Chapter Twenty-Seven: Devilish Training

The death of Master Tianyun further proved Chu Jie’s formidable strength to his band of brothers, making them admire him from the bottom of their hearts. Some among them had once served under Duan Kun, others had been forcibly recruited from Zhang Chen’s men. Perhaps they had been a hundred thousand times unwilling at first, but after a series of experiences, they came to realize their own good fortune.

In this world, the strong have always ruled, but having a powerful protector at your side is a source of safety as well.

“If you always rely on spiritual energy to protect yourself, you’ll never forge a strong body. This is only the second terrace—there are countless dangers below that we know nothing about. I can’t always be your fortress of safety. If you want to survive, you’ll have to let your fists do the talking.”

Chu Jie’s voice rang out with force, striking his brothers’ chests like a heavy blow.

Their burning gazes rested on Chu Jie, filled with inexpressible worship and excitement, but what they coveted most was the strange, fiercely magical sword in his hand.

“Boss, we won’t let you down!” someone shouted from the crowd—a youth whose frame was notably lean.

Chu Jie’s gaze locked on the youth with satisfaction. He smiled faintly, “Good. Let me see how you all grow stronger.”

The reason Chu Jie chose to train them here on the second terrace was out of concern for their safety. The Wind-listening Leopard he had just subdued was only at the first level of the Spirit Gathering Realm, while these brothers were but brutes still within the Body Tempering stage. Moreover, the Abyss of Gods and Demons was filled with fierce Ninefold Heaven Gales—without a strong body, the deeper you went, the greater the danger, even to the point of being shattered to pieces.

With so many unknown threats, Chu Jie had to take responsibility for their lives.

The training was brief, but it was undoubtedly the most brutal ordeal they had ever endured—overloading their bodies far beyond their limits, each layer of the Body Tempering Realm pushing them to the edge of death, yet every time, they survived by a hair’s breadth.

Chu Jie looked over his men, feeling a measure of pride.

“Boss, can we go down to the next level now?” the slender youth ran over, sweating profusely.

Chu Jie frowned slightly. “Do you think you’re strong enough?”

The youth pressed his lips together and nodded earnestly, “I think I’m ready.”

Chu Jie sneered. “Let’s put that to the test, then.”

No sooner had he spoken than he launched a fist at the youth, his speed blinding, his movement a blur, the wind of his punch tinged with a faint glow, though it was clear he hadn’t used much force.

The youth was startled, gritted his teeth, and twisted aside to dodge.

Seeing his punch miss, Chu Jie seemed a bit smug and grinned, “Boss, you can go all out if you want to test me.”

Chu Jie was surprised, having clearly underestimated the youth’s cultivation. He smirked, “Watch closely.”

His fists flew, crossing left and right, seemingly random and chaotic—so fast it was dizzying to behold.

This time, the youth dared not be careless. He held his breath and focused, dodging in a panic as sweat poured down his brow like rain, his limbs growing increasingly sluggish.

“Liang Bo is really overestimating himself, daring to spar with the boss.”

“Right, with that small body of his, won’t he get crushed in an instant?”

“No way! The boss is just testing him—you can see he’s not using full strength!”

The crowd murmured. Yet the more astute among them noticed that the youth’s physical cultivation was gradually changing.

Although Chu Jie’s movements appeared fierce, he was subtly aiding the youth’s advancement, which sparked a hint of jealousy among the others.

Bang!

Soon, the youth’s body was sent flying, crashing to the ground on his back.

Chu Jie, standing opposite, let his hands fall to his sides, then deftly flicked the sword on the ground into the air with his toe and asked, “What’s your name?”

Clutching his aching chest and breathing heavily, the youth replied, “Boss, my name is Liang Bo.”

“A good name—and good skills.” Chu Jie’s smile broadened with satisfaction. He glanced at the sword, then tossed it to the youth. “From now on, this sword is yours.”

“Ah!”

Liang Bo was stunned, holding the sword with trembling hands, his face incredulous.

He knew well that Chu Jie had just helped him, for he had clearly felt a warm current of spiritual energy gathering in his dantian, as if on the verge of a breakthrough.

Fairness breeds loyalty among subordinates!

However, it was obvious Chu Jie had favored Liang Bo, which made the other brothers displeased. “Boss, what’s this? Even though Liang Bo broke through to the fifth level of the Body Tempering Realm, it was thanks to your help!”

“Exactly, without your help, there’s no way he’d be the first to reach the sixth level!”

The clamor of argument was endless.

Liang Bo, feeling unworthy of the sword, lowered his head in silence. Though young, his eyes showed a unique determination.

