41: Chapter 41 Head-on Confrontation

The Tiandao Sect's manor in Heavenly Demon City was located in the west of the city, covering more than ten acres with high walls and deep courtyards, looking completely out of place amidst the surrounding Yao Race architecture. Two stone lions stood at the entrance, baring their fangs and claws, and a gold-lettered plaque hung on the lintel—"Tiandao Sect's Manor in Heavenly Demon City." Standing beneath the plaque were two men in black, both at the Shentong Realm Early Stage, with long sabers hanging at their waists and eyes as sharp as torches. When Chen Yuanji arrived at the manor entrance on horseback, the two men in black drew their sabers simultaneously.

"Tiandao Sect restricted area, idle people stay back!"

Chen Yuanji dismounted, tied the reins to the stone lion in front of the gate, and turned to look at the two. "Tell Zhou Xuanji that Chen Yuanji is here."

The faces of the two men in black changed; the name Chen Yuanji was already at the top of the Tiandao Sect's must-kill list. They exchanged a look; one turned and ran into the courtyard to report, while the other blocked the entrance with his saber. "Elder Zhou said no one is allowed to enter."

Chen Yuanji ignored him and walked straight toward the gate. The man in black gritted his teeth and slashed down, his Yuan Power from the Shentong Realm Early Stage pouring into the blade. The blade's glow surged by three feet, heading straight for Chen Yuanji's face. Chen Yuanji raised his hand and caught the blade between two fingers.

"Clang—" The blade snapped, and the broken half flew out, embedding itself into the plaque on the lintel. The man's web of the thumb split open, blood flowing as he stumbled back and slumped to the ground, his eyes filled with terror. Chen Yuanji held the broken blade between two fingers and gave it a light flick, sending the blade shooting into the courtyard like a streak of light.

"Boom!" The Screen Wall inside the courtyard was blown to pieces, sending stone fragments flying.

"Zhou Xuanji, come out." The voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached every corner of the manor.

A moment later, Zhou Xuanji walked out from the courtyard. He was still dressed in a golden robe, with snow-white hair and a withered face, but his gaze was even sharper than it had been three months ago, like two unsheathed sharp swords.

"Gang Energy Peak?" He glanced at Chen Yuanji and frowned slightly. "No, Half-Step Divine Realm. To go from Gang Energy Early Stage to Half-Step Divine Realm in three months; you are even more of a Prodigy than I imagined."

"Enough talk." Chen Yuanji stood at the entrance, ten meters away from him. "The three-month deadline you gave me is up. The martial gods heart is right here; come and take it if you have the ability." He patted his chest, where the martial gods heart and ancient jade were placed.

A cold light flashed in Zhou Xuanji's eyes. "Since you seek death, this seat shall fulfill your wish."

He raised his right hand and opened his fingers. A vast amount of Yuan Power surged from his palm, transforming into a giant golden hand that blotted out the sun and pressed down toward Chen Yuanji. He had used this move three months ago; back then, Shen Wuchang had taken it head-on and was severely injured as a result. This time, Chen Yuanji did not dodge. He held out his right hand, palm upward, and a wisp of white Protective Aura rose from it, condensing into a three-foot-long sword. The sword's body was pure white, emitting a piercing light.

"Slash." The long sword flew out, colliding with the golden palm.

"Boom!" The massive sound shook the heavens as airwaves rolled. Half of the manor's walls collapsed, and the plaque on the lintel fell to the ground, shattering in two. The two men in black were blown away by the shockwave, crashing heavily into the wall across the street and spitting out blood.

The golden palm was sliced in half by the sword and dissipated into the air. The sword's momentum remained as it shot toward Zhou Xuanji. Zhou Xuanji's expression changed slightly, and he formed a hand Seal, condensing a golden Light Shield in front of him.

"Bang!" The sword struck the Light Shield, causing it to tremble violently and develop fine cracks. Zhou Xuanji retreated three steps before the Light Shield stabilized.

"Half-Step Divine Realm... to actually have such power." His face darkened.

Chen Yuanji gave him no room to breathe, his figure flickering as he appeared before Zhou Xuanji. He threw a right punch, his Crushing Fist wrapped in white Protective Aura, striking directly at Zhou Xuanji's chest. He put his full strength into this punch; with a bone density ten times that of an ordinary person, his power had multiplied several times over. Combined with the enhancement of his Gang Energy Peak Protective Aura, this punch was enough to shatter a small mountain.

