Chapter 44: Chapter 42: A Tide of Raging Beasts

BOOM!

Spirit Pattern Seals, Ultimate Killing Sword Qi, and Spiritual Power Palm Seals—these terrifying attacks descended simultaneously, erupting in a brilliant radiance that illuminated the world around them.

Among these attacks, Hex Feng’s Spirit Pattern Seal was the most terrifying and powerful. The Sword Qi was also incredibly sharp. Although the Spiritual Power Palm Seal wasn’t as strong, its insidious energy could silently penetrate defensive light barriers, making it extremely dangerous as well.

However, when the light faded and silence fell upon the world, the protective shield formed by the golden Sword Shadows remained intact. Though the golden light had dimmed, it had withstood the combined attack of Hex Feng and the others.

This scene shocked everyone, but the shock didn’t end there.

The Sword Shadows of the Eight-direction Wind and Rain were layered and unending. Like rain carried on the wind, they fell in all directions, striking at the crowd from everywhere.

At that moment, the Sword Shadows finally landed on them.

PFFT! PFFT! PFFT...

With the exception of Hex Feng and the Flower Rain Sect’s senior sister, the four black-robed Swordsmen were instantly pierced by countless Sword Shadows. The wounds were minuscule, as if they had been penetrated by innumerable raindrops. They died in an instant, their bodies falling as cold corpses.

Hex Feng and the Flower Rain Sect’s senior sister were, after all, Innate Realm Cultivators with a Spiritual Pattern Defense Dao. They finally managed to block the attack of the Eight-direction Wind and Rain Sword Shadows, but the light of the Spiritual Patterns on their bodies had dimmed and threatened to shatter at any moment.

"Such a terrifying attack! This is a true Ancient Sword Technique!"

"’Eight-direction Wind and Rain, Earth and Heaven Shaking, in this world of red dust, I am the master...’ Heavens, that’s the Ancient Attack and Defense Sword Skill! To think he knows such a terrifying Sword Skill... Jiang Jichen is too much of a monster."

"I never expected this outcome. However, a Sword Skill like this requires a corresponding Realm to activate. Jiang Jichen forced it. Once the effects of his Sealing Spirit Escape Technique wear off, he’ll likely perish completely. No one can withstand the backlash of forcibly using the Ancient Attack and Defense Sword Skill."

...

Many cried out in shock, never imagining such a result.

But they also felt that Jiang Jichen had truly put his life on the line. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have forcibly activated such a terrifying attack and defense Sword Skill. The final outcome, however, was unlikely to change. Even if Jiang Jichen escaped now, he was doomed to perish completely. No one else would even need to act.

Just as the crowd had said, Jiang Jichen had indeed forced himself to use a form of the Ancient Attack and Defense Sword Skill. His body trembled, and fine cracks appeared on his skin. His face was pale, the golden light around him had dimmed, and he was in a terrible state.

However, Jiang Jichen paid it no mind. He continued forward, sword in hand, and aimed another Sword Technique at Hex Feng.

"One Sword Life-taking Technique!"

He merely pointed his sword, not yet truly striking, but Hex Feng already felt the threat of death loom over him.

’This Sword Skill? Is he trying to trade his life for mine? To take me down with him?’

A look of terror finally appeared on Hex Feng’s face. The previous Sword Skill had been a group attack, annihilating the four young Sword Dao experts cleanly and decisively. It was powerful and shocking.

But this current sword move was a single-target, surefire killing Sword Skill. Its killing intent was completely locked onto him, ignoring all other attacks, vowing to cut him down.

Hex Feng was certain that if Jiang Jichen actually struck with that sword, he would die without a doubt, but Hex Feng himself would likely be taken down with him.

’But Jiang Jichen is already a dead man walking. I, on the other hand, have a great future ahead of me. How could I possibly let him take me with him?’

Therefore, with almost no hesitation, Hex Feng retreated at his top speed, getting away from Jiang Jichen. He absolutely could not let him unleash this life-or-death strike.

"I, Hex Feng, am a legacy disciple of the Mountain Sect! My status is a hundred, a thousand times more noble than yours! Jiang Jichen, you want me to die with you? I won’t let you succeed!"

