C29 I'll Take You away

"Sinner Jiang Xiaofan! You've murdered a disciple of our Jiang family, fled in fear of your crimes, and now you dare to flout our family's rules! Today, I stand in for our ancestors to claim your head!"

At that moment, Jiang Lun, accompanied by several Jiang family disciples, charged at Jiang Xiaofan. They radiated the formidable pressure of the Spirit Martial Stage, converging their assault on him!

"Wind Opening Slash!"

Jiang Lun bellowed, his blade singing with a metallic ring!

The sword wind was bitingly sharp, hurtling towards Jiang Xiaofan with lethal intent!

A slight smirk played on Jiang Xiaofan's lips as he instantly activated his Battle Martial Body. Simultaneously, his Vibration Wind Boxing unleashed with explosive force!

The attackers hadn't even closed the distance when they were blasted back by the gale-force punches, retreating in disarray. Seizing the moment, Jiang Xiaofan surged forward, striking preemptively!

Divine Tiger Boxing was unleashed in rapid succession, and with three swift punches, he dispatched the three Spirit Martial Stage disciples of the Jiang family!

In that instant, the Glaze Blade materialized in Jiang Xiaofan's hand, and he executed the Wolf Strike. Jiang Lun, wielding his own blade, attempted to parry with a surge of Martial Qi.

The three family heads looked on, momentarily taken aback. They watched the Glaze Blade in Jiang Xiaofan's grip, its light dazzling, their expressions a mix of awe and complexity.

In Lintian City, only the city lord possessed an Earth Level weapon, while Profound Level weapons were typically wielded by the elite of the great families or their inner circle leaders. Jiang Xiaofan's blade was of the highest echelon within the Profound Level.

As the blades clashed, Jiang Xiaofan's arms surged with power, and he brought his weapon down with a mighty cleave!

"Ding!"

At the moment of impact, Jiang Lun's Ninth Grade Yellow Level blade was sheared in two. Jiang Lun managed to dodge, but not before the Glaze Blade left a slender, finger-length cut across his chest!

It was then that Jiang Xiaofan observed a white halo emanating from Jiang Lun's wound. The light swirled in the air for a few seconds before being absorbed by the Glaze Blade.

Such was the formidable power of the Glaze Blade, siphoning the enemy's Martial Qi for its wielder's use. No longer would there be any concern about depleting Martial Qi!

Everything unfolding before Jiang Xiaofan was invisible to Jiang Lun and the others; only Jiang Xiaofan could see it all!

With his blade sweeping through the air, Jiang Xiaofan charged once more at Jiang Lun!

Jiang Lun, the eldest and most powerful among the Jiang family's youth, was someone Jiang Hong trusted implicitly. He couldn't fathom someone overcoming a Seventh Level Spirit Martial Stage cultivator in a mere month!

But reality delivered a harsh blow!

Several Jiang family disciples who stepped up to assist were swiftly cut down by Jiang Xiaofan's Glaze Blade, and Jiang Xiaofan's system kept chiming with prompts, each one a bounty of experience points.

The experience from those at the Spirit Martial Stage was decent, but it would take nearly a hundred kills to level up, so Jiang Xiaofan didn't hold his breath.

It must be said that Jiang Lun was formidable, matching Jiang Xiaofan blow for blow with his martial prowess. After all, the Seventh Level of the Spirit Martial Stage wasn't for the faint-hearted.

But as the battle wore on, Jiang Lun noticed something amiss; his Martial Qi was depleting much faster than usual, which left him increasingly uneasy, especially since Jiang Xiaofan's Martial Qi reserves seemed hardly touched!

Currently, Jiang Xiaofan was using only half his Martial Qi to unleash his skills, with the remainder being siphoned from Jiang Lun himself. Not to mention, Jiang Xiaofan's backpack was stocked with over a hundred Clear Jade Pills.

Sensing the right moment, Jiang Xiaofan unleashed the Ten Thousand Water Slash. The Glaze Blade, trailing the sword qi, plunged straight into Jiang Lun's chest!

"Puff..."

Jiang Lun slowly raised his arm, attempting to grasp at Jiang Xiaofan, but with a swift kick, Jiang Xiaofan sent him sprawling to the ground, lifeless.

"System Prompt: You have successfully slain Jiang Lun and acquired the Sunlight Battle Blade."

"System Prompt: You have successfully slain Jiang Lun and acquired the Wind Opening Slash."

"System Prompt: You have successfully slain Jiang Lun and acquired 335 Copper coins."

Wind Opening Slash: Upon activation, it launches a high-speed, long-range attack on a single target.

After Jiang Lun's soul was devoured, Jiang Xiaofan's experience bar made a noticeable leap. It was undeniable that a Level Seven Spirit Martial yielded a substantial reward.

"Wind Opening Slash," he decided, "I'll learn it now!"

As for the Sunlight Battle Blade, merely an Eighth Grade Yellow Level weapon, it didn't even catch Jiang Xiaofan's interest. He tossed it to the jackal as a snack, only to have the creature complain about being fed garbage. Infuriated, Jiang Xiaofan was tempted to drag it out for a thrashing!

The three great families were inwardly astonished. Jiang Xiaofan's strength surpassed their expectations by far. Should he continue to cultivate diligently, he might well challenge the dominance of the three great families in Lintian City.

After all, those at the Celestial Martial Stage were the undisputed rulers there, and the only ones at that level were the three family heads and the City Lord.

They couldn't afford to nurture a threat within their midst!

Wu Ziqi, the head of the Wu family, banged his fist on the table and bellowed, "Jiang Xiaofan! On such a joyous occasion for the Jiang family, you dare to create chaos? Do you mistake this place for a common marketplace?"

