After the True Heiress Travels Back
Chapter 655: Killing the Chicken to Warn the Monkey

Chapter 655: Chapter 655: Killing the Chicken to Warn the Monkey

"Kneel before me!"

The wanderer, having gained strength, had become inflated with arrogance.

Upon seeing Quan Jinbei, he didn’t hesitate to issue a challenge.

There was a rule within the city, whoever could defeat the Defender of the City would take their place.

That was precisely why Quan Jinbei had been able to become the Defender of the City.

This wanderer was thinking of using the same method to achieve a rise in status.

If he became the Defender of the City, he would be able to take control of most of the city’s resources.

Of course, the price to pay was also enormous, it was not possible for one to profit without giving something in return.

However, even if one had to pay a price, comparatively speaking, it was still quite worthwhile.

Quan Jinbei hadn’t been there for long, and most people still did not understand his strength.

Now, with a wanderer stepping forward first, everyone couldn’t help but be curious.

They wanted to see just how capable Quan Jinbei was.

If Quan Jinbei turned out to be weak, perhaps they too would have a chance.

This city, aside from some of the lower-class citizens, was filled with belligerent individuals.

If they could not defeat someone, they would let it be, but if there was a chance of overcoming their opponent, they naturally would not let it pass.

Quan Jinbei wasn’t worried about this at all.

The cultivation technique he practiced did not rely on Spiritual Energy.

Or rather, it didn’t rely entirely on Spiritual Energy.

As long as there was sunlight, his body could automatically enter a state of cultivation—calling it a sort of "Solar Energy" wouldn’t be an overstatement.

Solar Energy, after all, was somewhat easier than the self-charging cultivation methods these people practiced.

Besides, these people who absorbed Demonic Qi often went insane without mastering the proper techniques.

Even if a few had grasped the techniques, they didn’t know how to cultivate systematically.

Naturally, they couldn’t compare with Quan Jinbei. The wanderer dared to challenge Quan Jinbei only because he had observed the strength of the city’s inhabitants in advance.

In his opinion, most of the city’s people were no match for him.

That was why he dared to challenge Quan Jinbei.

It’s just that he hadn’t expected...

He hadn’t even started fighting before he was intimidated by Quan Jinbei’s imposing presence.

For a moment, the thought of retreating crossed his mind.

The citizens may have been fond of combat, but that didn’t mean a beggar like him possessed the same spirit.

If he had such spirit, he wouldn’t have ended up a beggar.

Quan Jinbei had no idea what was going through the wanderer’s mind. Since the other party had come knocking to issue a challenge, he naturally wouldn’t ignore it.

If he did, he certainly wouldn’t be able to make his people wholeheartedly submit to him.

At this time, making an example out of someone was undoubtedly the best approach.

The wanderer had presented himself on a silver platter, so of course, Quan Jinbei wouldn’t miss this opportunity to establish his authority.

...

The wanderer came confidently, and everyone held high expectations for him.

Hoping to see him defeat Quan Jinbei.

However.

The wanderer only made one move before Quan Jinbei struck him down.

Quan Jinbei held nothing back, and with this single strike, he killed his opponent.

And to some, that seemed a bit too brutal.

"My lord, how could you kill him?"

"Indeed, even if he came to challenge you, you shouldn’t have killed him!"

"Are you going to take your brutality out on us? If you take your anger out on us, what are we supposed to do?"

Hearing the continuous questioning, Quan Jinbei maintained a very stern expression and issued a warning without a hint of softness in his tone, "You can come and challenge me, every Defender of the City has their own rules."

"My rule is, challengers, die!"

Once he finished speaking, everyone was frightened.

Previous Defenders of the City, when accepting challenges, would also occasionally use excessive force.

But there had never been a rule that challengers should die.

Quan Jinbei’s rule seemed somewhat despotic.

To this, Quan Jinbei remained indifferent.

"Since you dare to challenge me, you must already be prepared, and since you are prepared, naturally you won’t worry about losing your lives to me."

Despite his words, there were still people who felt Quan Jinbei’s decision was a bit rash.

According to his rules, who would dare to challenge him?

The answer Quan Jinbei gave was...

"If you dare to challenge me, you should be prepared to be stronger than me, otherwise, even if killed by my hand, it is because your skills are inferior."

Hearing this, the people looked at each other, eventually sighing and not daring to speak further.

The death of a wanderer served as a deterrence.

For three days in a row, no one dared to provoke Quan Jinbei, which bought him some time.

During this time, following the method given by Shi Yaoguang, he set up several Formations within the city.

Without his permission, no one could leave the city.

At first, no one noticed this.

It wasn’t until a merchant tried to leave the city for business and found that despite the city gates being open, he could not get out, that he realized there was a problem.

Upon inquiry and learning that this matter was related to the Defender of the City, he immediately went to confront Quan Jinbei with great indignation.

"Defender, what do you mean by this? The city gates are wide open, yet you won’t let us out. Are you trying to trap us to death in the city?"

Quan Jinbei explained, "That’s not my intention. It’s not safe outside recently, and I don’t want you to go and die."

Hearing this statement, the merchant scoffed, "Defender, sir, even a three-year-old child wouldn’t buy that excuse, let alone deceive me with it."

"Do I need to deceive you?" Quan Jinbei narrowed his eyes and retorted.

The merchant indeed couldn’t think of a reason for Quan Jinbei to lie, but he still felt that Quan Jinbei’s words were alarmist.

"We have not heard of any troubles outside at all. On the contrary, it’s since the Defender, sir, arrived that many orders in our city have changed."

As the merchant spoke, a hint of skepticism showed in his eyes, "I suspect, Defender, sir, that you have a conspiracy."

Quan Jinbei’s lips curled into a smile, "Conspiracy?"

As he spoke, he gathered flames in his hand and threw them at the merchant.

The intense flames came at him head-on; the merchant, paralyzed by fear, stood frozen in place, watching the flames draw nearer without the strength to dodge.

Never before had death loomed so close.

"My lord, please spare my life!"

For the sake of his own life, no matter how humiliating, he had to cry out for mercy.

Quan Jinbei let out a small laugh, it was unclear whether he was mocking or lamenting, "What, do you no longer suspect that I have a conspiracy?"

The merchant wiped the cold sweat off his brow and knelt on the ground, saying, "My lord is upright and honest, it was I who misunderstood you."

Quan Jinbei nodded, "Since you realize it was a misunderstanding, let’s consider this matter finished, but... this is an exception. It does not set a precedent."

The merchant nodded repeatedly, "I understand, I thank you, my lord, for your forgiveness."

What happened at the city gate was witnessed by quite a few people.

Some didn’t dare to object due to Quan Jinbei’s formidable power.

But some were dissatisfied.

Especially those who had figured out their own methods of cultivation.

These people had absorbed Demonic Qi and had unwittingly reached a higher level of cultivation.