Level Up in Martial World

"Why do you all seem so tense suddenly? Are you afraid that I'm an assassin?" Lu Zhen tilted his head with a chuckle.

"Who are you?" asked the youth in the white robe, his eyes narrowing as he studied Lu Zhen.

"I am Lu Zhen, here to kill every one of you."

He chuckled again, as a sword slowly materialised in front of his neck, its blade gleaming in the lantern's light.

Instantly, five people closed in around Lu Zhen, each armed with a different weapon, ready for battle.

But Lu Zhen remained calm, sitting comfortably in his chair without the slightest hint of worry.

"Raise your hands or die," demanded the one holding his sword at Lu Zhen's throat, his tone merciless.

"Why should I raise my hands?" Lu Zhen asked, shaking his head and remaining seated without moving an inch.

"You…" The tip of the sword inched ever closer to Lu Zhen's neck, until a voice suddenly broke the silence.

"Wait."

The youth in the white robe spoke up.

"Yes, young master." The guard immediately obeyed, pulling back his sword. His free hand, however, trembled slightly.

"You got lucky this time," Lu Zhen remarked, casting a meaningful glance at the guard.

The young master in the white robe then stood, bowing respectfully toward Lu Zhen. "May I ask why such an esteemed senior has chosen to visit us?"

"I'm not senior," Lu Zhen replied, glancing around. "Wasn't I invited by you all?"

He turned his gaze toward Qian Feng, genuine confusion in his eyes.

Qian Feng, the one who had extended the invitation, could only give a bitter smile. "Although I did invite you, I didn't expect you to be such a powerful figure. Is he... a First-stage Martial Artist?"

"So you really did come because of Qian Feng's invitation?" the youth in white asked with narrowed eyes.

"Yes." Lu Zhen nodded, his expression sincere.

"Qian Feng…"

"Young Master Zhou Cai, Lu Zhen is... a friend of mine," Qian Feng said smoothly.

"Yep." Lu Zhen stood up and walked over to Qian Feng, giving him a friendly pat on the shoulder. "We're friends."

"Hahaha, good, good! I didn't expect a senior to be friends with Qian Feng. My apologies," Zhou Cai said with a smile.

"Of course," Lu Zhen replied with a smile of his own as he returned to his seat.

The gathering resumed, with plates of food served by graceful attendants. Yet the atmosphere remained somewhat tense, with several lingering gazes directed toward Lu Zhen's seat.

"Hmm, these young ones are quite interesting," Lu Zhen thought as he sipped his wine, "I wonder if Fe Cai might be here as well."

Fe Cai was the one who had narrowly escaped Lu Zhen's grasp, aided by an unknown expert. Like Lu Zhen, Fe Cai was also a bloodline martial artist, resembling a two-legged wolf in his fighting style.

"After all that searching, he wasn't anywhere in my city," Lu Zhen mused. "That unknown expert must have taken him beyond the city's borders. If I meet that brat again, should I kill him?"

He turned his gaze back to Zhou Cai, considering him thoughtfully.

"This guy is intriguing as well," Lu Zhen chuckled softly, then noticed a young woman in yellow robes eagerly craning her neck to catch a glimpse of him, her eyes bright with excitement.

As Lu Zhen turned toward her, her excitement only grew.

"Mister, mister!" she called out.

"What is it?" Lu Zhen asked with a hint of curiosity.

"Why have you come here?" she asked, her tone filled with excitement.

"I came here for the Alchemist competition," Lu Zhen replied smoothly, effortlessly masking his intentions with a casual lie—though it wasn't entirely untrue, as he did have some interest in the competition.

"Are you also an Alchemist?" she asked, her excitement growing.

"Who knows," Lu Zhen replied with a shrug, taking a slow sip of his drink.

In truth, the wine couldn't affect him. His powerful Devour skill allowed his body to digest food so efficiently that only pure energy remained. He could even bite through metal, absorbing it as nourishment if he wished.

"Mister Lu Zhen," the woman in yellow called again.

"What is it?" he asked, his gaze drifting away from her to the distant, cold glow of the moon.

"Would you consider joining us in the Alchemist competition? We'd be willing to hire you on a contract, if you're interested," she suggested, her tone hopeful.

Lu Zhen paused, turning toward her with a surprised expression. "Hire me?"

"Yes," she replied eagerly. "If you join us, we'll provide resources for your alchemical pursuits—and even more, as long as you represent our family in the tournament."

The people nearby looked at her, astonishment clear on their faces.

"Interesting proposal," Lu Zhen mused. After a moment's thought, he nodded. "Alright."

The others around him stood in stunned silence. Even the woman in white robes was taken aback, her eyes widening as she stared at Lu Zhen.

"Why are you all so surprised?" Lu Zhen chuckled.

"The Alchemy competition is tomorrow, correct? Then may I stay at your residence while I prepare?"

Lu Zhen asked politely, removing his outer robe to reveal his striking appearance: a handsome face framed by long hair, half golden and half black, with eyes of an unusual blend—crimson and gold. His flawless skin and the contours of his muscular build showed faintly through the contours of his clothes.

"Ye… yes," she stammered.

"What's your name?"

"Yin Li."

"Good, then Yin Li, lead the way," Lu Zhen said with a smile, standing up and folding his arms behind his back.

"Okay." Yin Li took a moment, her eyes full of curiosity as she looked at him, then turned to lead him, her steps watched intently by everyone around.

With a clap of his hands, Zhou Cai gathered the group's attention.

"Let's continue with the festivities, shall we?"

The atmosphere brightened as everyone immersed themselves in drinks and laughter, surrounded by beautiful companions.

Meanwhile, Lu Zhen walked quietly behind the now-blushing Yin Li, his gaze curious. She was bold when speaking earlier, but now her demeanour had softened, even becoming a bit timid in his presence—an amusing shift, he thought.

Their walk eventually led them to a large, grand residence with a sign at the entrance reading "Golden Merchant Residence."

"Hm?" Lu Zhen raised an eyebrow in surprise as he noticed a familiar figure, the familiar milf standing at the top of the residence, her eyes fixed intently on him.