Chapter 42: Chapter 41: So What if You’re True Martial?

A beam of light shot across the sky, so fast it was impossible to trace the sword’s path.

Even True Martial Realm powerhouses like Yun Haoran and Bai Ling could only barely glimpse a fleeting sword shadow. In the next instant, they saw the light had already bypassed the Rakshasa Power and appeared before Jiang Ziyou.

"This is bad..." Yun Haoran’s expression changed drastically.

That single strike sent a tremor of fear through him; it was a blow that could threaten his own life.

How could Jiang Ziyou possibly withstand it?

But just as Yun Haoran was about to intervene, it was already too late!

PSHH—

A garish, blindingly crimson bud of blood blossomed from Jiang Ziyou’s shoulder, erupting into the air.

"Ahhh..."

Jiang Ziyou screamed in agony. Her shoulder had been pierced straight through by the sword, leaving a hole the size of a fist. Blood gushed from the wound like a spring as her Cyan Blade Sword clattered to the ground. She clutched her injury and staggered backward.

But what awaited her was an impossibly fast roundhouse kick!

As his Instant Sword pierced Jiang Ziyou’s shoulder, Jiang Chen pushed off the ground with both feet. Using the rebound force, he spun around and delivered a vicious roundhouse kick that slammed into her back.

BANG!

Jiang Ziyou’s entire body jolted as if struck by lightning. She flew forward and crashed heavily onto the ground.

Her meticulously styled hair fell into disarray, framing a disheveled mess. The bloody hole in her shoulder continued to gush, staining half of her clothes red. She had fallen flat on her face, leaving her grimy and utterly wretched!

Jiang Chen had somehow already caught up to Jiang Ziyou and was standing beside her. He pointed his broken sword forward, its tip resting against her throat. The cold Sword Qi pulsing from the blade lightly sliced the fair skin of her neck, and a trickle of blood seeped out, staining the sword’s point red.

The sharp pain from her neck sent a violent shudder through Jiang Ziyou. Her devastatingly beautiful face was now deathly pale, completely drained of color.

At this moment...

The wind stopped.

The trees no longer swayed.

The surging river seemed to freeze.

It was as if the entire world had been brought to a standstill. Everyone stared at the sacrificial altar, dumbfounded, their eyes filled with utter disbelief.

"He... he won? Facing Jiang Ziyou at the Martial Arts Ninth Stage, who wields a Yellow-tier Profound Weapon, Jiang Chen actually won?"

"Incredible. This is truly incredible!"

Cries of astonishment erupted from the crowd around the altar, which was now in a complete uproar.

The waste who was once scorned by all had actually defeated the beloved daughter of heaven, and in such a clean and decisive manner.

This was simply unbelievable!

Jiang Tai sank to the ground, utterly dejected and looking lost. "How is this possible? How could Ziyou lose to that waste?"

Yun Haoran’s face was grim. His fists clenched so tightly they made cracking sounds as he glared at Jiang Chen. ’Damn it, I made such perfect arrangements. Victory should have been guaranteed. How could she lose?’

"Hahaha, Senior Brother Yun, it seems I’ve won our bet!" A faint smile appeared on Bai Ling’s icy face as she spoke coolly, "Senior Brother Yun, aren’t you going to give me the *Gale Step*? Or are you planning to go back on your word?"

"Hmph, as if I would go back on my word! Here!"

Yun Haoran snorted coldly and tossed the *Gale Step* Secret Manual to Bai Ling.

Bai Ling put away the Secret Manual and said nonchalantly, "My thanks, Senior Brother Yun."

"Hmph!"

Yun Haoran’s face was ashen. His gaze toward Jiang Chen now held a chilling killing intent...

’Senior Brother Lan told me to bring Junior Sister Ziyou back to the Sect with honors. But this little bastard has ruined everything... No, I can’t let anything happen to Junior Sister Ziyou. If Senior Brother Lan blames me, I won’t be able to bear the consequences. This kid... cannot be allowed to live...’

「On the sacrificial altar.」 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Jiang Chen looked down at Jiang Ziyou. "Jiang Ziyou, as the saying goes, fortunes rise and fall. It’s been barely two months since you and your father drove me out of the Jiang Family. Now look at us. Who’s the real waste?"

Jiang Ziyou’s pale face was a picture of misery as she stared daggers at Jiang Chen, her eyes filled with venom and hatred. "Jiang Chen, are you really going to be so ruthless and force me into a dead end?"

"Me, ruthless?"

Jiang Chen paused, then threw his head back and roared with wild, unrestrained laughter. The sound stopped abruptly as he lunged down, closing the distance with Jiang Ziyou. Their eyes met, and a savage expression twisted Jiang Chen’s face. "Jiang Ziyou, you have the gall to call me ruthless? Hah!.."

"It’s only been two short months. Have you already forgotten who was the ungrateful one? Who ignored the six years of kindness I showed you, clearing your meridians, and ruthlessly threw me out of the family?"

"Who shamelessly stole the Saint Martial Order that belonged to me? Who set a trap and used someone else to do their dirty work, trying to get Jiang Hu to kill me? Who sent Jiang Ming to assassinate me after I returned? And who teamed up with Lin Yu and the others to hunt me down during the hunt? Have you forgotten all the things you’ve done?"

