As Chu Tian’s footsteps halted, within the camp of these profiteers.
From where the loud noise had originated, the dust and smoke dispersed.
There, a crater about four to five meters in diameter, solid rock, had sunk half a meter into the ground.
In the center, a burly man slowly emerged.
"The one who's come for your lives!"
Before the burly man could finish speaking, he struck like lightning.
His movement technique was peculiar, like a bird darting and weaving in the air.
Although his physique was enormous, he didn't appear to be the agile type by any means.
Yet, quite the opposite, his unique movement technique was exceedingly fast. Even Chu Tian’s divine sense could not fully capture his every action.
These profiteers, a total of eight people, also moved the instant the opponent appeared.
Each of them was no ordinary person.
Old Zhang, who handled the explosives, was actually a fire ability user.
Seemingly, he was even stronger than the one Chu Tian encountered in the Qinling Mountains.
Witnessing this scene, Chu Tian realized he had been impulsive.
If he had rushed forward like that earlier, he might not have been able to save anyone and would have invited trouble.
However, the burly man who descended from the sky was the most surprising to Chu Tian.
He was none other than his classmate and roommate, Yan Pengkun's father: Yan Mingshan.
Some time ago, at the hospital, Chu Tian had met him once.
Back then, when Master Huang appeared, it seemed only Yan Pengkun's father remained calm and did not step forward.
At the time, Chu Tian found it quite peculiar.
Now it appeared, he was also an extraordinary person, and moreover, a master.
Currently, within the camp, eight people were ganging up on him.
Yan Mingshan’s figure flickered, his palms moving up and down, unfazed by any of their attacks.
Whether it was flames, claws, or even the blades of the mutated individuals, he dared to meet them head-on.
Fighting eight against one, he was not suppressed; instead, he held the advantage.
However, the coordination of these eight people was impeccable, making it impossible for Yan Mingshan to defeat them in a short time.
Lin Chi and the other two saw Chu Tian leave and return, asking him what had happened over there.
Chu Tian recounted the events to them.
The three of them also recognized Yan Mingshan, especially Lin Yu, who later went to treat Yan Pengkun and the others.
Yan Mingshan had thanked her and told her that if she ever encountered any difficulties, he would do his best to help.
At that time, no one had realized that Yan Mingshan was also one of them.
He had only presented himself as an ordinary countryman.
"Let's go help!" Lin Chi suggested.
"Yes, the three of you circle around and rescue the people. I'll cover you," Chu Tian instructed, pointing to the object covered with black cloth.
With Yan Mingshan drawing their attention, Lin Chi and the others easily reached their destination.
Seeing them arrive, Chu Tian activated his Cheetah form skill.
With a *swish*, he darted out.
The nine individuals fighting in the center of the field.
All of them were startled and looked towards Chu Tian.
In this situation where friend and foe were indistinguishable, Yan Mingshan’s eyes narrowed.
But the next moment, Chu Tian arrived in front of one person.
He swung a fist. The person reacted quickly, crossing his arms to block Chu Tian's punch.
As Chu Tian threw the punch, he had already transformed. This punch was a heavy blow using his Bear form.
*Bang…*
A muffled thud echoed, and everyone’s eyes widened.
Including Yan Mingshan, he clearly knew the strength of the person Chu Tian was attacking.
He was a master in the early stage of Qi Nourishment.
The three stages of Qi Conception, Qi Nourishment, and Qi Refining, though considered the introductory stages for martial artists.
They were nonetheless a dream countless people aspired to reach. The Qi Conception stage alone blocked over ninety percent of martial arts practitioners.
While Qi Nourishment usually followed naturally, it still required accumulated time.
Of course, geniuses achieved it in a shorter period.
As for Qi Refining, many martial artists might never advance even until their death.
And this early stage Qi Nourishment master, upon taking Chu Tian’s punch, his body trembled like a sieve.
Then, *crack…*
His arms snapped, and the front halves of his limbs plunged back into his chest.
Blood splattered everywhere, and it wasn’t over yet.
Chu Tian followed up with a kick to his lower abdomen.
*Chih…*
A soft sound.
The remaining seven people among the profiteers.
Their faces contorted with rage as they leaped back instantly.
They watched Chu Tian and Yan Mingshan with great vigilance, simultaneously looking at their fallen comrade on the ground with disbelief.
"Chu… why are you here?" Yan Mingshan was about to call his name, then suddenly remembered something.
"Just passing by! And how are you here?" Chu Tian retorted.
"It’s a long story!" Yan Mingshan did not give a direct answer but looked troubled.
"You're quite something, kid. That was a vicious blow!" He glanced at the person on the ground and praised Chu Tian.
"Friend, we have no enmity with you. Why did you ambush us today? To cripple someone's dantian with the first strike is too ruthless!" Someone among the profiteers asked.
Chu Tian didn't reply. He turned his gaze to the side.
At that moment, the three Lin siblings were preparing to lift the black cloth.
*Huala…* the black cloth flew off.
Beneath the black cloth were two small cages, each containing a child.
A boy and a girl, the cages were so small they could only fit them squatting with their knees hugged to their chests.
They were covered in wounds, their helpless and terrified eyes looking at the Lin siblings who had lifted the black cloth.
Even more despicable, the mouths of the two small children could not close, clearly having their jaws dislocated by some special technique.
The intention was likely to prevent them from crying out.
Damn it…
At that instant, Chu Tian's rage erupted. The immense anger he unleashed was almost palpable, burning a crimson aura around his body.
Simultaneously, his body moved. He did not bother to reply to their words.
His body in Cheetah form reached its peak speed.
Yan Mingshan’s pupils contracted. He was utterly shocked by Chu Tian’s power and speed.
And at this moment, Chu Tian's burst of speed was more than double his own.
The afterimage of Chu Tian's body stretched more than a meter.
The first to bear the brunt was Old Li, who handled the explosives.
*Pa…*
Old Li felt a slight numbness on his face. Before he could feel any pain, he lost the ability to perceive.
His head was smashed into a pulp by Chu Tian's slap, like a water-filled melon.
The "watermelon juice" splattered across the faces of the people behind him.
"Ah…" One of them actually screamed out in fright.
Yan Mingshan also moved at this moment. His target was someone who was already fleeing.
This person was the leader of the profiteers.
Meanwhile, Chu Tian, consumed by rage, after dispatching Old Li.
He directly lunged at another mutant, who was covered in spikes.
With the momentary distraction of Chu Tian taking down Old Li, this person reacted.
The two spikes in his hands, resembling twin guns, thrust towards Chu Tian.
Chu Tian reached out, grabbed the spikes that were thrusting at him, and pushed hard.
*Puchi… puchi…*
The ends of the two spikes, their gun-barrel-like roots, plunged back into the mutant's chest.
One of them pierced his heart directly.
Chu Tian brought the two spikes together in one hand, lifted them, and swung them towards the next person.
The mutant's corpse, hanging from the front, swung with a whistling sound like a flail.