Chapter 200: Chapter 189: Slaying the Third Grade

"You dare!"

Yu Haitang’s stunning face flashed with cold murderous intent, as the two swords in her hands glimmered slightly, emitting a white and red sword light.

Besides the "Mingfeng Sword," she carried a soft sword, which had always been coiled around her waist. Chen Ming had spent over half a month with her and had never noticed the sword at her waist.

Gao Chen watched the two swords in her hands, his eyes lighting up with intense excitement, "Isn’t that the legendary Water Cloud Sword? I didn’t expect it to be in your hands."

The "Water Cloud Sword" is the world’s softest sword, featured on a weapons list from the World’s First Pavilion, which collects the most famous exotic weapons, and this "Water Cloud Sword" is on the list. It’s an extremely famous Unparalleled Divine Weapon.

Gao Chen laughed heartily, "What a delightful surprise."

At that moment, Yu Haitang made her move, the "Water Cloud Sword" striking towards Gao Chen’s head like a venomous snake.

Gao Chen was surrounded by a thin, transparent shield, his Protective Essence. For Martial Artists below the Third Grade, even with all their might, they couldn’t break through this seemingly thin shield—except for the Unparalleled Divine Weapon!

The Unparalleled Divine Weapon is designed to break Protective Essence.

If the "Water Cloud Sword" strikes him, his shield will be easily broken.

The condition is that it hits.

Gao Chen seemed to be waiting for this moment, retreating quickly while shooting two Finger Gang attacks, aimed not at Yu Haitang, but directly at the lying Chen Ming.

Previously, Yu Haitang had always protected Chen Ming. Now that she attacked, a gap finally appeared.

She was shocked, and without thinking, flicked the "Mingfeng Sword" in her left hand to block the two Finger Gangs. The tremendous force almost knocked the sword out of her hand.

"Miss Yu, so young, and already with such cultivation and swordsmanship! Truly impressive, in a couple of years I might not be a match for you."

Gao Chen praised her, "Honestly, if you insisted on escaping, I might not be able to control you. Unfortunately, you’re unwilling to leave this man. I want to see how many more you can block."

As he spoke, he flicked his fingers repeatedly, sending out three Finger Gangs.

Yu Haitang remained silent, wielding her two swords, blocking two of the Finger Gangs, leaving her wrists numb. The last one she was unable to resist.

With a screech, the Finger Gang drilled into her shoulder, forcing her back a few steps, and she spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Huh?"

Gao Chen saw that she blocked his Finger Gang, his gaze tightened, surprised, "The Nishang Silk Clothes! No wonder you could block my Gang Yuan. The treasures on your body are indeed numerous, worthy of your Yu Family heritage."

The Nishang Silk Clothes were made by a sect from the previous dynasty, extremely resilient, indistinguishable from regular silk clothing, yet able to withstand the Gang Yuan of a Third Grade Martial Artist. Incredibly mystical.

Unfortunately, that sect has been destroyed, and the technique to make such Treasure Clothes lost. Few Nishang Silk Clothes exist, all known pieces are in the Imperial Palace.

Yu Haitang had retreated back to Chen Ming’s side, staring coldly at Gao Chen not far away.

This person continuously provoked her with words, yet remained very calm, always keeping a certain distance. In various ways, he toyed with her, truly intending to make her lose her rationality.

Cultivation and strength far exceeded hers, yet he was as calm and sinister as a viper; such an enemy was truly terrifying.

What to do?

Both of Yu Haitang’s hands were injured, barely able to hold her swords.

Gao Chen was Third Grade; if not for the environmental impact, requiring him to spend a portion of his Gang Yuan resisting the dense Fire Element Power around them, her wrists might have been crippled.

The gap between Third Grade and Fourth Grade was like a chasm.

At that moment, a hand reached out and took the "Mingfeng Sword" from her left hand.

Then, Chen Ming’s voice whispered in her ear, "Miss Yu, go. I’ll hold him off."

Yu Haitang was a little stunned, his voice full of energy, not sounding injured at all.

Suddenly, she realized something, her face changed.

It must be the "Blood Burning Technique!"

"Quickly go, find Madam Yu!"

Chen Ming urged her, then charged at Gao Chen.

...

Upon seeing Chen Ming attack, Gao Chen was slightly startled.

This kid was severely injured and affected by the Fire Bat’s Fire Poison, how did he suddenly recover?

The thought had just crossed his mind when the sharp and unparalleled Divine Weapon was already at his face.

So fast!

He retreated, unwilling to clash head-on with the Divine Weapon.

Yet, the sword followed him like a malicious spirit.

Even before the sword arrived, a stabbing pain could be felt in his heart.

This time, Gao Chen was truly astonished.

Sword Intent Prototype?

This kid was only Fourth Grade, and he had already grasped the Sword Intent Prototype!

How is this possible?

He had been in the Third Grade for many years and still couldn’t touch the edge of Sword Intent. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been sent for such a dangerous task.

For a moment, he felt immense dread.

In other circumstances, a mere Fourth Grade, even with Sword Intent Prototype, would not be his match. But here, the omnipresent Fire Element Power forced him to resist continuously.

Along the way, two-thirds of his power had already been spent.

He had to divide his focus to resist the Fire Element Power. These adverse factors surprisingly made him feel a hint of pressure when facing a Fourth Grade.

"Hmph!"

Gao Chen felt angry, resorting to familiar tactics, flicking his fingers repeatedly.

The boy seemed to have foreseen this, dodging each one deftly, showcasing incredibly precise Body Technique.

