Chapter 112: Unexpected

Not only Zhang Lan, but Jiang Xiaotian also stood frozen, unsure of what Li Qing was up to. Zhang Lan’s anger surged as he dashed forward to seize the sword.

But now that Jiang Xiaotian had stepped into the Second Realm, how could he fear him? A mid-internal energy practitioner was like a beginner compared to him—no longer an opponent he couldn’t defeat.

He didn’t fully understand the situation, but this opportunity was one he absolutely could not miss.

Jiang Xiaotian’s aura surged once more. At the Second Realm, his strength rivaled that of a late-stage internal energy master. He pushed his perception to the limit, and Zhang Lan’s speed seemed to slow instantly in his eyes!

Taking the lead, he reached out and grasped the ancient sword. It seemed to resonate with him, for the moment it touched him, he felt an immense sense of calm.

Zhang Lan was utterly shocked. His eyes darted about, then in a sudden panic, he turned and fled!

“Trying to run?” Jiang Xiaotian would not let him escape. With a leap, he struck with his sword like a flash of lightning!

There was a sharp slicing sound, and Zhang Lan’s right hand was severed cleanly. Blood gushed forth like a fountain!

“Ah! My hand! Ah! Jiang Xiaotian! I’ll kill you!” Zhang Lan screamed in agony, clutching his severed arm. Pain drenched him in cold sweat as he writhed on the ground, tears mingling with snot, forming a grotesque sight.

A sharp observer would notice that the cut on Zhang Lan’s arm was unnervingly clean, yet the wound was scorched black, terrifyingly so—one of the reasons for his intense suffering.

Jiang Xiaotian glanced curiously at the silver sword. Its power seemed to depend on the user’s spiritual energy. The lethal strike against the divine energy master earlier had consumed the spiritual energy of an entire city park. He couldn’t afford such extravagance again.

But even so, it was already powerful enough—cutting down internal energy practitioners was like slicing through vegetables. Seeing Zhang Lan lying on the ground like a dead dog, Jiang Xiaotian was baffled by where this lunatic had come from.

He placed the sword’s blade against Zhang Lan’s neck, preparing for a finishing blow. But before he could act, Ouyang Zijing shouted, “Stop! Jiang Xiaotian! You can’t kill him; he’s from the Falcon Squad!”

Jiang Xiaotian blinked in disbelief.

No wonder Zhang Lan mentioned losing his spot or something like that. But since when had the Falcon Squad become so worthless that someone like him could join?

Shaking his head, Jiang Xiaotian tapped Zhang Lan’s face with the sword blade. “You’re Zhang Lan? Are you crazy? I’ve already killed a divine energy master, and you still dare to provoke me? Since we’re from the same organization, get lost. It’s embarrassing.”

He rolled his eyes, then calmly stood up, ignoring Zhang Lan’s protests.

Jiang Xiaotian then turned to Ouyang Zijing and looked at the faint wound on her neck. Though not deep, it left a mark that would take some time to heal.

Internal energy practitioners were not so fragile; despite her many injuries, none were severe. Her hair was disheveled, and she looked quite battered.

After confirming she was alright, Jiang Xiaotian breathed a sigh of relief and thanked Li Qing.

But Li Qing refused the gratitude, or rather, he showed no warmth toward Jiang Xiaotian. “You don’t need to thank me. I just didn’t want the person I care for to die because of you.”

Jiang Xiaotian was surprised. Li Qing had always seemed sly and effeminate, and his affection for Ouyang Zijing seemed more like a lustful desire. But now it appeared otherwise.

This man truly had liked Ouyang Zijing since childhood. Li Qing had indeed planned to seize the treasure, but plans can never keep pace with changes. Who could have imagined the Zhao family would bring in their foundation elders?

Who could have foreseen Jiang Xiaotian’s fierce intervention?

And who the hell expected Zhang Lan to appear at the last moment?

Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, Li Qing made the best of a bad situation. But when Ouyang Zijing was threatened, he abandoned everything and chose to help Jiang Xiaotian, for only then could he save the woman he loved.

So as far as Li Qing was concerned, his actions toward Jiang Xiaotian were purely for Ouyang Zijing’s sake.

