Chapter 703 - 54: Training Camp

"Techniques of the Pure Sect?"

Chen Chuan looked at Gao Yanjun. "Can you confirm that?"

Chang Dong explained from the side, "Gao has a certain Spiritual Talent. She was born with a keen sense for a Fighter’s Domain. Even if she can’t see her opponent’s movements, she can gather some information just from their Domain."

Chen Chuan nodded slightly. If that was the case, it would explain how a Second Limit Fighter was able to detect being tailed by a Third Limit Fighter.

Gao Yanjun adjusted her decorative glasses. Despite her outstanding ability, she couldn’t sense Chen Chuan’s Domain at all right now. It wasn’t that Chen Chuan had concealed it after learning of her talent; it had been like this from the very beginning.

Chen Chuan asked, "Mr. Chang, Ms. Gao, do you think it could be someone from the Refinement Sect or the Fusion Faction?"

"No way!"

Gao Yanjun said with absolute certainty, "If it were just an imitation, there’s no way they could have fooled me."

Chang Dong agreed. "Besides, whether it’s the Refinement Sect or the Fusion Faction, we just made a show of force against them. At this stage, they’ll do their best to avoid any conflict with us.

"Moreover, both factions have their own Secret Transmissions and techniques. Setting aside whether they could even systematically learn ours, even if they succeeded, it would only create internal conflict. They’d be busy trying to hide it, not casually exposing it."

He looked between the two of them, his expression growing serious. "For someone to know our Pure Sect’s techniques and to appear here... it forces me to suspect that this person might be connected to our original target..."

He stroked his rather fleshy chin, a contemplative look on his face. "It’s possible our actions a few days ago alerted him. But we can’t rule out the possibility that the Fusion Faction and the Refinement Sect intentionally leaked the news that we were establishing a branch, prompting him to send someone to investigate."

Chen Chuan thought for a moment. That assessment was plausible. ’If I were that person,’ he thought, ’and the Pure Sect re-established a branch here, I’d want to keep an eye on it, even if I wasn’t sure I was the target.’

Based on the current situation, this was the most logical guess.

Chang Dong added, "Manager Chen, for Gao’s safety, I had her come directly here."

Chen Chuan nodded. It was the right move. If the other party was intent on investigating, they couldn’t hide this location anyway. It was far more dangerous for Gao Yanjun to be out alone; it was better for them to stick together.

He said, "We still don’t know this person’s objective. If they’re really after us, then with the three of us here today, it’s highly likely they’ll come to investigate. I’ll see if I can capture them. If they don’t show up, I’ll arrange a safe place for you two to stay tomorrow."

Chang Dong had seen Chen Chuan’s combat record and was aware of his fighting prowess. It was no exaggeration to say that the branch’s primary combat strength rested on Chen Chuan alone. He immediately agreed, "Alright, let’s do that!"

After their conversation outside, they moved to the place where Teacher Wu used to live. The area had been cleared, and a similar prefabricated building had been erected.

Chang Dong said, "Manager Chen, thanks to the connection you introduced, we acquired this land smoothly."

Chen Chuan grunted in acknowledgment. He had previously asked the Fusion Boundary to help Chang Dong acquire the land to make things easier. The process had gone without a hitch, as the plot hadn’t been developed in at least thirty years and had long since become wasteland.

Furthermore, because the area had once been subjected to some kind of contamination, it was nearly impossible for anyone to develop it again. Not to mention, Hongsheng District was an area where the infrastructure was completely outdated and decrepit to begin with. As a result, they had managed to buy it for an extremely low price.

Gao Yanjun deftly found some cups and tea, poured drinks for the two men, and after learning neither had eaten, she took a case to the next room and began preparing a specialized nutritional meal for Fighters.

A short while later, she returned carrying two bowls of a white, jelly-like paste that was as clear and translucent as gelatin. Just by smelling it, the two men felt the Mutated Organizations in their bodies seem to stir and awaken.

Chen Chuan knew this meant their Mutated Organizations were craving the nutrients within. He guessed that it might contain some ingredient from the Merging Land.

Gao Yanjun also served them each a hot drink, a different one for each man.

Chen Chuan said his thanks, picked up the white paste, and took a small taste. He immediately felt a cool, pleasant sensation spread through his body, causing his eyes to glow. At the same time, the Mutated Organization within him seemed to brim with life and vitality.

Chang Dong took a sip and praised it, "This is much better than that dry Nutrition Paste. With Gao here, we’re in for a treat."

He then took his briefcase, pulled out some documents, and handed them to Chen Chuan. "These are the recent expense reports. Manager Chen, please look them over. You too, Gao. If neither of you has any objections, just sign here."

Chen Chuan took them. The funds were actually handled internally by the Pure Sect and had little to do with him. However, Chang Dong had explained before that, according to procedure, branch members needed to supervise each other, with everyone signing off for final confirmation.

