Chapter 151: First Entry into Poison Dragon Town

Poison Dragon Town was situated on the northern outskirts of the renowned Demonic Forest within the Nanyang Prefecture region. Though the town was not particularly large, its unique geographical location made it a melting pot of humanity, frequented by numerous mercenaries and hunters.

Because of its extreme lawlessness, ordinary people rarely dared to venture here, and those lacking in strength seldom dared to come alone. The rogue cultivators who arrived here were fundamentally martial artists who had reached at least the Great Accomplishment realm of Blood Energy, if not the peak and above.

Situated at the edge of the Demonic Forest in the south-central part of Nanyang Prefecture, this town served as a mandatory transit point along the route from Royang Town to the Nanyang Prefecture capital.

"Poison Dragon Town?" One day, a youth dressed in black arrived outside the town gates. With a refined and youthful expression, he gazed at the three large characters reading "Poison Dragon Town" hanging above the portal.

Noticing the complete absence of garrison troops at the gates, with only a continuous stream of pedestrians passing through, a look of surprise appeared on the youth's face.

"It seems Poison Dragon Town is truly as chaotic as the rumors suggest, lacking even a garrison to maintain order." The black-robed youth understood that the local factions of Poison Dragon Town had not failed to dispatch guards to the gates out of choice, but rather out of fear.

"Kid, let me tell you, not far north of this Poison Dragon Town lies the Barren Desert. Without a map, it is very easy to lose your direction out there. I still suggest you join a mercenary group or some other team here in Poison Dragon Town. With them leading the way, crossing this desert will be a breeze."

Deep within the black-robed youth's mind, an aged and mysterious voice sounded, causing him to nod slightly and murmur, "Then let's go in. I shall take this opportunity to see what kind of place this Poison Dragon Town really is."

With those words, the black-robed youth did not look back, walking straight into the inner town of Poison Dragon Town.

...

"Mister, please spare some silver for a bite to eat!" At the entrance of Poison Dragon Town's famous Guest Attraction Tavern, an old beggar dressed in tattered rags with hair resembling wild brushwood caught sight of a few people approaching. He hurriedly dragged his emaciated body forward and begged in a low voice.

"Damn it, what rotten luck! You old beggar, actually begging for money from your lord? Scram, scram! Wherever you came from, get lost back there and don't be an eyesore here."

The leader of the group was a fierce-looking middle-aged brawler with a scar across his face. A look of disgust flashed across his eyes upon seeing the old beggar, and instead of showing charity, he viciously delivered a kick to the old man.

This fellow was clearly an expert, ruthless and merciless, sending the old beggar flying with a mouthful of blood as he collapsed onto the ground.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" The old beggar hastily apologized, no longer daring to ask for money as he dragged his shattered and weak body, trying to stand up and escape from these menacing figures.

However, having gone without sufficient food for days, weakened by old age, and now suffering a blow from the middle-aged brawler, he lost his balance and crashed to the ground once more, unable to get back up for a moment.

"That old beggar really is pitiful. Of all people to beg from, he had to cross paths with Wild Wolf, this notorious bully. Offending that fellow means getting stripped of a layer of skin even if you survive."

"Ain't that the truth. He can only blame himself for lacking discernment; very few people dare to meddle in Wild Wolf's affairs."

Passing martial artists nearby murmured in low voices. None of them stepped forward to stop the act; instead, the looks they cast at the scarred middle-aged brawler carried a hint of fear.

In Poison Dragon Town, chaos reigned supreme. Brawls and deaths occurred frequently, completely devoid of order—unless one was within the territorial jurisdiction of certain local factions where such behavior was curbed. On the public streets, however, no one would stand up for an old beggar.

After all, Wild Wolf himself possessed considerable strength as an Initial-stage Yuan Realm expert, coupled with a ruthlessness that deterred almost anyone from crossing him.

"You old immortal, are you treating your lord's words as wind passing the ear? Playing dead in front of me, are you?" Wild Wolf cursed boisterously upon seeing the old beggar's half-dead state. The cronies behind him chuckled merrily, entirely devoid of any sympathy.

"Don't say I didn't give you a chance. I'll count to three. If you don't crawl away yourself, I'll move you myself." Wild Wolf looked down at the old beggar with a playful, mocking smile.

"One!"

"Yes, yes!" The old beggar responded repeatedly, not daring to delay in the slightest. His entire body ached intensely, leaving him completely devoid of the strength to stand. He could only rely on his elbows to drag himself across the ground, though his progress was painfully slow.

"Two!"

"Three!" Wild Wolf's counting was rapid, and by the time he finished, the old beggar had only managed to drag half his body away, making it abundantly clear that the former had no intention of sparing the pitiful old man.

"Since you refuse to move yourself, I'll lend you a hand to save you from so much misery." A cruel smile spread across Wild Wolf's face. With a wicked laugh, he raised his right foot once more and viciously kicked toward the old beggar.

Many bystanders averted their eyes, knowing full well in their hearts that the old beggar's chances were grim. Though Wild Wolf's kick carried no vital energy, he was nonetheless a Yuan Realm expert whose physical strength was sufficient to crack stone and shatter earth. To say nothing of a frail, emaciated old man, even a robust adult would vomit blood from such a blow.

"Stop right there!"

Just as Wild Wolf's foot was about to descend, a trace of despair surfaced on the old beggar's face as he closed his aged eyes. Suddenly, however, he felt a gentle breeze brush across his face, yet no pain struck his body. Instead, a miserable shriek rang in his ears.

He opened his eyes in bewilderment to find a refined youth in black standing protectively before him. Beneath the youth's boot was Wild Wolf's descending right foot, and right beneath the sole, the ground had already begun to fracture slightly. This suddenly appeared youth was none other than Ye Cheng, who happened to be passing by.

"Who is this youth? Such incredible speed!"

"I have no idea. I only saw a black shadow streak past, and he had already pinned Wild Wolf's striking foot beneath his sole. Look at how the ground has cracked—this youth's strength is formidable," remarked a female martial artist.

"So what if his strength is formidable? Look at his age—he's barely in his teens, wet behind the ears. How could he possibly be a match for Wild Wolf? Keep in mind that Wild Wolf was merely throwing a casual kick just now, which is why he blocked it so easily," countered a young male companion beside the woman, eyeing Ye Cheng with a look that deemed him courting death.

"You little punk, release my foot!" With his sole pinned heavily to the ground, Wild Wolf felt a sharp, piercing pain radiating from his foot and bellowed angrily.

"Where did a greenhorn like you come from, daring to meddle in my boss's business? See how I teach you a lesson!" roared one of Wild Wolf's subordinates standing at the rear, viciously hurling a punch straight toward Ye Cheng.