Chapter 301 - 299: Enemies on 4 Sides

Chapter 301: Chapter 299: Enemies on 4 Sides

Su Changhe spat out a mouthful of blood, clutching his chest, his face ashen.

He wasn’t some sheltered Martial Artist who had only grown up in the greenhouse of a Sect. His combat experience was incredibly rich.

In just an instant, he knew. ’This is bad!’ His ribs were broken, and his Inner Viscera were being eroded by that tyrannical Blood Fiend Qi. He had already suffered a serious internal injury.

His plan had been perfect. He would deal with this Chen Jiutian outside the Heaven-Reaching Tower. Even if he came away empty-handed from the tower this time, he could still return to the Sect and claim the inheritance resources promised by Elder Dan Tiancheng.

Who would have thought this Chen Jiutian’s strength was so terrifying? After just a few moves, he found himself completely unable to resist.

But it wasn’t over. Chen Yuan raised his saber and charged again, and the color drained from Su Changhe’s face.

Su Changhe was the most outstanding disciple of the Blazing Sect’s younger generation. Naturally, the Sect hadn’t sent him to the Heaven-Reaching Tower trial alone; they had dispatched a Divine Platform Realm Elder to accompany him.

However, that Divine Platform Realm Elder had run into an old friend and went to the other side of Yanfu Mountain to chat and catch up. He never expected Su Changhe to actually get into a fight.

Just as Su Changhe was about to burn his Qi Blood in a desperate attempt to flee, an angry shout came from behind!

"Chen Jiutian! You killed my senior brother Zhang Zhilan and stole my Shenxiao Sect’s Secret Technique, the Shenxiao Evil-slaying Sword! It’s time to settle that score today!"

On the mountain path leading into Yanfu Mountain, a young Daoist wearing a Golden Thunder Pattern Daoist Robe stood with his sharp brows angled in anger, his face cold and harsh.

Behind him followed another Daoist with a goatee and two swords on his back. His aura was even more terrifying. As he walked forward step by step, the faint sound of thunder seemed to rumble around him.

Seeing this scene, everyone present immediately understood who had arrived.

From one of the Four Daoist Courts, tenth on the Hidden Dragon Rankings, the number one disciple of the Shenxiao Sect’s younger generation, the true inheritor of the Shenxiao Thunder Skill—Zhang Xuanzhong!

The Daoist following him was none other than the Vice Sect Leader of the Shenxiao Sect, Zuo Mubai, the ’Jingxiao Master,’ who had already reached the Ninth Realms Celestial Profound Realm.

Zhang Xuanzhong’s figure flashed. Transforming into a streak of lightning, he moved to block Chen Yuan’s path.

Zuo Mubai, however, simply stroked his beard, watching the scene with an indifferent expression.

Zhang Zhilan had been killed by this Chen Jiutian in a direct confrontation. If the Shenxiao Sect wanted revenge, it was only natural that they would let a disciple of their own younger generation seek it honorably.

Although Zuo Mubai could easily kill him with a single casual strike, and the Shenxiao Sect did not fear retaliation from Zhenwu Hall, doing so would break the rules of the Jianghu and damage the Shenxiao Sect’s reputation.

A mere Chen Jiutian was not worth the Shenxiao Sect losing face just to kill him.

"He didn’t just steal a Secret Technique from your Shenxiao Sect!

"Chen Jiutian, return the *Three Generations of Bright King’s Demon-Suppressing Spell* to my Vajra Prajna Temple at once! Otherwise, I’m afraid you won’t even make it into the Heaven-Reaching Tower today!"

A young Monk strode forward. He was tall and powerfully built. Even his somewhat loose monk’s robes couldn’t conceal his bulging, majestic muscles. His exposed skin had a bronze luster, making it look less like flesh and blood and more like it was forged from Golden Iron.

He was in his twenties, with a wide face and large ears. His cheekbones were slightly high, and his brow ridge protruded like a cliff, giving him a fierce appearance. He didn’t look like a Buddhist Sect Monk, but rather like a Guardian statue in a temple, possessing the ferocious posture of a wrathful Vajra.

