Chapter 122: Presenting Them with a Grand Gift

Overbearing! Powerful! And carrying the pungent scent of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. It was as if a demon god had descended upon the world, intent on slaughter.

The sound of this voice struck the ears of Ye Xiao and Ling Qianxue, causing them to freeze. A moment later, one was overcome with wild joy, while the other was seized by immense terror. A figure in black robes appeared before them, the Asura Demon Blade in his hand strikingly prominent.

Jun Wushuang had no intention of hiding his identity from Ling Qianxue. After all, there was no need to conceal anything from a dead person.

"Master! You've come just in time! If you hadn't arrived, I would have been killed by this wench!" Ye Xiao cried out, clutching at the hope of salvation, his eyes filled with desperate anticipation.

Ling Qianxue’s gaze locked onto the Asura Demon Blade. She then shifted her eyes to Jun Wushuang, her pupils constricting violently.

"Jun Wushuang! I never imagined you were a spy for the Black Demon Sect!" A sharp scream erupted from her, the sound waves rippling outward. Unfortunately, Jun Wushuang’s psychic energy had already sealed off the area, preventing her voice from traveling any further.

"Last time, I spared your life. But this time, I will not give you another chance to survive." Jun Wushuang’s voice was icy. He raised his blade and slashed.

Asura Blade Strike!

The moment the demon blade emerged, the sky turned blood-red. A thick, suffocating stench of blood rushed toward her, causing Ling Qianxue’s face to pale in shock. She could feel the immense power Jun Wushuang now possessed. At the Qingyun Martial Arts Academy, he had only been at the ninth level of the Divine Sea Realm. Now, however, he had reached the third level of the Heaven-Human Realm. To break through to the Heaven-Human Realm and ascend three levels in a single month—such cultivation speed was nothing short of monstrous!

Ling Qianxue had been no match for him before; now, encountering him again, she was even less of a rival. Facing that unreasonable, overwhelming strike, she retreated in panic.

"Earth-rank Low-grade Martial Skill: Blizzard Blade Slash!" Ling Qianxue drew her short sword, her spiritual energy surging as she exerted all her strength to block the lethal blow. But she had underestimated him. With his current strength, Jun Wushuang was capable of fighting across an entire major realm. Anyone below the third level of the Marquis Realm was no match for him, let alone Ling Qianxue, who was only at the ninth level of the Heaven-Human Realm.

*Splurt!*

The blade fell, the wind and snow shattered, and blood sprayed in all directions. The short sword in Ling Qianxue’s hand was severed, and a deep, bone-exposed wound was carved across her body. Blood poured from the gash, nearly cleaving her in two.

Was Ling Qianxue weak? No, she was powerful! Not only was she a powerhouse at the ninth level of the Heaven-Human Realm, but she possessed the Blade-Edge Imperial Body and, as a follower of Jiang Rulong, had access to significant resources. Her strength was likely even greater than that of the Four Great Prodigies. Yet, before Jun Wushuang, she appeared utterly fragile. She collapsed heavily to the ground, her clothes soaked in blood, looking utterly wretched.

"Jun Wushuang, I am a person of the Crown Prince! If you dare to kill me, the Crown Prince will never let you go!"

"Do you think you compare to the Crown Prince?"

"Besides, the Crown Prince has come seeking fortune this time. Once we leave, he will advance to the Heavenly King Realm. By then, you won't even be able to look up to him! I advise you to release me and come with me to assist the Crown Prince, to redeem yourself. Perhaps then he will show mercy and overlook your past transgressions."

Ling Qianxue watched the rapidly approaching Jun Wushuang, attempting to threaten him with Jiang Rulong. But Jun Wushuang remained silent, his murderous intent clear as he closed the distance.

"Jun Wushuang, are you really going to set yourself against the Crown Prince?" Ling Qianxue trembled, scrambling backward on her hands and feet while shouting sharply. "The Crown Prince is a dragon among men, a peerless prodigy on the Prodigy List. To oppose him is to invite certain death! Not only will you die, but all your friends and family will die too. Neither the Qingyun Martial Arts Academy nor the Jun family will be able to escape his grasp. Are you really so intent on courting death?"

In Ling Qianxue's mind, Crown Prince Jiang Rulong was an unreachable god. None dared to defy him, and those who did were doomed. She did not realize that in Jun Wushuang’s eyes, Jiang Rulong was nothing.

"Save your nonsense for the King of Hell!"

Jun Wushuang lunged forward, swinging his blade without mercy. With a single motion, her head fell to the ground. Ling Qianxue’s eyes remained wide open, staring fixedly at Jun Wushuang, filled with terror and confusion. Could he truly not be afraid of the Crown Prince?

*Thud!*

Ling Qianxue’s body collapsed, her eyes still wide in death.

"Thank you, Master, for saving me!" Seeing Ling Qianxue dead, Ye Xiao was overjoyed and hurriedly expressed his gratitude.

However, his tendons had been severed, leaving him temporarily immobile. Jun Wushuang fed him a healing pill, which allowed him to barely regain some movement.

"Tell me, how did you end up being hunted by her?" Jun Wushuang stowed Ling Qianxue’s body into his bronze magic ring before asking.

"Master, after we were separated in the underground tunnel, I ended up here by mistake. I followed some others into the city to explore. We discovered a treasure trove filled with spirit stones and blood crystals. Unfortunately, people from the Great Qian Dynasty arrived, and a battle broke out over the resources. I managed to snatch a blood crystal, but that wench ambushed me. I had no choice but to flee, but she pursued me relentlessly. If you hadn't arrived in time, I would be dead."

Ye Xiao dared not conceal anything, relaying the truth in detail. He reached into his robes and produced the blood crystal. It was deep crimson, as if forged from solidified blood. It was the size of a chicken egg, crystal clear and of excellent quality. Yet, it lacked any sickening stench; instead, it pulsed with a vast, surging vitality, clearly a supreme treasure.

"Master, this blood crystal is incredibly precious. It takes at least a hundred thousand lives to condense one. The Nether Poison Emperor was a mass murderer who once poisoned an entire nation. These crystals were formed after his slaughters. Each one is invaluable, containing immense energy that can replenish one's blood essence. The place we found earlier has millions of spirit stones, all of them high-grade, and over a hundred such blood crystals."

Ye Xiao’s eyes gleamed as he spoke. "By the way, the ones fighting us were from the Royal Martial Arts Academy. The leader seemed to be called Dongfang Ming!"

The Royal Martial Arts Academy! Dongfang Ming!

Jun Wushuang’s eyes brightened. "What a narrow world it is!" He let out a cold, sharp laugh. His grudge with the Royal Martial Arts Academy was already beyond reconciliation. Now that he had encountered them, he would certainly not let the opportunity pass—especially since the blood crystals were so precious. Murder and plunder were his specialties.

With that thought, Jun Wushuang made his decision. "Lead the way. Take me to them. I have a grand gift to deliver."