Sovereign Of The Three Realms Chapter 401-410

 

Sovereign Of The Three Realms

(SOTR)

Chapter 401: Eastern Amethyst Qi, Dance of the Lightning and Thunder Snakes

Lei Gangyang was also rather surprised that Jiang Chen had so casually taken his blow. He was apoplectic with rage, but his fighting spirit only grew.

He let out a long whistle, “The first punch was the appetizer, try taking another ten of my blows!”

When his whistle sounded, the skies and earth changed color as the sun and moon faded into darkness.

Lei Gangyang’s hands crossed as his boxing aura surged. Countless boxing shadows suddenly erupted like geysers. An incandescent firestorm immolated the skies, and fiery clouds fell helplessly to the ground, akin to a blazing meteor shower.

Such a concentrated boxing aura seemed to seal off all avenues of retreat.

Jiang Chen’s face was calm even in the face of such a sight. No dust marred the pristine, mirror-like state of his heart.

He deployed G.o.d’s Eye to the maximum and completely activated Psychic’s Head. In but a second, Jiang Chen had seen through the true meaning of the boxing shadows that covered the sky.

Jiang Chen stepped out, his arm a blur as he rapidly punched several times.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Every boxing shadow met by Jiang Chen’s fists was obliterated as if they were extinguished candles. In an instant, all of the fiery boxing shadows were each countered with a single punch and were scattered into bits, dissolving listlessly in the wind.

“I did as I said, I let you have ten moves.”

Jiang Chen smiled faintly. His smile hadn’t wavered the entire time. It just as leisurely and calm as the beginning.

Lei Gangyang was truly a bit depressed this time.

That move had been the strongest of his Rus.h.i.+ng Solar Thunderpalm. It materialized boxing aura and sealed off s.p.a.ce. Once enclosed, the opponent would be locked at a certain range and first vibrated to death by the boxing aura, then cooked to a crisp by the power of thunder and lightning, and finally burnt to ashes by fire essence power.

However, the scene that he’d envisioned didn’t come to pa.s.s.

His opponent had met punch with punch and suppressed him with boxing techniques, breaking apart the Rus.h.i.+ng Solar Thunderpalm he was so proud of.

Even someone as confident as Lei Gangyang felt his self-a.s.surance crumble.

This was one of his vaunted ultimate moves! Although it wasn’t quite a trump card, even Long Juxue wouldn’t dare face this kind of immense physical attack head on.

He truly hadn’t thought that this d.a.m.ned secular genius would thoroughly break his boxing technique with his own punches.

In fact, it wasn’t that Lei Gangyang was too weak, or that Rus.h.i.+ng Solar Thunderpalm was too low a grade, but that Jiang Chen had just thoroughly surpa.s.sed Lei Gangyang no matter what mysteries he was using.

The Rus.h.i.+ng Solar Thunderpalm was part of Lei Gangyang’s soul of fire and thunder essence.

One was the power of the blazing sun, the other the power of thunder and lightning.

But Jiang Chen’s defenses completely ignored these additional effects. How could the power of the blazing sun break through the defense of the Redscaled Firelizard? Not only did it not harm Jiang Chen, but most of it had ended up being absorbed.

Jiang Chen might’ve been afraid of the power of thunder and lightning a few months ago, but ever since he’d refined a branch of the Thundercloud Tree, Jiang Chen’s body had become impervious to normal thunder and lightning attacks.

Therefore, all these additional effects were completely nonexistent to Jiang Chen, only the physical force behind the punch was left.

How much damage could this kind of physical attack inflict on Jiang Chen?

When she saw the rapidly deteriorating situation in the ring, even Long Juxue’s forehead creased slightly. All along, she’d resolutely felt that her innate const.i.tution would allow her to become a dragon returning to the sea or a tiger returning to the woods after she’d entered the sect. She was convinced that at that point, she would be able to fling everyone behind her, shooting to the skies with a speed that left them all dumbstruck.

As for Jiang Chen, she thought even less of him. He had no sect resources to rely on, and even if he’d made some progress, he would never be enough to threaten her at all. He didn’t even have the right to force her to take personal action against him.

But now, in this moment, she realized that she’d been wrong, horribly, awfully, wrong.

If it He Yan’s death and Hai Tian being crippled had caused no emotional ripple in Long Juxue, then Chu Xinghan’s loss was enough to raise an eyebrow in surprise.

But in today’s match, when Jiang Chen had been able to break through Lei Gangyang’s boxing technique with unprecedented momentum, even Long Juxue had to admit that she likely couldn’t recreate that feat. She was well aware of how invincible Lei Gangyang’s physical body was in close combat.

If it was fist on fist, she would lose quite horribly.

But Jiang Chen had thoroughly suppressed Lei Gangyang!

Didn’t this mean that Jiang Chen’s physical body’s capabilities were much stronger than Lei Gangyang’s?

Long Juxue shelved her previous haughtiness and finally began to truly consider this question. She’d finally recognized that Jiang Chen hadn’t just been bl.u.s.tering when he’d said he was going to challenge her.

He’d come prepared for the purpose of determining who was the better in the ring!

“Jiang Chen, you filthy swine, I’ve rather underestimated you. Good. It would’ve been boring for me to torture you to death if you hadn’t the slightest bit of strength. The stronger you are, the more excited I’ll be when I kill you. However, I’d like to see how you’ll make it past Lei Gangyang in this match!”

Long Juxue was well aware of Lei Gangyang’s strength. The Rus.h.i.+ng Solar Thunderpalm was only one of his techniques. As the first ranked genius within the sect, he naturally had many more trump cards.

Indeed, on the heels of his white-hot rage, a hint of an icy smile appeared on Lei Gangyang’s lips. He grasped with both hands as a black broadsword appeared in his hands.

The sword was three fingers wide, with an edge as long as a grown man’s arm.

When he grasped this sword, Lei Gangyang’s entire aura exploded two fold.

When he circulated his spirit power, purple ripples immediately appeared around the black sword. As if they were countless little purple snakes, they entwined and wove around the black broadsword.

The purple electric snakes were lifelike, seemingly capable of coming to life any second. As they weaved around the broadsword, their numbers steadily grew, making one’s scalp tingle with numbness.

“Jiang Chen, your boxing techniques are superb, but I’d like to see how you’ll break through the judgement of my Sword of Raging Thunder!”

Lei Gangyang was truly angry this time. He was using one of his trump weapons.

The aura of this sword seemed to be one of great perfection. No flaws could be seen, and just one look was enough to give one the feeling that the cultivator in front of them was swallowing the heavens.

“Sword of Raging Thunder? A fully nine times refined spirit weapon!”

“Tsk tsk, he’s the former first ranked of the Purple Sun Sect alright! A fully refined spirit weapon, that’s enough to annihilate all spirit level weapons in one second!”

“This Jiang Chen actually forced Lei Gangyang to use his trump card, his divine weapon! He’s not simple alright. Even if he loses, he has enough to be proud of.”

“Heh heh, why do I feel that even though Lei Gangyang has brought out his trump card, he still might not win? Haven’t you discovered that the further Jiang Chen goes in the selection, the more mysterious he becomes? There seems to be no limit to this secular genius!”

Indeed, those observing the match were all greatly moved.

Up until now, no one had seen Jiang Chen demonstrate his limit.

Where was his limit? What were his trump cards?

No one, not even a single person, knew.

That a cultivator was capable of fighting to this point, but had yet to reveal his trump cards was the scariest!

Sunchaser’s gaze was sinister. Lei Gangyang, ah Lei Gangyang. Now that you’ve used your trump card, the Sword of Raging Thunder, you may not be a worthy opponent for Long Juxue in the finals. However, to be able to stop Jiang Chen, even if you end up grievously injured, that will still count as an unparalleled accomplishment.

Lei Gangyang’s thoughts weren’t quite so complicated at the moment, all he wanted was to win!

Pfft!

Jagged rifts appeared in the air as he swung the black broadsword. It was as if he had fractured the very air, causing crack after crack to appear.

The lightning snake flashed and charged towards Jiang Chen.

“A contest of weapons?” Jiang Chen was fearless as one hand cut down with the nameless saber. Instead of retreating, he advanced, leaping forward like a tiger and slas.h.i.+ng down viciously.

It was said that one strong expert could win out against ten, whereas one swift move could break through ten thousand preparations.

Jiang Chen’s stroke was both powerful and fast. No matter how strong that Sword of Raging Thunder was, no matter how exquisite its moves, everything paled in front of Jiang Chen’s own rhythm.

Indeed, Jiang Chen’s martial dao knowledge was at a divine level.

The Sword of Raging Thunder was indeed impressive, and the accompanying technique quite strange and exotic. But with Jiang Chen’s Psychic’s Head, he’d seen through all of Lei Gangyang’s feints.

Therefore, though the momentum of his blade seemed ordinary and flat, it would always appear in the nick of time and dispel the broadsword’s movement with ease.

Each stroke was just so perfect, wasting not the slightest jot of strength. Any more would seem a waste, an iota less would be insufficient to defend.

To have such a precise grasp of strength, it was completely due to Jiang Chen’s enormous martial dao knowledge and heaven defying comprehension of martial techniques.

However, how would Lei Gangyang know what Jiang Chen’s advantages were?

When he saw that his sword techniques all seemed to be within the other’s grasp, a frigid chill gripped his heart. He almost suspected that someone had previously revealed the mysteries of his sword technique to Jiang Chen. How else could his opponent counter his every move with such calculated precision?

Indeed, no matter how Lei Gangyang switched his moves, he was always unable to break through the other’s defenses. Jiang Chen’s posture was always so carefree, so poetic, as if he was noncommittally sparring with Lei Gangyang.

This… was a ludicrous embarra.s.sment!

Lei Gangyang’s very lungs wanted to explode with his anger. He never would’ve thought that his trump cards would result in such an outcome!

“Jiang Chen, die!”

Lei Gangyang was thoroughly incensed. He pointed the Sword of Raging Thunder up at the sky as his golden armor emitted astonis.h.i.+ng purple light.

“Eastern Amethyst Qi, Dance of the Thunder and Lightning Snakes!”

The terrifying purple qi were as if dark storm clouds. They continued to gather and then suddenly exploded into countless electric snakes, shooting outwards and filling the air around the ring.

There were more than ten layers of purple lightning snakes encircling him in the span of a moment.

“Die, Jiang Chen!” Lei Gangyang grimaced in a horrible smile. The mad dance of his sword and the countless purple electric snakes formed an ocean of thunder and lightning. They howled and roared, becoming an enormous field of thunder and lightning and surrounding Jiang Chen within.

“No!” Thousandleaf suddenly stood up and was about lend a hand.

But how would old monster Sunchaser let him? He suddenly dashed forward and blocked Thousandleaf’s path. “Daoist Thousandleaf, you’ve always been a taciturn one. Why can you suddenly not sit still?”

“You!” Thousandleaf was frantic in his anger. His rage flared. Even with his aloof personality, he was enraged in this this moment.

How could he not tell that Lei Gangyang had hardened his heart to destroy Jiang Chen?

Only someone with power immensely stronger than Lei Gangyang could break through the siege of the lightning snakes!

Chapter 402: An Incomparable Stroke

Tang Hong and Liu Wencai were both gritting their teeth as they tried to subtly shuffle closer to the ring. However, the examiners blocked them heartlessly.

Long Juxue also laughed coldly and shook her head. “Just a clodhopper rolling around in the mud in the end, nothing presentable. He can only rest in pieces when he meets a true opponent.”

It was obvious that Long Juxue had p.r.o.nounced Jiang Chen’s death sentence in her heart.

Lei Gangyang leered, obviously feeling victory close at hand. His smile curled into one that brimmed with victory’s hubris.

However—

Jiang Chen’s figure stood alone and proud amidst the vortex formed by the lightning snakes. Firm and upright, his expression remained serene beneath the skies awash with lightning snakes. It seemed more like he was standing under a faint shower of rain.

His blade gently lifted as he pointed at the sky.

In the next instant, as if issued a strange yet urgent summons, the lightning snakes metamorphosed into arcs of purple current, coalescing on the tip of the blade.

As they continued to endlessly converge on the blade, the tip of the blade magically absorbed all of the lightning snakes with seemingly no limit.

In but a breath, the sea of vicious lightning snakes that had carpeted the sky had all been sucked in by Jiang Chen’s nameless saber.

Jiang Chen’s eyes were as bright as the stars as they shot out a cold, cutting light. The tip of his blade descended to point at Lei Gangyang, his tone as cool as always, “Any more final moves?”

Lightning snakes?

Jiang Chen had refined the Thundercloud Tree into his body. He was long since immune to thunder and lightning. More, his past life provided numerous methods to control either of them. Although the purple lightning seemed impressive and magnificent, in the end, it had only been produced by a seventh level spirit realm. Manipulating it was nothing more than a slight exertion for Jiang Chen.

What?

Lei Gangyang’s expression drastically changed. The lightning and thunder snakes that he was so proud of had been taken care of so easily, just like that!

This Jiang Chen…

Is he human?!

No matter how calm or confident Lei Gangyang was, he couldn’t help but panic at that moment.

