Celestial energy suffused the Saint Martial Sword Sect today, and the face of every disciple was alight with excitement and joy. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

The Sect was festooned with lanterns and banners, brimming with a joyous atmosphere.

For today was the day of the Saint Martial Sword Sect’s grandest, most magnificent event—the Celestial Fate Hunting!

The Celestial Fate Hunting was a traditional grand event of the Saint Martial Sword Sect.

It was held once every decade, and the top ten from the Outer Sect tournament, along with all Inner Sect Disciples, would participate in the grand affair.

Top figures from the ten prefectures and one hundred commanderies of the Saint Martial Dynasty would also flock to attend.

Even the Emperor of the Saint Martial Dynasty himself would be in attendance!

The scale of the event was unprecedented.

In front of the rebuilt Cuiwei Pavilion complex, one hundred and eight massive Blood Battle Arenas floated in midair.

Each Blood Battle Arena was constructed from a square crystal a thousand meters high and a thousand meters wide. For now, the crystals were dim, but as soon as the Celestial Fate Hunting officially began, they would display scenes from within the main battlefield.

The vast majority of the Outer Sect’s million disciples could only watch the Celestial Fate Hunting through these one hundred and eight crystals.

The Outer Sect Disciples were now clearly divided into three factions.

They were the massive Celestial Alliance, the neutral disciples, and the experts of the Heaven-Soaring Alliance.

After a period of growth, the Heaven-Soaring Alliance had swelled from its initial few thousand disciples to a full fifty thousand!

Within the Outer Sect, it was now considered the second-strongest power, second only to the Celestial Alliance.

Disciples of the Celestial Alliance and the Heaven-Soaring Alliance glared at each other, the atmosphere taut with hostility. It seemed a conflict could erupt at any moment, leaving the neutral disciples caught between them miserable.

Of course, today was the Saint Martial Sword Sect’s unprecedented event, so neither side dared to actually start a fight.

At that very moment, the newly appointed Grand Elder of the Outer Sect—the former Tower Guardian Elder, Hong Tong—stood before Cuiwei Pavilion. He wore a white robe, his hands clasped behind his back.

Before him stood nine Outer Sect Disciples whose lifeblood was as vibrant as rainbows and whose cultivation was profound. They were arranged in a neat line, waiting quietly.

As noon approached, Grand Elder Hong Tong frowned and looked toward Yuwen Xunyi. "Xunyi, where in the world is Jiang Chen? Why hasn’t he shown up yet?"

"Grand Elder, our Alliance Leader is in secluded cultivation. We can’t contact him either," Yuwen Xunyi said with a wry smile.

Hong Tong glanced at the sky, his expression growing anxious.

An expert from the Celestial Alliance sneered from the side, "I say we stop waiting. Jiang Chen is probably scared he’ll die a miserable death at our hands during the Celestial Fate Hunting, so he doesn’t dare show his face!"

"I think so too!"

"The guy’s pretty smart, knowing when to hide. As long as he stays away, there’s really nothing our Celestial Alliance can do to him!"

"What a coward..."

Faced with the Celestial Alliance’s insults and taunts toward Jiang Chen, the members of the Heaven-Soaring Alliance bristled with anger, their expressions fierce despite their apprehension. "Where did this dog come from, spewing filth everywhere? How could our Alliance Leader possibly be hiding?"

"You bastards from the Celestial Alliance! If our Alliance Leader were here, would you still dare to say that?"

Seeing that a conflict was about to erupt, Hong Tong’s expression darkened. He bellowed, "All of you, shut up! If anyone dares to spout any more nonsense, watch out, or I’ll revoke your right to participate in the Celestial Fate Hunting!"

At his words, everyone immediately fell silent.

However, their gazes remained locked on their opponents, as if they were predators sizing up their prey.

Time ticked by.

In the blink of an eye, the scheduled departure time had passed. Hong Tong sighed in resignation. Just as he was about to announce their departure, a calm voice drifted over. "Sorry, I’m late."

"Jiang Chen?"

"He actually dared to show up?"

"I thought he was actually smart enough to hide and avoid being obliterated by the Holy Son. I guess he came to throw his life away after all!"

Everyone stared as Jiang Chen strode through the air toward them, their expressions a mixture of shock and scorn.

Jiang Chen simply smiled at the taunts. He landed before Hong Tong and cupped his hands. "Disciple Jiang Chen is late. I hope Elder Hong will forgive me."

"Hahaha, as long as you’re back! Quickly, get in line!" Hong Tong laughed, but as his gaze fell upon Jiang Chen, it suddenly froze. He stared in disbelief. "Jiang Chen, my boy, you... your cultivation..."

Hong Tong realized the aura emanating from Jiang Chen had reached the Heavenly Destiny Realm Third Stage.