"And now you have the nerve to call me ruthless? Hahaha, Jiang Ziyou, a woman as venomous as a snake like you is nothing but a scourge on this world. Today, I’ll enact justice on behalf of heaven and eliminate a wicked woman whose heart is more poisonous than any viper!"

Jiang Chen roared hysterically.

All the anger, frustration, and hatred that had been building up inside him for the past two months erupted without restraint in this moment.

His sincere devotion had been repaid with heartless exploitation and betrayal.

The Saint Martial Order his father had left him, his only clue to finding him, had been forcibly stolen by her.

Worse, she had tried to have him killed time and time again...

This feud was higher than a mountain; this hatred was deeper than the sea!

Now, the time for vengeance had finally come.

He slowly raised the broken sword, aiming for Jiang Ziyou’s heart to put an end to this bitter enmity once and for all.

"No..."

Jiang Ziyou’s expression changed dramatically. Her already colorless face grew even paler, her pupils constricted violently, and her eyes filled with terror, fear, and the despair of facing death.

But just as the broken sword was about to pierce her heart, a magnificent and domineering voice thundered from below the altar like a clap of thunder: "If you dare harm a single hair on her head, believe me when I say I will tear you to pieces!"

As the voice rang out, an icy aura of death locked onto Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen’s sword faltered for a moment. He looked toward the source of the voice and saw Yun Haoran, clad in white, floating slowly in mid-air. With his hands behind his back, he trod on empty air, gliding just above the ground before landing gracefully beside Jiang Ziyou. His indifferent eyes, like two cold black gems, glinted with a grim killing intent as his chilling gaze fell upon Jiang Chen.

Two beams of almost tangible light shot from his eyes, striking Jiang Chen like a pair of heavy hammers and forcing him to retreat two steps subconsciously.

"I am Yun Haoran, an envoy of the Saint Martial Sword Sect and a disciple of the True Martial Realm. I’d like to see who dares harm a disciple of my Saint Martial Sword Sect!" Yun Haoran’s eyes were glacial as he stared at Jiang Chen and spoke with indifference.

Jiang Ziyou was like a drowning person clutching at a straw. The despair on her face vanished, replaced by a look of pure venom and hatred. "Senior Brother Yun, I want him to suffer until he begs for death!"

"Rest assured, Junior Sister. This place will be Jiang Chen’s grave!"

Yun Haoran nodded, a grim killing intent spreading across his stern face. With his hands clasped behind his back, he looked at Jiang Chen coldly. "Jiang Chen, you dared to harm a disciple of the Sword Sect. Your crime is punishable by death. I now command you to cripple your own cultivation, kneel before me, and kowtow to Junior Sister Ziyou in apology. Do that, and I might leave you with an intact corpse. Otherwise, I guarantee you will wish you were dead. Don’t doubt my words. Before me, you are nothing but an ant that I can crush with a flick of my finger!"

"Yun Haoran, what do you think you’re doing? Are you bullying him with your power? Believe it or not, I will report you to the Law Enforcement Hall when we get back!" Bai Ling’s expression changed as she rushed onto the altar, stepping in front of Jiang Chen and scolding Yun Haoran.

Yun Haoran frowned and snorted. "Junior Sister Bai, stay out of this. Junior Sister Ziyou is someone Senior Brother Lan specifically asked me to bring back. Do you intend to defy Senior Brother Lan?"

’Senior Brother Lan...’

Bai Ling’s heart skipped a beat. The thought of that particular Senior Brother Lan made her shudder. After a moment’s hesitation, she said in a low voice, "Even if Senior Brother Lan gave you instructions, you can’t harm an innocent person. Jiang Chen and Jiang Ziyou fought a fair duel. Jiang Ziyou lost because her skills were inferior. How can you interfere? If this is reported to the Law Enforcement Hall, not even Senior Brother Lan will be able to protect you!"

Yun Haoran fell silent. What Bai Ling said was true. A glint flashed in his eyes as he said, "Fine, I’ll spare his life on your account. However, while he may escape the death penalty, he cannot escape punishment. As long as this brat cripples his own cultivation and kneels to kowtow to Junior Sister Ziyou in apology, I will let him live. Otherwise, even if it means being punished by the Law Enforcement Hall, I will still cut him down! Failing to answer to Senior Brother Lan is a death sentence for me either way!"

Bai Ling couldn’t help but look at Jiang Chen. Just as she was about to speak, he cut her off. "You want me to kowtow and apologize? You must be dreaming!"

"Jiang Chen, don’t be rash. Yun Haoran is a genuine True Martial Realm master. You’re no match for him. The most important thing right now is to save your own life..." Bai Ling said hurriedly.

Jiang Chen gave her a grateful smile, then took a step forward, moving past Bai Ling to face Yun Haoran directly.

Their eyes met, and the fiery sparks of battle ignited between them.

A bone-chilling voice emerged from Jiang Chen’s lips...

"I, Jiang Chen, kneel to neither heaven nor earth. What makes you think you, Yun Haoran, are worthy? Making me kneel is impossible. If you want a fight, then I, Jiang Chen, will see it through to the end. So what if you’re in the True Martial Realm? If you dare to oppose me, I’ll still beat you so badly you’ll be looking for your teeth on the ground, so bruised that not even your own mother would recognize you!"