Gazing at the young man's receding figure.
Jiang Tai and Jiang Ziyou's expressions were dark and uncertain. The young man's earlier words had struck them like a bolt from the blue, still rumbling in their hearts.
Jiang Tai narrowed his eyes, a cold glint within them. "Little Ziyou, that boy has a bit of his father in him. For him to make such a bold claim—that he'll defeat you at the Yulan Festival's gathering of the Four Great Clans—he must have some sort of backing. To prevent any accidents, perhaps I should deal with him..."
He raised his right hand and drew a finger across his throat.
His cold, merciless expression was plain to see.
Jiang Ziyou narrowed her eyes, staring at Jiang Chen's back. A corner of her mouth lifted in a sneer of ridicule and disdain as she said coolly, "He's just a good-for-nothing with a Yellow Tier First Grade Martial Soul. What waves could he possibly make? If he doesn't show up at the Yulan Festival, so be it. But if he dares to appear and challenge my authority, I'll finish him with my own hands!"
"Trash will always be trash, and an ant will always be an ant. If it dares to act up, I can crush it with a flick of my wrist."
Jiang Ziyou lightly clenched her fist, a sharp CRACK CRACK echoing from her knuckles. A powerful True Qi surged within her—she was not far from breaking through to the Fourth Stage of Martial Arts...
...
After leaving the Jiang Family compound,
Jiang Chen walked alone down the bustling street.
The setting sun stretched his shadow long behind him. He looked utterly out of place, a solitary and desolate figure against the backdrop of the world.
'Heh. Jiang Ziyou, oh, Jiang Ziyou. To think I treated you with such sincerity, only for it to end like this.'
A bitter, self-mocking smile touched Jiang Chen's lips as he recalled the years he had spent by Jiang Ziyou's side. Teaching her Martial Skills, helping her absorb the Nourishing God Pill... scene after scene flashed through his mind as if it were only yesterday.
But...
In the end, it was all just an illusion!
'In the end, it all comes down to strength! If I were powerful enough, if I were already at the Martial Arts Ninth Stage or even a True Martial Realm expert, how would Jiang Ziyou and Jiang Tai dare to take my Saint Martial Order? How would they dare drive me from my home?'
A burning fighting spirit ignited in Jiang Chen's eyes. He clenched his fists. "The Yulan Festival's gathering of the Four Great Clans is in two months. I must catch up to Jiang Ziyou before then. I will defeat that venomous, black-hearted woman in front of everyone and reclaim the Saint Martial Order that is rightfully mine!"
If anyone else had heard him, they would have undoubtedly met his words with merciless scorn.
After all, Jiang Ziyou possessed a Profound Tier Ninth Grade Martial Soul and had advanced to the Third Stage of Martial Arts the moment her Martial Soul awakened. Jiang Chen, on the other hand, was just a good-for-nothing with a Yellow Tier First Grade Martial Soul.
And he thought he could surpass Jiang Ziyou in just two months?
To any ordinary person, it was an absolute pipe dream.
But for Jiang Chen, who possessed the God-slaying Sword and the Profound Yellow Undying Technique, it wasn't impossible at all.
He wandered aimlessly until a tall, tower-like structure loomed before him, blocking his path.
'The Sword Tower?'
It was one of Yandu City's Cultivation Holy Lands.
Ten years ago, Jiang Taixu had acquired this treasure by force, cutting down nine top experts from Yandu City's Four Great Clans.
The Sword Tower had nine floors.
Each floor was guarded by a puppet, and challengers could enter the Sword Tower to battle them.
By defeating a puppet, one could obtain a large amount of Spiritual Qi.
The higher the floor and the stronger the puppet defeated, the more Spiritual Qi one could absorb within the Sword Tower, thus increasing their cultivation speed.
The Sword Tower originally belonged exclusively to the Jiang Family, and only its disciples were allowed to enter and cultivate.
