Myriad Daos of the Heaven

Jiang Jichen and Jiang Ling’Er felt a jolt, and then they found themselves in the middle of the dried-up Blood Pool.

A mere two double-hours had passed from the time they entered the Ice Dragon Valley’s treasure land to when they reappeared.

Today was also the final day before the Ice Dragon Valley closed. If Jiang Jichen and his companion didn’t come out within a few more double-hours, the people sitting around the Blood Pool would have had to leave.

Otherwise, the Trapped Dragon Array would awaken and annihilate everyone present.

The moment Jiang Jichen and Jiang Ling’Er appeared, Huang Chuang bellowed, "You little bastard, die!"

The other powerhouses attacked as well.

Elder Liu of the Mountain Sect, the genius Elder of the Five Spirits Sect, Murong Hai, the Xiao Family Elder, the old poison master from the Golden Snake Sect—all those surrounding the Blood Pool held nothing back. They simultaneously unleashed their prepared attacks, blasting them toward the two in the Blood Pool.

Only Ding Xiaodao, the young man from the Ancient Saber Family, watched from a distance and sighed.

A combined strike from these individuals could instantly kill even a powerhouse at the Innate Fifth Layer Perfection Realm, to say nothing of Jiang Jichen and Jiang Ling’Er.

No matter how strong Ding Xiaodao was, he was powerless to help; he could not save the two of them!

The other onlooking Spirit Cultivators from the various sects and Noble Families also thought Jiang Jichen was doomed this time, with absolutely no chance of survival.

But just then, the phantom of a Sword Aura shot toward the sky. All the incoming attacks disintegrated upon coming within a meter of it, unable to advance another inch.

Jiang Jichen held Jiang Ling’Er with one hand, while a Little Wooden Sword floated above the palm of his other.

This wooden sword was as long and wide as a finger. It was simple and unadorned, with crude workmanship, looking utterly ordinary.

But above it, the phantom of a Sword Aura ebbed and flowed, ready to unleash a world-shaking strike at any moment.

At that moment, everyone felt that Sword Intent. They felt the intent of a Celestial Sword, as if it could bring down the heavens.

They all stopped their attacks, not daring to move an inch. They feared that with the slightest stir, the phantom Sword Aura would strike down, and their Divine Souls would be utterly annihilated.

In the distance, Ding Xiaodao’s eyes narrowed. The ancient, simple greatsword on his back actually began to ring with a CLANG, as if wanting to be drawn from its sheath.

’The aura of a Celestial Sword... a sword of the Heavenly Sword Alliance. So that’s it!’

Ding Xiaodao slapped the ancient greatsword on his back, and only then did it fall silent.

But the hearts of the powerhouses surrounding the Blood Pool could not find peace. Cold sweat instantly soaked their robes.

"The aura of a Celestial Sword... How does that kid have a Forbidden Artifact from the Heavenly Sword Alliance?"

"This Little Wooden Sword, a Forbidden Artifact, can kill any powerhouse below the Innate Sixth Layer Realm once activated. This..."

"However, a Forbidden Artifact can only be activated once. We might still have a chance!"

...

The various powerhouses gathered around the dried-up Blood Pool each had their own thoughts.

But they were all incredibly wary of the Little Wooden Sword. They desperately wanted to turn and flee, yet they were unwilling to give up.

Jiang Jichen had just come from the treasure land in Ice Dragon Valley; he surely carried numerous Supreme Treasures, not to mention the Ice Dragon Flower. These were enough to make them risk their lives.

Just then, Jiang Ling’Er, still in the Blood Pool, let out a sigh of relief. She said to Jiang Jichen, a little embarrassed, "Chen’Er, um... your aunt got a bit carried away this time. I promise it won’t happen again!"

Jiang Jichen pulled her behind him and said, "It’s fine. We had to come out and face them sooner or later. But now that I have a Forbidden Artifact in hand, I wonder who is willing to step up and die?"

Jiang Jichen swept his gaze across the crowd, his eyes filled with cold, killing intent.

"Jiang Jichen, hand over the Supreme Treasure and the Ice Dragon Flower, and we can let you leave."

Huang Chuang stood in the distance, his face pale, and stared hatefully at Jiang Jichen as he spoke.

Jiang Jichen gave a cold smile. "Sorry, I don’t have the Supreme Treasure you mentioned. As for the Ice Dragon Flower, I’ve already eaten it. If you want to take it, all I have to offer is my life. But if you want my life, I’m afraid quite a few of you will have to be buried with me!"

