Martial God Asura Chapters 96-100: Chu Feng's Rule and the Golden-Purple City's Intervention
The air in the Leaning Mountain Town’s training ground hung thick with the metallic scent of blood and the palpable weight of stunned silence. Chu Feng’s declaration—that the Chu family’s recent, unimaginable victory over three established families was his doing alone—echoed in the minds of every gathered power. All eyes, wide with disbelief and dawning terror, were fixed on the fifteen-year-old youth who stood amidst the aftermath. The evidence was irrefutable. He had decapitated two Origin realm experts with chilling ease, an act that shattered their understanding of the possible. Genius was a word they had heard, but now they witnessed its terrifying, concrete form.
A ripple of submission spread through the crowd. The Tian family, long-time allies, were the first to bend. “My Tian family agrees on the views of the Chu family. From today on, we are willing to follow the rules set by the Chu family and listen to its orders.” Their declaration broke the dam. Neutral families like the Qiao family quickly followed suit. Finally, even the bitter remnants of the Zhao and Li families, their masters slain, knelt in surrender. It was not loyalty but the primal instinct for survival that drove them. In the face of Chu Feng’s absolute, enigmatic power and his status as an Azure Dragon School disciple, resistance was suicide.
Watching the sea of kneeling figures, the Chu family members felt a surge of awe and surreal triumph. Enemies who had sought their annihilation moments ago now groveled at their feet. Chu Yuan, standing beside his son, felt a complex whirl of pride and disorientation. The authority Chu Feng commanded was not that of a family heir; it was the innate, domineering aura of a king.
Chu Feng stepped onto a raised platform, his gaze sweeping across the prostrate assembly. His voice, cool and carrying, left no room for debate. “Since everyone has displayed your position, I won’t talk in circles. From today on, everything in the mountain area will be decided by my Chu family. The only word I want is, obey.” He let the word hang in the air before delivering the final blow to their pride. “I want your hearts to obey, not your mouth. To show your sincerity, everyone, please kneel down.”
A murmur of shock and indignation rustled through the crowd. Kneel? They were already submitting!
“Did I not make myself clear?” Chu Feng’s expression hardened instantly. A wave of palpable killing intent erupted from him, icy and suffocating, engulfing the entire training ground. It was a tangible threat, a promise of violence.
Whoosh. The sound of hundreds of knees hitting the hard ground followed almost immediately. Dignity evaporated before the chilling certainty of death. Allies, neutrals, and enemies alike—all bowed their heads to the Chu family. The sight was a profound testament to power, and the Chu family breathed a collective sigh of stunned victory.
“The Chu family seems quite mighty. Do you really think that the mountain area is your Chu family’s world?” A clear, mocking voice cut through the tense silence. “All of you are quite useless as well. You kneel to a little child who doesn’t even have hair? Do you even have any dignity?”
All heads turned. A group of men strode confidently into the training ground, led by a capable-looking old man. Recognition flashed. It was Manager Lin of the Fierce Tiger Escort Office, a mid-tier power known more for logistics than combat. His usual obsequious politeness towards the Chu family was gone, replaced by blatant contempt.
Enraged by the insult to their new sovereign, several from the surrendered crowd saw a chance to curry favor. “Bastard! A mere external villager dares to say these words!” they roared, charging towards Manager Lin with renewed ferocity.
The old man didn’t flinch. A sneer played on his lips as he drew an object from his pocket and raised it high. “I have the Golden-purple Commanding Badge here. Who dares to touch me?”
The charge halted as if hitting an invisible wall. The words “Golden-purple Commanding Badge” acted like a paralyzing spell. Faces blanched, and the aggressive mob transformed into a retreating, fearful huddle. The badge, gleaming with authority, was a symbol everyone understood. Five hundred miles away, the Golden-purple City ruled over a thousand-mile radius, including their mountain area. While the city had largely ignored this resource-poor region, its authority was ultimate. The badge represented the city lord himself. To defy it was to defy the imperial structure of the Jiang Dynasty itself.
Manager Lin reveled in their fear. “Why aren’t you kneeling even after seeing the Golden-purple Commanding Badge?” he thundered. The command had immediate effect. Many, especially the hopeful Zhao and Li family remnants, dropped to their knees again, kowtowing fervently. They saw a new savior.
Chu Feng watched, a cold understanding settling in his heart. The fickleness of these people, bending like grass in the wind, was now laid bare.
