Chapter 300 - 298: Blood for Blood

Chapter 300: Chapter 298: Blood for Blood

The massive mountain range of Desolate Heaven Ridge spanned several provinces, most of which was unexplored primeval forest.

It was home to countless opportunities and treasures, such as rare Exotic Beasts, Heavenly and Earthly Treasures, and precious Spiritual Medicines. There were also ruins of various Ancient Sects, attracting numerous Independent Martial Artists to explore its depths.

Of course, the dangers within were just as numerous. Every year, a large number of Martial Artists entered Desolate Heaven Ridge to seek their fortunes, only to never emerge again.

Yanfu Mountain was a colossal peak deep within Desolate Heaven Ridge. Although several mountain paths led to its base, it was typically inaccessible.

This was because for most of the year, Yanfu Mountain was shrouded in a thick miasma. Once inside, all six senses would be obscured. The miasma was so potent that not even a Grandmaster of the Eighth Realm Divine Platform could withstand it directly.

Only in the three months leading up to the opening of the Heaven-Reaching Tower would the miasma slowly dissipate, allowing people to follow the mountain paths to the base of Yanfu Mountain.

After parting ways with Mr. Bei, they each took a different mountain path toward Yanfu Mountain.

Along the way, Chen Yuan saw many other Martial Artists. Some were prodigies of the younger generation, strong enough to participate in the Heaven-Reaching Tower’s trial, while others were simply there to spectate.

When Chen Yuan arrived at the base of Yanfu Mountain, many Martial Artists had already gathered—a rough estimate put their number at over a thousand.

Looking up, the entirety of Yanfu Mountain seemed to have risen from the earth out of nowhere. Its peak pierced the clouds, and the mountain itself was a deep, iron-gray color. From a distance, it looked like a broken heavenly pillar that had fallen to the mortal realm—an incredibly magnificent and majestic sight.

The miasma at the foot of the mountain had already dispersed, vaguely revealing a path that led to the summit.

However, the halfway point was still shrouded in a dense, lead-gray miasma that hung in midair like an ominous cloud.

Chen Yuan’s arrival immediately drew the crowd’s attention, and a wave of whispers spread among them.

Chen Yuan was currently ranked twelfth on the Hidden Dragon Rankings. This was by no means a low position; historically, those in the top twenty had an extremely high chance of obtaining opportunities and treasures inside the Heaven-Reaching Tower.

Furthermore, Chen Yuan was famous for his formidable combat prowess. Several Primordial Pill Realm Grandmasters had already fallen at his hands.

All sorts of gazes fell upon him, but Chen Yuan paid them no mind. He casually scanned the crowd but didn’t see Gu Lichuan or the others. ’Looks like I’m a bit early,’ he thought.

Among the younger generation, Chen Yuan spotted only one familiar face: Huangfu Yi of the Huangfu Family.

It had been a while, and Huangfu Yi was still as shy and bashful as ever. He was currently standing beside a Divine Platform Realm Martial Artist from the Huangfu Family. Upon seeing Chen Yuan, he gave a small, timid smile and a wave but didn’t call out.

Chen Yuan shook his head slightly. ’This guy hasn’t changed a bit. What’s there to be so shy about?’

Just as he was about to go over and say hello, a sharp shout cut through the air.

"Chen Jiutian!"

Turning around, he saw a young nobleman in a golden brocade robe striding toward him.

He was handsome, with sharp brows, piercing eyes, and chiseled features. A powerful Sword Qi radiated from his body.

Chen Yuan frowned slightly. He had no impression of this person.

"What do you want?"

Chen Yuan asked, turning to face him with a blank expression.

"What do I want?"

The young nobleman sneered. "You killed my junior brother, Zhu Chengzong. It’s time to settle this blood debt!"

Upon hearing this, realization dawned on Chen Yuan. He now knew who this person was.

The number one expert of the Blazing Sect’s younger generation, the "Celestial Brilliance Golden Feather," Su Changhe.