Zhou Xuanji did not dare to take it head-on and retreated rapidly while waving his hands, sending dozens of golden light blades toward Chen Yuanji like a torrential rain. Chen Yuanji did not retreat; a golden Protective Aura shield surfaced on his body. The light blades struck the shield, producing a dense clanging sound, and were all deflected.

"Your attacks are useless against me." Chen Yuanji took a step forward, catching up to Zhou Xuanji, and threw a second punch. Zhou Xuanji gritted his teeth and crossed his arms, taking the punch head-on.

"Bang!" He was sent flying, crashing through the manor's main hall and out through the back wall, landing on the ground of the backyard with blood leaking from his mouth. Chen Yuanji pursued him, standing amidst the ruins of the main hall, looking down at the half-kneeling Zhou Xuanji.

"Void-Piercing Realm Middle Stage, nothing more than this." Zhou Xuanji wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and stood up, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

"You think this seat only has this much skill?" He pulled a golden token from his robes, carved with a blood-red "Heaven" character. As Yuan Power was injected into the token, it emitted a piercing light, and a terrifying pressure surged from it, like an ancient behemoth awakening.

Chen Yuanji's pupils contracted slightly. That was the Tiandao Sect's Core Secret Treasure—the "heavenly order." Legend had it that the heavenly order contained a portion of the power of the Tiandao Sect's past Sect Masters, and each heavenly order could unleash an attack at the Tribulation Transformation Realm level.

"It is your honor to die by the heavenly order." Zhou Xuanji aimed the heavenly order at Chen Yuanji, and a pillar of golden light shot out from the token, heading straight for Chen Yuanji's chest. The speed of the light pillar was incredibly fast, leaving Chen Yuanji no time to dodge. He crossed his arms and concentrated all his Protective Aura in front of him, forming a golden shield.

"Boom!" The light pillar struck the shield, and Chen Yuanji was blown back, crashing through the manor's wall and onto the street. Blood leaked from the corner of his mouth, the webs of his thumbs were split, and his Protective Aura shield was mostly shattered. A Half-Step Divine Realm still couldn't block a Tribulation Transformation Realm level attack.

Zhou Xuanji walked out of the manor, holding the heavenly order, his face pale. The heavenly order consumed a vast amount of energy; with his cultivation, he could only use it one more time at most. "Die." He raised the heavenly order again.

Just then, a white figure rushed out from the street corner and pounced on Zhou Xuanji—Bai Xue! She opened her mouth wide and bit down on Zhou Xuanji's hand that was holding the heavenly order. Zhou Xuanji was shocked and tried to dodge, but Bai Xue was too fast and bit his wrist.

"Ah—" Zhou Xuanji screamed in pain and let go, the heavenly order falling to the ground. Bai Xue struck his chest with a claw, her sharp talons tearing through his robes and leaving four deep wounds that exposed the bone. Zhou Xuanji was sent flying and crashed to the ground, blood spraying from his mouth.

"You... you are..."

"Bai Xue." Bai Xue stood before him, her golden eyes filled with murderous intent. "Twenty years ago, you deceived my mother and caused her to die in sorrow. Today, it's time to pay the debt."

Zhou Xuanji's eyes widened. "Your mother... was that one from the Deer Clan..."

"Shut up! You are not worthy of mentioning her!"

Bai Xue raised her claw, aiming for Zhou Xuanji's head.

"Wait." Chen Yuanji climbed up from the ground and walked to Bai Xue's side. "Let him live."

Bai Xue looked at him. "Why?"

"Killing him is too easy on him," Chen Yuanji said. "I want him to watch as the Tiandao Sect is annihilated."

Bai Xue was silent for a moment before lowering her claw. Zhou Xuanji lay on the ground, covered in blood, his eyes full of humiliation and rage. He, a dignified Inner Sect Elder of the Tiandao Sect at the Void-Piercing Realm Middle Stage, had actually been defeated by a Yao Beast and a Human Race youth at the Half-Step Divine Realm.

"You will regret this," he gnashed his teeth. "The Tiandao Sect will not let you go."

"Then let them come." Chen Yuanji picked up the heavenly order from the ground and tucked it into his robes. "I'll be waiting."

He turned and led the Wuzhui Horse, walking further into Heavenly Demon City, with Bai Xue following behind him. Behind them, Zhou Xuanji's roars echoed through the street, growing fainter.

"You will regret it... you will definitely regret it..."

Chen Yuanji did not look back. He gripped the heavenly order in his robes, feeling the terrifying power contained within. Tribulation Transformation Realm—that was his next goal.