To Chen Zhou's surprise, the house was even larger inside than it appeared from the outside. When they came in earlier, it was just a small courtyard with many flowers, trees and shrubs. Now, Peng Da Deng was leading Chen Zhou to a separate courtyard, which was even larger than the main courtyard they had just visited.

Upon entering the courtyard, Peng Dadeng led Chen Zhou into a room with practiced ease.

"Come in and sit down, this is my room," Peng Dadeng said.

This house is not only located in a separate courtyard, but also in a remote part of it. Logically, it should be a place for servants to live. Peng Da Deng, as the young master of the Peng family, actually lives in such a place.

Chen Zhou was puzzled, but he didn't say anything and went inside to find a stool to sit down.

"Sigh! I haven't been well received. My relationship with my parents isn't very good, so I moved here in a fit of anger," Peng Dadeng said helplessly.

Upon entering the Peng family mansion, Chen Zhou immediately sensed that Peng Da Deng had undergone significant changes. He was no longer as playful and joking, but rather appeared more serious.

“In this mansion, I only feel oppressed. Only outside can I feel endless freedom.” Peng Da Deng poured a glass of water for Chen Zhou, looked at the sky outside the door, and said slowly.

“If you feel stifled, you can always move out. Judging from your large house, you should be able to afford it,” Chen Zhou said.

"Move out? That's my biggest wish." Peng Dadeng said sadly.

Just then, a group of armored soldiers suddenly entered from outside. The leader was none other than Kong Liming, the captain of the Southern Gate Guard, whom Chen Zhou was familiar with.

Because the door to the room was open, Chen Zhou and Peng Dadeng could clearly see the guards coming in.

"Who are you? This is the Peng residence!" Upon seeing this, Peng Da Deng's expression changed, and he stood up and shouted at the group of guards.

"Young Master Peng, hello. I am truly sorry for offending you. The person you just brought back was someone that Young Master Murong specifically requested, so we had no choice but to obey!" Kong Liming said sarcastically.

The implication was clear: your Peng family is no match for the Murong family, and has no right to block their path.

Chen Zhou also stood up, walked to Peng Dadeng's side, pressed Peng Dadeng's shoulder, and said, "This is what I brought here, it has nothing to do with you. I've caused you trouble."

"Why did they arrest you?" Peng Dadeng asked Kong Liming with a furious look on his face.

"Young Master, do you know this man's name? He is now a wanted criminal in the Southern Kingdom. He not only broke into the Southern Kingdom's gates, but also killed many of our Southern Kingdom's guards! And he even injured the Third Young Master Murong!" Kong Liming said loudly.

Peng Dadeng looked at Chen Zhou with disbelief and said, "What? Who are you? I still don't know your name after all this time? What's your name?"

Chen Zhou shook his head and said, "These are my private matters and have nothing to do with you. You only need to say that. You have just been deceived by me."

Then Chen Zhou leaped onto the roof and fled.

The Peng residence is no longer peaceful.

The news that the eldest son of the Peng family had taken refuge in the Peng residence with an imperial fugitive quickly spread throughout the entire Southern Kingdom. The eldest patriarch of the Peng family was a strategist under the Murong family and held great power. Now that this matter had occurred, the Murong family would certainly not let the Peng family off the hook.

Chen Zhou tried his best to escape, but he could not escape Kong Liming's pursuit.

"What's going on? Kong Liming is only at the Qi Refining stage, so why is he chasing me so relentlessly?" Chen Zhou turned around in confusion. He was already at the Foundation Establishment stage and had the Swallow Shadow Ghost Step. There was no reason why Chen Zhou couldn't shake off Kong Liming.

"Hahahaha! Your aura has been covered by Murong Qin, so naturally you can't escape!" Kong Liming laughed loudly.

It had been a long time since anyone had made him look so pathetic, and Kong Liming was determined to catch Chen Zhou this time.

Since he couldn't escape, Chen Zhou simply stopped and stood on the roof of a house, calmly looking at Kong Liming who was chasing after him, and said, "Of course I can't escape, but have you ever thought that with your strength, I could easily defeat you?"

"Hmph! What big talk! If you could kill me, you would have done it long ago. Why wait until now?" Kong Liming said confidently. In his opinion, Chen Zhou was at most a Qi Refining stage cultivator who knew some secret technique that allowed him to use true qi for a short time.

"Then go and see those you have cruelly murdered!" Chen Zhou said fiercely.

Then a heavy sword appeared in his hand. Chen Zhou gripped the heavy sword tightly and pointed it at Kong Liming.

"Hmph! I'll send you to see your old man!" Kong Liming said mockingly.

Upon hearing this, Chen Zhou's expression changed drastically. This Kong Liming really didn't know what was good for him.

Xingyi Cloud Sword.

"Sizzle..."

A sword slashed heavily across Kong Liming's chest, but Kong Liming's giant blade only touched the afterimage of the cloud sword left by Chen Zhou.

With two strikes, Chen Zhou hit Kong Liming in the back this time. Kong Liming was already off balance and was teetering on the roof.

The heavy sword was already thick and large, and its killing power was considerable. Kong Liming was hit by two swords in a row and was already starting to have trouble blocking them.

"I......."

As Kong Liming muttered something, before he could finish speaking, the giant blade in his hand fell heavily to the ground, and Kong Liming collapsed.

Kong Liming couldn't withstand a single move from Chen Zhou and was directly killed by Chen Zhou's Xingyi Cloud Sword. He fell from the rooftop and his body landed heavily on the ground.

"Ding! The host has killed a villain who has committed evil for many years. Reward: 5000 battle merits!"

"Ding! The host's Qi and Blood value has reached its peak. You may choose to continue body tempering or stop increasing your Qi and Blood value!"

Standing on the rooftop, Chen Zhou watched Kong Liming fall to the ground and breathed a sigh of relief. Even if Chen Zhou didn't intend to pursue the matter, the wicked man would eventually get his comeuppance.

Sure enough, retribution came heavily upon him.

Body tempering is about refining muscles and bones to improve physical strength, and it only requires 5000 battle merits, which Chen Zhou happens to have right now.

Just as Chen Zhou was pondering, an old man wearing purple armor appeared behind him, with specks of crimson gold on the armor.