"How do I prove it? Isn't my Sword Dao strength enough proof?"
Xiao Chen looked at Zhao Tiangang with a cold laugh.
With his current strength, he absolutely could not defeat a Martial Master. He could only borrow the fearsome reputations of Old Man Chou and Old Man Lin, hoping Zhao Tiangang would back off in the face of difficulty.
As for proof, what proof did he have?
Zhao Tiangang could not help hesitating at those words, the expression on his face shifting unpredictably.
In terms of strength, this ghost-masked youth before him was indeed terrifyingly powerful, a peerless Sword Dao monster found once in ten thousand.
He did not believe a Heavenly Prodigy Rank like this had no one backing him.
But the youth claimed that two Sword Kings stood behind him. That was somewhat too earth-shattering. Every Sword King was an existence capable of suppressing an entire region, exceedingly rare. For two to emerge at once, both connected to one person, was simply too exaggerated.
Still, better safe than sorry. He had only come here to muddle through a job and reap some benefits. There was no need to risk his life!
What if this brat really had two Sword Kings behind him? The Zhenbei King might not necessarily fear them, but whether he would offend two Sword Kings for Zhao Tiangang's sake was another matter entirely!
"Zhao Tiangang, what are you still hesitating for? Why haven't you made your move?"
At the side, the Demon God Hall youth's face abruptly darkened when he saw Zhao Tiangang wavering.
"This brat's background is extraordinary. I need to think carefully!"
"What is there to think about? The Demon Race lords are now at the gates. Do you think you still have a choice?"
Hearing the Demon God Hall youth's words, Zhao Tiangang turned to sweep his gaze around. He discovered that several thousand Dog Demons, their auras savage and vicious, were glaring at him. His expression immediately turned ugly.
After watching for a moment, he withdrew his gaze and looked at Xiao Chen, gritting his teeth. "Brat, don't blame me. You brought this upon yourself!"
"No matter who stands behind you, once you offend the Demon Race, you must die here today!"
After weighing the matter again and again, he ultimately decided to kill Xiao Chen. If he did not act, he would likely die here immediately. Once Xiao Chen was dead, he could simply beg Xiao Lingtian. With Xiao Lingtian protecting him, surely the Zhenbei King would not stand by and watch him die!
"As a member of the Human Race, you actually dare say such things. Don't you feel ashamed?"
Xiao Chen stared fixedly at Zhao Tiangang.
"Ashamed? Every man for himself, or heaven and earth will destroy him. I only want to live well now. Is that wrong?"
Zhao Tiangang felt no shame whatsoever.
"Zhao Tiangang, without the Zhenbei King's protection, someone like you would have long since been sentenced to death by a thousand cuts!"
The Garrison Commander could not help roaring angrily.
Although some powerful figures in Great Xia tacitly allowed civilians to be abandoned in order to protect martial artists, most of the Demon Suppression Office's upper ranks loathed such practices. Once discovered, they would be dealt with severely!
Zhao Tiangang dared to be so arrogant solely because he had latched onto the Zhenbei King's thigh!
"Xiao Zhentian? What does this have to do with Xiao Zhentian?"
Xiao Chen froze and looked at the Garrison Commander.
"Little brother, how... how dare you directly call the Zhenbei King by his name?"
The Garrison Commander looked at Xiao Chen in terror, a trace of astonishment flashing through his eyes.
The Zhenbei King was one of Great Xia's Ten Kings, exalted in status. Everyone addressed him with honorifics; he had never seen anyone dare to call him by name.
"Hahaha, brat, you truly are arrogant. You even dare call the Zhenbei King by his name. Are you not afraid of death?"
"As for my relationship with the Zhenbei King? Do you know the Zhenbei King's only son, Xiao Lingtian? I once saved his life. What relationship do you think I have with the Zhenbei King?"
Zhao Tiangang looked at Xiao Chen and laughed wildly.
"Bullshit! The Zhenbei King clearly has two sons. Xiao Chen is the legitimate eldest son; Xiao Lingtian is merely the younger son. What fucking only son!"
Liu Sanji could no longer listen and suddenly cursed in fury.
"Xiao Chen? That trash? He has already been struck from the Zhenbei King Manor's family register. Don't you know?"
Zhao Tiangang sneered disdainfully.
Liu Sanji stood dumbstruck, staring at Xiao Chen with shock written all over his face.
Struck from the family register?
Xiao Chen had given so much to the Zhenbei King Manor. To save Xiao Lingtian, even his dantian had once been shattered.
Later, though his parents neglected him, he had never uttered a single word of resentment. He still loved and respected them deeply, dutiful and filial to an extreme.
Even when Xiao Lingtian sought to steal his fiancée and the Zhenbei King and his wife forced him to break off the engagement, he had only swallowed his shattered teeth with his blood, never making a loud fuss.
Such an obedient, sensible son had actually been struck from the Zhenbei King Manor's family register?
"Is it true?"
Liu Sanji looked at Xiao Chen with bloodshot eyes, his lips trembling slightly.
Xiao Chen did not show much emotional reaction. He merely nodded faintly.
"When did it happen?"
"A few days ago."
"The Zhenbei King is muddleheaded!"
