When I first entered high school, the system insisted that I was destined to be an emperor in my lat

"Huff... huff..."

Jiang Feng lay on his back on the ground, his chest heaving as he gasped for breath.

Defeating a fourth-grade grandmaster, who was of a higher level, almost drained all of his blood and energy, leaving him feeling extremely painful and swollen in his meridians even when he moved a finger.

It took several minutes before I could barely regain some strength.

"System, open the warehouse."

A flash of light appeared on the storage ring on his finger, and a bottle of scarlet blood-activating potion appeared in his hand.

Jiang Feng bit open the bottle stopper and tilted his head back to gulp it down.

As the medicine took effect in his body, his parched meridians were once again filled with warmth.

"Damn it!"

"This Emperor-level fist technique is too taxing on me."

"Given my current physical condition, it will probably take several days to recover."

He struggled to his feet, supporting himself on the ground, and slowly walked to the fallen assassin.

Under the dim streetlights, Jiang Feng frowned.

The assassin in front of me was handsome and looked to be no more than twenty years old.

But just now, during our fight, this guy's voice sounded very weathered.

"His voice sounds like that of a man over fifty, how can he be so young?"

"Forget it, let's just find someone to handle it."

Jiang Feng casually took out his phone and dialed Gao Qiang's number.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the elevated ring road...

A black car sped through the night.

Gao Qiang looked out the window at the receding night view, his face beaming with undisguised joy.

"You've chosen the right person to follow!"

"A fourth-tier treasure fish medicinal cuisine recipe! With this, we could absolutely devour the Flying Fish Gang's market!"

"Given time, even the Azure Dragon Society will be no match for us!"

Just as he was envisioning his grand ambitions, his phone suddenly rang.

"Mr. Jiang?"

Gao Qiang accepted the letter respectfully.

The next second, his expression changed drastically: "What?! Mr. Jiang, you've been attacked?!"

"Drive faster!"

"Let's go to Yujingyuan residential area!"

After hanging up the phone, he yelled at the driver.

A dozen minutes later, outside the Yujingyuan residential area.

With a screeching sound of brakes, Gao Qiang rushed out of the car before it had even come to a complete stop.

When he saw that Jiang Feng was injured but otherwise unharmed, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"It seems that the assassin was a low-level scoundrel."

Gao Qiang wiped away his cold sweat as he quickly walked forward.

However, when he saw the figure lying on the ground, seemingly dead, he was struck dumb and froze on the spot.

"Pharaoh...?!"

Fourth-rank Grandmaster!

The one who attacked Jiang Feng was actually a fourth-grade Grandmaster!

And not only was Jiang Feng unharmed, he even managed to kill his opponent?!

"Qiangzi, do you know him?"

Jiang Feng turned his head and asked.

Gao Qiang swallowed hard, and when he looked at Jiang Feng again, the awe in his eyes was so intense that it even carried a hint of fear.

"Mr. Jiang... if I'm not mistaken, he is the Pharaoh!"

"Back in Linchuan City, Pharaoh was also a great man."

"Later, in order to seek a breakthrough, he went to the provincial capital."

At this point, Gao Qiang sighed: "But a few years ago, I don't know what happened to Pharaoh in the provincial capital. He was seriously injured and fled back to Linchuan with a little boy by his side."

"Since then, he has lived in seclusion deep in the mountains, rarely showing his face. I truly never expected him to attack you!"

"Seriously injured?"

Jiang Feng seemed lost in thought.

No wonder he felt something was off during their fight.

Although the opponent's cultivation level had reached the fourth rank, his true energy circulation was sluggish.

Moreover, at the last moment, the opponent did not use a killing move, seemingly not intending to take his life.

Otherwise, even if I, a third-rank martial artist, used an Emperor-level fist technique, I wouldn't have been able to defeat him so easily.

Jiang Feng didn't say anything, but walked straight forward and tore open the Pharaoh's clothes.

"hiss!"

Upon seeing the scene before him, Gao Qiang gasped in shock.

On the Pharaoh's abdomen was a purple scorpion mark the size of a fist.