“Why aren’t all of you kneeling? Do you dare to not put this Golden-purple Commanding Badge in your eyes? Do you dare not to put the city lord in your eyes?” Manager Lin pressed, his eyes glaring at the standing Chu family.
“I’ll see who dares to kneel for him.” Chu Feng’s voice, though not a shout, carried a sharp edge that froze those caught between the two forces.
Manager Lin pointed a bony finger directly at Chu Feng. “Chu Feng, your nerves are quite big! You dare to go against the rules of the Golden-purple City? Not only do you not kneel when you see the Golden-purple Commanding Badge, you even dare to threaten others. Are you opposing the Golden-purple City? Are you opposing the Jiang Dynasty?”
“So what if I’m opposing? Do you believe that I’ll kill you right now?” Chu Feng retorted, killing intent flickering in his eyes. He saw the truth now—this old man had betrayed the mountain area’s secret.
“Feng’er, do not go crazy!” Chu Yuan grabbed his son’s sleeve, panic in his voice. “His Golden-purple Commanding Badge is real. You cannot attack him or else the Golden-purple City will not forgive you.”
Seeing Chu Yuan’s fear, Manager Lin laughed triumphantly. “Hahaha, Chu Yuan, I see that you understand. I won’t hide it from you. Right now, the lord of the Golden-purple City already discovered about the black iron mine in the mountain area. The city lord is currently leading troops and quickly arriving here. I believe that he will reach this place soon.”
He puffed out his chest. “So, from now on in this mountain area, there will be the personal management of the Golden-purple City. As for me, I’m the personally appointed manager by the city lord. The Chu family has done quite a deed by discovering the black iron mine. So, in the future, the black iron mine extraction will be done by the Chu family as well. However, all the extracted ores must be given to the Golden-purple City. Embezzlement is not allowed or else, without exception, beheading will the punishment.”
The puzzle was complete. This treacherous old fox had sold the information of the black iron mine to the Golden-purple City and been rewarded with a badge and a title. Chu Feng’s fists clenched inside his sleeves, but his face remained an impassive mask. Reason overrode fury. Attacking this pawn now would be suicide. They had to wait for the army’s arrival.
Dust clouds rose on the horizon dozens of miles from Leaning Mountain Town. A thousand-strong army marched in disciplined formation, their armor glinting under the sun. At their forefront rode City Lord Chen Hui, a man in a lavish purple-and-gold robe, his aura marking him as a peak 9th level Origin realm expert. The news of the black iron mine had been a godsend for his resource-strapped city, and he hummed a tune, already planning the tribute it would provide.
His tune died abruptly. A single figure stood in the center of the road, blocking the army’s advance. It was a woman of breathtaking beauty, her white cheongsam contrasting with the dusty path. Her calm demeanor in the face of a thousand soldiers was more telling than any weapon.
“This lady, I wonder what your name is? What business do you have with us by waiting here?” Chen Hui called out, his experienced eyes sensing no ordinary encounter.
“I am Su Rou, an elder of the Azure Dragon School’s inner court. By waiting here, I do have something that I require your assistance for,” she replied with a charming smile.
Chen Hui maintained his diplomatic courtesy. “If you need something, there’s no harm in speaking your mind.”
“I know that you are on this journey because of the black iron mine in the Leaning Mountain Town. However, the black iron mine was discovered by the Chu family and they are also in charge of it right now. As for me, I have some relationship with that Chu family, so I hope that you can give me some face and don’t get involved with the black iron mine.”
Chen Hui’s smile remained, but his words turned firm. “Lady Su Rou, you are incorrect. Since this mountain area is within my jurisdiction, the things in the mountain area are managed by me. Other than the black iron mine being a huge wealth and I simply cannot let others take it, we are total strangers so I don’t need to give you any face. This is the matter of my Golden-purple City. Not to mention you, even if the head of the Azure Dragon School comes, he has no right to interfere.”
Su Rou’s smile turned icy. “Quite a tone you have there. You said that my Azure Dragon School has no right to interfere, then I, Su Rou, will interfere today. I would very much like to see how any of you are going to pass here without my permission.” With a graceful yet deadly motion, she pointed a finger. A surge of invisible energy blasted a deep hole into the road. A wave of her arm, and the earth cracked open, creating a wide fissure that split the path before the army.
