This world was called the Star Continent.
The Star Continent was boundless, home to countless races of living beings. They absorbed the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy, using it to constantly temper their bodies in pursuit of a power that could transcend the heavens and the earth.
Here, the strong stood as tall and imposing as great mountains. With a flip of their palm, they could cause mountains to collapse and the earth to split. There were also world-destroying Magical Treasures that struck fear into all creation.
There were also countless Martial Artist powers with strict hierarchies, their influence spreading like a spiderweb to every corner of the world!
Here, Martial Artists and Magical Treasures had clearly defined ranks, and the hierarchies were rigid. The complex web of powers formed by various families, sects, and merchant guilds also had a strict class structure.
They were divided into six Levels: Cyan Wood Level, Profound Iron Level, Spirit Copper Level, Secret Silver Level, Dark Gold Level, and Legendary Level, forming a pyramid of oppressive control.
Among them, the lowest-ranked Cyan Wood Level powers were the most fundamental forces on the Star Continent.
These powers were as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, including families, merchant guilds, and various alliances or gangs.
They could only survive and cultivate by attaching themselves to stronger powers, their dignity trampled on at will. If they didn't cling to more powerful forces, they could be annexed by others overnight, or even massacred and their entire clan wiped out in a single night!
Whether for a power or an individual, on the Star Continent, the strong were revered.
As for the highest-tier Legendary Level powers, they were the stuff of legends. It was said they were the absolute peak existences in the Human Realm of the Star Continent, and very few people could ever come into contact with them.
Not only did they possess the strongest Martial Artists in the Human Realm, the most miraculous Magical Treasure Secret Artifacts, resource-rich territories and mines, and all sorts of mystical Forbidden Secret Realms...
...they also commanded numerous Dark Gold Level, Secret Silver Level, Spirit Copper Level, and other powers!
A single command from them could change the color of the heavens and earth, cause rivers of blood to flow, make an Empire's throne change hands overnight, and turn hundreds of millions of living beings to ash!
...
Celestial Phoenix City was one of the ten great cities in the southern region of the Purple Chu Empire, located just a few hundred miles from the Imperial Capital.
Tayun Academy was situated within the Phoenix Mountain Range, just outside Celestial Phoenix City.
Shen Lang's family, the Shen Family, along with the Xiao Family, the Chu Family, and the Xu Family, were known as the Four Great Noble Families of Celestial Phoenix City.
But Shen Lang didn't actually belong here.
Ten years ago, he had transmigrated from a place called Earth, taking over the body of a good-for-nothing with a Celestial Vein Sacred Body from a Great Noble Family. He was later hunted by his two older brothers, which was how he ended up in this state, eventually being adopted...
As the War Emperor, Shen Lang's cultivation had been formidable and he had been free-spirited enough—so free-spirited that he'd self-destructed without even finishing a sentence. It seemed he had a screw loose.
But the Shen Lang of today was different. Before transmigration, he had experienced the ups and downs of business, weathering countless setbacks and the fickleness of human nature. Not long after transmigrating, he was even hunted down by his own brothers...
After settling down in Celestial Phoenix City, he had endured the ridicule and scorn of countless people for ten years. Now, having obtained the War Emperor's memories, his willpower was as firm as a rock, far beyond that of any ordinary person.
Moreover, his mind was meticulous and demonically cunning; it was just that no one had ever realized it.
Just as Shen Lang was still sorting through his memories, his two best friends, one fat and one skinny, came running over in a panic.
"We're screwed! I have a bad feeling about this... Young Master Lang, what are you still doing spacing out here? I heard you got out. That Shen Daofeng is sending people everywhere to find you! Run!" one of his best friends, the fatty Lin Feng, shouted as he ran desperately toward him, dripping with sweat.
His other best friend, the tall and skinny Su Hen, couldn't even run as fast as the fatty. Trailing behind, he also yelled, "Ah, Young Master Lang, get down from there, quick! I heard even the Little Witch Xue Dangdang is on her way to the academy. It'll be a disaster if she finds you! Hide now, think later!"
Shen Lang paused, slightly stunned. "It makes sense for that bastard Shen Daofeng to be looking for me, but what would Dingdang want? I already gave her more than half of my living expenses this month as protection money. She's still after me? Is she trying to kill me? Goddammit! You two, listen up. From this day forward, if anyone's collecting protection money, it's going to be us collecting it from others! Especially from those who took it from us before. They're all going to pay it back with interest! Otherwise, I'll see to it they lose their limbs!"
"Holy crap, is Young Master Lang still half-asleep? Or did he say that backward?" Lin Feng lifted his hand and slapped Su Hen.
Su Hen tried to dodge but failed. He hopped in anger. "You damn crook! Young Master Lang is the one dreaming, not me! What the hell are you hitting me for?!"