The man was quite famous, mainly because there were few other outstanding figures among the younger generation of the Nine Martial Sects. Su Changhe alone had fought his way to the eleventh spot on the Hidden Dragon Rankings, making him particularly conspicuous.

’But I killed Zhu Chengzong a long time ago. If he wanted revenge for his junior brother, why is he only showing up now?’

In truth, when Zhu Chengzong was killed, the only person in the entire Blazing Sect who truly cared was his master, Dan Tiancheng, the "Celestial Imperial Sword."

Although Zhu Chengzong was one of the Blazing Sect’s Direct Lineage Disciples, the sect had hundreds like him. The death of one wasn’t a major loss.

As the top disciple of the younger generation, Su Changhe had almost no impression of this junior brother from a Small Noble Family. He had barely even exchanged a few words with him.

At most, their interactions consisted of Zhu Chengzong greeting him respectfully, and him nodding in return.

His righteous declaration of vengeance now was only because of Dan Tiancheng’s request.

The Blazing Sect’s Blazing Shocking World Record was famous for its versatile Cultivation Techniques. The manual itself was merely the core of an Inner Power. Every Martial Artist who practiced it, upon reaching a certain Realm, could comprehend and develop their own unique Martial Dao from it.

Therefore, the Blazing Sect never taught its disciples in large groups. Instead, knowledge was passed down within smaller lineages.

Once you were promoted to an Inner Sect Disciple, an Elder would take you as their personal disciple and impart their own uniquely comprehended Cultivation Technique to you.

Dan Tiancheng was a Divine Platform Realm Grandmaster, and Zhu Chengzong had been his only disciple—the sole inheritor of his lineage. How could he not be enraged by his death?

However, as an Elder of the Blazing Sect, his every move represented the sect’s official stance. He couldn’t travel a thousand miles to Zhenwu Hall to kill Chen Yuan over the death of a mere Low Tier Disciple.

First, it would create enmity with Zhenwu Hall over a minor matter. Second, he would earn a reputation for being a senior who bullies his juniors, which would damage the image and prestige of the entire Blazing Sect.

Therefore, for the Heaven-Reaching Tower trial, Dan Tiancheng specifically sought out Su Changhe and asked for his help in killing Chen Jiutian to get revenge.

If Su Changhe succeeded, Dan Tiancheng was willing to give him his lineage’s Cultivation Technique and all his accumulated resources as a reward.

The legacy of a Divine Platform Realm Elder—of course Su Changhe was tempted.

So, the moment he saw Chen Jiutian arrive, Su Changhe couldn’t resist preparing to make his move.

’The situation inside the Heaven-Reaching Tower will be chaotic. I can’t even be sure I’ll run into him. It’s safer to take care of him outside the tower.’

Chen Yuan was naturally unaware of these inner workings, but he could guess that Su Changhe wasn’t looking for trouble out of some deep brotherly affection.

"If you want to fight, just say so. No need to invent so many ridiculous excuses...

Grass has probably grown over Zhu Chengzong’s grave by now, and only now you remember to avenge him? Only now you think to settle this blood debt? Hypocrite!"

Chen Yuan sneered.

"Insolent!"

Su Changhe’s expression turned cold. The next moment, an extremely biting and powerful sharpness erupted from his body.

Vast golden True Qi condensed behind him into streams of golden Sword Qi that resembled feathers. As he pointed forward with his Sword Pointing technique, countless strands of golden Sword Qi shot toward Chen Yuan in an instant.

Heavenly Brilliance Golden Feather Sword!

This was the secret Sword Control Technique of Su Changhe’s lineage. It was incredibly powerful and demanded an extremely high foundation and control of one’s power.

In Chen Yuan’s eyes, however, this Heavenly Brilliance Golden Feather Sword was somewhat similar to the Heaven-Burning Destruction Sword Qi from the Celestial Fire Secret Manual, but far inferior.

Not only did it lack Sword Intent, but it also had no Power of Origin, making its power foundation a notch weaker.

