Chapter Seventy-Four: Heroes of the World Arise from Our Ranks

Has it finally stopped? Zheng Xuan gazed with reverence from afar at the Huating Tower across the way, her slender fingers digging tightly into her palm.

"Are they even human?" Jiang Shaoqi’s mouth was dry, and he swallowed hard. The shock in his heart was no less than anyone else's. In that moment, countless Chinese myths flashed through his mind.

Could immortals truly exist in this world?

They had witnessed the entire ordeal—watched with their own eyes as two floors of the Huating Tower collapsed in a cloud of dust. In the face of such divine might, they felt powerless, even terrified.

"Of all the marvels under heaven, the riverside at dusk awash in crimson clouds pales in comparison to this battle between heaven and man," Jiang Lingxing sighed.

Zheng Xuan was silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke, "Dad, Mom, Shaoqi, Ziyue, did any of you just now feel that the figure wielding lightning amid the thunder seemed… familiar?"

At her words, Jiang Ziyue trembled, a wave of horror surging in her heart. She looked up at Zheng Xuan. "You felt it too?"

The group was struck by the realization. Yes, that silhouette had seemed so familiar, as though they’d seen it somewhere before.

"Jiang Yu?" Emotions surged within Jiang Ziyue as she bit her lip tightly.

"Impossible. The immortal across from us, descended like a celestial being, wielding thunder with unrivaled grace—he's like a true immortal. Jiang Yu is only a young man in his early twenties. How could he appear in such a place?" She let out a breath and smiled. "Perhaps we were mistaken."

Jiang Shaoqi clenched his fists, his eyes full of envy. "If I had such transcendent abilities, Jiang Yu would be insignificant next to me. So what if he’s top of his class? What does it matter if he defeated Mo Tian and Zhou Yongji, those taekwondo experts? Compared to that immortal, he’s still just an ant."

On the way back, silence fell.

Zheng Xuan’s face was clouded with thoughts. For some reason, she suddenly recalled the night on the cruise ship, the auction, and that figure who walked upon the river. The reason she and Jiang Ziyue refused to admit the truth was because, from that silhouette, they both thought of the same person.

—

At the entrance of Huating Tower.

A Mercedes van had been waiting for some time. Ma Tianzong, the wealthiest man in Jiangbei, gave a wry smile. "In this world, the only person who could make me act as a chauffeur is Teacher."

Lin Wangtian replied calmly, "That is our good fortune. I’m afraid I’m not the only one who has noticed—Teacher’s identity is anything but ordinary."

Li Hao nodded. "Having lived two lives, perhaps only the few of us know Teacher's greatest secret."

A figure walked out of the building.

The three immediately fell silent.

Once in the car, Jiang Yu lit a cigarette, his gaze drifting to the rooftop. As the dust gradually settled, an elderly man with long hair stood at the edge of the ruins, calmly surveying the scene below.

Their eyes met across the void. The old man offered a friendly smile, nodded, and then turned away.

"The Hidden Gate’s strength is even greater than I imagined. That old man is the most powerful person I’ve encountered in the secular world."

Jiang Yu’s heart whispered as he sank into thought. Earlier, he had sensed several hidden presences—one of them was already at the peak of internal unity, which must be that old man.

Li Hao whispered, "The Hidden Gate didn’t make a move, did they?"

Jiang Yu smiled faintly. "The Hidden Gate can’t afford the cost of losing several top experts at once."

Ma Tianzong added, "I think I saw members of the Jiang family head into the building next door. Should I do something about it?"

Jiang Yu shook his head. He had known about this for some time. When he fought with Old Jiang and the others, he had already sensed several familiar auras atop the opposite building. Before him, even the Hidden Gate’s grandmasters could not conceal themselves, let alone a few ordinary people.

So he had used a secret technique to disguise his appearance, which was why Jiang Ziyue and the others never truly saw what he looked like—at most, they found his figure somewhat familiar.

"No need. Let them be."

Jiang Yu casually changed his coat, rolled up the window, and said coolly, "Inform the Xu family: tonight at eight, I will pay them a visit."

—

At the Xu family villa by the river in Yuzhou.

At precisely eight in the evening, all thirty-seven members of the Xu family sat in anxious silence.

Their expressions were grave, the atmosphere tense. Earlier that day, every family member across China and overseas had received the same news: their patriarch, Xu Changming, was dead; even Old Jiang, the man who could command the very thunder—an immortal in their eyes—had been slain at noon.

The Xu family had seen Old Jiang summon lightning firsthand, long regarding him as a living god. From Xu Changming down to the youngest child, each member held him in awe.

