C23 Bandits Were Everywhere!

Before the young man could finish speaking, several figures darted out from the dense forest. Spotting the Shadow Devil Wolf's carcass on the ground, smiles crept onto their faces.

"Seems like luck's on my side today, stumbling upon a Shadow Devil Wolf's corpse here of all places!"

The man with the scarred face laughed heartily, then his gaze swept over the mercenaries and Luo Chen, his eyes flashing with menace. "This Shadow Devil Wolf carcass is mine. No objections, right?"

His companions, exuding malice, eyed Luo Chen and the mercenaries with a bloodthirsty gleam.

"Lei Laosan?" Bai Yupan, the mercenary captain, furrowed his brow in contemplation before his face shifted to one of shock. "The third chief of Mad Wolf Stronghold—Lei Laosan?!"

At the mention of the name, Luo Chen tensed. Mad Wolf Stronghold was a notorious bandit lair near Lingyun City, led by Blood Wolf, a formidable Second Grade Grand Martial Master. Even the prominent Luo and Lee Families wouldn't dare to underestimate him.

Lei Laosan, the stronghold's third chief, was a fifth-grade martial master known for his brutal nature. Few who crossed him ever came out unscathed.

"Surprised you recognize me," Lei Laosan said with a smirk, which quickly faded into a chilling expression. "Since you know who I am, I suggest you scram!"

Bai Yupan's face flushed with anger, but he held back his fury.

With Lei Laosan's fearsome reputation and his status as a fifth-grade martial master, he could easily decimate their entire mercenary group, not to mention the formidable bandits backing him up.

Casting a reluctant glance at the Shadow Devil Wolf's body, Bai Yupan clenched his jaw and gave the command, "We're leaving!"

Provoking a madman like Lei Laosan over a single carcass was simply not worth the risk.

Despite their reluctance, the mercenary squad knew better than to cross Lei Laosan. They sprinted out of the dense forest and soon vanished from sight, leaving Luo Chen standing there, the picture of serenity.

"Kid, aren't you going to scram?" Lei Laosan growled, his eyes flashing dangerously beneath the intimidating scar on his face.

"Sorry, how about you show me how it's done?" Luo Chen quipped, arching an eyebrow at Lei Laosan.

Fear wasn't in Luo Chen's vocabulary, not with his mastery of the Cross Sword Technique at the Oneness of Man and Nature Stage and the Crane Shadow Fascination Tracing at the Dominating Refinement level. Lei Laosan, even three minor realms his senior, was no threat.

Even if Lei Laosan and his men swarmed him, Luo Chen was confident he could slip away effortlessly using the Crane Shadow Fascination Tracing. From the get-go, he hadn't taken Lei Laosan seriously.

Enraged by Luo Chen's audacity, Lei Laosan barked at his bandits, "Seize this brat. I want the pleasure of flaying him alive!"

Brandishing their weapons, the bandits behind Lei Laosan charged at Luo Chen, their faces twisted into bloodthirsty grins.

"A few Ninth Grade Martial Disciples think they can lay a hand on me?"

Luo Chen scoffed at the auras emanating from the bandits. His sword danced in his grip, casting a multitude of shadows in the air that swiftly enveloped his attackers.

Dichroic Shadow Sword!