119

On the mountainside in the center of the Furious Crocodile Island, a majestic and imposing hall stood tall – the headquarters of the Furious Crocodile Gang, the Furious Crocodile Hall. This location was strategically chosen, difficult to attack, and easy to defend.

Throughout its centuries-long history, the Furious Crocodile Gang had faced several crises, with river pirates and sea bandits attempting to invade the island. However, they were always repelled at the gates of the Furious Crocodile Hall.

As Han Zhao and Shui Jingfeng ascended the steps, they reached the platform outside the hall. Looking at the marks of blades, axes, and arrows on the outer walls, Han Zhao couldn't help but be surprised.

"These marks were intentionally left behind by previous gang leaders to remind the future gang leadership and high-ranking members to remain vigilant and prepared at all times," Shui Jingfeng explained with a smile.

"I see. The previous gang leaders were indeed visionary," Han Zhao chuckled, following Shui Jingfeng as they entered the hall.

Upon entering, they found themselves in a large hall capable of accommodating hundreds of people. On the innermost wall of the hall, there was a relief sculpture of a monstrous ink crocodile, menacing and fierce. Below the relief sculpture was a large golden chair with scales-patterned black beast skin spread over it. It was hard to tell whether it was from a snake or some other mythical creature. Around the central chair, there were five chairs on each side.

Out of these ten chairs, four were already occupied, while the other six remained empty. Four individuals seated there had powerful and surging life energy, all of them were Grandmasters. Further back, dozens of martial artists with powerful life energy, wearing martial attire, were standing on both sides. Most of them were Energy Tempering martial artists. A few had thrice-cultivated life energy and appeared quite young, likely disciples or juniors from high-ranking members within the gang.

The first person seated on the lower left side of the chair closest to the center was a middle-aged man with a sharp nose and a fierce expression. He strongly resembled Gan Luohai, indicating that he was Gan Luoshan, Gan Luohai's older brother. As a Grandmaster, he had reached the pinnacle of the Energy Tempering realm, and indeed, he was formidable.

To reassure Shangguan Yunfei, Han Zhao could only display the strength of a Peak Energy Tempering martial artist at most, even though it was an exaggeration. Otherwise, his strength would arouse suspicion. As for the incarnation, as long as he didn't expose his identity to Gan Luoshan, there was little concern.

"So, this is the new personal disciple of the gang leader?" "He's quite young!" "Entering the Energy Tempering realm at such a young age is indeed impressive." "I heard he's also a beginner alchemist. How is that possible?" "What does that matter? We've always relied on strength in the Furious Crocodile Gang. Being a junior disciple, alchemy skills are of no use!" "That's true. An outsider shouldn't think they can easily rise to the top of our gang!"

The martial artists in the hall whispered among themselves. Most of them neither liked nor particularly opposed Han Zhao. However, the group of martial artists led by the deputy gang leader had a different attitude. Their orders were to show Han Zhao some authority.

Shangguan Yunfei and others had heard some rumors that the gang leader and former gang leader seemed to have suffered severe injuries and were currently doing their best to suppress the injuries. However, they dared not seek a higher-tier alchemist to concoct healing pills, as that would be equivalent to revealing to hostile forces that the Furious Crocodile Gang was at its weakest ever.

Of course, these rumors had yet to be confirmed. The power of a Grandmaster and a Martial Saint was not something most people would dare to test. The Furious Crocodile Gang had always operated this way, with only the Water Master and the Wood Master from the Five Territory Masters being consistently trusted by past gang leaders. Everyone else was considered an outsider.

If the gang leader and former gang leader had indeed been seriously injured, they needed to secure an escape route for themselves in advance. Many times, a powerful fortress crumbled from within when the distribution of benefits failed to satisfy the high-ranking members. Even the mightiest forces could disintegrate under such circumstances. The Furious Crocodile Gang was no exception.

"Everyone, this is the new personal disciple of the gang leader, Brother Han Zhao," Shui Jingfeng introduced Han Zhao to the crowd.

"Brother Han Zhao, this is our deputy gang leader, Gan Luoshan, who ranks ninth on the Blacklist. He's known as 'Limitless Mountain and Sea.' Please pay your respects to the deputy gang leader!" Shui Jingfeng said, bringing Han Zhao in front of Gan Luoshan.

"Greetings to the deputy gang leader," Han Zhao respectfully saluted.

"Hmm," Gan Luoshan replied indifferently.

"Brother Han Zhao, this is Wood Master, Wood Shuangling, one of the Five Territory Masters," Shui Jingfeng continued.

"Greetings, Wood Master," Han Zhao saluted once more. The middle-aged scholar-like man in front of him smiled kindly. Evidently, he was from the same faction as the gang leader.

"Brother Han Zhao, you're too polite," Wood Shuangling smiled and returned the greeting with a respectful bow.

