Chapter Twelve: The Might of a Single Sword
A treasured sword materialized in Xiao Chenxin’s hand.
Ye Chen was taken aback and quickly stepped back several dozen paces. Seeing that Xiao Chenxin had no intention of attacking him, he let out a slight sigh of relief, though his nerves remained taut.
“What… what are you planning to do?”
The Flaming Cloud Sword.
Xiao Chenxin drew the blade and casually tossed it to Meng Yao.
“Apprentice, catch this. It is a gift from your master.”
Meng Yao hastily caught the sword with both hands and knelt on one knee.
“Thank you, Master, for this sword!”
As Meng Yao received the blade, Xiao Chenxin cast a faint glance at Ye Chen.
“I was merely recalling some unfinished trivial matters; there’s no need to be tense.”
With that, he turned to Meng Yao.
“This sword is called the Flaming Cloud Sword. Though not of the highest grade, it carries my great expectations for you.”
“I hope you will ascend to the pinnacle of this world.”
Ye Chen watched the scene before him in utter confusion.
What… is going on here?
Wasn’t there supposed to be a duel?
Why suddenly is he giving weapons to his disciple?
Suddenly, a thought flashed through Ye Chen’s mind. His eyes lit up with determination.
“Fine! If you think your disciple is stronger than me, I’ll prove it to you!”
“In three years, I’ll first beat your disciple, then utterly humiliate you, you worthless wretch!”
At that moment, Ye Chen was brimming with confidence.
Since birth, he had truly been a prodigy.
He had easily stabilized his foundation cultivation at a young age, and at only twenty, he was already striving to break into the Golden Core realm.
No one could match his speed of cultivation!
Not to mention Meng Yao, a mere Qi Refining stage girl; even facing the numerous peak masters of Yaoguang Sacred Land, he felt no fear.
All he needed was time.
Time to grow.
He was destined to be the thunderclap that astonishes heaven and earth!
Just as Ye Chen’s confidence soared, Xiao Chenxin turned around calmly.
He raised his hand empty, and a system prompt echoed in his mind:
[Congratulations, Host! You have triggered a ten-thousand-fold return!]
[Reward: The Heaven-Shattering, World-Calming Divine Sword!]
[Detected Host’s power too low, the sword’s power has been sealed. It will unseal automatically when the Host’s strength increases!]
Xiao Chenxin swung down in Ye Chen’s direction!
A simple yet heavy greatsword silently appeared in his palm.
Upon releasing this divine sword, the entire world darkened instantly, a grim and killing aura spreading so fiercely that even the birds in the sky were terrified, fluttering desperately before plummeting to the earth.
It was like a ghostly wind from the netherworld!
It was fire—the purest blaze from the heavens above!
It was water—the profound, all-encompassing water that carries all things in the world!
…
In Ye Chen’s eyes, this sword was a myriad of forms, seeming to embody all the strongest forces in existence.
But to Xiao Chenxin, it was just a broad, heavy greatsword.
The only thing that stirred memories within him was the decoration on the thick hilt, which felt slightly irritating.
Just as the Heaven-Shattering, World-Calming Divine Sword was about to strike the stunned Ye Chen, suddenly, a white light shot out from Ye Chen’s ring.
It transformed into a figure who caught the blade with both hands, halting the strike.
Bang!
The moment the sword was blocked, a fierce gale erupted like towering waves crashing down!
Within a radius of dozens of miles, not a speck of dust remained on the ground.
Far beyond, a raging wind stirred up a sky-darkening dust storm.
Such power from just a single strike!
And the one who could block it was undoubtedly formidable.
A prompt sounded in Xiao Chenxin’s ear.
[Detected dense Heavenly Dao power. Unable to kill the child of fate, Ye Chen.]
[Forcing a kill will result in backlash from the Heavenly Dao power.]
[Heavenly Dao power and this system are of the same origin and level.]
[Host, please proceed with caution.]
“So, he really is the protagonist.”
“Ordinary people wouldn’t dare to say they’ll duel in three years.”
“Pity, if I had acted a little faster just now, perhaps I could have settled this.”
Xiao Chenxin silently retracted the Heaven-Shattering, World-Calming Divine Sword.
The white figure no longer appeared as solid as before.
Before she could speak, Ye Chen suddenly roared.
“You righteous scoundrel, beast!”
“Daring to ambush me in front of the whole world!”
“Does Yaoguang Sacred Land have no shame left?”
Faced with Ye Chen’s furious shouting, Xiao Chenxin merely smiled faintly, not even glancing at him.
His gaze rested on the white figure.
This was Ye Chen’s reliance as the child of fate; she was both his guide and the trigger for his auxiliary powers.
If she could be stripped away, Ye Chen would no longer be fearsome.
After all, Xiao Chenxin also possessed a system equal to the Heavenly Dao power, perhaps even more effective!
Forcible seizure was impossible; she had to be won over voluntarily to avoid the Heavenly Dao’s backlash.
He instinctively looked at the woman.
[Name: Ling Hu]
[Fate Value: Gold]
[Bootlicker Score: 85!]
Seeing her bootlicker score, Xiao Chenxin’s eyes widened.
Hiss!
Bootlicker?
No way—she was a hidden remnant soul, who could she possibly be fawning over?
Upon closer inspection, Ling Hu unconsciously stood in front of Ye Chen.
She was the one who had just blocked a fatal strike for him!
Could it be…
She was Ye Chen’s bootlicker?
No!
This was too explosive!
Xiao Chenxin was completely stunned.
In his mind, he had already imagined tens of thousands of words for an amazing novel, titled:
“Shocking! The Stunning Master Is Actually My Bootlicker?”
Suddenly, a bold thought crossed Xiao Chenxin’s mind.
Why not take her as his own disciple?
That way, even if Ye Chen wished to harm him, he would have to consider the weight of his master!
As long as Ling Hu stayed, keeping them apart and sowing discord, the chances of success would greatly increase.
With his plan settled, Xiao Chenxin looked at the woman on the ground and smiled gently.
“If I don’t show the intention to kill your disciple, how long do you plan to watch the show?”
“You’re Ye Chen’s master, yet you allow your disciple to cause trouble in Yaoguang Sacred Land, slandering my honor and trying to extort compensation.”
“How do you think this matter should be resolved?”
Ling Hu’s beautiful eyes were filled with solemnity.
“Sir, your swordsmanship is truly formidable.”
Xiao Chenxin casually planted the Heaven-Shattering, World-Calming Divine Sword into the ground, his face beaming with a sunny smile.
“Wielding this thing is quite exhausting; it takes three breaths of time to recover.”
“Are you ready?”
Ling Hu’s lips twitched sharply.
Three breaths?
She had just spent nearly three years’ worth of accumulated power to catch that strike.
Two more and her soul would dissipate!
She couldn’t take another!
Otherwise, she would have to fall back into slumber again!
Ling Hu turned back, looking at Ye Chen with deep reluctance, then resolutely faced Xiao Chenxin and knelt on one knee.
“Your Excellency’s sword is unparalleled; I cannot compete.”
“I only beg you to spare Ye Chen. I alone will bear his faults. Kill or punish me as you see fit!”
A smile curled on Xiao Chenxin’s lips.
Good. That’s exactly what I was waiting to hear.
“Allowing Ye Chen to rampantly shout insults, disgrace Yaoguang Sacred Land’s reputation, and break our sacred rules.”
“He should pay with his life.”
“But…”