"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh."
Long Aotian moved swiftly, even channeling his soul power. In just moments, he appeared behind Weina and Jiang Jue.
"Brother Long, why are you here?" Weina turned around, surprise flashing in her eyes when she saw Long Aotian's flushed face.
"I…"
A trace of embarrassment crossed Long Aotian's face. Moments ago, he had overheard their conversation about "going inside," and an unexplainable fire rose in his heart. Without thinking, he rushed over—and now that Weina asked, he suddenly didn't know what to say.
Jiang Jue glanced at Long Aotian. His eyes flicked toward Weina, and understanding dawned on him.
As expected… so many things have changed.
His first impression of Long Aotian had been that of a battle maniac—but that was because of the memories from his previous life.
Long Aotian's first appearance had been during the second Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament. Back then, he was wild and arrogant, the strongest of his generation in the Body Sect, and among the top talents in the entire continent.
He had both love and success—how could he not be arrogant?
But now, he was far from the man he would become. His temperament hadn't yet matured.
Still, that's only natural.Jiang Jue's expression remained calm, but his eyes deepened.
He allowed all things to unfold naturally, because he knew—he would only continue to grow stronger.
"Brother Long, if you don't have anything urgent, let's talk another time. Jiang Jue and I have something important to discuss, so we'll be going now."
Seeing that Long Aotian was at a loss for words, Weina said gently, preparing to enter Jiang Jue's small wooden cabin with him.
"No—you can't go!"
Long Aotian panicked. He lunged forward, reaching out his large hand toward Jiang Jue's shoulder.
If Weina and Jiang Jue went into that cabin and something really happened… what would he do?!
Better safe than sorry!
But before he could even react, Jiang Jue's figure vanished from sight like a ghost.
In the next instant, Long Aotian realized his outstretched arm was clamped tightly in place—as if caught in an iron vise. A slender hand gripped it firmly.
Crack!
The sound of bones breaking rang out sharply. Agonizing pain surged through Long Aotian's body, forcing a hoarse scream from his throat. His facial muscles twisted in pain.
After years of body training, he knew immediately—his arm was dislocated, the bones inside fractured.
In desperation, he clenched his left fist and struck toward the hand gripping him. Faint red qi and blood energy flared around it.
A cold glint flashed through Jiang Jue's eyes. His expression turned icy.
He hadn't expected Long Aotian to suddenly attack—but since he did, he would bear the consequences.
Buzz!
Golden light flickered over Jiang Jue's hands. One hand locked tightly around Long Aotian's right arm, while the other clenched into a fist.
A surge of dark red qi blood coiled around his knuckles—denser and fiercer than Long Aotian's. It looked like writhing blood serpents, radiating searing heat.
"So, you want to trade blows? Fine—let's see who breaks first!"
Long Aotian's eyes gleamed with a fierce light. Seeing that Jiang Jue wasn't blocking his counterattack but instead punching toward his abdomen, he thought Jiang Jue intended to exchange injury for injury.
He cultivated the Golden Body Without Leakage, and after years of practice, he had reached the second layer. His body was stronger than Jiang Jue's—who had once focused solely on his first martial soul.
A faint silver glow spread from his abdomen—that was his Body Martial Soul's defensive skin.
Roar!
The next second, Long Aotian realized how wrong he was.
Jiang Jue's golden fist suddenly accelerated, breaking the sound barrier as it crashed violently into his abdomen—before Long Aotian's own punch even landed.
Everything went opposite of what he expected. He had misjudged—overestimating himself and underestimating Jiang Jue.
Cough! Cough!
A burning pain surged through his abdomen like crashing waves. His ribs cracked under the pressure, and the heat of Jiang Jue's qi blood stormed through his body. The silver light on his abdomen shattered and dispersed.
Whoosh!
Before he could recover, another sound cut through the air—a vicious whip-like leg strike aimed straight at his temple.
"Not good—this is bad!"
Long Aotian's face changed drastically. He hurriedly pulled back his fist, raised his arm to block, and curled up to protect his head despite the pain.
Boom!Crack!
The sound of impact and bone breaking rang out together. Long Aotian's body was sent flying like a rag doll, slamming into the dirt several meters away—disheveled and battered.
It had all happened in an instant—so fast that even Weina was only just beginning to react.
"Jiang Jue…"
Weina's small mouth hung open in shock as she stared at the cold-faced Jiang Jue, speechless.
She hadn't expected that Brother Long couldn't even withstand three moves from him.
After all, Long Aotian had once crushed the younger generation of the Body Sect!
Cough… cough…
Long Aotian's eyes were bloodshot, disbelief written all over his face. He had thought that with his years of training, he could surpass Jiang Jue. Now that thought seemed utterly laughable.
Just three moves—and he was down.
Just as Lei Ming had once warned him.
Jiang Jue stood firm as stone, a chill glint flickering in his eyes. Dusting off his clothes lightly, he asked in a flat tone:
"Why did you attack me?"
Long Aotian froze, struggling to stand. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his arms hung limply at his sides.
He had only wanted to stop Jiang Jue—how did things spiral like this? All because he acted rashly.
"No reason. I just wanted to see… if you're worthy of being my rival."
Seeing Weina looking at him, Long Aotian gritted his teeth and forced himself upright with his soul power.
"And?"
Jiang Jue raised an eyebrow calmly.
Since entering the Body Sect, he had only met Long Aotian once. He'd been worrying about how to establish his position—and now, Long Aotian came to him on his own.
Perfect timing. Practically gift-wrapped.
Looking at Jiang Jue's indifferent expression, anger burned in Long Aotian's chest. When his eyes fell upon Weina standing beside Jiang Jue, the pain in his heart deepened.
"Jiang Jue! Do you dare make a bet with me? Two years from now—we'll see who's stronger!"
His voice was deep and filled with grief and defiance. The pain in his body was nothing compared to the ache in his heart.
"Not interested."
"Besides, I don't like bets without stakes."
A sharp light flashed in Jiang Jue's eyes as he refused without hesitation. He then turned to Weina and said softly,
"Weina, didn't you say you had something to discuss? Let's go inside and talk—privately."
Hearing that, Long Aotian's heart twisted violently. The words sounded all wrong—and before he could stop himself, he shouted hoarsely:
"Of course there's a stake! I'll wager my position as Young Sect Master!"
Jiang Jue's steps halted. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
(End of Chapter)