Enraged by this blatant challenge, several officers urged their horses forward, Origin power flaring. “What an arrogant girl!” they shouted, leading a contingent in a thunderous charge, intent on trampling her.
Su Rou stood her ground, her cheongsam beginning to flutter as an unseen energy gathered around her. Only when the first horses approached the fissure did she act. A powerful, visible gas erupted from her body—not Origin power, but something far denser, far more formidable.
Rumble! The charging officers and their mounts were engulfed and violently blown backward as if hit by a typhoon, crashing into disarray.
Chen Hui’s eyes widened in shock. “Profound realm?” The word was a whisper of dread. The difference between Origin and Profound realm was the difference between earth and heaven. A single Profound realm expert could decimate his entire army.
He tried to regain leverage with protocol. “However, as an elder of a school, you should know the rules. If you block our way like this, are you not afraid that the Azure Dragon School will have troubles in the future?”
Su Rou began walking across the fissure towards him, her aura growing colder. “Trouble? Are you not putting the Azure Dragon School in your eyes are you are not putting me in your eyes? I politely asked you to help before, but not only did you not recognize my good intentions, you even used your status to threaten me. That’s fine. I’m changing my decision now. I am not asking for your help, I am ordering you.”
Panic seized Chen Hui. He pulled his horse back. “What…What do you mean?”
“I want to say that you are far from qualified to be able to discuss status or position with me.” With a flick of her wrist, Su Rou produced her own commanding badge.
The moment Chen Hui saw it, his blood ran cold. The design was that of a first-rate city—the Vermilion Bird City, the very city that held direct jurisdiction over his Golden-purple City. And the identity it signified… Su Rou, the second daughter of the Vermilion Bird City’s lord. His direct superior.
Whoosh! Chen Hui practically fell off his horse, kneeling in the dust. “I did not know that the second lady would come here. I have previously offended so please punish accordingly!” His voice trembled with dismay. Behind him, the entire army dismounted and knelt, a chorus of pleas for forgiveness filling the air.
Back at Leaning Mountain Town, the thunder of approaching hooves grew deafening. “Quick, follow me to welcome the city lord!” Manager Lin barked, strutting toward the town entrance as if he owned it. The crowd, now convinced by the army’s visible approach, scrambled after him. Chu Feng, suppressing his disgust, followed with his family.
At the entrance, Manager Lin shot Chu Feng a venomous look. “Chu Feng, your Chu family did not kneel even after seeing the Golden-purple Commanding Badge. I will report that to the city lord.”
“Do what you wish,” Chu Feng dismissed him, his eyes on the approaching dust cloud.
The Golden-purple Army arrived with majestic, intimidating grandeur. As City Lord Chen Hui reined his horse to a stop, Manager Lin and the majority of the crowd dropped to their knees. “We pay our respects to the city lord!”
Only Chu Feng and his immediate family remained standing. “Outrageous Chu Feng! Kneel before the city lord!” Manager Lin screeched, pointing an accusatory finger.
Chu Feng met Chen Hui’s gaze directly. “Men have gold at the knee. Other than parents and those who I owe favours to, I, Chu Feng, will not even kneel to the heavens. Why would I even kneel to others?”
Gasps echoed. Chu Yuan’s heart clenched. Manager Lin hid a triumphant smirk. This was the provocation that would doom the Chu family.
To everyone’s astonishment, Chen Hui simply dismounted and walked toward Chu Feng, a few high-ranking officers following. He showed no anger, only a curious appraisal. “You are Chu Feng?”
“That’s me.”
“What a heroic young man, having such an atmosphere at such an age. This is really quite rare.” Chen Hui’s praise was genuine. He then looked past Chu Feng. “Who is Chu Feng’s father?”
Chu Yuan stepped forward, bowing deeply. “I am Chu Feng’s father. This boy is still young so his words may be a bit straightforward. I hope that he can be forgiven.”
“Ahh, no need to speak like that. Having such a son is your good fortune, and it’s also my Golden-purple City’s good fortune!” Chen Hui declared, his voice booming for all to hear. “Your Chu family has done a good service by discovering the black iron mine. So, I reward your son Chu Feng 1000 Spiritual Beads so his cultivation can increase one step further and fight for the glory of my Golden-purple City in the Azure Dragon School.”
A stunned silence blanketed the area. A thousand Spiritual Beads was a colossal fortune.