But ever since Jiang Taixu's disappearance, the Four Great Clans had united with the City Lord's Mansion to apply pressure. The Jiang Family was forced to open the Sword Tower to the public, treating it as a family business. Now, anyone could enter to cultivate as long as they paid the fee.
The one currently presiding over the Sword Tower was a Jiang Family Elder at the Martial Arts Seventh Stage—Jiang Ming.
'I desperately need Spiritual Qi to raise my cultivation. The Sword Tower is the perfect place for that!' Jiang Chen's eyes lit up.
His current strength was only at the Martial Arts First Stage—a mediocre level. Cultivating in the Sword Tower was an excellent choice for him!
"Disciple Jiang Chen pays his respects to Elder Jiang Ming!"
Jiang Chen walked up to the Sword Tower and bowed respectfully to Elder Jiang Ming, the man guarding it.
Jiang Ming raised an eyebrow, his gaze landing on Jiang Chen. "Jiang Chen? You're not at the family estate. What brings you here?"
Jiang Chen smiled. "Elder, this disciple has awakened his Martial Soul and entered the Martial Arts Realm. I plan to enter the Sword Tower to cultivate!"
As he spoke, he released a wisp of True Qi, revealing his cultivation at the Martial Arts First Stage.
"Oh?"
Jiang Ming was taken aback for a moment, then smiled. "It really is the Martial Arts First Stage. In that case, go on in."
"Thank you, Elder!"
Jiang Chen nodded and entered the Sword Tower.
'Strange... The boy awakened his Martial Soul, so how is his cultivation only at the Martial Arts First Stage? Don't tell me his Martial Soul is only a Low Level Yellow Tier?' Jiang Ming wondered, puzzled.
After all, he was stationed at the Sword Tower and hadn't returned to the clan. He had no idea that Jiang Chen had awakened a Yellow Tier First Grade Martial Soul, much less that he had been driven out of the family by Jiang Ziyou and her father.
...
「Sword Tower, 1st Floor.」
A puppet stood before Jiang Chen, its entire body glowing with a faint, cold light. Sensing his arrival, it slowly opened its eyes. An emotionless voice rang out, "Please select your weapon!"
A weapon rack slowly rose before Jiang Chen, displaying a neat row of blades: a Heavy Sword, a short sword, a long sword, a broadsword, and more.
'The Aurora Sword Technique my father left me excels in speed. I'll choose this light and nimble long sword.'
Jiang Chen selected a long sword. It was light and agile, perfectly suited for graceful, speed-based Sword Techniques.
"Weapon selected. Entering combat mode..."
The puppet's form blurred into motion.
CLANG—
As the puppet stepped forward, luminous runes lit up along the four walls of the Sword Tower's 1st Floor.
He wasn't surprised in the least; on the contrary, he was perfectly calm. 'Let's see just how strong this Sword Tower Puppet really is!'
BOOM!
The puppet was already striding forward, charging at Jiang Chen.
It was incredibly fast, its punches whistling through the air with immense power.
Before the fist even arrived, the gale it whipped up was so strong that Jiang Chen could barely keep his eyes open. He couldn't help but think, 'What a powerful puppet! No wonder they say cultivating in the Sword Tower is pure self-torture. But for a mere puppet to think it can stop my, Jiang Chen's, progress... that's just wishful thinking!'
At this thought, the sword in Jiang Chen's hand shot from its scabbard with a clear SHING! Taking quick steps, he charged to meet the puppet.
Man and puppet, sword and fist.
They collided violently in mid-air. With a sharp DING, a white gash appeared on the puppet's Iron Fist.
Jiang Chen, however, was sent flying back ten meters, the web of his hand going numb from the impact.
'Such incredible power!'
Jiang Chen's eyes narrowed. He licked the corner of his mouth with a red tongue, a fervent battle-lust shining in his gaze. "You may have the power to shatter mountains, but I'll simply avoid the brunt of your attack and cut you down with my Fast Sword!"
"Kill!"
With a low roar, Jiang Chen raised his sword and charged forward once more...