The formidable presence of the Celestial Martial Stage was palpable, causing everyone to tense up. A crushing force filled the air, making breathing seem laborious.

The might of the Celestial Martial Stage was not to be underestimated or challenged lightly!

Jiang Hong was seething with rage. He hadn't considered the long-term repercussions; his immediate goal was to execute Jiang Xiaofan to quell unrest. How else could the Jiang family maintain their reputation? He even cast a thankful glance at Lyu Zhennan.

Lyu Zhennan, the leader of the Lyu family, rose slowly and gave Wu Ziqi a respectful fist salute. "Since Patriarch Wu has intervened, it seems my presence here is no longer necessary."

With that, he departed with several Wu family disciples in tow. Let them play the villain if they wished; Jiang Xiaofan's fate was sealed today.

But Yun Wei found himself unable to leave. The name Jiang Xiaofan had etched itself deep within his heart.

If he were a disciple of the Yun family, with the right nurturing, he might have led them beyond Lintian City to explore distant lands. But Jiang Hong, seeing this gem as an enemy, was out of his mind!

He longed to protect Jiang Xiaofan, yet he had no grounds for it, and he was powerless to stop Wu Ziqi from targeting his intended victim.

The overwhelming aura of the Celestial Martial Stage bore down on Jiang Xiaofan at the hall's center. In that critical moment, Jiang Nianrui burst forward, shielding him with her own body!

The force hit Jiang Nianrui unimpeded, her frail frame shuddering as blood spurted from her lips, and she collapsed, limp.

"Nianrui!"

Jiang Xiaofan cried out, rushing to catch her. There she was, looking up at him with a tender smile.

Ever since they were young, he had been her protector, taking beatings to secure cultivation resources, always bringing home the spoils, no matter how meager, for her. It was his sacrifices that paved her path to cultivation, yet she felt powerless to alter his destiny.

This time, she had given her all to shield him, never imagining that her dear, foolish brother would stand against an unbeatable foe for her sake.

Such folly!

If Jiang Xiaofan were to die today, she had no desire to cling to life.

Only by his side did she find peace.

Cradling Jiang Nianrui, he bent down and whispered, "Nianrui, you..."

Her cold hand reached up, touching his cheek. Despite her grave injuries, she smiled, "Brother, if we can't make it out today, I still want to be your sister in the next life."

"Nianrui, rest easy. I'm getting you out of here," Jiang Xiaofan vowed, lifting her gently. He rose to his feet, his gaze sweeping coldly over the onlookers, then turned and strode out with her in his arms.

Wu Ziqi's brow furrowed at the sight. "Trying to escape?"

In an instant, the overwhelming pressure of the Celestial Martial Stage bore down, causing Jiang Xiaofan's legs to buckle and nearly sending him tumbling to the ground. A trickle of fresh blood escaped his lips before he steadied himself.

"Kill him!"

The Jiang family patriarch issued a deadly command, prompting over a dozen guards, all at the late Spirit Martial Stage, to charge forward.

"Brother..."

The outlook was grim. Jiang Nianrui's consciousness waned, yet she managed to voice her concern for Jiang Xiaofan, fearing he might be harmed.

Facing his formidable opponents, Jiang Xiaofan offered Jiang Nianrui a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, no one can hurt you," he assured her.

He then retrieved a Black Mystic Herb Pill from his storage ring and swallowed it whole.

"Boom!"

The aura of the Profound Martial Stage radiated outward, lightening Jiang Xiaofan's body substantially.

Battle Martial Body, engage!

Collapse Mountain Giant Power, engage!

Jiang Xiaofan's presence intensified rapidly. Moments ago, he was merely a ninth-level Martial Disciple, considered worthless, but now his power threatened to overshadow nearly everyone in the hall.

As several disciples hesitated, Jiang Xiaofan's aura surged towards them. His form blurred, and with a swift dance of the Glaze Blade, heads of those nearby soared into the air.

As the system devoured the power of their souls, Jiang Xiaofan's gaze turned icy. He fixed his eyes on Wu Ziqi, who had just arrived at the doorway. It was clear that a bloody path was his only way out today.

With a flick of his wrist, the gleaming blade light of Ten Thousand Water Slash hurtled towards Wu Ziqi.

But just as it neared its target, the blade light shattered to nothingness!

Jiang Xiaofan's frown deepened. A Celestial Martial Stage powerhouse was not an adversary he, a mere beginner in the Profound Martial Stage, could hope to defeat.

Wu Ziqi's laughter boomed, tinged with madness. "So you're the Jiang family's disgrace? Today, you've proven just that. You're concerned for this girl? Then today, you both shall die!"

As Wu Ziqi spoke, he extended his consciousness towards Jiang Nianrui, nestled in Jiang Xiaofan's embrace.

"Still planning to just stand by and watch?" Jiang Xiaofan murmured to himself.

"Kid, you owe me another 10,000 Profound Level blades!"

Without waiting for Jiang Xiaofan's response, the jackal burst forth in a beam of white light from his chest, materializing before the astonished crowd.

A knee-high black pig, ugly as sin!

Jiang Xiaofan's murderous aura evaporated in an instant at the jackal's comical entrance.

Was this some kind of joke?

"Hahaha! Who would've thought you'd have such a worthless Spirit Beast! I'm going to enjoy torturing you today!" Jiang Tianyang, having regained some strength from the pills he ingested, sat propped up in a chair, mocking Jiang Xiaofan.

"Who are you calling worthless?" The jackal's gaze turned icy as it fixed on Jiang Tianyang.

"I'm saying that..."

"Crack!"

In a blur of motion, the jackal was suddenly behind Jiang Tianyang. Looking down, Jiang Tianyang saw the gaping hole in his chest. He coughed up a mouthful of blood, his head lolled to the side, and he moved no more.