The city of Ironhollow stretched before Jiang Chen like a maze of stone and ambition. Towering walls lined with spiritual formations loomed overhead, pulsing with protective energy. The streets bustled with cultivators and merchants alike, yet Jiang Chen's presence stood out—a lone predator amid sheep who did not yet recognize the wolf in their midst.
Jiang Chen moved with quiet confidence, but his mind was calculating. He had spent his entire life in the wilderness, hunting and surviving. Yet now, he found himself in a place where survival depended on far more than brute force. Here, power was wielded through influence, wealth, and alliances as much as it was through cultivation.
He made his way toward the marketplace, observing carefully. The stalls overflowed with exotic herbs, beast pelts, weapons, and spiritual artifacts. Merchants called out their wares, and the air was thick with the scent of incense and roasted meat. The economy of Ironhollow, he realized, revolved around spirit cores and cultivator-related goods rather than common silver.
Jiang Chen approached a weapons stall, his gaze lingering on a row of spears. His bone-crafted spear had served him well, but he was beginning to sense its limitations. However, as he examined a fine iron-tipped spear with faint spiritual engravings, a voice interrupted him.
"That one's not for you, wildling."
Jiang Chen turned slowly. A young man clad in dark robes with a faint golden embroidery marking his status as an inner disciple of the Crimson Blade Sect stood before him. A group of similarly dressed cultivators flanked him, though Jiang Chen noticed a difference—this one was stronger than Lu Chen.
Jiang Chen met his gaze with calm indifference. "Is that so?"
The disciple sneered. "We've heard about you. Lu Chen's humiliation spread fast. But you made a mistake—you think strength alone matters in this city? Here, sect status dictates power. You crossed the Crimson Blade Sect, and now there's a price."
Jiang Chen tilted his head. "And what price would that be?"
The disciple smirked, but before he could speak, a voice cut through the air like a blade.
"That's enough, Wei Rong. I'd rather not have you causing a mess in the marketplace."
A new figure entered the scene—a middle-aged man in fine robes adorned with the insignia of Ironhollow's City Lord. He carried himself with authority, and his aura was leagues beyond the Crimson Blade disciples. Jiang Chen immediately assessed him to be at least in the Core Formation Realm—far beyond his current strength.
Wei Rong scowled but backed down. "Elder Mo," he said stiffly. "This isn't finished."
The elder's gaze landed on Jiang Chen, scrutinizing him before turning away. "The City Lord's estate doesn't tolerate public conflicts. If you have grievances, settle them elsewhere."
Jiang Chen noted the weight behind Elder Mo's words. Unlike the Crimson Blade Sect, whose power was rooted in strength and aggression, the City Lord's faction maintained balance through governance, economic control, and the enforcement of order.
Ironhollow was not just ruled by brute force; the City Lord had his own network—one made of merchants, enforcers, and high-level cultivators who operated outside the sects. Though less openly aggressive than the Crimson Blade Sect, they held their own kind of power, one that ensured no single sect dominated the city outright.
Wei Rong and his group left reluctantly, but Jiang Chen knew this encounter had solidified a greater conflict. His actions had drawn attention, and the Crimson Blade Sect would not let this matter go easily.
Jiang Chen exhaled and turned his gaze back to the spear. He reached into his pouch and pulled out a Low-Grade Spirit Core. "Will this suffice?"
The merchant blinked, then nodded hastily. "Absolutely, sir. A fine choice."
Jiang Chen took the spear and gave it a test spin. Its weight was perfect, the balance crisp—this would do.
As he left the marketplace, he noticed a cloaked figure watching him from the shadows of a nearby alley. Unlike the merchants or the disciples, this presence carried a different weight—one of intent. Jiang Chen didn't react but kept walking, his senses sharp. He would not be caught unprepared.
That Night
Jiang Chen rented a small, modest room at a local inn. He had exchanged some beast materials for silver earlier, realizing that not everything could be paid for with spirit cores. It was a lesson in adaptation—strength alone wouldn't get him everything.
As he meditated, he focused inward, assessing the chaotic energy within him. The Abyssal Tiger's spirit core had strengthened his physique, but his understanding of the Law of Force was still crude and incomplete. He could sense the concept, but its intricacies remained far beyond his grasp. The chaotic energy within him was powerful, but unlocking the higher mysteries of Force was still a distant goal.
A knock at his door broke his thoughts. Jiang Chen opened it cautiously.
A young woman stood before him, clad in simple yet elegant robes. Her face was partially veiled, but her eyes shone with intelligence. She carried no visible weapons, yet Jiang Chen sensed a quiet confidence in her stance.
"You made quite the stir today," she said evenly.
Jiang Chen leaned against the doorframe. "Who are you?"
She gave a small smile. "Someone who doesn't like the Crimson Blade Sect either. If you plan to survive in Ironhollow, you'll need more than a spear and brute strength. The sects here have deep roots. The City Lord's faction doesn't involve itself in every dispute, but they won't tolerate unchecked chaos either."
Jiang Chen studied her. "And you're offering what, exactly?"
"Information. Perhaps an alliance. That depends on you."
Jiang Chen exhaled. Ironhollow was proving to be more than just a city—it was a battlefield of power struggles. And chaos thrived in such places.
"Come in," he said finally. "Let's talk."