CHAPTER 436: CHAPTER 435: DISCOVERING THE TRACK_1

When Ling Chen couldn’t threaten his position, he could let him be. But now, Ling Chen was vying for his first place, which meant he had to take action.

I must eliminate this brat to secure my own position.

Ling Chen’s points far surpassed his, reaching over 20,000. He would have to strive arduously just to trail behind Ling Chen. Rather than that, wouldn’t it be easier to just kill Ling Chen and take all his points for myself?

"What? Ling Chen is first, surpassing even Eldest Senior Brother Xie Zhiqiu?" Yan Xiang nearly jumped. Though usually calm, he still couldn’t accept this news.

"Find him! Search relentlessly! Spare no effort to find Ling Chen! We absolutely cannot let him increase his points further, nor can we allow him to advance! We must discover the reason why his points have increased so much!" Yan Xiang was going mad.

"Amazing, he became number one just like that."

Meanwhile, on the eighth layer of the Sky Demon Tower, Xun Wujie and Xie Xinyin also sensed the change in the Devil Scroll within their seas of consciousness. Ling Chen’s name was displayed high above, surpassing everyone—an achievement that shook the past and dazzled the present, stunning all who saw it.

No one had expected him to actually be ranked first.

"He just slaughtered all the young talents of the Tiger Demon Sect lineage, eliminated Hu Xiong, and now his points have soared to first place," Xun Wujie said. "I imagine Xie Zhiqiu, Xia Yunxin, Yan Xiang, and some other powerful young Experts can no longer sit still. The situation now is that whoever kills Ling Chen will claim first place."

Xun Wujie then added, "Xinyin, let’s go take a look too. Perhaps we can gain some advantage while Ling Chen is being besieged."

"Could it be?" A hint of surprise flickered in Xie Xinyin’s beautiful eyes. "Brother, are we also going to kill Ling Chen and take a share of the spoils? But Ling Chen is the Saintess’s son. Our Sadness Hall has never interfered in the conflicts between the Saintess Hall and Skypiercing Peak. If we kill Ling Chen, we’ll incur a great enmity, and it will make things difficult for us in the future."

"Of course not."

Xun Wujie shook his head, a sharp glint in his eyes. "We just need to watch from the sidelines. If Ling Chen wins, we’ll take the opportunity to attack the losers. If Ling Chen is defeated, we’ll be the first to kill him. If both sides suffer heavy losses, our options will be even greater. We could even kill them all and take all their points into my hands."

"Senior Brother Xun has considered everything thoroughly."

This way, they would remain neutral, and no matter the outcome, they would be the ultimate beneficiaries.

"Die!"

In another area of the eighth layer, a bare-chested young man with a thick beard, wielding a Broad Halberd, slaughtered a Demon Soul of the Seventh Realm, instantly blasting it to dust.

"In such a short time, someone’s points actually surpassed ours! If it were Xie Zhiqiu, Xia Yunxin, or Xun Wujie, that would be one thing. But a mere nobody has climbed over my head, Ao Tian’s head!" The bare-chested young man roared. A slash of his Broad Halberd cut through the darkness. He took a mighty leap and his figure vanished, leaving behind only his words, "Ling Chen... you are doomed! Since that brat Yan Xiang has been slow to kill you, I will take your life! I must seize first place this time and replace Xie Zhiqiu to become the Sect Leader’s chief disciple!"

This bare-chested young man, wielding a Broad Halberd, was none other than Ao Tian, who was originally ranked fifth. His cultivation was at the peak of the Great Master Seventh Realm, making him a sliver stronger than even Yan Xiang. Compared to the three young titans—Xie Zhiqiu, Xia Yunxin, and Xun Wujie—he was only marginally weaker.

How could he tolerate a nobody trampling over him?

"I, Gu Qingcang, would also like to see who this person is." At the same time, in another location within the Sky Demon Tower, a young man dressed in yellow, exuding an extraordinary aura, sneered. The Saintess’s son... is he really that formidable? A mere Grandmaster of the Third Realm, yet he can contend with us Grand Masters of the Seventh Realm and Eighth Level? Even if he were the son of a Saint, it’s impossible for him to possess such capabilities while only at the Grandmaster Third Realm!

This Gu Qingcang was the second disciple of Sect Master Sikong Yi of Skypiercing Peak, his strength a level higher than Ao Tian’s.

He too stopped hunting Demon Souls and joined the massive hunt for Ling Chen.

For a time, countless powerful disciples and trial participants all set their sights on the same target: Ling Chen.

At this moment, after slaying the black colossal beast, the True Qi within Ling Chen’s body experienced an explosive surge. Ling Chen’s cultivation had reached the peak of the Grandmaster Third Realm.

However, the more significant improvement was not in his cultivation but in his Sword Dao Realm. After slaying this octopus Demon Soul, Ling Chen’s Sword Dao Realm had advanced from "Sword Spirit Universe" to the "Clear Heart Sword" level.

Ling Chen’s eyes were exceptionally clear, like two semi-transparent gemstones, capable of seeing through everything, foreseeing the present and the future.

The moment the Clear Heart Sword realm was achieved, Ling Chen’s comprehension of the Sword Dao instantly increased severalfold.

The final three stances of the Dragon Seeking Sword Technique, which Ling Chen had not previously comprehended, were now thoroughly understood, their principles and core essence completely laid bare to him.

The Thirteenth Stance: Fish and Dragon Hundred Transformations!

The Fourteenth Stance: Prosperity and Decline!

The Fifteenth Stance: Thousand Dragons Gathering!

Ling Chen now seemed like a prophet, or perhaps a transcendent Sword Saint. Oblivious to his surroundings, he directly began to wield the Thunder Shadow Sword in his hand, executing the complete Dragon Seeking Sword Technique.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Thunderous sword qi, accompanied by the roar of a dragon, tore through the sky. The surrounding Demon Souls scattered in retreat, not daring to come within a one-kilometer radius.

Comprehending the sword, learning the sword, practicing the sword—it all seemed to happen in an instant, completed in a very short time.

The area within a one-kilometer radius was saturated with his Sword Momentum, but his Sword Intent could be felt even ten li away.

Over ten li away from Ling Chen, a scrawny, gloomy-faced man in black leather armor appeared. He was furtive, like a stray dog sniffing around, tracking a scent all the way here.

Behind him were seven or eight Experts. The one in the lead was surprisingly a green-faced man who bore some resemblance to the Green-faced Demon Sect’s people; he was Mo Liqing, son of the leader of the Green-faced Demon Sect.

"What an intense Sword Intent!"

Mo Liqing’s eyes lit up. He had long been colluding with Yan Xiang in searching for Ling Chen. Thanks to Gou Santong’s special ability, they had finally found Ling Chen’s location. This Sword Intent is terrifying! Mo Liqing, however, was thrilled. There’s no mistake, the person ahead must be Ling Chen! This is a golden opportunity!

"Young Master Mo!" an Expert from a Demon Sect branch exclaimed. "I can’t believe we were the first to find Ling Chen! Should we notify Yan Xiang immediately? Or should we act ourselves and seize this massive opportunity?"

"No." Mo Liqing’s eyes gleamed. "This fish is too big for us to swallow alone. We might even get ourselves killed if we’re not careful. That’s most likely what happened to Hu Xiong. I’m certain Hu Xiong also found Ling Chen but tried to take all the spoils for himself. In the end, he lost his life and died a miserable death."

"Notify Yan Xiang at once! Let him make the move!"