Just as Little Haas had said, Jiang Jichen was surrounded by the Noble Family disciples!

Over one hundred and ten people, led by the Flowing Cloud Sect’s Second Senior Brother, Ling Dong of Lingxu Temple, Su Hao of the Su Family, Wei Xiaolang, Nangong Jinjie, and Cang Lengshan, had positioned themselves on all sides, cutting off every one of Jiang Jichen’s escape routes.

Aside from Blood Hand of the Blood Refining Alliance and the Qing Family—two major powers that had yet to appear—everyone else who had entered the second level of the Exquisite Treasure Tower was here.

In other words, Jiang Jichen had to kill at least twenty more people before he could activate the Teleportation Array to the third level of the Exquisite Treasure Tower.

And now... trapped in a hopeless situation, how could he possibly kill twenty more people?

From the Flowing Cloud Sect’s Second Senior Brother, Ling Dong, and the other leaders of the Seven Great Families and Three Major Sects in particular, Jiang Jichen truly sensed a life-or-death threat.

’They... they’re going to use their ultimate killing techniques on me!’

In that instant, the realization struck Jiang Jichen.

The Flowing Cloud Sect’s Second Senior Brother floated atop an ancient tree, his gaze fixed on Jiang Jichen. "Jiang Jichen," he said, "you broke my One Thought Life and Death Sword last time. I wonder if you can do it again."

"The sword of life and death, born from a single thought? Are you planning to release the third-layer seal on the Surprise Rainbow Sword this time? But... I’ve never feared a single strike from you!"

Jiang Jichen stood in the center of the encirclement, his voice arrogant, brimming with confidence and power.

Hearing Jiang Jichen’s words, the Flowing Cloud Sect’s Second Senior Brother could no longer maintain his composure. His expression turned grave. "How did you know I was going to release the third seal on the Surprise Rainbow Sword?"

"Whether I know or not is hardly important. In the end, this is simply a matter of life and death!"

Jiang Jichen replied, his expression calm and indifferent.

The Flowing Cloud Sect’s Second Senior Brother, however, did not share this state of mind.

The battle had not yet begun, and his Cultivation Realm was far superior to Jiang Jichen’s. Yet, he knew that in terms of mental fortitude and aura, he had already lost.

Jiang Jichen’s Thoughtless Life and Death Sword had cast a shadow upon his heart. If he could not dispel it in this lifetime, his Sword Dao would never reach Great Perfection.

Therefore... he had to kill Jiang Jichen with his own hands today. Only then could he exorcise the Heart Demon his opponent had planted within him.

Only with Jichen’s death could the demon be slain.

The Flowing Cloud Sect’s Second Senior Brother hadn’t come today just for the Holy Sword; he had come to purge the Demonic Thought from his heart.

At this, the Flowing Cloud Sect’s Second Senior Brother fell silent. He centered his mind and began to enter the optimal state for a sword strike, determined to kill Jichen with a single blow.

Just then, the voice of Ling Dong from Lingxu Temple rang out. "Jiang Jichen, today we will show you the true ultimate killing techniques of the Seven Great Families and the Three Major Sects! No one can save you now. You’re a dead man!"

Nangong Jinjie also spoke, his voice cold. "Jiang Jichen, you must have shown yourself and walked into your own death just to protect those three little sluts, right? Hmph! Hunting Noble Family disciples? How laughable. How childish. The only reason you killed a few people before was because we hadn’t arrived yet. Why don’t you try hunting someone now? Let me tell you something: you can’t protect those three little sluts. After I kill you, I’ll capture them immediately. I’ll train them to be the most debased slave girls in the world! HA HA HA..."

Jiang Jichen listened to them calmly, all the while slowly recovering the Spiritual Power he had just expended.

During this brief exchange, he had already made a full recovery.

His eyes locked onto Nangong Jinjie, and he gave a chilling smile. "That can only happen after you kill me. But you won’t get the chance. I told you I’d take your head inside the Exquisite Treasure Tower, which means you won’t be leaving this place alive."

