Blocking

Jiang Shuo turned around and saw it was Chen Xian who had called him.

Beside Chen Xian stood a line of Mad Saber Sect disciples, all of whom were guards of the Forbidden Ground.

Jiang Shuo frowned slightly, unable to understand. Although this area wasn't part of the Forbidden Ground, it was still within the rear mountain range. Beyond the difficult mountain path ahead lay the Mad Saber Sect's secret location. He believed the Mad Saber Sect must have regulations against unauthorized entry. How could Chen Xian dare to bring people here on his own accord? Furthermore, he had encountered them immediately after coming out, as if they had been waiting for him. This made Jiang Shuo even more perplexed.

At this moment, behind Chen Xian, Jiang Shuo suddenly saw a familiar figure.

"Sun Daoming, you betrayed me!" Seeing the other person, Jiang Shuo instantly understood. Sun Daoming must have been caught by Chen Xian when he tried to escape. To save his own life, he must have revealed Jiang Shuo's whereabouts. Chen Xian had led his men here but didn't dare to barge in rashly, so he could only wait in the outer area. He never expected to find Jiang Shuo right there.

At that time, six people had gone to pursue Jiang Shuo. Sun Daoming thought he was doomed. Seeing him alive and well now, he couldn't help but avert his gaze, his face showing shame. He guiltily explained, "I... I didn't want to say anything, but they tortured me..."

Jiang Shuo let out a cold snort. Sun Daoming was plump and fair, with no visible scars. He didn't look like someone who had undergone severe torture at all.

"Enough, what's the point of you arguing now?" Chen Xian interrupted their conversation and looked coldly at Jiang Shuo. It was this person who had escaped into the Forbidden Ground under his blockade, a humiliation that was difficult for him to erase. "Take him down!"

Upon receiving the order, the Mad Saber Sect disciples surged forward.

Jiang Shuo turned his head, intending to dive back into the rocks. As soon as he turned, over ten Mad Saber Sect disciples emerged from the pile of stones behind him, blocking his retreat.

It turned out Chen Xian had anticipated Jiang Shuo's wariness. While Jiang Shuo was talking to Sun Daoming, he had arranged for people to seal off his escape route.

Jiang Shuo's brows furrowed into the character "川" (chuan). Just as he was contemplating a way to escape, the enemies had already charged forward.

Falling into Chen Xian's hands would surely mean death. Jiang Shuo's eyes tightened, and he no longer hesitated, directly using the Meridian Swallowing Divine Skill.

A disciple charged to the front. Jiang Shuo slapped his palm forward, pressing it onto the disciple's chest. A mysterious suction force emanated from his palm, devouring the opponent's internal energy. However, after only a moment, his companions arrived and swung their sabers at Jiang Shuo. Helpless, Jiang Shuo had to let go. The two sides immediately engaged in a chaotic battle. Jiang Shuo relied on his agility, constantly maneuvering amidst the enemies while looking for opportunities to absorb their internal energy. Although the enemies were numerous, they were all using the Slaying Saber Technique from the Mad Saber Four Techniques. Neither the speed nor the ferocity of their attacks was anywhere near Shen Biao's. Jiang Shuo found it increasingly easy to deal with them. As for the Mad Saber Sect disciples, they felt more and more awkward the longer they fought. Not only were all their attack moves deciphered by Jiang Shuo one by one, but if they were careless for a moment and caught by Jiang Shuo, their internal energy would inexplicably drain away rapidly, filling them with doubt. Chen Xian supervised from the side. Anxious, they dared not retreat, but most of them surrounded Jiang Shuo without truly attacking, merely going through the motions. To outsiders, it looked as if Jiang Shuo was fighting dozens of people single-handedly and still had plenty of energy to spare.

Chen Xian watched, growing angrier by the moment, his face clouded with gloom. Although he sensed something different about Jiang Shuo, how much could Jiang Shuo have improved in just seven days?

"A bunch of trash, get out of my way!" Chen Xian roared. The Mad Saber Sect disciples, relieved, quickly scattered.

Many of them had had some of their internal energy absorbed by Jiang Shuo, and they appeared quite disheveled. Seeing their state, Chen Xian became even more furious.

Chen Xian strode step by step towards Jiang Shuo, gripping his saber tightly. "You tricked me and escaped last time. I won't let you go this time!"

Staring at the enraged Chen Xian opposite him, Jiang Shuo's eyes were veiled in a haze.

As the Second Senior Brother of the Mad Saber Sect, Chen Xian's strength was undeniable. Both his internal energy and techniques were far superior to Shen Biao's.

When he fought Rong Yan earlier, if Rong Yan hadn't been careless, Jiang Shuo's Meridian Swallowing Divine Skill wouldn't have been able to shake his foundation at all. Let alone the even more profound and stable Chen Xian?

He was able to defeat Shen Biao because he stored Rong Yan's internal energy within his body. While Jiang Shuo had absorbed some internal energy from the Mad Saber Sect disciples during the fight, this internal energy was absorbed from different people and was mixed. To avoid it becoming a burden, Jiang Shuo could only use it as he absorbed it, and it had all been consumed. Even if he stored it in his body, with his current strength, he couldn't fuse it together to use it bit by bit. To Chen Xian, it would be like a mere itch.

Facing Chen Xian, Jiang Shuo's chances of winning were slim.

The tense atmosphere seemed to squeeze the air dry. At this moment, a disciple suddenly noticed something. "Huh? Where did that person go?"

As he spoke, he pointed in a direction. Chen Xian and Sun Daoming had originally been standing there. Chen Xian had stepped out to stand before Jiang Shuo, but Sun Daoming had disappeared.