How long had it been since he had first entered the Heavenly Destiny Realm?

In less than a month, he had leaped from the First Stage to the Third Stage, advancing two full levels!

Even though Hong Tong had seen countless prodigies in the Saint Martial Sword Sect, looking at Jiang Chen now, he couldn’t help but think, ’What a monster!’

Jiang Chen returned to the group.

Yuwen Xunyi, Ruan Lingyun, Bai Ling, and Lin Feifei all lit up with excitement and turned toward him.

Yuwen Xunyi whispered, "Alliance Leader, your cultivation must have improved a lot during your seclusion, right? Did you break through to the Heavenly Destiny Realm Second Stage?"

Bai Ling and the others looked at Jiang Chen expectantly.

Jiang Chen gave a mysterious smile. "You’ll find out soon enough."

"..."

They were left speechless.

Just then, Hong Tong announced, "Since everyone is here, let’s depart!"

With a wave of his hand, Hong Tong led the ten of them soaring into the sky, heading toward the summit of Martial Saint Mountain.

The entrance to the main battlefield for the Celestial Fate Hunting was located on the summit of Martial Saint Mountain, which was where everyone was supposed to gather.

By the time Jiang Chen and his group arrived at the summit of Martial Saint Mountain...

...the area was already a sea of people. All one hundred thousand disciples from the Inner Sect’s Ten Halls were gathered there.

Compared to the disorganized Outer Sect, the Inner Sect Disciples were arranged in much neater formations, divided into ten sections by their respective Halls. Each section was filled with Inner Sect Disciples whose lifeblood was as vigorous as dragons and whose cultivation was formidable.

Every single one of these Inner Sect Disciples had a cultivation at or above the Heavenly Destiny Realm.

One hundred thousand Heavenly Destiny experts!

What a terrifying and powerful sight.

Of course, this was the foundation the Saint Martial Sword Sect had built over its thousand-year history. After all, upon advancing to the Heavenly Destiny Realm, one’s lifespan would extend to five hundred years. As long as they could break through to the Heavenly Destiny Realm Fifth Stage before the age of two hundred, they were allowed to remain in the Inner Sect. Thus, Heavenly Destiny Realm disciples in the Inner Sect were as common as blades of grass.

"Hahaha, Old Hong, long time no see!"

"Congratulations on becoming Grand Elder of the Outer Sect!"

"So these are the top ten disciples from the Outer Sect tournament? I heard there’s a kid in the group named Jiang Chen who’s quite arrogant, daring to openly challenge the Saint Child’s Celestial Alliance?"

"Hmph... someone who doesn’t know their own limits won’t live long!"

As Hong Tong arrived with the Outer Sect disciples, several familiar Inner Sect experts greeted him with such comments.

Hong Tong maintained a calm smile. "You are all my seniors. Why involve yourselves in the squabbles of the younger generation? If you’ll excuse us, I need to take them inside."

"Hahaha, the old fellow’s not happy!"

"Looks like he’s quite protective of that little guy Jiang Chen!"

The group of elders chuckled amongst themselves.

However, as they were all Inner Sect Elders and acquainted with Hong Tong, they didn’t make things difficult for Jiang Chen’s group.

As they walked on...

Jiang Chen could clearly hear the disciples of the Ten Halls discussing him. Many even pointed him out. "See him? The Outer Sect Disciple leading the group is Jiang Chen, the target of the Celestial Alliance’s Blood-colored Killing Order!"

"Tsk, he doesn’t look like he has three heads and six arms. How could he have defeated even Yan Tianjue?"

"Who cares? He won’t be alive for much longer anyway!"

"True. I heard the Celestial Alliance’s Elder Council has already issued an order: during the Celestial Fate Hunting, any member of the Celestial Alliance who encounters Jiang Chen is to kill him at all costs—without mercy!"

"’Kill without mercy?’"

Jiang Chen’s eyes narrowed, a vein throbbing on his forehead. The corner of his mouth curled into an icy smirk. ’They’ll have to ask the sword in my hand if it agrees.’

Within his body, the Dustfall Sword vibrated faintly.

Just then...

...a sudden commotion erupted in the crowd.

A Tier Three High-level Demon Beast—a Fiery Profound Bird wreathed in crimson flames—flew toward them, beating its wings. A woman stood on its back. She was clad in purple battle armor, her long hair streaming behind her. Her exquisite face was cold and severe, and a frigid light glinted in her eyes.

Gazing at that familiar face, Jiang Chen’s hands slowly clenched into fists. A thread of killing intent coalesced in his heart, sharp and unyielding, as he slowly breathed out the newcomer’s name...

"Jiang Ziyou. We finally meet again."