Chapter 365: The Villain Chen Chu, Forced into a Higher Realm (I)

Outside the abandoned old district, the waiting TV stations, live-streaming sites, and new media reporters became instantly excited when they saw a convoy of about ten cars arrive.

"They’re here! They’re here!"

"Quick, follow me with the camera."

As soon as the cars stopped, the doors of the four vehicles in the front and rear slammed open. More than ten bodyguards dressed in black suits quickly got out, forming a human wall to block the reporters.

Li Long said in a deep voice, "Everyone, don’t crowd. Wait until Ms. Yan gets out of the car before you start your interviews."

The reporter holding a microphone shouted excitedly, "We’re not here to interview Yan Ruoyi. We’re here to interview Chu Batian!"

"Yes, we want to interview Chu Batian!"

"Chu Batian is getting out!"

Seeing Chen Chu emerge from the car, the reporters were immediately thrilled.

"Chu Batian, I’ve heard that Kleide has broken through to the Seventh Heavenly Realm. Do you still have confidence in defeating him?"

"With his advanced fist will and the complete beastification at the Seventh Heavenly Realm, some speculate that Kleide’s strength is comparable to a late-stage Seventh Heavenly Realm expert. How long do you think it will take for you to defeat him?"

Chen Chu, wearing sunglasses, looked at the excited reporters with a cold expression and said indifferently, "For me, whether he breaks through or not makes no difference. As for the result, you’ll see soon enough. He might not even be able to withstand a single strike from me."

"It’s the same old domineering, arrogant attitude."

The reporters were all visibly excited, their cameras clicking away as they broadcasted his words live.

Yan Ruoyi and Qingqiu Mingyue also stepped out from the back of the car, followed by Li Daoyi in a dashing Daoist robe. Meanwhile, the six-tailed white fox silently appeared behind Qingqiu Mingyue.

In anticipation of an explosive battle, Yan Ruoyi had donned a black women’s suit today, with a white shirt underneath and fitted trousers, giving her a sharp and stylish appearance.

Qingqiu Mingyue was dressed in a white hoodie, fitted trousers, and sneakers, her white fox ears twitching with every movement after she got out of the car.

Next were Bai Yunfeng, Xu Xiaoqi, and a dozen or so other group employees who had come along to join the excitement.

Chen Chu glanced back and said calmly, "Brother Li, Mingyue, it’s up to you now."

Li Daoyi nodded solemnly. "Don’t worry."

The girl with the fox ears smiled cheerfully. "With Mingyue here, no one can harm Sister Ruoyi."

Although she hadn’t gotten very far in her cultivation[1], her awakened king-level bloodline already made her strength considerable, with her bloodline power equivalent to that of a Fourth Heavenly Realm cultivator.

After giving his instructions, an intangible, heavy aura emanated from Chen Chu, causing the reporters in front to instinctively clear a path. Ahead, over a hundred meters away, lay the old district, equivalent to several residential complexes.

As Chen Chu walked forward, red lights shot out from the Sumeru Bracelet on his wrist, transforming into a suit of armor that covered him entirely.

𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

The armor, primarily gold and red, was magnificent and imposing, its surface adorned with mysterious black and gold patterns resembling writhing dragon-like serpents.

Under the circles of golden-red light emitted by the armor, these strange patterns seemed to exude a fierce, awe-inspiring aura. In addition, four platinum-colored gears slowly rotated behind Chen Chu’s head, the largest with a diameter of over eighty centimeters and the smallest thirty centimeters.

The sight of such splendid and extraordinary armor instantly thrilled the reporters.

"That’s the battle armor he wore when he slew the god!"

"There’s four layers of aura surrounding it. This armor’s reached the top transcendent level. It’s said that normally only advanced experts above the Eighth Heavenly Realm can forge such equipment."

"It seems Chu Batian not only cultivates quickly, but also possesses amazing talent in crafting transcendent equipment."

