"You dare catch my Exquisite Jade Sword with your bare hands? You’re really asking to die!"

Yun Haoran’s eyes narrowed. A mocking expression appeared on his face as he laughed scornfully.

The Exquisite Jade Sword in his hand shot forward with even greater speed. Both of the inscriptions on its surface flared to life, boosting its power by a full fifty percent.

This strike was powerful enough to level a small mountain!

But facing such a deadly strike, Jiang Chen showed no sign of panic or fear. With a cold snort, he pushed the `Profound Yellow Undying Technique` to its absolute limit.

The immense `Profound Yellow True Qi` within him surged wildly, gathering in his hands.

A blinding, blood-red light pooled in his palms.

Cultivating the `Profound Yellow Undying Technique` had made Jiang Chen’s physical body far stronger than that of other experts at his level. Combined with his `Talent Devouring God`, his `cultivation` had reached the `Peak of Martial Arts Ninth Stage`.

It would be incredibly difficult for Yun Haoran to break through Jiang Chen’s defense!

BOOM—

His hand of flesh and blood closed directly around the `Exquisite Jade Sword`.

The instant his palm met the sharp blade, a blinding shower of sparks erupted. The razor-sharp `Exquisite Jade Sword` continued to press forward, but its advance slowed to a crawl. The strike came to a dead halt when the tip was just a finger’s breadth from Jiang Chen’s chest.

A killing blow from a mighty `True Martial Realm First Stage` master, launched with a `Profound-tier Profound Weapon`, had actually been caught bare-handed by Jiang Chen!

"How is that possible?"

"I must be seeing things. A hand of flesh and blood actually blocked a `Profound-tier Profound Weapon`? Is Jiang Chen a `Celestial God` descended to earth, or some demon star reborn?" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Even Bai Ling, who had seen much of the world, was dumbfounded. Her large, dark, and luminous eyes went wide. "How is that possible? The `Exquisite Jade Sword` is a `Profound-tier Profound Weapon`! Even `Martial Artists` who specialize in `Body Refining` wouldn’t dare try to catch it with their bare hands! Who on earth is this Jiang Chen?"

Atop the altar.

Yun Haoran’s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the `Exquisite Jade Sword` in his hand.

The clan had gifted him this `Exquisite Jade Sword` after he broke through to the `True Martial Realm`. He had always treasured it as he did his own life, nourishing it daily with his `Essence Blood`.

Thanks to the `Exquisite Jade Sword`, he, Yun Haoran, had made a name for himself in the `Saint Martial Sword Sect`.

But now...

His precious `Exquisite Jade Sword`, the source of his pride, had been caught bare-handed by an ant he’d never even deigned to notice!

This was a blatant, humiliating slap in the face!

Yun Haoran’s face paled and flushed in turns as he glared at Jiang Chen. If looks could kill, his gaze alone would have already diced Jiang Chen into mincemeat.

He stared intently at Jiang Chen, his gaze growing feverish. ’He can instantly boost his power and has such a formidable physical body. This kid must have a `Secret Treasure` on him; there’s no other way he could do this. A `Secret Treasure` this powerful... I must have it!’

At this thought, Yun Haoran suddenly flicked his scarlet tongue across the corner of his mouth, his expression turning greedy and fervent. "You little bastard, don’t think you’re untouchable just because you have a `Secret Treasure`. A `Martial Artist`’s own strength is what’s most important. Relying on external items is, in the end, a lesser path. I’ll make you understand that you’re nothing but an ant."

CRACK!

Yun Haoran stomped on the altar floor and shot backward, yanking the `Exquisite Jade Sword` free.

The blade scraped against Jiang Chen’s palm with a piercing SCCCCRRREEECH, sending sparks flying and making onlookers gasp in horror.

"`Saint Martial Sword Sect` is renowned for its `Sword Dao`. I entered the `Saint Martial Sword Sect` at eighteen and achieved the `True Martial Realm` by twenty, comprehending a sliver of `Wind Sword Intent`. Today, I will let you taste the power of my `Wind Sword Intent`—`Gale Annihilation Strike`!" Yun Haoran’s voice howled on the wind as his figure blurred, charging straight at Jiang Chen.

This strike was nearly three times faster than the last.

Guided by the `Wind Sword Intent`, the gales no longer visibly clung to the blade but were instead focused and restrained. This allowed him to circumvent the wind’s resistance, making his attack even faster!

Below the altar, Sima Tao and the others couldn’t help but widen their eyes when they saw Yun Haoran’s attack. "`Sword Intent`? Yun Haoran is truly worthy of being called a genius of the `Saint Martial Sword Sect`. To not only reach the `True Martial Realm` at such a young age but to also comprehend the power of a `Mental Realm`... Incredible, truly incredible!"

