Chapter 178: Chapter 176: The Gamble Paid Off

Watching Jiang Jichen’s retreating figure, he saw that the man had dropped all his defenses. His back was wide open!

If he attacked now, Song Hao was very confident that he could use his Secret Artifact to kill Jiang Jichen in a single strike.

Song Hao’s expression flickered with uncertainty. He clenched his fists, his heart wavering.

He had led the expedition this time, yet apart from himself, all the other disciples of the Song Family had been wiped out.

Even though he was a Young Master, he would likely face punishment upon his return.

He wasn’t the only Young Master in the Song Family. The competition for the position of Young Clan Leader was incredibly fierce. Once word of this incident got back to the clan, how could his rivals possibly pass up the chance to kick him while he was down?

Forget about the future position of Young Clan Leader—even his current status as a Young Master was in jeopardy and might not be salvageable.

This was all Jiang Jichen’s fault. The only way to save himself was to return with Jiang Jichen’s head!

His heart surged with monstrous resentment for Jiang Jichen; he wished he could tear him into a million pieces.

But he was also afraid, truly terrified by Jiang Jichen’s methods.

Not only had he escaped from the Yin Nether Serpent, but he had also used a Secret Artifact to instantly kill Song Shan, a Late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

It made it impossible for him to see through this young man who was only at the Innate Sixth Layer.

By now, Jiang Jichen was already a hundred meters away. If he didn’t act soon, he would miss his chance.

Song Hao’s eyes turned bloodshot as he let out a low roar. "I am the dignified Young Master of the Song Family, a genius in the Grandmaster Realm, a celebrated Transcender! If I use my Secret Artifact, can’t I kill a piece of trash, a mere Junior Cultivator at the Innate Sixth Layer? No! Jiang Jichen, I will kill you!"

A Secret Artifact suddenly appeared in his hands, and he was about to unleash a fatal blow against Jiang Jichen.

But one could see his body trembling slightly, a clear sign that he was suppressing the fear in his heart.

After all, an Innate Sixth Layer cultivator slaying a Late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator was simply too shocking. It was unheard of—perhaps even unprecedented in history!

"If you don’t act now, you’ll lose your chance, won’t you? However, once you make a move, it will be a matter of life and death. You’d better think this through!"

A hundred meters away, Jiang Jichen was now holding One Corner of the Sky Killing Array. Wisps of killing intent drifted ethereally through the air, swirling ceaselessly before Song Hao.

’This killing intent... it annihilates everything, turns all to ash! No wonder even Song Shan couldn’t withstand a single blow from such a Secret Artifact!’

Song Hao had been about to strike, but after sensing that wisp of killing intent from the Azure Heaven Killing Array, a chill shot through his heart. He instantly understood why Song Shan, a cultivator in the Late-stage Foundation Establishment Realm, couldn’t take a single hit. This Secret Artifact was simply too terrifying.

’If I kill him and seize such a Great Killing Artifact, then wouldn’t I...’

However, just as the thought formed in Song Hao’s mind, Jiang Jichen’s voice drifted over again. "Don’t even think about taking my Great Killing Artifact. Killing you would be a matter of a single strike for me. It’s just... I said I would let you live to witness me exterminate the entire Song Family. That’s the only reason I’m sparing you!"

As he spoke, the wild grass at Song Hao’s feet suddenly and silently disintegrated into ash, which then floated into the air, obscuring his vision.

’This is killing intent... It can silently annihilate the grass in front of me. What if it landed on my body? The consequences would be unimaginable.’

Clearly, Jiang Jichen was only giving him a warning!

Song Hao’s hands, still clutching his Secret Artifact, trembled. His palms were soaked with sweat, and his heart was gripped by utter terror.

In truth, while he usually appeared ruthless and fearless, he was actually a man who was terrified of death.

At this moment, at least, he lacked the courage to gamble with his life!

In the end, he could only watch helplessly as Jiang Jichen’s figure vanished into the distance.

’I can’t let anyone know about this. I can shift the blame for everything else. As for Jiang Jichen? Once I’m outside, killing him with my status as a Young Master of the Song Family will be a simple matter. If the Foundation Establishment Realm isn’t enough, I’ll ask the ancestors above that realm to act. Why should I fight him to the death here? Besides, if I just tell the ancestors that Jiang Jichen has a Supreme Killing Weapon, they’ll definitely hunt him down themselves, and they won’t breathe a word of it to anyone else!’

