To Keep Xiao Chen, Step Over My Corpse First!

With a thunderous bang.

Fist and sword collided!

A terrifying surge of blood qi and a razor-sharp sword intent slammed fiercely into each other.

A massive wave of energy spread outward like ripples, and quite a few Martial Apprentice Realm experts were shaken until they spat blood, sent flying backward.

Their eyes were filled with horror. They had never expected even the aftershocks of a battle between Martial Master Realm experts to possess such terrifying power!

It seemed that for martial artists, each major realm apart was like the distance between clouds and mud—an uncrossable divide!

Everyone present fixed their eyes on the two at the center of the battle. Nearly all of them agreed that Xiao Chen was about to be killed in an instant.

Then, in the next breath, a shocking scene unfolded.

The broken sword in Xiao Chen's hand suddenly erupted with an even more terrifying burst of Sword Qi, directly blasting Xiao Lingtian away.

The next moment.

The scene fell silent at once, as still as death!

Everyone stood dumbfounded, countless flashes of shock flickering in their eyes!

How...

How was this possible?

A seventh-level Sword Disciple had actually sent a Martial Master Realm expert flying with a single slash?

Since ancient times, even other geniuses struggled to kill enemies one minor realm above themselves, yet Xiao Chen had directly crossed an entire major realm to defeat a powerful foe. He was terrifying beyond measure!

"This child's talent has actually reached such a level? Is he trying to defy the heavens?"

Zhang Qitian, who had always remained unruffled no matter what happened, gaped wide-eyed, disbelief filling his gaze!

"Hahaha, Sword Immortal Academy is truly about to produce a real dragon!"

The tension immediately left Chou Wantian's face, and he threw back his head in laughter.

Xiao Zhentian looked at Xiao Chen. After a long while, he said in shock, "An unparalleled monster!"

Ye Qingxuan and Lin Qingxian also stared fixedly at Xiao Chen, a peculiar gleam flashing through their beautiful eyes.

As outstanding as Ye Qingxuan and Lin Qingxian were, both were exceedingly proud at heart. Though countless young talents pursued them, there were still very few whom they deemed worthy of notice.

There was no other reason—them not being outstanding enough!

Yet a monster like Xiao Chen was enough to stir their hearts somewhat.

Handsome features, heaven-defying strength, and great achievements at a young age—when these three qualities came together in one man, few women could remain entirely unmoved.

Xiao Lingtian, who had fallen to the ground, suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood and stared at Xiao Chen in utter horror. "You... how can you be this strong?!"

After saying that, Xiao Lingtian completely passed out.

That strike had already drained every last trace of blood qi from his body. For the next month, he would remain in a weakened state and would need a long time to recover.

Wen Wanrong hurried to his side at once and tended to him carefully.

"I won... I actually won!"

After Xiao Chen spoke those words, a trickle of blood also seeped from the corner of his mouth, and he slowly collapsed.

Though that sword strike had forced Xiao Lingtian back, Xiao Chen himself had also been injured and could no longer hold on.

With his current strength, defeating a Martial Master was still impossible.

Just taking one blow from a Martial Master Realm expert had left him unable to continue. If he encountered a true Martial Master, he would undoubtedly die.

Only by cultivating a sword skill could he gain the foundation to kill enemies an entire major realm above him.

But sword skills were far too precious, even far more precious than cultivation techniques. Among a hundred sword cultivators, not even one possessed a sword skill.

If a sword skill manual appeared in the world, even one of the lowest Yellow Rank, countless people would fight for it desperately, heedless of their lives.

If the system did not grant him sword skills, it would be very difficult for Xiao Chen to obtain one on his own!

"Xiao Chen!"

Chou Wantian leaped into the air and directly caught Xiao Chen in his arms.

After checking Xiao Chen's injuries and discovering that they were not serious, he picked Xiao Chen up, glanced at Xiao Zhentian, and turned to leave!

"Wait!"

At that moment, Xiao Zhentian flashed forward and blocked Chou Wantian's path.

"Xiao Zhentian, what do you mean by this?"

Chou Wantian frowned slightly.

