"Hm?"
The old Daoist seated cross-legged on the flying boat suddenly felt his eyelids twitch. A strong sense of foreboding surged in his heart, instantly putting him on alert. After all, after this secluded cultivation and breaking through to the Ninth Level of the Human Emperor Realm, there were very few people left who could threaten him.
That sudden unease made him extremely uncomfortable. Still, he pressed his large hand downward and said indifferently,
"In the Donglin Sect, the only one who could threaten me would be the saint. And that saint is already nearing the end of his lifespan, with no time to appear. Who else could possibly threaten me?"
"Zheng!"
A talisman paper shattered in Jiang Chen's hand.
"What's that?"
"What…?"
"Talisman paper…!"
The Human Emperor of the Zhenwu Sect,
The Human Emperor of the Tianji Sect,
The Human Emperor of the Shenxing Sect,
These sharp-eyed experts instantly locked onto the talisman in Jiang Chen's hand. Unfortunately, before they could examine it more closely, it had already been crushed.
Boom!
A surging sword intent swept out. Behind Jiang Chen, a vast and indistinct figure condensed, transforming from illusion to reality in an instant. Facing the suppressed giant palm, the phantom merely sent out a ripple, easily shattering it.
"Hm?"
"Hm!"
Voices of shock and confusion rang out. When they finally saw the figure clearly, everyone froze before exclaiming in surprise:
"It's Chu Xun! That talisman belongs to him!"
The Human Emperor of the Tianji Sect looked strange. He had thought Jiang Chen possessed some powerful treasure, but now that the truth was revealed, it seemed there was nothing to fear.
"I thought this kid had something to rely on, turns out it's just him," the Human Emperor of the Zhenwu Sect muttered. His gaze was indifferent. No matter how strong Chu Xun was, this was only a phantom, after all, its power had limits.
"Hmph!"
"So that's who it is!"
"Just a rat hiding in the shadows!"
The senior Human Emperor entrenched on the Immortal Dao Sect's flying boat sneered coldly.
"Even if the real master behind this talisman came in person, I could suppress him with one hand. Thinking you can scare me with a mere phantom is pure fantasy!"
"Really?"
The phantom behind Jiang Chen, Chu Xun, looked calm and gentle. He casually moved, and the Taixuan Sword appeared in his hand. With a single slash,
A sword light spanning thousands of miles tore through the void, cleaving through the abyss itself.
"Hiss!"
The old monster on the Immortal Dao Sect's flying boat felt his pupils shrink violently. His white hair flew wildly as he stared at the backlit sword glow in horror. Even the other cultivators aboard the flying boat felt as small as ants beneath this strike.
"This sword…!"
The old monster began trembling uncontrollably. Fear surged through his heart. He had already reached the Ninth Level of the Human Emperor Realm, yet this was only power sealed within a talisman!
Buzz buzz buzz buzz buzz,
The formation on the flying boat activated first. Golden divine feathers condensed one by one, hanging on both sides of the vessel, evolving into a massive golden feather formation, a grand array created by Immortal Dao Sect ancestors based on divine birds.
However,
Crack!
In less than a breath, the sword light grew even more brilliant, stretching over thirty thousand miles, rivaling the radiance of the heavens themselves. Flying boats, formations, powerful cultivators, before this sword, all were as insignificant as dust.
"Roar!"
The old monster on the flying boat formed seals rapidly, erupting with boundless divine power. He unleashed palms that covered the sky, slamming toward the sword light in an attempt to block it.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Dull explosions filled the sky. Then, silence.
Countless eyes stared in shock.
Dust and smoke billowed.
Flames roared.
Fragments of the flying boat scattered through the air.
The cultivators watching from below trembled in fear. That was a Ninth-Realm Human Emperor of the Immortal Dao Sect, backed by a flying boat formation. And yet the result was so miserable. What about the people aboard?
The Human Emperor of the Goddess Sect breathed rapidly, her beautiful eyes fixed on the explosion. A premonition rose in her heart, the old monster of the Immortal Dao Sect might truly perish here.
The flames faded.
The dust settled.
"Ahem…"
A weak cough rang out. The Human Emperor of the Zhenwu Sect let out a breath.
"Not dead."
But when the scene became clear, everyone was stunned.
The old monster of the Immortal Dao Sect had lost all his former prestige. Sword intent riddled his body. The embers of life flickered in his pupils. Even if he survived, he would not live long in this state.
"Sha… sha…"
When he opened his mouth, sword energy spilled out. His eyes were filled with despair and unwillingness. He had just broken through to the Ninth Realm, standing at the pinnacle of the Eastern Region, yet he was slain on his very first outing.
If he had been defeated head-on, he could have accepted it. But this was merely a talisman, controlled by a junior, and it had killed him.
Unwillingness exploded from his chest as he roared,
"I refuse!"
Boom!
The remaining sword intent burst forth from within him, blooming into tens of thousands of sword lights that illuminated the heavens.
Puff!
The old monster, and the flying boat, were reduced to ashes.
Hiss,
Deathly silence fell.
All eyes turned to Jiang Chen, filled with deep fear, fear of Chu Xun.
The Human Emperor of the Goddess Sect's pupils shrank. It had only been a few months ago that Chu Xun was still below the Ninth Realm, barely able to protect himself even while wielding a holy sword.
And now, separated by thousands of miles, a single talisman containing part of his power could kill a Ninth-Realm Human Emperor, even under the protection of a flying boat.
Without that flying boat, would the old monster of the Immortal Dao Sect have been annihilated instantly, without even a scream?
"Terrifying…"
"A monster…"
"Is this simply late blooming after long accumulation?"
The Six Holy Lands were shaken to the core. While waiting for the opening of the Yin Ruins, such a shocking event had occurred, a supreme giant of the Ninth Realm had fallen.
"Master!"
Ye Chen panicked.
Today, he had acted arrogantly everywhere, trampling geniuses at will. Saint sons and saint maidens meant nothing to him because he had his master backing him. That old monster, his Immortal Dao Sect master, was the reason for his confidence.
And now,
Beheaded.
The cause was clear.
If he had not provoked Jiang Chen of the Donglin Sect, none of this would have happened. Even if the Immortal Dao Sect's leader did not immediately investigate, his future resources would surely be cut off. And after such a catastrophe, could the Immortal Dao Sect truly let it go?
He was finished.
His face turned deathly pale. Not only had his backing disappeared, but he also sensed killing intent gathering around him.
"Hmph!"
Cold murderous intent flashed in Jiang Chen's eyes. Earlier, he had refrained from acting after a failed strike, it had been out of respect. Now that the Immortal Dao Sect's backing was gone, suppressing Ye Chen would be best.
Zheng!
No longer sitting cross-legged, he stood upright. The Taixuan Sword blazed in his hand, transforming into a stream of light,
And he charged forward to kill.