"What? Jiang Chen actually dares to try and kill the Grand Elder?"

"Has he lost his mind? He’s already killed three top masters from the Celestial Alliance today, and now he wants to kill the Grand Elder of the Outer Sect? He’s got a death wish!"

"Gods above! I have a feeling the very heavens of the Saint Martial Sword Sect... are about to change!"

Everyone was stunned.

Even Zong Rui and Elder Zhang stared wide-eyed, their faces a picture of utter disbelief.

They exchanged a look, both thinking they must have misheard.

"J-Jiang Chen, what did you just say? You want to kill *me*?" Zong Rui stared at Jiang Chen in disbelief.

Jiang Chen said coldly, "From the moment you sent Zong Han to ambush and kill me, you’ve been living on borrowed time."

Zong Rui’s expression flickered.

When Zong Han failed to report back, and even his Communication Token went completely silent, Zong Rui had already begun to suspect that the ambush on Jiang Chen had failed.

It was just that...

Zong Rui had always found it difficult to believe.

That a mere brat, not even at the Heavenly Destiny Realm, could be capable of killing Zong Han.

Only after witnessing the power Jiang Chen displayed against Yan Tianjue did he begin to suspect that Zong Han had died at Jiang Chen’s hands. Still, that was only a suspicion. Now, hearing Jiang Chen’s own words, his guess was confirmed.

Even though he had braced himself for it, he couldn’t help but feel a tremor of shock.

Hearing this, Elder Zhang, who stood nearby, also had a slight change in expression.

He had also been part of Zong Rui and Zong Han’s plot to ambush Jiang Chen. If Zong Rui was exposed, then Jiang Chen surely knew of his involvement as well.

Elder Zhang glanced at Zong Rui and sent a subtle voice transmission: "Elder Zong, this boy’s talent is too terrifying. He hasn’t even broken through to the Heavenly Destiny Realm, yet he already possesses such monstrous combat strength. If we wait until he reaches the Heavenly Destiny Realm, neither of us will be a match for him!"

"And you’re suggesting...?" A cold glint flashed in Zong Rui’s eyes as he looked at Elder Zhang.

Elder Zhang made a throat-slitting gesture, his face twisting into a venomous expression. "He has just killed several masters of the Celestial Alliance, which will thoroughly enrage them. As long as you and I hold firm that Jiang Chen alone provoked this incident, that he committed insubordination, and that we are merely enforcing sect discipline... then not only will the Sect not blame us, but we can also claim the bounty from the Celestial Alliance’s Blood-colored Killing Order!"

Zong Rui’s body trembled slightly.

The Celestial Alliance’s Blood-colored Killing Order surfaced in his mind—an order personally issued by Jiang Ziyou, with a massive bounty attached to it!

The treasures offered as a reward were enough to entice even them.

Of course...

Even without the promised treasures, simply completing the Blood-colored Killing Order would earn Jiang Ziyou’s favor. The prospect of a meteoric rise in status, perhaps even becoming an Elder in the Inner Sect, was more than enough to sway Zong Rui.

An icy glint appeared in his eyes, and the corner of his mouth twisted into a sinister smile.

Zong Rui took a deep breath, then shouted in a voice filled with feigned grief and indignation, "Jiang Chen, you possessed outstanding talent and could have become a pillar of our Saint Martial Sword Sect! What a pity that you show no respect for your superiors and commit such acts of insubordination. You have even cruelly slaughtered your fellow sect members! As the Grand Elder of the Outer Sect, I hereby sentence you—to the death penalty! The sentence is to be carried out immediately!"

Death!

Penalty!

Those two words rang out with exceptional clarity.

As Zong Rui spoke those two words, a sudden feeling of exhilaration washed over him, sweeping away all the frustration Jiang Chen had caused.

"Jiang Chen is finished."

"The Grand Elder himself has sentenced him to death. Even if the Celestial Alliance was at fault first, the Law Enforcement Hall would never dare to publicly undermine the Grand Elder’s authority for Jiang Chen’s sake."

"Unless one of the Hall Masters from the Ten Halls personally intervenes, no one can save him now."

Beneath the Profound Iron Turtle, Wang Tianyi’s face was a mask of savagery, resentment, and the sweet pleasure of revenge as he stared at Jiang Chen. "The Grand Elder is wise! Jiang Chen, let’s see you act so high and mighty now! In the end, you’ll still die before me! Hahahaha..."

