In the silent Yunxian Valley, everyone was dumbfounded. No one had believed Jiang Chen would be the one left standing.

Who could have imagined that just as Luo Meng held the upper hand, and everyone believed he would press his advantage to slay Jiang Chen, Jiang Chen would stage such a desperate counterattack?

From Jiang Chen unleashing his Talent Devouring God and his strength surging, to him slaying Luo Meng with a single strike!

It all happened too fast.

So fast that no one had time to react.

It wasn’t until Xiao Qingyi’s jubilant cheer that everyone was jolted back to reality. "He won! Brother Chen won! Aunt Yun, did you see that? I told you Brother Chen was the strongest! I knew he would win!"

"Yes... He... he actually won."

A look of profound shock appeared on Aunt Yun’s pale face. She glanced at the jubilant Xiao Qingyi, who was hopping about like a happy little sprite, then back to the youth standing with his sword. An inscrutable expression flickered in her eyes, as if she had just made a momentous decision.

Meanwhile, the crowd in Yunxian Valley was finally rousing as if from a dream.

They looked at each other in utter horror. "Hey... pinch me. I feel like I’m dreaming."

"This isn’t a dream. Look, I’ve already pinched my own thigh raw..." another said, his face a mask of astonishment. "Luo Meng was defeated, slain by a single sword strike. This is all real!"

"But that was Luo Meng! A master at the True Martial Realm Ninth Stage who had grasped Sword Intent! The number one expert on the Demon Hunting List! If even he was slain by Jiang Chen, is there anyone left who can stop him?"

"With him protecting the Vampire Witch, it looks like this siege is going to fail."

"If there’s anyone left who could possibly defeat him, it would have to be..." A middle-aged Martial Artist’s hesitant gaze fell upon a composed figure not far away.

One by one, all eyes turned to that composed figure.

He wore flowing white robes, his long hair was neatly groomed and tied back. With his hands clasped behind him and his head held high, he stood like a supreme divine sword.

Tall, straight, and sharp-edged.

He...

...was the man ranked second on the Demon Hunting List, the foremost expert of the Hundred Beasts Mountains and Rivers, the Valley Master of Cloud Dragon Valley—Yun Jianshen!

CLAP! CLAP, CLAP, CLAP...

A sudden, crisp round of applause echoed through the silent Yunxian Valley, drawing everyone’s attention.

Jiang Chen, who had just collected Luo Meng’s Storage Ring, frowned slightly and looked toward the source of the sound. He saw Yun Jianshen clapping slowly, producing the crisp sound. The man walked on air until he was hovering above, looking down on Jiang Chen. His indifferent gaze was as placid as an ancient well as he began to speak. "To possess such strength at your age is truly remarkable."

"Yun Jianshen?"

Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes, studying the foremost expert of the Hundred Beasts Mountains and Rivers.

Yun Jianshen said flatly, "Young man, your talent is exceptional. In my decades of roaming the martial world, I have seen countless geniuses. You... would rank among the top ten."

"Master Yun, you flatter me," Jiang Chen replied coolly, remaining unmoved.

Yun Jianshen shook his head.

"It is not flattery. You are worthy of the praise. Given enough time, you would surely become one of the most supreme figures in the Saint Martial Dynasty. However..." He paused, his tone shifting. "Even the greatest of geniuses needs time to grow. And the prerequisite for that... is that you must remain alive."

Jiang Chen’s heart sank. In a solemn voice, he said, "Please, Master Yun, enlighten me."

Yun Jianshen nodded, leaning forward slightly and looking down on Jiang Chen like a sovereign. "Hand over the Earth-tier Profound Weapon in your possession," he said coolly. "And give me the Vampire Witch and that girl. I can spare your life. Otherwise, this day next year will mark the anniversary of your death. Young man, a life extinguished is like a snuffed-out candle. No matter how immense your talent, once you’re dead, you’ll have nothing."

The air instantly grew heavy, and the temperature seemed to plummet.

His true intentions were finally laid bare.

After so much preamble, Yun Jianshen had finally revealed his true purpose!

’He wants my Spirit-Slaying Sword? And expects me to just hand over Qingyi and Aunt Yun?’

