Upon hearing this, Gongsun Sheng's expression turned extremely ugly.
How many two-year spans did a person have in life? He was in the most dazzling years of his life, at the critical juncture of breaking through to the Vajra Realm. If he wasted these two years...
Perhaps even those ranked below him on the Human Ranking would have already broken through to the Vajra Realm.
No.
He had to find a way to get his Lineage to rescue him. Forcing their way in was probably impossible.
Although Great Chu had become a scarred and battered dragon, its foundations still remained. Leading powerful experts to storm a county yamen prison was no different from rebellion.
"Lord... Lord Chu, if I perform meritorious deeds, my sentence can be reduced, right?" Gongsun Sheng gritted his teeth, his face flushed red as he tried his best to lower himself so as not to provoke Chu Jiang.
"Of course!"
"Our family is quite wealthy. We could contribute something toward repairing your esteemed county yamen." Gongsun Sheng did not state it outright. He could hardly say directly that he wanted to bribe him and have his punishment waived.
"Oh?"
Chu Jiang naturally understood what Gongsun Sheng meant. He wanted to offer some benefits in exchange for his freedom.
"Then I'll wait for your good news. Our Baishi County yamen truly does need some repairs. I'm very pleased that you have such intentions."
How could the others fail to understand Chu Jiang's hint? One after another, they said excitedly, "My lord, I am also willing to contribute something toward the county yamen's repairs."
"My lord, I can as well."
"..."
Chu Jiang said nothing.
He sealed the meridians of every offending Innate martial artist, lest they stir up trouble in prison.
"Take them back to the prison!"
More than a dozen Demon Hunters each escorted one person toward Baishi County's prison.
The procession was enormous and instantly drew the townspeople to watch.
The crowd buzzed with discussion, pointing fingers and passing judgment.
Gongsun Sheng felt too ashamed to show his face. Since the day he was born, he had never suffered such humiliation.
To let a pack of lowly commoners see him in such a miserable state—his mentality was about to explode.
He only hoped his Lineage would come save him sooner.
"Brother Chu, you truly keep your talents well hidden!" Mad Saber laughed heartily, his laughter ringing through the air like a great bell.
Chu Jiang's strength had opened his eyes.
After all, Gongsun Sheng was still the eleventh-ranked expert on the Human Ranking, not some stray cat or dog.
"Let's trade a few moves!" Mad Saber pointed toward the outskirts of the city, excitement written across his face.
With his and Chu Jiang's strength, if they fought without restraint inside the city, they would destroy plenty of houses. He could not afford the compensation.
"Let's go!"
Chu Jiang did not refuse. He could sense the battle intent deep in Mad Saber's bones, and he happened to want someone to test himself against. Mad Saber was just right.
Second on the Human Ranking, with combat strength capable of defeating Vajra Realm experts.
"Interesting!"
Bewitching Heart Demoness watched the two departing men, then followed them out of the city.
The three arrived outside the city gates. It was an empty expanse with no buildings around, allowing them to fight to their hearts' content.
"Please."
The Blood Sun Saber slid from Chu Jiang's hand. Although the Demon Suppression Division had issued him a Demon Suppressing Blade, and its material was quite sturdy, it did not feel nearly as natural in his hand.
Mad Saber grinned. "Brother Chu, I'm going all out, so you'd better be careful."
As soon as he finished speaking, Mad Saber's aura erupted. The presence around him rose ceaselessly, reaching its peak in the blink of an eye.
The long saber in his hand also glimmered with light, its blade growing sharper, as though it could sever all things.
"Fine saber!"
Chu Jiang's eyes lit up. He could feel a powerful force emanating from this saber.
By aura alone, Mad Saber was already no different from someone who had just stepped into the Vajra Realm.
"Brother Chu, take this!"
Mad Saber shouted, his figure flashing forward like lightning as he charged at Chu Jiang.
The long saber in his hand slashed down fiercely, carrying a razor-sharp force that seemed intent on cleaving Chu Jiang in two.