Having calmed his emotions, Song Hao murmured to himself, a vicious glint flashing in his eyes.

But what he didn’t know was that a pair of eyes had been watching everything from the shadows...

...

The grasslands stretched for thousands of miles. At their edge, mountain peaks were wreathed in clouds and mist. A lone wild goose flew across the sky, lending the landscape a heroic yet desolate atmosphere.

Jiang Jichen flew swiftly across the grasslands. Only after confirming he was completely clear of Song Hao did his body suddenly tremble before he spat out an arrow of blood.

SPURT!

The blood stained the grass with startling crimson flecks, a shocking sight to behold.

At this moment, it was as if all the Essence Qi had been drained from his body. His face was pale, and his aura was weak to the extreme.

Just moments ago, he had been forcing himself to stand tall, acting as if nothing was wrong, projecting an air of calm, detached mystery.

In reality, his internal injuries had reached a terrifyingly severe state.

After all, a cultivator in the Late-stage Foundation Establishment Realm wasn’t so easy to kill.

The previous battle had been perilous to the extreme. If his opponent hadn’t been careless and failed to raise his defenses in time, Jiang Jichen would not have been able to land an Ultimate Kill, even if he had unleashed the full power of the Azure Heaven Killing Array at his current Realm without wasting a single drop.

And if he had failed to kill his opponent, the one to die would have undoubtedly been him!

Now, even though he hadn’t died, he was still grievously wounded. Moreover, that single strike from the Azure Heaven Killing Array, amplified by the Violent Spirit Skill, had instantly consumed all of his Spiritual Power.

If Song Hao had attacked him then, Jiang Jichen could still have killed him, but he would have been forced to use every last one of his trump cards. At the same time, he would have paid a terrible price, likely losing all combat ability on the spot.

That would have been bad enough, but he had also sensed someone else hiding in the shadows, watching them. Therefore, if he had truly fought Song Hao, he would have been left a helpless target for that hidden person to slaughter at will.

That was why Jiang Jichen had put on a false front, using a mere wisp of aura from the Azure Heaven Killing Array to intimidate Song Hao.

Of course, in his actual state, Jiang Jichen could no longer activate the Azure Heaven Killing Array again. He had expended the last of his remaining strength just to produce that wisp of aura.

From the moment Jiang Jichen saw Song Hao abandon everything to flee for his life at the sight of the Yin Nether Serpent, he knew the man was utterly terrified of death.

And in the end, his gamble had paid off. Song Hao didn’t dare to make a move and let him leave.

As for Jiang Jichen’s claim that he was sparing Song Hao’s life to make him witness the slaughter of the entire Song Family...

That was complete bullshit. If he had the chance, Jiang Jichen would have killed Song Hao without a moment’s hesitation.

He never showed mercy to his enemies.

However, after spitting out the blood, Jiang Jichen actually felt much more relaxed. He then began to consume a healing Treasure Medicine.

Combined with the medicinal Spiritual Power from the Treasure Medicine Serpent Broth stored within his body, Jiang Jichen’s recovery was extremely fast, despite his heavy injuries.

He healed as he traveled. By the time he followed the Treasure Medicine Map to the location of the colored marker, Jiang Jichen’s injuries had completely vanished.

His essence, spirit, and energy had all returned to their peak state.

He could have actually broken through to the Minor Grandmaster Realm in both Body Refining and Spirit Cultivation back when he refined the eight hundred-plus bowls of Treasure Medicine Serpent Broth, but he had been suppressing it.

But after a series of intense battles, he could barely suppress it any longer. He had reached a point where a breakthrough was inevitable.

But Jiang Jichen knew that the more forcefully he suppressed it, the more explosive the eventual eruption would be. When he finally stepped into the Minor Grandmaster Realm, he would surely soar to new heights, and his combat power would skyrocket.

Therefore, he continued to suppress it with all his might.

On the Treasure Medicine Map, the place marked with color turned out to be a Suspended Cave Mansion!