The Jade Wave River, true to its name, often rolled with gentle white ripples that shimmered like crushed jade upon its surface. Hence its name: "Yulang", "Jade Wave".
Under the veil of night, the river glinted faintly with moonlight, waves sparkling silver.
Now, however, in the midst of the river's shimmer, shards of firelight flickered wildly, casting a blood-red glow across the water.
Chen Kuang rose to his feet and stepped to the bow, narrowing his eyes toward the distance.
That vast field of firelight, undoubtedly came from the disciples of the Firebrand Sect.
On the silent surface of the river, an aura of slaughter quietly spread.
As the Jade Wave River approached the territory of Jiangning Prefecture, its course narrowed, flanked by high terrain on both banks, forming a natural gorge. The river threaded between the cliffs.
At this moment, far down the river, a line of bamboo rafts gradually appeared at the edge of the field of vision, completely sealing off the mouth of the gorge. Meanwhile, fires began to flare along the cliffs on both sides of the riverbank, forming a semicircular encirclement.
Chen Kuang's small boat, if it wished to continue on this path, would have to first break through this blockade.
Clearly, the Firebrand Sect had laid this ambush in advance, with the express purpose of stopping Chen Kuang here.
Chen Kuang inhaled deeply.
His Blood Premonition passive triggered again, this time, though, only a faint flicker in his heart, nothing more.
After all, he now had his Profound Realm senior brother, Wen Si, personally escorting him. If that wasn't enough to keep him safe, what could?
Chen Kuang had long expected that the disciples or followers of the two Moon-Embracing Realm elders he had slain might seek revenge. But he hadn't expected them to come so soon.
And judging by their numbers... they had practically emptied the sect's coffers of personnel. It was likely the entire active force of the Firebrand Sect had mobilized for this.
No "send one, lose one" foolishness like in fairy tales, they had come all at once.
But Chen Kuang understood.
"I did, after all, kill their sect master directly. If they didn't respond decisively, the Firebrand Sect's reputation would plummet, it would no longer be able to stand in the cultivation world."
"Because their sect leader was killed by some unknown junior, they now have to risk everything to salvage their face. Even if they know that their opponent is capable of killing the sect master, and that they stand little chance, they have no choice but to bet everything. Either way, it's a dead end but they have to try."
"Compared to the Rotten Branch Mountain, where elders were slain and no one even stirred, the Firebrand Sect does, at least, have some backbone."
Chen Kuang didn't blame them, in fact, he respected their resolve.
But he also sighed.
"After tonight, the name 'Firebrand Sect' will be erased from the rolls of Cangyuan's cultivation world."
Shen Meinan leapt to her feet and stood beside Chen Kuang. Staring at the fiery glow in the distance, she said with some worry:
"The Firebrand Sect... I've heard that because of their cultivation technique, they're as fiery in temperament as their name implies, they're extremely radical. It seems the rumors weren't false. To avenge one man, they mobilized this many people.."
Chen Kuang chuckled:
"Numbers don't matter. A gap in cultivation realm isn't something that can be bridged with numbers."
Shen Meinan's expression turned a little weird.
If it were anyone else saying that, no problem.
But coming from you, the guy who just crossed multiple major realms to reverse-kill a Moon-Embracing Realm expert?
Saying "realm gaps can't be crossed" sounds just a little bit unconvincing, no?
Chen Kuang patted her shoulder:
"Go back to the cabin with Qingcuo. You don't want to get caught up in the blast. And help calm the madam, too."
Madam? What madam?
Shen Meinan instinctively tensed, then realized he was talking about Chu Wenruo, the Queen of the Liang Kingdom.
The girl pursed her lips. It still felt irritating. Just one polite title like "madam," and it felt like someone had taken the upper hand, yet she had no grounds to argue.
The Queen of Liang had always been addressed as "madam," after all.
Dammit... it feels like I lost! But how do you even win in something like this!?
Especially when she'd soon be leaving his side...
