Chapter 482 16: Powerful

"Brother Zhang..."

Zhu Chen sighed upon hearing this.

"Your personality is the same as ever—like a stone in a latrine, stinky and hard."

"To throw away a great future just to stubbornly defend a piece of trash. I really don't know what you're thinking."

"Hmph!" Nursing Director Zhang snorted coldly.

"Zhu Chen, you, who tried to murder your own nephew and were thrown in jail for it—what right do you have to criticize me?"

"You schemed to lure me away from the mansion that day. Today, I will atone for that failure by taking you down."

Both were Eighth Grade.

He was a mid-level Eighth Grade, while Zhu Chen was merely a lower-level Eighth Grade. The difference in their strength was clear.

What's more,

they were right next to the Zhu Mansion. The slightest disturbance would attract the guards from the Nursing Home.

"Heh..." Zhu Chen shook his head.

"You didn't really think I came alone, did you?"

"Come on out!"

Shadows stirred in the darkness behind him, and two figures emerged one after the other, causing Nursing Director Zhang's expression to change drastically.

"Cheng Hai?"

"It's me." Cheng Hai, a leader from the Zhu Mansion, sighed softly and spoke to Nursing Director Zhang.

"Mr. Zhang, don't blame me."

"As the saying goes, 'men strive upwards, water flows downwards.' I don't want to spend my whole life as a doorkeeper for others."

Nursing Director Zhang's face darkened.

Cheng Hai was the most skilled expert among the Zhu Mansion's guards, second only to him. Although he hadn't reached Eighth Grade, his Wind Chasing Saber Technique was so sharp that he could be considered a lower Eighth Grade opponent. And then there was the third person...

"Wen Shuyuan!"

Seeing the last person, Nursing Director Zhang's heart tightened.

"Greetings, Brother Zhang." The man named Wen Shuyuan clasped his fists in a salute.

"The payment Brother Zhu offered was simply too tempting. I couldn't refuse. If I may, I'd like to offer you a piece of advice, Brother Zhang."

"He who understands the times is a man of wisdom!"

Wen Shuyuan came from a Martial Arts Academy, a well-known enforcer in the city with a mid-level Eighth Grade Cultivation.

Against him alone, Nursing Director Zhang wasn't certain of victory, let alone with two others helping him.

"Nursing Director Zhang," Zhu Chen said with a faint smile.

"Even if you don't think about yourself, you should think about your wife and children. Must we really fight to the death tonight?"

Hm?

Nursing Director Zhang subconsciously glanced back and met a pair of eyes peering through the crack of a door, and a wave of confusion washed over him.

His grip on his long spear couldn't help but slacken.

CLAP!

CLAP! CLAP!

Just then, the crisp sound of applause came from the side.

Zhu Ju emerged from the darkness, lightly clapping his hands, an admiring look on his face as he watched the astonished Zhu Chen.

"Second Uncle, what impressive methods!"

He spoke slowly.

"To escape from prison and find two helpers in such a short time... remarkable."

As he spoke, his icy gaze swept over Cheng Hai.

When Nursing Director Zhang was lured away by a scheme a few days ago, he had suspected a mole. Sure enough, he was right.

"Hmph!" Zhu Chen roared through gritted teeth.

"Whether in martial talent or business acumen, I am stronger than your father! If I had his resources, my Martial Arts Cultivation would have long reached the upper level of Eighth Grade, and I might have even had a chance at Seventh Grade."

"My parents were biased! They gave him everything! Now, I am just taking back what should have been mine!"

It was clear his heart had been filled with deep resentment over the years. His furious roar sounded like a cry of blood.

His eyes were filled with hatred.

Hatred for his parents.

Hatred for his older brother.

And even more hatred for the good-for-nothing Zhu Ju before him, who stood to inherit the family business.

"Young Master."

Nursing Director Zhang's body tensed.

"What are you doing here?"

"I was just bored, taking a stroll, and I happened upon this scene," Zhu Ju said with a smiling nod.

"Nursing Director Zhang, you are truly loyal. No wonder my father entrusted you with the full responsibility of guarding the Zhu Mansion."

Although he had hesitated just now when faced with the three men's threats, out of concern for his wife and children, but men are not saints; how could they be without selfish thoughts?

A loyalty that disregards the lives of one's own family is hardly worthy of praise.

"Fine!"

Zhu Chen took a deep breath.

"Since you're here, we'll just deal with you now. I should be the master of the Zhu Mansion!"

WHOOSH...

Under the night sky, a bleak wind howled.

The short and stocky Zhu Chen, his face cold and stern, formed a triangle with Cheng Hai and Wen Shuyuan, surrounding Zhu Ju.

At the same time, they cut off Nursing Director Zhang, isolating him.

An invisible Stern Slaughter Intent began to spread silently.

"Heh..."