Hex Feng shouted as he fled, not daring to face Jiang Jichen head-on.

The onlookers were left speechless. They never thought Hex Feng would be forced to flee for his life by a single sword move from Jiang Jichen.

Seeing that Hex Feng had already fled, the senior sister from the Flower Rain Sect dared not remain to face Jiang Jichen alone. She retreated quickly, her voice a coquettish coo, "Little brother Jiang Jichen, your style truly makes my heart flutter. It’s just a pity that it’s a fleeting moment of brilliance, gone in a flash... If you die, I will feel such a shame!"

In that moment, not a single young Cultivator dared to stand in Jiang Jichen’s way.

The vigor of youth, a future as vast as the horizon. With a sword in his hand, he swept aside all his peers.

Jiang Jichen strode forward, heading out of the valley. Han Qing followed closely behind him, carrying Zhang Xiaoyu and pulling Little Yue’Er along.

He was exhausted now. Overdrawing on his potential, forcibly activating a Secret Skill and an Ancient Sword Technique—either one was enough to make Jiang Jichen’s body collapse and shatter.

And yet, his gaze remained sharp, holding an unyielding resolve within.

An invincible aura, a fearless conviction. He let out a wild laugh. "Is there really no one who dares to cross swords with me? You’re all just a bunch of trash, only knowing how to use despicable tricks and attack a child without mercy. I’ve marked your lives for death, and no one can stop me from killing you!"

Jiang Jichen’s voice was ice-cold. His gaze fell upon Hex Feng and the senior sister from the Mountain Rain Sect, then swept over all the disciples from the other Sects who had come to kill him. Everyone’s expression changed, a chill seeping into their hearts.

A boy who was the enemy of all their Sects, someone who should be fleeing for his life from their pursuit, was now threatening them instead?

However, no one thought Jiang Jichen was joking. The retreating Hex Feng and the senior sister from the Flower Rain Sect, in particular, had their faces darken, almost unable to resist the urge to charge back and kill him.

But in the end, they didn’t. This premeditated ambush... Jiang Jichen had actually managed to fight his way out of it.

Even if Jiang Jichen ultimately died from forcibly using the Secret Technique and the Ancient Sword Technique, the various Sects of the Celestial Pearl Country would inevitably become a laughingstock.

"Kill us? You can talk after you manage to survive!"

Hex Feng shouted with a cold sneer from a distance.

The crowd also felt that Jiang Jichen would not escape death in the end. A threat like this was no different from an empty boast. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Jiang Jichen didn’t stop walking. As he led Han Qing, Little Yue’Er, and the others out of the valley, his indifferent voice rang out, "Since I’ve said I will kill you, then until you are dead, no one will be able to kill me!"

Hearing Jiang Jichen’s arrogant and ignorant words, Hex Feng and the others laughed in fury. Just as they were about to retort, the ground suddenly began to shake.

RUMBLE...

Many lost their footing and were nearly thrown to the ground by the tremors.

"What’s happening?"

Everyone’s expression changed as they cried out in alarm. But those standing on the mountain peaks had turned deathly pale, as if they had just witnessed the most terrifying sight.

"A Spirit Beast stampede! How could one possibly appear on the outskirts of the Moonlight Forest?"

Standing atop the mountain, Murong Qingshu and the others cried out in disbelief.

They could only see that in the direction leading from the foot of the mountain toward the center of the Moonlight Forest, tens of thousands of powerful Spirit Beasts were surging toward them like a primordial torrent. Everything in their path, even the ancient trees, was utterly destroyed.

At this moment, even an expert at the Innate Fourth Realm would be instantly crushed if they dared to stand in the stampede’s path.

And all around—in and out of the valley, on the peaks and below—were only young Spirit Cultivators. Faced with such a Spirit Beast stampede, they probably wouldn’t even have a chance to escape with their lives.

SPLAT...

While everyone was still stunned, Spirit Beasts had already charged into the valley. The disciples from the various Sects who couldn’t get out in time were instantly trampled into a bloody pulp.