"Shut your mouth!"

Yuwen Xunyi snorted and kicked Wang Tianyi squarely in the mouth, shattering his teeth. Blood gushed out, and Wang Tianyi could no longer speak.

Ruan Lingyun looked to Bai Ling. "Junior Sister Bai, you’re the only one who can help the Alliance Leader now."

Yuwen Xunyi and Lin Feifei also turned to look at Bai Ling.

Bai Ling gave a wry smile. "You all know the situation with my Tenth Hall. Ever since my grandfather passed the position of Hall Master to my master, he’s been in closed-door cultivation year-round, completely detached from worldly affairs. As for my master... I already asked him about this. He said that if he were to intervene, it would put the Tenth Hall in direct opposition to the Celestial Alliance. He’s completely unwilling to get involved."

"Damn it..."

"Does that mean the Alliance Leader is doomed?"

Ruan Lingyun growled in frustration.

Lin Feifei looked helpless as she turned to Yuwen Xunyi. "Prince Xunyi, is there no way you can ask the Crown Prince to intervene?"

"Don’t even ask."

Yuwen Xunyi gave a wry smile. "Ever since my brother learned I was joining the Heaven-Soaring Alliance, he made it clear... he would never intervene unless my own life was on the line."

"Sigh..."

Everyone sighed in unison, their gazes turning helplessly toward Jiang Chen.

The only one who could save him now was himself.

...

"Death penalty?"

Jiang Chen paused, then a disdainful look crossed his face. He met Zong Rui’s gaze unflinchingly and sneered, "Grand Elder, how mighty of you! Sentencing me to death? To be carried out immediately? I’m afraid you don’t have what it takes!"

Zong Rui retorted, "Still so arrogant in the face of death. You truly are beyond saving. Jiang Chen, face my wrath!"

As the words left his mouth, Zong Rui attacked.

His cultivation was also at the Heavenly Destiny Realm Sixth Stage, identical to Yan Tianjue’s. However, as a veteran powerhouse, his foundation was far deeper.

A pitch-black palm materialized in the air and descended, smashing down with the force of a small house.

Jiang Chen met the attack with his own, his longsword a blur as streams of sharp Sword Qi surged forth like a tidal wave. "Endless Sky!"

A Sword Qi Cage formed, enveloping the dark palm. Terrifying blades of Sword Qi crisscrossed within, shredding the handprint to nothing.

Zong Rui’s expression remained unchanged as he attacked again. "Five Yin Forbidden Realm!"

Gleaming black light erupted from his five fingertips. Each point of light expanded into a massive vortex that seemed to lead into the Endless Abyss, pulsing with terrifying Demonic Qi.

The five vortexes spun, reinforcing one another as they shot toward Jiang Chen in a triangular formation.

"Endless Sky!"

"Yellow Springs and Green Fall!"

"Mystic Wind Nine Swords..."

Jiang Chen unleashed a continuous barrage of powerful attacks. His Sword Qi rained down like a torrential storm, obscuring half the celestial vault.

However...

When these mighty, majestic attacks came into contact with the five vortexes, they were completely devoured, vanishing as if they had never existed.

Five Yin Forbidden Realm.

This was Zong Rui’s Martial Soul, and it was also his most powerful technique—a move that used his Martial Soul as a foundation to open a direct channel to the Demon Realm within the Endless Abyss.

Once unleashed, he could use his Martial Soul to connect directly to the Endless Abyss.

Any attack would be devoured by his Five Yin Demon Realm and rendered harmless. In this battle of attrition where his opponent’s power waned while his own did not, Zong Rui would only grow stronger the longer he fought.

A deep, mocking sneer spread across his face as he said lightly, "Jiang Chen, stop your futile struggles. It’s time to die—Five Domains Unite!"

RUMBLE—

The five pitch-black vortexes fused, transforming into a colossal black grindstone, hundreds of yards in diameter, that descended to crush Jiang Chen.

A terrifying Devouring Power tugged at Jiang Chen, like thousands of invisible giant hands trying to drag him into the Endless Abyss. Bound by this immense force, Jiang Chen felt as if he were shackled by massive iron chains, unable to move a muscle.

He could only watch as his body was pulled toward the bottomless black vortex to be devoured.

He was trapped in a hopeless situation!