Chapter 38: You Cannot Afford It, Nor Do You Have the Life to Take It

"Even if you haven't heard of me, it doesn't matter. I’m only here to discuss a partnership."

Li Renjie held up a single finger, his demeanor arrogant. "Carry me through the Hell-level dungeon and secure an SSS-rank evaluation, and I will give you an Epic-grade piece of equipment."

Gu Chen watched him with piqued interest. What a cunning scheme. Even clearing a Hell-level novice dungeon would only yield top-tier Rare equipment from the treasure chests. For Li Renjie to open with an offer of Epic-grade gear was no small gesture. Had Jiang Songhua not tipped him off about the hidden agenda beforehand, he might have actually agreed.

But now, the intent to exchange an Epic-grade item for a guaranteed admission spot to the Shangjing Academy was so transparent it was practically hitting Gu Chen in the face. Seeing that Gu Chen remained unmoved, Li Renjie didn't change his expression, merely holding up another finger.

"Two pieces."

"As expected of the leading family in Lincheng, truly a wealthy dog," Gu Chen sneered inwardly.

Epic-grade equipment generally started at tens of millions. This was effectively offering over twenty million to trade for a spot at the Shangjing Academy. Was twenty million a lot? To an ordinary person, it was more money than they could earn in several lifetimes. But compared to the Shangjing Academy, the difference was stark. If nothing else, the rewards from clearing the academy’s own dungeons a few times would far exceed that figure.

Gu Chen gave a cold smile. "You want me to carry you to an SSS-rank evaluation and then squeeze me out of my guaranteed admission spot? Is that what you call a partnership?"

A flicker of surprise crossed Li Renjie’s eyes. Gu Chen actually knew? Hmph, so what if he knew? There was no need to hide it anymore.

Li Renjie said in a deep voice, "Two pieces of Epic-grade equipment. This is your last chance; I advise you not to be ungrateful."

Gu Chen was entirely unfazed. "I’ll give you a chance, too. Produce two pieces of Epic-grade equipment as an apology, then crawl back to Gubei City. I might just treat you like a fart and let you go."

Li Renjie’s gaze turned icy, and he barked, "Gu Chen, do you think because you cleared a Hell-level dungeon, I’m afraid of you? Ignorant! At your level, if you were in Gubei City, you wouldn't even count as trash!"

"Li Wenhui, teach him a lesson!"

"Huh?" Li Wenhui looked startled. "Me?" He averted his eyes. Gu Chen was a powerhouse who had cleared a Hell-level dungeon; he was supposed to teach him a lesson? But facing the fierce glare from Li Renjie, he had no choice but to grit his teeth, clench his fist, and swing it toward Gu Chen’s face.

However, a cannon fodder like him posed no threat to Gu Chen whatsoever. Even without summoning his beasts, Gu Chen could resolve this easily.

*Bang!*

Relying solely on his own attributes, Gu Chen sent him flying with a single blow.

Li Wenhui let out a miserable scream, collapsing to the ground while clutching his stomach, breaking out in a cold sweat from the pain.

"You dare to fight back? You're courting death!" Li Renjie’s eyes widened, his face full of rage. In Gubei City, he was mild-mannered, but here in Lincheng, he intended to throw his weight around. Li Wenhui was his cousin; for a commoner to dare strike a member of the Li family in front of him—what was that if not suicide?

"Gu Chen, I advise you to be sensible. Kneel down and apologize right now, then carry me to that SSS-rank evaluation. If I’m in a good mood, I might spare your life. Otherwise, you’ll be making an enemy of the Lincheng Li family!"

Gu Chen looked at him with disdain. "The Lincheng Li family? What are they worth?"

Anger surged in Li Renjie’s eyes. "Insolent! You’re looking for death!"

Before the words had even faded:

*Slap!*

Gu Chen backhanded him, then stepped forward, planting the sole of his size 43 shoe directly onto Li Renjie’s fair face. Li Renjie’s mind went blank, and fury surged, his eyes filled with humiliation. But no matter how he struggled, he couldn't break free from beneath Gu Chen’s foot.

"You brat, you dare step on my face? The Lincheng Li family will not let you off!"

Killing intent surged in Li Renjie’s heart. A country bumpkin from Lincheng dared to humiliate him this way! He wanted Gu Chen dead—he wanted him to die a miserable death!

Gu Chen increased the pressure, grinding Li Renjie’s face into the concrete floor. That fair face was instantly reduced to a bloody mess.

What of the Lincheng Li family? If they wanted to treat him like a soft persimmon, they had better be prepared to be splattered with blood.

"Stop!" Li Wenhui shouted from the side, "Do you want to be locked in a blood feud with the Lincheng Li family?"

Gu Chen looked up, his eyes cold and filled with icy murderous intent. That single look made Li Wenhui tremble; a chill shot from his spine straight to the crown of his head. This look—was Gu Chen going to kill him? How could he dare! It was impossible, absolutely impossible! Li Renjie only wanted his admission spot; did he actually want his life? Was that really necessary?

"Produce two pieces of Epic-grade equipment, and I can let you die quickly," Gu Chen said coldly.

That was right; today, he was going to kill.

Kill to set an example. The Li family relied on their power to seize his admission spot; that was an established fact. Was he supposed to tolerate that? Just because Gu Chen lacked status, he could be bullied by the nobility? Was he supposed to be just an ant that could be crushed at will? If he gave them his spot today, would they come for his life tomorrow?

In the eyes of the Li family, Gu Chen was an ant. They demanded his spot as if they were doing him a favor; if he refused, he was ungrateful, and if he dared to resist, he was choosing his own path to the grave.

Therefore, rather than being squeezed to death by the Li family like a frog in boiling water, it was better to eliminate Li Renjie first and slap the Li family hard across the face. As for that admission spot, with his strength, even without a recommendation, getting into the Shangjing Academy was a certainty.

"Brat, I don't believe you’d dare kill me. If I die, you will definitely die a hideous death. The Lincheng Li family won't let you—"

Before he could finish, Gu Chen stomped down, snapping Li Renjie’s throat. Li Renjie’s eyes bulged, the light of life fading rapidly from them; he died with his eyes wide open, full of resentment. Until the very end, he couldn't believe that Gu Chen had actually dared to do it!

"Cousin!"

Li Wenhui watched the scene in shock, witnessing with his own eyes as Gu Chen killed his cousin, the heir to the Li family. And after killing Li Renjie, Gu Chen didn't stop; he locked his gaze onto him.

Li Wenhui shuddered, filled with regret. He had assumed that since Li Renjie had changed classes to a Psychic and grew up in Gubei City, he should have easily crushed Gu Chen. He hadn't expected Gu Chen to kill him with a mere gesture, without even using a summoned beast.

Gu Chen was not a bloodthirsty man and did not move against Li Wenhui. He shook the blood off his sole and said with disdain, "Go back and tell the head of the Li family: my things are not something you can afford to take, nor do you have the life to hold onto them."

With that, the space in front of Gu Chen shattered. A giant hand made of black mist abruptly reached out, gave him a gentle tug, and his figure vanished instantly.

Gu Chen had been taken away by the Nightmare Sovereign, leaving only the stunned Li Wenhui and Li Renjie’s corpse in the dormitory.

After about ten seconds, Li Wenhui finally recovered from the intense terror. Then, a shrill, piercing scream echoed through the entire dormitory building.

"Someone’s been killed!"

"Li Renjie is dead! Someone help!"