Chapter 277: Chapter 275: Generous Rewards

Lan Haichen shot a cold glance at Jiang Chen, then returned to the Celestial Alliance’s camp with a sullen-faced Jiang Ziyou.

Dai Zhenbang stared at Lan Haichen’s retreating back, a dark look flashing through his eyes.

After all...

He was the Grand Elder of the Inner Sect. Even the Ten Hall Masters had to show him a measure of respect. But Lan Haichen had been so arrogant, it had truly angered him. However, when he thought of Lan Haichen’s power and the person backing him, Dai Zhenbang could only give a wry smile. He then turned to Jiang Chen. "Jiang Chen..."

"Disciple Jiang Chen greets the Grand Elder!" Jiang Chen said respectfully.

If Dai Zhenbang hadn’t intervened, he and Lan Haichen would have inevitably fought just now.

With his current strength, even if he used all his trump cards, his chances of winning a fight against Lan Haichen were less than fifty percent.

It could be said that Dai Zhenbang had bought him some time.

Dai Zhenbang nodded, very pleased with Jiang Chen’s attitude. He said, "You may return for now. This old man is about to announce the rules for the Celestial Fate Hunting!"

"Yes!"

Jiang Chen immediately withdrew.

As he passed by Hong Tong, Jiang Chen cupped his hands in a salute. "Elder Hong!"

"Mm."

Hong Tong nodded with a gentle expression and smiled. "As expected of Elder Qi’s disciple. You haven’t disappointed your master!"

"That Lan Haichen is too strong..." Jiang Chen shrugged and said with a wry smile.

Hong Tong smiled. "Lan Haichen’s talent is extraordinary. Plus, his master is the number one expert in our Saint Martial Sword Sect, so he’s received the best resources since he was a child. The fact that you could take one of his attacks without being defeated is already incredible! I believe that with a little more time, surpassing him will be no problem for you!"

"Unfortunately, there isn’t much time left for me," Jiang Chen said helplessly.

Hong Tong froze, then fell silent.

’It’s true.’

’There really isn’t much time left!’

Although Jiang Ziyou had also issued a Blood-colored Killing Order before, there were still many veterans in the Celestial Alliance who disdained the idea of risking their lives for her.

But now, things were completely different.

This Killing Order was issued by Lan Haichen himself. Even the Ten Great Venerables of the Inner Sect would likely be tempted to make a move against Jiang Chen. It could be said that within the Celestial Fate Hunting, Jiang Chen would be surrounded by enemies. His situation was extremely precarious.

Jiang Chen returned to his seat.

Yuwen Xunyi, Bai Ling, Ruan Lingyun, and Lin Feifei all looked toward him.

Yuwen Xunyi sent a sound transmission secretly, "Alliance Leader, my older brother just sent me a message. He told me to meet up with him immediately after entering the main battlefield of the Celestial Fate Hunting."

"Junior Brother Jiang, my brother also sent me a message. He said that at least three of the Inner Sect’s Ten Great Venerables are thinking of moving against you, and he wants me to stick with him." Bai Ling also looked at Jiang Chen with a worried expression.

Although they didn’t say it directly, Jiang Chen understood.

’Lan Haichen’s Killing Order must have tempted quite a few experts.’

’When the time comes...’

It wouldn’t just be him who was surrounded by enemies. Even the experts of the Heaven-Soaring Alliance who were close to him would likely be treated with hostility by everyone. Their situation was dire!

Jiang Chen was silent for a moment. Looking at the four of them, he said in a low voice, "Xunyi, Senior Sister Bai Ling... After we enter the main battlefield of the Celestial Fate Hunting, I will act alone. Lingyun and Senior Sister Feifei can follow you two."

Yuwen Xunyi said grimly, "No problem!"

Bai Ling asked, "Can you manage on your own?"

"It’s actually easier for me to act alone!" Jiang Chen’s eyes narrowed. He could feel the gazes of many experts fixed on him. The corners of his mouth lifted, revealing a bloodthirsty look. "No matter who it is, if they dare to make a move against me, they’d better be prepared to die!"

