CHAPTER 441: CHAPTER 440 TREMOR_1

"What? Gu Qingcang, Ao Tian, and Chu Tiange have all been removed from the Devil Scroll? What’s going on? Ling Chen’s points have skyrocketed, and the second-ranked Xie Zhiqiu can’t catch up by a long shot."

"That’s strange. Gu Qingcang and Ao Tian are experts above the Great Master Seventh Realm, especially Gu Qingcang, who advanced to the Eighth Level not long ago. How could Ling Chen have killed them?"

"Indeed, it’s surprising that Ling Chen killed Gu Qingcang and Ao Tian, given their cultivation. Both were Sect Master Sikong Yi’s favorite direct disciples; I wonder what he must be feeling right now?" The crowd discussed eagerly, all eyes turned to the Saint Witch Sect Master, Sikong Yi, in the distance.

How could this happen? Sikong Yi’s eyes were fixed on the Devil Scroll, almost in disbelief. He stared, wide-eyed, until he was finally sure, his expression then turned to one of shock, as if he had been struck by lightning.

"Sect Leader!"

Xuanjizi hurried forward to support Sikong Yi. He had never seen Sikong Yi so distraught.

"Damn that little beast!" Sikong Yi’s voice was low, audible to only a few. At this moment, he was filled with such fury he wished he could slaughter everyone present who dared to oppose him to vent his anger. This was a significant defeat; four of his five direct disciples were dead, and decades of hard work had gone to waste.

"Sect Leader, don’t despair yet. Look, someone is coming out of the Sky Demon Tower! It could be Gu Qingcang and the others."

Just then, the voices of the Black and White Holy Envoys carried over from nearby. Hearing this, Sikong Yi abruptly looked up. Indeed, in his line of sight, two figures were limping and scurrying towards them in a sorry state.

As the figures drew closer, Sikong Yi finally recognized them, and his eyes lit up. It was Ao Tian and Chu Tiange.

"Why are there only two of you? Where is Gu Qingcang?" Sikong Yi asked, his brow furrowing as he noted one person was missing.

"Senior Brother Gu Qingcang... he’s been... killed!" Chu Tiange cried out, his head bowed in grief, his voice choked with sobs.

"What?"

Although he had suspected this outcome, Sikong Yi’s expression turned grim, and his heart plummeted upon hearing the news.

"Master, it was Ling Chen who did it," Ao Tian managed to say, his voice weak. "We don’t know what incredible fortuitous encounter he had, but he kills opponents with terrifying ease, as simple as eating or drinking. If we hadn’t fled quickly, we would likely be dead by his sword now."

Sikong Yi’s expression was unsightly; it seemed no one could stop Ling Chen.

This Sky Demon Tower trial seemed designed entirely for Ling Chen’s benefit. The so-called geniuses from the Tiger Demon Sect, Green-faced Demon Sect, Bull Demon Sect, and Leopard Demon Sect were merely foils for him. Countless experts were slain, their points all falling to Ling Chen, thereby forging his unparalleled glory.

"Master, why don’t you secretly dispatch an expert right now? Send Xuanjizi or the Ghost God Honorific! Let them sneak into the Sky Demon Tower and assassinate Ling Chen!" Chu Tiange exclaimed.

"Even I cannot do that." Sikong Yi shook his head. "This is the Sky Demon Tower trial; only disciples of the younger generation can enter. This rule has been in place since the founding of the Holy Church and cannot be violated. Neither Xuanjizi, the Ghost God Honorific, nor even I can enter the Sky Demon Tower. We would be repelled and denied entry entirely."

"Moreover, with so many eyes watching, how could the people from the Saintess Hall possibly allow us to tamper with things? If we were discovered, I, as the Sect Leader, would lose all credibility with my followers."

"Master, you are at the Five-fold realm of Sky Apex! There must be a way!" Chu Tiange shrieked. "Two of our senior brothers are dead! Our feud with Ling Chen is irreconcilable! Did they die for nothing? Teacher Yan Xiang, Senior Brother Gu Qingcang—you always praised them, saying they would surely become Demon Way titans who would dominate the Martial World! Now they’ve been brutally murdered!"

"If we allow that Ling Chen to continue growing, I fear that our Skypiercing Peak Lineage will never know peace! Your authority as Sect Leader will be utterly destroyed, and the Skypiercing Peak Lineage will exist in name only! There would be no point in it continuing to exist!"

"Audacious!"

Just then, Xuanjizi, who was beside Sikong Yi, rebuked him sharply, "Chu Tiange! Considering you just escaped death and are likely speaking recklessly out of distress, we won’t hold your wild words against you. But how dare you disregard etiquette and shout before the Sect Leader? Step down at once! The Sect Leader has his own plans."

"Enough. Let him continue," Sikong Yi said, waving his hand, his expression grave.

"Master," Chu Tiange said, calming down. "Think about it. What is Ling Chen’s current cultivation? He’s only at the Grandmaster Third Realm, yet he was able to kill Teacher Yan Xiang, Senior Brother Gu Qingcang, and numerous other experts, sweeping through all opposition. You, of all people, should be clearest about Senior Brother Gu Qingcang’s cultivation. He was a Grandmaster of the Eight-level Realm and had the Devil Emperor’s Map for protection! Even an ordinary peak Grandmaster of the Nine Heavy Realm couldn’t get near him, let alone kill him. This means Ling Chen now possesses the strength to slay a Grandmaster of the Eight-level Realm!"

"If he emerges, accepts the first-place reward, then cultivates in the Bottomless Demon Abyss and advances several more levels, it wouldn’t be impossible for him to kill a Top Sky Apex Strong expert! The Saintess has such a son. With a few more years of her guidance, once he ascends to the Sky Apex Realm, Master, do you truly believe you would be his match?"

"He is indeed a colossal threat!" Sikong Yi’s eyes flared with murderous intent as he finally voiced his thoughts. Listening to Chu Tiange, he truly began to take Ling Chen seriously. This boy is a peerless genius, one unseen in a thousand years. Once he advances to the Sky Apex Realm, he will surely achieve earth-shattering feats that will astound generations. Whether I, as the Sect Leader, can suppress him then... that is a grave question."

"This boy must be eliminated! At the Grandmaster Third Realm, he can kill a Grandmaster of the Eight-level Realm. This is not just unprecedented; it’s unheard of! Such a genius, capable of killing foes so many realms above his own, hasn’t been recorded even in the Ancient Times. Perhaps only in the core regions of the Continent could such a peerless talent exist."

"However, for now, Xie Zhiqiu should still be able to suppress him. In this trial, he is bound to confront Ling Chen eventually and fight him to the death."

Hopefully, Brother Xie finds that brat soon, Chu Tiange prayed inwardly. Previously, he had been 100% confident that Xie Zhiqiu killing Ling Chen would be as easy as crushing an ant. But now, Ling Chen had successively killed Teacher Yan Xiang, defeated Ao Tian, and slain Gu Qingcang—a veritable killing spree that had shocked the world, as if he intended to tear down the heavens themselves. Who could still confidently claim to be superior to Ling Chen?

Even with Xie Zhiqiu, Chu Tiange didn’t hold out absolute hope; he estimated Xie Zhiqiu’s chances of winning were no more than seventy percent.