Chapter 124 - One Thing After Another

The heaven-obscuring hand had shattered, but Chen Fan was bloodied and battered. Still, his eyes gleamed with vitality and high spirits.

Zhong Li's group stood in dumbfounded silence.

Duan Jingtian's space-warping attack had less than ten percent of his power, but that should have been enough to annihilate even a first-level Yuanfu realm practitioner.

Yet, Chen Fan had shattered it.

Although Chen Fan was in a miserable state, he had indeed blocked Duan Jingtian’s attack.

“This... how is this possible!”

They were shocked to their core.

In their hearts, Duan Jingtian was god-like; no one dared to challenge or resist his words.

......

Dragon Mountain Peak:

It failed.

Duan Jingtian’s eyes narrowed.

His attack had failed to kill the ant.

Anger rose inside him, and he instantly wanted to make another move.

“Enough!” said Zhuo Bufan suddenly.

The cold shout held back Duan Jingtian. He turned over indifferently and said, “You’re going to stop me, Sect Master?”

“Duan Jingtian, you’ve already attacked once and violated the rules. How should the three other great sects look upon your actions?” Zhuo Bufan said coldly, reciprocating to Duan Jingtian’s indifference.

Overseeing Dragon Mountain Peak, Zhuo Bufan felt Duan Jingtian's move was akin to a slap to his face.

One move could have been tolerated, but he failed to kill Chen Fan with that. His readiness for another move was a clear disregard for Zhuo Bufan, the outer sect master.

Although Duan Jingtian had high status and strong cultivation, as the Outer Sect Master, was Zhuo Bufan’s status not high and his cultivation low?

All martial artists had dignity.

If Duan Jingtian wouldn’t give him face, Zhuo Bufan decided to reciprocate in kind.

Although Duan Jingtian was likely the next sect leader, his ascension held no immediate relevance to their current situation.

“You’ve gone too far, Duan Jingtian!” Leng Feng and the elders from the other three great sects also approached them and spoke indifferently.

Duan Jingtian’s actions disregarded the three sects.

Duan Jingtian, unmoved, didn't spare a glance for those elders, deeming them unqualified because of their Yuanfu realm cultivation, even if they held the status of elders.

“Sect Master Zhuo, this wretched beast Chen Fan brutally slaughtered his fellow disciples. I’m cleansing the sect of traitors,” Duan Jingtian said icily.

Zhuo Bufan said, “Duan Jingtian, we’ll discuss this matter after the training ends. Although the Sect Leader is putting great effort into grooming you, don’t forget what the training in Dragon Mountain Blessed Land represents. If your actions jeopardize Spring Autumn Sect's chance of securing first place, explaining it to the Sect Leader won't be easy for either of us.”

Duan Jingtian’s eyes shone, and he said icily, “Fine, then we’ll talk about it after Dragon Mountain Blessed Land training ends.”

He decided to let Chen Fan live for a few more days. After Chen Fan exits the blessed land, who could stop him from killing Chen Fan?

......

While Chen Fan resisted Duan Jingtian's spatial attack, Xuan Feixue and Chu Qing led the disciples from their respective sects toward the scene.

“Chu Qing.”

“Xuan Feixue.”

The two ran into each other, their gazes focused on the far distance where the periphery of the Black Sea Desert loomed.

An enormous hand had covered the skies there, emitting a terrifying aura that sent shivers down their spines.

“How terrifying. So, this is Duan Jingtian’s strength? Even an attack through space from him contains enough power to kill a first-level Yuanfu realm powerhouse. No wonder he's ranked tenth on the Great Chu Empire's Geniuses of Heaven Leaderboard,” Xuan Feixue whispered, his eyes narrowing.

“I know, right? In Qingyang County’s territory, with Duan Jingtian among the four great sects, the younger generation all feel suppressed. It's truly frightening.” Chu Qing sighed.

Xuan Feixue said, “Duan Jingtian disregarded and trampled on the rules, striking through space. How tyrannical! There's a good eighty to ninety percent chance he'll become the next Sect Leader of the Spring Autumn Sect. If he assumes that position, it won't bode well for the other three sects.”

Chu Qing whispered, “Duan Jingtian is extremely ambitious. If he becomes the Sect Leader of the Spring Autumn Sect, given his talents and strength, I’m afraid he’ll make our three great sects submit to the Spring Autumn Sect in the future.”

“The heavens are really unfair. In the last generation, Duan Jingtian emerged, and now, in our generation, Chen Fan has appeared in the Spring Autumn Sect as well. These two are monstrous. Duan Jingtian’s name has spread far and wide. Putting him aside, Chen Fan rose like a comet. A Qi Grandmaster capable of killing a first-level Yuanfu realm powerhouse? I’ve never heard something like this before. What a freak!” Xuan Feixue said.

“Fortunately, Duan Jingtian and Chen Fan are at odds. Otherwise, the three great sects would truly be facing a disaster,” Chu Qing said with another sigh.

“Amazing. Truly amazing. Not even an attack through space from Duan Jingtian could kill him.” Xuan Feixue marveled at Chen Fan's strength as he witnessed Chen Fan destroying the enormous hand.

Chen Fan’s cultivation was only in the Qi Grandmaster realm.

Chu Qing said, “The Ice Jade Snow Lotus is on Chen Fan. What are you going to do? Every training at Dragon Mountain Blessed Land is connected to the interests of the four great sects. Chen Fan has already killed Wang Fuchen, while Zhong Li is now half-dead. Chen Fan...”

Xuan Feixue’s eyes shone because Chen Fan looked miserable, his battered torso sticking out of the desert sand. He quickly suggested, “Chu Qing, do you want to cooperate with me for a bit?”

“What kind of cooperation do you propose?” Chu Qing asked, his eyes lighting up.

“Although Chen Fan is all bloodied and has suffered heavy injuries, he’s not on his last legs just yet. If someone like that decides to act ruthlessly and go all-out, neither you nor I can be confident in escaping unscathed.”

Xuan Feixue smiled, “You see that woman there? We’ll capture her to threaten Chen Fan and force him to give up. Then, we'll seize the opportunity to attack, rendering him powerless. As for who ultimately gets the Ice Jade Snow Lotus, we'll settle it through a fair duel. The winner will claim the Ice Jade Snow Lotus. How about that?”

Chu Qing's eyes shifted as he contemplated before he nodded. "Alright, let's proceed as you suggest."

Xuan Feixue smiled, “Since that’s the case, let’s get moving and capture that woman.”

The two immediately moved into action, soaring through the sky like lightning. Simultaneously, they attacked, reaching for Qin Yao.

Qin Yao was just about to go see how Chen Fan was doing. Before she could head over, she felt a sudden, powerful force restraining her, rendering her immobile.

Chu Qing and Xuan Feixue descended. A surge of primeval force infiltrated Qin Yao, sealing her meridians and leaving her powerless to resist.

“What are you doing?” Qin Yao’s complexion paled.

It seemed that trouble was relentlessly finding them today, with members from Mountain River Sect and Burning Incense Valley—Xuan Feixue and Chu Qing—having arrived. Moreover, both had broken through to the Yuanfu realm and now they had captured her.

Xuan Feixue said, “No need to panic. We only need you to help us with a matter.”

With that, he reached into the air, using primeval qi to lift Qin Yao, and together they flew toward Chen Fan.