’So Lan Haichen thinks he’s a big shot, does he?’

’He thinks he can be arrogant and domineering, turning all the experts of the Saint Martial Sword Sect against me?’

’Then bring it on!’

’I’ll kill anyone who dares to come!’

...

Just then...

Dai Zhenbang began to speak. "Next, this old man will announce some of the rules for the Celestial Fate Hunting. As everyone knows, the Celestial Fate Hunting is a grand Martial Dao event jointly held by our Saint Martial Dynasty and the ten surrounding dynasties. Every Celestial Fate Hunting gives birth to young venerables and peerless prodigies. Countless opportunities await you within the hunt. Of course, opportunity is often accompanied by danger. Inside the Celestial Fate Hunting, you will not only face the various dangers of the main battlefield, but more importantly..."

"You will face the young experts from the other nine dynasties. They are your greatest enemies!"

As soon as these words were spoken,

many of the experts participating in the Celestial Fate Hunting for the first time showed expressions of astonishment.

"The Ten Great Dynasties?"

"My heavens, I thought this was just an internal trial for our Saint Martial Dynasty!"

"But I heard that among the surrounding Ten Great Dynasties, our Saint Martial Dynasty’s overall strength ranks at the very bottom! How dangerous will it be to compete against the prodigies of those powerful dynasties?"

"Hmph, a contest between the Ten Great Dynasties? This time, it’s finally my turn to make a name for myself among them!"

One after another, whispers rose up, creating a noisy clamor.

Jiang Chen also raised an eyebrow.

He looked over at Yuwen Xunyi and asked, "Xunyi, do you know anything about the Ten Great Dynasties?"

"I know a little."

As expected of someone from the Royal Family, Yuwen Xunyi was very knowledgeable about the surrounding dynasties. "We are located in the Cloud Domain, one of the one hundred and eight domains of the Eastern Continent on the Qiankun Continent. The Cloud Domain has a total of one hundred and eighty-two Lower-Class Dynasties, sixty-three Middle-Class Dynasties, and one Upper-Class Dynasty. Our Saint Martial Dynasty and the surrounding Ten Great Dynasties are all Lower-Class Dynasties..."

Through Yuwen Xunyi’s explanation, Jiang Chen gained some understanding of the Ten Great Dynasties.

The Ten Great Dynasties were: the Saint Martial Dynasty, the Celestial Nine Dynasty, the Divine Wind Dynasty, the Celestial Universe Dynasty, the Daqian Dynasty, the Iron Wood Dynasty, the Great Qin Dynasty, the Great Jin Dynasty, the Cyan Wood Dynasty, and the Han Dynasty.

Each dynasty had a powerful Sect.

The Celestial Fate Hunting was both a contest between the Ten Great Dynasties and a bloody struggle between the Sects they represented.

"In the past ten Celestial Fate Huntings, our Saint Martial Dynasty has never once managed to break into the top five. We’ve always been at the bottom of the Ten Great Dynasties."

A look of indignation appeared in Yuwen Xunyi’s eyes as he continued, "For this Celestial Fate Hunting, my father, the Emperor, has placed high hopes. Especially on Lan Haichen. He is currently the strongest of the younger generation among all Ten Great Dynasties. Both my father and the Sect Master hope he can lead our Saint Martial Dynasty to break our long-standing decline. Because of this, no matter how much trouble Lan Haichen’s Celestial Alliance causes, my father and the Sect Master just turn a blind eye."

"So that’s how it is."

Jiang Chen nodded thoughtfully.

When a dynasty is always at the bottom, it’s natural that its Monarch and the Sect Master of the Saint Martial Sword Sect would be desperate for change and a breakthrough.

Therefore, it was understandable that they would tolerate Lan Haichen’s arrogance.

"Everyone, quiet down!"

