"Defeated? I... I was actually defeated? Beaten by an ant like you?"

A dazed look filled Lan Haichen’s eyes.

He lay on the ground, looking up at the condescending Jiang Chen, a wave of sorrow and helplessness washing over him.

Ever since he’d set foot on the Martial Dao, Lan Haichen had never known defeat. He was undefeated, hailed as the strongest prodigy of the Ten Great Dynasties.

How immense his pride was!

He saw the heroes of the world as nothing more than ants!

But now...

He was defeated!

Defeated by a weak little ant he had never even deigned to notice.

Utterly and completely crushed.

Jiang Chen said coolly, "Lan Haichen, do you still think I’m an ant? This ant you never deigned to notice has now defeated you, has you pinned to the ground. Don’t you find that ironic?"

"I..."

Lan Haichen opened his mouth, but found he had no retort.

A loss was a loss!

He could find no excuse for this battle to console himself with.

Jiang Chen sneered, his calm tone piercing Lan Haichen’s heart like a silver needle and making his expression even more wretched. "Lan Haichen, I once told you that fortunes rise and fall, and you should never underestimate the young and poor. Even a Golden Scale can become a dragon; even a carp can leap the Dragon Gate. But you always saw me as an ant you could crush at will, never giving me a second thought. And today, this ant in your eyes has defeated you fair and square, fulfilling my old promise to crush you under my foot!"

"Lan Haichen, when you tried to kill me time and time again, did you ever imagine this day would come?"

"Before the Celestial Fate Hunting, you even issued a so-called Killing Order, making me a target for all, the enemy of everyone. Did you ever imagine this day would come?"

"But after today, the grudge between us will be wiped clean."

Jiang Chen took a deep breath. As he spoke slowly, the Spirit-Slaying Sword in his hand pulsed with a cold light. He rested it on Lan Haichen’s neck and said flatly, "To be sent on your way by my Spirit-Slaying Sword is an honor you’ve earned!"

The Spirit-Slaying Sword pressed against his neck, its icy edge sending a chilling sensation through him.

It made Lan Haichen shudder from head to toe.

Overwhelming fear and the will to survive surged in his eyes. Casting aside all pride, he stammered, "Don’t kill me, Jiang Chen... You can’t kill me! If you kill me, you’ll definitely regret it!"

"The only thing I’d regret is *not* killing you!"

Jiang Chen said flatly.

Jiang Chen wasn’t foolish enough to feel sympathy or pity for an enemy who had tried to take his life.

This Lan Haichen was a formidable foe.

’Even though I’m not afraid of him, letting him go would be like releasing a tiger back into the mountains. What if he goes after my friends and family in the future?’

The cold edge of the Spirit-Slaying Sword pulsed, slicing through the skin on Lan Haichen’s neck. Blood began to seep out.

Lan Haichen was scared out of his wits, roaring, "Jiang Chen, you can’t kill me! My master is the Sect Master of the Sword Sect! If you kill me, there will be no place for you in the Saint Martial Dynasty... no, in the entire Cloud Domain! You can’t kill me..."

"The Sect Master is your master? So what? Today, not even the Celestial King himself could save you!"

Jiang Chen sneered and swept his longsword, about to take Lan Haichen’s head.

Lan Haichen roared in terror, "Master, save me!"

Within his soul, a hovering Spirit Pearl suddenly shattered.

At the same time...

A faint blue light erupted from his body, forming a blue shield that enveloped him.

CLANG—

The Spirit-Slaying Sword struck the blue shield and was sent flying back.

The blue shield rippled like liquid before transforming into an old man’s face. His eyes were as deep as the stars, his brows as sharp as swords, and his expression radiated an authority that looked down on the world. The owner of this face opened his eyes, which seemed to see through everything, and materialized before Lan Haichen, protecting him.

An ecstatic look appeared on Lan Haichen’s face. "Master, you’ve come to save me!"

"Silence, you fool!"

