The enormous axe, at least 1.5 meters long, must have weighed around two thousand pounds. Behind Song Lei stood a dense crowd of over a hundred fighters, all emanating powerful auras. Each had reached the tenth tier of Body Tempering, and nearly ten of them were at the Meridian Opening stage.
"What? It's really Song Lei, causing trouble at Changhong Inn! Is it because of that incident? I heard he suffered a major loss at Hong Feiqiu's hands. Looks like he's here to settle the score."
"I heard about that too. Apparently, Hong Feiqiu got hold of a Star Soul during that incident. But it's been three days—has he broken through yet?"
"It's unlikely. Hong Feiqiu was already at the fifth tier of the Meridian Opening stage, but even with a Star Soul, he'd need more than three days to reach the sixth tier."
"Exactly. So Song Lei waited until he recovered, then brought all the top fighters from the Qingshan Gang to force Hong Feiqiu to surrender the Star Soul. Without it, the Qingshan Gang wouldn't stand a chance against the Luohong Gang."
The customers in Changhong Inn were no longer focused on Liu Qin but on Song Lei's sudden arrival. Their curiosity was tinged with shock and fear, as Song Lei's reputation for vengeance and violence was well known. If a fight broke out, the ordinary patrons in the inn would certainly be caught in the crossfire.
"So that's the Qingshan Gang leader? He's powerful indeed. I'm no match for him yet," Hunter Liu thought, his brow furrowing. This encounter reinforced his determination to begin training in the Mountain Transmutation Art as soon as possible. He needed to reach the Meridian Opening stage to stand on equal ground with the powerful figures of Poyang City.
"Song Lei, you're being outrageous! You think you can overpower us just by bringing a group of fighters? Let me tell you, the Luohong Gang has been waiting for you to make a move. You may have brought your people, but you'll never have the upper hand over us."
Hong Jinbao glared at Song Lei, unperturbed by the overwhelming difference in their strength. At the second tier of the Meridian Opening stage, Hong Jinbao was no match for Song Lei at the fifth tier, yet he showed no fear.
"Hmph, just a lowly innkeeper, and you dare speak to me like that? It seems the Luohong Gang is ready to be replaced by the Qingshan Gang."
Song Lei sneered and suddenly swung his massive axe. His towering figure moved like a tank, yet his speed was astonishing—faster than even Hunter Liu could manage.
Whoosh…
A powerful wind surged as Song Lei's figure appeared before Hong Jinbao in an instant. His massive axe came down with devastating force, as if intending to split the earth in two.
At that moment, an overwhelming aura emanated from Song Lei. He was at the peak of the fifth tier of the Meridian Opening stage, and his immense physique and raw power made him a match for even a sixth-tier warrior.
Hong Jinbao's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't expected Song Lei to actually attack. He wanted to dodge, but Song Lei's speed was far beyond his own, leaving him no chance to escape. The massive axe was only a moment away from turning him into pulp.
As Song Lei's expression twisted with fury, cries of shock erupted around them. No one expected him to strike so quickly and so mercilessly, giving Hong Jinbao no chance to defend himself.
Everyone watching was certain Hong Jinbao wouldn't survive, given the immense gap in power.
Boom…
Just then, a figure flew down from the second floor, landing in front of Hong Jinbao. A thick iron staff swung out, colliding with Song Lei's giant axe and producing a deafening clash.
Thud, thud…
The iron staff wielder stood firm, while Song Lei staggered back a step. He looked up at the newcomer with a face full of anger and resentment. "Hong Feiqiu, so you finally decided to show yourself…"
Hong Feiqiu appeared to be a man in his forties, clad in a close-fitting black outfit. His aura was even more intense than Song Lei's, at the sixth tier of the Meridian Opening stage, exuding a sense of formidable authority.
Holding his iron staff, Hong Feiqiu glared coldly at Song Lei. "Song Lei, I don't care if you've caused enough chaos. Take your people and get out, or none of you will be leaving here alive."
With that, a large group of figures appeared outside Changhong Inn—nearly three hundred men, all armed and radiating the powerful aura of the tenth tier of Body Tempering. They surrounded Song Lei's two hundred fighters.
Without turning back, Song Lei let out a crazed laugh. "Haha, Hong Feiqiu, did you really think I only brought these men? You're too naive. I came prepared for today. The moment you showed up, I knew I'd wipe out the Luohong Gang. None of you will walk away."
As Song Lei finished, another wave of dark figures appeared outside the inn—at least eight hundred men, surrounding the Luohong Gang's fighters and covering the entire street.