God-Slaying Temple's Divine Son

"Set up the formation and execute this scoundrel!"

A mysterious yellow aura rose from every guard, drifting into the air and slowly condensing.

The space around Jiang Chen had already been sealed off, yet there was not the slightest trace of panic on his face.

The Zhuxian Sword slowly floated before Jiang Chen, its aura sharp and fierce. It looked down upon everyone with an invincible bearing, not like a trapped beast, but like a tiger ready to break free from its cage at any moment.

"Seventh Soul Skill, Martial Soul True Body!"

The Zhuxian Sword radiated a palpitating glow. "When the Zhuxian Sword emerges, all things submit!"

Holding the enlarged Zhuxian Sword, Jiang Chen braced himself with both legs. The power of his soul bones erupted, gathering in his right hand as he twisted his body and slashed out.

Clang—

Jiang Chen's strike shattered the barrier outright. The hundred guards suffered a backlash, vomiting blood as they crashed to the ground.

"The Divine Temple? Hmph, is that supposed to be impressive?"

"H-How could this happen? Even gods who had just entered the First-Level God realm would struggle to escape this formation! He's only a Third-Level God, yet he broke the barrier so easily?!"

"Luo Mo, Divine Son of the Divine Temple. I heard you enjoy torturing and killing geniuses, is that right?"

"Come out and die!"

"A mere Third-Level God, and you dare spout such nonsense!"

Boom—

The sedan chair Luo Mo had been sitting in exploded. A handsome man in black shot into the sky, his eyes carrying a faint crimson hue as black qi seeped from the straight saber in his hand.

"First Soul Skill, Rage Demon Slash!"

Black qi curled through the air as a streak of black blade light suddenly appeared. Jiang Chen merely tilted his body slightly and evaded the attack.

"The petty squabbles between weaklings should end now," Jiang Chen said slowly.

"Death will atone for your sins..."

"Eighth Soul Skill, Sword Opens the Nine Heavens!"

"Ninth Soul Skill, Blade of Ten Thousand Demons."

Two surging auras charged toward each other.

"Miss Hongyu, do you think Brother Jiang Chen can win?"

"That's hard to say. Young Master Jiang should be fine."

Jiang Chen swung his sword, meeting Luo Mo's saber head-on. Black qi engulfed the two of them, and everyone heard only a thunderous collision.

"Miss Hongyu, who do you think won?"

"The black qi is dispersing. We'll know soon."

When the black qi faded, everyone stared in shock.

High in the sky, Jiang Chen stood with his sword on his back, gripping a corpse dressed in black with his left hand. Blood trickled down from its neck.

Gu Qingran's eyes rippled as she frowned and muttered, "He's only a Third-Level God, yet he possesses such strength. Once he reaches the First-Level God realm, he may be able to exchange blows with a God King."

"How is that possible? He's only a Third-Level God! How could he kill a Second-Level God like the Divine Temple's Divine Son?!"

"You bastard! You killed the Divine Son! The Divine Temple will hunt you to the ends of the earth!"

"Luo Mo is dead. You can follow him, then."

The Zhuxian Sword swept toward the Divine Temple guards. Wherever it passed, heads flew into the air, cutting them down as easily as a sickle through wheat stalks.

"He killed the Divine Temple's Divine Son, and he's not even sparing the hundred guards!"

"Damn it, are you stupid? If he doesn't wipe them out, he'll be dead the moment he leaves the divine mountain!"

Jiang Chen returned to Ye Hongyu's side and smiled gently at the stunned pair. "What? Blown away by how handsome I am?"

"Wow, Brother Jiang Chen, I never knew you were this powerful!"

Jiang Chen stood with his hands behind his back. The wind lifted the dark strands beside his ears, while his expression remained calm and composed, making him look like some lofty master. "I told you already. Below God Kings, I am invincible. Above God Kings, I can take one down with me. Even God Kings are nothing more than this in my eyes."

"Why won't you believe me?"

Ye Hongyu stared blankly at Jiang Chen, her cheeks flushed as her eyes gleamed.

My destined man is a great hero unafraid of anything in this world. One day, he will ride seven-colored clouds to marry me.