The moves he’d held the most confidence in had been broken by his opponent, and in a most nonchalant and thorough manner at that.

“Lei Gangyang, I said I’d let you have ten moves. It’s been more than that. Now you take one of mine!”

The nameless treasured blade seemed to be a vicious beast from ancient times who had roused from its slumber. It immediately became one with Jiang Chen, and almost instantly formed an astonis.h.i.+ngly powerful aura.

“Ultimate form of the Vast Ocean Current Splitter—Withering Ocean!”

This was a move in which the seas changed into mulberry trees and back again, a move in which oceans dried up and rocks disintegrated.

The mysteries of this strike had surpa.s.sed the cycle of reincarnation, surpa.s.sed eras, and was one that strode over dimensions to arrive from ancient times.

This blade seemed destined to cleave the river of time, becoming immortalized in eternity.

At that moment, all of the true meaning, essence, and inspiration behind the Vast Ocean Current Splitter appeared within his mind and transformed into this unparalleled strike. It was truly a strike that had never been seen before.

When the blade swung down, it seemed to be able to cleave through age, the secular world, through vast oceans, through everything.

Silence reigned beneath the ring.

Even the forefathers were caught in the mysteries of this strike.

They didn’t understand it, nor could they see through it. The profound mysteries of this stroke had completely surpa.s.sed their understanding of blade techniques and was indeed out of the comprehension of the sixteen kingdoms.

Pfft!

This was a technique that Jiang Chen had crafted from the essence of himself since he’d reincarnated, directly stripping away all of Lei Gangyan’s thoughts.

Lei Gangyang’s mental state had already crumbled even before the blade descended.

He stood there, as dumb as a block of wood, displaying no reaction whatsoever.

Pfft!

When the blade light entered his body, it was as if it’d disappeared into the air.

As the beam of light shot into Lei Gangyang, a thought raced through Jiang Chen’s mind. He slightly restrained his blade’s momentum. The blade light followed his will, dissipating just before it sheared away Lei Gangyang’s life.

Pfft!

The light broke through Lei Gangyang’s skin, and blood splattered everywhere.

Lei Gangyang trembled, the light of incredulous disbelief clear in his eyes. His thoughts had already begun to dwell on death at that moment. He’d thought that his death was an inescapable fact.

He hadn’t thought that Jiang Chen’s strike would suddenly halt, as if he’d yanked on the reins just before the horse had gone over the cliff, leaving him a breath of life. Jiang Chen had dragged Lei Gangyang back from the jaws of death.

Clearly, it wasn’t that Jiang Chen was incapable of killing him, but that he had shown mercy.

Lei Gangyang stood there insensate, a bitter taste suffusing his mouth. His eyes held nary a hint of courage or hatred.

Although he was domineering, even though he had a strong personality and was arrogant, he wasn’t an idiot. He was well aware that if Jiang Chen hadn’t had a pa.s.sing kind thought, he would’ve long since been destroyed by the blade light.

That strike had been unfathomable, like an immortal from the heavens or ancient times. He’d neither been unable to understand nor defend against it.

Even if he could repeat that moment ten times, he would only reach the same conclusion—death!

“Why didn’t you kill me?” Ruefulness pooled within Lei Gangyang’s eyes.

“Cultivation is difficult. Go carefully and live the rest of your life.”

Jiang Chen responded indifferently. He had a clear understanding in his heart right now. The door to his martial dao had suddenly cracked open when he’d hauled back on the reins of his dominating strike.

Comprehension had descended upon him when he held the decision of life and death over his opponent.

He had no blood feud or deep seated hatred with Lei Gangyang, nor a grudge that would not find satisfaction until one side died.

Killing him would only need one strike.

But not killing him meant that Lei Gangyang would never again be able to threaten Jiang Chen in this life.

Therefore, his blade had already surpa.s.sed the mere level of condemning his opponent to death.

After the silence, cheers and the applause crashed down on the stage like the tides.

It was obvious that the audience had been thoroughly conquered by Jiang Chen’s bearing at that moment. Even Sunchaser’s face was frozen. He was speechless even as emotion churned in his heart.

The other had already shown mercy and not killed his sect’s genius. What else could he say?

Thousandleaf’s tensed body immediately relaxed. Joy and delight blossomed on his face like a withered tree welcoming the spring.

“Genius, genius… this is the genius that our four sects have been searching long and hard for! To think that the true genius had been overlooked in the secular world. Dust covered the bright pearl, and true gold was buried in the sand. This was our fault!” Ninelion heaved quite a sigh.

“I actually couldn’t see through that strike. If this young man had been born in the sects to begin with, that really would’ve been…” Icemist didn’t know what words to use as she spoke. She’d realized that all words seemed meaningless in the face of Jiang Chen’s performance.

Astonishment danced in Long Juxue’s beautiful eyes. It was apparent that she too had been unable to see fully through Jiang Chen’s blade.

An uncontrollable palpitation suddenly seized her heart.

“Jiang Chen… it looks like I must thoroughly slaughter you in the final match. Otherwise, with your perverted momentum, you might actually be able to threaten me slightly in the future!”

A cold light flashed through Long Juxue’s eyes as her gaze finally held a true killing intent.

She’d truly felt a sliver of danger this time. It was the first time that she had grown conscious of the fact that someone she’d always looked down on might actually become a threat to her.

Beneath the stage, Tang Hong and Liu Wencai was dancing a jig of joy, shouting excitedly as they vented the emotions in their heart, sincerely happy for Jiang Chen.

“The next match is Long Juxue against s.h.i.+ Yunyun.”

The examiner’s announcement suppressed all shock and disturbances from the audience.

When Jiang Chen walked down from the ring, all those who’d commented on him, looked unfavorably upon him, or dismissed him now gazed at him with respect. They parted automatically, afraid to even come in contact with his aura.

This unfathomable genius had used his strength to utterly silence all the hubbub. Respect, veneration, and even fear filled the void instead.

“Good going, boss!” Tang Hong laughed heartily and walked up, smas.h.i.+ng a fist on Jiang Chen’s shoulder.

“That blow was simply too abstruse.” Liu Wencai also sighed with admiration. “I still wouldn’t know how to evade that strike even after a hundred tries.”

Jiang Chen smiled but didn’t explain anything.

This was an issue of martial dao realm. If one had yet to reach the appropriate realm, then it was a given that they would be unable to see through to the true meaning of the strike and evade it.

The second battle was between s.h.i.+ Yunyun of the Flowing Wind Sect and Long Juxue of the Purple Sun Sect.

One had to say, s.h.i.+ Yunyun was rather unlucky to meet an enraged Long Juxue. The latter seemed to want to vent all her hatred of Jiang Chen onto her opponent.

Even though s.h.i.+ Yunyun employed certain measures at the very beginning, she couldn’t hold out before Long Juxue’s furious attacks. She couldn’t bear the azure phoenix freezing qi at all and quickly lost.

If she hadn’t forfeited in time, she likely would’ve been frozen to death.

When they saw Long Juxue’s frankly murderous momentum, the disciples of the four sects all quaked in their hearts, unwilling to even meet her eyes.

Long Juxue’s manner was simply too tyrannical.

The presence that emanated from an innate const.i.tution seemed to brand the very heavens and earth with her mark.

“It looks like the final match is destined to be quite gruesome.”

“Indeed, fated rivals meeting in the ring. They won’t rest until one dies.”

“Long Juxue is indeed terrifying, can Jiang Chen’s blade techniques break through her azure phoenix freezing qi?”

“It’s going to be difficult! The azure phoenix freezing qi is exceptionally powerful and can freeze over a thousand li. It can even freeze souls! Even though Jiang Chen is a genius, he’d dead for sure.”

It was obvious that after seeing Long Juxue’s momentum, the candidates beneath the stage had all been unconsciously conquered by her. They felt that her potential was simply too strong, and it was impossible to best her in battle.

Even Icemist couldn’t help but sigh. “The Purple Sun Sect is truly lucky. How nice would it have been had such a good seedling landed in my sect?”

Ninelion had always been contemptuous of the Purple Sun Sect, but even he couldn’t find the notes to sing a different tune when it came to Long Juxue.

Thousandleaf flicked an anxious glance at Jiang Chen. He too was worried when he thought about Jiang Chen and Long Juxue’s grudges.

“Boss, is this d.a.m.n woman displaying her strength to you?” Tang Hong was ticked off. He and Liu Wencai had both lost to this woman in the ranking battles. He’d even almost been killed by her. He was naturally greatly irritated when she came up.

Liu Wencai’s gaze was also dark as he glanced at Long Juxue. He too felt that this woman was too domineering and insufferably arrogant.

It was rather Jiang Chen who had an indifferent look in his eyes. That half smile yet hovered on the corners of his lips. “Demonstrating her strength? In my eyes, this is her last bout of madness.”

He seemed calm on the surface, but a furious typhoon of killing intent raged in his heart.

Chapter 403: The Duel Between Fated Rivals

The semifinals were over, and two days were once again allotted for the finalists to rest and adjust themselves.

Emotions had to be carefully brewed before a faceoff between experts in this pinnacle match.

Jiang Chen didn’t waste the two days. Although he hadn’t used the Lotus in his match against Lei Gangyang, he’d comprehended theories he’d never had before in that stroke.

The blow had represented the highest level of power that he was so far able to bring forth.

It had cleaved through the obstacles of Jiang Chen’s martial knowledge and heralded him into a new arena.

Jiang Chen had forced new changes and the mentality of unexpected changes in a strike that held sure death.

He’d had a faint comprehension in that moment of life and death, and that understanding had given him a strong premonition that he was about to obtain a completely new breakthrough on his path of martial dao.

Indeed, the mindset of that blow had enabled him to subtly touch the door to the sky spirit realm.

The earth spirit realm, the sky spirit realm.

Although they were but one step away from each other, there was the distance of heaven and earth between them.

The meaning behind that stroke meant that Jiang Chen had comprehended life and death, the heavens and earth.

Boundless martial dao inspiration poured forth once again like carp bounding upstream, giving him the emotion of spontaneous joy.

It was as if endless doors were opening to him, presenting all sorts of new scenes in front of Jiang Chen.

“Indeed, there is a bridge between the heavens and earth. This bridge encompa.s.ses all living beings, and controls life and death. The sky spirit realm, the sky spirit realm…”

Many thoughts surfaced in Jiang Chen’s mind at this moment. They gathered together until they formed three radiant, golden words—sky spirit realm.

Indeed, that catalyst that would set everything in motion had finally arrived.

Since refining the Fire Raven King’s core, the acc.u.mulation of Jiang Chen’s spirit ocean had reached quite an abundant level and was waiting for the moment to emerge from its coc.o.o.n.

Wham!

It was as if Jiang Chen’s spirit ocean suddenly broke free of its entrappings and danced through the air like a colorful b.u.t.terfly. His spirit ocean suddenly expanded by five times, akin to the earth giving birth to the heavens, the vast oceans transforming to mulberry fields, and the stars forming the universe…

Jiang Chen once again had the feeling of touching the heavenly law in this moment.

“The sky spirit realm, I’ve been waiting for you.” Jiang Chen smiled faintly, a smile full of wisdom. He seemed like a heavenly emperor who held all in his grasp in this moment, full of confidence.

As his clear eyes opened and closed, they sparkled with stunning glamor, the light of water and fire, the light of metal, and the light of thunder and lightning.

In that instant, all of the attributes beneath the heavens continuously arose in Jiang Chen’s body as if in a cycle of reincarnation. He seemed to be creating a small world.

This was indeed the case, as each cultivator’s spirit ocean was a small world, and the cultivator the master of this world.

Jiang Chen thoroughly immersed himself in the atmosphere of breaking through to the sky spirit realm. He was slowly absorbing the changes, digesting them, and was as comfortable as a dragon frolicking in the waves and surges of the ocean.

He spent the two days completely submerged within this change, completely different from Long Juxue and her enormous racket that had alarmed the sky quadrant and shown off her glory.

In stark contrast, Jiang Chen was the epitome of keeping a low profile.

“Long Juxue… you escaped with your life thanks to a fluke in the battle of the Second Crossing. Let’s see how you escape this time!” A cold light swept through Jiang Chen’s G.o.d’s Eye after his breakthrough.

He had absolute confidence that he would trounce Long Juxue in this match!

Breaking through to the sky spirit realm had made his strength and battle strength suddenly surge forward.

When he was at the sixth level realm, his chances of killing Long Juxue was around seventy percent.

Now that he was also at the seventh level spirit realm, he had absolute confidence. What he was considering now was how to suddenly execute a lethal blow so that even Sunchaser would be unable to interfere.

These two days were truly an agony for those waiting for the final match with bated breath.

Although the outside world almost all favored Long Juxue, the match had yet to begin and so there was always a hint of suspense. Who could say that Jiang Chen didn’t have another trump card up his sleeve?

Up until now, the feeling that he gave others was an unfathomable one.

On the Precious Tree Sect side, almost all were on Jiang Chen’s side apart from the Iron family. They had a sort of antic.i.p.ation in their hearts, hoping that Jiang Chen would trample Long Juxue and take the champions.h.i.+p.

The Precious Tree Sect needed a genius like this.

