CHAPTER 414: CHAPTER 413: DARE NOT?_1

The intruder turned out to be a disciple of Sect Master Sikong Yi from the Skypiercing Peak Lineage.

Ling Chen’s heart stirred as he regarded the tall and burly youth, sensing a barbarously aggressive force radiating from his body. Deep within his physique seemed to lurk another, far more violently potent, yet concealed force. Although this Yan Xiang’s cultivation might not surpass that of the Earth Demon Sect or Lady Ming, the level of his exuded force is hardly any less powerful than those two. A Demon General, within the Saint Witch Religion, is at the very least an expert of Grandmaster Level, and often belongs to the higher echelons of Grand Masters.

"Yan Xiang, what brings you here to pick a fight?"

Elder Beiming stepped before Ling Chen, his hunched frame protectively shielding the young man. "Don’t tell me you think being Sikong Yi’s disciple gives you the right to intimidate the Saintess?"

"Hmph, provoking?"

Yan Xiang took a step forward, his body ramrod straight as he looked down imperiously at Ling Chen. "Old Man Beiming, I just received news that our Skypiercing Peak experts, the Earth Demon Sect and Lady Ming, have both fallen. The Sect Leader sent me to ask: were you responsible for their deaths?"

"Oh, really?" Xia Yunxin stepped forward, a glacial smile playing on her lips. "I wonder which of your eyes saw us kill them? Besides, how would you know their deaths had anything to do with us?"

"Stop trying to change the subject! It doesn’t matter if you admit it or not; many disciples witnessed you, Old Man Beiming, commit the act."

From behind Yan Xiang, Chu Tiange stepped out, his gaze icy. "Old Man Beiming, you have some nerve! Do you even know who the Earth Demon Sect was? A top-tier Grand Master, someone of considerable standing within our Holy Church! Did you really think you could just kill him and not fear the Sect Leader’s wrath?"

"I’m old; death matters little to me. However, I must accomplish what the Saintess tasked me with. Years ago, the Saintess pulled me back from the Gate of Hell. I owe her a great debt of kindness and am obligated to ensure the safety of those around her. The Earth Demon Sect and Lady Ming schemed against our young master, so I had to kill them. If the Sect Leader finds fault with this, he is welcome to come find me at any time."

Elder Beiming’s figure remained hunched, yet his tone was staunchly resolute; not even Sect Leader Sikong Yi intimidated him.

"Elder Beiming, such arrogance!" Yan Xiang said in a chilling tone. "Don’t forget, no matter what, the Sect Leader is the ruler, and you are his subject! If the ruler demands his subject’s death, the subject must comply! Now that you’ve confessed to killing the Earth Demon Sect, you must accept the punishment from Skypiercing Peak."

"I am willing to accept punishment, but it requires the Saintess’s approval. If anyone else wishes to punish me," Elder Beiming declared, his face expressionless, "then I wouldn’t mind going on a killing spree, taking down as many as I can."

Witnessing such a dispute, Ling Chen was taken aback. Before joining the Saint Witch Religion, he hadn’t imagined the internal strife would be so fierce. Saintess Hall and Skypiercing Peak were practically at each other’s throats, ready to resort to slaughter at any moment, showing no mercy whatsoever.

"Yan Xiang, do you have any other business with us? If not, then let us pass. Don’t hinder our young master’s way."

Elder Beiming released the immense pressure of the Sky Apex Realm, bearing down on the entire plaza, not even sparing Yan Xiang.

"Hold your horses!"

Yan Xiang unleashed an aura akin to a wild beast, countering Elder Beiming’s oppressive force. He then turned his gaze back to Ling Chen, and an intangible pressure began to spread, like a mountain of immense weight bearing down on the youth.

He looked down on Ling Chen and declared arrogantly, "Kid, even if you are the Son of the Saintess, you’re too worthless. How could someone as incredible as the Saintess give birth to a son like you? A mere Second Realm Grandmaster! I could crush you with a single finger. Let me tell you, members of our Holy Church temper themselves through battle. Sheltered little birds like you, raised in a greenhouse, are just yellow-bellied cowards. Stop hiding behind Old Man Beiming and come out!"

"Young Master, don’t let him provoke you," Elder Beiming said. "As long as I’m here, no one can harm you."

"Sikong Yi’s disciple, Yan Xiang, is it? What do you want?"

Ling Chen waved his hand dismissively and stepped out from behind Elder Beiming.

"It’s simple. You are the Son of the Saintess, and I am a direct disciple of the Sect Leader. In terms of status, we’re equals. Neither the Sect Leader’s disciples nor the Saintess’s sons should be weaklings or trash. I won’t bully you. I’ll make one move. If you can take it, the matter of Old Man Beiming killing the Earth Demon Sect will be dropped. How about it? Otherwise, he’s in big trouble this time; even the Saintess might not be able to protect him."

A trace of ferocity flickered in Yan Xiang’s eyes.

"Young Master, don’t fall for his tricks. I’d like to see who dares cause trouble for me," Elder Beiming said slowly.

"Old Man Beiming! The Saintess is in seclusion right now. Who do you think can protect you?" Yan Xiang shouted, his gaze then landing on Ling Chen. "What, scared to even take one hit from me? HAHA! So, the Son of the Saintess is such a coward! From now on, whenever you see me, you will kneel! Got it?"

"Did I say I was scared?"

Ling Chen suddenly lifted his head, a cold smile flickering across his lips. "However, I’d like to add another condition: the loser of this exchange must cripple one of their own arms, right here, in front of everyone. How about that?"

As he said these words with a grin, the many Saint Witch Religion disciples in the square were dumbstruck. They never expected Ling Chen, instead of backing down, to actually raise the stakes. Has he gone mad?

"Ling Chen, don’t let small irritations ruin the grand plan!" Xia Yunxin couldn’t help but furrow her delicate brows, tugging at Ling Chen’s sleeve.

"Indeed, Young Master! Don’t let a moment of anger cloud your judgment!"

Elder Beiming’s usually calm expression changed. He hadn’t expected Ling Chen to be so impulsive. He regretted praising him earlier. Young people are too easily carried away, failing to see the true gap in strength between themselves and their opponents.

"I’ve made up my mind. Do you all have so little faith in me?" Only Ling Chen himself remained calm and composed, as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening.

This fool is digging his own grave!

Hearing Ling Chen’s words, Chu Tiange was momentarily stunned, then a mocking smirk quickly spread across his lips.

Who was Yan Xiang? His cultivation had already reached The Master of the Sixth Realm. Moreover, he cultivated the Lower-grade King-level Martial Art, ’Divine Ox Strength Technique’, and his primary martial art was also a King-level Lower Martial Arts, ’Mountain-splitting 36 Axes’. If he unleashed his full power, even ordinary Seventh-Level Grandmasters would be instantly killed by him. For Ling Chen to dare provoke Yan Xiang like this was simply courting death!

"HAHA! Good! I didn’t expect a little whelp like you to have some backbone!" Yan Xiang grinned, but it was a grim, predatory smile. "Still, knowing you’re bound to lose and yet insisting on sacrificing an arm? That’s just plain stupid."

As his words fell, Yan Xiang’s palm suddenly exerted a suction force. The Mountain-splitting Giant Axe, weighing several thousand pounds, flew into his hand as if pulled by an invisible power. He grasped it firmly, and in that moment, it was as if those thousands of pounds of weight had vanished.