Shen Meinan frowned, muttered an "oh," and walked to the cabin, gently lifting the curtain and whispering to calm Chu Wenruo, who had been nervously peeking out.
Chen Kuang raised an eyebrow in surprise, unsure of what had upset her this time.
Wen Si, for his part, wasn't bothered that Chen Kuang didn't follow his advice to hide in the cabin. Watching the two young people interact, he gave a silent laugh and kept rowing forward.
The small boat sliced through the water and fire, parting two long trails of white waves.
Beneath the white waves, the river surged.
Under the blue-black waters of the night, a massive shadow silently emerged.
From its shape, it was clearly a giant fish, almost spanning the entire width of the river.
Compared to it, their little boat in the center of the river looked no larger than a leaf.
Wen Si had no fear of the Firebrand Sect.
Perhaps back when he was still only at the Master Realm, he might have hesitated.
But now, as someone who had stepped into Profound Realm, even if the entire Firebrand Sect came at him all at once, to him they were just moths flying into flame.
The Firebrand Sect had only one Master Realm cultivator, an elderly Supreme Elder on the verge of exhausting his life span.
The rest were mostly Moon-Embracing Realm or lower and absolutely no threat.
The only thing worth some attention was the sect's formation array, and the source of their cultivation technique, their sect's sacred relic, one of the top-grade Mystic Spiritual Treasures:
"Myriad Tribulation Enduring Fire"
The Firebrand Sect's rise to prominence was entirely thanks to this naturally formed flame residing in their sect's forbidden grounds.
The first sect master had created the sect's cultivation techniques by meditating upon this flame.
Bai Fen's infamous Heaven Searing Sword Technique was one such derivative. The flame he summoned was a projection imagined from this original flame.
In other words, that fire that had nearly burned Chen Kuang's absurdly regenerative body into ash, was just a crude imitation of this "Myriad Tribulation Enduring Fire."
If the Firebrand Sect decided to release the true flame tonight, then even for someone like Wen Si, it would pose a real threat.
Wen Si gazed into the distance.
As the boat drew nearer, the firelight intensified. At the forefront of the formation drifted forward a red-robed elderly woman.
She held a thunderstruck wood staff. Her eyes were sharp, and her aura was unmistakably at the Master Realm.
She was none other than the Firebrand Sect's Supreme Elder, Bai Luoyan.
The latter shouted loudly:
"Chen Kuang! You killed my grandson! You slew our sect master! You are my sworn enemy, and the sworn enemy of the entire Firebrand Sect!"
"Today, our sect rises in full to avenge him! Heaven and Earth shall bear witness! Do you dare accept our challenge?!"
Her voice rolled like thunder, shaking the river into rising waves and echoing across both riverbanks.
So Bai Fen was her grandson, huh?
Chen Kuang raised an eyebrow, then inwardly spat.
Old immortals in the cultivation world really had no shame.
To come grandstanding, calling him out publicly for a "duel"? Bah. "I'll duel your damn thigh."
He fought Bai Fen one-on-one, and even then, Bai Fen had the realm advantage.
Now this grandma comes in with a whole sect, pretending it's still honorable combat?
Clearly, she saw Wen Si's cultivation was too high, and felt uncertain. So she targeted the young Chen Kuang, hoping his pride would get the better of him and trick him into committing suicide by honor.
Wen Si saw through it too, frowning:
"Don't be rash, Junior Brother. Let your senior clear the way."
But Chen Kuang wanted to test his Poetic Madness passive.
"Let me try first, Senior Brother. If things go south, then you can step in."
Wen Si gave him a side glance:
"Don't act recklessly."
Chen Kuang smiled:
"Of course."
Shen Meinan, standing at the side, made an incredulous face.
Hey hey hey! That's a Master Realm elder plus half a sect over there! Can you two stop acting like this is just brushing away a flock of chickens?!
Chen Kuang stepped forward and stood at the boat's prow.
He took a deep breath and shouted:
"What do I have to fear?!"
"Good!"
Bai Luoyan's eyes gleamed, her voice loud and sharp:
"Ignite the sacred fire!"