Some of the cultivators watching from a distance recognized the armor’s level. However, only a few had this insight; most of the lower-level cultivators expressed their envy with loud exclamations.

"So cool!"

"Wow, I didn’t know armor could be worn like that. I wish I had a set!"

"Wishful thinking, brother. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to refine armor that can split and combine at will?"

"How difficult?"

"About as high as a three-story building."

The excitement wasn’t only on the scene; viewers worldwide watching the live stream were shouting and cheering.

Just when everyone thought that was it, the ground beneath Chen Chu shattered with a thunderous roar, forming a one-meter-wide crater, and he shot up into the sky with a loud boom.

As he soared over two hundred meters high, solid flames extended from his back to form wings, three meters upward and one meter downward.

Boom!

The scorching gust of air from the flame wings propelled Chen Chu toward the center of the small city, leaving a long, glowing tail behind him.

"Wow! How cool!"

"Awesome, he has wings too!"

"Mind-blowing!"

The viewers in the live stream were all in a frenzy, shouting in excitement.

Li Daoyi was stunned, unable to believe it. "I thought I had gained some insight, but Brother Chu’s realm is beyond my imagination. I’ve gained more insight now."

A curious Qingqiu Mingyue asked, "What insight have you gained?"

Li Daoyi slowly replied, "I originally thought that being subtly showy was the essence. I didn’t realize there was a higher level of showiness, a multi-layered display.

"When Brother Chu got out of the car earlier, his indifferent remark that it didn’t matter whether that guy broke through or not was the first level.

"Then, while everyone was astonished by his arrogance, he donned the magnificent armor. Just when people thought that was already impressive, he unfolded the flame wings. A triple-layered display that left the viewers awestruck."

Yan Ruoyi, smiling with her hand over her mouth, said, "I thought your insight was about cultivation progress, but it turned out to be this. I don’t think Brother Chu considered any of this."

Li Daoyi praised, "That’s why I say Brother Chu’s realm is profound. Showiness has become a natural part of him, subtle and effortless."

"Hahaha! Li Daoyi, you’re so amusing. I also think Chu Batian was very cool, but he probably didn’t think of it like that." Qingqiu Mingyue laughed. "Let’s go watch from that hillside over there. Even if they’re controlling the fight, advanced battles can get really destructive.."

Soon, Yan Ruoyi and the others arrived at a hillside about two hundred meters above the ground.

The old district of Miamir City was surrounded by hills, and was abandoned when the city was relocated to a plain near the Sanjiang estuary a few kilometers away.

Now, these hills made for excellent vantage points, with many ordinary cultivators stationed on them.

Yan Ruoyi and her group found a less crowded hill to observe from. Li Long and other bodyguards, however remained vigilant, forming a human wall to keep Yan Ruoyi, Li Daoyi, Qingqiu Mingyue, Bai Yunfeng, and Xu Xiaoqi separated from the general crowd. Even the ordinary employees weren’t allowed near, per Chen Chu’s orders.

In addition to the observing cultivators, many drones hovered around the old district, and a TV station’s helicopter was broadcasting the entire event live.

Boom!

With a burst of flames, Chen Chu descended from the sky, landing on the rooftop of a building over thirty stories high. His heavy footsteps caused the rooftop to tremble, cracking the surface with deep fissures.

Standing at the edge of the hundred-meter-high rooftop, Chen Chu’s cold gaze locked onto the bearded young man, Kleide, who stood forty meters away on top of another building.

Compared to Chen Chu, who wore magnificent armor and exuded an imposing aura, Kleide seemed like a country bumpkin, dressed in a gray training outfit and sporting full beard. Yet, this so-called bumpkin was about to challenge the world-renowned God-Slayer in a desperate bid.

If he defeated this person, he might have a chance to resurrect his mother. If he lost—no, losing was not an option. With this thought, Kleide’s gaze became resolute.

1. The phrase in the original novel was “Although she had yet to cultivate,” which directly contradicts chapter 225. It has been edited here for consistency. ☜