This was because the situation of the Purple Sun Sect’s dominance had lasted for far, far too long in the sixteen kingdom alliance.

Forefather Sunchaser himself was giving a speech on the Purple Sun Sect side.

“You cannot underestimate this fellow. Xue’er, I cannot see through his potential. He’s destined to be your rival. If you can overcome this obstacle, then your future will be without limit. If you are unable to do so, then all your potential is as fleeting as the cloud and winds.”

Sunchaser’s tone was as stern as it’d ever been.

Long Juxue nodded her head solemnly. “Be at peace forefather, I won’t underestimate my enemy.”

Sunchaser nodded and didn’t say much more. He knew that whatever he said now, even if he repeated it a thousand times, was hollow.

Only the strongest would prevail!

This match would determine who was at the peak of the sixteen kingdoms. The path of a genius could not be blocked.

…….

In the enormous ring.

The last stage of the selection and the last match was finally about to commence.

No one would’ve thought that those standing at the apex of the younger generation of the sixteen kingdoms would be two from the secular world, and both from that little place called the Eastern Kingdom.

It was quite ironic that all the direct descendants of the four great sects had been stomped underfoot by two ordinary cultivators.

Long Juxue stood in a flowing white dress, her face cold and her presence as radiant as the sun.

“Jiang Chen, I admit that you’re an undefeatable c.o.c.kroach with an incredible will to live. You must be so proud of your little self to have climbed up, step by step from the secular world. You think you finally have the chance to challenge me, don’t you?”

Long Juxue’s tone was remote as her elegant brow arched delicately. An immense sense of superiority suffused her words and tone, and she didn’t bother concealing her dismissal of Jiang Chen.

“I will use the truth today to tell you that your hard earned gains have only gained you the opportunity to be tortured to death by me. You, are just a secular ant at the end of the day, and I am a phoenix soaring the nine heavens. The difference between us is that of heaven and dearth. I will utterly trample you into the dust in this match, giving you no opportunity to come back for all eternity!”

Long Juxue’s hatred of Jiang Chen had long surpa.s.sed the feud of a father and brother’s death. She didn’t hate that he had killed her family, but that he had displayed complete disregard of her since the Eastern Kingdom.

Long Juxue had enjoyed being the center of attention no matter where she went starting when she was young. She’d always been coveted after and praised to the skies, enjoying the treatment of one on high.

Only from Jiang Chen had she never felt this satisfaction of being well above all.

And then after she’d entered the sect, Jiang Chen had once again challenged her mental state again and again, continuously capering in front of her like a c.o.c.kroach. This was completely unforgivable to Long Juxue.

Jiang Chen smiled. This smile was like the sun radiating over the land and instantly melting Long Juxue’s frozen thrall over things.

“Long Juxue, I’ve said this before. You lost to me in the secular world and you will be unable to escape this fate today. So what if you’ve an innate const.i.tution? So what if you’ve received the fortunes of the Purple Sun Sect on yourself? You spoke correctly. The difference between you and I are indeed like the heavens and earth, only you are that toad on the earth and will never know how tall the skies are. Don’t talk of the heavens and this world in front of me, no one understands the heavens more than I do!”

Jiang Chen had quite a heroic demeanor about himself as his awe inspiring manner soared to the skies.

What was this talk of the heavens in front of him?

Who understood them more than the son of the Celestial Emperor? Long Juxue? The four great sects? They were just a few ants in some small corner on an inconsequential plane!

“There is no point in further talk. Long Juxue, I’ll send you to meet with Long Zhaofeng and Long Yinye in this match!”

Jiang Chen brought forth the nameless saber and pointed with it, an unparalleled momentum behind him as he waved it in a slash.

This slash was like the stroke that had broken through Lei Gangyang, untraceable as if an immortal from the heavens.

Long Juxue snorted coldly, “Repeating that same old trick?”

Her fingers formed a seal like a lotus as the motions formed a conduit. She shouted lowly, “Azure Phoenix Freezing Qi, Crystal Wall!”

Hum.

A wall of ice that s.h.i.+mmered in and out of existence formed in front of Long Juxue, blocking all of the momentum from Jiang Chen’s blade.

The freezing qi had formed a ice wall.

This method could rather put a stop to all attacks.

The freezing qi crept amongst the wall like frost. Layers of frigid frost formed around the entire ring, turning it into a misty white world like an avalanche sealing off the mountain.

“Jiang Chen, meet your death!”

Long Juxue sang out softly as her slender arms waved, a short sword magically appearing in her hand. When this short sword appeared, it was as radiant as lunar splendor.

The enormous spirit power ripples indicated that it was also a nine times refined spirit weapon.

Long Juxue’s figure was charming, as if an azure phoenix dancing gracefully in the heavy snow. Her aura soared to the nine heavens and morphed into the shadow of an azure phoenix. The short sword in her hand transformed into a frosty beam of light and shot forward with violent speed.

The entire ring had become enchanted into Long Juxue’s environment of a thousand li of ice.

“Jiang Chen, go turn into an ice sculpture!”

Frigid light cascaded downwards like a waterfall as Jiang Chen’s body suddenly halted, becoming enclosed by the icy light. Frost instantly crept over him.

In barely the span of breath, the white frost had completely enclosed this figure and an ice sculpture had formed before too long.

Long Juxue laughed softly and used the short sword in hand to draw back and forth on the sculpture, seeming to want to carve him into the image of a clown.

The sudden development of this scene caused exclamations of shock to emit from the audience.

This had been simply too quick?

Jiang Chen had been turned into an ice sculpture by one of Long Juxue’s moves?

Long Juxue’s strength was simply too frightening!

Everyone had had some expectations for Jiang Chen thanks to his perverse abilities, but their antic.i.p.ation had been utterly smashed in a single moment.

If even Jiang Chen was unable to challenge Long Juxue, then who could?

Long Juxue stood high and proud, the short sword flying in her hands and shaving away countless flecks of ice like it were an axe.

Suddenly, Long Juxue’s gaze froze as her lithe figure halted.

Because, she’d discovered that as the outside layers of ice were stripped back, the sculpture was empty inside.

Jiang Chen wasn’t inside the block of ice!

He seemed to have vanished into thin air!

Suddenly, the hairs on Long Juxue’s body stood on end as a p.r.i.c.kly feeling of horror ran down all over her.

Chapter 404: Cleaving Long Juxue

“Long Juxue, I’m sure you won’t accept things if I just chop off your head with one stroke like this. What other ultimate moves do you have? Come on now, show me everything.”

Jiang Chen’s indifferent voice sounded in Long Juxue’s vicinity.

There was no way to track the source of the voice. It seemed to echo from all corners of the ring, its origin a complete mystery.

Long Juxue’s heart sank as a frosted light flashed through her stunningly beautiful eyes. She readjusted her stance to protect her vitals as she searched the surroundings with an alert expression on her face.

“Jiang Chen, what kind of man are you to be hiding and cowering like this?” Her words overflowed with viciousness, but her heart felt tight with a strange tension.

She’d finally discovered that Jiang Chen was different from all her previous opponents. It was a feeling that she couldn’t quite reason through his actions, especially what had happened just now. She really didn’t understand just how Jiang Chen had been able to escape from her icy blast. How could he have possibly escaped after being frozen by the azure phoenix freezing qi?

Whoos.h.!.+

A figure flashed out from behind Long Juxue.

But of course, it was Jiang Chen.

“Long Juxue, what else have you got up your sleeves? Don’t tell me that this is all that a so-called innate const.i.tution and a genius that’s been invested with the entirety of the Purple Sun Sect’s fortunes has?” Jiang Chen chortled as mockery flickered through his face.

He knew this woman well, that she thought highly of herself and had an ego to beat the stars. The best way to deal with this woman was to humiliate, look down on, and even completely ignore her.

When faced with that, this woman would rage like thunder and even fly into a fury.

Once she became incensed, her dao heart would become unstable and Jiang Chen would be able to easily trample her.

Indeed, when Long Juxue heard thus, she grew enraged. “Jiang Chen, you dumb animal! You have quite a witty tongue, but I will free your body of your dog of a head today!”

Jiang Chen’s lips curved in a cold, arrogant arc. “Words, such words.”

He then folded his hands in front of his chest and completely disregarded Long Juxue’s offensive stance.

Her fury combusted into a gigantic blaze as Long Juxue’s temper was completely stoked.

“Jiang Chen, your past life has given you enough good karma to be able to die beneath my azure phoenix freezing qi. I’ll let you know today what it means to have an innate const.i.tution!”

Long Juxue gritted her teeth as her hatred grew without end.

“Long Juxue, what else can you do other than blow hot air in this moment?” Jiang Chen laughed deliberately as he continued to provoke Long Juxue.

“Keeping a stiff upper lip as death stares you in the face, huh? If I were you, I’d find a remote corner where I would never be found. Perhaps you’d actually be able to live the rest of your life if you did so. But you didn’t go along with the hand you’d been dealt in life and kept bouncing around in front of me, forgetting just how meaningless you are despite having had some fortuitous occurrences. Remember, I have an innate const.i.tution, I’m the unparalleled genius—and you will always be that ant in front of me!”

Long Juxue spread out her arms after speaking as the image of an azure phoenix materialized behind her back. The image turned into six with a shake of its wings.

The six azure phoenix images turned into six beams of white light and landed in different places around Jiang Chen, surrounding him.

“Jiang Chen, let’s see where you can run to now!”

Long Juxue also transformed herself into six with a glare of her phoenix shaped eyes and a s.h.i.+mmer of her body. They were real and illusionary, making it difficult for anyone to come to a conclusion.

The five copies of her and the azure phoenix images completely surrounded Jiang Chen.

Suddenly, a frosty light flashed.

The freezing qi on the ground abruptly increased immensely as three feet tall ice walls immediately rose from beneath the stage.

“Jiang Chen, you seem to have some ability that enables you to travel through the ground? I’ve frozen even the ring this time, so let’s see how you try to break through now!”

Long Juxue’s tone was cruel and full of killing intent.

As she spoke, the six azure phoenixes sped through the sky, continuously wheeling and shooting down beams of frosty light. Countless ice stalagmites had formed around Jiang Chen in short order, sealing off all avenues of escape.

“Let’s see how you can worm out of this one!”

Long Juxue’s six figures moved in unison as they flourished their short swords, sending beams of frosty light stabbing towards Jiang Chen.

“Pitiful little tricks!”

Jiang Chen suddenly whistled under his breath as six beams of red light formed and shot explosively towards the six azure phoenixes.

“Moonshatter Flying Daggers, Brilliance Form!”

These throwing daggers weren’t ordinary weapons. They’d been made from the tail feathers of the Fire Raven King, a spirit creature at the peak of the spirit realm. When its tail feathers had been made into throwing daggers, they’d been imbued with Jiang Chen’s dominating power of extreme yang.

Wham!

Six throwing daggers transformed into red light and collided with the six azure phoenixes.

Wham!

The latter were immediately broken and dispersed into shadowy slivers.

The ground around Jiang Chen suddenly started quaking urgently. Red vines began to shoot out of the ground.

More than ten vines quickly appeared.

The red colored vines belonged to Jiang Chen’s Bewitching Lotus of Fire and Ice, and he’d summoned forth only red fire vines this time. The Lotus had been a heavenly treasure to begin with, and was now utterly terrifying after Jiang Chen’s refinement.

The dozen lotuses all spat out astonis.h.i.+ngly powerful flames that seemed to be a dozen rampaging dragons. They continuously rumbled and opened their maw, swallowing all the ice stalagmites in an instant.

“Long Juxue, is that really all you’ve got now?” Jiang Chen laughed coldly as he gestured towards Long Juxue. The dozen fire lotus vines all coiled towards Long Juxue.

The vines could extend or retract, harden or remain pliable, and now that Jiang Chen had compelled them, they seemed to be a dozen ropes that could contain anything in the heavens. They intersected and formed an impenetrable net, surrounding Long Juxue instantly.

“What the h.e.l.l is that?” Long Juxue was shocked senseless.

She began flailing madly about with her azure short sword.

One had to say, a nine times refined spirit weapon was quite impressive indeed. The fire lotus vines were all hacked up in the midst of the sword’s dancing. However, the lotuses also possessed incredible rejuvenation abilities.

They would immediately regrow as soon as they’d been cut off. No matter how fast Long Juxue was, the fire lotuses were even faster.

Jiang Chen suddenly charged forward, leading with one fist and pus.h.i.+ng with the other, sending a strong magnetic force field cras.h.i.+ng down on Long Juxue.

Although the force field had yet to reach the levels of a magnetic storm, it was enough to affect her movement.

Long Juxue’s body halted involuntarily after coming in contact with this force field.

“What’s going on?” Long Juxue was flabbergasted as her voice drained of all color.

Jiang Chen’s speed was uncommonly fast as he deployed more and more of the magnetic force field, controlling Long Juxue’s speed.

Not too long after, her speed had greatly decreased. The speed of her sword could no longer keep up with the vines’ rate of growth.

Whoosh whoosh whoos.h.!.+

Countless vines wrapped around her, trussing her up like a chicken in short order.

