Yanm Tianjue’s expression was incredibly foul, as black as charcoal.

Only a moment ago, he had boasted that as long as the Celestial Alliance was here, no one would dare join the Heaven-Soaring Alliance.

And yet...

In the blink of an eye, someone had already joined the Heaven-Soaring Alliance.

This was a blatant slap in the face!

His face burned as if it had been slapped, and a cold, sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he looked toward the newcomer.

A figure arrived, seeming to tread on the clouds. His long robe fluttered, giving him an otherworldly and ethereal air. It was none other than Ruan Lingyun, one of the ten great prodigies of the Outer Sect.

An excited smile graced Ruan Lingyun’s face. After receiving Jiang Chen’s guidance, he had officially broken through to the Heavenly Destiny Realm.

This guidance had filled Ruan Lingyun with boundless admiration for Jiang Chen.

He was well aware that the insights Jiang Chen had shared for breaking through to the Heavenly Destiny Realm were invaluable and perfectly suited to his own circumstances. Furthermore, after reaching the Heavenly Destiny Realm, Ruan Lingyun felt the power and unfathomable depth of Jiang Chen’s methods even more keenly.

It was a method that cut straight to the essence of things, guiding his cultivation on a fundamental level.

After reaching the Heavenly Destiny Realm, Ruan Lingyun had briefly considered going back on his word and not joining Jiang Chen’s Heaven-Soaring Alliance.

But...

As he delved deeper into the guidance Jiang Chen had imparted, Ruan Lingyun made an astonishing discovery: he felt completely lost regarding his future on the Martial Dao.

His old cultivation methods had led him to a bottleneck just before the Heavenly Destiny Realm.

It made him afraid to continue down that same path.

After long and careful consideration, Ruan Lingyun realized that the only person who could guide him on his future path in the Martial Dao was Jiang Chen.

The Celestial Alliance’s might, however great, could not deter his resolve to reach the peak of the Martial Dao.

And so, he decided to join the Heaven-Soaring Alliance!

"Alliance Leader, Ruan Lingyun reporting for duty. I’m not too late, am I?" Ruan Lingyun said with a smile as he landed before Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen smiled faintly and shook his head. "You’ve come at just the right time."

"Alliance Leader, I hear some blind fools want to stop the founding of our Heaven-Soaring Alliance?" Ruan Lingyun said, his gaze sweeping over the Celestial Alliance experts, a faint, cold smile playing on his lips.

’He’s preparing to prove his loyalty!’

Jiang Chen nodded to himself and said, "Indeed, there are some blind fools!"

"Our Heaven-Soaring Alliance is newly established, and now is the time to build our prestige. I, Lingyun, request to fight for the honor of our Alliance!" Ruan Lingyun declared in a resonant voice, cupping his fists and bowing to Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen laughed heartily. "Excellent! Since you have the heart to build our Alliance’s prestige, Lingyun, I certainly have no reason to stop you. Here, let me borrow your Profound Weapon for a moment!"

Ruan Lingyun froze.

’A Profound Weapon is a Martial Artist’s second life. How can I just hand it over to someone else?’

But then he recalled Jiang Chen’s many miraculous feats, so he summoned his Profound Weapon and handed it over.

His Profound Weapon was a pair of Profound Tier Middle Level Gloves.

Jiang Chen tossed the gloves into the air. His hands flew, forming a series of Seal Techniques, each one striking the Profound Ice Gloves.

A brilliant and dazzling multicolored light enveloped the Gloves.

VMMMM—

True Flame condensed, and clusters of fiery lotuses enveloped the Gloves, tempering the Profound Weapon.

The entire refining process took only about as long as half an incense stick to burn. The light surrounding the Gloves subsided, and they flew back into Jiang Chen’s hand. After a brief inspection, a look of satisfaction appeared in his eyes. Jiang Chen then returned the Gloves to Ruan Lingyun and said with a smile, "Time is tight today, so I could only make a small modification. When I have more time later, I’ll refine an even better Profound Weapon for you!"