The owner of the majestic face barked, silencing Lan Haichen, who now trembled like a cicada in winter. He slowly turned to Jiang Chen, a strange look flashing in his eyes, and said indifferently, "Young man, Lan Haichen is my Direct Disciple. Wanting to kill him is a capital offense, but considering your exceptional talent, I can give you a chance to live. Willingly offer up your Dragon of Fortune to Haichen, and I will spare your life!"

Indifferent.

Majestic.

Domineering!

Shameless...

This was Jiang Chen’s immediate impression of the so-called Sect Master of the Sword Sect.

He sneered and said coolly, "Sect Master, Lan Haichen and I are both disciples of the Saint Martial Sword Sect. For you to be so biased toward him... isn’t that a bit unfair?"

"Fair? My word *is* fairness!"

The Spirit Body of the Sword Sect’s Master snorted, a hint of impatience in his eyes. "Young man, I will give you one last chance. Hand over the Dragon of Fortune, and I will spare you. Otherwise, I will clean up the sect myself today!"

Lan Haichen also roared, "Jiang Chen, are you deaf? Do as my master says! Hand over the Dragon of Fortune and kowtow to me in apology!"

Faced with this master and disciple, who were singing the same tune...

The corner of Jiang Chen’s mouth twitched, and he burst into laughter. "Hahaha! Ridiculous! Truly ridiculous! Lan Haichen, do you really think a mere Spirit Body of the Sect Master can protect you? I told you, not even the Celestial King himself could save you today!"

"What? You... you still dare to kill me?" Lan Haichen said in disbelief.

The Sword Sect Master’s expression darkened. "Insolent Jiang Chen! Are you courting death?"

An incomparably powerful pressure bore down on him.

This Spirit Body alone was no weaker than Lan Haichen at his peak!

Jiang Chen replied, neither haughty nor humble, "If your true self had descended today, I might have shown you some respect. But you are nothing but a Spirit Body. You think a mere Spirit Body can stop me? Scram!"

SWOOSH—

Celestial Flame Sun-Devouring Slash!

An unrivaled sword edge blasted forth. At this moment, under the influence of his God-Devouring Realm, Jiang Chen’s combat power was unparalleled!

BOOM—

The sword strike landed squarely on the Sword Sect Master’s Spirit Body, cleaving it in two. The Spirit Body’s face was filled with utter shock and disbelief. "You... you... you actually dared to destroy my Spirit Body?"

"I’m not just going to destroy it, I’m going to kill your precious disciple, too!"

Jiang Chen snorted in contempt, stepped forward, and brought his sword down from above, cleaving his target from head to toe.

SPLURT...

Lan Haichen’s body shuddered, his face a mask of disbelief and shock as Jiang Chen split him in two.

The dissipating Spirit Body glared at Jiang Chen, its eyes promising a gruesome death, and roared, "Good! Good! Excellent, Jiang Chen! How dare you destroy my Spirit Body and slay my disciple! The day you return from the Celestial Fate Ancient Realm will be the day you are buried alongside my disciple!"

BOOM!

The Spirit Body dissipated completely.

Jiang Chen stood quietly, frowning slightly as he watched the spot where the Spirit Body had vanished. Then, a cold smile touched his lips. ’Whether you can still do anything to me by the time I return to the Saint Martial Sword Sect remains to be seen. But for now... I should devour Lan Haichen. A peerless genius at the Union Palace Realm First Stage with a Celestial Tier Fifth Grade Martial Soul. I can’t let this go to waste!’

He grabbed Lan Haichen’s body.

Jiang Chen waved a hand at the ground, and earthen walls rose up around him, blocking the view of any onlookers.

He activated the Devouring Spirit Ten Thousand Dao Scripture and began to devour Lan Haichen.

Meanwhile, the experts who had witnessed the entire scene—from the appearance of the Sword Sect’s Master to Jiang Chen forcefully destroying the Spirit Body and slaying Lan Haichen—could only stare at each other, their faces filled with utter shock...

[Fourth update of the day, two more to go! Little Tian is working hard, o(∩_∩)o...]