Chu Jie maintained his smile, standing at the edge of the terrace, his long robe fluttering and his dark hair at his temples stirring without a breeze, giving him an air of effortless grace.

“You think I helped him?” Chu Jie finally asked with a mysterious smile.

“Didn’t you?” came a less certain reply.

Chu Jie clasped his hands behind his back and walked forward, shaking his head. “You only see the surface, not the essence. If you’re my men and care only for what’s apparent, unable to see through to the truth, you’ll never be true warriors.”

The crowd was puzzled.

Chu Jie continued, “Among so many of you, why was it only Liang Bo who dared let me test him?”

“Because you’re our boss—we don’t dare,” another voice replied.

“Exactly!”

Chu Jie grinned proudly. “Liang Bo dared to let me test him—just for that courage alone, he’ll surpass you all one day. If you’re not convinced, then bide your time, nurse your strength and resentment, and challenge him when you’re ready. Beat him, and the sword will be yours.”

His words left them all exchanging glances; even if they were unwilling, they could not argue.

“All right, we don’t have much time left. I’m giving you one hour. Train hard. If you can’t reach the sixth level of Body Tempering, don’t blame me for being harsh.”

Chu Jie’s commanding voice was full of power and authority; the smile from before vanished, replaced by the stern visage of a black-faced king of hell.

The crowd stirred, their earlier discontent gone. Now, they eyed Liang Bo with a mix of envy and jealousy—for in this world, only those with strength had a say.

Balancing favor and authority is the way to command men!

Chu Jie had been steeped in his father’s teachings since childhood, though he had always been overshadowed in the Yang family. Today, he finally had a chance to apply what he’d learned—his status earned through sheer force.

“Boss, thank you,” Liang Bo said, approaching with the sword in his arms.

“You don’t need to thank me. If you can’t become the most capable of warriors, someone else will surpass you, and the sword will pass to them,” Chu Jie replied calmly, offering no particular praise.

Liang Bo gritted his teeth. “I understand.”

“Good. Train hard. In one hour, we move to the third terrace. Life or death—from here on, you either rely on yourselves, or leave it to fate.” Chu Jie addressed all his brothers with utmost seriousness.

They stood atop the second terrace, pushing themselves with all their strength to temper their bodies.

Beside Chu Jie, the tamed Wind-listening Leopard was uncommonly docile, its striped paws pressed to the ground, emitting nothing but steady breaths, not a trace of hostility.

Chu Jie snorted coldly, muttering to himself, “In this world, what’s the difference between men and beasts? Both live by the law of the strong.”

He watched his brothers train, the scene before him almost like a fantastical fairyland, a gentle radiance enveloping and spreading around them.

Some were already close to breaking through to the sixth level of Body Tempering, their auras shifting and changing color.

With shouts and cries, they spurred themselves on, none more fiercely than Liang Bo—perhaps driven by the sword, or perhaps by the pressure from the others’ words.

An hour passed in the blink of an eye.

Soon, everyone stopped, gasping for breath, but their faces were flushed and their spirits high.

“Excellent. This is the kind of men I want—this is what I call warriors.” At this moment, Chu Jie had the air of a drill instructor, his sharp gaze sweeping over each of them with satisfaction. “All right—are you ready?”

As if facing a great enemy, everyone shouted in unison, their blood surging, “Ready!”

“Down we go!”

Chu Jie floated behind them in a flash, and with a swift kick, sent Liang Bo tumbling forward. “Hurry up.”

A fierce surge of Ninefold Heaven Gale swept in. Liang Bo tensed his abdomen, afraid that someone behind him might be caught off guard and hurt, so he shouted, “Hold your breath, everyone!”

“What’s with all the fuss? Move!”

Without waiting for them to react, Chu Jie sent the rest down with a series of kicks.

In his eyes, what mattered was having a body unafraid of any formidable foe—even the supernatural Ninefold Heaven Gale.

The third terrace was clearly more sinister than the last. Chu Jie descended slowly atop the snow-white Wind-listening Leopard, a sight that left his brothers stunned.

A mount!

No one had expected that this expedition into the Abyss of Gods and Demons would bring Chu Jie such fortune out of disaster. Though the Wind-listening Leopard was not the most formidable of beasts, it nonetheless increased his attack power and could shield him when danger arose.

It was a perfect outcome.

“Boss, why does it feel so eerie here?” Liang Bo’s face was grim. He was now the little leader among the men.

Chu Jie leapt down from the leopard. “What’s wrong?”

“The second terrace at least had light. Here it’s overcast, and look at the plants around us—why are they giving off a black glow?” Liang Bo’s attention to detail earned Chu Jie’s approval.