Chapter 256: Chapter 254: Lunch is Settled

Before Cuiwei Pavilion, it was deathly silent—a terrifying stillness.

Hundreds of thousands of people held their breath, their gazes filled with horror, shock, and disbelief. All eyes were fixed on Zuo Qing as green bile trickled from his seven orifices.

A mighty Heavenly Destiny Realm expert!

A top master, ranked one-hundredth on the Inner Sect’s Celestial Pride List, had been scared to death by a single shout, his gallbladder literally bursting.

This was simply unbelievable!

GULP!

It was unclear who had swallowed, but the faint sound echoed clearly throughout Cuiwei Pavilion.

It was like a pebble dropped into a silent lake.

The surface stirred, sending ripples spreading out in every direction.

"Z-Zuo Qing... his gallbladder actually burst from fear at Jiang Chen’s shout?"

"What kind of terrifying power is this? Is Jiang Chen a man or a demon? I’ve never heard of a Heavenly Destiny Realm expert being frightened to the point of their gallbladder bursting!"

"He’s too strong! He hasn’t even reached the Heavenly Destiny Realm yet, has he?"

"Absolutely terrifying!"

Everyone who looked at Jiang Chen now did so with an added degree of awe.

Even Yuwen Xunyi, Bai Ling, and the others, who had already broken through to the Heavenly Destiny Realm, exchanged horrified glances.

A bitter expression crossed Yuwen Xunyi’s face. "I thought after breaking through to the Heavenly Destiny Realm, the gap between me and the Alliance Leader was finally shrinking. I never imagined his power had reached this level. It seems I still have a long way to go to catch up to him!"

Bai Ling and the others all nodded in agreement.

A peculiar glint shone in Lin Feifei’s eyes.

Ruan Lingyun was profoundly awed.

Of the four, Bai Ling was the most shaken. Her mind flashed back to their time in Yandu City, when Jiang Chen was a mere ant in the Martial Arts Realm, yet he’d dared to challenge the high and mighty Lan Haichen.

He had even proclaimed that one day he would crush Lan Haichen underfoot!

Back then...

Like every other expert present, Bai Ling had believed Jiang Chen’s words were merely the desperate cries of the weak—a laughable vow.

But now...

Watching the youth in his flowing robes—the one who had shattered a man’s gallbladder with a shout and slain an expert from the Inner Sect’s Celestial Pride List—her expression grew dazed. She murmured to herself, ’Perhaps... just as he said, he really will crush Lan Haichen underfoot one day!’

Once this thought sprouted, it grew as tenaciously as bamboo after a spring rain, taking firm root in her mind.

It was impossible to dismiss!

...

On the Celestial Alliance’s side.

The experts of the Celestial Alliance exchanged glances, their expressions incredibly grim.

Before arriving at Cuiwei Pavilion, they had all been dismissive of Jiang Chen, believing that disrupting the establishment of the Heaven-Soaring Alliance and killing him would be a simple task.

Now, however, many of them were beginning to doubt whether their mission could be completed successfully.

Yan Tianjue’s face was deathly pale and his expression was hideous. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"Magic Beast" Tian Kun, standing beside him, frowned. Atop his shaved head, the unibrow spanning his brow bone twitched, and a cold glint appeared in his eyes. "To think the mere Outer Sect would have a master of this caliber!"

Yan Tianjue looked at Tian Kun, his expression grim. "Are you confident you can take him?"

"Confident?"

Tian Kun paused, then cracked his neck with a series of sharp pops. A cold sneer spread across his face. "Zuo Qing may have been ranked one-hundredth on the Celestial Pride List, but he relied mainly on long-range attacks. Many experts couldn’t even get within ten zhang of him before his assaults pinned them down, leaving them unable to fight back. His close-quarters combat and physical body, however, were average. Even I could have crushed him easily. This Jiang Chen only won because his body was tough enough to withstand Zuo Qing’s attacks. As for me... he won’t last ten moves against me!"

"Oh?"

A cold glint flashed in Yan Tianjue’s eyes.

He, of course, knew how formidable Tian Kun was.

The man’s nickname was "Magic Beast," not only because of his violent temperament—those who fought him often ended up either dead or grievously wounded.

More importantly, it was because of his physical body and strength.

It was said...

...that at the age of ten, before he had even awakened his Martial Soul, Tian Kun had torn a Tier One Low-level Demon Beast apart with his bare hands.