Jiang Chen knew that the time was nigh!

Nameless saber in hand, he called out lowly, “Long Juxue, I once said that you’re just a defeated opponent, and you will always be!”

He brandished the nameless saber and chopped downwards at her head.

“Halt!”

When Sunchaser saw this situation, his body turned into a ball of flames as he pounced forward frantically, reaching out with a hand to stop Jiang Chen’s actions.

His speed was so extraordinarily fast that the other forefathers had no time to react at all.

When they saw that Sunchaser had rushed to the ring already, the others were dismayed and shocked. How would there be any chance of Jiang Chen surviving if Sunchaser made a move?

The development of this match had truly happened in moments of incredible speed, as quick as a bird of prey swooping down when a hare bounds upwards. The enormous uplifts and plunges sorely tested and tied up everyone’s nerves.

Long Juxue had first frozen Jiang Chen in a domineering fas.h.i.+on, but he’d bafflingly disappeared without a trace.

She’d then deployed another ultimate move, and just when the audience had thought it would be fatal without a doubt, Jiang Chen had dispelled it again. The vines that he’d suddenly materialized were more shocking. No one knew what this was at all.

And now, Sunchaser had decided to personally act upon seeing Long Juxue in danger.

Sunchaser glided through the air as he roared, “Jiang Chen, if you kill Long Juxue, I will kill you without a doubt!”

He truly wanted to save Long Juxue, but he also knew that by the time he arrived, Jiang Chen’s blade might have long since finished its swing.

Therefore, he could only issue verbal threats at first.

However, when his body neared the stage, his ears suddenly twitched as a surge of strength shot to his face, making his entire being tense up as he suddenly felt a life threatening sense of danger.

Pfft!

The surge of strength had concentrated behind a small pinecone!

This small pinecone had come from an unknown origin and directly crashed into Sunchaser.

He brought forth all the strength in his body in the nick of time and brought his blade in front of his chest to block.

Clang!

The immense collision force bent Sunchaser’s blade and sent him tumbling backwards, as if a raging current had suddenly crashed into him.

A pinecone had bent the blade of a venerated origin realm cultivator and sent him flying backwards!

Sunchaser managed to regain control of his momentum with great effort and landed on his feet, but he was forced backwards two dozen steps before barely managing to stand up straight. A sweet taste welled up in his throat as he spat out a mouthful of blood.

This sudden change threw the entire scene into disarray. The other forefathers were astonished beyond belief, stunned senseless as they looked at this unbelievable scene.

How could this be?

What was old monster Sunchaser playing at? Of the four origin realm forefathers, his strength was solidly at the top. With his abilities, the other three hadn’t even had time to react before he’d rushed to the stage.

But he’d abruptly taken a fall just like this??

Up on the stage, although Jiang Chen had felt Sunchaser pounce forward and fall back again, his dao heart was as calm as an ancient well, not a ripple to be found. He completed his downswing and cold light flashed, cleaving Long Juxue straight into two!

This scorpion hearted beauty didn’t even have time to close her eyes. Her face was filled with astonishment, fear, and despair.

Bam!

The two halves of Long Juxue’s bodies crashed tragically onto the ground.

“Xue’er!” Master Shuiyue was beyond distraught upon witnessing this scene, and she almost fainted.

It was over just like this? A preeminent genius with an innate const.i.tution had been hacked into two just like this?

Everyone present felt that this was surreal, never mind Master Shuiyue.

Long Juxue had been dominant in the sky spirit realm for so long that even the original first genius Lei Gangyang had to settle for being number two beneath her ability.

The one who’d had an innate const.i.tution and possessed potential that came about once every several thousand years in the sixteen kingdom alliance—she’d been hewed in half with just one stroke? And the one who’d done so had been a secular cultivator?

All of it seemed so utterly ludicrous and sheer fantasy, but the bloodcurdling premises reminded everyone that this was real.

Sunchaser threw his head back to the skies and howled, his rage blazing to the skies, “Jiang Chen, Jiang Chen! I swear I’ll kill you!”

Chapter 405: Accidents Happen

The senior executives of the Purple Sun Sect almost started a mass riot the instant that Long Juxue fell down. They’d just witnessed a genius unseen in the Purple Sun Sect since time immemorial be chopped down right in front of them!

Master Shuiyue was particularly lightheaded and swayed, almost falling to the ground in a dead faint.

She had spared no effort on Long Juxue over the past few years, racking her brains for Long Juxue’s cultivation. Her goal was to allow Long Juxue to soar to the top with one move and become an unheralded genius.

Master Shuiyue had entrusted the culmination of her life, all of the ideals and dreams that she’d been unable to materialize when youth, to Long Juxue.

She’d hoped that Long Juxue would be able to set foot into the origin realm before 25, becoming the first amongst the sixteen kingdom alliance. She wanted her name to inspire awe throughout the nations.

One had to say, all the previous events and details had progressed in the direction that she’d thought. What she’d planned out was basically within sight.

However—

Jiang Chen’s single strike had brutally annihilated Master Shuiyue’s illusions, destroyed her unrealistic yearnings, leaving her only the bloody scene of Long Juxue being hacked into two, forever scarring her memories.

All of her beautiful dreams were shattered in that instant.

She’d tried so hard for this beautiful dream, abandoning her humanity and sanity. Her fourth disciple He Yan was crippled, the third disciple Hai Tian dead, the status of second disciple Chu Xinghan unknown, and first disciple Ceng Shi had turned traitor to the entire sect.

All of this had been for Long Juxue.

A trace of regret suddenly flashed through her heart.

Sunchaser composed himself with one breath as wariness appeared in his eyes. He shouted, “Which expert has acted? Will you come out and meet?”

Jiang Chen had cleared his heart of stray emotions when he’d killed Long Juxue just now. He was now on high alert and on his guard, just in case that old monster Sunchaser was so utterly shameless as to attack him in the former’s panic.

However, Sunchaser was also wary of what had just occurred . He was huffing and glaring beneath the ring, but didn’t dare to take another step forward.

It was obvious that a pinecone being used to halt him had been too frightening, filling him with great trepidation.

“Jiang Chen, come to me.” Forefather Thousandleaf projected a lofty and towering impression at the moment.

Please. Killing one’s opponent during a match was perfectly justified.

When would the experts of a sect interfere with a match? With such a bad precedent, how could order be maintained in the great sects in the future?

Forefather Sunchaser was simply too domineering.

It was a good thing that a curious coincidence had happened, and that he had been beaten back by a formless strength when he’d drawn near to the ring.

Forefather Thousandleaf didn’t care in the slightest about Sunchaser at the moment. He only knew that the Precious Tree Sect had truly picked up a treasure, and a treasure of all the ages.

Nothing could happen to this precious genius.

This would be the turning point in which the Precious Tree Sect moved towards glory.

A genius who could kill even an innate constitution.

Did the value of such a genius need consideration?

Even Ninelion felt a bit envious now. However, he was still happy in the end because the insufferable Purple Sun Sect’s domination as number one had ended.

They were no longer the only ones who possessed strong geniuses.

“Daoist Thousandleaf, congratulations.” Venerated Icemist’s tone had a tint of jealousy, but she didn’t lose her composure and congratulated Jiang Chen.

The Precious Tree Sect had truly been smacked in the head with this meat pie of good fortune.

Tang Hong also called out, “Boss, come on down next to the forefather in case some people attack you out of desperation.”

Truthfully speaking, there were some amongst the Purple Sun Sect executives who wanted to do so.

However, with the current situation, it was obvious that the other three sects had come to an accord. If the Purple Sun Sect acted rashly, they could very well incite fury from the other three sects.

In that way, the Purple Sun Sect would be completely at odds with the other three sects.

Jiang Chen laughed softly at the summons and flew out of the ring.

Another strong tremor shook the ground at this moment.

The magnitude of this tremor was more intense and powerful than the one before.

“This is bad, the formation is completely unstable!” Ninelion was the first to react.

Sunchaser’s face full of killing intent changed when he felt the tremors. His brow furrowed slightly as he looked at the air, casting a glowering glare at Jiang Chen for a moment. He gritted his teeth but finally decided against taking action. “The formation’s almost completely exhausted, retreat!”

Those of the other three sects didn’t dare dither. Everyone knew that when the spirit power activating the formation was exhausted, the Eternal Spirit Mountain would close forever.

Once it closed, it would be nigh impossible to leave.

Crowds gathered and surged down the mountain.

Jiang Chen didn’t follow them as his body flashed and dashed to another section.

“Boss? Why aren’t you leaving?” Tang Hong was astonished when he saw Jiang Chen break away from the pack.

“Tang Hong, you guys leave first, I still have some matters to take care of.”

Jiang Chen had remembered something that he had to do.

Tang Hong screeched to a halt with his large feet, “Boss, do I look like someone who lusts after life and is fearful of death?”

Liu Wencai also stopped and was about to speak when Ninelion grabbed him, hectoring, “Don’t blather on, leave with me!”

Ninelion now viewed Liu Wencai as his most precious treasure, how would he possibly allow the latter to stay here?

It was as if an iron wrench had closed around Liu Wencai when Ninelion grabbed him. He couldn’t move at all. Ninelion turned a deaf ear to all his protests and wouldn’t let him down.

Thousandleaf wanted to stop Tang Hong, but was pulled back by Iron Long. “Forefather, you cannot take this risk. Let us leave!”

Thousandleaf shouted back angrily, “Jiang Chen has yet to leave, so what am I in a hurry for?”

Iron Long cried out, “The Precious Tree Sect can do without Jiang Chen, but it can’t do without you! Forefather, we will be invaded and devoured within minutes if you’re not present!”

Thousandleaf’s thoughts moved when he heard these words, as a look of resignation shot out from his eyes. He murmured to himself, “Jiang Chen, Jiang Chen, you must take care.”

It wasn’t that he was afraid of death, but that he too knew how important he was to the sect. If he was lost in the Eternal Spirit Mountain, then the Purple Sun Sect would quickly raze the Precious Tree Sect to the ground.

Xie Tianshu and Iron Long were unsuitable candidates to even hold up the sect, not to mention responding the vicious revenge from the Purple Sun Sect.

He paused, then flew reluctantly down the mountain.

He’d turned his head back every now and then to see if Jiang Chen was following them, but he never saw anyone.

Tang Hong strode with large steps towards Jiang Chen when an enormous power suddenly pushed him.

Tang Hong seemed to have bounce into an invisible wall of air as his body flew back downwards like a kite with a broken string.

“Hot damn, what? I’m dead meat now!” Tang Hong sighed tragically, thinking that his death was at hand.

However, he actually landed solidly with both feet in the outskirts of the Eternal Spirit Mountain, suffering no damage or harm, as if he’d just lightly jumped down.

“What… what’s going on?” Tang Hong was completely baffled after his shock, a perplexed look on his face.

“Tang Hong? You came down? Where’s Jiang Chen?” Thousandleaf hasted to come up and ask.

Tang Hong scratched his head, dejection on his face. “Forefather, don’t ask me, I don’t even know myself!”

His brain a gooey mess, Tang Hong wanted to charge back up the mountain when forefather Thousandleaf grabbed him by the arm. “Do you want to die? The formation is about to close immediately, and the mountain will be closed.”

Tang Hong cried out, “But boss isn’t out yet!”

“Jiang Chen… Jiang Chen, I hope he can create a miracle again this time like before.” Thousandleaf also sighed in his heart.

There was a person in the place that Jiang Chen was currently shooting towards, it was Chu Xinghan!

Chu Xinghan had wanted to die rather than violate his principles. He hadn’t chosen to detonate his spirit ocean to kill Jiang Chen, thus Jiang Chen had revised his opinion of Chu Xinghan after the battle.

This was why he’d used the Lotus to secretly save Chu Xinghan.

Charging into his residence, Jiang Chen wrapped Chu Xinghan in a blanket and sprinted down the mountain.

He knew that the formation was about to vanish, and he’d run out of time if he didn’t increase his speed.

However, he also felt it odd. Logically speaking, a partially destroyed formation could still hold out for 1.5 years. There should be quite a lot of time left. Otherwise, the four great sects wouldn’t have held their final match today.

They’d obviously left a lot of leeway.

However, all that buffer seemed to have disappeared in the span of an instant. Had the formation suffered another attack?

He couldn’t think about that much right now as he used all his strength he had to spare in dashing down the mountain.

Wham!

He was still running on the mountain road when a beam of spirit light pierced the heavens at the exit. Shadows shimmered into existence then, as if the world in front of him was fading in and out of existence.

“This is bad! The formation has lost its effectiveness and will close now!”

Jiang Chen was quite shocked by this. Although he was strong, he wasn’t strong enough to combat the entire Eternal Spirit Mountain at this time.

Once it closed, unless someone from the outside world came to save him. Otherwise, he’d be trapped in here forever.

The formation ripples turned into shadow with a rumble and finally closed together.

When this happened, Jiang Chen was still on a hillside.

When Thousandleaf saw the mountain close, he seemed to age a few decades in an instant. His gaze was dull as he looked at the closed formation, wanting to cry, but finding no tears.

Had a genius he’d just gained flown out of his grasp like this?