This was the number one disciple of the Vajra Prajna Temple’s younger generation, ranked eighth on the Hidden Dragon Rankings—Ming Chong.

His life story was quite legendary. It was said that his mother was hunted down and died at the gates of the Vajra Prajna Temple, giving birth to Ming Chong just before she passed. At the moment of his birth, a golden light shone in the night, and a bronze Vajra Statue inside the temple suddenly developed a crack.

Thus, Ming Chong was also known as the ’Descent Vajra.’ He possessed Innate Divine Strength, and his bones and muscles were unparalleled. As long as he seriously cultivated the techniques of the Vajra Prajna Temple’s Vajra Zen lineage, he could master the basics in a single day, as if he were a true Vajra descended to the mortal world and reincarnated as a man.

Behind Ming Chong was an old Monk, but this old Monk was completely inconspicuous. He was short, withered, and thin, with drooping eyelids and a face full of wrinkles. Compared to Ming Chong, he looked like an old Monk with one foot in the grave.

But those who recognized him wore grave expressions.

This old Monk who seemed to have one foot in the grave was Kong Xing, the former head of the Vajra Prajna Temple’s Vajra Hall. He had stepped into the Ninth Realm Celestial Profound a hundred years ago.

This time, he must have come out of seclusion specifically to protect Ming Chong.

The gazes of everyone present turned toward Chen Yuan, all of them a bit strange.

’Damn, this Chen Jiutian is a real troublemaker. He managed to piss off people from two Major Sects, the Shenxiao Sect and the Vajra Prajna Temple, all at once.’

Although senior Martial Artists like Zuo Mubai and Kong Xing wouldn’t interfere in a fight between juniors, these two—one ranked eighth on the Hidden Dragon Rankings and the other tenth—were more than enough for Chen Yuan to handle.

Chen Yuan’s gaze hardened, but he looked past them into the crowd behind.

Mr. Bei, currently hiding in the crowd under the identity of Bei Tianya, gave Chen Yuan a subtle hand signal.

Even though their opponents were two experts of the Ninth Realms Celestial Profound Realm, if they were to make a move, Mr. Bei was confident he could rescue Chen Yuan.

On one hand, he had many Secret Techniques at his disposal; on the other, Lu Beiming had likely given him some trump cards.

However, the moment Mr. Bei acted, Chen Yuan’s identity as a member of the Ming Sect would be immediately exposed.

That was why he hadn’t asked for help yet, only confirming whether Mr. Bei was confident.

Now that he had confirmed Mr. Bei’s confidence, Chen Yuan had a plan.

"A joke! What do you mean ’your’ Cultivation Techniques?"

Chen Yuan sneered, "I obtained the Shenxiao Evil-slaying Sword by killing Wen Cangyuan of the Thunder Shock Sect. The Thunder Shock Sect existed for over a hundred years. Why didn’t your Shenxiao Sect go and take it back?

"And I got the *Three Generations of Bright King’s Demon-Suppressing Spell* from Master Dust Crossing in the Blood Killing Realm. That Blood Killing Realm has been in Qin Province for more than a day or two. Why didn’t you go looking for it?

"You couldn’t get them yourselves, but now that I have them, you come to snatch them away, insisting that I ’return’ them.

"So this is how your so-called great Daoist and Buddhist Major Sects operate? Like a bunch of bandits?"

Most people in the Jianghu, of course, did not know the origins of these two Cultivation Techniques.

Just now, hearing Zhang Xuanzhong and Ming Chong speak, they had really thought that Chen Yuan was audacious enough to directly steal the Cultivation Techniques and Secret Arts from these two sects.

Only now, hearing Chen Yuan’s explanation, did they realize that he had obtained both techniques from other places.

In that case, the actions of the Shenxiao Sect and the Vajra Prajna Temple seemed a bit unreasonable.

Although tracing these two Cultivation Techniques back to their source would indeed lead to the Vajra Prajna Temple and the Shenxiao Sect, they had to ask themselves: if they had gone through great pains to obtain a Secret Technique, only for a Major Sect to show up and demand its return, would they be willing?

Putting themselves in his shoes, the actions of these two sects were indeed a bit domineering.