Jiang Chen looked at Ye Hongyu and could not help thinking, Has this fool gone lovestruck?

As expected, this young master is ridiculously handsome!

Rumble—

An enormous energy tide erupted from within Fruit Mountain, sweeping outward like crashing waves.

"You two, get behind me!"

Jiang Chen immediately summoned the Zhuxian Sword and held it horizontally before him. Sword qi enveloped the three of them.

"Ah... save... save me!"

Many gods with weaker cultivation were swept away by the energy tide. Others could not withstand its force and died with blood pouring from their seven orifices.

"Goddess, this energy tide is stronger than any before it. It seems a great treasure may appear this time. The Divine Temple's Divine Son is already dead, so we should seize the advantage."

Granny Ling urged solemnly.

"I understand, Granny Ling."

"The divine mountain is open. Fortune belongs to those who can seize it."

"Damn it, stop shoving me!"

"Who the hell bumped into me just now?!"

Everyone surged into the divine mountain like madmen, afraid that entering too late would let others gain the upper hand.

In an instant, the sea of people before the divine mountain vanished, leaving behind only Jiang Chen and the other two.

Watching the gods scramble for opportunities like rabid dogs fighting over food, Jiang Chen felt that even the ambitions of mortals striving upward were no more than this.

Jiang Chen sighed. "They pray to heaven and kneel before the Dao, begging only for the Great Dao to leave them a path. Yet the gods divide what they can and would rather die than yield. How tragic!"

"The Dao has always been carved out by one's own feet. Why beg dogs for a road ahead?"

"You two go on ahead. I'll enter last," Jiang Chen said to Ye Hongyu and Li Jiang.

"Brother Jiang Chen, then I'll take my leave first." With that, Li Jiang flew into the divine mountain.

"Miss Hongyu, aren't you going in?"

Ye Hongyu shook her head and smiled faintly. "I want to enter with you."

After saying that, Ye Hongyu added, "Once we enter the divine mountain, I'll leave."

Ye Hongyu was afraid Jiang Chen would misunderstand her intentions, though she still anticipated his response.

Jiang Chen replied calmly, "All right."

For some reason, hearing Jiang Chen agree filled Ye Hongyu with an inexplicable sense of disappointment.

Ye Hongyu, you fool. If you want to stay by his side, just say it!

Having lived two lives, Jiang Chen naturally saw through Ye Hongyu's feelings. Any real man would be drawn to Ye Hongyu's beauty, but Jiang Chen was destined to return to the lower realm after leaving the divine mountain. Was he supposed to bring Ye Hongyu along too?

By then, his bargain-bin teacher would probably tug his ear and say with a beaming smile, "Little Chen, not bad! You went to the God Realm for three months as a bachelor and came back married?!"

Jiang Chen imagined a group of women grabbing him and asking who would be the eldest wife and who would be the younger wife. Just thinking about it was thrilling.

Jiang Chen took Ye Hongyu's hand and looked into her eyes. Ye Hongyu's gaze darted away, her heart pounding wildly as a blush spread across her cheeks. "Y-Young Master Jiang, what are you..."

Jiang Chen released her hand and flashed a devastatingly handsome smile. "Miss Hongyu, it's nothing. I only wanted to say that after we part ways in the divine mountain, take care of yourself."

Jiang Chen flew toward Fruit Mountain first. Ye Hongyu followed behind him, her gaze distant as though she were lost in thought.

"Young Master Jiang, please take care of yourself as well!"

Ye Hongyu's smile was dazzling. It was as though she were seeing off her beloved as he departed for the capital examinations—happy for him and reluctant to let him go, yet too afraid to ask him to stay.

Inside the divine mountain, Jiang Chen stood with his back to Ye Hongyu and waved. Then he stepped forward, flying into a valley and disappearing from sight.

Ye Hongyu felt miserable, her heart aching as tears fell with a patter. Longing and self-reproach flowed through her eyes. If she had asked him to stay, perhaps she really could have...

Tears streamed down Ye Hongyu's face as she gazed in the direction Jiang Chen had gone, blurring her vision. Her smile remained brilliant, and all the conflict in her heart vanished in that instant.

"Young Master Jiang, I... like you."