Jiang Chen took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. He raised his middle finger. "I’ve got something for you right here!" he snarled, enunciating every word. "Who the hell do you think you are, the Celestial King? Making demands and ordering people around? Yun Jianshen, I will never give you the Spirit-Slaying Sword! As for Qingyi and Aunt Yun, if you want to hurt them, you’ll have to ask my sword for permission first!"

VMMMM—

The Spirit-Slaying Sword seemed to sense Jiang Chen’s killing intent and rage. It let out a high-pitched hum, its blade trembling.

A disdainful smile played on Yun Jianshen’s lips. "Surely you don’t believe you can defeat me just because I’m ranked below Luo Meng on that so-called Demon Hunting List?" he said coolly. "Hahaha! The truth is, I was the one who compiled that list. I intentionally gave the number one spot to Luo Meng!"

"What?"

"Yun Jianshen compiled the Demon Hunting List? Then why would he give the top spot to Luo Meng?"

"You idiot! Obviously, it was to hide his true strength! Can’t you read between the lines? Master Yun is saying his power is far greater than Luo Meng’s!"

Yun Jianshen’s words were like a stone dropped into a still lake, sending ripples through the crowd.

"How could the world possibly know the true extent of my power?"

Yun Jianshen’s body slowly ascended. A terrifying wave of power erupted from him, expanding outward in successive layers. The white mist within a one-kilometer radius was completely dispersed, allowing a ray of golden sunlight to fall upon him. A vigorous and unparalleled aura swept across the world.

This aura was like the Divine Aura of a Divine Spirit. All who were enveloped by it felt an inexplicable sense of shock and awe.

Some of the Martial Artists with weaker cultivation found their legs giving out, and they collapsed to their knees.

At that moment, every single person in Yunxian Valley wore an expression of sheer terror!

Jiang Chen bore the brunt of the pressure. He felt his entire body stiffen beneath the terrifying might. With great difficulty, he forced out the words, identifying Yun Jianshen’s cultivation. "You’re... at the Heavenly Destiny Realm?"

"Correct."

Yun Jianshen hovered in the air, a mocking, derisive look on his face. "I advanced to the Heavenly Destiny Realm half a year ago," he stated calmly. "Only by truly stepping into this realm can one understand the meaning of the saying: ’Beneath the Heavenly Destiny, all are but ants.’ Young man, my offer still stands. Hand over the Earth-tier Profound Weapon, the Vampire Witch, and that girl, and I will spare your life!"

"Heavenly Destiny?" Jiang Chen roared, his eyes bloodshot, veins popping on his forehead. "So what if you’re at the Heavenly Destiny Realm? I’ll kill you all the same!"

He stomped his feet, launching himself into the air as a black Sword Aura sliced through the sky. "Divine Wind Extreme!"

WHOOSH!

The terrifying Sword Qi Storm coalesced into a long, draconic tempest and surged toward Yun Jianshen.

Yun Jianshen hovered there, his eyes filled with contempt. He gave a casual wave of his hand. "Scatter."

VMMMM—

It was as if countless invisible hands materialized out of thin air, grabbing hold of the Sword Qi dragon and, with a deafening BOOM, completely obliterating the ferocious attack.

Yun Jianshen’s gaze turned icy. "Since you’re so eager to die, I will accommodate you."

Before the words had even faded, Yun Jianshen thrust a palm toward Jiang Chen.

The palm strike was silent and seemingly ordinary.

Yet every pore on Jiang Chen’s body screamed in alarm as an overwhelming sense of death washed over him. He forced his stiffening body to execute several sword strikes in a row. But no matter how he resisted, all of his attacks were fragile and useless before Yun Jianshen; they were crushed as easily as rotted wood.

"Too weak! Young man, the saying ’beneath the Heavenly Destiny, all are but ants’ is not just empty talk. Open your eyes and see for yourself. This... is the power of the Heavenly Destiny!"

Yun Jianshen’s voice was vast and magnificent, booming like cracking thunder and the beating of war drums.

He formed a Sword Finger and pointed it at Jiang Chen.

BANG—

The Sword Finger was incredibly fast, striking Jiang Chen and exploding with terrifying energy. "WAH—" Jiang Chen sprayed a mouthful of blood as his body was sent flying backward. He crashed into the ground, carving a trench a hundred meters long like a wild ox plowing a field.

