Chapter 195 - 193: Defenses Broken

Chapter 195: Chapter 193: Defenses Broken

Each of the Four Daoist Courts of Taoism possessed extraordinary strength.

The Thunder Technique of the Shenxiao Sect, in particular, was famous throughout the Jianghu for its immense offensive power.

As a prodigy from the previous generation’s Hidden Dragon Rankings and a Core Disciple of the Shenxiao Sect, Zhang Zhilan was accustomed to acting domineeringly, no matter who he faced.

Who would have thought that Chen Yuan would be even more aggressive than him today, attacking without a word?

Although Zhang Zhilan hadn’t expected Chen Yuan to take the initiative, his reaction was extremely fast.

He formed a Sword Technique seal with his hand, and the Dao Sword behind him flew from its sheath. Thunder Light flared upon it, transforming into a sky full of Thunder Sword Qi that slashed toward Chen Yuan.

Demon Flame and thunder intertwined, and a tremendous force erupted with a deafening BOOM.

In the next instant, the Demon Flame engulfed and incinerated the thunder.

Zhang Zhilan’s expression changed. He abruptly gripped his sword hilt, unleashing waves of Thunder Sword Qi as he continuously retreated.

When he finally managed to block Chen Yuan’s strike, a grave look appeared in Zhang Zhilan’s eyes.

’This Chen Jiutian’s power is incredibly profound!’

’And he’s even comprehended Saber Intent!’

"So this is all a young prodigy from the Shenxiao Sect amounts to!"

Chen Yuan sneered, "A piece of trash who never reached the Primordial Pill Realm while on the Hidden Dragon Rankings, and who still hasn’t condensed a Primordial Pill years after falling off the list, dares to be so loud? Who gave you the nerve?"

"You think that just because you were once ranked thirteenth on the Hidden Dragon Rankings, you’re stronger than me? If it were today, you probably wouldn’t even qualify for the top twenty!"

Zhang Zhilan’s face instantly flushed crimson, his expression twisting slightly.

"Chen Jiutian! You’re courting death!"

Lies don’t hurt people; the truth is what breaks their defenses.

The strength of prodigies on the Hidden Dragon Rankings differs from one generation to the next, so it’s impossible to compare rankings between two consecutive generations.

You might be ranked tenth in one generation, but if the next generation’s prodigies are too strong, even the one ranked twentieth might be stronger than you.

However, there was one definite way to judge strength: how one left the Hidden Dragon Rankings.

If you left the list simply because you aged past thirty, it meant your strength among the younger generation was merely average.

If you entered the Primordial Pill Realm within a year of leaving the list, that was considered a superior achievement. Such a person could at least reach the Martial Dao Eighth Realm Divine Platform in the future.

Only those who condensed their Primordial Pill and stepped into the Martial Arts Grandmaster Realm while still on the Hidden Dragon Rankings were considered truly astonishing, peerless prodigies.

Zhang Zhilan had neither entered the Primordial Pill Realm while on the Hidden Dragon Rankings, nor had he condensed a Primordial Pill within a year of leaving it. Although his strength wasn’t weak, it wasn’t strong enough.

He was from the same generation of Hidden Dragon Rankings prodigies as Jie Yushan of the Forgotten Heaven Pavilion, belonging to the generation before Chen Yuan’s.

In Chen Yuan’s opinion, the prodigies on the Hidden Dragon Rankings from that generation were all a bit watered-down.

At this moment, the two Shenxiao Sect Daoists who had come with Zhang Zhilan saw Chen Yuan dare to attack first, and fury flashed in their eyes.

Just as the two stepped forward to make a move, Qin Suguang had already stepped out to block their path.

"Still trying for a three-on-one? Does the Shenxiao Sect have no shame?"

Chen Yuan was here to help him investigate a case. Even if the Shenxiao Sect was making trouble for Chen Yuan over some other matter, Qin Suguang wouldn’t just stand by and watch.

Besides, Qin Suguang also knew about the matter with the Thunder Shock Sect; these Shenxiao Sect Daoists were simply too tyrannical.

"Get out of the way!"

The two Shenxiao Sect Daoists unleashed Palm Thunder, attacking Qin Suguang simultaneously from the left and right.

Qin Suguang drew his long saber. He slashed down with the force of a toppling mountain, his momentum like a rainbow.

