And Su Jian's answer remained a stubborn refusal to the very end: "Kill me if you've got the guts!"
Deng Tiancheng's humiliation turned to rage. This brat still dared to run his mouth?
"You just won't shut up, will you? Hand it over! If I can't have this spirit fruit, you'll have to die too!"
This time, Deng Tiancheng drove a punch into Su Jian's chin, nearly shattering his jaw with its tremendous force.
But Su Jian was not someone who would sit and wait for death. He had an unyielding disposition. If someone bullied him, he had to strike back.
He was not as strong as Deng Tiancheng, but killing him would not be so easy for Deng Tiancheng either.
As long as he was not killed outright, Su Jian would never let any chance for retaliation slip away!
Su Jian seized the chance to kick Deng Tiancheng. Having underestimated his opponent, Deng Tiancheng was caught off guard and took a vicious kick, the pain nearly knocking the breath out of him.
Deng Tiancheng sucked in a sharp breath of pain and staggered back two steps. He looked down at his lower abdomen-there, clear as day, was a muddy footprint.
He froze.
He, a formal disciple of the Clear Void Sword Sect, had been kicked by a piece of trash who could not even get into a sect?
"You fucking-"
Deng Tiancheng raised his head. The mockery on his face had vanished, replaced by the anger of someone who had been affronted.
Su Jian had already used the opening to scramble to his feet and stagger backward. His jaw hurt so much that he could barely open his mouth, and his mouth was full of blood, but his eyes remained fixed on Deng Tiancheng, like a wolf driven into a corner.
"You're going to die today."
Deng Tiancheng's voice turned cold. He wasted no more words. With a push of his foot, he shot toward Su Jian like an arrow loosed from its bow.
This was the true gap between their strength.
Before Su Jian could even react, a heavy punch struck his chest. Infused with spiritual power, the blow doubled him over, and the blast made the back of his clothing billow. His feet left the ground as he flew backward and slammed into an old tree, making its trunk shudder.
Before he could slide to the ground, Deng Tiancheng was already before him.
One punch.
Two punches.
Three punches.
Every punch slammed into the arms Su Jian held over his chest. His arms quickly went numb, his bones feeling as though they were about to split, but he gritted his teeth and kept his arms tightly crossed over his chest, shielding the spirit fruit beneath them.
"Let's see how long you can hold out!"
Deng Tiancheng switched from a fist to an open palm and chopped down on Su Jian's shoulder. With a crack, Su Jian's left shoulder visibly caved in, and his entire arm fell limp.
But he still had his right hand.
His right hand remained pressed firmly against his chest.
Deng Tiancheng's gaze sharpened, and he kicked the back of Su Jian's knee. Su Jian dropped to one knee, and before he could steady himself, Deng Tiancheng's knee smashed into his face.
Bang-
Su Jian toppled backward, blood spurting from his nose as his vision repeatedly darkened. He lay on the ground, gasping for breath, his chest heaving violently.
But he still covered his chest with his right hand, the one hand he could still move.
Deng Tiancheng walked up and planted a foot on his right wrist.
"Let go."
Su Jian did not.
Deng Tiancheng pressed down harder and ground his foot against it.
Su Jian's wrist creaked. His whole face contorted with pain, veins bulged on his forehead, and a stifled groan escaped his mouth-yet that hand remained pressed firmly against his chest, its five fingers seemingly rooted to the front of his robes.
Deng Tiancheng looked down at him and frowned.
He had never seen anyone like this.
The gap in their strength was so vast, he had clearly been beaten half to death, and there was plainly no chance of turning the tables-yet he simply would not let go.
Was he willing to throw away his life for a single spirit fruit?
"Are you fucking sick in the head?" Deng Tiancheng could not help cursing.
Su Jian lay on the ground, his mouth full of bloody froth, yet he split his lips in a grin. Paired with his blood-covered face, that smile looked rather chilling.