He glanced over them, then passed them to Gao Yanjun. She said, "No issues, Manager Chen." So, both of them signed their names.

Chen Chuan handed the documents back to Chang Dong. After discussing a few more branch matters with him, he took his Snow Monarch Blade and went outside to begin his daily training.

The rest of the afternoon passed without incident, and in a flash, night fell.

As darkness fell, Chang Dong used an algae-oil generator to switch on several industrial floodlights positioned around the area, instantly bathing the hillside in bright light.

Chang Dong looked down the slope and remarked, "You know, this land being tainted isn’t all bad. Even the bugs stay away. Otherwise, if we turned on the lights at night, wouldn’t we be swarmed? Huh?"

At that moment, a glint appeared in Chen Chuan’s eyes. He reached out and—SMACK—firmly caught a piece of concrete rubble in his hand. He then opened his fingers, letting it fall to the ground.

Chang Dong looked into the distance. He could feel someone watching them, and a powerful sense of threat emanated from that person. The man stood there with his hands in his pockets, glanced up at them a few times, and then his figure blurred as he suddenly charged toward them.

The instant he saw the man move, the intense aura seemed to be right in front of him.

His heart jumped in alarm.

’So fast!’

But in what seemed like the blink of an eye, he realized Chen Chuan’s figure had vanished from his side. A gust of wind suddenly swept across the ground, making the floodlights sway. At that exact moment, a series of thunderous sonic booms erupted from the surrounding darkness, cracking and exploding all around.

But after only a few breaths, everything fell silent. His eyes widened as he stared in a certain direction.

Chen Chuan’s figure emerged from the pitch-black night, stepping into the now-steady light. He was dragging a person by the hand. He walked slowly to the open space in front of the building and tossed the man onto the ground.

Chang Dong immediately looked down. It was a slender young man in his twenties with high cheekbones and deep-set eyes. He lay on the ground, gasping for breath and constantly spitting up blood, coughing intermittently. His eyes, fixed on Chen Chuan, were filled with terror and disbelief.

Chang Dong said, "Manager Chen, it seems he’s never seen you before. He might be new to Central City." He sniffed the air and grunted. "He has the strong scent of the Merging Land on him. This guy is most likely from the Merging Land. No wonder he doesn’t recognize you."

Chen Chuan replied, "Even in Central City, not everyone necessarily knows who I am."

Chang Dong smiled. "But the Fighters of Jibei Dao would definitely recognize you, Manager Chen." He took two steps, walked over to the young man, crouched down, and patted his shoulder. "Start talking."

"Heh heh." The young man just let out a few cold laughs.

Chang Dong seemed unconcerned by his lack of cooperation. Leaving his hand on the young man’s shoulder, he continued his questioning. "You were using the Sky Breathing Technique and the Cross and Vertical Strength Method just now, weren’t you? Those are Secret Transmissions of our Pure Sect. Who taught you?"

The young man’s consciousness suddenly felt hazy. He shook his head, struggling to stay lucid, but after a moment, he felt overwhelmingly drowsy. His expression turned vacant, and he said slowly, "My instructor taught me."

Chang Dong stared at him intently. "Who is your instructor? What’s his name?"

The young man’s body twitched as if he was resisting the question. Seeing this, Chang Dong immediately changed the subject. "You admire your instructor a lot?"

The young man relaxed and nodded forcefully.

"What’s your name?"

"Qu Tianli."

"Why were you targeting us?"

"I heard someone from the Pure Sect had come to Central City, so I came to ’say hello.’ And if possible, to get rid of you all."

Chang Dong asked, "Did your instructor send you?"

"No, they don’t know. I came on my own to test you, to see how tough this so-called Pure Sect really is."

After asking a few more questions, Chang Dong noticed the man starting to tremble again, so he stopped pressing and instead asked about other trivial, seemingly ordinary things.

As their conversation deepened, the young man’s attitude softened, and he no longer seemed to resist the more sensitive questions. Chang Dong then steered the questioning back to the original topic. This time it went more smoothly, and he managed to get some information.

According to Qu Tianli’s own account, he came from a place in the Merging Land called the Swamp Training Camp. That place specialized in selecting youths of the right age for training. He had been chosen thirteen years ago, received his training there, and learned all his Fighting Skills.

As far as he knew, the training camp had two instructors. But above them was a Chief Instructor, the founder and spiritual leader of the Swamp Training Camp.

After finishing the interrogation, Chang Dong frowned and said, "Judging by the techniques passed down in the camp, many of them are our Pure Sect’s Secret Transmissions. The founder is most likely the target we’re looking for. I never expected that after all these years, he would have trained a whole batch of students. This is going to be trouble."

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