"This is Earth Master, Yan Sheng," Shui Jingfeng went on.

"I was just speaking the truth." Yan Sheng suddenly spoke up, interrupting Shui Jingfeng's words.

Han Zhao turned to look at the source of the voice. He saw a man seated at the end of the ten chairs. The man appeared to be in his thirties and had a rather handsome face. However, what was particularly striking was the disproportionate size of his body compared to his head.

Although he was already sitting on an enlarged chair, his body seemed to overflow from it like a mound of flesh. It was as if his chair was unable to contain his entire bulk.

Han Zhao's pupils contracted. Although the man appeared to be covered in fat, Han Zhao could sense the surging and abundant life energy within him.

"What strong life energy! If I were to use the Qi Absorption Art to drain him dry, I might obtain a substantial amount of life energy," Han Zhao thought to himself.

"Kid, what did you say?!" Gan Luoshan's face darkened, and he widened his eyes. He hadn't expected a junior like Han Zhao, a mere Energy Tempering martial artist, to dare to speak up when a group of Grandmasters were talking.

"Brother Han Zhao, this..." Shui Jingfeng was also taken aback. According to their original plan, the group led by Gan Luoshan should have been the one to challenge Han Zhao. After that, a few Energy Tempering martial artists would test his strength, and finally, Shui Jingfeng and the Wood Master would mediate. That would have been the expected course of events.

Why was this young man not following the script at all?

"Youngster, you're too arrogant! Let me teach you a lesson!" Yan Sheng shouted explosively, slapped his chair forcefully, and his body suddenly soared into the air. His entire body jigg

led as if it were inflated, and then, with a series of loud cracks, his entire body underwent a violent transformation.

In the blink of an eye, his fat body turned into an exaggerated muscular giant. His size nearly reached two meters, and veins bulged all over his body, giving him a fearsome appearance.

Yan Sheng clenched his fists, and suddenly, a black energy flow converged around his fists. An overwhelming force compressed the air, resembling a sudden thunderclap on level ground!

Vajra Body!

Behind Han Zhao, his incarnation, shrouded in a black robe, leaped into the air. He spread his arms wide, and golden True Qi and Qi energy surged on his body, turning him into a Golden Vajra.

Boom!

Yansheng, transformed into a muscular giant, was sent flying backward, crashing heavily into the iron door at the entrance of the grand hall. It left a massive '大' shaped dent on the door.

He then fell to the ground with a thud.

At this moment, Han Zhao lightly brushed the nonexistent dust off his chest with the back of his hand and produced metallic thudding sounds.

"Vajra Indestructible Divine Technique?!"

"Are you Lang Fanyun?!"

The faces of several Grandmasters in the scene changed abruptly.

"Outrageous! You dare to strike in the Furious Crocodile Hall!"

"Kill him! Avenge the deputy gang leader!"

"Let's all attack together!"

At this moment, some of the martial artists hiding in the rear began to incite, and the crowd instantly became agitated.

However, as Han Zhao's incarnation, surrounded by a golden aura, swept his gaze across the room, these people instantly retreated into their shells.

"Shui Jingfeng! What's going on?! Why is Lang Fanyun appearing with this kid?" Gan Luoshan questioned.

"This..." Shui Jingfeng looked bewildered, staring at Han Zhao.

No wonder this kid, when he arrived on the island, said he wasn't afraid of any trouble. There were hardly any martial artists in the Furious Crocodile Gang of his same realm who could defeat him. If Lang Fanyun were to use the Vajra Indestructible Divine Technique, not even a Dual Qi Grandmaster like him would dare claim an easy victory. This kid was truly audacious!

"Lang Brother killed Deputy Gang Leader Gan Luohai in a fair duel. Did that violate the rules of the martial world?" Han Zhao stepped forward.

"You might have misunderstood something. I came to the Furious Crocodile Gang because the gang leader invited me. He wanted to take me as his disciple; it wasn't me seeking him out. Your so-called rules are nothing more than an attempt to harass me, an outsider. In this world, the strong are respected, and the rules of the strong are the only rules that matter!" Han Zhao continued.

As he finished speaking, his incarnation turned around and walked towards Gan Luoshan.

"What are you trying to do?!" Feeling the overwhelming force and Qi energy emanating from Lang Fanyun, Gan Luoshan instinctively took a step back. However, he quickly regained his composure and sternly rebuked, "Outrageous! An outsider like you dares to strike in the Furious Crocodile Hall, clearly not giving the Furious Crocodile Gang any respect."

"It seems you don't dare to make a move," Han Zhao said, walking to Lang Fanyun's side and smiling at Gan Luoshan.

In the previous two simulations, he had gone even further, nearly killing Gan Luoshan. Shangguan Yunfei had only made a symbolic gesture of intervention. Now, what could this really be considered?