"Xiao Chen is my son. Now that he is injured, he should naturally remain at Zhenbei King Manor to recuperate!"

"Heh, Xiao Zhentian, you really have the nerve to say that. Didn't you already drive Xiao Chen out of Zhenbei King Manor? What kind of loving father are you pretending to be now?"

"When your two sons were fighting for their lives just now, you only cared about your younger son. You did not care in the slightest whether Xiao Chen lived or died! Leave Xiao Chen with you, so that little beast Xiao Lingtian can secretly harm him?"

Chou Wantian sneered.

He had not expected the dignified Zhenbei King to be so shameless, yet still have the nerve to ask him for someone.

Everyone present also looked at Xiao Zhentian with strange expressions.

The Zhenbei King had always been proud by nature, his word carrying the weight of nine tripods. Was he planning to go back on his word this time?

Faced with so many gazes, a trace of awkwardness surfaced on Xiao Zhentian's face, but he did not yield a single step. "President Chou, no matter what lies between Xiao Chen and me, it is still an internal matter of the Xiao Family. He has suffered grave injuries this time—how can I stand by and do nothing?"

"Heh, cut the nonsense. If you want to snatch someone from this old man, first ask whether the sword in my hand agrees!"

Chou Wantian set Xiao Chen down. A crimson longsword appeared out of thin air in his hand. Though the sword remained sheathed, an incomparably terrifying Sword Qi had already flooded the surroundings, frightening everyone into trembling!

"What terrifying sword intent!"

"Who is this old man? His sword has not even left its sheath, yet I feel as though my soul is about to be torn apart by that sword intent!"

"I always thought Sword Immortal Academy was full of trash. Who would have thought they had such an expert hidden away!"

"So what? No matter how strong he is, can he possibly surpass the Zhenbei King?"

The crowd broke into heated discussion.

As Zhang Qitian looked at the longsword in Chou Wantian's hand, a trace of gravity flashed through his eyes as well!

He had not expected the long-declining Sword Immortal Academy to still possess an expert like this!

Locked onto by that faint yet ever-present sword intent, Xiao Zhentian felt his scalp prickle. From Chou Wantian, he sensed a threat.

He had not felt this way in many years.

He understood that the old man before him possessed the ability to injure him—even kill him.

However, he was the Zhenbei King whose might shook the realm. Having reached this point, he naturally could not retreat.

"President Chou, I know your killing power is heaven-shaking, but you still carry old hidden injuries. If you and I truly fight, how long can you hold out?"

A heaven-shaking surge of blood and vitality erupted from Xiao Zhentian. His aura immediately soared, and in an instant, he became as terrifying as a primordial colossal beast!

"Hehe, Sword Immortal Academy declined because of me all those years ago. Back then, I no longer wished to live. Today, if I die here to protect the peerless prodigy of my Sword Immortal Academy, so what?"

"If I can drag the Zhenbei King down to the grave with me, no matter how one calculates it, it will not be a loss!"

Chou Wantian spoke calmly, but his words carried an icy chill.

If he handed Xiao Chen over to Xiao Zhentian today, then trying to get him back from their hands in the future would be harder than ascending to heaven!

Besides, Xiao Lingtian hated Xiao Chen so deeply. If Xiao Chen were left with Xiao Zhentian, he might be secretly murdered without anyone even knowing!

Though he and Xiao Chen had only just met, since the boy had entered Sword Immortal Academy and called him President, he would certainly protect the little fellow to the end!

Otherwise, how could Chou Wantian continue to hold his head up in the future?

"President Chou, are you truly going to risk your life against me?"

Xiao Zhentian narrowed his eyes.

"Enough nonsense. If you want him, first step over this old man's corpse!"

Chou Wantian slowly raised his sword.

Just as the two were preparing to stake their lives against one another, Zhang Qitian flashed forward and stood directly before Xiao Zhentian. Looking at Chou Wantian, he said with a faint smile, "President Chou, calm your anger for now. In truth, it is our Saintly Wasteland Academy that has taken a liking to young friend Xiao Chen. The Zhenbei King is merely keeping him here on behalf of Saintly Wasteland Academy!"