NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 25:
Chapter 25: How… Could This Be Here?:
Before they even stepped into the thatched house, the sound of hushed whispers drifted in from outside.
“That Lu Chen left the Mystic Spirit Holy Sect. He must be carrying a fortune in treasures! This is our chance to strike it rich!”
“Fate has blessed us! Wealth beyond measure, and it’s right in front of us. This is destiny!”
“He’s got no cultivation left—he’s completely defenseless against us!”
Before the words even finished, someone had already burst into laughter, as if they could already feel the weight of gold and treasures in their hands.
Lu Chen’s smile gradually turned icy. He was waiting for a good show.
Outside the thatched house, a burly man with a cruel expression had his eyes locked onto the dimly lit interior.
A tall and slender shadow was reflected on the window.
Sitting upright, the figure seemed to be lost in thought.
The burly man sneered and murmured, “No cultivation… Not even as good as an ordinary person. What use is a handsome face?”
Everyone in the world knew that Lu Chen of the Mystic Spirit Holy Sect was strikingly handsome, otherworldly in demeanor.
In the hearts of countless young women, he had always been a noble, ethereal figure.
But now, having lost his cultivation, he was at best a pretty face.
Wherever he went, wasn’t he just waiting to be slaughtered?
The Mystic Spirit Holy Sect was a powerful sect. Lu Chen had contributed greatly to it in the past. Furthermore, after spending three centuries guarding the Jade Spirit Mountain, he must have collected countless treasures.
Having treasures was one thing. Being able to keep them was another.
“If he hands over the treasures without a fight, we might spare his life.”
“If not….”
The burly man didn’t finish his sentence.
Instead, he ran a finger across his throat in a clear, unmistakable gesture.
The others immediately understood, nodding in agreement.
As they discussed their plan, Lu Chen had already gauged their cultivation levels.
Two were at the early Foundation Establishment stage. The leader was at the mid-stage. The rest were only at the Qi Refinement stage.
And yet, with such meager cultivation, they dared to be so arrogant?
Fools.
For them, a single bamboo stick was enough.
A dozen men gathered at the entrance. The burly leader suddenly drew his blade.
“Lu Chen, stop hiding. We know you’re in there!”
“Let’s not waste words. We’re here for your treasures!”
“If you hand them over, we’ll pretend nothing happened. If not, don’t blame us for being ruthless!”
His voice carried confidence, but it was clear he was testing the waters.
The others were tense, wary.
They were prepared—if Lu Chen surrendered willingly, that would be best. If he resisted, they would have to fight.
But inside, there was only silence.
Only the oil lamp flickered.
The men outside grew anxious. One even took a step forward.
“This is ridiculous! He doesn’t even have cultivation—what are you all afraid of?! Step back!”
The leader scolded them in a low voice.
“Listen up! I’m giving you three seconds to come out. If you don’t, we’ll—”
Before he could finish, a bamboo stick shot through the window!
A piercing sound split the air!
“Attack!”
Someone in the group yelled, and the ten men launched their assault. In an instant, radiant bursts of light illuminated the night!
The bamboo stick spun through the air. Three swords struck at it simultaneously—but none could stop it!
The rest of the group surged forward, storming into the house.
“Stop trying to scare us! You have no cultivation! Who do you think you’re intimidating?!”
The man at the front shouted, trying to steel his nerves.
But the moment he entered, the bamboo stick changed direction—hurtling straight toward him!
A faint rip—like paper being pierced.
The stick punched through his heart!
Before the others could react, the man collapsed, lifeless.
Thud!
A heavy impact.
The room fell deathly silent.
A single drop of blood trickled from the bamboo stick, now hovering in mid-air.
Drip.
“H-how… how could this happen? Old Third is dead?!”
“But he had no cultivation! How can he be so strong?! Old Second, did you even confirm the information?!”
“Dammit, the whole world knows that Lu Chen lost all his cultivation! What was there to confirm?!”
The men swallowed nervously, slowly backing away.
Their earlier arrogance had completely disappeared.
“You leave now, and I will spare your lives,” Lu Chen’s calm voice rang out.
The men exchanged glances, then looked at the hovering bamboo stick.
The leader clenched his teeth, then spat on the ground.
“Damn it! Old Third can’t have died for nothing! We attack together!”
Hearing his words, the others were fueled by rage and greed.
Revenge and treasure—these were enough to drive them forward.
Lu Chen stepped forward to the doorway, raising a single finger. A new hand seal formed in the air.
The bamboo stick in midair suddenly whipped downward, slicing just above the ground!
“Dodge! Don’t let it touch you!”
The leader roared, his eyes bloodshot.
Some managed to leap away, but two were too slow. The bamboo stick pierced straight through their legs!
“Ahhh!”
Screams of agony filled the air as they collapsed, blood pouring from their wounds.
“Lu Chen, you… you’re ruthless!”
Lu Chen blinked.
They had assumed he was weak. They had come to rob him.
And now, he was the ruthless one?
How ironic.
Besides, he didn’t even have the treasures they sought.
What a misunderstanding.
“You should all come at once. I’d like to get some rest soon.”
His voice was indifferent.
Just moments ago, these men had been full of confidence.
But in the blink of an eye, three were down.
Now, they were seething with anger and desperation.
“Kill him!”
“Avenge our brothers!”
Lu Chen’s eyes flickered, and the bamboo stick responded instantly.
Its radiance intensified, its speed doubled.
Before the attackers could even reach him, the stick pierced their hearts one by one.
Rip!
Rip!
Rip!
The familiar sound of piercing flesh filled the air.
The survivors froze in terror, looking down at their chests.
They saw their own blood bursting forth.
“One, two, three,” Lu Chen counted softly.
And with that, the remaining men collapsed.
Their eyes remained wide open—frozen in disbelief, unable to comprehend their deaths.
How had this happened?
How had they been slaughtered so easily?
Was this not the same Lu Chen who had been expelled from the Mystic Spirit Holy Sect?
Was he not a cripple with no cultivation?
Even in death, they had never once seen Lu Chen move.
The bamboo stick drifted gently downward.
Lu Chen sighed.
“What a waste.”
With a flick of his fingers, all of their storage bags floated toward him.
Nearby, Xuan Mo’s eyes widened in curiosity.
Was he lamenting the deaths of those men…
Or was he regretting that his bamboo stick was now stained with blood?
By candlelight, the storage bags sat upon the table, their shapes uneven.
Lu Chen’s voice carried a hint of amusement.
“Ten men, eight storage bags… That’s about right.”
“Let’s see what treasures they were carrying.”
Opening the first bag, he found some herbs and a storage ring, but nothing impressive.
The second and third bags held similar items.
But as he opened the fourth bag, his eyes suddenly lit up.
“How… could this be here?”