Chapter 140: Chapter 138: Duel of Wind and Fire

"H-How is this possible?"

"Are my eyes playing tricks on me? Why did it look like the Fourth Chief was killed by a single sword strike?"

"No... It’s not a trick. The Fourth Chief is really dead!"

The men of Blood Wolf Village finally came to their senses.

Expressions of utter shock and disbelief were etched on every face.

The Fourth Chief, Mad Wolf...

He was a mighty expert at the Peak of the True Martial Realm Sixth Stage!

Ever since Blood Wolf Village was founded, Mad Wolf had fought countless battles, becoming famous for his vicious methods and frenzied combat style. In the dog-eat-dog world of the Hundred Beasts Mountains and Rivers, a place where everyone lived on the edge, even the most ferocious desperadoes would tremble at the mere mention of his name.

But now...

An expert of such terrifying might was actually dead?

And he’d been slain by a young man, with a single slash of a sword!

The whole thing happened right before their eyes, yet no one had been able to process it. When was Mad Wolf killed? *How* was he killed?

Fire Wolf’s thick brows knitted together tightly. A cold glint flickered in his eyes as he stared at Jiang Chen, his expression turning grave. ’So fast. Such a sharp sword. Mad Wolf didn’t even realize he’d been struck until the moment he died. That damn Xiong Yingjie... to provoke an expert like this and then drag Blood Wolf Village into it? Damn it all...’

Fire Wolf was furious.

He looked over at the equally dumbfounded Xiong He, his gaze filled with ice.

Xiong He was also completely bewildered.

「A month ago.」

When Xiong Li fought Jiang Chen, Jiang Chen had only barely managed to force him back.

But just now...

In his fight against Mad Wolf, Jiang Chen had clearly crushed him with overwhelming force!

A one-hit kill!

"How is this possible? It’s only been a month. How did he suddenly get so strong?" Xiong He muttered to himself, his face a mask of disbelief.

Fire Wolf said viciously, "Getting this strong in just one month? Who the fuck are you kidding?"

Xiong He said defensively, "I’m not lying! A month ago, he really only beat Xiong Li by a hair. He was nowhere near this strong!"

"Shut up!"

Fire Wolf roared, his face dark. "Xiong He, you listen to me. Our Village Chief only agreed to help Xiong Yingjie deal with this kid out of respect for Master Yu. But now Mad Wolf is dead, and Blood Wolf Village has suffered a heavy loss. You’d better start thinking about how you’re going to face our Village Chief’s wrath!"

"Th-this..."

With a frustrated and bitter expression, Xiong He said, "Third Chief, don’t worry. Once we get back, I’ll have the Young Master compensate you double!"

Only then did Fire Wolf nod in satisfaction. He turned to Jiang Chen, his voice deep and gaze cold. "Kid, you’ve got some nerve. Daring to kill a brother of my Blood Wolf Village... you must have a death wish."

"You come to kill me, but I’m not allowed to fight back? Is there no law?" Jiang Chen said, speechless.

"Law? In the Hundred Beasts Mountains and Rivers, Blood Wolf Village *is* the law!" Fire Wolf said coldly. "I wasn’t planning on getting involved personally, but since you’ve killed Mad Wolf, you’ve earned my attention."

Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow. "Your cultivation is identical to Mad Wolf’s. What makes you so confident you can kill me?"

With his Ten Thousand Laws Golden Pupil, Jiang Chen could see through the cultivation of any expert no more than two major realms above his own.

He could tell at a glance that Fire Wolf, like Mad Wolf, was at the Peak of the True Martial Realm Sixth Stage.

In terms of realm, Fire Wolf and Mad Wolf were evenly matched.

Jiang Chen found it puzzling that even after witnessing him kill Mad Wolf with a single strike, Fire Wolf was still confident he could win.

He didn’t know if Fire Wolf truly had the strength to back up his words, or if he was just bluffing.