“Forefather, boss hasn’t come out yet, but the formation has closed. How should the boss exit now?” Tang Hong was anxious as he hopped up and down, almost going crazy in his worry.

Iron Long hectored, “Human effort cannot stop the formation closing, what use is there in you hollering like this?”

Tang Hong was ticked off to begin with, and was in even less of a good mood when he heard those words. “You bastard, you’re just jealous of good talent. You only want all the geniuses in the sect to die so that your grandson Iron Dazhi can take over everything, don’t you? It’s a pity that mangy curs won’t let themselves be helped up over a wall!”

Iron Long’s expression changed drastically when he heard this. Tang Hong’s words seemed to stab a knife right into his heart.

Chapter 406: Eternal Spirit Mountain, Impasse

When the Purple Sun Sect saw the scene of utter chaos over at the Precious Tree Sect’s side, their moods grew slightly better. If one was stuck inside the Eternal Spirit Mountain after it’d closed, they were dead without a doubt.

Unless they could open the mountain again in a short period of time, Jiang Chen would certainly perish.

However, would it be that easy to reopen the mountain?

To open the mountain’s seal the first time had required an incredible amount of resources from all four sects, as well as the combined efforts of all four forefathers.

What reason did the four sects have now to once again open the Eternal Spirit Mountain?

Sunchaser leered as he looked coldly at the Eternal Spirit Mountain, feeling quite vindicated.

“We go.”

Sunchaser waved his hand after observing for a while and made to leave. Long Juxue’s death had plunged the entire Purple Sun Sect into the depths of depression. They naturally didn’t want to remain in this heartbreaking place.

It was a good thing that the Purple Sun Sect still had Lei Gangyang.

Now the Jiang Chen was sealed within the Eternal Spirit Mountain, Lei Gangyang was once more the leader of the younger generation. This scene allowed the entire Purple Sun Sect to feel slightly gratified.

Only Master Shuiyue appeared listless and out of her wits, her face as ashen as a walking corpse that had lost its soul. Her expression was wooden, and her originally high spirits were nowhere to be found.

“Daoist Sunchaser, please hold your steps.”

Thousandleaf’s brows suddenly quirked as he called out.

Sunchaser stopped with a cold laugh, “What?”

“The core purpose of our four sects holding this selection was for the combined fates of the sixteen kingdoms. Jiang Chen is now entrapped and will die if he isn’t rescued in a month. Will Daoist Sunchaser not help a dying man?”

“Hahaha!” Sunchaser laughed as if he’d heard an absolutely ludicrous joke. “Do you think that I should enthusiastically lend a helping hand? Are you plotting to have my Purple Sun Sect put forth resources and effort to save that Jiang Chen?”

Thousandleaf knew that Sunchaser would say that, but he reined in his temper and laughed apologetically. “We actually don’t need you to provide resources, the mountain won’t be open for too long this time. My Precious Tree Sect will take care of the outlay of spirit stones and only ask you to offer some strength. Please feel free to let us know what compensation you would like in return. I won’t even frown as long as it’s something that my Precious Tree Sect can bring out.”

If he hadn’t been forced to do so by the circumstances, Thousandleaf would’ve never wanted to beg Sunchaser for a favor.

However, the four of them were needed to activate the formation.

Missing even one would make it difficult for them to succeed.

Thousandleaf lacked people at the moment, not resources. If it only came down to resources, this was a price that the Precious Tree Sect could afford.

Sunchaser cackled oddly, “Tsk tsk, who would’ve thought that you’d value this cheap disciple that you just happened to pick up so highly? Do you think that I would care about your paltry compensation?”

“Sunchaser, don’t be so heartless. Wasn’t the point of our selection to find geniuses? Jiang Chen is the first genius amongst the sixteen kingdoms alliance. Will you throw away the future of the sixteen kingdoms out of a personal grudge?”

Ninelion also walked over and called out, “I, Ninelion, am absolutely willing to help if Daoist Thousandleaf asks. I’m sure that Venerated Icemist is of the same mind.”

Icemist smiled slightly and nodded lightly, ”Daoist Sunchaser, why not let go of your prejudices and put forth what humble effort you can for the future of the sixteen kingdoms alliance?”

“Humble effort? Hahaha, it looks like you lot truly don’t know me. Do you think I’m the type to repay injury with kindness? Jiang Chen killed one of my Purple Sun Sect’s geniuses. I’ve already exhibited great restraint by not personally eviscerating him. Now you want me to help him? Nonsense!”

Sunchaser was quite delighted in this moment.

If he could, he didn’t mind killing Jiang Chen with his own hands. What bloody future of the sixteen kingdoms alliance, that was just one of his rallying cries.

To be honest, he’d never cared about any of this.

He just wanted to make use of that rallying cry to recruit a few more geniuses for the Purple Sun Sect.

“Selfish old thing indeed!” Ninelion cursed through gritted teeth. “If the alliance is exiled one day and perishes, how will we enjoy freedom and independence? Do you think that the Purple Sun Sect can pay attention to itself without thought of others if the sixteen kingdoms alliance declines?”

“Hmph, stuff it with your lecture! If the sixteen kingdoms alliance does decline, that’s not something that Jiang Chen can change with his strength alone. I’ll worry about the future of the Purple Sun Sect myself, when was it any of your turns to do so? Truth be told, I won’t really be leaving today. I’ll just go at it with whoever dares to touch the Eternal Spirit Mountain today!”

Sunchaser decided to just go ahead and make a shameless scene.

…...

Within the Eternal Spirit Mountain, Jiang Chen didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when he saw the seal slowly close. He plopped down on a nearby block of stone and looked at the unconscious Chu Xinghan next to him.

“Can I really not make it out?” Jiang Chen gazed at the seal. Although it’d just closed, it would be impossible to open if the origin realm forefathers didn’t act in accordance.

If he attacked it rashly, he would be attacked by the restrictions on the seal.

Have the Goldbiter Rats gnaw a way out?

Looking at the strong restrictions on the seal, Jiang Chen knew apart from sending the Goldbiter Rats to their deaths, that would have no effect whatsoever on the seal.

Jiang Chen probed a bit and finally concluded dejectedly that he really couldn’t make it out.

The concentration of spirit qi in the Eternal Spirit Mountain seemed to have decreased immensely after the seal had closed.

“I must figure out a way to leave. Although I can hang on for a while being sealed in, I won’t make it past a few months. I’ll be dead without a doubt if I remain here.”

Jiang Chen knew full well that only death awaited him if he remained in here.

However, with his current strength, there was no way he could exit by himself at the moment.

“I wonder if forefather Thousandleaf is still outside? I might have a shot at living if the origin realm forefathers are willing to make a move.”

Jiang Chen had never been the sort to place his hopes in others, but with no other options left, he was forced to think these thoughts at this moment.

“The heavens always leave a door open. I must hang on first.”

Jiang Chen sat down cross legged to calm and center himself for a moment.

Three days passed, and not a flicker of distortion could be seen. There wasn’t the slightest ripple of change from the seal. It was apparent that those in the outside world had yet to attempt to open the seal.

He felt slight movement from the seal on the sixth day, but the strength of the ripples were obviously insufficient to break open the seal.

“It looks like they haven’t given up on me!” Although Jiang Chen’s dao heart was as if iron, he felt slightly touched at this moment. He could tell that those on the outside were trying.

The ripples remained on the seventh and eighth day, but it was a far cry from breaking through the seal.

The ripples from the outside world finally stopped on the ninth and tenth day.

Jiang Chen smiled ruefully, “It looks like they too are helpless after trying their best.”

Others may have given up, but Jiang Chen himself didn’t wish to. He cultivated and meditated every day, contemplating ways to leave the Eternal Spirit Mountain.

However, every method that he thought of required an immense amount of power to implement.

With his current level of cultivation, he was simply too far away from that stage.

None of his methods would work unless his cultivation level suddenly surpassed the four forefathers.

On this day, Jiang Chen was sitting cross legged when his ears suddenly twitched, “Who is it?”

He’d actually heard footsteps, the very real sound of footsteps!

They didn’t belong to a beast or any other living creature, but to that of a human’s.

The footsteps noticeably didn’t belong to Chu Xinghan. He was still in a coma, and if it wasn’t for Jiang Chen using pills to keep him clinging to life, Chu Xinghan likely would’ve died a long time ago.

“Don’t be nervous, young man.” It was a voice that had clearly weathered much in life.

Two people walked out from a bend in the road—one elderly and one young. The elderly appeared quite otherworldly, his hair tipped with snowy white. The young person was a girl with a slightly stooped posture. One of her eyes was big, the other small, and although her nose was quite pert, her mouth listed slightly to the left. Her features were slightly ugly, and it was a noticeable disharmonious contrast to the elder’s otherworldly demeanor.

“Who are you?” Jiang Chen was slightly surprised and took a step backwards subconsciously, entering a wary state. His eyes flicked sideways to Chu Xinghan’s position.

“Young man, I mean no harm. In fact, I actually quite admire you. You are loyal, stouthearted, and have a strength of character that doesn’t lack compassion. I have cause to compliment you just for the act of landing in trouble because you wanted to save someone of an enemy sect. The sixteen kingdoms alliance is truly unworthy of a young man like you.”

Jiang Chen wasn’t distracted by the compliment as he remained on his guard.

He nodded his head faintly and asked, “Elder, who might you be? You seem to be quite aware of the happenings here?”

“Indeed, I do know everything that’s happened here, as well as your background, Jiang Chen.”

The elder was naturally Elder shun. He hadn’t wanted to meet the those of the four great sects and so had expelled them by tampering with the formation.

He had planned on taking Jiang Chen away in the chaos, but he’d discovered that Jiang Chen hadn’t left. He’d gone to save Chu Xinghan instead.

This move made Elder Shun stick up his thumb at Jiang Chen from the bottom of his heart.

However, when Jiang Chen heard these words, he raised his eyebrow and concentrated his gaze on Elder Shun, revealing a trace of shock.

“Rising in the Eastern Kingdom through drawing in the Hall of Healing with the Heavenly Karma Pill recipe…”

“Striking out strongly against second organizer Du Ruhai and becoming the cause of his property being confiscated…”

“Striking out fiercely against all the noble sons in the Hidden Dragon Trial and killing the Long family heir Long Yinye…”

“Using your strength to suppress the Long family rebellion and almost killing Long Juxue at the Second Crossing…”

“When the Darkmoon Kingdom invaded, you coordinated with Prince Ye Rong of the Skylaurel Kingdom to kill the first general of the enemy kingdom!”

“When you arrived in the Skylaurel Kingdom, you delivered a strong setback to vice director Yang Zhao of the Dragonteeth Guard and pulled him up by the roots.”

“At the spirit king protector’s birthday banquet, you used one jug of the Nine Magnificence Dew Wine to win out over all other gifts and receive Ye Chonglou’s attentions.”

“In the fight between the princes, Ye Rong easily swept his opponents and became the crown prince thanks to your aid.”

“The Iron family of the Precious Tree Sect provoked you time and time again, but you took down Iron Dazhi instead and held him ransom.”

“And now in the selection of the legacy territory, you were the champion of the five trials in the initial selection, the champion of the mystic, earth, and sky quadrant. You defeated all opponents and became first amongst the younger generation in the sixteen kingdoms.”

Elder Shun smiled as he went over Jiang Chen’s current life’s history.

“You’ve used only three years to accomplish all this. Young man, I have to say that it is indeed a surprise to me that you were born in a place such as the sixteen kingdoms alliance.”

Chapter 407: Elder Shun Inquires About an Illness

Jiang Chen was quite surprised to hear the old man describe the current trajectory of his life.

He’d never thought that there was a mysterious person hiding in the shadows, knowing all about what he’d done like the back of his hand.

“Elder, have you been following me?” Jiang Chen’s tone lowered.

“Nono…” Elder Shun waved his hands. He too was deathly afraid of Jiang Chen misunderstanding. “I just happened to notice you and felt that you were extraordinary, so I decided to continue to follow and pay attention to you. I mean no harm, and have actually saved you twice already.”

“Hmm? You’re the mysterious person who made Chu Xinghan back off at the Second Crossing?” Jiang Chen suddenly thought of something as he exclaimed hoarsely.

Jiang Chen immediately understood what the elder meant by two times. The first was the Second Crossing, the second was beating back Sunchaser when he’d killed Long Juxue.

Jiang Chen smiled faintly when his thoughts travelled here. This mysterious elder’s strength was likely above Sunchaser’s. It was pointless for him to be on his guard.

If this elder truly did bear ill will, then there was no way that Jiang Chen could resist anyways.

He immediately bowed slightly and made courteous gestures. “Jiang Chen is deeply grateful for the elder’s aid. Might I be so bold as to inquire your honorable name?”

Jiang Chen still well remembered when this mysterious elder had beaten back Chu Xinghan without revealing himself.

He’d asked who this mysterious elder was then, and said that if there was a chance, he wanted to repay the debt of saving his life.

But at that time, the mysterious elder hadn’t given Jiang Chen his name.

Elder Shun nodded slightly. “You can call me Elder Shun.”

“Elder Shun?” Jiang Chen looked at the slightly hunched over, ugly girl.

