Yizhen said, "Last night, I met with Yan Qingcheng. I tried to bring up Wang Zifeng and Liu Yue, but for some reason she deftly shifted the topic and gave me no chance to explain."
Xiao Chen pondered for a moment. "I see. It seems she already knows. She doesn't want you caught between us."
"Perhaps. But when we spoke of you, she showed no excessive hostility. Everything seemed quite calm. For now, it's still uncertain whether she intends to move against you. The situation is delicate."
"Thank you for the warning, Brother Yizhen. I understand. The situation on Dragon Island is complex; many things require patience."
Neither Xiao Chen nor Yizhen was dull-witted. Some matters needed no explicit elaboration.
In the distance, figures moved among the wooden huts—members of the Dharma Alliance practicing cultivation in the forest.
Yichi suddenly seemed to recall something. "Xiao Chen, be careful. There is an alliance that wants to challenge you. They seem quite fanatical."
"Which alliance?" Xiao Chen had heard rumors the day before but hadn't asked for details.
"The Revenge Alliance."
"Revenge?" Xiao Chen found the name peculiar. Could it be aimed at him? "Who founded it?"
"A one-armed man named Guluo," Yichi replied.
So it was him. When Xiao Chen heard the name, he had already suspected it might be Guluo.
In their last battle at the Death Swamp, just before fleeing, Guluo had lost an arm to Xiao Chen's thrown sword, suffering severe injury. During the dark three-day great purge, he had survived unscathed. Now he had formed an alliance, named "Revenge," with its spearhead pointed directly at Xiao Chen.
"Do either of you know the strength of this alliance? Are there any formidable figures among them?"
Yizhen thought carefully. "The founder Guluo is at the third-level Mortal-Shedding. But with only one arm, his combat power will be greatly diminished. In addition, there is Li Lingfeng, a Spiritist, and Carter, a Spellmaster—both also at third-level Mortal-Shedding. Of the remaining seven, three barely hover near the Mortal-Shedding realm, two are at first-level, and two at second-level."
Besides Guluo, there were actually two other third-level experts. That was indeed a formidable force. At the same time, Xiao Chen found it strange. Why would anyone willingly submit to a crippled man? Why would two third-level Mortal-Shedding experts join an alliance founded by Guluo? And Guluo wanted revenge—there was no reason for those others to involve themselves.
Yizhen smiled. "The Revenge Alliance was hastily formed. Li Lingfeng originally came from Treefolk Valley, and Carter was part of the Nature Alliance founded by Yarode. They left their original alliances to temporarily join the Revenge Alliance."
It was all clear now. The Revenge Alliance was created specifically to target Xiao Chen. Those two experts had been pulled in from elsewhere.
Xiao Chen began to think seriously. He was now at the fifth-level Mortal-Shedding. Could he afford to be reckless just once? If he wiped out an entire alliance, his influence would skyrocket. If he later decided to form his own alliance, he could surely attract a group of true experts. Only then would he wield real deterrent power.
"What are you thinking? Don't tell me you're considering taking such a risk?" Yizhen seemed to read his mind.
"I do want to try. A single battle to establish my authority, so I won't be constantly harassed," Xiao Chen explained. Though a faint intention to form an alliance stirred in his heart, he couldn't voice it yet.
"You'd be facing ten experts alone. That's far too risky. You can simply refuse!" Yichi also urged caution.
"No. I've decided to take the gamble." Xiao Chen's resolve was set.
---
A duel between the Revenge Alliance and Xiao Chen! Xiao Chen would challenge an entire alliance single-handedly!
The news spread like wildfire—an earth-shattering announcement. Every practitioner in the region was stirred. Distant alliances heard the reports and rushed toward the scene.
After all, this was astonishing beyond measure: one man pitting himself against an entire alliance. Either he possessed supreme confidence in his own strength, or he was a madman drunk on delusion. The tumultuous news swept through every alliance. Xiao Chen, already famous on Dragon Island, was now impossible to forget.
Guluo appeared, his sole remaining left arm hanging at his side. His face was pale, and his gaze had grown even colder, his expression utterly chilling. Behind him stood nine others. Two of them stood apart, visibly disdainful of Guluo. Those in the know could guess they were Li Lingfeng the Spiritist and Carter the Spellmaster, originally from Treefolk Valley and the Nature Alliance, temporarily seconded to the Revenge Alliance.
Then Xiao Chen appeared. He showed not a trace of tension. Under the gaze of countless experts, he strolled forward as if taking a leisurely walk, stopping before Guluo and his followers.
By now, most people on Dragon Island were young, in their twenties. Among them were many beautiful women, a few whose grace rivaled that of ancient beauties. At this moment, at least twenty alliances had gathered on the scene—over two hundred people, a third of the island's population. More were still arriving.
"So that's Xiao Chen?"
"I've heard his name a lot."
"Is this the famous man of Dragon Island?"
"Finally see this madman!"
"The guy's a lunatic, daring to challenge an alliance alone!"
"Tall and handsome. Not bad-looking."
"Don't get starry-eyed!"
---
Everyone was talking. Male and female practitioners alike focused their gazes on Xiao Chen, all manner of discussion swirling around him.
His previous duel with Kael had drawn only a hundred spectators. This time, the crowd swelled from two hundred to over three hundred. The remaining hundreds who did not come were either too far away, had not heard the news, or could not arrive in time.
Guluo snorted coldly, his eyes filled with undisguised hatred.
Xiao Chen remained perfectly calm. "Don't act like you're the victim. You should know very well that you were the one who besieged me first. If you walk the wrong path, you must pay the price."
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