However, Fire Wolf quickly proved with his actions that he wasn’t bluffing; he truly possessed immense power. A brilliant True Essence Light erupted from his body—a blood-red glow dozens of feet wide that enveloped him, making him look like a fireball standing on the ground.

SS SSSS—

The fiery True Essence around him radiated intense heat, threatening to scorch the very ground beneath him.

Fire Wolf’s eyes snapped open, and within his pupils, two balls of blazing fire seemed to burn, emitting a pure, searing light. Behind him, the intense heat caused moisture to steam away from the grass and trees, turning them yellow and brittle before they burst into flame with a WHOOSH, creating a sea of fire.

"It’s on fire! Run!"

"The Third Chief has comprehended the True Meaning of Fire! Its power is immense! Don’t touch it, get back!"

Xiong He and the others scrambled back!

After retreating several hundred meters, Xiong He stood atop a tree, staring at Fire Wolf in horror. ’The True Meaning of Fire? I can’t believe Fire Wolf is a genius who has comprehended a Martial Arts Realm... No wonder they say chaotic times breed heroes. The Hundred Beasts Mountains and Rivers may be lawless, but it’s also a cradle for the strong!’

There is no strong or weak in the Martial Dao, only higher and lower among Martial Artists!

Ordinary Martial Artists spend their entire lives just pursuing breakthroughs in their cultivation realms. Some, however, comprehend the true meaning of the Martial Dao—also known as a Mental Realm!

Anyone who could comprehend a True Martial Dao and master the power of a Mental Realm was, without exception, a super genius capable of fighting those in higher realms and far surpassing their peers!

For example, Jiang Chen...

He had mastered the Wind Sword Intent, which made his Swordsmanship incredibly powerful, rendering him invincible among his peers and allowing him to fight those in higher realms!

And this Fire Wolf was also a genius who had comprehended a True Martial Dao!

After his initial shock, Xiong He clenched his fists, overcome with excitement. "Hahaha, Jiang Chen, oh, Jiang Chen, you’re dead meat! Fire Wolf is a genius who has comprehended a True Martial Dao! With him taking action, you’re dead! Dead!"

Meanwhile, wreathed in scorching flames, Fire Wolf had transformed into a fiery red cyclone, rushing toward Jiang Chen. On his fists, he wore a pair of Profound Martial Gloves that amplified the heat of his fiery True Essence.

His fists flew forward like two meteors, smashing down on Jiang Chen.

Flames churned and heatwaves rolled.

RUMBLE—

The immense power, seemingly world-destroying, created a deafening roar that shook the air and made eardrums ache. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"Get out of my way!"

Jiang Chen let out a cold shout and met the attack with his sword.

A blinding light flared from his sword, forming a golden, crescent-shaped Sword Aura that slashed across the sky.

BANG—

The Sword Aura shattered. As the fiery fists smashed toward him, Jiang Chen hastily retreated. The attack struck the ground where he had been, blasting open a deep crater with a BOOM and sending dust flying.

Fire Wolf laughed heartily, a confident look on his face. "Not bad, kid! You actually managed to dodge that punch. But how many more can you dodge? Hmph! With my True Meaning of Fire, I am invincible at my level. Against me, death is your only way out!"

"My only way out is death? I don’t think so!"

But Jiang Chen just smiled faintly, showing no fear or despair at the fact that Fire Wolf had mastered the True Meaning of Fire. A fiery glint lit up his eyes as he said, "A True Martial Dao... but you’re not the only one who has comprehended one. In fact, since I comprehended my own True Martial Dao, you’re the first opponent I’ve faced who’s done the same. Today, let’s see which is stronger: your True Meaning of Fire, or my sharp Wind Sword Intent!"

Before his words had even faded, Jiang Chen’s sword shot forward with a SWISH.

The blade transformed into a streak of azure light. The roar of a gale thundered between heaven and earth, whipping up dust and debris as it surged toward Fire Wolf, who was engulfed in towering flames.

A duel of wind and fire...

...had just begun!