Liu Sanji suddenly roared.
He did not understand what Xiao Chen had done for Xiao Zhentian to treat him with such cruelty!
Was it because his dantian had shattered while saving his younger brother?
Or because he had not immediately nodded when his parents helped his younger brother steal the one he loved?
To treat such a wonderful child with such cruelty—was there any justice left in this world?
"C-Chicken Lord, watch your words!"
The Garrison Commander was so frightened that his soul nearly fled his body.
"Fuck that! I'm going to die today anyway, so what fucking words should I watch? Xiao Chen is such a good child. He shouldn't be treated like this!"
Liu Sanji's eyes brimmed with fury.
"Old fool, what are you shouting about? This world is ruled by the strong devouring the weak. Trash like Xiao Chen deserved to die in the first place! Young Lord Lingtian possesses invincible talent, and I hear he has now entered Saintly Wasteland Academy. He is the one everyone looks to, the child of destiny!"
Zhao Tiangang sneered.
Xiao Chen's dantian had first shattered, and later he had been cursed by the Heavenly Dao. A miserable wretch like that deserved to be finished!
"Trash? Do you know who the person standing before you is?"
Liu Sanji roared with reddened eyes.
Zhao Tiangang froze. He glanced at Xiao Chen before him and asked in confusion, "Who is he?"
"He is..."
"Liu Sanji, there's no need to tell him so much!"
Just as Liu Sanji was about to reveal Xiao Chen's identity, Xiao Chen cut him off in time.
His current plan was to keep a low profile and develop quietly. He did not want to be too high-profile.
Hadn't that damned Saintly Wasteland Old Man said he would become useless in two days?
Then he would be useless for now!
It would not be too late to emerge again after developing for a while!
The Dog Demons watched this farce with impatience in their eyes. One Dog Demon, clearly several sizes larger than the others, ran to the Demon God Hall youth's side and let out a few low growls into his ear.
The Demon God Hall youth's expression changed slightly. Raising his head, he looked at Zhao Tiangang. "Zhao Tiangang, the Dog Demon lord has spoken. Kill this sword cultivator immediately, or the Demon Race will begin slaughtering at once!"
The moment those words fell, everyone present trembled, terror flashing in their eyes.
Zhao Tiangang fell silent for a moment, then clenched his right hand. A heart-palpitating energy suddenly gathered over his fist, while an astonishing aura spread from his body.
"Brat, every grievance has its source, every debt has its owner. The ones who want you dead are the Demon Race! When you reach the underworld, don't seek revenge from the wrong person!"
Zhao Tiangang slowly raised his fist and aimed it at Xiao Chen's head.
A terrifying pressure suddenly enveloped Xiao Chen's entire body. His expression turned grave as he reached back and gripped the hilt of his sword, intending to stake everything on one desperate fight.
Yet though he possessed fighting spirit, he also knew there was no chance of victory.
With his current combat power, he could be called invincible below the Martial Master Realm.
But without sword techniques, he did not yet possess the ability to fight a Martial Master.
He had nearly been severely wounded merely by taking Xiao Lingtian's Martial Master Realm strike head-on before, while Zhao Tiangang was a genuine Martial Master. His strength was not something Xiao Lingtian could compare to. Xiao Chen was absolutely no match for him!
"System, save me!"
At this critical moment, he could only seek help from the system. In his view, the system surely could not let him die just like this!
A true powerhouse must endure countless disasters and hardships, wandering at the edge of life and death innumerable times, before transforming into a god.
"So..."
So when trouble came, the host needed to bear it himself. If he died, then that was simply the host's fate!
Xiao Chen: "..."
Fuck!
Was the system really this heartless?
"Brat, be on your way! In your next life, don't dream of playing the hero. Being a hero isn't so easy!"
Zhao Tiangang's expression abruptly turned cold as he threw out a punch.
The terrifying force of his blood and qi shook the air until it erupted with a sonic boom.
The purple fist light was like an evil dragon, roaring as it flew toward Xiao Chen's head.
"It's over!"
The Garrison Commander closed his eyes in despair.
No matter how extraordinarily talented Xiao Chen was, he absolutely could not evade this punch!
"Dodge!"
Liu Sanji shouted like a madman.
He had already foreseen the gruesome sight of Xiao Chen's head shattering.
Xiao Chen too sensed the aura of death, but waiting helplessly for death was not his style. In the blink of an eye, he suddenly drew his sword, just about to risk his life.
But at that very moment, an intense spatial fluctuation suddenly appeared. In the next instant, an old man in golden robes silently appeared before Xiao Chen and directly struck out with his palm, shattering the fist light.
Appearing alongside the old man were a silver-haired girl of peerless beauty and nearly a hundred Blood-Armored Guards.
The girl stood surrounded by the Blood-Armored Guards like the moon encircled by stars. Every Blood-Armored Guard was broad and sturdy, their bodies radiating terrifying blood and qi!
Every one of them was actually a Martial Disciple Realm Ninth Level expert, yet such experts were merely guards!
Horror flashed through the eyes of everyone present as they looked incredulously at the Blood-Armored Guards and the silver-haired girl protected at their center.
What kind of person could possess such a terrifying guard force?
Before you continue