After traveling more than ten miles on the sword,
Jiang Chen and the others arrived at a lake surrounded by many cultivators, enveloped in cold qi.
There was a small island in the lake.
The island seemed unaffected by the cold qi of the world, lush with greenery and full of playful spirit rabbits and various spiritual fruits.
The most eye-catching was the huge crystal in the center of the island, clear on the outside with a red flame flickering within.
Anyone with discernment could see at a glance it was because of the presence of this crystal that the island thrived with life amidst the cold secret realm.
And the flame within the crystal had to be an innate spiritual fire of at least the sixth grade!
Such a flame was extremely valuable, whether sold or exchanged at the Ancient Pill Tower, it could bring a considerable return.
Although the cultivators were tempted, strangely, none of them wished to cross the lake to the island.
The arrival of Jiang Chen immediately drew the attention of many cultivators.These were all normal people, Heaven’s Pride talents from various sects who had come for the Mysterious Ice Realm.
One of them, named Jian Liu, was the sixth sword disciple of the Seven Luminaries Sword Pavilion and also ranked sixth on the Heaven’s Pride Ranking.
This annoyed Jian Liu.
It was bad enough that his name contained ‘six (Liu)’, but why did his status and ranking also have to be associated with number ‘six’?
People who didn’t know better might think he had an issue with the number six!
Seeing Jiang Chen leap down from the sword with a wicked smile, a talent whispered to another named Su Shan, “This person is so young and has already achieved Major Accomplishment in the Way of the Sword. Could he be the Sword Pavilion’s Eldest Senior Brother, Su Shan?”
“No.”
Jian Liu shook his head decisively, his expression a bit solemn.
As a sword disciple of the Seven Luminaries Sword Pavilion, he naturally recognized Su Shan.
He had thought that among the current generation of talents, only Su Shan had achieved Major Accomplishment in the Way of the Sword, but he didn’t expect there to be another.
The point was this person had a defiant face and walked with extreme arrogance, clearly not a good person!
“Strange, there doesn’t seem to be any good sword cultivators among the demonic path talents this time…” Jian Liu murmured to himself.
As he was puzzled, a monk with a gentle smile approached and said, “Brother Jian, this person is the Eldest Senior Brother of the Ninth Peak of the Jiuyan Demonic Sect, Jiang Chen!”
“Jiang Chen? He is Jiang Chen?!” Jian Liu exclaimed in shock.
He knew of Jiang Chen’s notorious reputation but was unaware of his accomplishments in the Way of the Sword.
“Be careful, Brother Jian, this Jiang Chen not only stole Buddhist techniques from our Buddha Temple but also practices demonic arts! Wherever he goes, madness follows!” the monk warned.
“Hisss—”
Hearing this, Jian Liu gasped!
The monk Ci Fa was the third Buddhist disciple of the Buddha Temple and was also well-known on the Heaven’s Pride Ranking.
Since the Jiuyan Sect became a Demonic Sect, the Seven Luminaries Sword Pavilion and the Buddha Temple had banded together like allies.
Therefore, Jian Liu had no doubt about Ci Fa’s words.
He also realized at this moment.
No wonder there were so many madmen in Cold Realm City. It turns out it was all because of Jiang Chen!
“A technique that can manipulate people’s hearts… the demonic paths of Central Domain don’t have something like that!” Jian Liu said, puzzled.
“Brother Jian, although Central Domain doesn’t have it, Upper Domain does! Jiang Chen is the sole heir of the Jiang family. With the Jiang family’s power, obtaining some technique to bewitch people’s hearts is a trivial matter,” Ci Fa explained gravely. R𝙖Ｎ𝐨βĚṢ
“That makes sense,” Jian Liu nodded continuously, quickly averting his gaze.
Although Jiang Chen has achieved Major Achievement in the Way of the Sword and possesses Heavenly Origin cultivation, Jian Liu was not afraid.
Because Jiang Chen was nameless on the Heaven’s Pride Ranking, he should just be a showpiece.
But that technique that could drive people mad was indeed terrifying!
Hearing this, the other cultivators also withdrew their gazes, and the more timid ones had already started to flee.
This left Jiang Chen feeling quite bored.
Indeed, as a villain, one must seek out trouble oneself.
Taking Jiang Lianyue with him, he approached a genius standing by the lake.
“Brother, may I ask your name?” he inquired.
Hearing this, the genius was momentarily stunned.
Adhering to the idea of not wanting to make a scene, lest Jiang Chen take the opportunity to cause trouble, the genius smiled slightly after taking a deep breath, bowed politely, and said, “My name is Yuan Cheng, a true disciple of Mystic Yang Pavilion.”
