But that Grand Annual Deity...
Everyone felt torn, but seeing Chen Feihu in the hall, couldn't help but try to persuade him.
"It's true, but shouldn't our Iron Palm Gang lead this charge?"
"Exactly, the Beggar Gang is the largest gang under heaven; they should logically and rightfully take the lead."
"Are they afraid of the Martial Madman, or do they just not want to ruin their reputation as the top gang under heaven?"
"We may not be able to provoke him, but can't we avoid him? Let's leave the Central Plains to dodge the limelight and let the Beggar Gang and Shaolin fight him. We'll return once the situation is resolved."
With all the talk, everyone's fear was evident.
Yet, Chen Feihu paid no mind, stood up, and said sternly, "Leaving one's homeland makes one vulnerable. Where can we go? Moreover, if we avoid him temporarily, we can't avoid him forever. If we don't eliminate him before he grows stronger, we'll be on the run for the rest of our lives."
"Gang Leader..."
"My decision is made, no need to discuss further!"
The crowd still wanted to speak but was suppressed by Chen Feihu, who led Zhou Shuwen to the back of the hall, leaving everyone stunned.
The night passed like this.
By noon the next day, at the training grounds, besides members of the Iron Palm Gang, there were representatives from many underworld factions, and over a hundred women tied to wooden posts at the center.
Surrounding the grounds, Iron Palm Gang members and disciples from various factions formed an encirclement, waiting for the main figure to arrive.
Chen Feihu sat grandly in the center of the grounds, checked the time, glanced down the mountain, and, seeing no movement, stood up, gathered True Qi in his dantian, and shouted loudly.
"Martial Madman, the hour has come. If you won't show yourself, don't blame my Iron Palm Gang for being ruthless!"
True Qi surged, the dantian voiced the shout, like the roar of tigers and leopards, echoing through the five peaks of Iron Palm.
Yet there was still no response, Chen Feihu's eyes turned fierce, and he wasted no more words, directly ordering.
"Do it!"
With the command, the hundred Iron Palm Gang members hesitated slightly but still raised their Ghost Head Sabers.
Just then...
"Gang, Gang Leader!"
A member of the Iron Palm Gang rushed forward, reporting in a panic, "He, he, he is here!"
"Hmm!?"
Chen Feihu's eyes sharpened, suddenly rising to look down the mountain.
Not just him, everyone turned their gaze collectively, only to see a figure step by step, coming straight up the stone steps of the mountain to the middle peak of Iron Palm.
"It's him?"
"Martial Madman?"
"Coming alone?"
Everyone's eyes grew tense, uncertain, and whispers abounded.
On the mountain, it was the same as below, where the man walked with the stride of a dragon and step of a tiger, seeming to carry evil with him, causing the Iron Palm Gang members and faction disciples to retreat in dread, allowing him to reach the summit.
It was only here that his face was clear, still as youthful as years ago, clad in fluttering black robes, eyes shooting cold stars, brows gathered with killing intent, making one feel fear.
"This...!"
Seeing this, everyone was shocked, and Chen Feihu involuntarily stepped back.
Is this the Martial Madman of twenty years ago?
Why does he still appear as a young man, as if the twenty years and more have left no mark on him?
This appearance of agelessness...
Chen Feihu felt chills, and others felt even more terrified, unsure of how to respond.
The newcomer paid no attention, carrying a bundle, stepped into the training ground, and then coldly spoke, "Still not revealing yourselves?"
"Boom boom boom!"
At the sound, a series of explosions erupted, with dozens of wooden boxes placed around the grounds bursting simultaneously, revealing figures that landed in a circle, showing dozens of accomplished True Qi masters.
Then sounds of the sky breaking erupted, with figures soaring from the mountains, seeming to step through the air, falling into the field in moments.
"This is..."
"Gang Qi Grandmasters?"
The crowd focused their eyes and saw the entrants were all hiding their identities, with conical hats or masked faces, impossible to tell who they were, only revealing Gang Qi, showcasing incredible prowess.
"Madman, today is the day you will be executed!"
A person with disheveled white hair and a masked face, identity unknown, but with eyes full of killing intent, threatening the newcomer fiercely.
Yet the newcomer dismissed this, simply saying, "Release them!"
"Hmm!?"
This stance left everyone eyeing each other, unsure how to respond.
Eventually, a Raincoat Guest with a conical hat turned to the white-haired masked one: "Let them go!"
The white-haired masked one didn't reply, just turned a cold gaze to Chen Feihu in the rear.
Chen Feihu's eyes tightened, understanding, about to act.
Unexpectedly...
The newcomer shook the bundle, and black shadows fanned out, rolling on the ground to reveal dozens of human heads.
"This...!?"
The crowd instantly looked and roared in shock and anger.
"Huang'er?"
"Third Brother?"
"Cang Ming!"
Seeing those heads, many masked individuals cried out in anguish, eyeing them fiercely.
The white-haired masked one was among them, eyes red as he stared at a head, then suddenly lifted his gaze: "You dare kill my son?!"
"Not just him!"
The newcomer replied coldly, "If you don't release them, your entire family of twenty-eight will be joining Lei Sanjue in death."
"Ah!!!"
The cold words, threatening as if a sword stabbed the heart, the white-haired masked one roared, unmatched Gang Qi shattering his face covering, revealing a furious, beast-like face.
"This...!?"
"Lei Sanjue?"
"Beggar Gang's Three Extremes Divine Beggar?"
"It's actually him?"
Seeing him reveal himself, those around were shocked.
Ignoring it, he directly turned to Chen Feihu, grinding the words through clenched teeth: "Release them!!"
Hearing this, Chen Feihu awoke, hurriedly ordering his members to release the captives.
Only then did Lei Sanjue turn back, eyes fixed on Shen Hex, longing to devour him alive.
Not only him but dozens of Gang Qi Grandmasters, many with similar expressions, others were simply silent.
The situation was tense and eerie, most people unsure how to act, only Iron Palm Gang disciples moved swiftly, soon releasing the more than hundred women tied to wooden posts.
"Take them down the mountain!"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
No need for Lei Sanjue to repeat the order, the Iron Palm Gang disciples quickly nodded, supporting the women as they headed down the mountain.
Not just the Iron Palm Gang, the other factions saw no advantage and scattered like birds and beasts, soon disappearing more than half, leaving only the dozen Gang Qi Grandmasters and the True Qi masters.
Shen Hex gazed at them: "Still hiding yourselves?"
"..."
"..."
"..."
Hearing this, everyone remained silent, unsure how to respond.
"Amitabha Buddha!"
Eventually, the Buddhist chant rose, a Gang Qi Grandmaster removed his hat, revealing a head adorned with monk's scars and a benevolent face, a kind-hearted old monk: "Truly, sir, you are powerful beyond measure!"
"Shaolin Fang Zheng!"
Shen Hex eyed him coldly: "Fake Buddhist and evil Dao, truly hiding filth and dirt!"
"Amitabha Buddha!"
Despite the rebuke, Fang Zheng was unmoved, calmly joining his hands: "Buddha has Bodhisattvas with gentle brows, as well as Vajras with angry eyes. Sir disrupts the Jianghu, causing chaos in the martial world, seemingly doing good by seeking justice, but becoming a demon, only causing the world turmoil and suffering. I, a poor monk, have no choice but to take up arms. If you repent and cease your evil chaos, I offer my life to repay this karmic debt!"
"Ha!"
Hearing this, Shen Hex laughed out loud: "Pointing deer to horse, twisting black and white, it's because of people like you that this world is so filthy, deserving to be cleansed, deserving indeed!"
With that, he clenched his fist, speaking no more.
"All together now!"