The mark was as if it were alive, with purplish-black poisonous gas spreading outwards along the blood vessels, clearly indicating that the toxin had penetrated deep into the bone marrow.

"The Purple Scorpion Sect!"

"This is the Purple Scorpion Sect's unique and insidious martial art, the Purple Scorpion Poison Palm!"

"If combined with sinister and evil techniques, the person struck by the palm will have their meridians corroded by a deadly poison, leaving severe hidden injuries!"

"The Purple Scorpion Sect?"

Jiang Feng raised an eyebrow.

"Mr. Jiang, you may not be very familiar with the power dynamics in the provincial capital."

Gao Qiang swallowed hard and quickly explained, "Since the world changed and black fog spread, the main transportation routes between provinces have been cut off. In that dog-eat-dog world, various forces have risen rapidly."

He paused, his tone carrying a deep sense of apprehension: "This Purple Scorpion Sect is a second-rate force in the provincial capital."

"It's said that their sect leader is a sixth-grade Nirvana Realm expert!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Feng's pupils contracted slightly.

Sixth Grade Nirvana Realm?

A powerhouse of this caliber could roam freely in Linchuan City, yet in the provincial capital, they're only considered a second-rate force?!

How terrifying must a first-rate power be?

Looking at the unconscious Pharaoh on the ground, Gao Qiang sighed, "No wonder Pharaoh fled back from the provincial capital like a stray dog ​​back then. It turns out he offended the Purple Scorpion Sect."

"Over the years, he has probably exhausted all his true energy in order to suppress the purple scorpion venom in his body."

"Judging from the extent of the poison's spread, his days are probably numbered."

Jiang Feng stared at Pharaoh's pale face, remained silent for a moment, and then coldly said, "Take him to Qiangsheng Group, find a secluded basement to lock him up first, spare his life, I have a use for him."

Upon hearing this, Gao Qiang paused for a moment, then hesitated and said, "Mr. Jiang, you...you're planning to subdue this person? But as far as I know, Pharaoh is naturally unruly, straightforward, and would rather die than submit."

"It's one thing to defeat him, but it's probably unlikely that you'll make him bow down and submit."

Jiang Feng did not answer, but slowly straightened up.

Just now, the system issued a new task.

[System notification: Main quest has been released!]

[Mission Background: After serving in the army in the Northern Territory, the Emperor went to the provincial capital for training in his previous life, but was unfortunately targeted by the Purple Scorpion Sect. The Purple Scorpion Sect is skilled in making poison and uses living people to raise poisonous scorpions.]

The sect is filled with alluring women who specialize in seducing and hunting down talented individuals from all walks of life, using them as consumables.

Although the Great Emperor, being cautious by nature, escaped this calamity, he was listed as a kill target by the Purple Scorpion Sect and forced to flee for three years, greatly delaying his cultivation.

Main Quest: Eradicate the Purple Scorpion Clan!

[Mission Duration: 180 days]

[Quest Reward: Rank 6 Nirvana Sword]

At the bottom of the system panel, another side quest popped up.

Side Quest: Rescue the Boy with Daoist Bones, the little boy brought back by the Pharaoh years ago. He was born with Daoist bones and his cultivation talent is unparalleled throughout history!

This boy was captured by the Purple Scorpion Sect and was refined into a human pill while still alive, which helped the sect leader of the Purple Scorpion Sect break through to the seventh rank, causing great trouble for the Great Emperor's later destruction of the Purple Scorpion Sect!

Now that the host has returned to Linchuan, and with causes and effects intertwined, we must save this child before the Purple Scorpion Sect finds him!

[Task Duration]: 30 days

[Task Rewards]: Purple Scorpion Poison Technique (Lower Saint-Rank Technique), Purple Scorpion Poison Palm (Higher King-Rank Martial Skill)

"Born with the Daoist spirit... I see."

A sharp glint flashed in Jiang Feng's eyes.

No wonder the Pharaoh risked his life to escape with that child.

He was born with the qualities of a Taoist!

The Purple Scorpion Sect was so insidious that they used prodigies as consumables in alchemy!

"Qiangzi."

"Take him back! Also, mobilize all your intelligence networks, at all costs, find out where the Pharaoh previously lived!"