Facing the Revenge Alliance

1,078 words

Yizhen said, "Last evening, I met with Yan Qingcheng. I tried to bring up the matter of Wang Zifeng and Liu Yue, but for some reason she deftly changed the subject, giving me no chance to speak."

Xiao Chen thought for a moment. "I see... It seems she already knows. She doesn't want you caught in the middle."

"Perhaps that's the case. But when we spoke of you, she showed no excessive hostility—everything seemed quite calm. For now, it's uncertain whether she intends to move against you. The situation is still very delicate."

"Thank you, Senior Brother Yizhen. I understand. The circumstances on Dragon Island are complex; many things require careful observation."

Neither Xiao Chen nor Yizhen was dull-witted; there was no need to speak too plainly.

In the distance, figures moved among the wooden huts—members of the Dharma Alliance training in the forest.

Yichi seemed to recall something and warned, "Xiao Chen, be careful. There is an alliance that wants to challenge you. They seem quite reckless."

"Which alliance?" Xiao Chen had heard rumors the day before but hadn't asked for details.

"The Revenge Alliance."

"Revenge?" Xiao Chen found it strange. Were they seeking revenge against him? He asked, "Who founded it?"

"A man named Guluo, a one-armed man," Yichi replied.

So it was him! When Xiao Chen heard the name, he had already suspected it might be Guluo.

During their last battle in the Death Swamp, just as Guluo was fleeing, Xiao Chen had hurled his sword and severed one of his arms, gravely wounding him. Through the three dark days of the Great Reshuffling, he had survived unscathed and had now formed an alliance named "Revenge," its spearpoint aimed squarely at Xiao Chen.

"Do you two know the strength of this alliance? Are there any formidable figures among them?"

Yizhen thought back carefully. "The founder, Guluo, has the cultivation of the Third Heaven of Mortal-Shedding. However, with the loss of an arm, his combat effectiveness will be greatly diminished. Additionally, the Spiritist Li Lingfeng and the Spellmaster Carter are both at the Third Heaven of Mortal-Shedding. Among the other seven, three are barely near the Mortal-Shedding realm, two are at the First Heaven, and two are at the Second Heaven."

"Apart from Guluo, there are two more experts at the Third Heaven?" This was indeed a formidable fighting force. At the same time, Xiao Chen wondered—why would anyone willingly submit to someone else's command? Guluo was already crippled; what had prompted two experts at the Third Heaven of Mortal-Shedding to join his alliance? Moreover, Guluo was seeking personal revenge; those men had no reason to be dragged into it.

Yizhen smiled. "The Revenge Alliance was formed temporarily. The Spiritist Li Lingfeng originally came from Treefolk Valley, and the Spellmaster Carter from the Nature Alliance founded by Yalode. Both men withdrew from their original alliances to join the Revenge Alliance on a temporary basis."

It was all clear. The Revenge Alliance had been created specifically against Xiao Chen, and those two experts had been seconded into it.

Xiao Chen began to think seriously. Now that his cultivation had reached the Fifth Heaven of Mortal-Shedding, could he afford to do something reckless? If he could wipe out an entire alliance in one stroke, his influence would skyrocket. If he ever decided to form an alliance of his own, he would surely attract a host of true masters. That would grant him formidable deterrent power.

"What are you thinking? Don't tell me you're planning something dangerous," Yizhen said, seeming to read his thoughts.

"I do want to try. To establish my authority with a single battle, so I won't be constantly disturbed," Xiao Chen explained. Though he also harbored a faint intention of forming an alliance, he could not speak of it yet.

"Facing ten experts alone is too reckless. You can absolutely refuse!" Yichi also tried to dissuade him.

"No. I've decided to take the risk." Xiao Chen was resolute.

The Revenge Alliance and Xiao Chen were about to do battle! Xiao Chen would single-handedly challenge an entire alliance!

The news spread like wildfire—an earth-shattering announcement. It roused every practitioner in the region. Alliances from far and wide heard the news and rushed over.

After all, this was utterly astonishing. One man pitting himself against a whole alliance—if he wasn't supremely confident in his own strength, he was a madman drunk on arrogance. The sensational news quickly reached every alliance. Xiao Chen, already a famous name on Dragon Island, made it impossible for anyone not to remember him.

Guluo appeared. With only his left arm remaining, his face was pale, his gaze even colder, his expression utterly grim. Behind him followed nine men, two of whom were visibly different, regarding Guluo with a hint of disdain.

Those in the know could guess—the two were undoubtedly the Spiritist Li Lingfeng and the Spellmaster Carter, who had temporarily transferred from Treefolk Valley and the Nature Alliance to bolster the Revenge Alliance.

Then Xiao Chen appeared. Without a trace of tension, he walked as if strolling through a garden under the gaze of the assembled experts, coming to stand before Guluo and his men.