He came to the Furious Crocodile Gang to be the big boss, not to endure humiliation. These people really thought too highly of themselves, and he wouldn't indulge them.

Furthermore, for Shangguan Yunfei, this was the most reassuring way to handle things. As for Han Zhao, he couldn't be bothered with pandering to these people.

"You!" Gan Luoshan's face darkened, his eyes looking like they wanted to devour someone. His fists clenched, and his knuckles cracked, but he still didn't attack.

Indeed, he didn't dare.

"I heard that when Lang Fanyun came, he said someone in the gang didn't like him and wanted to have a spar with him. Well, here I am. If anyone has any objections, please come forward and instruct me," Han Zhao said as he walked to the center of the room, bowing respectfully to the crowd.

The dozens of martial artists in the room looked at Han Zhao, flanked by Lang Fanyun, like a demon, and fell into a sudden silence.

"I knew Shui Jingfeng's words were exaggerated," Han Zhao said with a faint smile before continuing, "Brothers, I am officially joining the Furious Crocodile Gang. From now on, we are all one big family. I believe you should also be familiar with the person standing next to me. Since I have joined the Furious Crocodile Gang, he will naturally not be an exception. I hope that we can coexist peacefully and work together for a better future for the Furious Crocodile Gang."

With that, he patted Lang Fanyun on the shoulder and retracted most of the force and Qi energy inside him.

Lang Fanyun's aura dissipated, and he ended the transformation.

The atmosphere in the room became tense. The martial artists who could rank among the top five in the gang, such as the Earth Master Yansheng, were defeated by Lang Fanyun with a single move. The Grandmasters didn't speak, and those below them didn't dare to say anything.

The Wood Master and Water Master watched the scene like they were watching a show, indicating that this might be something the gang leader had secretly arranged.

Thinking about the recent rumors in the gang, nobody dared to take sides randomly to avoid inviting trouble.

"Humph!" Gan Luoshan snorted, turned, and left. The Gold Master and Fire Master, who were on good terms with him, followed suit.

The gang members helped Yansheng, who had fallen at the entrance, up. He looked pale and dispirited, his eyes filled with fear as he watched Lang Fanyun.

"Take the Earth Master downstairs to rest," Shui Jingfeng waved his hand.

"Yes!" The gang members who stayed in the hall rushed to assist Yansheng. About twenty of them surrounded him and left the grand hall together.

"Han Brother, you're truly..."

Shui Jingfeng looked at Han Zhao with a helpless expression.

"Han Brother is indeed quite remarkable." Wood Shuangling smiled and also left the grand hall.

"Han Brother, let me guide you and Lang Brother to settle down first. The gang leader is currently not in the gang, so you will start learning alchemy from the two senior masters in the gang. When the gang leader returns, he will personally guide you in other martial arts," Shui Jingfeng got straight to the point.

"Thank you very much, Water Master," Han Zhao said with a smile on his face.

After Shui Jingfeng settled Han Zhao and Lang Fanyun in their room at the back of the hall, he surprisingly returned to the Furious Crocodile Hall.

He opened a hidden passage in the hall and entered an underground secret chamber.

Inside the secret chamber was the real Shangguan Yunfei.

Seeing Shui Jingfeng, Shangguan Yunfei asked, "How effective is the Vajra Indestructible Divine Technique?"

"It's beyond my expectations. Yansheng, a Grandmaster alchemist, was broken by Lang Fanyun with a single move. Although he didn't use his full strength, I feel that Lang Fanyun was also holding back," Shui Jingfeng replied, his face serious. He added, "If they engage in a prolonged battle instead of a direct confrontation, he should be unable to continue fighting."

"That's true. Even if Lang Fanyun has extraordinary talent, breaking

through to the Grandmaster realm using the Vajra Indestructible Divine Technique's bottleneck won't be easy. When he reaches that stage, even a Triple Qi Grandmaster may not be his match," Shangguan Yunfei said with a heavy tone.

"Even though Lang Brother is talented, breaking through to the Grandmaster realm using the Vajra Indestructible Divine Technique won't be that simple. When the gang leader recovers from his injuries, even if Lang Brother reaches the Grandmaster realm, he won't be a match for him," Shui Jingfeng smiled.

"Han Zhao is indeed a talented individual. He deliberately provoked the high-ranking members of the gang, clearly drawing a line between them and expressing his loyalty to me. It's a pity that if I hadn't been injured, I would have considered taking him as my disciple. He would have been a good choice," Shangguan Yunfei sighed.

"The gang leader's power is at its peak, and there's a long future ahead. There are plenty of geniuses who haven't reached their full potential," Shui Jingfeng said.

"That's true." Shangguan Yunfei nodded. "From now on, I'll rely on you. Until Han Zhao becomes an Intermediate Alchemist, I'll remain in seclusion for the time being. Any requests related to alchemy, you must fulfill them at all costs."

"Understood."