The Blood Fiend Qi surged from the Blood Sea Listening Tide in Chen Yuan’s hand. With a single slash, a Karma Fire Red Lotus bloomed from the saber’s edge. The magnificent blood-red flame rose, parting the vast wave of Golden Feather Sword Qi as it shot straight for Su Changhe!

Su Changhe was ranked one spot higher than Chen Yuan on the Hidden Dragon Rankings. Moreover, Chen Yuan had only reached twelfth place after killing Xu Tianhong. Because of this, Su Changhe subconsciously looked down on him.

As a fellow prodigy on the Hidden Dragon Rankings, Su Changhe knew that Xu Tianhong was a fraud who only ranked behind him because of the power of his Demon-Drinking Saber.

Chen Jiutian’s victory over Xu Tianhong to claim the twelfth spot didn’t carry much weight. He believed that dealing with him wouldn’t be a problem.

Who would have thought that upon clashing today, Su Changhe would discover that Chen Jiutian’s power was so terrifying? His foundation of power was nearly comparable to that of a Grandmaster who had just entered the Primordial Pill Realm!

A golden, dragon-patterned Long Sword appeared in Su Changhe’s hand. As the blade vibrated, golden Sword Qi surged forward like a great river.

So far, among the prodigies of this generation’s Hidden Dragon Rankings that Chen Yuan had encountered, Xu Tianhong was the only one unworthy of his rank. The others were all quite formidable.

Su Changhe’s Cultivation foundation was exceptionally deep. Although he hadn’t reached the Half-Step Primordial Pill Realm, his power foundation was even stronger than that of Duan Zhixuan, who was at that level.

Chen Yuan chanted the Six Paths of Vajra Mantra of Master Padmasambhava. An equally turbulent Buddha Light surged downward, and a Brahma Sound trembled like a clap of thunder, shattering the river of Sword Qi.

The aftershock of the Brahma Sound rang in his ears. Su Changhe’s expression changed instantly. He formed a Seal Technique with his hands, and the sharp Sword Qi condensed in his palm as he slammed it down.

Blazing Sword Heart Palm!

Chen Yuan met the Attack Against Attack, unleashing his Blood Killing Heaven-Seizing Hand. A blood-red flame surged, Evil Qi filled the air, and the tyrannical Killing Tribulation Power directly extinguished Su Changhe’s Palm Force. The impact sent a shock through Su Changhe’s Inner Viscera, turning his face deathly pale.

But it wasn’t over. Chen Yuan took a step forward, appearing directly in front of Su Changhe. The Killing Saber Intent from the Blood Sea Listening Tide in his hand shot to the heavens. Blood Fiend Qi billowed out as he slashed down at Su Changhe again with overwhelming might. The biting Saber Momentum instantly pressed down on Su Changhe like a violent storm, leaving him unable to even raise his head.

The onlookers were stunned by this scene.

No one had expected that Chen Jiutian, ranked one spot below Su Changhe on the Hidden Dragon Rankings, could completely dominate him.

Usually, the Hidden Dragon Rankings only saw major changes after the Heaven-Reaching Tower trial was over, but this time, it seemed there would be an exception.

With the battle turning out like this, Chen Yuan could replace Su Changhe on the Hidden Dragon Rankings right now.

Seeing himself suppressed so thoroughly, Su Changhe was overcome with shame and indignation. He roared in anger, violently burning his Qi Blood. A torrent of fiery, golden-red True Qi erupted, and endless streams of Feather Sword Qi began to condense around him.

But before his Sword Qi could fully form, a boundless wave of Blood Fiend Qi from Chen Yuan’s hand surged into his Blood Sea Listening Tide.

In an instant, a strange, vibrating hum emanated from the saber. It carried a monstrous killing intent that shook the hearts and minds of all who heard it.

The moment the Blood Sea Tide-Rising Song emerged, Su Changhe, who had just been burning his Qi Blood, was horrified to find that it was now combusting uncontrollably. An endless killing intent rushed directly into his mind.

The next moment, Chen Yuan slashed down. A wave of Blood Fiend Ascending to Heaven erupted, and Su Changhe instantly coughed up a mouthful of blood as he was sent flying!