Chapter 6: The Overlord of Peaceful Town

The news of Steward Liu’s death spread quickly through the Wild Wolf Gang, but Jiang Fan paid it no mind.

Holding the token given to him by Old Devil Xu, he wandered freely through the gang’s territory. Back when his predecessor had been brought to the Wild Wolf Gang to "cultivate immortality," he had never been granted the opportunity to explore. He had been kept like livestock, forbidden from straying more than a mile from God-Descending Mountain; to be caught outside that perimeter meant having one's legs broken or being beaten to death. Now, at last, he could look around without restraint.

As he walked, clutching the token engraved with the character "Xu," nearly everyone he encountered treated him with deference, no longer daring to treat him like an ordinary youth.

"Having status and standing is truly useful," Jiang Fan mused to himself. "I am merely borrowing the prestige of Old Devil Xu, yet I can command the respect of almost everyone in the Wild Wolf Gang. Even if Steward Liu were still alive, he wouldn't dare treat me harshly or lay a hand on me."

Though he was now only an official disciple of Old Devil Xu—not even a personal one—the difference between his current standing and his former status as a mere named disciple was like night and day. Back then, any common gang member would have dared to bully him, but that was no longer the case. Furthermore, he now possessed a relative degree of freedom; he could leave the vicinity of God-Descending Mountain and come and go from the Wild Wolf Sect as he pleased. Of course, this was only because he had been forced to consume the Seven-Day Heart-Devouring Powder, and Old Devil Xu had no fear of him fleeing.

"Excuse me, Uncle," Jiang Fan said, stopping a middle-aged man who appeared to hold a significant position within the gang. "I am Jiang Fan, and I have a few questions."

The man frowned, but upon catching sight of the token, his face immediately transformed into a mask of warmth. "Ah, a disciple of Immortal Xu! Forgive my lack of manners. My name is Wang Gang. If you don't mind, you can just call me Uncle Wang. What is it you wish to ask, little brother?"

Jiang Fan thought to himself that the token was indeed effective. "Uncle Wang, this is my first time leaving my place of cultivation, and I know nothing of the outside world. I wish to wander around the Wild Wolf Gang, and I'd also like to understand how powerful our gang truly is, so I can feel more at ease when I eventually venture out. After all, I am still a member of the Wild Wolf Gang."

The middle-aged man laughed. "Hahaha, you’ve come to the right person, little brother. Since you are so polite, I, as a deacon, will tell you about the strength of our Wild Wolf Gang so you won't have any worries."

Jiang Fan was surprised by his own luck; he had stumbled upon a deacon on his first try. "Then I’ll be troubling you, Uncle Wang!"

He needed to ascertain the strength of the gang's elite. Only by gauging their power could he identify the right people to offend, thereby ensuring his name was recorded in the *Great Dao Heavenly Book*. He didn't want to record just anyone; he needed targets recognized as true martial artists by the other cultivation youths and children.

"Our Wild Wolf Sect is the most powerful faction in all of Ping'an Town. Even a deacon like me is a martial artist of the Postnatal Realm. As for our three leaders, it is said that they are all of the Innate Realm, especially the Gang Leader, who is at the late stage of the Innate Realm!" The deacon leaned in and whispered, "It is rumored that the Gang Leader can contend with Immortal Xu using only his mortal body! But I don't know if that’s true... Don't go spreading this around, little brother."

"Don't worry, Uncle Wang, I certainly won't," Jiang Fan promised solemnly. "By the way, what is the difference between a martial artist and a cultivator? And what are the realms of martial arts?"

"It seems you truly know nothing. Since we hit it off, I'll tell you," Wang said, his favor for Jiang Fan growing. "A martial artist is a mortal who tempers their physical body. It is incredibly difficult for them to become as strong as a cultivator. Cultivators, on the other hand, use magical arts—they are mysterious, and I don't know much about them. As for the hierarchy of martial artists, I don't know a great deal, but our thirteen deacons, myself included, are all in the Postnatal Realm. Above the Postnatal Realm are our three leaders, who are in the Innate Realm. It is said that beyond the Innate Realm lie the legendary Martial Arts Grandmasters, but there are none in Ping'an Town. Both the Postnatal and Innate Realms are divided into early, middle, and late stages, plus the Great Perfection. I, for instance, am at the middle stage of the Postnatal Realm."

Jiang Fan understood now. He had long been curious about the strength of martial artists, and now he had a general idea. "Uncle Wang, what is the difference between the Postnatal and Innate Realms? And where exactly do our three leaders stand?"

"Little brother, there is no point in asking about that," Wang Gang said with a smile. "Since you have entered the path of immortality, which we can only dream of, you don't need to worry about the gaps between martial artists. Listen to your Uncle Wang: just focus on cultivating under Immortal Xu. Once you achieve success, I'll be counting on you to look after me."

"You are right, Uncle Wang! I was just curious. Since our gang is so powerful, I won't have any reservations when I go out. As for the future, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. I'll spend some time exploring the gang before heading out into the world," Jiang Fan replied with a smile.

"That's the spirit! Do you need me to send a couple of men to act as your guides?"

"I appreciate the offer, Uncle Wang, but I prefer to go alone." Jiang Fan bid him farewell.

He was not about to let anyone follow him; his secrets must remain hidden. Since Wang Gang was unwilling to say more, there was no point in pressing him.

As Jiang Fan walked away, Wang Gang's expression turned cold. "If it weren't for Old Devil Xu, I wouldn't waste a second on you. You may be his disciple now, but it won't be long before the Old Devil finishes you off. Good luck to you, kid."

Wang Gang turned and left with his men. His kindness had been nothing more than a formality; he knew that no one brought in like Jiang Fan ever met a good end.

Jiang Fan, unaware of these thoughts, already had his own goal. "With my current status, I shouldn't easily provoke the three leaders. In that case, I'll target those deacon-level martial artists of the Postnatal Realm. Even if I offend them to the death, they wouldn't dare do anything to me!" He continued to wander, waiting for his chance.