Chen Hui continued, delivering shock after shock. “As for the black iron mine, your Chu family is responsible for extracting them. None of the extraction is required to be handed over to my Golden-purple City. All of it belongs to your Chu family. Other than that, from today on, this mountain area will be managed by the Chu family. Those who dare to not listen to the Chu family’s orders means that they are not listening to me, Chen Hui. I will punish accordingly without any mercy.”
Manager Lin’s face went from smug to ashen. He stumbled to his feet. “Milord, this…you…didn’t you say before that the mountain area would be managed by my Fierce Tiger Escort Office?”
Chen Hui’s gaze turned glacial. “Your moral conduct is improper and you are not qualified to serve me. Someone take this person’s Golden-purple Commanding Badge away and behead him!”
Two officers seized the shrieking, pleading Manager Lin. A blade flashed, and his head rolled into the dust, his treachery meeting its swift and brutal end. The Golden-purple Commanding Badge was retrieved and handed to Chen Hui.
The city lord then turned his attention back to a contemplative Chu Feng. “Chu Feng, have you heard of the Vermilion Bird City?” He patiently explained the hierarchy of the Azure Province: the Jiang Dynasty, the Qilin Prince Mansion, the eight first-rate cities like Vermilion Bird City, and the 160 second-rate cities like his own. “In 10 days, the Vermilion Bird City will organize a New Excellence Assembly for those under eighteen. I would like you to represent my Golden-purple City.”
“What benefits do I get from joining this assembly?” Chu Feng asked pragmatically.
“If you can get first place, there’s a reward of 5000 Spiritual Beads.”
“Then it’s decided. I’ll join.” The prize was irresistible.
Chen Hui smiled and handed the very Golden-purple Commanding Badge to Chu Feng. “With it, you can freely enter and exit my Golden-purple City. Find me 5 days later, and I will send people to bring you to the Vermilion Bird City.” With that, he and his army departed, leaving behind a town drowning in bewilderment.
Chu Feng looked at the badge in one hand and a tray holding a pouch of 1000 Spiritual Beads in the other. The pieces clicked into place. This sudden benevolence, this staggering reversal—it could only be the work of Su Rou. She had intervened not just to stop the army, but to command this outcome.
A fierce light ignited in his eyes. The time for mercy was over. He raised the commanding badge high. “Are there any more who refuse to obey my Chu family?”
“We are willing to follow the Chu family and we vow to be loyal and devoted!” The vow was thunderous, unanimous.
“Very good,” Chu Feng said, his voice dropping to a deadly calm. “But I need your hearts to obey. So, those who wish to devote themselves, must do something. Kill all the people from the Fierce Tiger Escort Office, the Xu, Ma, Wang, Zhao, and Li family.”
The order was met with a second of pure, stunned silence. Even his own family was shocked by its ruthlessness. This was a root-and-branch extermination order.
That hesitation lasted only a moment. The crowd, desperate to prove their loyalty, became a frenzied mob. They turned on the members of the named families who were present in the town. Under Chu Feng’s cold, directing gaze, a brutal purge began. The traitorous Fierce Tiger Escort Office members and the remnants of the families that had opposed the Chu family were cut down without mercy. None were spared.
But Chu Feng was not done. He organized the survivors into groups and dispatched them to the respective family estates and offices scattered across the mountain area. His orders were clear: complete extermination. Uproot every trace of these opposing powers. The mountain area would be cleansed and unified under the Chu family’s iron rule, built on a foundation of fear, loyalty, and the spilled blood of enemies.
As the grim work began, City Lord Chen Hui was miles away, riding back to his city. A worried officer ventured a question. “Milord, is the black iron mine really going to be completely given to the Chu family? What about our taxes to the Vermilion Bird City this year?”
Chen Hui sighed, the memory of Su Rou’s badge and her power vivid in his mind. “What else could I have done? How do I dare to go against that person? If the taxes aren’t given, at most I would get punished. However, if that person is offended and she says some bad words in front of her father, perhaps even my head cannot be kept.” For him, the black iron mine was a price paid for survival. For Chu Feng, it was the first step in amassing the resources he would need for the path ahead—a path that now pointed directly toward the Vermilion Bird City and the New Excellence Assembly, where 5000 Spiritual Beads awaited the victor. The young king of the mountain area had secured his throne, but a wider, more dangerous world was now calling.