Chapter 436

Chapter 436: Chapter 435: Thunder Sky Fist was also created by Ye Tianchen himself, possessing immense power. The very name "Thunder Sky" was derived from the desire to throw a punch that could shake the heavens and earth. Now, as Ye Tianchen deployed the Thunder Sky Fist, every movement he made was filled with an inexhaustible force within him, a feeling that was just too wonderful. Although he was currently a minor realm below Xiao Yuan, at that moment, he felt as though he stood at the peak, with abundant energy coursing through him with every movement. Even without stepping into an advanced level, Ye Tianchen was confident he could blast Xiao Yuan to oblivion.

"You think you can kill me?"

At this very moment, Xiao Yuan’s face was filled with surprise and disbelief, glaring at Ye Tianchen fiercely, his eyes brimming with unwillingness. He could not fathom being defeated at Ye Tianchen’s hands. The very youth he could have killed in a moment before now stood before him so dominantly, and he felt a sense of powerlessness. In the face of absolute strength, a chilling realization crept over him.

Without a word, Ye Tianchen marched towards Xiao Yuan, taking large strides. Mid-air, it was nothing challenging for him as a powerhouse at the Emperor-level Superpower Realm and Xiao Yuan, who was in the mid-stage of Martial Venerate, to perform Qi Manipulation Flight, a simple feat.

"I’m afraid you still can’t kill me!"

Xiao Yuan howled fiercely at Ye Tianchen, blood dripping from his right hand, the entire arm no longer intact, leaving only a frightful, bony spectacle. In the earlier clash, Xiao Yuan’s right arm had been destroyed by the force of the Taie Sword, bursting apart, scattering the evil power within him all over.

Boom!

There were no words to be spoken, no need for words. Ye Tianchen unleashed another Thunder Sky Fist, aiming straight for Xiao Yuan’s head. Xiao Yuan merely sneered coldly, and from the wound in his right hand, a burst of dark energy surged forth, morphing into a giant hand that slammed against Ye Tianchen’s Thunder Sky Fist.

Thud!

A muffled noise echoed as both Ye Tianchen and Xiao Yuan were sent flying several meters backward. The power of this collision was immensely powerful, yet shockingly, the severely injured Xiao Yuan was not annihilated. Both Tian Boguang and Dongfang Meng, watching from the ground, furrowed their brows in disbelief.

"Xiao Yuan is clearly seriously injured, how could he suddenly still possess such formidable combat power?" exclaimed Dongfang Meng, unable to hold back her questions.

"The one fighting Ye Tianchen now is no longer Xiao Yuan, but that evil force!" Tian Boguang was also stunned for a moment before he said.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

In the sky, Ye Tianchen and Xiao Yuan were relentlessly battling, their powers of thunder and lightning spreading everywhere, the black evil power surging all around. Ye Tianchen, undeterred by Xiao Yuan blocking his attack, continued to unleash the Thunder Sky Fist. Xiao Yuan met his onslaught with his own retaliatory blasts.

By the time Ye Tianchen launched his three hundred and forty-seventh punch, Xiao Yuan could no longer hold on and was sent flying by Ye Tianchen’s fist, crashing heavily into a mountain, causing it to tremble violently. If it was not for the protection of that evil force, Xiao Yuan would likely have perished by now.

Spurt!

"I never imagined, I, Xiao Yuan, would face defeat here. After biding my time for decades, I was so close to claiming the position of Sect Leader of the Sword Control Sect and having the Sword Energy Skill well within my grasp. Why, why..." Xiao Yuan roared to the heavens in frustration.

"Because you are no longer yourself!" Ye Tianchen said indifferently.

"I... I am no longer myself?" Xiao Yuan was stunned, his spirit thoroughly disheartened. Ye Tianchen’s words had a profound impact on him.

Ever since he acquired the Evil Demon Sword Skill, Xiao Yuan had completely lost himself in this evil swordsmanship, becoming increasingly unable to extricate himself. The plans he had carefully plotted over years were gradually coming to fruition, slowly leading to success. Yet, he failed to notice that he had long ceased to be himself, utterly dominated by desire and controlled by that evil force, becoming little more than a walking corpse.

Rumble!

Ye Tianchen didn’t say much; with a punch, he struck down hard. Against someone like Xiao Yuan, who was utterly reprehensible, he wouldn’t show any mercy in killing him. At that moment, Xiao Yuan also gave up resisting; his will had been thoroughly shattered by Ye Tianchen. The most terrifying aspect of a person’s defeat isn’t the outcome of the fight but the breakdown of their willpower and their conviction of inevitable victory. Once that crumbles, the person is truly finished, even if they are physically alive.

Swish! Boom!

Just as Ye Tianchen’s Thunder Sky Fist was about to smash Xiao Yuan and finish him off, a sword light streaked in from afar, intercepting the Thunder Sky Fist, scattering it. This development furrowed Ye Tianchen’s brows. This sword technique must have been launched from dozens of miles away, yet it bore such formidable momentum. The person approaching had to be stronger than Xiao Yuan, which was truly frightening. Although this was also a Sword Control Sect’s technique, it was much more powerful than that of Xiao Yuan, who was a mid-stage Martial Venerate. Ye Tianchen estimated that the rescuer must be an elite from the Sword Control Sect, likely in the late stages of Martial Venerate—a formidable foe indeed. Against his current level of cultivation, he feared he was not a match.

