Chapter 745: Just One Sword Strike

In the garden.

Everyone’s eyes widened, their faces a mask of utter bewilderment.

The great Beitang Jian—the strongest genius of the Beitang Clan, one of the most powerful of Coastal City’s younger generation, a Six Extremes Genius.

He had just comprehended the Sword Bone of the Ancient Sword Dragon and mastered a powerful Saint Tier Intermediate Sword Technique.

He was just about to display his magnificent might.

Only to be foiled by a banana peel?

GULP!

Nangong Weiwo swallowed hard and looked at Dongfang Qinglong beside him. “Qinglong, you… pinch me. I must be dreaming, right?”

Dongfang Qinglong said nothing.

He lifted his right hand. A large, swollen welt, already turning a deep purplish-red, stood out on it. With an ashen face, Dongfang Qinglong said, word by word, “I already did. It hurts a lot. This isn’t a dream!”

Nangong Weiwo: “…”

Ximen Jinlian covered her red lips with a small hand, a peculiar light flashing in her eyes as she looked at Jiang Chen.

Sima Lingkong secretly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

‘Thankfully, I held back and didn’t try to make a move before Beitang Jian.’

‘Otherwise, I’d be the one struggling in the lake right now.’

A great Six Extremes Genius, taken down by a banana peel. Even if it was a fluke, if word of this got out, he would become an absolute laughingstock!

At this thought, Sima Lingkong couldn’t help but glance toward the artificial lake, a trace of pity and sympathy in his eyes. ‘Looks like from now on, I need to think before I act. I definitely can’t be the one to stick my neck out!’

BOOM!

The lake water suddenly exploded as a figure shot out from its depths.

The resulting splash soared hundreds of zhang into the Celestial Vault before falling back as a torrential downpour, pattering back into the lake.

Beitang Jian’s face was incomparably dark. He was soaked through, streams of water pouring from his sleeves. Clinging to his chest was a snapping turtle the size of a human head, its small mouth clamped stubbornly onto his collar. It swung back and forth like a large clock, exceptionally tenacious.

BAM!

Beitang Jian ripped the turtle’s head off.

His eyes were bloodshot, promising a savage death as his venomous gaze locked onto Jiang Chen.

He knew that after today, whenever anyone mentioned his name, Beitang Jian, they would also bring up a banana peel.

This was a stain that could never be wiped away!

And the one who had caused all this was Jiang Chen!

Watching Jiang Chen peel yet another banana, Beitang Jian’s chest heaved violently. The frigid killing intent emanating from him was so intense that the water droplets on his body froze into ice shards, falling to the ground with a crisp, crackling sound.

Beitang Jian nearly shattered his teeth from clenching them so hard. His voice was low and menacing as he ground out, “Jiang Chen, I will fight you to the death!”

BOOM!

The moment the words were spoken, the very air seemed to explode.

Nangong Weiwo’s expression changed. He said in a low voice, “Beitang Jian wants a life-and-death battle with Jiang Chen?”

“He’s been driven mad!”

“Sigh, what a pitiful guy!”

Although the crowd’s voices were low, they could not escape Beitang Jian’s ears.

His heart was bleeding, his liver trembling.

‘Pitiful?’

‘Pitiful my ass!’

The roar of fury in his chest was like a prairie fire, growing ever more intense. His killing intent erupted like a volcano as he glared at Jiang Chen, finally unable to hold back his bellow, “Jiang Chen, if you’re a man, then stop cowering and fight me!”

“Are you sure you want to fight?” Jiang Chen asked, his eyes narrowed.

Beitang Jian nodded. “I’m sure!”

Jiang Chen thought for a moment, then said, “Alright, I can agree to fight you. But I have one condition!”

“A condition? Speak!” Beitang Jian said, suppressing his rage.