The more he fought, the more alarmed he became.

This boy was unbelievably fearsome, not only was his Swordsmanship extraordinary!

He also grasped the Sword Intent Prototype and possessed an excellent Body Technique. He had virtually no weaknesses; once this boy broke through to Third Grade, Gao Chen certainly wouldn’t be his match.

Instantly, Gao Chen’s murderous intent flared up, and he finally drew his sword.

Boom!

He swung his longsword, and a terrifying Sword Gang tore through the air, colliding with the Unparalleled Divine Weapon in Chen Ming’s hand.

The terrifying force knocked him backwards.

This sword strike was Gao Chen’s true strength; previously, he had been focused on conserving more of his Gang Yuan, unwilling to expend too much.

With absolute power, his Third Grade cultivation was enough to crush his opponent!

Gao Chen flashed forward, pursuing and intending to kill the young man who made him apprehensive with his second sword strike.

Suddenly, a warning surged in his heart, a chill ran down his back, as if he were being stared down by a venomous snake.

Damn!

Assailed from behind, he had to give up the opportunity to kill Chen Ming and dodge the fatal sword strike.

Then, with a backhanded sword, he sent Yu Haitang, who attacked him from behind, flying.

Swish, swish, swish—

At that moment, Gao Chen only felt a numbness in his chest, he had already been hit.

Not good!

He was shocked and hurriedly sealed a few vital acupoints on his chest, channeling his Gang Yuan to expel the hidden weapon.

Gao Chen knew that someone like Yu Haitang definitely carried items on her person for saving her life. Thus, he was very cautious from the start, keeping a certain distance from her.

Unexpectedly, when Chen Ming unexpectedly recovered, all his attention was on him, and in a moment of distraction, he still took the hit.

He clearly saw Yu Haitang had already fled, but didn’t know when she managed to come back...

To penetrate his Protective Essence, it should be the legendary Poison Dragon Needle specifically made to break Gang Yuan.

"Die!"

At this moment, Chen Ming had caught his breath and charged again to kill.

Gao Chen had no choice but to raise his sword to block, this time not daring to hold back, he exerted his full strength with one sword strike, once again knocking Chen Ming away.

At the same time, he felt the Gang Yuan in his chest start to stagnate.

"There’s poison on the needle!"

He was both shocked and furious, the rapid onset suggested it was a terrifying kind of poison.

Then, having just been knocked away and crashed into a wall, Yu Haitang struggled to sit up and coldly said, "How is it, the poison of the Yellow Springs Water, doesn’t it feel good?"

Gao Chen spat out a mouthful of black blood, his face covered in a layer of black mist, a hint of despair flashed in his eyes, his face contorted, "The antidote... Give me the antidote..."

Clap, clap, clap!

Suddenly, a round of applause came from the other end of the passage, "Marvelous, truly marvelous!"

"Who?"

Gao Chen exclaimed.

From the other end of the corridor, four figures in black walked out, all with blood-red eyes.

Blood Demon Sect!

Gao Chen’s face turned deathly pale.

Sitting up against the wall, Yu Haitang’s body trembled, instinctively looking towards Chen Ming, who had just managed to wobbly stand up, clearly heavily injured.

The leader of the black-clad figures praised, "I didn’t expect to witness such a spectacular battle, two Fourth Grades actually toppling a Third Grade, truly an unheard-of event. Young Master Chen, Miss Yu, the two of you with such achievements, you have the right to be proud."

Chen Ming replied in a weak voice, "You flatter us. I wonder how you plan to deal with us?"

The black-clad man praised, "Such courage, to remain unfazed meeting our Blood Demon Sect members. You’re the first. I feel reluctant to kill you now."

Chen Ming said, "Aren’t you worried about not being able to leave here if you kill me?"

"Of course I am, which is why I won’t kill you before I leave this place."

"In that case, I have a condition." Chen Ming said seriously, "Let Miss Yu leave, otherwise I’ll die here and now. You should know, if I wish to die, no one can stop me."

The black-clad man laughed, "You really are a romantic. I don’t want to kill you even more now. How about this, join my Blood Demon Sect, and that way, I won’t kill you. She won’t have to die either, a win-win situation."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the three behind him visibly shifted.

Chen Ming coughed lightly, "May I have a moment to consider?"

The black-clad man was quite generous and said, "I’ll give you the time of ten breaths."

The time of ten breaths passed in an instant.

Chen Ming thought briefly, then raised his head and said, "My returning sword—"

Buzz!

The "Mingfeng Sword" in his hand vibrated, and a gentle, watery intent resonated out.

"Sword Intent?"

The eyes of the black-clad man showed amazement, and he exclaimed, "You can actually invoke the Sword Intent contained in the Divine Weapon, truly a Sword Dao prodigy!" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Unfortunately, after all, it’s just Fourth Grade; to him, such Sword Intent was like a gentle breeze caressing his face.

Huh?

But soon, he realized that the strike from Chen Ming’s sword wasn’t aimed at him.

In a flash of blood, Gao Chen’s head had been severed.

Amused, he thought to himself, after going through so much trouble, it was all just to kill this man?

Could it have been an accidental hit?

Chen Ming’s aura weakened dramatically, unable to even stand, collapsing to the ground.

At this moment, he probably no longer had the strength to even commit suicide.

The black-clad man said, "It seems you would rather die than join my Blood Demon Sect. Since you are so ungrateful, that makes you my enemy. Deng Ziyang, this woman is yours."