「The next day.」
The death of Long Shao infuriated the Long Chen Financial Group. Chu Hao had rescued the Ghost, which made it clear he had discovered Long Chen's secret.
Consequently, the Long Chen Financial Group publicly declared that Chu Hao was a Butcher who murdered people to seize the Netherworld Fruit.
This news quickly spread through major dia outlets. The Long Chen Financial Group directed its dia subsidiaries to disseminate the story of Chu Hao killing and looting.
As the story circulated, it sparked intense discussion among many people.
"Chu Hao, how ruthless."
"This guy is too dangerous! Isn't there anyone to stop him? People like him should be arrested and jailed."
"Chu Hao killed over ten people! He knew Long Shao had the Netherworld Fruit, so he just killed him and took it. He's truly brutal."
"So terrifying! Doesn't he have a conscience? If we ca across an opportunity like that, would he kill us too, take the treasures, and leave?"
After the news spread, countless people condemned Chu Hao's ruthlessness, claiming he had no heart.
Chu Hao was unaware of the dia reports. That day, as he walked the streets of the Holy City, so people saw him and began pointing and whispering among themselves.
Chu Hao, puzzled, glanced over at them.
"DING! Host receives 5,000 Pretentiousness Points for a Scary Show Off."
What's going on?
Those who had been pointing and whispering turned pale with fright. So collapsed to the ground, scrambling away in panic before disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Chu Hao touched his chin. How could this rack up Pretentiousness Points? And why are people looking at with such fear?
Chu Hao found it quite bewildering. He tried walking on crowded streets, but almost everyone who saw him didn't dare linger, imdiately turning and fleeing.
Chu Hao stepped forward, blocking one man's path. The man trembled in fright and pleaded with a mournful voice, "Devil Chu, no! Master Chu, I don't have any treasures on . Please let go! I have elders to support and children to feed; they're all waiting for to provide for them."
This man wept bitterly, and the onlookers pointed and whispered.
"It's starting! Devil Chu is at it again! Is he going to kill that man?"
"Too terrifying! Is there no one to control him?"
Listening to the surrounding chatter, Chu Hao shot them a sidelong glance.
Instantly, the group of onlookers, who had seed to be gathering, scattered like headless flies.
"DING! Host receives 5,000 Pretentiousness Points for a Scary Show Off."
Impressive! These Pretentiousness Points co so easily! Chu Hao was delighted.
Chu Hao grabbed the man and asked, "Why are you afraid of ?"
The man was stunned. He wanted to cry. He's actually asking ? he thought. Is this the prelude to him killing soone? Does he need to find a reason first?
The man shuddered, saying fearfully, "You... you killed people from the Long Chen Financial Group and snatched their Netherworld Fruit! Everyone is saying you're a murderous demon."
Chu Hao finally understood. This had happened just last night, and already today, the Long Chen Financial Group had launched a counterattack, aiming to ruin his reputation.
But would I, Brother Hao, fear you?
I've road the martial world for over a year and never once backed down. Even when the Taoist sects joined forces to slander , they failed. Could a re financial group truly wield such power?
However, Chu Hao underestimated the power a financial group wielded in the secular world. They might not have much else, but a large financial group certainly had money and assets within many major dia organizations.
Chu Hao wasn't afraid of the slander. On the contrary, the Long Chen Financial Group was actually helping him increase his notoriety. Although it was through negative news, it caused everyone to feel fear and dread at the sight of him—a clear case of invisible posturing.
The Long Chen Financial Group was, in effect, assisting Brother Hao with his act.
Chu Hao ignored the man and walked toward the busier parts of the Holy City.
Why not earn so more Pretentiousness Points while the opportunity is ripe?
In a bustling square in the Holy City, the crowd was imnse. Apart from shops built by developers, nurous Yin-Yang Techniques were also available for public purchase.
One could even see an auction house here.
Indeed, it was an auction house. Many wealthy tycoons in the Holy City had established it as a place for transactions, making it convenient for everyone to share treasures.