Dai Zhenbang coughed lightly. Once the crowd had settled, he continued, "To motivate everyone, the Sect Master and His Majesty the Emperor have put forth generous rewards. For this Celestial Fate Hunting, anyone who can achieve the rank of the Thousand Marquises will receive one Celestial-Tier Low-Level Profound Weapon, one scroll of a Celestial-Tier Low-Level Cultivation Technique or Martial Skill, one Fourth-Grade Low-Level Spirit Pill, and will be granted the title of Marquis with a city as their fiefdom."

HISS!

The sound of sharp intakes of breath echoed across Martial Saint Peak.

The rewards were too generous!

Dai Zhenbang continued, "Those who can achieve the rank of the Hundred Kings will receive one Celestial-Tier High-Level Profound Weapon, one scroll of a Celestial-Tier High-Level Martial Skill or Cultivation Technique, two Fourth-Grade Medium-Level Spirit Pills, and will be granted the title of Duke with a commandery as their fiefdom!"

This was another bombshell!

Forgetting the Profound Weapon, Cultivation Technique, and Spirit Pills, the fiefdom of a single commandery alone was equivalent to more than half the territory of a prominent family!

As if his words weren’t shocking enough, Dai Zhenbang’s own hands were trembling, his palms sweating. "If someone can achieve the rank of the Ten Great Venerables, they will receive one Saint-Tier Profound Weapon, one scroll of a Saint-Tier Martial Skill, and one Fifth-Grade Spirit Pill. They will also be granted the title of Prince and a prefecture as their fiefdom!"

BOOM—

When these words were spoken, the entire Martial Saint Mountain nearly erupted.

A Saint-Tier Profound Weapon?

A Saint-Tier Martial Skill?

A Fifth-Grade Spirit Pill?

And a Prince title, with a whole prefecture as a fiefdom!

You must understand...

The entire Saint Martial Dynasty only had ten prefectures! A single prefecture was equivalent to one-tenth of the entire Saint Martial Dynasty!

In that instant, countless gazes turned toward Lan Haichen.

Lan Haichen was the publicly acknowledged strongest of the younger generation among the surrounding Ten Great Dynasties. These rewards seemed destined for him and no one else!

The corners of Lan Haichen’s mouth lifted in a playful smirk as he laughed. "Everyone, rest assured. This seat always keeps his word. Whoever can kill Jiang Chen and bring me his head will receive the rewards for first place in the Celestial Fate Hunting. All the benefits Elder Dai just mentioned will belong to the one who kills Jiang Chen!"

BOOM!

Everyone erupted.

Every gaze converged on Jiang Chen, burning with feverish greed and chilling killing intent.

Jiang Chen’s gaze was indifferent.

It was as if he hadn’t seen the crowd’s looks at all, but his fists were already clenched tightly.

Dai Zhenbang swept a pitying glance over Jiang Chen, smiled helplessly, and then boomed, "The auspicious time has arrived! The Space Gate descends! To the Celestial Fate Ancient Realm!"

BOOM—

The entire Martial Saint Mountain trembled violently. A pillar of light shot up from within the mountain, followed by a second, a third... A total of ninety-nine pillars of light, each as thick as a water bucket, soared into the sky and converged above Martial Saint Peak, forming a circular Space Gate.

"Depart!"

Dai Zhenbang roared.

However...

...no one moved. Every person’s gaze was locked firmly on Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen froze for a second, then rubbed his nose, a cold light flickering in his eyes. "It seems everyone sees me, Jiang Chen, as a juicy piece of meat! You all want to kill me to get the benefits Lan Haichen promised, is that it? Fine, then come. For every one that comes, I’ll kill one. For every pair that comes, I’ll slaughter them both. Everyone, I, Jiang Chen, will go on ahead. If you’re looking to die, then follow me!"

With a cold laugh, Jiang Chen shot into the sky and plunged into the Space Gate.

At the same time...

...figure after figure chased right after him.

Jiang Ziyou stood beside Lan Haichen, her delicate face twisted with a savage and venomous expression. She stared intently at the many experts chasing Jiang Chen into the Space Gate, the corners of her mouth curling into a cold, sinister smile. "Jiang Chen, this is the price for opposing Senior Brother Lan. You... are dead meat!"

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