Heaven-Surpassing Divine Emperor

"Anyone who dares touch it will be killed without mercy!"

The middle-aged man holding the large silver bow had a gaunt face with sunken cheekbones, like a cold, venomous snake lurking in the shadows.

This was none other than Gongsun Yang, a True Martial Realm powerhouse from the Qinghuo Gang!

He hadn’t come to participate in the Celestial Demon Ancient Realm hunt, but rather to secretly follow Zhao Ritian and protect him.

Too bad...

Half a month ago, Zhao Ritian had taken advantage of a moment of carelessness from Gongsun Yang, sneaking away with a few dozen of his men, never to be seen again.

Only then was Gongsun Yang assigned by Zhao Qiankun to hunt for Zhao Ritian’s killer!

His cold gaze fell upon the corpse of the Black Cloud Demon Bear, and a hint of a smile touched Gongsun Yang’s face. ’The Young Master ordered me to find the Second Young Master’s killer. My lack of results has already made him very unhappy. If I bring back the corpse of this Black Cloud Demon Bear, it should be enough to atone for my failure...’

He had nearly worried himself sick trying to find Zhao Ritian’s killer these past few days.

He happened to be passing through Black Cloud Valley today when the fierce battle attracted his attention. Upon investigating, he found the severely wounded Black Cloud Demon Bear attempting a pathetic escape and promptly shot it down!

As for Jiang Chen and the Yulan Tianpeng?

He paid them no mind whatsoever!

In his mind, the only one capable of severely injuring the Black Cloud Demon Bear had to be the Yulan Tianpeng, which was at the True Martial Realm. Now that he had wounded it with a single arrow, its life was hanging by a thread, and it posed no threat at all.

As for Jiang Chen, a mere youth at the Martial Arts Ninth Stage, he was just a bit stronger than an ant in his eyes!

Martial Artists with that level of cultivation were a dime a dozen in the Qinghuo Gang; they weren’t even worthy of a second glance from him!

Gongsun Yang slowly descended to the ground and strolled forward with the casual air of someone taking a walk in their own garden.

Catching sight of Jiang Chen stuffing a Healing Elixir into the Yulan Tianpeng’s mouth, he sneered with cold disdain. "You dare to covet something that I, the great Gongsun Yang, have my eye on? Not ending your pathetic life with that arrow was me showing mercy!"

Before the words had even left his mouth, Gongsun Yang was already in front of the Black Cloud Demon Bear, reaching out to grab the corpse from a distance.

’Once I get this Black Cloud Demon Bear back, I’ll be able to redeem myself. The Young Master won’t hold the Second Young Master’s death against me then!’ An excited smile spread across Gongsun Yang’s face as he watched the Black Cloud Demon Bear’s corpse fly toward him.

This was a genuine Tier Two Demon Beast. Even with his cultivation at the True Martial Realm Second Stage, Gongsun Yang wouldn’t have dared to provoke a Black Cloud Demon Bear under normal circumstances.

Yet now he had killed this Tier Two Demon Beast without lifting a finger. How could he not be ecstatic?

More importantly...

The Essence Blood of a single Black Cloud Demon Bear was worth enough to trade for two or three entry spots into the Celestial Demon Ancient Realm.

Even a single entry spot was enough to make the major powers fight tooth and nail. Bringing back two or three for the Qinghuo Gang would be more than enough to atone for his failure to protect Zhao Ritian. He might even please Zhao Qiankun and receive a hefty reward!

However...

Just as Gongsun Yang was about to touch the Black Cloud Demon Bear, a streak of sword light shot out from the side.

The sword light was like a thunderbolt. The Sword Qi blazed through the air, creating a rumbling BOOM as it shot past Gongsun Yang’s temple. The sharp Sword Qi severed a lock of his hair, which drifted before his eyes as the streak of light slammed viciously into the Black Cloud Demon Bear’s corpse.

BOOM!

A terrifying ball of energy erupted on the Black Cloud Demon Bear’s chest, sending the corpse flying more than ten meters away before it crashed to the ground.

WHOOSH—

A cold wind gusted past, catching the severed lock of hair and carrying it fluttering to the ground.

Gongsun Yang’s expression instantly turned frigid. A cold light flashed in his eyes, his gaze so glacial it could have frozen the air itself. The corner of his eye twitched as he snapped his head around, his vicious glare fixed on the direction the sword light had come from.

When he saw Jiang Chen standing there, sword in one hand, staring back at him with a cold, indifferent expression, the frost in Gongsun Yang’s eyes intensified. He snarled, his killing intent flaring. "Brat, you’re courting death!"

"You’re the one who’s courting death!"