The saber strike collided with the two bolts of Palm Thunder, instantly erupting with an astonishing wave of power.

Qin Suguang’s martial arts were diverse. His "Mountain-Shaking and Peak-Cleaving Saber" was passed down from his master, but his main focus was the Immovable Tathagata Secret Manual, a Celestial Level Technique from a Buddhist Sect that he had obtained by chance.

Its power was formidable, and it also had the effect of strengthening the physical body to a certain extent.

However, he had only recently stepped into the Condensing Truth Realm, and his power had not yet fully stabilized.

But the two Martial Artists from the Shenxiao Sect were both at the Peak of Condensing Truth Realm, and their Thunder Technique was overbearing. After trading a single blow, Qin Suguang’s face flushed slightly, and his Qi Blood surged within him.

The two Shenxiao Sect Martial Artists sneered, "You overestimate yourself!"

As their words fell, Thunder Light bloomed in their hands, and they attacked Qin Suguang again.

Buddha Light blossomed around Qin Suguang as he prepared to go all out and fight for his life.

Just then, a swift sword light, as aggressive as fire, suddenly shot out and shattered the Thunder Light.

Gu Lichuan leaped to Qin Suguang’s side and chuckled, "Good, I’m not too late."

Qin Suguang hadn’t expected Gu Lichuan, the person least likely to come, to actually show up.

But with Gu Lichuan taking action, Qin Suguang breathed a sigh of relief.

Back in Danyang Prefecture, Qin Suguang had seen Gu Lichuan fight. The power of Gu Lichuan’s Swordsmanship even then had been utterly terrifying.

And from his strike just now, it was clear that Gu Lichuan had also stepped into the Condensing Truth Realm, and his foundational power was even more profound than his own.

Chen Yuan was also a little surprised to see Gu Lichuan arrive, but he was instantly relieved.

Meanwhile, Zhang Zhilan’s defenses had been broken by Chen Yuan’s words. Rage surged within him, and his eyes filled with thick killing intent.

He gripped the Dao Sword in his right hand, and with his left, he performed a Seal Formation, swiping it across the blade. In an instant, a violent Thunder Light Sword Gang surged forth.

The intense Thunder Light almost seemed to solidify, like strands of Golden Feather flowing around the Dao Sword.

As Zhang Zhilan thrust his sword forward, a sky full of thundering Golden Feather howled, its magnificent brilliance mixed with boundless, majestic power.

Golden Feather Thunder Sky Sword!

The scarlet Karmic Flame on the Celestial Blade in Chen Yuan’s hand blossomed, and in an instant, its power saturated his entire body.

Beneath the Karmic Flame, all the power within Chen Yuan began to boil violently.

With a downward slash of his saber, the scarlet light erupted, like a magnificent Red Lotus blooming in mid-air.

Red Lotus Sin-Slaying Saber!

The Sword Aura and the sword light collided in mid-air. The Karma Fire Red Lotus and the Golden Feather Thunder Sky intertwined, instantly filling the sky with thunder and fire, a terrifying sight to behold.

But in the next moment, the Karma Fire Red Lotus devoured the Thunder Light and surged toward Zhang Zhilan.

Zhang Zhilan’s expression changed. He formed a Seal Technique, and a Protective Thunder Light enveloped him, but Chen Yuan’s slash still shattered it, sending him flying back as he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Chen Yuan’s figure flickered, and with a sharp whistle of True Qi, he instantly appeared in front of Zhang Zhilan.

He brought his saber down in a slash imbued with the ultimate Killing Saber Intent, holding nothing back, aiming directly to take Zhang Zhilan’s life.

The expressions of everyone present changed slightly.

’This Chen Jiutian is so ruthless!’

’It was just a verbal conflict. How did it escalate into a life-or-death battle?’

In truth, Chen Yuan wasn’t the type to kill someone over a mere argument. That would be no different from a madman and would only create too many enemies.

However, the Shenxiao Sect’s attitude forced Chen Yuan’s hand, leaving him no choice but to kill.

There was no way Chen Yuan would hand over the Shenxiao Evil-slaying Sword.

Since when had he ever given up a Secret Technique or treasure that had fallen into his hands?

At the same time, for the Shenxiao Sect, it would be one thing if they didn’t know the whereabouts of such a high-level Secret Technique. But now that they knew who had it, how could they not demand its return?

