"It's here!" Amid their conversation, Jiang Chen suddenly sensed something and spoke in a low voice.
His gaze turned toward the horizon.
At his words, the others around him tensed, instinctively following his gaze.
Then—
''BOOM!''
A deafening roar shook the heavens, and in an instant, the cityscape ahead distorted and vanished. What once stood as towering buildings was now nothing but a vast, desolate wasteland.
And from the swirling void, monstrous figures began to emerge.
"Prepare for battle!" Xiong Kuiwu's voice was calm but resolute as he prepared to enter the fray.
But before he could act—
Jiang Chen raised a hand and spoke. "Leave it to me."
With those words, he took a single step forward and vanished.
"What—?!" Xiong Kuiwu barely had time to react before Jiang Chen was gone. His brows furrowed in alarm.
Knowing about the world these creatures had come from, he had some understanding of the creatures they were facing.
Zerg-like fiends, creatures that swarmed like an unrelenting tide. Though individually weak, their true terror lay in their overwhelming numbers and uncanny coordination. A force of this scale would trouble even a veteran martial master of the Third Tier, perhaps even a Fourth Tier warlord.
He never expected that Jiang Chen would just rush down like this.
Which was foolish and reckless!
Or so Xiong Kuiwu thought— until his breath caught in his throat.
''BOOM!''
A cataclysmic detonation erupted ahead. A shockwave of raw, unrestrained energy surged outward, obliterating everything in its path.
Tens of thousands of the monstrous invaders— No matter whether it was a porter, a warrior, a jumper, or any other type of Zerg,— were vaporized before they even had the chance to react.
They were all gone.
The sky trembled, and the ground quaked. Xiong Kuiwu and the others could only watch this scene, stunned into silence.
"Gulp."
"By the gods… he wiped them out in an instant." Chief Li's voice was barely a whisper.
Beside him, Chief Zhang and Xiong Kuiwu stood frozen, their expressions mirroring his disbelief.
This was a Third Tier dimensional incursion, yet it had been obliterated in the blink of an eye.
The rift itself had collapsed— the invasion wholly undone.
The silence stretched. Then—
"Is he… really just Third Tier?" Xiong Kuiwu turned to Chief Zhang, his voice shaking as he asked this question.
"I—" Chief Zhang opened his mouth but had no answer.
'Third Tier? What a joke.'
Not even an ordinary Fourth Tier master could have accomplished such a feat.
"Old Zhang, City Lord… I'm afraid we have really made a fool of ourselves this time." Chief Li suddenly spoke in a bitter tone.
And in that moment, the realization struck them all.
Earlier, they had made their offer— 2 Million Star Coins, a residence in the heart of Jiangnan Capital, and a coveted spot at Jiangnan Martial Academy.
For a newly ascended Third Tier warrior, these rewards were generous, enticing even.
'Especially the 2 Million Star Coins; even a peak Third Tier martial artist would struggle to amass such wealth. A home in the core of Jiangnan Capital? That was something only Fourth Tier warriors could dream of attaining.'
But it was all based on one assumption— that Jiang Chen was merely a Third Tier Powerhouse.
If he was Fourth Tier, or worse, nearing the peak of Fourth Tier…
Then they had offered him far too little.
In the realm of dimensional conquest, the leap from Third Tier to Fourth Tier was monumental. Many warriors never crossed that threshold. Even if Jiang Chen had reached peak Third Tier after just two dimensional battles— which is an extraordinary feat in itself— there was no guarantee he'd reach Fourth Tier.
For most academies, a promising Third Tier warrior was valuable, but not irreplaceable.
But a Fourth Tier warrior, however?
That changed everything.
Because once he breaks through the Fourth Tier, theoretically as long as there won't be any major problems logging into the world, he will most likely be able to reach the Sixth Tier.
This alone would make the great martial academies vie for his allegiance.
If Jiang Chen's true strength became known, it wouldn't just be Jiangnan Martial Academy seeking him out. Even the Grand Xia Academy and the Celestial Capital Institute would offer him far greater rewards— perhaps even a place among the celestial elite.
And Jiang Chen…
Had only just completed his third Log In.
In the world of conquerors, he was still at the beginning.
And his potential?
It was limitless.
At this moment, the three of them exchanged glances, unsure of what to say.
As they remained silent, Jiang Chen had already returned while the shattered battlefield below had completely restored itself, as if time had rewound.
"That should settle it." Jiang Chen spoke, his gaze sweeping over the three of them.
"Um, Jiang Chen, I was too hasty earlier!" Hearing Jiang Chen's words, Chief Zhang took a deep breath and then bowed slightly in apology.
"Thank you for your help this time, Jiang Chen."
"Please disregard what Chief Zhang said earlier. However, as a rising warrior of Shaoxin Base City, these resources will still serve as our support for you. Additionally, I will personally add another one million Star Coins."
Xiong Kuiwu added solemnly.
"Principal, City Lord, you're too kind! This is my homeland. Protecting it is my duty. If anything else happens, don't hesitate to call me!" Jiang Chen smiled as he spoke while shaking his head.
He hadn't minded Chief Zhang's earlier words, and now he cared even less.
"Thank you, Jiang Chen!"
Hearing his words, the three of them finally relaxed, and Xiong Kuiwu quickly spoke again.
"City Lord, you're too polite! If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now. Also, let me know when the evacuation begins." Jiang Chen waved a hand.
"Of course, of course! Jiang Chen, rest assured, I will inform you the moment the evacuation starts!" Xiong Kuiwu nodded hastily.
Jiang Chen smiled, and in the next moment, his figure disappeared in a flash of light.
Once again, his sudden departure left the three men stunned.
They exchanged glances, their expressions growing somber.
"Clear the battlefield!"
After a long pause, Xiong Kuiwu commanded the city defense forces before vanishing as well.
"This time, Old Zhang, you've truly hit the jackpot!" Chief Li sighed.
He hadn't expected that his old rival, who had envied him for years, would now become the object of his own envy.
Jiang Chen's strength had surpassed all expectations.
Jiang Xi had once been considered a rising star, but Jiang Chen was already a legend in the making.
A Fourth Tier warrior, even in a second-tier city, was an exceptional force.
And Jiang Chen was still in his first realm. Once he conquered it, his power would ascend even further.
The three of them exchanged glances, their hearts filled with complex emotions.
…
(To Be Continued…)
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