And yet, such a mighty existence was reportedly cleaved in two with a single sword.

A baby in swaddling clothes wailed incessantly. A beautiful woman tried in vain to soothe it, but its cries only grew louder. Everyone else sat trembling, cold sweat on their brows.

Before them knelt a young man, his face bruised and swollen, around twenty-three or twenty-four years of age. His name was Xu Sanqian, the sole son of Huating Entertainment’s chairman, Xu Changming.

His lips were blue, and his body shook uncontrollably.

"You unfilial child! Do you realize the catastrophe you’ve brought upon the Xu family?"

Smack!

With a loud slap, curses echoed through the villa's hall.

Xu Sanqian still hadn’t come to his senses. He stared blankly at the door, as if awaiting judgment. The slap barely registered; he felt numb all over.

At that moment, the wailing infant suddenly fell silent.

Everyone was puzzled. Why had the baby, bawling a moment ago, quieted in an instant?

Looking up, they saw a young man entering the hall, followed by six or seven others—each of them prominent figures: Ma Tianzong, the wealthiest man in Jiangbei; Li Hao of Yun City; the famous actress Gu Feifei; and Du Yanran. One of them, Xu Sanqian recognized well: young master Liu, scion of a foreign conglomerate.

Everyone shrank back in fear, not daring to utter a word.

Because of one woman, Xu Sanqian had destroyed the Xu family’s future. Now, the family wished nothing more than to tear him limb from limb.

Jiang Yu walked straight to the sofa and sat, eyes lowered in silence.

Ma Tianzong’s face was calm. "Is the share transfer contract ready?"

A trembling elder stepped forward, handing over a document. "Once you sign, sir, you’ll be the largest shareholder of Huating Entertainment. Please, have mercy on the Xu family—there’s still a baby in swaddling clothes!"

A lifetime spent navigating the treacherous waters of business, yet now his voice quivered with tears.

Jiang Yu didn’t respond. Instead, he looked toward the villa entrance and sneered, "The Hidden Gate has followed me all the way here, yet you still refuse to show yourselves?"

As he spoke, an old man in hemp robes entered.

He regarded Jiang Yu and said, "I specialize in techniques that conceal my presence. When I hide my aura, not even an earth immortal can detect me. I never thought you would notice me. Truly, a hero among the young."

Jiang Yu smiled at him. "You fear I’ll wipe out the entire Xu family?"

The old man replied candidly, "Exactly. These are ordinary people—citizens of China—under the Hidden Gate's protection. You have already slain Xu Changming and five grandmasters. This is the Hidden Gate's final boundary. If you kill another member of the Xu family tonight, we will stop at nothing to destroy you."

Given what they had witnessed, the Hidden Gate’s fears were not unfounded. In front of such a peerless master, ordinary people were far too fragile.

Jiang Yu sighed. He had no intention of exterminating the Xu family. Otherwise, not even the Hidden Gate would be enough to make him yield.

"I dislike being followed. If, three days from now, there are still Hidden Gate people around me, don’t say I didn’t warn you."

The old man in hemp robes nodded with a smile. "Once you leave Yuzhou, Jiang Yu, we will naturally disappear. By the way, let me warn you: after you killed Xu Changming and took the largest stake in Huating Entertainment, the Rothschilds are furious."

Jiang Yu chuckled. "Do you know Shadowkill?"

The old man paused—of course he knew. Years ago, when Shadowkill’s members entered China, the Hidden Gate sent a master to eliminate them. That person had been himself.

Suddenly, recalling something, his face changed dramatically.

"Jiang Yu, the Rothschilds are no mere Shadowkill. That family controls thirty percent of the world’s economy. Their headquarters is guarded by an ancient monster with the power of an earth immortal."

Jiang Yu laughed. "You mean the so-called Great Luminary, who claims to walk with God?"

The old man frowned. "You know of him?"

Jiang Yu rose, hands clasped behind his back. "Of the gods and immortals who have perished by my hand, there are hundreds, if not thousands. An earth immortal, nothing more. If he dares come, I’ll use him to refine my supreme divine arts."

He walked over to Gu Feifei, his lips curling into a gentle smile. "Sign your name. From this moment, you are the chairwoman of Huating Entertainment. Ma Tianzong will help you manage the company."

Du Yanran’s mouth fell open in shock.

Just days ago, Gu Feifei had hit rock bottom, yet now, in the blink of an eye, she had become the head of the greatest entertainment company.

At that moment, Ma Tianzong stepped behind Jiang Yu and bowed respectfully.

"Teacher, everyone on the list—one hundred names in all—has been blacklisted!"

Suddenly, the entire hall fell silent.