Zhu Ju chuckled lightly.

"Just with you lot?"

Facing the trio's icy glares, he stepped forward. Instead of retreating, he advanced, with no intention of calling for the guards from the Nursing Home.

DONG!

DONG!

Zhu Ju stomped on the ground, his body like a divine elephant suppressing an abyss. With three steps, he shattered the murderous aura that enveloped him.

Dragon Elephant Force!

The Martial Arts of this world were divided into Entry Level, Mastery, Minor Success, Great Success, and Perfection.

By practicing a Cultivation Technique for many years, even someone with mediocre Talent could reach the Mastery Realm.

Minor Success, however, required a certain degree of Talent and Comprehension.

As for Great Success,

those who could achieve it were few and far between.

Perfection.

That was even rarer.

But for many Cultivation Techniques, only at Great Success or Perfection could their True Intent and profound Methods be revealed.

Only then could one defeat the strong while being weak.

Dragon Tiger Force was one such case!

As Zhu Ju strode forward, his spirit was like a flying dragon soaring through the sky, and his body was like a divine elephant trampling the nine abysses. The two existed in harmony, merging with each other. With every step, his aura grew stronger, until the three men opposite him found their breath catching in their throats.

"Great Dragon Elephant Force!"

Zhu Chen gritted his teeth.

"That's impossible! How long have you been practicing Martial Arts?"

"Nothing is impossible," Zhu Ju said, his expression placid.

"I am exceptionally talented. One day of my Cultivation is equal to a hundred days of effort for others. You can only look on in envy."

"Hmph!" Zhu Chen's eyes flickered.

"So what if you've cultivated the Dragon Elephant Force to Great Success?"

"You've only just reached Grade Entering. Your foundation is shallow. A genius who hasn't fully matured is no genius at all."

SHIING!

A cold glint flashed.

A streak of Sword Light shot across a dozen feet, aimed straight for Zhu Ju's throat.

Immortal Crane Sword!

The Sword Technique Zhu Chen practiced was one an ancestor of the Zhu Family had chanced upon. Its grade wasn't high, but it wasn't low either.

He had practiced it for decades and had reached Minor Success. As the Sword Light flickered, the faint sound of an Immortal Crane beating its wings could be heard, causing his sword to accelerate once more.

Die!

"Stop!"

Nursing Director Zhang was aghast. He gripped his spear and charged forward, but a figure blocked his path.

"Your opponent is me." Wen Shuyuan extended his arms and struck the long spear with his palms, blocking the way.

"I have long heard of Brother Zhang's exquisite spear techniques. Today, I must ask for a lesson."

Nursing Director Zhang was burning with anxiety, but facing Wen Shuyuan's ferocious assault, he found it difficult to break through.

He could only watch helplessly as Zhu Chen rushed toward Zhu Ju.

Facing the incoming Longsword, Zhu Ju's expression remained calm. He clenched his fists and thrust them forward.

As he threw the punch, the Qi Blood in his body seemed to roar like a dragon and tiger, and faint golden patterns appeared on the surface of his fists.

CLANG...

The collision of fist and sword actually produced the sound of striking metal.

Zhu Ju's figure paused for a moment, while the charging Zhu Chen was thrown backward, stumbling several steps before he could regain his footing.

"Golden Flesh and Jade Veins!"

Nursing Director Zhang's eyes widened, his voice filled with excitement.

"Great Success in Body Refining! Giant Spirit Fist!"

"Attack!" Zhu Chen roared through gritted teeth.

"Today, if he doesn't die, we will!"

VZRING!

Cheng Hai's face was grim. The long saber at his waist flew from its sheath with a sharp ring, whipping up a gale as he slashed out.

Wind Chasing Saber!

This Saber Technique was both fast and vicious. Its Sword Momentum was unusually sharp, and once it gained the upper hand, the attacks were relentless.

Cheng Hai had been immersed in the Wind Chasing Saber for decades. Slashing fiercely, he delivered eighteen cuts in the space of a single breath.

DING! DING! DANG! DANG...

Zhu Ju held his fists ready. His Fist Force erupted in a continuous barrage, perfectly intercepting every single incoming attack.

Then, he suddenly opened his fingers and clamped down like a vise on the long saber, unleashing a burst of savage Giant Power.

PENG!

The blade, forged and tempered a thousand times, was crushed in his bare hand.

"This is impossible!"

Cheng Hai's eyes were wide with terror and disbelief.

A lower Ninth Grade,

how could he possibly have such terrifying strength?

"Nothing is impossible," Zhu Ju's voice was calm.

"You just need to gather all your strength in your palm. With a Qi Blood Burst, it's no less than an upper Eighth Grade."

"Of course..."

"A normal person just can't do it."

Others couldn't do it, but for him, a former Nascent Soul True Man, it wasn't difficult at all.