Mystic Yang Pavilion, a second-tier orthodox sect in Central Domain.
Although second-tier, its Old Ancestor was on good terms with Ancient Pill Tower, and with the protection of Ancient Pill Tower, its strength far surpassed other second-tier sects.
“What is your ranking on the Heaven’s Pride Ranking?” Jiang Chen asked next.
When the topic of the Heaven’s Pride Ranking came up, Yuan Cheng’s spirits lifted.
He cleared his throat and said with pride, “I am humbly ranked twenty-ninth on the Heaven’s Pride Ranking.”
“Oh, so you’re a genius? My apologies, my apologies. May I ask what level of cultivation Brother Yuan has?” Jiang Chen continued to inquire.
“Hehe, just Earthly Origin realm,” Yuan Cheng said, his face blooming into a smile.
“Admirable, admirable.”
Jiang Chen said with a look of respect, then added, “By the way, I am of the Heavenly Origin realm.”
“…”
Yuan Cheng’s expression instantly turned sour! “Oh, right, Brother, at such a young age, you’ve made it onto the Heaven’s Pride Ranking. You’re truly a dragon among men, a young man with the bearing of a great emperor! May I ask how old you are?” Jiang Chen asked again.
“Hehe, I am twenty-six,” Yuan Cheng replied, regaining his smile.
“Admirable, admirable.”
Jiang Chen added, “By the way, I just turned twenty.”
“…”
Yuan Cheng was speechless.
At this moment, he wanted to ask.
Can we even have a proper conversation today?
He doubted that Jiang Chen was not lifting him up in admiration but seemed to be slapping his face!
“Brother Yuan is exceptionally talented, and I really admire that. Although your cultivation is not as advanced as mine and you are older than me, you must possess the ability to fight across levels, and the spiritual weapon you use must also be extraordinary, right?” Jiang Chen asked again.
As he spoke, he summoned his Flame Blood Dragon Sword and brandished it, immediately causing a dragon’s cry to echo in all directions.
“A superior-grade spiritual weapon?!”
Instantly, a cultivator exclaimed.
Yuan Cheng was cursing inwardly.
Holding a superior-grade spiritual weapon and saying someone else’s is extraordinary? Isn’t that nonsense?
Seeing Jiang Chen still looking straight at him, Yuan Cheng had no choice but to cup his hands and say, “Brother Jiang is the true dragon among men, a man with the bearing of a great emperor. I am not your equal!”
“Really?” Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow.
“Of course!” Yuan Cheng nodded continuously.
“Throughout the ages, I have never seen anyone who could wield a superior-grade spiritual weapon with just a Core Formation cultivation! Moreover, both your cultivation and talent are above mine.”
Hearing this, Jiang Chen nodded slightly, reluctantly accepting the compliment.
But the next second, his expression changed dramatically, and he shouted angrily, “If that’s the case, then why are you on the Heaven’s Pride Ranking? Tell me, why am I not on the list?!”
With that, he lifted his foot and kicked Yuan Cheng.
The kick was extremely powerful and fast.
Before Yuan Cheng could react, he was kicked several zhang away, drawing an arc in the air before falling into the lake.
At the same time, the system’s prompt appeared.
【Host’s actions conform to the villain’s character setting, reward: 1 drop of Phoenix Essence Blood!】
“Haha.”
Jiang Chen laughed loudly, his voice full of arrogance.
Three drops of Phoenix Essence Blood collected!
He could now absorb the essence blood and transform his physique into that of an innate phoenix.
When that happened, his combat power would definitely leap in quality.
Seeing Yuan Cheng fall into the water with a panicked face, struggling in the water before finally reaching the shore, other cultivators all had gloomy faces.
No one expected that Jiang Chen, who was amiable just a second ago, would suddenly make a move.
Directly kicking him into the lake? He was after Yuan Cheng’s life!
Why had the cultivators gathered here and not gone to the small island in the lake?
Wasn’t it because they were worried that there might be powerful monsters hidden beneath the lake, fearing an attack while crossing?
But to everyone’s surprise, Yuan Cheng managed to return to the shore quite smoothly without being attacked by any monsters.
This made the cultivators’ eyes light up!
Although Jiang Chen was arrogant, he had helped them scout the way, proving that there were no powerful monsters beneath the lake.
And just as everyone was eager to move towards the small island in the lake.
“Brother, may I ask your name?” Jiang Chen approached Jian Liu and asked softly.
“…”
Jian Liu had a bad feeling about this.