"If... if you've got... the guts... kill me..."
His voice came in broken snatches, as though he had squeezed it out with every last ounce of strength, but that stubborn defiance slapped Deng Tiancheng in the face with every word.
Deng Tiancheng fell silent.
He suddenly felt some regret for provoking this madman.
But things had come this far. He had to get the spirit fruit. How could a piece of trash deserve such a fortuitous opportunity?
He raised his foot, aimed at the hand Su Jian held over his chest, and prepared to stamp down-
Just then, Su Jian's left hand, which had remained motionless all this time, suddenly moved.
Deng Tiancheng had already beaten that arm until Su Jian could no longer lift it, even cracking its bones. Yet at this moment, as though it no longer belonged to Su Jian, the hand abruptly clamped around the ankle of the foot Deng Tiancheng had planted on him.
Deng Tiancheng froze for a moment.
Before he could react, Su Jian pulled with all his strength-Deng Tiancheng lost his balance, toppled backward, and landed on his backside.
And Su Jian actually seized this chance to climb to his feet.
He was covered in blood, his left shoulder caved in, his right wrist swollen like a steamed bun, and his jaw skewed to one side. He could barely stand, swaying twice before catching hold of the tree trunk behind him.
But he had stood up.
He leaned against the trunk, breathing hard, blood dripping from his chin onto the ground.
Then he looked at Deng Tiancheng and grinned again.
"Is... that all you've got?"
In the distance, Su Lingyun and Tao Yaoyao also noticed the struggle.
"That boy has a good disposition and a backbone. Unfortunately, his talent is too poor, and he lacks strength. All he can do is take a beating. Ah!"
Su Lingyun sighed.
This world was very pragmatic. If you had strength, you had a say. Without strength, you had better obediently keep your mouth shut.
She deeply sympathized with Su Jian's plight, but she also had to admit that, with his poor aptitude, he would never be able to turn his fortunes around in this lifetime.
Unless a miracle occurred!
Yet just as Su Jian was about to be beaten to death, an indifferent voice reached his ears.
"Su Jian, join my sect and take me as your master. I will guide you in cultivation."
Ye Chen had appeared not far from Su Jian at some point and spoke calmly.
[Su Jian, innate supreme sword physique (unawakened), Emperor Grade aptitude.]
That was Su Jian's aptitude-Emperor Grade!
"Huh? Me?"
Su Jian looked bewildered. Was this person talking about him?
He wanted to guide him in cultivation?
Had he heard that right? His aptitude was clearly trash, the sort not even a dog would accept, yet someone had actually approached him to take him as a disciple?
"That's right. I mean you." Ye Chen nodded.
Looking at this young man who seemed about his own age, Su Jian did not know whether to believe him.
The other person was only a youth himself. What qualifications did he have to take disciples?
But when he thought of his own trash aptitude, Su Jian finally stopped hesitating and hurriedly agreed.
After all, having a sect willing to take him in was good enough. As long as he could cultivate, he did not care how big or small the sect was!
Besides, he was a complete waste. The other person had no reason to deceive him!
"Disciple Su Jian pays his respects to Master!"
Su Jian knelt and kowtowed, observing the proper form.
"Good! From today onward, you are my third disciple!" Ye Chen revealed a satisfied smile.
The system immediately issued a notification as well.
[Ding! Disciple accepted successfully. Disciple Su Jian, innate supreme sword bone, Emperor Grade aptitude. The disciple acceptance rewards have been issued. Host, please check and collect them!]
However, the people around them were dumbfounded, not knowing what sort of act Ye Chen and Su Jian were putting on.
Just now, Su Jian's aptitude had been the trashiest of trash.
Yet someone had actually volunteered to take him as a disciple?
Most unbelievable of all, the one taking him as a disciple was merely a youth of a similar age, without even the slightest fluctuation of cultivation coming from him!
Ridiculous!
Utterly ridiculous!