"Th-this... This is an Advanced Profound Tier Weapon?" Ruan Lingyun’s eyes widened as he stared in disbelief at the Gloves in his hands.

He knew his own Gloves perfectly well. They were merely a Profound Tier Intermediate Profound Weapon!

And yet, after a bit of tinkering from Jiang Chen, they had become Advanced Profound Tier?

Such a feat was simply unfathomable!

The onlookers’ faces were also filled with astonishment.

They knew Jiang Chen was an Artifact Refiner, since he had created the Profound Iron Turtle that suppressed Wangg Tianyi out of thin air. However, they had never imagined his mastery of Artifact Refining was this profound. After all, refining an artifact from the void was already exceedingly difficult, to say nothing of upgrading a Profound Weapon’s tier without destroying it!

Even Yanm Tianjue’s face betrayed a hint of shock.

Jiang Chen waved his hand nonchalantly and smiled. "Go all out! This is the very first battle for our Heaven-Soaring Alliance. Don’t embarrass me!"

"Rest assured, Alliance Leader!"

Ruan Lingyun’s face was brimming with confidence. He slipped the Gloves onto his hands, striking them together with a resonant CLANG. His cold gaze swept over the Celestial Alliance masters as he announced coolly, "I am Ruan Lingyun of the Heaven-Soaring Alliance. Which one of you Celestial Alliance whelps dares to fight me?"

"Someone at the First Stage of the Heavenly Destiny Realm dares to be so arrogant? I, Qii Lang, will be your opponent!"

A clear voice rang out.

From among the hundred Inner Sect Disciples of the Celestial Alliance, a red-haired youth named Qii Lang stepped forward. The vital energy in his body surged like a Flood Dragon, and his cultivation was at the Second Stage of the Heavenly Destiny Realm.

"You’re no match for me," Ruan Lingyun stated calmly.

Qii Lang’s expression darkened, becoming incredibly foul. He gritted his teeth. "Such an arrogant brat! I’m going to shatter every bone in your body and make you kneel and beg for mercy!"

"Make your move!"

Ruan Lingyun said with confidence.

"Die!"

With a cold shout, Qii Lang swung two sharp Battle Blades at Ruan Lingyun simultaneously.

Two brilliant arcs of blade light, like twin silver rivers crossing the sky, shot straight for Ruan Lingyun.

"Pathetic tricks! Break!"

Ruan Lingyun’s eyes were icy. With a low shout, he pumped his fists. They pulsed with black light, then shot out like two crashing mountains.

BOOM—

His iron fists, clad in the Gloves, radiated waves of dark light. One punch shattered one of the rivers of blade light. He caught the other in his grasp, and with a "BANG," he clenched his fist and crushed it out of existence.

A fanatical battle lust erupted in Ruan Lingyun’s eyes. He threw his head back and roared, "Exhilarating! Take another punch!"

"Savage Charge!"

He clenched both fists. Shrouded in darkness, he transformed into a black streak and charged forward.

His black True Essence stirred the very air, whipping up several howling gales.

With Jiang Chen’s blessing, three armor-piercing Inscriptions had been added to the four already on the Gloves. This made them far more piercing and destructive. His punches landed like crashing thunder, smashing the sharp blade light to pieces with irresistible force. Weaving through the shattered light, he appeared before Qii Lang in an instant.

"How is this possible?"

Qii Lang’s face fell. He never imagined Ruan Lingyun’s power would be so great as to simply shatter his attack.

Qii Lang hurriedly crossed his twin blades in front of his chest to block.

With a BOOM, the iron fist crashed against the Battle Blades. The terrifying force sent both blades flying before the punch continued, slamming into his chest.

Qii Lang let out a wretched cry, spitting out a mouthful of blood as he was sent flying backward to crash heavily on the ground.

In a flash, Ruan Lingyun rushed forward and planted a foot on Qii Lang’s body, pinning him to the ground.

First blood!