“Jiang Chen, the reason I’ve been paying attention to you is because of her. This is a granddaughter from my tribe, you can call her Huang’er.”

“Hello Miss Huang’er.” Jiang Chen nodded kindly at Huang’er, not disdaining her for her less than pleasing appearance.

Huang’er nodded slightly and smiled, “Hello.”

“Jiang Chen, you must have many questions in your heart about the situation and why I’m here.”

Jiang Chen was noncommittal and laughed softly.

“Mm, I boldly tampered with the formation because I didn’t wish to meet with those of the four great sects, and wanted to speak privately with you. There was a reason for my actions, I hope this little brother doesn’t take it amiss. When it comes down to it, I’ve acted a bit discourteously.”

Elder Shun’s manner was urbane and he didn’t put on any airs in front of Jiang Chen just because he was stronger.

This point was rather up Jiang Chen’s alley.

“Elder, you’ve done all this just to see me alone?” Jiang Chen started.

“Yes.” Elder Shun looked at the girl next to him when his words travelled here, a look of tender protectiveness appearing in his eyes.

Huang’er also felt a bit sad at this moment. Elder Shun was such a respected person, yet he had to be so polite and humble in front of a junior because of her ailment.

It wasn’t that Huang’er had fixed notions of precedence, but that she understood Elder Shun quite well.

Knowing Elder Shun’s pride, he’d never shown such an affable face to even the extremely strong beings on high.

He was being so courteous to Jiang Chen solely because of her. How would this not make her feel touched and guilty?

When Jiang Chen saw Elder Shun glance repeatedly at the young girl, his eyes also moved and looked again at her.

Elder Shun sighed softly, “Little brother Jiang, you diagnosed that the princess of the Eastern Kingdom had a yin constitution, is that right?”

Jiang Chen was immensely startled. This was a secret of the Eastern Kingdom royals, and this elder knew even that?

Since the other had mentioned it, Jiang Chen naturally would put up a front and deny it.

He nodded. “Yes, this was indeed the case.”

“Then can little brother Jiang discern what stubborn illness ails my granddaughter?” Elder Shun cut straight to the chase.

Jiang Chen subtly understood something when he heard this. Elder Shun had paid attention to him for so long likely because of his granddaughter’s sickness.

However, he was still quite puzzled. If Elder Shun has such strength and methods, why can’t he cure his granddaughter’s affliction?

If even Elder Shun was helpless in front of this sickness, then Jiang Chen didn’t have much guarantee as well.

Jiang Chen remained silent as he focused his gaze on Huang’er. Apart from somewhat ugly features, there seemed nothing untoward about this young girl.

Huang’er grew a bit embarrassed by Jiang Chen’s scrutiny. Although she was bright and intelligent, pure without a single speck of dust about her, she was still a young girl after all. Even though she’d changed her features and had made herself look ugly on purpose, she still became a bit shy when Jiang Chen stared at her like this.

However, she was a cultured daughter of a respectful family. She could see from Jiang Chen’s eyes that he had no malicious thoughts in mind. His eyes were pure and clear with no desire of violating her.

He thought for a moment before saying, “Elder Shun, I was able to diagnose Eastern Zhiruo’s yin constitution that day because I once read about it in an ancient text. I haven’t full confidence in healing ailments, but if you would like me to proclaim a diagnosis, I will surely try my best to repay your kindness in aiding me.”

Jiang Chen was one who clearly delineated his grudges and debts of gratitude. The other had helped him numerous times, and no matter what the reason was, Jiang Chen was still indebted to him.

Repaying debts of gratitude was the way of a true man.

“Mm, what I seek is you giving it your all. Being able to cure Huang’er or not is up to fate and cannot be your fault.”

Elder Shun was quite sincere, and now that his purpose had been fully laid out, he wouldn’t make any hard and fast requests that Jiang Chen had to cure Huang’er.

If old man Qian Ji’s divination did indeed come true on Jiang Chen’s body, then there would indeed be a change in fortunes if this young man tried his best.

Elder Shun had been more worried that Jiang Chen wouldn’t try his best. Now that Jiang Chen had expressed his stance, the former was naturally satisfied.

It was rather Huang’er, who’d been sick since young, who didn’t display any obvious joy on her face despite facing a change in her fate. Due to being fraught with illness for all her life, her personality had actually turned out quite optimistic.

“Elder Shun, it doesn’t seem from Huang’er’s appearance that she possesses a weak body.”

Elder Shun sighed lightly, “All the famous doctors have said that as well. It’s precisely because of this that this ailment has dragged on for twenty years, and there is still no progress even unto today. However, a doctor once said that if her sickness flares up three times in a month, then even a golden immortal from the highest of the 36 heavens will be hard pressed to save her.”

“Oh?” Jiang Chen asked upon hearing these words. “What happens when her sickness flares up?”

“When the sickness flares,” Elder Shun heaved a long sigh again. “She becomes as if a wooden puppet, unable to control her words and actions at all. She has at times comes depressed, and sometimes she would explode with a hot temper. She sometimes faints, but if she doesn’t, she would drift off into space. She might sit alone and laugh, or weep in a corner. Her eyes are empty as if a walking corpse, completely distracted. She will fall into a dead faint in the end and wakes up the next day, or the longest after three or five days.”

Elder Shun described all of the details he could think of.

Jiang Chen furrowed his brow. Many ailments exhibited such symptoms.

Shock from being frightened out of one’s wits for instance, or entering a cultivation deviation. Developing split personalities, or having an incomplete soul from birth.

However, most of these ailments were formed at birth and was always such. They didn’t express themselves at irregular periods.

This was different from Huang’er’s ailment.

Jiang Chen thought for a moment and asked, “May I take Miss Huang’er’s pulse?”

Taking one’s pulse was an ancient method of diagnosis, but quite practical. Doing so could enable one to understand their patient’s ailment and their body condition.

Jiang Chen’s facial expression grew more and more solemn as time went on. He finally released his hand and said, “My apologies for intruding.”

“Thank you for your efforts, Sir Jiang.” Huang’er responded forthrightly.

“What do you sense?” Elder Shun’s heart hung high in the air.

“It’s odd.” Jiang Chen sighed and shook his head lightly. “Miss Huang’er’s pulse is solid and steady. The life force within her body is very strong. If I guess correctly, Miss Huang’er’s level of cultivation is actually quite strong. This is at noticeable odds with the ailments that I’m familiar with. Logically speaking, someone who is sick shouldn’t have such strong life force.”

“Is there any hope for her?”

Jiang Chen spread out her hands. “Allow me a moment to contemplate. These symptoms are quite strange. It doesn’t look like something that she was born with, or an ailment that developed later. Odd, how odd.”

Although Elder Shun was deeply anxious, he knew that this wasn’t the time to disrupt Jiang Chen’s thoughts.

Jiang Chen’s eyes suddenly moved as he thought of something.

“Elder Shun, did Huang’er’s parents have any enemies?”

Elder Shun started, why was he suddenly asking this question?

He thought for a moment and didn’t deny things. “Those on the path of martial dao will always have a few enemies.”

“I mean, did Huang’er’s mother have any conflict with someone or offended anyone when she was pregnant? Particularly a woman.”

Elder Shun thought for a bit and nodded. “There was indeed another woman who loved Huang’er’s father when her parents were in love, but that happened ages ago.”

“Is this woman no longer on this earth? And did she die before Huang’er was born, and died for unknown reasons?” Jiang Chen continued to ask.

Elder Shun’s body trembled. He naturally knew these age old matters, but they were all great secrets. How did Jiang Chen come to know of them?

Could Jiang Chen deduce the past?

A look of surprise suddenly shot out of Elder Shun’s eyes. Jiang Chen wasn’t just asking random questions, could it be that old man Qian Ji’s divination about this boy was going to be validated?

The light of astonishment shining out of his eyes, Elder Shun hastened to ask, “Little brother Jiang, all that you’ve said is correct. However, how did you know all this? Does all this have something to do with Huang’er’s illness?”

When Huang’er heard Jiang Chen’s questions, she too thought of her parents. This threw her emotions in disarray, and some mist welled up in her eyes in that moment.

Chapter 408: Generation Binding Curse

When Jiang Chen saw that Elder Shun had nodded in admittance, a few words flashed through his heart—the Generation Binding Curse.

This was an ancient curse that was cast by one deeply and blindly in love. The caster would refine their own soul and fuse it with the unborn child of their pregnant love rival.

This curse would condemn the yet to be born child.

Once the curse was cast, the child would be born with it.

The curse would meld pieces of the caster’s soul with the newborn child’s soul, becoming a part of the child.

This kind of curse was quite frightening. The stronger the caster’s resentment, the more deeply the newborn’s soul would be branded, and the stronger the symptoms would be when the illness flared up.

This curse was named the Generation Binding Curse because it embodied the devotion and resentment of the caster. The strength of the curse was near endless, and it wasn’t something that a secular doctor could resolve.

Looking at Huang’er, her life signs were vibrant, and it was obvious that she’d received extremely sophisticated heritages with regards to martial dao and cultivation.

However, this curse obviously didn’t affect the victim’s vital signs, only their soul. Once it flared up, the caster’s soul fragments would start wreaking havoc in the soul of the victim.

The victim would die an agonized death only when the caster’s soul fragments thoroughly destroyed the victim’s soul.

When this curse was inert, the victim would be completely healthy.

But once it acted, the situation would quickly devolve into something quite gruesome and perilous, because the caster had used their life and soul to coalesce this curse. The devotion and resentment within was absolutely indescribable.

Jiang Chen had been able to determine that this was the Generation Binding Curse because most symptoms having to do with the soul was either an affliction from birth, or something that came about because of an adverse reaction to something else.

Ailments having to do with the soul or consciousness would affect the patient’s life force.

Patients would usually give off others a feeble, sickly feeling.

Only the Generation Binding Curse was an malady powered by a curse and not a result of a natural deficiency in the patient’s soul. This was why it wouldn’t affect the patient’s body much.

Jiang Chen had read countless books in his past life and had heard of the ten great incurable ailments beneath the heavens.

The yin constitution had been ranked as first amongst them.

Although the Generation Binding Curse did not have a place amongst them, but it was a near incurable disease as well.

Therefore, Jiang Chen had a deep impression of it.

However, there was a reason why it hadn’t made it onto the ranking.

This was because on a certain level, the Generation Binding Curse wasn’t an incurable ailment. There were at least ways to dissolve the curse.

It was just that the dissolution wasn’t something that could be accomplished in a day.

When Elder Shun saw Jiang Chen furrow his brow in deep thought, the former didn’t dare make a sound. He stood on the side with dread written over his face. He also knew that old man Qian Ji’s divination had basically been validated by this youth.

If this young man said that there was no hope, then it was likely that there was no one in this world who could save Huang’er.

Therefore, even someone as strong as Elder Shun couldn’t help but feel his heartbeat speed up at this moment.

“Elder Shun, I have an initial diagnosis of Huang’er’s illness. It’s not something she was born with, nor something she developed after.”

“Then what is it?” Elder Shun started.

“It’s a type of curse. If I guess correctly, Huang’er’s parents must have been a heavenly matched pair that was the envy of all. There must have been another lady who suffered greatly in loving Miss Huang’er’s father.”

“A curse?” A thought struck Elder Shun. The details that Jiang Chen had spoken of matched up to the truth. There had indeed been another devoted lady laboriously pursuing Huang’er’s father when her parents had been in love.

Except, it was only one-sided, and had ended without results in the end.

The lady had been consumed with thoughts of yearning after that and had somehow passed away one day. Could it be…?

Elder Shun’s facial expression changed greatly when his thoughts traveled here. “Just what curse is it that’s so domineering?”

“The Generation Binding Curse is a result of those blindly in love and using their own souls to deploy this curse as a result of their own resentment and affection. They shatter their souls into fragments and meld them into the pregnant lady’s womb, leaving a brand on the soul of the unborn child. The fragments sometimes act out and disturb the child’s soul, finally ending when the victim’s soul has been destroyed, their body dead, and their dao progress terminated.”

Jiang Chen looked at Huang’er with some sympathy. “Miss Huang’er was an innocent victim of this catastrophe and was afflicted with the Generation Binding Curse by this blindly devoted woman.”

“The Generation Binding Curse?” Elder Shun murmured to himself. He’d never heard of this name and found it quite foreign.

This curse was quite rare and basically unheard of, so Elder Shun had never encountered it before.

Huang’er was slightly dazed by Jiang Chen’s words. She had no room for doubt as Jiang Chen’s words matched up perfectly to the truth.

She hadn’t had much confidence in Jiang Chen to begin with. She only couldn’t bear to make him sad after he had protected her thus and gone to such efforts on her behalf.

However, she’d never thought that this Jiang Chen would be able to truly diagnose her illness.

She was incredibly astonished in this moment.

She’d thought this unknown ailment was her destiny and a fate that couldn’t be changed.

She’d accompanied Elder Shun because she was tired of the conflicts of where she was, sick of the politics and scheming. She only wanted to find a quiet place and find inner calm and peace.

She didn’t want to return to the place where she’d been born even if she fell in the course of the journey.

