Chapter 241: Chapter 199 Withdraw quickly, or Zhang Jian will be executed! [Vote for monthly tickets!]_2
"The Saber Technique is indeed extraordinary, more formidable than Wei Hong of the Golden Wild Goose Sect back in the day."
Chen Jichuan watched Zhang Jian’s two battles and had already seen through his saber technique.
Although this man’s skill with the saber could not rank among the top in the Great Hui World, it was nonetheless exceptional—certainly stronger than Wei Hong, who once bore the title of ’One Strike City.’
"The present surpasses the past."
"After slumbering for six hundred years, these younger generations have already surpassed me."
Wang Yan held her sword, reminiscing about the earlier fierce duel, a trace of lament in her tone.
"Now is an era of martial arts flourishing, and there are plenty of people stronger than Zhang Jian."
"If we can seize the opportunity, perhaps we might achieve the rank of Supreme."
Chen Jichuan said to Wang Yan.
"Supreme—"
Wang Yan pursed her lips into a faint smile, her bright eyes flickering as she gazed at Junior Master.
In her heart, she knew full well that she probably had no more than thirty to fifty years of life left. Yet she was merely at the early Void Nether stage. To reach mid-stage, late-stage, peak, and ultimately attain the Supreme level in such a short time was nothing short of wishful thinking.
Even in an era of martial arts greatness, the hope was exceedingly slim.
"First focus diligently, and train with peace of mind. If you encounter any doubts, feel free to ask me." Chen Jichuan understood how slim the hope was, but with thirty to fifty years ahead, one couldn’t help but try.
He sought to calm Wang Yan’s mind for cultivation.
Watching as Li Qingshan rose to his feet from beside them, Chen Jichuan chuckled and said, "Senior Brother, are you going to spar again with Zhang Jian?"
"Alright!"
Li Qingshan had precisely this intent.
With a leap, he once again entered the battlefield.
...
"What’s going on?"
"Why is Li Qingshan stepping up again?"
"Can this even be allowed?!"
As Li Qingshan stepped forth to battle once more, the cultivators gathered on the northern bank of the Beiyin River were left dumbfounded.
They had originally thought that after Li Qingshan and Wang Yan were defeated, the next to step up would naturally be the last fighter—most likely ’Seven-star Sword Saint’ Wang Shan, reputed as the strongest among the Revival Three Ancestors of the Taixu Sword Sect.
Anticipation had been building for this moment.
But unexpectedly, after Wang Yan’s defeat, it was Li Qingshan stepping forward again.
With Wang Shan holding the line, ready to intervene at critical moments with a Flying Sword to save lives, Li Qingshan, Wang Yan, as well as Wang Tuan and Sun Zhenshan could take turns fighting, couldn’t they?
In that case, when would this battle at the Beiyin River ever conclude?!
"Shameless!"
"A defeated fighter stepping up again to embarrass themselves?"
Zhang Jian sprang forth from the water for the third time, his fury now written all over his face. He didn’t bother to mask it. Ignoring Li Qingshan entirely, his eyes locked angrily onto Chen Jichuan as he growled, "Even if I acknowledge you as the Taixu Three Ancestors from eight centuries ago, Wang Shan, since you are known as the ’Seven-star Sword Saint,’ do you dare face me, Zhang, in a battle?!"
"Annoying."
Chen Jichuan shook his head, unwilling to entertain Zhang Jian. Instead, he simply said to Li Qingshan, "Senior Brother, begin."
"This is bullying beyond reason!"
Zhang Jian’s face flushed crimson upon hearing this. As the so-called ’Night Shura,’ how could he suffer such humiliation? He knew all too clearly that, after three consecutive battles, his condition had significantly declined. Facing Li Qingshan again wouldn’t be an easy victory. Even if he managed to win, with Chen Jichuan waiting on the sidelines, it would be nearly impossible to kill Li Qingshan.
It would all be in vain.
No matter what, Chen Jichuan had to die first.
Zhang Jian’s mind was clear on his priorities. As Li Qingshan thrusted his spear and charged, Zhang was just about to retreat from the engagement.
But at that moment—
Four shadows leapt forth, simultaneously challenging Chen Jichuan, Wang Yan, Wang Tuan, and Sun Zhenshan.
"Do you dare to fight?!"
The booming voice shook the surroundings.
The gathered Jianghu onlookers became instantly excited upon seeing this.
"’Tuota Hand’ Meng Qi of the Taiyang Temple!"
"’Phantom Gun’ Yan Shidao of the Spring Silkworm Sect!"