Of course, in addition to Curse Marks and Netherworld Fruits, so ancient items were available. It's important to understand that once these items surfaced, they were all considered antiques.
Foreigners, in particular, were very interested in antiques from Huaxia Country. Anyone who found such items would co here to sell them.
Most people couldn't find such opportunities. Making a fortune in the Holy City, however, was a pretty good outco.
This was also why many people chose to remain in the Holy City: to hunt for treasure.
When Chu Hao arrived, he saw that the square had transford into a marketplace, crowded to the brim.
A few large financial groups managed this place. Afraid of troublemakers, they hired many Yin-Yang People as bodyguards. Consequently, no one dared to rob or cause trouble here.
A hulking man with dyed golden hair and tattooed arms, looking quite formidable, walked through the market with a group of n following him.
The blond hulk took a fancy to a Bronze Artifact and approached the stall owner, asking, "How much for this Bronze Artifact?"
Seeing that the burly man had brought so many people, the vendor was sowhat concerned and said, "Three hundred thousand."
The blond hulk snorted. "For a broken Bronze Artifact, you want three hundred thousand? I'll give you three thousand for it, and I'm taking it."
The vendor was startled and clung tightly to the Bronze Artifact. "No way! I went through a lot of trouble to find this."
Nowadays, every inch of the Holy City had been scoured, nearly every stone turned over. Bronze Artifacts, once relatively common, had beco scarce.
The blond hulk said angrily, "Cut the crap! Three thousand."
Of course, the vendor was unwilling. Selling a Bronze Artifact for three thousand was a joke. This was clearly robbery!
The blond hulk said coldly, "It's no use calling for help. My uncle is a high-level executive at the Long Chen Financial Group. If you still want to make a living in the Holy City, you'd better be sensible."
The vendor despaired. Outnumbered by the hulk's crew, he was just an ordinary citizen.
"One hundred thousand! Please, I worked hard to find this. I need this money for my wife's dical treatnt," the vendor pleaded desperately.
"Skinny, pay him," said the blond hulk, too lazy to argue further.
A skinny man beside him promptly paid the three thousand and took the Bronze Artifact.
The blond hulk was smug. He could flip this item for a profit of several hundred thousand, and its value would only increase later, as there weren't many Bronze Artifacts left in the Holy City.
Suddenly, as the blond hulk turned, he bumped into soone. Stumbling back, he cursed, "Which son of a bitch isn't watching where they're going?"
The hulk looked up to see a young man dressed in casual attire. His face had sharply defined features and a cool, handso air, complented by deep, dark eyes and an imposing stature. He wasn't handso in the conventional sense, yet he possessed a compelling attractiveness.
The young man didn't speak, rely giving him a faint glance.
The hulk bellowed, "What the hell are you acting all cool for, punk? I'm talking to you! Are you looking for death? Daring to bump into !"
The young man asked, "Where is the Long Chen Financial Group's auction house?"
The blond hulk was livid that the youngster completely disregarded his words. He roared, "I'm talking to you, and you're feeding bullshit? Go to hell!"
The blond hulk was about to throw a punch when a nearby skinny man quickly pulled his Boss back, exclaiming, "Boss, don't hit him! You can't!"
The blond hulk, frustrated, said, "What are you doing? This kid is asking for a beating! Doesn't he know who I am?"
So terrified he dropped the Bronze Artifact, the skinny man clutched the blond hulk's waist and stamred in fear, "Boss, he... he is Chu Hao."
The blond hulk froze. This young man was Chu Hao?
Damn it! It was as if the deadly Killing Star Liu Kui himself had descended from the heavens! His luck couldn't possibly be worse.
This was the man who had killed Long Shao just yesterday.
The blond hulk's neck went rigid. He turned, engulfed by extre fear, and stamred, "I... I..."
He was so scared he couldn't utter another coherent word.
User Comments
0 comments from readers