Boom!
Gu Jian stood proudly, then slammed one foot down. The Sky-Splitting Sword began to tremble violently, releasing a sword cry like the roar of a hundred beasts that made souls quiver.
"What terrifying pressure. Is this still the Xiantian Realm? It feels like even a wisp of leaked Sword Qi could suppress and kill a Xiantian Peak expert."
A prodigy from the Human Ranking cried out in alarm.
"What kind of sword move is this? How could it be so terrifying?!" Crimson Fire Hermit's eyes widened. He had actually sensed danger from this move.
He was at the Vajra Realm Middle Stage.
This boy was terrifying. Once Gu Jian entered the Vajra Realm, even he would be no match for him.
Delight appeared in his eyes. The stronger Gu Jian was, the better. He had paid a bloody price today; if Chu Jiang truly won, would that not mean a disastrous loss?
Great Freedom Geng Metal Sword Qi!
Gu Jian roared as the essence blood throughout his body began to burn, gathering power for this sword strike.
A dazzling golden Sword Qi burst across the sky, like a blazing sun hanging overhead. Its light was so brilliant that no one could look directly at it.
The Sword Qi contained immense power. Anything it touched was instantly reduced to powder, as though nothing in this world could stop its edge.
Hard rocks were as fragile as tofu before this force, easily sliced into countless fragments that scattered in every direction.
Around the two of them, several thick trees were severed at the waist, their leaves ground into dust.
The dust became an earthen dragon, shrouding the entire battlefield and hiding what was happening within.
Rumble!
The enormous roar sounded as though the earth itself were splitting apart.
It was like an ancient great bell resounding, throwing people's souls into disarray.
When the smoke and dust dispersed and the gray haze retreated, the two men appeared before everyone once more.
Chu Jiang had not retreated even half a step. Such powerful Sword Qi was enough to tear through the defenses of a Vajra Realm Middle Stage expert, yet not a single wound could be seen on him.
Gu Jian had consumed too much qi and blood. Blood stained his white robe red as he dropped to one knee, nearly collapsing unconscious and unable to rise again.
"You... won."
Gu Jian spoke with difficulty.
"He blocked an attack of that level? Is he human or a ghost?!"
The Vajra Realm experts on the high platform were deeply shaken. If he had at least taken a few steps back or sustained some minor injuries, they could barely have understood it.
But he was completely unscathed. That was simply too heaven-defying.
"What? He actually defeated Gu Jian, number one on the Human Ranking?!" Li Yu of the Hundred Flowers Sect stared wide-eyed. Did that not mean his strength surpassed even her own sect master's?
Lu Chief Clerk said, "This boy is far too strong. You should interact with him more in the future. Look at him, then look at you—I get angry just thinking about it."
"Father, did you even need to say that? This Young Master is going to become sworn brothers with him. Let's see who dares bully me after that. I'll go straight up and give them a huge slap across the face." Lu Feiyang laughed excitedly.
Lu Chief Clerk said, "..."
"Ah, bastard! That damned Chu Jiang—what demonic trick did he use to defeat my cousin?!" Gongsun Sheng nearly crushed his back teeth. With this, his hopes of revenge had become even more distant.
The instant Gu Hongchen saw Gu Jian defeated, his entire body felt as though it had fallen into an ice cellar.
He had once been no match for Blood Saber.
Now, his son had also lost to Blood Saber's inheritor.
Did that not prove that Gu Hongchen and all his descendants were inferior to Blood Saber?
For generation after generation, they could never escape this curse. It was nearly enough to bury his final hope.
"No, that's impossible."
A scream rang through his heart as the true essence within his body began to riot.
"I haven't lost. I haven't!"
Gu Hongchen fell into madness. His whole body began to tremble as he took a step forward, Sword Qi surging around him while the aura of Vajra Peak swept in all directions.
"What terrifying pressure. As expected of the previous generation's number one on the Human Ranking."
"What is Gu Hongchen trying to do? Don't tell me he intends to shamelessly attack Chu Jiang just because he saw his son lose?"
"That's possible. Look at how chaotic his aura is. He's in an extreme state of rampage, his fury soaring to the heavens. He's extremely dangerous."
The Vajra Realm experts on the high platform discussed among themselves.
"This is a sign of qi deviation!" Fire Hand Judge said gravely.
"What?!"
The others were alarmed, immediately sensing that things had gone wrong.
Fire Hand Judge was the only late-stage Vajra Realm expert among the honored guests. His vision was sharp; he would not make such a statement without cause.
If a Vajra Peak expert went mad, who could restrain him?
"Everyone, I suddenly remembered that my lovely wife is waiting for me at home to have dinner. I won't stay any longer."
"Ahem, it's time. I should return to my sect and teach martial arts to my disciples. I'll take my leave first."
