Chapter 45: Xiao Chen: If You're Not Convinced, Fight Me!
"If the Sixth Prince insists on forcing his way through the main gate, then don't blame us for being rude," Steward Qiu said, his eyes full of scorn.
In his view, Xiao Chen was nothing more than a concubine's son.
In the past, people had shown him respect only because he had entered Wendao Academy.
But now, who in all of Daliang didn't know that Xiao Chen had already become a cripple?
If his mother hadn't gone to Wendao Academy and begged persistently, they would never have assigned Xiao Chen to the Miscellaneous Dao Academy — a place where cultivation was basically impossible.
As long as Xiao Chen obediently stayed there doing menial tasks, they wouldn't stir up trouble with Wendao Academy.
But now Xiao Chen had the audacity to return to the Ding Prince's Residence. Wasn't that just giving them the perfect excuse?
Liu Yue'er couldn't bear to watch the man she admired be humiliated like this. She spoke out angrily,
"How dare you speak like that? Do you have any idea who my Senior Brother Xiao—"
"Junior Sister Liu," Xiao Chen interrupted her.
He had returned this time to prove himself with his own strength.
He would not let anyone interfere in his personal matters.
"Leave this to me. You don't need to say anything more."
"Yes, Senior Brother."
Liu Yue'er didn't speak further.
Steward Qiu was somewhat wary after hearing her call Xiao Chen 'Senior Brother,' guessing she might also be from Wendao Academy.
But in his mind, Xiao Chen was a mere servant-level disciple. Any girl he brought would probably be from the same level — just using the name of Wendao Academy to bluff them.
Unfortunately for him, everyone here already knew what kind of miserable situation Xiao Chen had been in at the academy.
Trying to scare them off with a name? Impossible.
He made a hand gesture, and the previously dispersed crowd once again surrounded Xiao Chen and Liu Yue'er. Even the residence guards stepped forward.
Seeing this, Xiao Chen calmly said, "If that's how it is, don't say I didn't warn you. My sword can kill without a trace."
Steward Qiu burst out laughing. "Sixth Prince, do you really think your secrets are foolproof? We've known everything for a long time.
Men, seize this disobedient prince and bring him to the inner court. Let the Princess Consort deal with him!"
"Yes, sir!"
With that command, everyone drew their weapons.
Clang!
Seeing them prepare for battle, Xiao Chen didn't waste any more words. He drew his sword.
In a flash of sword light, the surrounding guards and servants froze in place.
Moments later, they collapsed like broken puppets.
Xiao Chen hadn't killed Steward Qiu — he simply stared coldly at him and said, "Is there anyone else who wants to stop me?"
Steward Qiu was already paralyzed with fear. Among those guards were Dao Foundation realm cultivators.
But they'd all been slain with a single strike from Xiao Chen. That could only mean one thing — his cultivation had returned.
It's over. I'm completely finished!
Just as he was about to speak—
A furious shout echoed from the sky.
"Audacious cur! How dare you attack people at the gate of my Ding Prince's Residence! Prepare to die!"
As the words fell—
A sword light came crashing down from above. Xiao Chen turned and raised his hand, gently pointing a finger at the sword qi — instantly dissolving it.
Up in the sky—
The heir, Xiao Shili, looked at the youth on the ground in shock. His face turned from bright to dark as he stared at someone who looked remarkably like himself.
Today, he had deliberately brought sect elders and senior brothers to the residence as guests.
His goal was to have one of the elders accept his younger brother as a disciple.
But the moment he arrived at the gates—
He saw this ruthless man kill the family's guards and servants on the spot.
What infuriated him even more was that the other party was clearly younger than him — yet possessed a cultivation far stronger than his own.
This, he absolutely could not accept.
"Junior Brother Shili, it seems this cur has some skill. Let me, your senior, take care of him," said a refined young man as he stepped forward with a cheerful smile.
Xiao Shili immediately stepped aside and respectfully said, "I'll trouble Senior Brother Zhao, then."
The man nodded and looked down at Xiao Chen with arrogance.
"Remember this, boy. The one who kills you is from the Shangqing Sword Sect—"
"I'm not interested in hearing a weakling announce his name. If you don't want to die, then get lost."
Xiao Chen interrupted him coldly, not even giving him the chance to finish his so-called heroic introduction.
"Arrogant!"
Senior Brother Zhao didn't expect this youth to be so dismissive. He was the strongest among the younger generation of the Shangqing Sword Sect!
Clang!
He slashed his sword at Xiao Chen without hesitation.
"Trivial tricks, and you dare show them off before me?"
Xiao Chen's eyes flashed with contempt. With a casual motion, he raised his sword and flicked it lightly toward the sky.
His sword qi not only shattered Zhao's attack instantly, but the gleaming sword light continued toward him.
"Watch out!" shouted a Shangqing Sword Sect elder as he raised his sword in alarm, trying to intercept the attack.
Unfortunately, Xiao Chen's sword was too fast. The elder couldn't reach him in time.
Senior Brother Zhao felt nothing. Only a sudden dizziness — and then, in the next instant, he saw a headless corpse tumbling from the sky like a kite with its string cut.
Boom!
A muffled thud echoed.
Silence fell over the entire scene.
Whether it was the people from the Ding Prince's Residence or the disciples of the Shangqing Sword Sect, all stood frozen in place.
Only the disciples from Wendao Academy wore familiar, unsurprised expressions.
Xiao Chen was invincible among his peers. Dealing with a minor character like that required almost no effort.
The only thing that mildly surprised them was that the Shangqing Sword Sect's Heaven Origin Realm elder hadn't managed to save his disciple in time.
"You vile brat! You dared to kill my disciple — today, I'll make you pay in blood!"
The elder from the Shangqing Sword Sect roared and slashed his sword down toward Xiao Chen.
Xiao Chen didn't retreat — instead, he flew upward to meet the blow. With a calm swipe of his sword, he easily parried the attack, then looked at the elder indifferently.
"Heaven Origin Realm cultivator."
"Sword Intent!"
A trace of fear appeared on Elder Bai's face.
This young man before him was clearly only at the True Fate Realm, yet he had already grasped Sword Intent. That could only mean he came from an extraordinary background.
"Who… are you really?"
Xiao Chen said plainly, "Wendao Academy, Xiao Chen."
"Wendao Academy?!"
"Impossible!"
Gasps of shock echoed from the Shangqing Sword Sect's disciples.
Especially Xiao Shili. He stared at Xiao Chen in disbelief — wasn't it said that Xiao Chen had already become a cripple?
How was he not only perfectly fine, but even stronger than before?
Elder Bai's expression turned incredibly ugly. To the Shangqing Sword Sect, Wendao Academy was an overwhelming colossus.
Forget about a disciple being killed.
Even if he himself were slain, the Shangqing Sword Sect wouldn't dare seek revenge from Wendao Academy.
But with so many of his disciples watching behind him, he couldn't afford to appear weak.
"You… why did you kill my disciple?"
Xiao Chen said coldly, "He interfered in my family matters and attacked me first. Am I wrong to kill him?"
"Of course, if you're not convinced—"
"You can fight me too!"
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