At present, the vast majority of people on Dragon Island were young people in their twenties. Among them were many beautiful women, and a few whose elegance could topple cities and captivate nations.

Now, at least twenty alliances had arrived at the scene, numbering over two hundred people—a third of all practitioners on Dragon Island. Still more were hurrying over.

"That's Xiao Chen?" "I've heard that name often!" "So this is the famous man of Dragon Island?" "Finally, I get to see this madman!" "This guy really is crazy, challenging an alliance all by himself!" "Tall and striking, not bad-looking." "Don't drool, you fool!"

Everyone was talking. Whether male or female cultivators, all eyes were fixed on Xiao Chen as a stream of comments rose and fell.

During his previous duel with Kailai, only about a hundred had watched. This time, the crowd swelled from two hundred to over three hundred. The hundreds who hadn't arrived were either too far away, hadn't heard the news, or couldn't make it in time.

"Hmph!" Guluo snorted coldly, his eyes filled with undisguised hatred.

Xiao Chen remained calm. "Don't play the victim. You know very well that you were the one who first came to hunt me down. If you walk the wrong path, you must pay the price."

Share to

Reading Guide Decoding

Xiao Chen's Audacious Challenge: One Man Against an Alliance

Cultural / Xianxia Notes

The concept of a cultivator challenging an entire alliance alone reflects a recurring trope in Chinese xianxia: the "solo vs. group" confrontation, which tests not only raw power but strategic cunning and the will to transcend limitations. In this world, alliances are pragmatic constructs formed for mutual survival—temporary and often unstable. Gu Luo's Revenge Alliance exemplifies this: its members are recruited from other factions for a single purpose, and their loyalty is shallow. The cultivation realms are significant: Mortal-Shedding is the first major threshold, with nine heavenly tiers. Xiao Chen's Fifth Heaven grants him a decisive edge over most opponents. The presence of Spiritists and Spellmasters introduces diversity in combat styles—Spiritists manipulate natural forces, while Spellmasters use incantations to channel divine power. The chapter also highlights the political landscape after the "Three-Day Reshuffling," where alliances formed and dissolved, and the island's social structure crystallized into a fragile balance that Xiao Chen now threatens to overturn.

Chapter Overview

This chapter marks a pivotal shift from reactive survival to proactive dominance for Xiao Chen. After learning that the one-armed Gu Luo has formed a ten-person Revenge Alliance to hunt him, Xiao Chen makes a daring decision: to face the entire alliance alone in single combat. The stakes are immense—victory would cement his reputation as an invincible force on Dragon Island; defeat would mean death or enslavement. The chapter crackles with tension as news spreads, drawing hundreds of cultivators to witness this unprecedented challenge. The tone is cold and calculating, with Xiao Chen's internal resolve hardening against the backdrop of a gathered crowd that reflects both awe and skepticism.

Key Plot Points

Yizhen and Yichi inform Xiao Chen about the Revenge Alliance, revealing its composition: Gu Luo (Mortal-Shedding Third Heaven, now one-armed), the Spiritist Li Lingfeng and Spellmaster Carter (both Third Heaven), along with seven others ranging from near-Mortal-Shedding to Second Heaven. The alliance is temporary, with Li Lingfeng and Carter borrowed from Treefolk Valley and the Natural Alliance respectively. Xiao Chen immediately grasps the strategic opportunity: by annihilating this coalition, he can establish overwhelming deterrence and build leverage for future alliances. Despite the monks' warnings about the risk of facing ten opponents alone, Xiao Chen resolves to fight. He recognizes that this public confrontation is his best chance to solidify his position as a top-tier combatant on the island. The message spreads rapidly, and within hours, over two hundred cultivators from twenty-plus alliances gather at the battlefield. Gu Luo appears with his followers, his bitterness palpable, while Li Lingfeng and Carter maintain a disdainful distance from their nominal leader. Xiao Chen arrives unruffled, walking through the crowd like a sovereign. The chapter ends with the stage set for a battle that will define the island's power hierarchy.

Reading Guide

This chapter sets the stage for one of the arc's most dramatic confrontations. Pay close attention to the dynamics within the Revenge Alliance: Gu Luo's lack of authority, Li Lingfeng and Carter's grudging participation, and the inherent instability of a coalition held together by personal grudges rather than shared goals. Xiao Chen's decision to accept the challenge is accompanied by a rare moment of strategic calculation—he hints at future ambitions beyond mere survival. The crowd's reaction reflects the culture of Dragon Island: a place where reputation is currency and strength commands respect. The upcoming battle will showcase not only Xiao Chen's martial prowess but also his ability to read and exploit the weaknesses in his enemies' formation. Watch for how he uses the terrain, the psychological state of his opponents, and his unique cultivation techniques to turn the numbers game in his favor. This is a turning point that will ripple through the alliances for chapters to come.