"’Iron Pen Master’ Zhangsun Chongyang of the Golden Wild Goose Sect!"
"’Yellow Face Venerable’ Dong Changlai of the Five Cloud Sect!"
"Ha! Four powerful Void Nether experts issuing challenges—along with ’Night Shura’ Zhang Jian, this makes ten Void Nether experts battling in pairs. Truly a rare spectacle, unseen for a hundred years!"
"What a brilliant move from the Six Great Sects!"
"With that man overseeing from the sidelines, even if the Six Great Sects emerge victorious, it will scarcely matter. But if they can draw him into the battle, he’ll have no energy left to protect others!"
"After all, the Taixu Sword Sect has only two Void Nether experts. Even with the addition of three more fighters, they still can’t compare to the Six Great Sects."
"What a cunning strategy!"
...
The crowd quickly discerned the intentions of the Six Great Sects and turned their eyes toward the southern bank of the Beiyin River. All gazes converged on Chen Jichuan, who had rescued others three times, awaiting his response.
If he joined the battle, he’d be unable to rescue anyone else. The Taixu Sword Sect would inevitably face casualties.
If he refused, the four Void Nether experts, led by Tuota Hand, might very well join forces with Zhang Jian to surround and kill Li Qingshan first.
The Six Great Sects were numerous and brimming with experts.
The right to dictate the rules lay firmly in their hands. The agreement for the Beiyin River battle was nothing more than a ruse to boil the frog slowly, reducing their own losses as much as possible while taking down the Taixu Sword Sect.
But the sudden appearance of the self-proclaimed Taixu Three Ancestors—three Void Nether experts—had thrown their plans into disarray. The Six Great Sects had no choice but to abandon their initial one-on-one strategy.
"Patriarch."
"Zhang Jian is exhausted. Why not let this disciple deal with him!"
Sun Zhenshan suggested in a secret transmission to Chen Jichuan upon seeing the situation.
If the Six Great Sects truly swarmed them, even with the addition of three patriarchs and three Void Nether experts, they would still be no match for the enemy.
The losses would be catastrophic.
Outmatched and outnumbered, they lacked the leverage to shatter the rules.
"No need."
Chen Jichuan shook his head at Sun Zhenshan, then turned his gaze to the four figures looming over the Beiyin River. He spoke loudly, "Retreat within three breaths, or I will kill Zhang Jian."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
At these words, silence fell over the land.
"Retreat within three breaths?"
"Or he will kill Zhang Jian?"
To Tuota Hand Meng Qi, Phantom Gun Yan Shidao, Iron Pen Master Zhangsun Chongyang, and Yellow Face Venerable Dong Changlai, this was absurd—so absurd it was laughable.
Zhang Jian froze momentarily but quickly dismissed such words as nonsensical, a laugh escaping from his lips. "For the legendary Seven-star Sword Saint to spout such boastful nonsense—Zhang can only offer admiration to such unmatched bravado."
Tuota Hand Meng Qi also sneered, "If the senior dares not make a move, then don’t blame us juniors for using numbers to overpower and corner Senior Li."
With that—
The four of them scattered into positions, subtly surrounding Li Qingshan.
"Is this man really the Seven-star Sword Saint?"
"Such arrogance."
"Surely this is a bluff. Even after three consecutive matches, Zhang Jian—though fatigued—is still one of the top experts of our time. Not even those of Xuzhou’s Xingyi Sect or Huangtian City dare claim they can easily kill him."
"Nobody lives for a thousand years! These three, claiming to be the Taixu Three Ancestors, are clearly just using intimidation as a tactic."
...
Zhang Jian’s reputation was long established. For Chen Jichuan to speak as though slaying him was as simple as turning a hand, the boldness was enough to strain all credulity.
Naturally, most dismissed it as empty bravado.
Some felt Chen Jichuan might have a chance of defeating Zhang Jian.
But no one believed he could kill Zhang Jian while under the watchful eyes of the keenly alert Six Great Sects.
And yet—
"Three breaths have passed."
"Why force my hand?"
Chen Jichuan sighed deeply and flicked his sleeve lightly—
"Boom!"
A muffled boom resounded. In front of Li Qingshan on the Beiyin River, Zhang Jian—known as the ’Night Shura’—still had a faint smile curling at the corner of his lips. That smile barely had time to fade before terror flooded his eyes.
"No!"
His voice barely escaped his throat before countless strands of Sword Qi erupted explosively from within his body.
The Sword Qi surged, scattering blinding sword-light like fireworks in the air.
’Night Shura’ Zhang Jian.
Reduced to ashes, vanished without a trace.
...