Elder Liu of the Mountain Sect’s eyes flickered, his expression finally turning incredibly ugly. "He really consumed the Ice Dragon Flower? Damn it! But there must be treasures in that place even more precious than the Ice Dragon Flower. You’d better hand them over."

Hearing that Jiang Jichen had truly consumed the Ice Dragon Flower all by himself, everyone’s expression changed.

But then someone asked, "The medicinal power of the Ice Dragon Flower is incredibly potent. How could Jiang Jichen possibly have refined it completely in just two hours?"

"I see it now. The two of them split the Ice Dragon Flower. But its medicinal power won’t dissipate for another ten double-hours. We just need to throw them into a pill furnace, and we can refine out seventy percent of the Ice Dragon Flower’s medicinal power. Heh, who is willing to cooperate with this old man? Capture these two, and I only need ten percent of the medicinal power!"

A sinister voice, belonging to an old Pharmacist, piped up.

The crowd was tempted, but wary of the Little Wooden Sword Forbidden Artifact in Jiang Jichen’s hand, no one dared to make a move for the moment.

Watching the eager powerhouses, Jiang Jichen’s heart sank.

He didn’t want to use the Forbidden Weapon Sword. This Little Wooden Sword could heavily injure any powerhouse below the Innate Seventh Layer Realm, and he didn’t want to waste it here.

Besides, once he used the Little Wooden Sword Forbidden Artifact, he would be a sitting duck, just waiting for death!

With a turn of his Divine Thought, he suddenly spoke, "Truthfully, Supreme Treasures should be fought for based on strength. If any Spirit Cultivator at the Mid-stage Innate Fourth Realm or above attacks me, I will be forced to use the Forbidden Weapon Sword. However, if I’m only facing Spirit Cultivators below the Mid-stage Innate Fourth Realm, I will naturally refrain from using it. Therefore, I propose this: if the Spirit Cultivators at the Mid-stage Innate Fourth Realm and above agree not to attack, you will all leave the Ice Dragon Valley now. In return, I will put away the Forbidden Weapon Sword and remain here alone. The Supreme Treasure is, of course, on my person. Whether the rest of you can take it will depend on your own abilities!"

Hearing Jiang Jichen’s words, many people began to laugh coldly. "Without the Forbidden Weapon Sword, any Mid-stage Innate Third Layer powerhouse could easily erase him, to say nothing of the several formidable figures at the Early Stage of Innate Fourth Realm here."

"He doesn’t know life from death. He’s digging his own grave!"

someone commented on Jiang Jichen’s actions.

However, someone else asked, "And how can we be sure you won’t use the Forbidden Weapon Sword?"

Jiang Jichen replied calmly, "I will have Jiang Ling’Er take the Forbidden Weapon Sword out of the Ice Dragon Valley with her. Of course, she will give me her Storage Bag!"

Jiang Ling’Er started to speak, but Jiang Jichen stopped her, giving her a look that told her to trust him.

Jiang Jichen’s gaze then swept over Huang Chuang, Murong Hai, Elder Liu of the Mountain Sect, and the other Spirit Cultivator powerhouses at or above the Mid-stage Innate Fourth Realm, silently awaiting their response.

"A fight for the Supreme Treasure based on one’s own ability... very fair. Fine, we will withdraw from the Ice Dragon Valley!"

Elder Liu of the Mountain Sect spoke calmly and sent a meaningful look toward a Mountain Sect Elder in the distance who was at the Initial Stage of Innate Fourth Realm.

Murong Hai, the genius Elder of the Five Spirits Sect, the old poison master of the Golden Snake Sect, and the others also nodded. Not much time was left, and they could not delay any longer.

Continuing this standoff would benefit no one.

But at that moment, a majestic voice suddenly echoed from the void: "All those with an Innate Fourth Realm cultivation must leave the Ice Dragon Valley. The battlefield is to be left for those below the Innate Fourth Realm. Withdraw immediately. There shall be no delays!"

The Minor Grandmaster from the Heavenly Sword Alliance had spoken. In the end, even Huang Chuang had no choice but to retreat, though he was extremely unwilling.

Some people at the Initial Stage of Innate Fourth Realm had thought they would be able to stay and that the Supreme Treasure would surely be theirs. But now, because of a single sentence from the Heavenly Sword Alliance’s Minor Grandmaster, they were forced to retreat.

Jiang Ling’Er also left the Ice Dragon Valley, taking the Forbidden Weapon Sword with her.

And so, the final three double-hours in Ice Dragon Valley became a battlefield for all Cultivators below the Innate Fourth Realm.

But it was clear that Jiang Jichen was the enemy of all.

He alone had to fight a hundred, even a thousand, enemies.

He had no path of retreat. There was only the fight. To live, or to die...