The Master and His Wealthy Fiancée

The trio flew out from the waterfall. Chen Dong quickly caught up to them. Behind him, the agents of the Military Suppression Department were also closing in fast. It was clear that speed was not the trio's strong suit.

Chen Dong could have abandoned them and escaped on his own. Instead, he let out a soft sigh and shouted, "Go! I'll hold them off!"

The three were instantly moved. Even Zhu Ran, who had never liked Chen Dong, found herself looking at him in a new light.

Kang Ming, overcome with emotion, shouted, "If we're going, we go together!"

Chen Dong yelled, "You idiot! I'm faster than all of you. I have a much better chance of getting away!"

Zhu Ran said anxiously, "Senior Brother, don't waste Brother Chen's kindness!"

Kang Ming gritted his teeth. "I, Kang Ming, will never forget Brother Chen's kindness!" With that, he pushed himself to go even faster. He understood the Military Suppression Department better than his junior martial siblings. They might still have a chance to be ransomed by their sect, but as the mastermind behind the plot to poison Patriarch He, the Military Suppression Department would never let him go. All that awaited him was an escort to their headquarters, execution, or endless imprisonment.

Seeing that his pursuers had arrived, Chen Dong stopped in his tracks. A thunder technique flared to life in his hand, and he sent dozens of lightning bolts crashing down on them.

An enraged figure shot forward. His Celestial Spirit flared, and his Celestial Spirit Shielding Qi formed a Gang Curtain in front of the Military Suppression Department agents, blocking Chen Dong's thunder technique.

Chen Dong's eyes lit up. 'This Xu Zong already has the rudiments of an External Manifestation. This move alone is far stronger than the Great Guardian's perfected Celestial Spirit.'

Thanks to the delay, Kang Ming and his companions had vanished from sight. Even so, Chen Dong couldn't leave just yet. If he did, they would eventually be caught.

He pulled the Thunder Spirit Pearl from his robes and circulated his True Qi into it. Borrowing the pearl's power, Chen Dong's thunder technique rose to a new level. In an instant, the sky changed color. Countless bolts of lightning erupted from the Thunder Spirit Pearl, forming a cage-like Thunder Prison that descended upon the Military Suppression Department agents.

The agents were trapped within the Thunder Prison. Xu Zong also halted and asked, "Chen Dong, are you trying to make an enemy of the Military Suppression Department?"

Chen Dong shook his head and replied calmly, "I have no intention of making you my enemy, but some things I must do, whether I like it or not."

Just then, another group of agents from the Military Suppression Department flew out from the waterfall. The one in the lead was none other than Tang Xian. They quickly caught up and flanked Chen Dong.

"Chen Dong! You dared to kill Tang Mincai and break out of prison! I advise you to cease your resistance and surrender at once!" Tang Xian roared.

Xu Zong's brow furrowed when he heard this. 'Chen Dong actually killed a member of the Military Suppression Department? This complicates things.'

'Originally, I wanted to recruit Chen Dong into the Military Suppression Department. A promising talent like him, with no family or sect backing him, is exactly what I'm looking for. The current Military Suppression Department is corroded by the influence of powerful families and sects; it's not as pure as it used to be. It needs an infusion of new blood like Chen Dong. I thought I could use the situation with the Huang and Sun Families as leverage, then extend a sincere invitation, and everything would fall into place. But I never expected he'd kill one of our own. Now I can't possibly extend the offer.'

Chen Dong, for his part, had no idea Xu Zong wanted to recruit him. If he had known, he would have happily joined just for the chance to use the Pill Furnace, no coercion from Xu Zong needed. He wouldn't have been so vicious as to kill Tang Mincai on the spot.

It was all a matter of coincidence. The moment Chen Dong arrived, he was thrown into the high-security ward. His True Qi was suppressed, and he was heavily injured. The Military Suppression Department didn't seem like a safe place at all. Worse, someone was clearly targeting him. Tang Mincai had just happened to be the one to ignite Chen Dong's killing intent.

One could even say this was all part of Tang Xian's plan. If he hadn't sent Xu Zong away, Chen Dong wouldn't have been locked in the high-security ward. He might have even joined the Military Suppression Department on his way there.

Now that Xu Zong knew Chen Dong had killed one of their own, he had even more reason not to let him go.

Facing Chen Dong's Thunder Prison, Xu Zong pulled a pair of gauntlets from his robes and put them on. He circulated his True Qi and condensed his Celestial Spirit, then launched a punch at the Thunder Prison.

A massive fist projection, wreathed in Celestial Spirit, slammed heavily into the Thunder Prison.

BOOM! With a deafening crash, the lightning exploded, and the Thunder Prison shattered.

Now free, Xu Zong's group quickly joined Tang Xian's men to surround Chen Dong. Xu Zong himself led the charge, rushing forward.

Chen Dong gathered his True Qi and was forced to meet the attack. The moment they exchanged blows, he was immediately put on the back foot.

Chen Dong's expression turned grim. Amidst the flurry of attacks, he could tell that the gauntlets on Xu Zong's hands were without a doubt a Divine Artifact. He could only draw on his Grandmaster-level cultivation, while Xu Zong's Celestial Spirit was dense and powerful, and he was further augmented by the Divine Artifact. Every punch was devastatingly strong, forcing Chen Dong to rely almost entirely on his Body Technique to dodge.

Tang Xian watched the fight, seeing Chen Dong's battered state. He grew anxious. 'I absolutely cannot let Chen Dong fall into Xu Zong's hands. If that happens, the Mingxi Grass will be lost to me forever. Besides, Chen Dong looks seriously injured; he can't even use a shred of his External Manifestation power.'

An idea sparked in his mind. 'Instead of trying to pry him from Xu Zong's grasp, it would be better to let him escape and then capture him myself in secret. No one would be the wiser.'

Having made his decision, Tang Xian shot a look at two of his trusted subordinates. His Celestial Spirit flared as he leaped into the fray, aiming what looked like a sneak attack at Chen Dong's back while shouting, "You brat! Pay for the life you took from the Military Suppression Department!"

Hearing the shout, Chen Dong twisted his body to react. Tang Xian's attack looked impressive, but with a single glance, Chen Dong's keen eyes saw that it was all for show—it lacked any real killing intent.

'Even the weakest Celestial Spirit user wouldn't attack like that,' Chen Dong realized. 'This is my chance.' He threw a punch back at Tang Xian.

Struck by Chen Dong's fist, Tang Xian went flying backward!