Gathering at Black Wind Mountain

Half a month later.

Black Wind Mountain, thirty li northwest of Baishi County.

At the mountainside lay an enormous open clearing, large enough to hold several thousand people.

Black Wind Mountain was exceptionally lively at this moment, with countless people coming and going.

Prominent clans, children of great families, martial wanderers, and people from every walk of life had gathered in one place, making for a bustling scene.

"Mad Saber, you arrived early," Bewitching Heart Demoness said, swaying over with a bewitching figure.

"Heh heh, you weren't slow either. This clash for the strongest spot on the Human Ranking was not something one could miss."

Mad Saber laughed heartily, filled with anticipation for today's battle. He knew Chu Jiang's strength well; it was absolutely no weaker than Gu Jian's.

The other spectators were also talking among themselves.

"This truly is a fated showdown!"

"More than a decade ago, Blood Saber fought Gu Hongchen, who had then ranked first on the Human Ranking. Rumor had it that Blood Saber was defeated, and Gu Hongchen's fame spread in all directions."

"Today, Blood Saber's successor and Gu Hongchen's descendant, Gu Jian, are facing each other once more. It's truly thrilling!"

At the Hundred Flowers Sect's encampment, Li Yu said disdainfully, "Who knows where Chu Jiang got the confidence to challenge Gu Jian, the number one on the Human Ranking."

Ever since Gu Jian had entered the martial world, he had been invincible among those of the same realm, with no one capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with him.

Even their sect master fell slightly short.

Eleventh on the Human Ranking and first on the Human Ranking were worlds apart.

Bai Ruoxue said, "The sect master sent you here to learn with humility, not to pass judgment. Say less."

"Even if he is inferior to Gu Jian, he is still far stronger than you. Watch carefully; it will help you advance into the Xiantian Realm."

Li Yu pouted. "Got it!"

"Oh? Who did I think it was? So it's you, little missy, badmouthing Master Chu behind his back again. Master Chu saved you on Black Tiger Mountain back then."

A voice suddenly rang out. The newcomer was Lu Feiyang.

Dressed in fine robes, he spoke with open mockery.

"Hmph, you lecherous wolf, who asked you to meddle?" Li Yu snorted. The moment she saw Lu Feiyang, she found him irritating and immediately turned her head away.

"Chief Clerk Lu has arrived!"

Behind Lu Feiyang followed a group of people dressed in official robes. At their head was Annan Commandery's chief clerk, the fifth most influential figure in Annan Commandery.

"I didn't expect the authorities to send representatives too. This is quite a grand display."

"I just wonder whether that mysterious Grandmaster will show himself. I came today specifically to pay my respects to the Grandmaster, and to watch the younger generation clash while I'm at it."

Chief Clerk Lu gave a cold snort. "Brat, what are you dawdling for? Get moving!"

Lu Feiyang stuck his tongue out at Li Yu and quickly left.

"You lecherous wolf, don't let me see you again..." Li Yu stomped her feet in fury.

Bai Ruoxue shook her head helplessly, unable to understand what their sect master saw in this girl.

She then turned her gaze toward the clearing. All six great sects of Annan Commandery, along with the authorities, had sent people. The scale of the event was indeed magnificent; this trip had not been in vain.

"Young Master, you finally managed to get out. We should still go home. The clan head is waiting for you to return, and there's nothing worth seeing here." Gongsun Li wore a face as bitter as a bitter melon.

"The number one on the Human Ranking against eleventh place—wouldn't that just be a one-sided crushing?"

Calling it bullying would not have been an exaggeration.

"Got it. Once I finish watching this show, I'll head back immediately," Gongsun Sheng said impatiently.

Chu Jiang had humiliated him so thoroughly, and now his cousin would soon be able to give him a good beating. How could he possibly miss such a fine show?

Even now, he could not forget that humiliating period in prison. He had actually been... violated by some lowly, base people. A scholar may be killed but not humiliated.

Gongsun Li sighed. Gongsun Sheng was the most outstanding member of the Gongsun Family's current generation, and both the clan elders and the clan head regarded him highly.

If something happened to him here, what then?

A place with many people was not necessarily a good place.

Where there was fortune, danger often followed.

"Look, Old Li, my cousin has arrived! He truly is a hero of his generation. In all of Yun Province, who else can contend with him? Is Chu Jiang even worthy?" Gongsun Sheng said excitedly.

