Chapter 204: Chapter 201: Shangguan Yang’s Coercion

"I’ve never killed an Elder from the Yanyue Sect. