Chapter 243 - 223: To Kill and To Condemn

Chapter 243: Chapter 223: To Kill and To Condemn

For a grand tournament like the Celestial State Grand Tournament, which was held only once every few years, all the Innate Spiritual Objects offered as prizes were provided by the Divine Forest Prefecture.

To the Divine Forest Prefecture, these items were of little consequence.

This Celestial State Grand Tournament allowed the Divine Forest Prefecture to solidify its image as the dominant power in the Celestial State Prefecture while also giving them an opportunity to observe the young disciples from the various sects.

Guo Zhuo clapped his hands, the sharp sound pulling everyone’s attention back to the Martial Arts Arena. "Alright, enough idle chatter. Let’s begin!"

After speaking, he turned and sat down in the main seat, his posture relaxed and leisurely.

As Guo Zhuo took his seat, a figure stepped out from beside him.

He was a young man who looked to be about twenty-five or twenty-six, dressed in navy-blue martial attire. His posture was upright, his features handsome, and a gentle smile played on his lips.

He first bowed respectfully to Guo Zhuo, then turned and swept his gaze across the disciples of the major sects on the observation platforms. With a leap, he landed steadily in the center of the Martial Arts Arena.

"I am Han Jianshen, ranked fifth within the Divine Forest Prefecture."

He cupped his fist in greeting to the observation platforms around him, his face full of a gentle smile, his tone polite and humble. "I wonder which Senior Brother here would be willing to grant me the honor of a lesson?"

On the Martial Arts Arena, Han Jianshen stood with his hands behind his back, a smile on his face, his gaze sweeping over the disciples of the various sects on the surrounding observation platforms.

Several breaths’ time passed, but no one came down.

No one knew the true extent of Han Jianshen’s strength. The first person to step onto the field would inevitably be at a disadvantage.

Seeing that no one was coming down, Han Jianshen wasn’t in a hurry.

He didn’t look toward the other sects. Instead, his gaze was fixed directly on the Flame Palace contingent opposite him.

He said nothing, simply watching them with a calm gaze.

The disciples of the Flame Palace grew uncomfortable under his stare. Many averted their eyes, but Han Jianshen’s gaze did not waver; he continued to stare in their direction.

The next instant, a figure leaped out from the Flame Palace’s ranks, landing steadily on the Martial Arts Arena.

It was a young man in crimson martial attire. He had an agile build and held a long saber, its blade glinting with a dark red luster in the sunlight as if flames were flowing across its surface.

"He Xiu of the Flame Palace. I ask for your instruction!" He Xiu said, holding his saber as he cupped his fist in a salute, his eyes warily fixed on Han Jianshen.

Han Jianshen looked at He Xiu, the smile on his face widening. He announced loudly, "The fifth-ranked of Flame Palace? Fifth versus fifth. How fitting!"

He laughed heartily and began to walk toward He Xiu step by step. His pace wasn’t fast, but each step landed with a strange rhythm, as if he had merged with the very aura of the Martial Arts Arena.

He Xiu pointed the tip of his saber toward the ground, his body sinking slightly into a stance balanced for both offense and defense, cautiously watching the approaching Han Jianshen.

He could feel that this fifth-ranked disciple from the Divine Forest Prefecture would be no easy opponent.

The next instant, Han Jianshen’s figure abruptly vanished. When he reappeared, he was already in front of He Xiu. He launched a flurry of palm strikes, the wind from them howling as a majestic aura surged forward like a tidal wave.

He Xiu’s expression changed drastically as he sensed the terrifying power contained within those palms. At the last moment, he forcefully changed the direction of his intended slash, bringing the saber horizontally in front of him to block the sudden, ferocious assault.

"BANG! BANG! BANG!"

Three consecutive, violent booms rang out as Han Jianshen’s palms struck solidly against the flat of the saber He Xiu held before him.

Each palm strike carried a deeply penetrating Dark Force that passed through the saber’s blade and into He Xiu’s body.

He Xiu felt his Qi Blood churn in his chest. A sweet taste filled his throat, and he couldn’t stop a spray of blood mist from erupting from his mouth.

His entire body flew backward uncontrollably. He crashed heavily onto the ground outside the Martial Arts Arena, rolling twice before barely coming to a stop.

A dead silence fell around the Martial Arts Arena.

Han Jianshen withdrew his palms and stood firm, the corners of his mouth pulling back into a somewhat defiant grin.

He scanned the crowd, his gaze passing over the faces of the disciples from each sect. Then, his eyes landed on the Liuyun Sword Sect’s contingent, and his smile became even more meaningful.

"I’ve heard recently that someone ran through the Liuyun Sword Sect’s Sword Heart Ranking?"

As soon as he said this, the expressions of all the Liuyun Sword Sect disciples changed drastically.

Ever since the day Chen Yue ran through the entire Sword Heart Ranking on the Liuyun Sword Sect’s Martial Arts Arena, the incident had become a topic that no one in the sect, from top to bottom, was willing to mention.

For Han Jianshen to bring it up so casually now, in front of all the sects of the Celestial State Prefecture, was tantamount to rubbing salt in the Liuyun Sword Sect’s wound.

The next instant, a figure shot out from the Liuyun Sword Sect’s ranks like an arrow loosed from a bowstring, landing on the Martial Arts Arena.

The third-ranked on the Sword Heart Ranking, Liu Shizhang.

His longsword was already unsheathed, its tip pointing toward the ground, his gaze locked tightly on Han Jianshen.

Han Jianshen looked at Liu Shizhang, his smile widening further, his tone laced with intrigued amusement.

"I know you. Senior Brother Liu, is it? I heard the three of you couldn’t even win a three-on-one fight?"

Hearing this, Liu Shizhang’s eyes narrowed, a cold glint flashing within them.

He wasted no time on words. With a flick of his wrist, his longsword let out a clear ring. "Liu Shizhang. I ask for your instruction!"

Han Jianshen slowly raised his hands. At some unknown point, he had donned a pair of Spirit Soldier gloves as thin as a cicada’s wings.

The gloves were silver-gray and fit so snugly they looked like a second skin, gleaming with a faint metallic luster in the sunlight.