Bai Ling’s brows furrowed, her expression growing solemn. ’What a fast strike. The air resistance has been reduced by a full thirty percent, increasing the sword’s speed by nearly three times. Can Jiang Chen still block this?’

On the altar.

Jiang Chen’s eyes glinted as if he could see through anything.

He could clearly see the currents of wind and air resistance flowing around the `Exquisite Jade Sword`, only to be deflected by a wondrous force just before they could touch the blade.

The resistance was parted as easily as silk meeting sharp shears.

The sharp `Exquisite Jade Sword` cleaved through all obstacles!

’Such a fast sword. His blade actually makes the air resistance and wind part on their own? This must be `Wind Sword Intent`.’

’The power of `Sword Intent` is truly profound, to be able to control wind and air resistance... If I could master this `Mental Realm` and use it with my `Instant Sword`, my attack speed would definitely be three or four times faster than Yun Haoran’s strike.’

At this thought, Jiang Chen began to weave around Yun Haoran, relying on his agile footwork.

He constantly dodged, studying the method behind Yun Haoran’s `Sword Intent` while simultaneously parrying his deadly attacks.

"Damn it! Stop squirming around like a slippery eel! If you have any guts, stop running!" Yun Haoran’s inability to kill Jiang Chen made him furious and anxious, and he let out a low roar.

He swung his sword in a sudden horizontal slash!

WHOOSH!

The sword slashed diagonally, its trajectory appearing crystal clear in Jiang Chen’s mind. He noticed that as the blade cut through the air, it vibrated with an almost imperceptible tremor. It was this `Shaking Power` that caused the air resistance and wind to part before it.

A glint flashed in Jiang Chen’s eyes. The corners of his mouth curved up, and he burst out laughing. "Hahaha, I finally get it! So that’s how it works. The fluctuations of the wind... The wind has its own specific waves and frequencies. As long as you match those fluctuations with a vibrating force, you can become one with the wind. The wind and resistance will no longer be obstacles, but aids!"

"I understand now! This is `Wind Sword Intent`!"

In that instant of enlightenment, everything became clear to Jiang Chen.

He felt as though a brand-new path on his `Sword Dao` had just opened up before him.

"Yun Haoran, since you want a direct confrontation, I’ll grant you your wish!" As he spoke, Jiang Chen dove, swooping past the sharp sword that Jiang Ziyou had dropped earlier. He snatched the hilt with one hand and skimmed horizontally across the ground.

The `Cyan Blade Sword` was pulled free from the altar’s surface. Then, with a sharp turn, Jiang Chen changed direction.

Wielding the `Cyan Blade Sword`, he charged head-on at Yun Haoran.

"Hahaha, you’re dead!" Yun Haoran roared excitedly.

`Gale Annihilation Strike`!

His sword moved like the wind, imbued with `Wind Sword Intent`. Its speed was pushed to the absolute limit as it hurtled toward Jiang Chen, carrying the `Power of Destruction`.

"`Wind Sword Intent`? You’re not the only one who knows it..." Jiang Chen sneered, activating the `Cyan Blade Sword` in his hand. "In! Stant! Sword!"

"That move again? Are you out of tricks? Have you forgotten that your speed is nothing in front of me— What? Th-This is impossible! How is your sword so much faster than before...?" The smug look on Yun Haoran’s face froze. His eyes bulged as he stared at Jiang Chen in utter disbelief.

The sword in Jiang Chen’s hand was terrifyingly fast, also imbued with `Wind Sword Intent`, and it arrived in an instant!

CLANG!

The two swords clashed with a sharp ring.

The two fighters shot past each other. With a sickening SPLURT, a column of fresh blood erupted, fanning out into a crimson mist.

Jiang Chen and Yun Haoran came to a stop, standing back to back.

Yun Haoran’s voice was strained. "Wh-why did your sword... suddenly get so fast?"

"Because I comprehended `Wind Sword Intent`, too," Jiang Chen replied calmly.

"S-So that’s how..."

Before Yun Haoran could finish, his body shuddered violently. The sword in his hand fell to the ground with a CLANG, and his entire left arm fell away from his shoulder. Yun Haoran dropped to one knee, his face instantly turning deathly pale. He clutched the gaping wound on his left shoulder, gasping for breath.

In that brief moment, he had become drenched in sweat, looking as if he’d just been fished out of water.

The cold edge of a blade pressed against his throat, causing Yun Haoran’s body to jolt and go rigid. At the same time, a voice, like a soul-reaping summons from the `Nine Netherworld`, echoed in his ear, causing his already bloodless face to grow even paler...

"Yun Haoran, I’m giving you two choices now. Kneel, kowtow, and beg me for your life... or die!"