Amidst the upturned earth and rock, Jiang Chen struggled to his feet, only to spit out another mouthful of blood. "WAH—"

He stared at Yun Jianshen in horror. "So... so strong..."

The power of a Heavenly Destiny Realm expert was simply terrifying!

A single finger had rendered him completely powerless.

"Brother Chen..."

Xiao Qingyi, her face etched with worry, rushed over and threw her arms around him. "Brother Chen, are you okay?"

"Don’t worry, I’m fine... WAH—" He had barely finished speaking before he coughed up another mouthful of blood, his aura flagging.

That one attack had already left him grievously wounded.

Combined with the backlash from the Devouring God ability, his injuries were compounded, leaving him with less than a tenth of his usual combat strength.

Aunt Yun said, "You should have a Healing Elixir on you. Take it now to stabilize your injuries."

"Right!"

Jiang Chen nodded with difficulty. He took out a Melt Recovery Pill and swallowed it, temporarily calming his turbulent qi and blood. He looked at Aunt Yun. "Aunt Yun, you have to take Qingyi and get out of here."

"Leave? None of you are going anywhere!" Yun Jianshen roared with laughter.

Aunt Yun’s expression turned grim. She said to Xiao Qingyi, "Qingyi, take Jiang Chen to Taoyuan Town, now! I’ll hold Yun Jianshen off!"

"Aunt Yun, I won’t go! I want to stay with you..." Xiao Qingyi cried.

"Go now!" Aunt Yun snapped. "If you don’t, we’ll all die here!"

"But I..."

Tears welled up in Xiao Qingyi’s eyes, her expression full of reluctance.

Aunt Yun’s heart softened. "Take Jiang Chen to Taoyuan Town first," she said gently. "Yun Jianshen is strong, but killing me won’t be so easy for him. Qingyi, be good. Jiang Chen is badly hurt. Take him to Taoyuan Town. I’ll join you both very soon!"

Xiao Qingyi looked at Aunt Yun, then at the grievously wounded Jiang Chen. She bit her lip. "Aunt Yun, you have to promise you’ll come find us!"

"I promise."

Aunt Yun nodded.

Without another word, Xiao Qingyi supported Jiang Chen and bolted toward Taoyuan Town.

Yun Jianshen’s gaze turned frosty. "And where do you think you’re going?"

A Sword Finger shot through the air toward them.

"Yun Jianshen, your opponent is me!" Aunt Yun suddenly appeared in its path, shattering the Sword Finger. Her gaze was like ice.

"Hmph. Witch, since you’re so eager to die, I’ll deal with you first!"

Yun Jianshen snorted.

A bloody light pulsed around Aunt Yun’s body. Six dark-red, blood-soaked wings unfurled from her back. She soared into the sky to clash with Yun Jianshen.

The energy of their battle surged to the heavens.

After several hundred exchanges, Aunt Yun was ultimately outmatched and defeated.

Yun Jianshen roared with laughter. "Witch, die!" 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Yun Jianshen struck with his palm, an attack imbued with an overwhelming aura of death. Aunt Yun did her utmost to defend, but the blow sent her flying, her body tearing apart from the impact.

"Hahaha, Witch, you’re finished!" Yun Jianshen sneered.

A look of despair crossed Aunt Yun’s face. She glanced back toward Taoyuan Town, and her expression hardened with resolve. The bloody light from her six dark-red wings flared, shooting toward the sky. Behind her, a hazy Martial Soul materialized, radiating a terrifying, bloody aura. Her eyes turned frigid. "Yun Jianshen, as long as I am here, you can forget about harming Qingyi and Jiang Chen!"

The moment she finished speaking.

A blinding red light erupted from Aunt Yun, shining like a Blazing Sun.

Yun Jianshen’s face changed dramatically. "You madwoman... You’re self-destructing?!" He shot into the sky, trying to escape.

"No, run for it!"

"Oh my god, I don’t want to die...!"

BOOOOM—

A terrifying roar shook the heavens and the earth.

A terrifying Energy Storm flooded the entirety of Yunxian Valley. The hazy white mist that covered more than half of the valley was instantly blown away, and the mountains and rivers within were all razed to the ground.

Tens of thousands of experts were caught in the blast, perishing along with Aunt Yun.

Aunt Yun had self-destructed.