However—

It was as if a bright light had suddenly blazed into existence in her heart. A hint of light had abruptly appeared in the endless darkness.

“Little brother Jiang, is there a way to dispel this Generation Binding Curse?”

Jiang Chen had been considering this question all along. From his memories from his past life, it was possible to break this curse, but the process was exceedingly complex.

And, there were more ways than one.

Jiang Chen actually didn’t know how to broach the subject after Elder Shun’s question.

“Sir Jiang, please feel free to speak candidly. I have seen through life and death and accepted my fate in this life. If I die, it will be my destiny. If I do not, then Huang’er will always thank your great favor in saving my life.”

Huang’er spoke up before Elder Shun spoke. Her tone was leisurely and refined, her eyes clear. her great wisdom in comprehending the meaning behind life and death was apparent from a glance.

Jiang Chen abruptly revised his opinion of this young girl upwards.

“Although Miss Huang’er’s eyes are different sizes, the look in them is very clear and bright. It’s obvious that she is quite wise. It looks like this duo’s background is not simple.”

Of course, Jiang Chen only thought this but didn’t ask.

He thought for a moment and nodded lightly. “I’ve thought for a bit, and there are three methods—plan A, B, and C. The effects of plan A are the fastest, but also the highest risk. There is but one chance of survival out of ten. Plan B requires time, fortune, but is also rather cruel. Plan C requires even more time and fortune, and relying on it may mean that a cure is never found. But if the time for plan C is nigh, its effects will be the best and sweep away all worries once and for all.”

Elder Shun and Huang’er had thought Jiang Chen had no ideas for a cure when his brow had been tightly furrowed before.

They hadn’t thought that Jiang Chen would have three methods!

Elder Shun’s eyes lit up. “There are three ways? Please do tell us more.”

“Plan A is to use methods of refining and tempering souls to refine away the brand on Miss Huang’er’s soul. The methods are quite risky, and one misstep may result in one refining even their own soul, becoming a walking corpse. In addition, even if one doesn’t refine their own soul, the slightest injury will bring about great aftereffects. Finally, the refinement process is exceedingly complex. It is exceedingly difficult, nigh well impossible to not harm one’s own soul. I know of no one with such capabilities on this world.”

Refining one’s soul did indeed run high risks.

The muscles on Elder Shun’s face spasmed slightly, and he looked at Huang’er with tender love. How would he bear to use such methods?

Even if she was cured in this fashion, the aftereffects would result in the deficiency of a lifetime.

“Plan B then?” Elder Shun struck off plan A immediately.

“Plan B is more cruel, and that’s to utterly refine one’s soul, destroying your own soul and the soul from the curse. After that, one would pillage another’s soul. In this regard, Miss Huang’er’s body would lose her own soul, and another would inhabit her physical body. The body would still be you, but the soul wouldn’t be.”

Elder Shun’s expression was quite ugly. “What difference is there between that and death then?”

Huang’er also lightly shook her head. She couldn’t accept robbing someone else of their soul.

“Mm, this method is indeed cruel, but it sees the highest use. This is because people often choose to take a baby’s soul, pure and untainted by the secular world. This is the equivalent of the soul growing up again. However, this move goes against heaven’s will and just folk should never utilize it.”

Jiang Chen was also heavily against plan B and didn’t wish for them to use it.

Elder Shun sighed softly, a bit resigned. “Let’s talk about plan C.”

It seemed that plan A and B were neither choices they could take.

“Plan C needs time and good fortune. There is a plant beneath the heavens called the Requiem Wood. If you are able to obtain this tree, you will be purify the soul and baptize Miss Huang’er’s soul. This is a one time purification and does away with all troubles with absolutely no aftereffects. This is a last resort of plan C, but if one has to the good fortune to bump into it, it is the best of plans. It’s a pity that it’s exceedingly difficult to locate the Requiem Wood.”

“Requiem Wood? Soul purification?” Elder Shun couldn’t help but ask, “Is there anything else that can replace this item?”

“Yes, but they’re all more difficult to locate than the Requiem Wood. In actuality, experts who cultivate their souls are able to purify souls purely with their own arts when they reach a heavenly level. However, those kind of experts is a level of existence that is impossible to find in our world.”

Elder Shun became lost in thought when he heard this.

He’d now heard all three methods, and plan C was the most certain out of all of them. However, where would he go to find this Requiem Wood?

He’d never heard of such an item!

“Little brother Jiang, in your opinion, which one would you use?”

“If it were my kin, I would use plan C without a doubt and seek the Requiem Wood. If there is really nothing to be done, then I would consider the plan A and refine their soul.”

“I too favor plan C more, but the Requiem Wood is hard to locate, and I’m afraid I lack sufficient time. The frequency of Huang’er’s ailment acting up has accelerated.”

“Mm, then this means that the soul brand from the curse is becoming more and more active.” Jiang Chen also frowned. It could be seen that Miss Huang’er had met with a love rival who was bore more than the usual resentment. The force of this curse was truly domineering.

With Miss Huang’er’s age, her ailment shouldn’t have been flaring up so often. This meant that the curse was extraordinarily strong.

Chapter 409: Saving Someone and Seeing Them Through to the End

There was a saying of “if you want to help someone, go the whole hog. If you send someone off, see them off until reaching their home.”

Jiang Chen could see that the duo had no other paths available. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have spent their time on him, a secular disciple.

With Elder Shun’s strength, to spend three years keeping a covert eye on a secular disciple for Miss Huang’er’s illness, he had truly put a great deal of thought and gone to enormous effort.

He had also aided Jiang Chen several times, so there was no reason for Jiang Chen to not try his best.

“Elder Shun, fortune is needed with regards to the Requiem Wood. If we cannot find it, it will be impossible to dispel the Generation Binding Curse. But there are ways to delay the ailment from flaring up and weakening the pain associated with the symptoms. However, I’ll need some time to prepare.”

Elder Shun was delighted to hear this. “Time is of no problem. We can very well stay in the Eternal Spirit Mountain for a year or two with no issues at all.”

He was a bit abashed at Jiang Chen’s look of confusion and chuckled. “Actually, I only changed some things in the formation. I moved the spirit stones powering it. The formation will open again if the spirit stones are returned to where they were. The four sects had prepared to let the candidates stay here for about three years. If it wasn’t for my haste, your selection wouldn’t have ended ahead of time. Although the others are unable to, you can actually continue to enjoy this environment for what remains of the three years.”

Jiang Chen stared, mouth agape, when he heard those words. He grew even more curious about the extent of Elder Shun’s strength.

To be able to tamper with the formation beneath the nose of the four forefathers, this meant that his strength vastly outstripped theirs!

“When it comes down to it, we have at least a year and a half, perhaps two years worth of time. Is that enough?” Elder Shun asked.

“We don’t need that much time. Three months will suffice.”

Elder Shun clapped. “Then it’s settled. Jiang Chen, no matter if this matter is successful or not, I’ll owe you a favor.”

Jiang Chen smiled faintly, not placing much emphasis on favors.

Elder Shun seemed to realize that Jiang Chen didn’t care much for his promise. He laughed ruefully and sighed, “Jiang Chen, do you know what one of my favors means?”

“Elder Shun, I, Jiang Chen, only seek to have a clear conscience when I act. You have reached out a helping hand to me twice, and I should naturally put forth my best efforts for Miss Huang’er’s sake. I would not dare ask for compensation.”

This wasn’t Jiang Chen speaking in hyperbole, he truly wasn’t expecting anything from Elder Shun.

Methods? Cultivation pointers?

Jiang Chen couldn’t care less about them all.

It was precisely because he had confidence and reassurance that he could be neither humble nor haughty and completely ignore Elder Shun’s favor and whatnot.

Those of the four sects left the outskirts of the Eternal Spirit Mountain after ten days.

Only then could the formation be reactivated without worry of being disturbed by others.

There were plenty of residences in the sky quadrant as well. Life was quite carefree with each of them occupying one residence.

Jiang Chen gave Elder Shun a list of ingredients. He wanted to refine a kind of pill that would sooth the soul and calm the heart.

The name of this pill was the Six Daos Pill, and it was exceedingly difficult to refine.

Apart from the Six Daos Pill, Jiang Chen rummaged through the memories of his past life to pull out more information.

He’d known the Generation Binding Curse in his past life and thus knew several ways to counteract it.

There was a scripture-like chant of the “Sacred Deliverance Mantra” that would suppress the interference within the soul and calm souls when chanted.

This was something easy to manipulate and would see considerable effects.

Another kind was a musical score, the “Ethereal Soothing Melody”, that had the same purpose as the “Sacred Liberation Mantra”, but its effects were much greater.

This score could also be performed by many instruments, with particularly great effect from instruments with a sense of intangible otherworldliness. The guqin, ancient flute, konghou, or guzheng would be particularly effective here.

Jiang Chen pulled these two out of the depths of his memories and spent another half month to fully perfect them.

“Miss Huang’er, if you recite this ‘Sacred Deliverance Mantra’ three times every morning and night, and when you feel troubled or distracted, it will suppress the interference in your soul.”

“This ‘Ethereal Soothing Melody’ can be performed by instruments to control the discord in your soul if the symptoms flare up strongly. Although this will not cure the heart of the issue, it is absolutely effective in delaying the onset of your ailment. If utilized adequately, it will ensure that you remain unbothered by the curse for ten years. However, the curse is one of vengeance and hatred. It will not rest until you are dead. If we cannot cure the crux of it, the backlash will still catch up to you one day, and it will be incredibly strong then. Therefore, these two items can ensure that you are fine for another ten, maybe even twenty years, but it will be difficult to say the same for thirty five years from now on.”

Elder Shun spoke resolutely on the side, “I will definitely find the Requiem Wood and cleanse the curse within Huang’er!”

Jiang Chen nodded. The heavens would never leave no way out. Miss Huang’er didn’t seem like someone who would die young. Perhaps there would be a change in her fate.

At least the two of them meeting him was a change already.

A trace of gratitude appeared in Huang’er’s eyes when she accepted these two items.

“Sir Jiang, apologies for causing you to go to effort and time over the personal matters of Huang’er.”

“Miss Huang’er, I will be ashamed if you speak thus. If it wasn’t for Elder Shun, I may not have even made it past the calamity at the Second Crossing.”

Huang’er smiled softly. Her features were ugly, but that smile gave one the feeling of the warm rays of sunshine and a hundred flowers blooming in unison.

“Sir Jiang, Huang’er knows a little bit of music and can tell that the ‘Ethereal Soothing Melody’ is an uncommon item with a glance. You have knowledge is as immense as the immortals’ and are someone of great talent.”

Huang’er was actually a genius and had achieved great attainments in the area of music.

But she was shocked with but a single glance at the musical score. That the “Ethereal Soothing Music” was found in the secular world truly did startle her. She felt that Jiang Chen, a peer of hers, was becoming more and more enigmatic.

She hadn’t thought much of Elder Shun’s attention placed on Jiang Chen before, only thinking that he had received some marvelous occurrences and boasted of some potential in martial and pill daos and that was why he stuck out in the sixteen kingdoms.

It seemed like her eye was still not as keen as Elder Shun’s.

When she thought of how she’d taken Jiang Chen lightly before, she felt greatly ashamed. She was a pure and kind-hearted girl, and now that she’d received Jiang Chen’s aid, she couldn’t help but feel guilty for her previous unkind thoughts.

“Miss Huang’er need not worry. I have been observing your countenance, and you look like someone with great fortune. You will be able to turn calamities into blessings even if you meet with disaster, not to mention with such a benevolent senior as Elder Shun, you are sure to enjoy the fruits of labor later in life.”

Jiang Chen wasn’t just speaking carelessly. He was able to read people in his past life and divulge some hints about their life from observing their countenances.

Miss Huang’er was indeed someone who wasn’t meant to have a life that ended prematurely. It was just that she had faced some setbacks in her life, but once she overcame them, she would enjoy great fortune.

Elder Shun was also startled upon hearing these words.

Jiang Chen’s words were actually similar to old man Qian Ji’s. The old man’s divination had also said that Huang’er was destined to meet great fortune in her life, and enjoy the sweetness in life after bitterness. She was sure to turn misfortune into fortune after meeting someone offering great aid!

To think that Jiang Chen would say the same as old man Qian Ji despite the two being separated by mountains and rivers!

It was easy to imagine the shock within Elder Shun’s heart.

A trace of surprise flashed through even Huang’er’s eyes. Her admiration of Jiang Chen unknowingly deepened a bit more.

“Elder Shun, I will tarry around here for another half year to a year and make use of the great environment of the sky quadrant. In addition, Chu Xinghan has yet to awaken. Perhaps some more time is needed. This time will be enough to prove the usefulness of those two items, and I will prepare some pills for Miss Huang’er as well.”

Elder Shun could only be thankful Jiang Chen was doing so much. What else could he ask for?

…...

As Jiang Chen lingered in the Eternal Spirit Mountain, many of the lives of those in the four sects had had their fates altered by this selection.

Within the Purple Sun Sect.

Sunchaser’s anger had yet to dissipate when he returned to the sect.