At that moment, he wished he could transform into Gu Jian, the number one on the Human Ranking, and personally chop that bastard Chu Jiang into eight pieces.

Gongsun Li also looked into the arena and immediately spotted the young man who stood out like a crane among chickens, entering the grounds as though stars surrounded the moon.

He was tall and slender, dressed in a pristine white robe that fluttered in the wind. His face was cold and resolute, his sword-like brows angled toward his temples, and his eyes shone like stars—deep and sharp.

The sword in his hand resembled a pool of autumn water, glimmering with a cold, ghostly light.

His bearing was proud and aloof, making him difficult to approach yet impossible not to notice. Invisible Sword Qi seemed to coil around him, inspiring fear at a glance.

Behind him stood a group of Sword King Sect disciples, led by Gu Hongchen of the Sword King Sect.

"The main character has arrived. The show is about to begin!"

"So this is the number one on the Human Ranking? Is he really only in the Xiantian Realm? His aura is far too powerful, like a sharp sword piercing straight into heaven and earth."

A martial wanderer exclaimed in admiration.

"This time, for their match against Chu Jiang, who is eleventh on the Human Ranking, the Sword King Sect has truly spent lavishly. They've put up a bottle of Jade Dew Nectar, which can nourish one's bones and improve one's martial talent," said a representative of the Myriad Flower Sword Sect.

The old man beside him said, "There's also a Six-Revolutions True Essence Pill. If someone at the Xiantian Peak takes it, there is a fifty-percent chance of breaking through into the Vajra Realm."

"Such enormous stakes, merely for a battle against eleventh place on the Human Ranking. I truly cannot understand what medicine the Sword King Sect is selling in its gourd."

Many Rogue Cultivators were deeply puzzled. Did the Sword King Sect have too much money and nowhere to spend it?

"What the hell do you know? No matter how great the stakes are, can Chu Jiang win? This is just going through the motions. If it were someone in the top three of the Human Ranking, they might still be able to exchange a few moves with Gu Jian."

"Eleventh on the Human Ranking? There's an eighty-percent chance he'll be killed in seconds. Just wait and see."

For today's battle, ninety percent of those present did not think highly of Chu Jiang.

"Look, there are so many powerful experts on the high platform..."

"Annan Commandery's Fire Hand Judge!"

"Ziyan Commandery's Crimson Fire Hermit!"

"Lingfeng Commandery's Iron Mask Ghost!"

"..."

There were nearly thirty Vajra Realm experts alone, hailing from every commandery in Yun Province.

Their seats were closest to the battlefield, allowing them to clearly observe the battle between the two men.

"Iron Mask Ghost, who do you favor?" the red-robed old man on the high platform asked.

Iron Mask Ghost frowned slightly. "Old Crimson, what does who I favor have to do with you?"

"How about we place a bet?"

Crimson Fire Hermit licked his lips, looking faintly excited.

"Get lost, get lost, get lost! Who the hell would bet with you? Go die!" Iron Mask Ghost said with a cold face. Betting with this fellow meant losing nine times out of ten. Unless he had gone mad, he would never do it.

"I'm betting Chu Jiang wins?"

"Who the hell cares who you're betting on? Get the hell away from me!" Iron Mask Ghost snapped furiously.

Crimson Fire Hermit froze. He still would not take the bait. Crimson Fire Hermit had thought that if he bet on Chu Jiang, it would provoke Iron Mask Ghost into betting on Chu Jiang as well, while he himself could bet on Gu Jian.

Yet Iron Mask Ghost simply would not bite. Fine, you win.

He immediately shifted his attention to someone else. With so many Vajra Realm experts here, he had to fleece a batch before the battle began. He refused to believe that not a single one of them would take the bait.

"Chu Jiang is here!"

At those words, everyone looked toward the mountain road halfway up the slope. It was indeed Chu Jiang.

Unlike the Sword King Sect, which had arrived in a great group.

There was no one following behind Chu Jiang. He had climbed the mountain alone.

Compared to the Sword King Sect, he seemed exceptionally solitary.

"Let's begin. I'm in a hurry to get home for lunch," Chu Jiang said lazily, looking as though he had not yet woken up. His tone made it seem as though he were merely here to go through the motions.