But domineering or not, the Daoist and Buddhist Lineages had always been this way, especially the Vajra Prajna Temple, which had always acted with an iron fist.

But their strength was undeniable, so the crowd only dared to exchange quiet whispers, thinking that Chen Jiutian was truly unlucky to have offended these two sects.

Zhenwu Hall, one of the Seven Alliances of the World, was somewhat lacking when facing the Daoist and Buddhist Lineages. Even if Chao Hongtu himself were standing here, he probably wouldn’t have enough confidence.

"Silver-tongued devil!"

Ming Chong looked at Chen Yuan expressionlessly, put his palms together, and said in a deep voice, "Amitabha. I did not come here today to reason with you."

"If you return the Cultivation Technique, we can leave it at that. If you don’t, I have other, more forceful Vajra methods!"

"Master Ming Chong wants a Cultivation Technique. I, on the other hand, not only want the technique, but also have a blood debt waiting for you to repay!"

Zhang Xuanzhong’s gaze was grim.

Zhang Zhilan was his senior brother, but in truth, their relationship was average at best.

However, Zhang Zhilan was still a disciple of the Shenxiao Sect. To die so disgracefully at the hands of this Chen Jiutian... if he didn’t seek justice, where would the Shenxiao Sect’s honor be?

And just as the two were denouncing Chen Yuan, a stunningly beautiful and seductive woman with a bewitching figure in the crowd looked at him, her eyes revealing a flash of killing intent and hatred.

Next to the woman stood a young master in white. He was tall, holding a folding fan, and handsome. The corners of his mouth were always tilted slightly upward, giving him a devilishly charming aura.

He was the number one expert of the Original Demon Palace’s younger generation, one of the Five Demonic Sects. He was also the only son of the Original Demon Palace’s Palace Master, ranked seventh on the Hidden Dragon Rankings—the ’Demon Child,’ Han Chang.

"Young Master, could you also act and deal with this Chen Jiutian alongside them?"

Han Chang was slightly taken aback. "Mei Niang, you have a grudge against this Chen Jiutian?"

The woman named Mei Niang showed a trace of grief and hatred on her face. "When this Chen Jiutian was at the White Tiger Hall in Ning Province, he went on a killing spree against the Ning Province Martial Arts world. His methods were utterly cruel."

"A branch of my clan was a Small Noble Family in the Ning Province Martial Arts world, but they were slaughtered by this Chen Jiutian. I beg you, Young Master, to seek justice for me and avenge the annihilation of my clan!"

"But I seem to recall you saying you were from Qin Province, Mei Niang. Why would your clan be in Ning Province?"

Mei Niang shot Han Chang a mournful glance. "My parents are in Qin Province, but that branch of the family migrated from Qin Province to Ning Province. We were still in contact before."

"On this entire journey, I have served you with all my heart and never asked for anything in return. Are you unwilling to help me with even this one small thing, Young Master?"

Han Chang pinched her smooth cheek and smiled his devilish smile. "Help? Of course I’ll help."

As the number one of the Original Demon Palace’s younger generation, the son of the Palace Master, and devilishly handsome to boot, what kind of woman hadn’t Han Chang seen? In fact, women usually threw themselves at him, so he never lacked for female companionship.

He had met this Mei Niang on the road. She was a Martial Artist also preparing to participate in the Heaven-Reaching Tower trial. Because she had offended a group of people, she was being hunted down. Her attendants had all been killed, and she herself had been cornered.

As someone from the Demon Dao, Han Chang naturally wasn’t the type to be a hero saving a damsel in distress.

But seeing her seductive beauty, he was tempted and decided to save her. He had originally intended it to be a casual dalliance to relieve the boredom of the road, but he hadn’t expected Mei Niang to possess a natural, internal charm—a ’famous vessel’—that even a connoisseur of women like Han Chang found himself somewhat unable to resist.

Moreover, she was tactful in both her words and actions, and she served him so well that he was extremely comfortable. Therefore, Han Chang decided to take her with him to brave the Heaven-Reaching Tower and bring her back to the Original Demon Palace afterward.

Although she couldn’t be his primary wife, he was prepared to give her the status of a concubine.