A cold glint flickered in Jiang Chen’s eyes. The Cyan Blade Sword in his hand hummed and vibrated, Sword Qi pulsing at its tip as he met Gongsun Yang’s gaze without a shred of fear!

’Zhao Ritian wanted to kill me, and I cut him down with a single strike!’

’This Gongsun Yang not only tried to steal my prize, but he’s also ruthless. If the Yulan Tianpeng hadn’t thrown itself in the way to save me, I’d be the one on death’s door right now!’

’This was a grudge as irreconcilable as fire and water!’

Gongsun Yang laughed, his fury mounting and the killing intent on his face thickening. "Brat, do you have any idea who I am? I am Elder Gongsun Yang of the Qinghuo Gang, a mighty True Martial Realm powerhouse. To think you’d dare to ambush me... you’re truly ignorant of your own insignificance. You’re digging your own grave!"

"So you’re just some Qinghuo Gang trash. No wonder you act so despicably," Jiang Chen sneered.

"Brat, you dare to speak ill of the Qinghuo Gang? I’ll cripple your cultivation and throw you into the Ten Thousand Snakes Cave to die in the agony of a thousand bites!" Gongsun Yang’s face was a mask of cold fury, his low voice grating like a broken gong.

"Cripple my cultivation? You think you’re worthy?"

But Jiang Chen just tilted his head back and laughed coldly, then swept his sword through the air with a piercing SWISH.

It was the Thunderbolt Technique from the Aurora Sword Technique, as fast as a thunderbolt and as swift as lightning.

"Petty tricks! Break for me!"

The corner of Gongsun Yang’s mouth curled into a contemptuous sneer as he waved a dismissive hand.

Cyan True Essence pulsed in his palm, coalescing into a single drop of azure water that hovered before him. Ripples then spread from the droplet, forming a cyan True Essence Light Shield.

HUMMM—

The sharp sword struck the True Essence Light Shield, sending ripples spreading across its surface, but it failed to break through the defense.

Gongsun Yang smiled coldly, looking down on Jiang Chen as a supreme sovereign might gaze upon an ant. "Brat," he said haughtily, "give yourself another ten or twenty years to cultivate, and you might stand a chance against me. But right now? With your pitiful strength, you’re not even worthy of making me draw my weapon."

"Now, do you still think I’m not worthy of crippling your cultivation?"

Gongsun Yang leaned forward slightly as he asked.

Jiang Chen just smiled coldly and shook his head, his gaze clear and resolute. "Unworthy. You are not worthy!"

"Hahaha, stubborn to the very end! Congratulations, brat, you have thoroughly stoked my fury!" Gongsun Yang was incandescent with rage, his face and neck flushing a deep crimson. It was as if his anger had become a raging fire shooting from his eyes. "Brat, as a reward for successfully enraging me, I’ll make an exception and allow you the honor of dying by my Combat Weapon!"

HUM!

A silver light pulsed between his fingers, revealing a silver arrow.

This arrow was a Yellow Tier Middle Level Battle Weapon. Not only was it nigh-indestructible, but it was also inscribed with dozens of Destruction Runes. The runes would activate upon impact, triggering a terrifying explosion.

CLICK!

Gongsun Yang nocked the arrow. His large silver bow was a Yellow Tier Advanced War Weapon, its string fashioned from the sinew of a Tier One High-level Demon Beast. He drew the string taut, then abruptly released his fingers. TWANG! A deafening report echoed from the great bow as the silver arrow shot forth with a sharp WHOOSH.

The shot was like a startling clap of thunder!

As the arrow flew, it was as if the world lost its color. The projectile spun rapidly through the air, a furious gale erupting from its tip.

By the time it neared Jiang Chen, the gale surrounding the arrow had expanded to ten meters in diameter, leaving a tail over one hundred and fifty meters long. A massive trench was torn into the earth in its wake, and the surrounding flora was shredded to pieces, leaving utter devastation behind.

BOOM—

The arrow struck the spot where Jiang Chen had been standing and detonated. A blinding, silver sphere of light expanded rapidly before suddenly contracting and vanishing. A fierce gust of wind swept out from the blast zone. When the swirling dust finally settled, a crater three meters deep and over twenty meters in diameter was left in the ground.

But there was no trace of Jiang Chen anywhere!

A smug sneer spread across Gongsun Yang’s face. "You reckless little bastard," he said lightly. "Killing you was as easy as reaching into a bag to grab something. How dare you act so arrogant before me? You were truly digging your own grave! Heh heh heh... Go on, be arrogant now! Tell me again how I’m not worthy!"

However...

Gongsun Yang had barely finished speaking when a calm, placid voice sounded from directly behind him: "You are not worthy."