"Ah, I almost forgot about the old sow at home. She's still waiting for me to feed her. I should be going too..."
"Me too..."
Everyone present was shrewd. The moment they heard Fire Hand Judge's words, they were so frightened that they hurriedly fled.
In the blink of an eye, more than half of the Vajra Realm experts on the high platform had left.
Only a dozen or so Vajra Realm experts remained.
"Gu Hongchen, after all these years, you still haven't changed one bit."
"If you hadn't sent people to ambush him back then, did you really think you could have beaten Blood Saber?"
Chu Jiang shouted. A dog could not stop eating shit; from the look of things, Gu Hongchen intended to enter the fray himself.
Perfect. Chu Jiang had obtained the Blood Saber Legacy, so he had to vent this anger on Blood Saber's behalf.
"Shut your mouth! What does a yellow-mouthed brat like you know?!"
Chu Jiang's words seemed to tear open Gu Hongchen's greatest wound. The Flying Cloud Sword instantly left its sheath, and his entire body erupted with power like a humanoid tyrannosaur.
Netherworld, Setting Sun's Brilliance!
The sword light shone brilliantly, like a blazing sun seeking to burn the earth to ashes.
Countless rays of sword light brought wave after wave of invisible pressure, making it difficult to breathe. Like violent storms, they swept through all directions.
"Gu Hongchen is going for the kill. He used his signature ultimate move the moment he attacked!"
Fire Hand Judge watched the battlefield ahead, his tone solemn.
It seemed that battle all those years ago had indeed affected Gu Hongchen deeply.
His victory had been dishonorable, and it had become a heart demon when he advanced into the Vajra Realm. He would never again have a chance to become a martial arts grandmaster.
"Such are the times, such is fate."
Iron Mask Ghost raised an eyebrow slightly. Not many people knew about this matter, and they would not spread it recklessly lest they offend the Sword King Sect.
"Old bastard, die!"
Chu Jiang roared. A cold killing intent flashed through his eyes as the aura around his body underwent a tremendous change.
A golden light suddenly flickered across the surface of his body. The light kept flashing before swiftly gathering into a layer of golden armor that covered his entire body.
At the same time, Chu Jiang's body continued to expand. His muscles swelled, veins bulged, and he stood as towering and majestic as a mountain.
Strands of lightning gradually emerged across his skin. These lightning strands coursed over his body, echoing the lightning patterns and making his aura increasingly terrifying.
At this moment.
Chu Jiang's aura swept outward like raging waves, making even the surrounding air tremble.
Bang!
Chu Jiang turned his fist into a palm, shattering countless violent rays of Sword Qi with a single slap.
His figure flashed, and he instantly arrived behind Gu Hongchen. His other hand threw a punch, and the air boomed without end.
The terrifying force caused the airflow in the area to explode. Gu Hongchen swept the Flying Cloud Sword backward, instantly colliding with Chu Jiang's palm.
The tremendous recoil sent Gu Hongchen flying more than ten meters away, and the hand gripping his sword trembled.
"How is this possible?"
His eyes widened, his face full of disbelief.
Chu Jiang's physical body was actually stronger than his own. He had cultivated the Sword King Sect's sect-defending martial art, the Sword King Treasure Body, to great mastery. Even Vajra Peak experts could only retreat in defeat when competing with him in strength.
"You had already broken through to the Vajra Realm, yet you still competed with my son. You're shameless!"
Gu Hongchen suddenly understood. Since Chu Jiang's physical body could suppress his, how could Gu Jian, merely in the Xiantian Realm, possibly break through his defenses?
Chu Jiang sneered. "Who said I was in the Xiantian Realm? You never asked."
Upon hearing this, Gu Hongchen instantly exploded with rage. The qi and blood in his body nearly spurted out.
"Brat, I'll kill you!"
The two instantly collided. Sword light filled the sky in a terrifying display, like countless meteors streaking through the heavens with an aura of destruction.
Elsewhere.
As the two fought fiercely.
In a hidden corner of Black Wind Mountain, an illusory infant soul was observing in secret.
The infant soul was naturally Earth Fiend Star's split soul. Ever since his avatar had been destroyed by Chu Jiang last time, he had been searching for an opportunity to find a new target.
The chaos in the arena now happened to be his best opportunity.
If not for entering that secret realm, he would never have gone to such great lengths.
"Who should I choose?"
Earth Fiend Star's split soul swept his gaze over the arena. Vajra Realm experts did not need to be considered. This split soul of his was still weak, so it was safer to find a Xiantian Realm expert.
Preferably someone young, with abundant qi and blood.
"Heh, it'll be you!"
Earth Fiend Star revealed a sinister smile and instantly vanished from where he stood, as though he had spotted a satisfactory prey.
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