Although that was one of the weakest types of Demon Beasts, to be able to rip a physically powerful Demon Beast to shreds without an awakened Martial Soul was a clear testament to Tian Kun’s incredible strength!

A venomous expression appeared on Yan Tianjue’s face. He gritted his teeth and said, "Tian Kun, I want you to use the cruelest methods possible to torture that punk to death!"

"Drawing and quartering, perhaps?" Tian Kun licked his lips, a vicious look on his face.

Yan Tianjue nodded with a savage grin.

"I’m on my way!"

Tian Kun stomped his foot. The Golden Griffin beneath him let out a deafening shriek, beat its golden wings, and kicked up a fierce gale as it charged toward Jiang Chen.

The Golden Griffin opened its mouth and spat out a ball of raging fire.

The fireball shot toward Jiang Chen like a miniature blazing sun.

Its searing heat was enough to melt metal.

A cold glint flashed through Jiang Chen’s eyes as he raised a hand and pointed. "Three Fingers Burn Heaven!"

HUMMM—

A colossal, flame-wreathed finger materialized in the air, like a burning pillar holding up the heavens, and then vanished in a flash.

The incoming fireball shuddered violently, pierced by the airborne finger. A web of fine cracks spread across its surface, and with a loud BOOM, it exploded.

Flames rained down toward the ground.

They made a hissing sound as thick smoke billowed up.

From within the thick black smoke, two azure-gold eyes shone with dazzling brilliance, fixed upon Tian Kun and the Golden Griffin he rode. A cold voice, laced with chilling killing intent, spoke. "Magic Beast Tian Kun?"

"Hahaha..."

Tian Kun stood atop the Golden Griffin, his face thick with killing intent. His voice was as sharp as clashing steel. "Jiang Chen, that was just a little welcome gift. How did it taste?"

"A welcome gift?" Jiang Chen’s tone was mocking. "Can’t eat it, can’t play with it. Not much of a gift, is it? If you really want to give me a present, how about you give me that beast you’re riding? I’ve lived this long and I’ve never tasted Golden Griffin meat!"

As soon as he said this,

Tian Kun’s expression instantly darkened.

The Golden Griffin beneath him also glared with a predatory light, its eyes fixed on Jiang Chen. "Human, you’re courting death! I will swallow you whole!"

"Swallow me whole? I’m afraid my bones are too hard. You might break all your teeth!" Jiang Chen sneered.

"Damn you!"

The Golden Griffin roared and looked to Tian Kun. "Master, let me tear him to pieces!"

"Granted!"

Tian Kun nodded, looking at Jiang Chen with an air of indifference. "Jiang Chen, if you can’t even handle my mount, you’re not even qualified for me to make a move. If you can survive for half an incense stick’s time against the Golden Griffin, that will prove you’re worthy of my personal attention."

"Half an incense stick’s time?"

Jiang Chen paused, then a cold, mocking smile touched his lips. "Aren’t you afraid your Golden Griffin will be making a one-way trip?"

"Hahaha! Even I would have to expend considerable effort to take on the Griffin. You are nowhere near strong enough to kill it!" Tian Kun said with confidence.

The Golden Griffin.

Legend said it possessed the bloodline of the Ancient Demon Lion and the Golden-Winged Roc. It was a Primordial Alien Species with a formidable physique and astonishing speed. Tian Kun had absolute confidence in it!

"ROAR!"

The Golden Griffin let out a furious roar as golden flames surged around its body.

With a beat of its wings, it charged at Jiang Chen, wreathed in raging fire.

This Golden Griffin was Tier Three Middle Level, equivalent to an expert at the Heavenly Destiny Realm Fifth Stage. Combined with its incredibly powerful body, even a master at the Heavenly Destiny Realm Sixth Stage would find it quite difficult to defeat.

And yet...

Facing the Golden Griffin’s charge, Jiang Chen merely swiped out a hand in a seemingly casual motion.

The motion was incredibly fast. It shattered the surging flames, tore open the Golden Griffin’s chest, and seized the scalding heart within. With a sudden clench of his hand and a sickening POP, the Golden Griffin shuddered violently, its heart crushed. Filled with despair and disbelief, it collapsed before Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen glanced down at the Golden Griffin on the ground, his eyes taking it in as if it were a fine delicacy. He murmured to himself, ’Looks like lunch is settled.’