"Young Master Lang, you probably don't even know, do you? You mumbled Xue Dangdang's name many times in your sleep today. And during another class this morning, you..." Lin Feng's face turned red, and he trailed off.
Shen Lang was taken aback. "What about me? What's the big deal about calling out her name a couple of times in my sleep?"
With a mournful look, Su Hen said, "If you had just called her name, there wouldn't be a problem. The key is that you said this: 'Dingdang, take off... your clothes!'"
"Holy shit! I think I do remember something like that... The problem is, I was dreaming she was injured, and I was bandaging her wounds!" Shen Lang exclaimed, startled.
"It's no use explaining it to us! She won't listen even if you explain it to her like that. Those bastards have already spread it all over the place. So, just run..." Lin Feng said, a hint of panic in his voice.
"Well, well, are the three great wastes having a little gathering here again? Did my ears deceive me just now? From a distance, it sounded like I heard my dear, useless cousin say he's going to start collecting protection money. And that he's going to make someone lose their limbs? Can you tell me who you plan on collecting from?"
A voice that sounded like a palace eunuch's rang out.
Then, Shen Daofeng, who was a size larger than even Lin Feng, emerged from behind a large rock with a big group of people.
"Shen Daofeng? Perfect timing. I was just looking for you," Shen Lang said nonchalantly as he hopped down from the green rock.
"Young Master Lang, stop talking and run! This bastard followed us!" Su Hen said with a pained expression. "This guy is at the Power Martial Realm Ninth Heaven! He's just one step away from advancing to the Qi Martial Realm. There's no way you can beat him! A wise man knows when to retreat!"
"Tsk, tsk. Look at the people around you. It's not about who's the most pathetic, just who's more pathetic. You're all textbook examples of failure. While you may not have any experience with success, you sure provide plenty of lessons in failure... Ever since Chu Qingcheng and your sister left for the Imperial Capital, you've had to rely on Xue Dangdang for protection. How pitiful. It's bad enough being a famous piece of trash, but to hide behind a woman's back... I'm blushing for you..."
Shen Daofeng was incredibly smug. In any case, Shen Lang was a trapped turtle in a jar with no way to escape, so he was in no hurry.
"But what kind of wind blew you over today? It seems to have blown you so hard you can't tell north from south, daring to run out at a time like this. The family Elders have given me the authority. As long as you dare to skip class, I can cripple you! Jye jye jye..."
With a fat head and big ears, a short and stout body, and narrow eyes, Shen Daofeng approached Shen Lang with an arrogant and conceited expression, strutting haughtily.
The clean white robe was stretched particularly tight across his short, stout frame, making him look somewhat comical. But what drew the most attention was the grayish-green Sumeru Ring on his finger.
The ring emitted a faint, precious glow, drawing envious glances from the surrounding crowd from time to time.
A Sumeru Ring was no ordinary item. It was a treasure that everyone in this world dreamed of possessing. It was several levels higher than a common Storage Pouch, an extremely rare item, and a symbol of status.
Shen Lang smiled, a brilliant smile.
He leaned against a giant boulder with his arms crossed and said leisurely, "Idiot. If you want to fight, just come at me. Stop wasting time with so much nonsense. Was it that bastard Xu Qing who tipped you off? Please, try using your brain for once! The Xu Family and the Shen Family have always been at odds, fighting and killing each other for who knows how many years. You just do whatever he tells you to do? Are you a pig?"
"Bastard! How dare you call the Second Young Master an idiot? Are you looking to die?!"
"This trash must have a death wish! Cripple him!"
The group of lackeys around Shen Daofeng began to shout, posturing as if they were about to attack.
Although Lin Feng and Su Hen were afraid, they clenched their fists and stood protectively in front of Shen Lang.
Sharing the benefits and taking the beatings together—this had always been their way.
Speaking of which, they had taken quite a few beatings for Shen Lang over the past ten years.
"Heh heh heh... running your mouth is useless. Xue Dangdang didn't come to the academy today, so no one can protect you. Nothing you say will help. You bastard who came from who-knows-where... you actually made Second Uncle fall out with the Elder Council and come to blows with my father over you. Now Second Uncle is bedridden with a serious illness and has become a cripple just like you. He even gave up his position as Clan Leader. Let's see how you'll survive now!"
Shen Daofeng laughed sinisterly as he spoke, closing in on Shen Lang step by step.
Hearing the word "bastard," Shen Lang's expression barely changed. But when he heard the latter part of the taunt—that his father had also become a cripple—an astonishing aura erupted from his body.
Before Lin Feng and Su Hen could even react, a figure flashed past, and Shen Lang had already kicked Shen Daofeng squarely in the chest.
BANG! Powerful Qi radiated outwards...