Chapter Eight: Frenzy

The rest of the underlings looked at Chu Jie in panic, trembling and not daring to move forward. Blood dripped from Chu Jie's body, mixed with sickening brain matter, and his fierce expression made him look like an ancient god of slaughter descending upon the earth.

From above, Lord Lin's eyes flickered with amusement as he gave the spirit box in his hand a shake, letting it fall beside Chu Jie. The other two lords also cast mocking glances his way and tossed their spirit boxes next to him.

In this way, three spirit boxes now lay at Chu Jie's side.

The scene instantly erupted into chaos, with a swarm of underlings charging toward Chu Jie.

"Kill him! There's no need to fear him with so many of us!"

"Everyone, get him! Take him down!"

The tumultuous shouts filled the air. Chu Jie glanced up at Lord Lin, clenching his fist in secret. With this move, Lord Lin was clearly intent on putting him to death.

He saw that several other minor leaders were also springing in his direction.

Gritting his teeth, Chu Jie suddenly dashed forward, grabbing the closest spirit box into his hand before veering sharply toward the second one.

Crack!

Unexpectedly, Chu Jie leapt up and stomped the second spirit box to pieces. With a swift scoop of his left hand, he gathered a fistful of wooden fragments, and at the same time, seized the spirit-gathering herb hidden within the box.

"Qi Wei!" Chu Jie shouted, hurling the spirit box in his right hand toward Qi Wei like a shooting star.

Countless people leapt up, trying to intercept the flying box.

Chu Jie swung his left hand, and the splinters shot out like sharp blades, colliding with the box he had just thrown.

Bang! The box, struck by the fragments, accelerated and shot into Qi Wei's arms like lightning.

Taking advantage of everyone's focus on the spirit box, Chu Jie quickly popped the spirit-gathering herb from the shattered box into his mouth.

Its bitter taste spread across his tongue, and a surge of spiritual energy poured from his throat into his abdomen, slowly filling his dantian. Chu Jie's body trembled slightly from the sensation.

Not far away, a third spirit box was already clutched in the arms of another underling, who was desperately retreating. When he saw Chu Jie approaching, terror instantly overtook his face as he sprinted away in panic.

"Stay away!" the underling stammered; he had seen Chu Jie's ruthless methods and was terrified.

Bang!

A figure darted out from the side and smashed the underling's head with a single punch, then grinned wickedly as he took the spirit box from the corpse's hand. With a sneer toward Chu Jie, he kicked the corpse aside, sending it flying and knocking over several underlings.

Now Chu Jie and this man stood surrounded, the rest watching warily, not daring to approach.

The man's face bore a black scar running from the corner of his eye to his mouth, resembling a writhing black centipede.

"Come on, pretty boy! Let me crush your skull!" Wang Kun cracked his neck, tucked the spirit box under his arm, and pointed at Chu Jie.

Chu Jie clenched his fists and lunged forward like a wild tiger!

When he was about two meters from Wang Kun, Chu Jie stamped his feet, his waist twisting with sudden force. His whole body tilted and spun like a top.

He unleashed the Tianlun Fist—a technique he had once secretly observed in the Yang family. Though just an ordinary move, with his inner energy pouring into his fist, it shone with a dazzling aura.

Borrowing the momentum of his spin, his iron fist smashed toward Wang Kun!

A trace of seriousness flashed through Wang Kun’s eyes. He stepped back, clenched his own iron fist, muscles bulging as if a small snake writhed beneath his skin, and threw a punch at Chu Jie.

Wang Kun was at the sixth tier of the Body Tempering Realm. Confident in his power, he believed that even if he couldn’t harm Chu Jie, his full-force punch would at least put him at a disadvantage.

Bang!

The two iron fists collided. Wang Kun’s expression changed instantly as sharp pain shot through his forearm, sweat breaking out over his body.

He looked down to see his forearm completely fractured, hanging uselessly at his side.

"My god! Wang Kun’s bones were broken by a single punch! What level is this kid?"

"One move! Just one move! Wang Kun is a well-known expert in the Nine Dragons District!"

The surrounding underlings stared in shock.

Even Qi Wei’s eyes flashed with astonishment—she hadn’t expected Chu Jie to be so powerful.

A fiery intensity flared in Qi Batian's gaze. If he could recruit such a fierce warrior, his own strength would increase greatly!

