human List...

But he hadn’t paid attention for two days.

And just like that, he, the one ranked twentieth on the Human List, was ruthlessly knocked down to twenty-first...

Although it was only a one-rank difference.

But God knows how much effort he had put in to get there.

And now, some guy who was originally ninetieth on the Human List had suddenly jumped right over his head.

’By what right?’

’Just because he defeated the Little Sword Immortal?’

’But the Little Sword Immortal ain’t shit!’

’I could beat the Little Sword Immortal too!’

"Dammit!"

Shi Pojun was still seething, wanting to find someone and demand an explanation, but his ears suddenly pricked up as he overheard a conversation.

"That Chen Xuan is terrifying. I heard that when he defeated the Little Sword Immortal, he was incredibly fast and did it in a single move!"

"I heard that too! Not only did he beat the Little Sword Immortal in one move, but he also seriously injured that True Qi Realm elder from the Mixed Element Sect in a single move!"

"So powerful. He was probably still holding back..."

"Twentieth on the Human List is probably a conservative estimate of his power..."

These snippets of conversation echoed in Shi Pojun’s mind.

Shi Pojun’s heart trembled, his eyes wide.

’Defeated the Little Sword Immortal in a single move?’

He took a sharp breath, his mind reeling, but he quickly forced himself to calm down.

’For me to beat the Little Sword Immortal, it would take at least eighty moves...’

’But he only used one?’

’How is that possible?’

"Huh, isn’t that Shi Pojun? Don’t tell me he’s planning to cause trouble for Chen Xuan."

Someone with sharp eyes had spotted Shi Pojun in the crowd.

Shi Pojun lived up to his name. He was tall and powerfully built, with the back of a tiger and the waist of a bear. On a battlefield, he looked like a man who could take on ten thousand foes.

His name, Pojun, which meant "Shatter Army," was a perfect fit.

"Keep your voice down! He might actually be going to find Chen Xuan..."

"What? Shi Pojun is going to fight Chen Xuan..."

"No way! Is Shi Pojun going to challenge Chen Xuan to a match?"

Many people in the distance were in an uproar as the rumor began to spread.

"Get lost!"

Shi Pojun whipped his head around and roared, his voice as deafening as a thunderclap.

The crowd in the distance flinched, trembling in fear with their ears ringing.

"Who the hell said I was going to challenge him?"

Shi Pojun roared, "If I hear anyone else spreading that bullshit, I’ll rip their fucking mouth to shreds!"

’The guy can take down the Little Sword Immortal in a single blow. Do they expect me to go fight him? That’s a death wish.’

’I’m not so brain-dead that I’d go looking for a fight with Chen Xuan!’

’What are these idiots spouting?’

"Yes, yes, of course..."

The crowd trembled, hastily replying.

’Could it be that Shi Pojun is scared?’

’But that’s to be expected.’

’After all, the other guy is twentieth on the Human List...’

’And he’s only twenty-first.’

Shi Pojun, filled with resentment, turned and walked away.

’Son of a bitch. I may not be a match for Chen Xuan now, but after I come back from the Ancient Tree of Life, I should be able to challenge him.’

’By then, I’ll have advanced one or two realms. It’ll be a sure win.’

...

The entire world was in an uproar.

Countless rumors were flying back and forth.

At this moment, Chen Xuan and Mr. Zhuo had already set off. After traveling at a breakneck pace for about half a day, they arrived in a city and were resting in front of a noodle shop.

Chen Xuan, however, was looking around with a surprised expression.

"Xiaochen, what are you looking at? Why aren’t you eating your noodles?"

Mr. Zhuo asked curiously, slurping noodles from a roadside stall.

He had noticed that ever since they entered the city, Chen Xuan had been scanning his surroundings with a look of utter amazement.

"It’s nothing."

Chen Xuan chuckled. "I just realized, I think this is the place where I used to live!"

’He hadn’t expected that after all this time, he’d end up passing through Panshi City again.’

’The local government in Panshi City was truly rotten to the core.’

’Countless gangs had sprung up in this small city.’

’Especially the Cyan Dragon Gang, who had been the backers of the Tiger Gang, forcing him to flee the city back then.’

’Now that so much time had passed, did the Cyan Dragon Gang even remember a person like him?’

A playful smile touched Chen Xuan’s lips. "Mr. Zhuo, why don’t you rest here for a bit? I’m going to step out for a while."

"Step out? You want to go see your home?"

A surprised look appeared on Mr. Zhuo’s face as he took a closer look at the city before them.

’So this was Chen Xuan’s hometown?’

He hurriedly fumbled through his clothes, finally pulling out two large-denomination silver notes. He smiled, "I didn’t prepare any gifts. Why don’t you take these two silver notes with you? And hey, I’ll go with you. I can pay a visit to your family while I’m at it."

’He was also very curious to see what kind of family could produce a prodigy like Chen Xuan.’

"No need."

Chen Xuan shook his head. "My whole family died long ago. I’m the only one left."

"All dead?"

Mr. Zhuo was taken aback. Full of apology, he said, "I’m sorry. I didn’t know."

"It’s nothing."

Chen Xuan gave a slight smile. "If you wish to follow, sir, please, be my guest."

With that, he started walking toward Rat Alley, where he used to live.

Mr. Zhuo took out a few copper coins, placed them on the table, and immediately followed after Chen Xuan.

...

Walking through this area again, countless fragmented memories tumbled through Chen Xuan’s mind...

Come to think of it, he hadn’t actually lived in this city for very long, not since the first day he’d transmigrated here.

Back then, after he had killed someone, he had immediately fled, fearing retaliation from the Cyan Dragon Gang...

Revisiting this old place now, he was driven more by curiosity than anything else.

He wondered if Aunt Zhang, the woman who had once given him a rapeseed cake, was still around.