Jiang Chen spoke slowly and deliberately. “I will only use a single strike. If you lose, I won’t take your life. All you have to do is kowtow and apologize to Beitang Fengyun, and then swear a Heart Demon Oath to serve him as your master from this day forward. If Beitang Fengyun lives, you live! If Beitang Fengyun dies, you die. Do you… dare to agree?”

Standing behind Jiang Chen, Beitang Fengyun shuddered upon hearing this.

A film of mist welled up in his eyes. He never imagined that even at a time like this, Jiang Chen would still be thinking of him.

Overwhelmed with emotion, he secretly swore an oath: ‘In this life, even if it means death, I will follow my master and never betray him!’

Beitang Jian’s expression faltered. His first instinct upon hearing he had to serve Beitang Fengyun was to refuse. But the thought of Jiang Chen claiming he only needed a single strike filled him with immense humiliation. He gritted his teeth and said, “Fine, I accept your condition. But what if you lose?”

“Lose? It’s impossible for me to lose!” Jiang Chen declared proudly.

A wave of absolute confidence radiated from him, making him seem like a peerless War God.

Beitang Jian’s face darkened, and he snorted coldly. “Arrogant… If you lose, I’ll take your life!”

“Heh heh…”

A corner of Jiang Chen’s mouth twitched. “Are you ready to receive my strike?”

“Bring it on!”

Beitang Jian snorted coldly.

The smile vanished from Jiang Chen’s face. Two beams of brilliant light suddenly shot from his eyes. He didn’t draw the Ancient Azure Dragon Sword; he merely gripped the… banana in his hand.

“A banana?”

The corner of Beitang Jian’s eye twitched, his face growing even darker. “What is the meaning of this?”

“Are you blind? Can’t you see I’m about to strike!” Jiang Chen said, rolling his eyes in exasperation.

Beitang Fengyun: “…”

Sima Lingkong: “…”

Everyone: “…”

‘Strike?’

‘This bastard is gambling with his life, yet he won’t even use a Profound Weapon? He’s using a banana as a sword?’

‘Are you out of your mind!’

Under the gazes of everyone who was looking at him like he was an idiot, the sword in Jiang Chen’s hand… ah, no, the banana in his hand, suddenly slashed forward.

A mocking expression was on Beitang Jian’s face.

The surrounding crowd also looked on, ready to enjoy the show.

However…

When Jiang Chen slashed out with the banana, everyone sucked in a sharp breath of cold air, their faces filled with utter shock.

In their eyes, the banana in Jiang Chen’s hand was no longer a banana!

It had transformed into an incomparably sharp sword!

The entire banana emitted a faint, yellow glow. Because Jiang Chen had taken a bite out of it, a few stray pieces of the peel on the curved fruit fluttered in the wind, rustling audibly.

“Is… is that really a banana?”

“GULP… I-I feel like that’s a Divine Soldier!”

“Legend says there are masters who walk the Sword Dao of All Things, where everything can be a sword. They can pluck flowers and flick leaves to slay powerful enemies. Could it be that Jiang Chen walks the Sword Dao of All Things?”

“Look, Beitang Jian is about to make his move…”

Not a trace of contempt or mockery remained on Beitang Jian’s face; it was replaced by complete solemnity. In his eyes, the half-eaten banana had transformed into a terrifying Fierce Beast, opening its bloody maw to tear him apart. The True Essence within Beitang Jian’s body surged to its absolute limit.

RUMBLE!

Waves of terrifying True Essence aura burst from his body, converging on the longsword in his hand.

The longsword danced, merging with his entire being.

“Human-Sword Unity!”

Beitang Jian roared, charging toward the banana.

BOOM…

Two terrifying and invincible Sword Auras shot toward the sky, kicking up gales of wind that swept out in all directions, sending the crowd stumbling and scattering.

The gale came and went in a flash.

PSSSH!

Both Sword Intents vanished at the same time, revealing the figures of Jiang Chen and Beitang Jian.

HISS…

A collective gasp of disbelief echoed through the garden!