Chu Jiang's gaze sharpened, and the Blood Sun Saber in his hand met the strike.
The two sabers collided with a crisp clang.
Chu Jiang's strength was terrifyingly great, jolting Mad Saber's arm until it went slightly numb.
"So strong!"
Mad Saber was secretly astonished, but he did not retreat. Instead, the fighting spirit within him surged even higher.
He unleashed the Overlord Saber and began an intense clash with Chu Jiang.
Their figures crisscrossed through the air, saber light flashing. Every collision unleashed enormous waves of energy.
Bewitching Heart Demoness stood to the side, watching their battle with a trace of shock in her eyes.
She had not expected Chu Jiang to be so formidable, capable of fighting Mad Saber to a standstill.
The more Mad Saber fought, the more excited he became. He discovered that he could not suppress Chu Jiang at all, and that filled him with boundless exhilaration.
He used every trick in his arsenal, pushing his saber technique to its limit as he tried to find an opening.
Yet Chu Jiang's saber technique was equally exquisite, even more marvelous than his own. His defense was watertight, and every one of Mad Saber's attacks was effortlessly defused. The battle lasted a long while before Mad Saber finally realized that Chu Jiang had not used his full strength at all—he had merely been playing with him.
At last, the two each stepped back several paces and stopped.
Mad Saber panted heavily, a wide smile on his face. "Brother Chu, it has been a long time since I last fought such a satisfying battle."
"You're very strong. We'll fight again next time, and I'll definitely surpass you!"
Chu Jiang smiled faintly and did not refuse.
Mad Saber's strength was already extraordinary, and his saber technique had reached the realm of perfection.
Sparring with him could also deepen Chu Jiang's understanding of the saber.
However, he had already broken through to the Vajra Realm and had been holding back against Mad Saber. Otherwise, the battle would have ended in two or three moves.
"Come, let's have a few drinks at my residence!"
Chu Jiang said with a smile, extending an invitation. If he could find an opportunity to recruit these two into the Demon Suppressing Guard, they would be a great help. He was currently a commander without soldiers.
"Nothing could be better!"
Several days later.
Dahe Commandery, Sword King Sect.
"Father, that battle happened so long ago. Why can't you let it go?"
A young man dressed in white sword robes, with sword-like brows, starry eyes, and an extraordinary bearing.
He looked toward the middle-aged man seated in the place of honor and asked.
The two were Gu Jian, the current first-ranked expert on the Human Ranking, and Gu Hongchen, who had held first place on the Human Ranking over a decade ago.
"I only asked you to send him a challenge letter. Is that so difficult?" Gu Hongchen's face was livid, like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
"Chu Jiang is no match for me at all. If I send him a challenge letter, wouldn't I just be bullying him?"
"Besides, he has only just obtained the Blood Saber Legacy and has not even had time to fully absorb it. Even if I won, it would be a dishonorable victory."
"If we fight, then it must be an open and upright battle!"
"A battle at our peaks!"
"Not a one-sided crushing!"
Gu Jian's gaze was sharp. His entire body seemed to transform into a Sword Qi that pierced the heavens, his momentum like a rainbow arching across the sky, ready to stab through the firmament.
The first-ranked expert on the Human Ranking challenging the eleventh-ranked one—regardless of victory or defeat, people would look down on it.
A sword would rather break than bend.
Gu Hongchen also knew his son's temperament. Otherwise, Gu Jian would never have achieved such accomplishments.
But in his battle against Blood Saber back then, he had relied on a powerful expert outside the arena to launch a sneak attack and secure victory, successfully defending the Sword King Sect's prestige.
Afterward, he had successfully stepped into the Vajra Realm.
Yet ever since he reached the Vajra Realm Peak, he had been unable to advance even a single step further.
He had tried countless methods and consumed all kinds of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. Whenever he attempted a breakthrough, he would recall that battle from back then.
He had risen through a sneak attack.
He was inferior to Blood Saber.
That thought clung to his heart like a curse, making it impossible for him to break through.
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