Therefore, since the conflict between them was irreconcilable, it was better to just go for the kill.

Zhang Zhilan’s face changed drastically. He retreated rapidly while forming a Seal Technique, condensing Purple Sky Thunder in his palm and hurling it down at Chen Yuan’s head.

Dazzling Buddha Light erupted around Chen Yuan, and the sound of Buddhist Chanting suddenly filled the air.

The Six Paths of Vajra Mantra of Master Padmasambhava directly weakened the power of the Purple Sky Thunder by eighty percent. The remaining thunder that struck Chen Yuan couldn’t even break through his Protective True Qi; it only left him feeling a slight numbness.

At the same time, his saber descended. The Killing Saber Intent, wreathed in sinister Demon Flame, slammed into the Dao Sword in Zhang Zhilan’s hand, shattering it to pieces.

Zhang Zhilan felt a powerful force strike him. His right arm immediately fractured and twisted, instantly becoming a bloody mess.

At this moment, the previous arrogance in Zhang Zhilan’s eyes was gone, replaced by sheer terror.

’This Chen Jiutian not only has an astoundingly profound collection of Secret Techniques, but his physical strength is also so formidable that it’s on par with those Martial Monks from the Vajra Prajna Temple who cultivate Vajra Zen!’

In truth, the physiques of Shenxiao Sect disciples weren’t weak. When cultivating Thunder Technique, the Thunder Attribute True Qi also had a Body Tempering effect. However, compared to Chen Yuan, it was like a candle in the sun.

Now, with his Inner Viscera severely injured and his right arm completely crippled, Zhang Zhilan was utterly defeated.

He gritted his teeth and shouted sharply at the other two Shenxiao Sect disciples, "Senior Brothers! Retreat!"

’This Chen Jiutian is ruthless and has already shown killing intent.’

’My Inner Viscera are injured, my right arm is useless. If I keep fighting, I’ll probably lose my life.’

’Fleeing in front of everyone is shameful, but it’s better than losing my life.’

In fact, the other two Shenxiao Sect Martial Artists had long wanted to flee.

In a two-on-one, they could still suppress Qin Suguang.

But now, in a one-on-one, even though they were at the Peak of Condensing Truth Realm, they were no match for Qin Suguang and Gu Lichuan at all.

This left the two of them horrified.

’Is the quality of the prodigies on this generation’s Hidden Dragon Rankings really this high?’

Hearing Zhang Zhilan’s order to retreat, the three immediately performed the Thunder Escape Secret Technique. With a whoosh, their bodies transformed into streaks of Thunder Light and fled into the distance.

"Escape? You can’t escape!"

Chen Yuan’s eyes turned cold, and he was about to give chase.

But just then, a kind-faced old man in a red brocade robe, a Primordial Pill Realm expert, descended from the sky and blocked the path of Chen Yuan and his companions.

"Everyone, today is a joyous occasion for my Heaven Returning Pavilion. No matter what grievances you have, can you give this old man some face and let the matter rest for today?"

With such a huge commotion, Wu Daoquan, as the Pavilion Master, naturally had to step in. Besides, both parties had extraordinary backgrounds.

Seeing Wu Daoquan intervene, Chen Yuan temporarily halted his advance.

He had come for the Seven Kills Stele Fragment. As for whether Wu Daoquan had any connection to the Red Lotus Sect, Chen Yuan was currently only suspicious, not certain.

Therefore, he still had to attend this wedding. He could only make a move after confirming that the Heaven Returning Pavilion was indeed connected to the Red Lotus Sect.

Otherwise, if he made the situation so hostile that he couldn’t even attend the ceremony later, it wouldn’t be worth it if it delayed his real objective.

Seeing Chen Yuan stop, Wu Daoquan also let out a long sigh of relief.

Just then, Zhang Zhilan, who had already fled, suddenly turned back and said coldly, "Chen Jiutian! I will repay the humiliation of this day in the future! The Secret Techniques of my Shenxiao Sect are not for just anyone to take! You will one day pay the price for your greed!"

Upon hearing these words, Chen Yuan, who had just stopped, was suddenly engulfed in a violent surge of killing intent.

Wu Daoquan’s heart skipped a beat. ’Crap!’