Failing to kill Xiao Yuan with a single punch and with someone coming to his rescue, Ye Tianchen didn’t strike again. It wasn’t that he feared any trouble from killing Xiao Yuan or a subsequent pursuit by the Sword Control Sect; he was rather curious about the strength of this rescuer. Having just ascended to the Emperor-level Superpower Realm and defeating Xiao Yuan, it seemed reasonable to engage stronger opponents in order to gauge his current combat prowess.

With this thought, Ye Tianchen didn’t immediately attack Xiao Yuan again; instead, he calmly stayed put, waiting for the appearance of this formidable rescuer.

At that moment, Tian Boguang and Dongfang Meng also flew to Ye Tianchen’s side. They had seen someone coming to Xiao Yuan’s rescue but hadn’t expected Ye Tianchen to cease his attack. Tian Boguang was about to take action; by nature, he despised evildoers. Xiao Yuan, a sinister and ruthless hypocrite, was far more dangerous than a widely known female devil like Li Qiushui. Leaving him alive would only endanger more people.

"Brother Tian, spare his life. He’s already a spent force. Killing him or not is irrelevant. I want to see how strong the person coming to his rescue really is..." Ye Tianchen stopped Tian Boguang and said.

Tian Boguang was taken aback. He and Dongfang Meng had both seen the sword light that intercepted Ye Tianchen’s Thunder Sky Fist and knew the rescuer was powerful, surpassing each of them. They didn’t expect Ye Tianchen to have the courage to wait. This lad’s boldness was truly admirable; he was fearless.

"Brother, even I, Tian Boguang, must admire your guts. Alright, big brother will wait with you. I’m also curious to see who the Sword Control Sect has sent to rescue this scum!" said Tian Boguang, unable to resist a laugh.

Dongfang Meng looked at Ye Tianchen with annoyance, wanting to throw a few punches at him. She had been so worried for him before, and now he was acting so confidently—her concern had been entirely unwarranted.

In just a few breaths’ time, a hunched old man appeared before Ye Tianchen and the others. The elder seemed kind and benevolent, his age unknown, as he smiled amiably at Ye Tianchen while glancing down at the critically injured, barely alive Xiao Yuan below. Xiao Yuan’s spirit had sunk; he was like a broken man, his gaze distant, as he repeated in a self-murmuring mantra, "I am no longer myself, I am no longer myself..."

"Was it you who inflicted such injuries on Xiao Yuan?" The elder eyed Ye Tianchen, as if seeing right through him, and asked in a calm tone.

"That’s correct!" Ye Tianchen replied indifferently.

"It’s good that you admit it. We at the Sword Control Sect never bully others. Since you’ve injured Xiao Yuan to this extent, as an elder of the Sword Control Sect, it’s natural that I seek justice for him. Young man, you have potential. I really don’t want to kill a genius. How about I just use one move?" the elder said to Ye Tianchen with a smile.

"He tried to kill me; I was merely defending myself. Is this your Sword Control Sect’s principle?" Ye Tianchen coldly asked.

"No matter what, since I’m here and have witnessed this scene, our Sect’s honor is incontrovertible – no one can compromise it. Prepare for my attack!" The elder’s expression darkened, not expecting Ye Tianchen to be so articulate. He was aiming to stand on moral high ground to avoid being accused by fellow martial artists of bullying the weak or abusing his power. But Ye Tianchen swiftly exposed his pretense, prompting him to harbor the intent to kill.

"So what you’re saying is, if it involves damaging the reputation of the Sword Control Sect, even if it’s the Sect’s fault, you ought to persist in wrong?" Ye Tianchen probed.

"You... you little rascal, don’t try to justify yourself. Prepare to die!" Finally, the elder showed his true colors, a ruthless expression on his face as he gathered True Qi in his palm, ready to strike at Ye Tianchen at any moment.

Ye Tianchen had long realized that this elder from the Sword Control Sect, who appeared fair and impartial on the surface and unwilling to show favoritism, was just putting on an act. Not wanting to appear domineering right from the start and fearful of damaging the Sect’s reputation later, he also sought to avoid a tarnish of bullying the young and weak. Claiming he would strike with only one move, the elder had absolute confidence in killing Ye Tianchen; he was a late-stage Martial Venerate with years spent in that cultivation realm, a Sect elder with profound swordsmanship, certainly not comparable to Xiao Yuan. He believed that with his move, it would be very hard for Ye Tianchen to defend, which explained the elder’s self-assuredness; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so composed, asserting he would only strike once.

"Hmph, the Sword Control Sect is nothing but a band of despicable and shameless scoundrels, and now you’ve shown your true self. You old immortals want to kill my brother? Ask me, Tian Boguang, if I’d allow it..." Tian Boguang said with a cold snort. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote and support it at Qidian. Your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.)