Chapter 120 - 103: Suspicions from All Sides, Carefree Before the Great War

Chapter 120: Chapter 103: Suspicions from All Sides, Carefree Before the Great War

The Celestial Sword Sect had far more than nine peerless freaks. Though not overly abundant, these dozens of individuals accounted for nearly a third of the sect’s total number of such prodigies. As for the specific seven, they represented seven of the Nine Great Sequences among the peerless freaks.

It was safe to say that the forces Zhao Wuji had brought today constituted far more than just a third of their freakish combat power; these youths were the future foundation of the Celestial Sword Sect.

"Heh, now that the older generation doesn’t dare to act rashly, let’s see what else you can do to help him escape, Gu Qingyan," Zhao Wuji muttered to himself. "I’ve brought over a third of the Celestial Sword Sect’s peerless freaks this time. Even if he sprouts wings, he won’t be able to fly out of my palm again."

Although he had mobilized the younger generation’s foundation without authorization, capturing that figure would earn him monumental merit. When the time came, the sect would not punish him for breaking the rules to summon so many peerless freaks. After all, that white-clad youth was of great use to the Celestial Sword Sect. They had failed to detain his father back then, so they absolutely had to capture the son today.

Dozens of the Celestial Sword Sect’s peerless freaks furrowed their brows.

"Elder Zhao, did you call us here just for some nameless nobody?"

"What makes this kid so special? How is he worth our Celestial Sword Sect mobilizing so many peerless freaks?"

"Elder Zhao, aren’t you making a mountain out of a molehill? Even if the opponent is also a peerless freak, there’s no need to call all of us here, let alone having Senior Brother Sword Nine and the others holding the line."

"A small fry who isn’t even on the Prodigy Registry is worth treating like this?"

"Elder, aren’t you afraid the Sect Leader will blame you for conscripting so much of the sect’s foundation all at once?"

Seeing that the target Zhao Wuji wanted them to deal with was merely a Cultivator of their own generation, their eyes brimmed with disdain. Across the entire Eastern Domain, very few people were worthy of such treatment.

Not only were the masses dismissive, but even Sword Nine slowly closed his eyes, paying no heed to that figure. Although it had been over a year since he first saw that person, the image of the youth fleeing in defeat during their last encounter still seemed to flash before his eyes. He hadn’t seen the youth since then. No matter how many lucky encounters one had, it was impossible to achieve anything significant in just a short year.

The only entity Sword Nine truly feared was perhaps the grimace-masked figure who had appeared at the Ancient Emperor Sect ruins. It certainly wasn’t the white-clad teenager before him.

Listening to the words of the Celestial Sword Sect’s future foundation, Zhao Wuji didn’t dare to put on too much of an elder’s airs. Naturally, he paid no mind to their complaints.

"You have no idea what kind of use this kid’s bloodline has for our Celestial Sword Sect," he thought to himself. "Once we obtain his blood, not only will the Sect Leader not blame me for mobilizing so many core disciples against the rules, but the entire sect will record it as a great merit for me."

Zhao Wuji pictured the entire upper echelon of the sect praising him when he brought the body back. Since these were the absolute core secrets of the Celestial Sword Sect, he wouldn’t dare speak of them to the disciples; he merely fantasized in his mind.

Little did he know, this selfish mobilization would exact an unbearable toll on the Celestial Sword Sect. This batch of peerless freaks was about to slumber forever on the barren soil of the Xingyue City Earth Realm. Their fall would plunge this elder straight into an endless abyss.

Meanwhile.

Jiang Hao looked up at the sky full of his peers, his gaze profoundly calm. His enemies, for now, were only these contemporaries. The restrictions of the prodigy supremacy battles meant he didn’t have to face the older generation of experts directly.

"You little fool, you’re so silly. With things as they are, why did you come back?"

At this moment, Ye Qingxian finally understood Jiang Hao’s current predicament. The fortunate encounters he had obtained had already made countless factions across the entire Eastern Domain green with envy. Those terrifying figures had all come to kill him.

Hearing this, Jiang Hao’s face softened with tenderness. "To be able to see you one more time... even if I die, I have no regrets."

Looking at the white-clad youth before her, Ye Qingxian’s eyes instantly reddened.

Jiang Hao, however, revealed a relieved smile. Having grown up together and having protected her for three years, her beautiful silhouette was already deeply carved into his heart. He only hated that he wasn’t strong enough to spend every sunset with the person he loved. That smile seemed free of all worldly attachments, as if he had fulfilled his final wish. He gently stroked Ye Qingxian’s cheek, his eyes overflowing with unconcealable affection.

"Silly girl, I promise you, if I don’t die, I will definitely take you to see all the beautiful scenery in the human realm and promise you a lifetime of prosperity."

At these words, Ye Qingxian shed tears and nodded vigorously. "Okay. I’ll wait for you to show me all the splendor of this world."

If it weren’t for this era, they could have been a pair of carefree lovebirds; if not for this cruel continent, they could have loved each other purely. But none of that was possible. In this world, only by being strong could one protect the person they loved. It was a world that respected the strong. Without sufficient strength, even their right to live rested in the hands of others.

Gently wiping away his beloved’s tears, Jiang Hao looked toward Gu Qingyan.

"Miss Gu, I leave her in your care."

With that, Jiang Hao slowly turned around and walked step by step toward the endless peerless evildoers and peerless freaks. The current situation afforded him no time to share a tender moment with his love. Everything was reduced to a hurried glance.

He had no terrifying background and no powerful backing; he could only rely on himself for everything. He had to carve out his own patch of clear sky with his bare hands. Because of this, far too many people coveted the opportunities that rightfully belonged to him, and far too many could ruthlessly attempt to kill him without any scruples.

"You little fool..."

Watching that solitary figure marching off to battle alone, Ye Qingxian felt her heart ache terribly, yet she could do nothing for him.

However, at this moment, a free and easy smile touched the corners of Jiang Hao’s lips. Or perhaps it was an acceptance of his fate—an acceptance that only the sword in his hand could carve out the truth. Recalling all the bitterness and helplessness he had endured over the past eight years, Jiang Hao completely let go of his mental burdens.

Suddenly.

"Hahaha, HAHAHAHAHA—!!!"

The youth took a step forward and soared into the sky, rushing toward the heaven-blotting mass of enemies under everyone’s watchful eyes. His hearty yet desolate laughter echoed throughout the Xingyue City Earth Realm, carrying an uninhibited boldness as if laughing in the face of death.

The white-clad youth slowly untied the object wrapped in black cloth from his back, peeling away all his forbearance bit by bit. A scabbard radiating a chilling gleam emerged in the night.

The Sword Embryo was unsheathed, erupting with endless Chaos Qi and making the entire void tremble.

Facing the enemies of the myriad realms all alone, the youth lightly tightened his grip on the ancient sword. His long hair danced in the wind, his robes billowing.

"Come on, all of you come at me—!

"I, Jiang Hao.

"A child from the barren lands of the Xingyue City Earth Realm.

"I have no terrifying family background.

"I have no fearsome sect for backing.

"I have no powerful Guardian.

"You lot.

"You can all try to bully me.

"Humiliate me.

"Destroy me.

"Kill me!"