As he spoke, the Ancient Medicine Cauldron suddenly materialized above Jiang Jichen’s head. Simultaneously, the blood-colored relics dissolved into a bloody mist that swirled before him, forming a powerful defensive barrier.

The blood-colored relics Snowplum had given Jiang Jichen had been used so much that they had now lost their offensive capabilities. Only a single use remained, and it was purely defensive.

A faint, fresh fragrance wafted before him, and Jiang Jichen’s spirit stirred.

The blood-colored relics had come from Snowplum, so this scent... was naturally her own.

’This fragrance is truly intoxicating!’

Jiang Jichen sighed to himself, then strode forward. He moved like a soaring dragon, his aura as magnificent as a rainbow, his battle intent shaking the very heavens as he took the offensive and charged.

After dashing forward several dozen meters at extreme speed, Jiang Jichen was now less than thirty meters from a group of Noble Family disciples.

That was precisely the direction where Nangong Jinjie stood. Behind him were nearly twenty Cultivators, their Cultivation Realms ranging from the Foundation Establishment Middle Realm to Great Perfection.

Seeing Jiang Jichen dare to take the initiative and charge directly at him, Nangong Jinjie erupted in fury.

"To think I’m some easy target... you’re courting death!"

With a furious roar, Nangong Jinjie flicked his hand, and a Secret Light shot forth, tearing through the void at unbelievable speed.

This was his Little Secret Killing Artifact. In Nangong Jinjie’s opinion, it was more than enough to heavily wound Jiang Jichen.

PFFT!

Blood splattered. It was the sound of a body being pierced by the Little Secret Killing Artifact.

But Nangong Jinjie’s expression became utterly foul. The one struck by the Little Secret Killing Artifact was not Jiang Jichen, but a disciple from his own Nangong Family.

In that split second, Jiang Jichen had used the Shifting Technique to instantly swap places with a Foundation Establishment Middle Realm disciple from the Nangong Family.

A Position Shifting technique with a thirty-meter range—even at Jiang Jichen’s current Realm, he could only use it once a day!

With each subsequent use, the range would be halved, and so on. He could only use it a few times a day in total.

Now, that Nangong Family disciple had taken the hit from Nangong Jinjie’s Little Secret Killing Artifact in Jiang Jichen’s place—a fatal blow.

He hadn’t had time to react. He died with a look of utter confusion on his face, having no idea how he had suddenly appeared in that spot.

And Jiang Jichen now stood in the middle of the crowd of Noble Family disciples.

"KILL!"

He roared, his Red Copper Rust Sword a blur as he began to carve a path of slaughter.

He was like a tiger let loose in a flock of sheep, his presence overwhelming, his Killing Intent surging to the heavens.

Starry Night!

Star Destruction!

Eight-direction Wind and Rain!

Four Symbols and Eight Trigrams!

The moment he appeared among the Noble Family disciples, Jiang Jichen recklessly unleashed a torrent of Sword Light, using his most powerful Group Attack Sword Techniques one after another.

Protected only by the Ancient Medicine Cauldron, the Blood-Red Battle Armor, and the bloody mist, he attacked with utter abandon, his only thought to slay as many enemies as possible in the shortest amount of time.

SLICE! SLICE!

One person after another was cut down, sending flesh and blood flying as heads rolled across the ground.

Even Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Perfection Realm were instantly wounded when struck by Jiang Jichen’s incomparably fierce Sword Qi.

But these Noble Family disciples also reacted with incredible speed, launching a flurry of counterattacks at Jiang Jichen.

In an instant, Jiang Jichen was drenched in blood. Dozens of wounds opened up across his body, a truly gruesome sight.

But he paid it no mind. His will to fight only blazed hotter, his aura surging ever stronger as the Red Copper Rust Sword in his hand danced with unstoppable fury.

"FIGHT!"

Jiang Jichen roared, his eyes bloodshot, and with a sweep of his sword, he lopped off the head of a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator.