Chapter 271: Chapter 269: Come Out and Die

In the crowd.

Jiang Chen slowly raised his head. The pale golden light of the blazing sun shone on his face, lending his handsome features a captivating charm.

Six years together, always by his side.

Six years of devotion, giving her the Nourishing God Pills his father had left behind.

What he got in return was a heartless betrayal and a heavy blow.

In those six years, aside from his cultivation, he had poured nearly all his energy into her. He gave everything, but the moment he awakened a Yellow Tier First Grade Martial Soul and was branded a waste, she chose to forsake him, to betray him without a second thought.

Not only did she steal the Saint Martial Order his father had left him, but she also tried to have him killed time and again!

This grudge, this hatred...

Irreconcilable!

"It’s been over a year, Jiang Ziyou. Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited for this moment?" Jiang Chen muttered to himself, his fists clenched tight.

He could accept that she had abandoned him over his lack of talent.

Those who forsake me are not worth keeping!

But he could not tolerate her stealing the Saint Martial Order his father had left him.

He could not tolerate her trying to kill him again and again.

Yuwen Xunyi, Bai Ling, and the others standing beside Jiang Chen all faltered. When they met the icy glint in his eyes, their expressions shifted. It was as if they had been plunged into an icehouse, a chill running down their spines.

The current Grand Elder, Hong Tong, let out a surprised grunt, his profound gaze sweeping back and forth between Jiang Chen and Jiang Ziyou.

...

SWOOSH—

The Profound Bird beat its wings, carrying the young man and woman toward the area of the First Hall.

"All hail the Saint Child!"

"Long live the Holy Son! May you unite Saint Martial!"

One expert after another shouted at the top of their lungs.

Necks craned and faces flushed with excitement, they screamed themselves hoarse, shouting with hysterical fervor.

These shouts reached the ears of the experts from the Second Hall’s Crown Prince Faction, and their faces contorted with anger.

’Unite Saint Martial?’

’Throughout the entire Saint Martial Dynasty, only the Royal Family dared to speak of ruling. For the Celestial Alliance’s experts to shout such a thing—where did that leave the Royal Family?’

"Lan Haichen, your Celestial Alliance is getting more and more out of line!" a cold voice rang out from the Second Hall.

The speaker was a young man in golden python-patterned robes. His eyes held a cold glint as sharp as a sword, and his aura had reached the Peak of the Heavenly Destiny Realm. This was the founder of the Crown Prince Faction, the current Crown Prince—Yuwen Tiandu!

"How the Celestial Alliance conducts itself is none of your business!" Lan Haichen shot Yuwen Tiandu a look, showing him no regard whatsoever.

He sat down on his seat, bold and imposing.

"You..."

Yuwen Tiandu’s expression turned frigid, a furious flame smoldering in his dark eyes. After a moment, he snorted coldly. "Enjoy your arrogance for now. During the Celestial Fate Hunting, I, the Crown Prince, will show the world who the true number one of the Saint Martial Sword Sect is!"

Just then...

ROAR—

A clear dragon’s roar echoed from the horizon. A black dragon several hundred meters long tore through the sky, trailing roiling thunderclouds. Atop its head stood a tall, imposing young man in Golden Armor. His gaze was indifferent, as if he looked down upon all living things. The gales whipping around him were instantly dispersed by an invisible energy.

Yuwen Tiandu’s expression flickered, a trace of apprehension in his eyes as he watched the newcomer.

Gasps of shock erupted from the surrounding crowd.

"The second of the Inner Sect’s Ten Great Venerables, the Holy Dragon Knight, Di Tian..."

"That Black Dragon is so powerful! They say when Senior Brother Di Tian was born, it flew to his family clan on its own and has been with him ever since!"

"To be born with a dragon companion—that’s an auspicious sign only seen with the birth of ancient, mighty figures!"

"One of the Hall Masters once speculated that if Di Tian had a few more years, not even the Holy Son would be his match!"

"Keep your voice down! If the Celestial Alliance hears you, you’ll be in for a world of hurt!"

Amidst the chaotic chatter,

the several-hundred-meter-long Black Dragon shrank until it was the size of a palm, coiling around Di Tian’s arm. Its ferocious draconic head nudged his shoulder.

Di Tian descended alone into the third hall’s faction area and took the seat in the very center.

A group of Emperor Alliance experts gathered around him, their gazes filled with reverence as they looked at Di Tian.

RUSTLE RUSTLE—

Flower petals fluttered through the air in a vibrant shower.

"The Baihua Fairy is here!"

"The Baihua Fairy, one of the Inner Sect’s Ten Great Venerables and the number one beauty of the Saint Martial Sword Sect! I can finally see her in person!"

Within a sea of petals, a pink Lotus Platform slowly drifted over. Upon it stood a graceful figure in a long pink dress and a matching pink veil, her posture serene.

The moment she appeared, she seemed to become the most dazzling focal point in the world.

Radiantly beautiful, like the brightest star in the night sky.

She captured everyone’s attention.

The Baihua Fairy hovered in mid-air, gave a slight nod toward Lan Haichen, Di Tian, and Yuwen Tiandu, then flew into the fourth hall’s faction area.

Surrounded by her followers, she stood with quiet grace.

Afterward...

one peak expert of the Inner Sect after another made their entrance, and countless masters gathered.

The Inner Sect had a total of Ten Great Venerables!

Each possessed a cultivation at the Peak of the Heavenly Destiny Realm. Ranked first was the Saint Child, Lan Haichen; second was the Holy Dragon Knight, Di Tian; third was the Crown Prince, Yuwen Tiandu; fourth was the Baihua Fairy; fifth was the Gale Sword Saint, Feng Qingyang; sixth was the Black Tortoise War King, Xuan Cangming; seventh was Mad Saber Yangg Lin; eighth was Shi Potian; and ninth was Huaa Ruyi.

And from the Tenth Hall, the White Tiger!

These Ten Great Venerables each belonged to one of the Ten Halls and were the ten strongest among the Saint Martial Sword Sect’s million disciples!

When these ten individuals arrived at the summit of Martial Saint Mountain, it meant that all the candidates for the Celestial Fate Hunting had assembled.

"Let us invite Dai Zhenbang, the Grand Elder of the Inner Sect of the Saint Martial Sword Sect, to preside over the Celestial Fate Hunting!" a powerful voice boomed through the air.

The void trembled, and a massive spatial archway materialized out of thin air.

A tall, straight figure stepped out from it. The moment he appeared, all the Spiritual Qi in the world seemed to converge upon him. He was as immense as a world unto himself. A sweep of his eyes was like gazing into a profound ocean of stars, and his voice rumbled like apocalyptic thunder, capable of destroying heaven and earth.

This was a titan of the Union Palace Realm!

Dai Zhenbang wore a gentle smile, and his resonant voice reached everyone’s ears. "The once-a-decade Celestial Fate Hunting is finally here. I entered the Saint Martial Sword Sect at the age of ten, and this is the seventy-eighth Celestial Fate Hunting I have witnessed. To see generations of experts rise from our Saint Martial Sword Sect, to see all you vibrant young ones—it brings me great comfort!"

"Alright, I know you young people don’t like to listen to pointless chatter, so I won’t say any more. Now, I declare the opening of the Celestial Fate Hunting—"

Before Dai Zhenbang could finish, a clear, cold voice interrupted, "Grand Elder, please wait a moment!"

"Hm?"

Dai Zhenbang froze, his gaze following the voice.

He saw Jiang Ziyou, standing gracefully beside the Saint Child, Lan Haichen, rise to her feet.

Her expression was blank as she cupped her fists toward Dai Zhenbang. "Grand Elder, this disciple, Jiang Ziyou, wishes to resolve a personal matter before the Celestial Fate Hunting begins. I ask for the Grand Elder’s permission!"

"This..."

Dai Zhenbang frowned and glanced at Lan Haichen, who gave a slight nod.

His expression shifted, and he said in a deep voice, "Permission granted!"

"Thank you, Grand Elder!"

Jiang Ziyou respectfully cupped her fists again, then stepped out into the air to stand high in the sky. Her indifferent gaze swept through the crowd and landed on Jiang Chen. The corner of her mouth lifted into a cold arc as she slowly began to speak...

"Jiang Chen, are you going to come out and die, or not?"