Ouyang Zijing herself was astonished. She never imagined Li Qing would go to such lengths for her, including the punch he threw before to protect her.

“Th-thank you…” she said shyly, having previously scolded Li Qing harder than anyone else.

Li Qing smiled faintly, a touch bitter. Returning home, he knew the elders would surely reprimand him.

If he hadn’t intervened, Jiang Xiaotian and Zhang Lan, both wielding the sword, might have mutually destroyed each other. Ouyang Zijing might have perished. Without the foundation elders, the Zhao family was nothing. The Li family would have been the final victor. Yet he gave up this chance.

The true test of his heart was for the woman he cared about.

He nodded to Ouyang Zijing. “I’ve pursued you for so long. Without some real action, you always thought I was deceiving you.”

With that, he retreated to his family’s territory.

Within the Li family, some lamented, others supported their young master, saying he finally acted like a man.

“By the way, Jiang Xiaotian, I’ll say this again: you owe me a duel. When I reach late-stage internal energy, I’ll come find you. And no using that sword.”

Jiang Xiaotian’s opinion of him improved, so he didn’t sneer but nodded. “Alright, I’ll wait.”

Li Qing’s wavering nature stemmed from his family’s weaker strength compared to the Ouyang or Zhao families. He had to be flexible to survive.

Jiang Xiaotian then raised the ancient sword high and scanned the crowd. “Anyone else want to challenge for the sword? I, Jiang Xiaotian, am ready!”

Silence fell. The Ouyang sisters glanced at his back, offering silent support.

Even without their unspoken backing, no one dared provoke him. Jiang Xiaotian had single-handedly slain a divine energy master. Whether by relying on the divine sword or simply his own power, who dared to try and steal it now?

After several minutes without a challenger, Jiang Xiaotian exhaled. The victory was tacitly acknowledged.

Every family began cleaning up the battlefield. Whether the three great families or the smaller clans, today’s losses were unprecedented in a century—too numerous to count. Yet compared to the Ouyang and Zhao clans, others fared better.

The Ouyang family lost numerous internal energy masters. Some survived but would need much time to recover. As for the Zhao family, having lost their foundation elders, they didn’t even bother with the bodies, instead gathering around their unconscious young master, uncertain what to do.

Jiang Xiaotian had initially wanted to kill Zhao Zheng, but the rational Ouyang Zijing stopped him. This was no longer a battlefield, and Zhao Zheng was powerless to resist. If Jiang Xiaotian dealt a fatal blow, the Zhao family would likely fight to the death in retaliation.

Better to leave everything to Long City’s authorities, especially since the Zhao family had committed many vile deeds.

Just then, Jiang Xiaotian looked up and noticed several formidable auras rushing toward them.

They were the Zhao family elders. Seeing the situation, their expressions darkened severely.

“What’s going on? Zhao Zheng!” they shouted, rousing their young master. Zhao Zheng awoke in a panic, terrified. Other Zhao family members explained the situation.

But the death of Ying was something the Zhao elders could never accept!

They refused to believe Ying had been killed—it was impossible!

Yet when the cold, pitch-black corpse came into view, they collapsed to the ground, stunned by this unchangeable, unbearable reality.

Ying’s death was of monumental significance. Without him, the Zhao family was doomed!

Many late-stage internal energy practitioners from the Zhao family stared at Jiang Xiaotian with eyes wide open, ready to attack at any moment.

But Jiang Xiaotian was unafraid. He snorted coldly and thrust his slender sword into the ground before him. “If you want a fight, I’m ready! I don’t care about life or death!”

After all this time struggling and clawing his way up, Jiang Xiaotian knew the unwritten rule in the martial world: soft-heartedness invites punishment. The strongest fist rules!

And now, here, he was absolutely the strongest.

Before the Zhao family could strike, the three Ouyang heroes arrived with a crash. After Ouyang Zijing explained, they led their family’s warriors to stand alongside Jiang Xiaotian.

“You Zhao family are brazen! You dare to kill so many martial artists just for a worthless young master!”

Soon more people came rushing from afar, frantic.

Jiang Xiaotian’s earlier sword strike was ferocious beyond measure. Even those outside felt a chill of terror, confirming a divine energy master had appeared inside, prompting their swift arrival.

No one could imagine how he had achieved such a feat!