“Jiang Chen!” Rage boiled in Sunchaser’s heart when he thought of this name. He still wasn’t fully at peace without having seen Jiang Chen die in the Eternal Spirit Mountain with his own two eyes.

“Shuiyue, you said that a mysterious person saved him in the secular world. What was that about?”

Master Shuiyue had yet to recover from Long Juxue being hacked into two. Her entire being was listless, distracted, and quite sullen.

She thought for a moment and then recounted the message that Chu Xinghan had brought back from the Second Crossing.

Sunchaser thought silently for a moment. “You originally said that you suspected Ye Chonglou of being that mysterious person?”

Master Shuiyue nodded. “Indeed, according to Jiang Chen’s background, it’s most likely Ye Chonglou.”

“Bullshit!” Sunchaser flew into a rage. “How would Ye Chonglou be so overweeningly arrogant as to dare threaten to take a walk in our Purple Sun Sect?”

The more Sunchaser thought about this, the more he felt something was amiss. That pinecone on the stage in particular had sent him reeling backwards. No matter where it’d come from, there must have been someone stronger than him present then that no one had detected.

He suspected now that whoever had acted at the ring was the one who’d beaten back Chu Xinghan at the second crossing!

Purple Sun Sect’s sect head, Spiritual Master Zixu, asked upon sensing the tense atmosphere, “Forefather, our sect suffered heavy losses in this time’s selection. What should we do after Long Juxue’s demise? If that person asks, how should we answer them?”

This question made Sunchaser’s brow furrow even deeper and he cursed, “What else can we say? Tell them the truth. Who would’ve thought that Long Juxue of the innate constitution would be cleaved into two by a secular disciple?”

Spiritual Master Zixu smiled wryly, “I’m afraid that speaking the truth will direct their anger at us. Although we’ve long since come to an agreement, those people are domineering and without reason.”

Master Shuiyue was utterly befuddled. “Wait, forefather, sect head, what are you talking about? What people?”

Sunchaser snorted oddly and looked around, sweeping his gaze over every senior executive’s face. “I don’t need to conceal it any longer since you’re all here. The fate of the sixteen kingdoms has long since been decided. We lack talent, our resources are drying up, and our strength is feeble. We’ve long since been ostracized in the Myriad Domain and will certainly be exiled as desolate wilderness in the upcoming decades. Our Purple Sun Sect has had to make some preparations, and it was necessary to find some backers in the Myriad Domain. Our sect cannot go down with the sixteen kingdom alliance!”

The senior executives were all flabbergasted at Sunchaser’s words.

The fate of the sixteen kingdoms had already been decided? Then the selection… was just a formality, and it seems that the sect had found a backer long ago?

Chapter 410: Precious Tree Sect, Rage of Forefather Thousandleaf

The senior executives of the Precious Tree Sect were convening at almost the same time.

Forefather Thousandleaf plainly hadn’t given up hope on Jiang Chen. He began digging into all information related to Jiang Chen upon his return.

“How ludicrous, Jiang Chen was in our Skylaurel Kingdom for almost two years, and none of you senior executives discovered this unparalleled genius? Why don’t you tell me what are all of you good for?!”

Thousandleaf was a nice person, but that didn’t mean he didn’t have a temper.

He was quite irate at the current situation. Jiang Chen had been in the Skylaurel Kingdom for almost two years and had displayed unsurpassed abilities. His reputation had long since spread throughout the sect.

But the sect had failed to recruit this person!

Not only had they failed to recruit him, those of the sect had actually kept suppressing him and erecting blockages in his way. One of the four sites in particular, the Azure Heaven Northern Palace, had oppressed Jiang Chen time and time again.

The Iron family had also had many ignoble records in the course of suppressing Jiang Chen.

This truly incensed forefather Thousandleaf as he slammed his hand on the table.

“Are you all deaf and dumb? All any of you know to do is to fight amongst yourselves—do you realize now how large of the gap between us and the rest are, thanks to the selection? If it wasn’t for Jiang Chen’s unexpected appearance, we would’ve lost the very shirt off our backs and pants off our bodies. Xie Tianshu, Iron Long, just how do you normally cultivate the younger disciples? How do you identify talent? The sect has given you so much resources, just how have you allotted them?”

No wonder forefather Thousandleaf was infuriated. The Precious Tree Sect’s resources were quite abundant. When it came to this, they were ranked first amongst the sects. However, the disciples that they had cultivated couldn’t make it into the top four.

Even though Lian Canghai, who was nurtured by the Iron family, had achieved the highest rank, he’d only placed at number five. This was due to him being lucky in that the selection had suddenly shortened to one year. If it wasn’t for that, then Lian Canghai’s ranking likely would’ve decreased even more.

Xie Tianshu, the Xie family’s direct descendent, had only placed at number seven after putting forth all that he had.

Iron Dazhi wasn’t even worth mentioning. He’d only gone to make a fool of himself.

It was rather Tang Hong, this unloved and much belittled character who had burst onto the scene with amazing and eye catching moves. He’d been much more impressive than Lian Canghai and Xie Yufan.

How would sect head Xie Tianshu and venerated elder Iron Long dare meet forefather Thousandleaf’s gaze? They all felt incredibly guilty.

“Hmph, feeling guilty now?” Thousandleaf’s anger had yet to dissipate as he glared, hectoring. “Look at all of you, do you know of Jiang Chen’s background? Whoever knows about it, speak up! The more detailed your knowledge, the better.”

The Iron family had actually investigated Jiang Chen’s past before.

However, they were completely unwilling to describe just how his life had been. After all, they were the pitiful backdrop to his rise.

They were the biggest stepping stone to Jiang Chen’s rise in the Skylaurel Kingdom.

They naturally didn’t want to mention such a forlorn history.

Xie Tianshu knew a bit about Jiang Chen’s basic information, so he briefly went over it at this time.

Forefather Thousandleaf frowned. “This is all common knowledge, everyone within the sects already knows about this. Is there any behind the scenes knowledge? Such as who is Jiang Chen’s backer?”

“Is it not spirit king protector Ye Chonglou?” Xie Tianshu was surprised.

Thousandleaf snorted coldly. “Ye Chonglou walked out from our halls. I rather admire him, but this matter isn’t that simple. Is there no deeper intelligence?”

Xie Tianshu smiled wryly. “That I don’t know. Should we ask Ye Chonglou to come in for a visit?”

“Sect head, lordmaster Ye Chonglou has been in closed door cultivation for almost a year and has yet to emerge.” A sect elder said lowly.

Forefather Thousandleaf felt vaguely irritated. There was a puzzle in his heart that he wished to solve.

He was still thinking back on the scene of Jiang Chen killing Long Juxue in the ring, but he couldn’t think it through—just how did Jiang Chen accomplished this?

Born of humble origins, how many fortuitous occurrences would he have had to run into in order to rise from the dust and slaughter Long Juxue, who had an innate constitution?

And, when this matter had happened, Sunchaser had charged towards the ring, but had been halted by a force suddenly and even spat out blood when he fell.

Who had been the one to act?

None of the various sect heavyweights mentioned the matter after exiting the Eternal Spirit Mountain, but everyone was well aware and still thinking about it.

Just what kind of perverse talent did that person have to make even Sunchaser spit out blood?

That such an expert had appeared in the sixteen kingdom alliance made forefather Thousandleaf quite curious.

He wanted to know the relationship between this mysterious person and Jiang Chen.

It was because of this inquisitive desire that he’d summoned everyone to look for information about Jiang Chen.

But their performance greatly disappointed him.

That the Precious Tree Sect’s intelligence network could be so poor made him almost want to go on a rampage.

Just as the atmosphere became a bit awkward, a faint sound traveled in from some corner below. “Forefather, your subordinate…”

This person was in the most remote corner, and appeared to be merely a senior executive.

This was a meeting of the highest levels, and although executives had the right to participate, they could only sit in the most remote corners.

A censure came from the elders’ seats as soon as this person stood up. “Fei Xuan, you’re just a small executive. What right do you have to speak here? Sit the hell back down!”

The person speaking was elder Iron Can, the son of the head of the esteemed elders, Iron Long.

The senior executive who’d stood up was the person in charge of Qingyang Valley—old man Fei Xuan.

Fei Xuan had handed over a Renewal Purity Pill to Xie Tianshu and saved his precious son’s life. This had enabled him to become a senior executive, a change as big as a carp leaping over an arch to become a dragon.

He originally had not much of a right to speak, but when he’d heard that everyone was discussing Jiang Chen, he had a great deal of right to speak about this.

At first, he’d considered his position and hadn’t dare say much.

But after the forefather had grown angry, and none of those seated here had any answers, old man Fei seem to vaguely feel that his chance had arrived again.

He finally stood out after giving it much thought.

Who knew that he’d subjected to a loud censure just after he stood up, before even speaking? Fei Xuan and Iron Can had formed a grudge when they were young, so Iron Can naturally wouldn’t allow Fei Xuan to obtain any glory in front of him.

Forefather Thousandleaf’s brow furrowed when Iron Can cried out, and he became even more displeased with the Iron father and son’s performance.

Xie Tianshu was well versed at observing expressions, and his face changed as well. “Iron Can, what are you yelling and shouting about? If he has no right to speak, then what right do you, demoted to an elder-in-waiting, have to speak?”

Iron Can was ashamed and could say nothing. He really didn’t dare retort back against the sect head’s hectoring.

Xie Tianshu was indeed ticked off. Fei Xuan was someone he’d raised and the savior of his son’s life. How dare Iron Can lecture him like this?

After beating back Iron Can, Xie Tianshu spoke warmly to Fei Xuan. “Fei Xuan, what do you have to say? I’ve heard that you were close to Jiang Chen in the Skylaurel Kingdom? If you offer any good intelligence, the forefather will raise you even higher.”

Fei Xuan grew emotional and nodded. “This one is indeed close with Sir Jiang Chen. Sir Jiang Chen received pointers from an expert when young. According to my speculations, the person behind him is likely from a stronger domain. With Sir Jiang Chen’s knowledge and methods, his mentor is definitely not someone from the sixteen kingdom alliance.”

It wasn’t that Fei Xuan was selling out Jiang Chen, but that he felt the latter was their own since he was a Precious Tree Sect disciple now. It should be fine as long as he didn’t speak of any critical matters and only mentioned Jiang Chen’s fortuitous occurrences. This would also aid the rise in Jiang Chen’s position.

To be honest, Fei Xuan felt great gratitude towards Jiang Chen. He was the most worried out of anyone when Jiang Chen had failed to return this time.

After all, he’d taken Jiang Chen for his young master, and had long since viewed Jiang Chen as his great backer.

Then he heard that Jiang Chen had soared to the top with astounding moves during the selection, he’d felt that it was both to be expected and a bit shocking. After all, it was simply too stunning that Jiang Chen had killed Long Juxue, someone who had an innate constitution.

However, his intelligence made Thousandleaf’s thoughts move.

“Fei Xuan is it? Where does your knowledge come from?” Forefather Thousandleaf asked with a warm expression.

“In response to the forefather, this one has dealt with Jiang Chen more and once heard it straight from his lips. According to my covert observations, Jiang Chen’s words are not false.”

Forefather Thousandleaf nodded, “Only this makes sense. Otherwise, a secular disciple should not have such heaven defying performances, no matter what is the case.”

Having received more intelligence, Thousandleaf actually began to comfort himself. “If the mysterious expert is the one supporting Jiang Chen, he’ll think of a way to free Jiang Chen from the mountain. Ai, it is our sect’s fortune that Jiang Chen has chosen us. I wonder if this will still count when he emerges from the mountain?”

Forefather Thousandleaf was a bit worried, worried that Jiang Chen wouldn’t think much of the Precious Tree Sect.

However, there was no point in contemplating this right now. He swept his eyes around and stopped on Tang Hong. Forefather Thousandleaf knew that if he wanted Jiang Chen to accept the sect, he’d have to play the card called Tang Hong properly. If he played this emotional card now, he may be able to gain Jiang Chen’s support that way.

“Alright, the selection is over. The future of the sixteen kingdom alliance hangs in the balance, so we have no time to waste. From today forth, I will personally tutor Tang Hong, Lian Canghai, and Xie Yufan.”

Thousandleaf announced and then flicked a glance at Fei Xuan in the corner. “This Fei Xuan is not bad. He still thinks of the sect even after being exiled from the inner sect. He is an example to us all. Tianshu, you should make use more of people like this. A position of senior executive is too low, how will he be able to display his talents? I think that one such as Fei Xuan should join the ranks of the elders.”

Thousandleaf had gained an abundance of useless information from the senior executives, but had gained much more useful information from Fei Xuan.

Therefore, he felt kindly disposed towards Fei Xuan and wanted to give him a hand.

After all, Fei Xuan was close with Jiang Chen. Valuing him meant another emotional card he could play.

Forefather Thousandleaf then said to the three after giving his orders, “Come with me.”

Tang Hong however, said, “Forefather, your disciple would like to make a visit to the Skylaurel Kingdom first and take care of the people who are with boss Jiang Chen.”

Tang Hong was worried that the Iron family would vent their rage on Jiang Chen’s people in his boss’ absence. Therefore, he decided to take care of them first.