Chu Jie remained unmoved. He knew only by displaying overwhelming strength could he secure his position and obtain more spirit-gathering herbs.

After his first punch, Chu Jie’s body kept spinning, and in a blink, his second fist came roaring in.

Like a wild tiger descending the mountain, he brought with him an unstoppable, raging momentum.

Wang Kun’s face changed dramatically and he hurriedly retreated—but it was too late!

Bang! His head exploded like an overripe watermelon, spraying blood and brain matter all over the surrounding underlings.

Chu Jie crouched slowly, picked the spirit box from Wang Kun’s hand, and stood up, his gaze sweeping over the crowd with the arrogance of a king surveying his domain.

Chu Jie’s ruthlessness made the other minor leaders who had wanted to challenge him reconsider and stop in their tracks. In the Nine Dragons District, spirit-gathering herbs were precious, but life was the most valuable of all.

Still, some looked on with disdain, such as Huang Nian, who had reached the eighth tier of the Body Tempering Realm.

At the eighth tier, his body shimmered with starlight. Only one step remained before he could condense true qi within and reach the ninth tier.

Huang Nian was especially burly, his hair the color of molten gold draping over his shoulders, his face broad and fierce, hands unusually large, and starlight flickering across his skin. Wielding a gleaming long blade, he charged at Chu Jie like a rampaging mammoth.

Chu Jie bit his lip. If it had been the seventh tier, he was confident he could fight, but against the eighth, he knew he was no match. He tucked the spirit box into his arms and spun around, fleeing in the opposite direction.

The three lords watched with great interest, tossing all the spirit boxes at Chu Jie's side as if toying with him.

Pursued by Huang Nian, Chu Jie’s escape drew looks of contempt from everyone present. Spotting the spirit boxes scattered near Chu Jie, the crowd surged after him.

Surrounded by a sea of bodies, Chu Jie steeled himself, dove forward, and scooped up four spirit boxes from the ground.

"Has Chu Jie gone mad?" Qi Wei’s lips parted in shock and confusion.

"Hmph! The kid’s bold, but he’ll die miserably for it," Huang Nian said, slicing a blocking underling in two with a single swipe of his blade.

The other minor leaders in pursuit all thought Chu Jie was courting death and attacked together.

Chu Jie suddenly halted, swung his arm, and hurled all four spirit boxes at Huang Nian.

Huang Nian’s heart leapt with joy. His blade spun, and a swirl of dark energy drew all four boxes into his arms. But in the blink of an eye, his expression changed—everyone else had stopped, eyeing him with ill intentions.

The spirit boxes had become not just treasures, but hot potatoes.

"He’s got the spirit boxes—don’t be afraid of him!" snarled one underling, and the entire mob surged toward Huang Nian.

Huang Nian’s face twisted in anger as a layer of spiritual flame erupted from his body. He fought with all his might.

Each spirit box contained five spirit-gathering herbs. With four boxes, Huang Nian now held twenty herbs—a fifth of the total, for only a hundred had been distributed this time.

Seeing everyone swarming Huang Nian, a faint smile crossed Chu Jie’s lips. With another spirit box in his arms, he leapt up and tossed it to Qi Wei.

Spreading his palm, he found four remaining spirit-gathering herbs from the shattered box. Gritting his teeth, Chu Jie swallowed them all.

Waves of spiritual power flowed into his dantian, spreading to every corner of his body.

The three lords exchanged glances and, having lost interest, threw down the remaining boxes and walked away.

About a dozen spirit boxes were left scattered on the ground.

Chu Jie was not greedy. He leapt into the air, snatched a box, and tucked it into his arms.

He sprinted toward Qi Wei. On the way, he spotted an underling grinning with delight over his own spirit box. Chu Jie flashed over.

"Hand over the spirit box!" Chu Jie demanded.

The underling, still reveling in his good fortune, tensed at Chu Jie's words and hurled his large blade in response.

Chu Jie's expression darkened. With a single sweep of his fist, the underling was knocked flying—no one knew if he lived or died—and Chu Jie seized the box.

Another underling nearby, trembling with fear, simply tossed his spirit box to Chu Jie.

Chu Jie took it without greed, then with a few nimble leaps made his way to Qi Wei’s side.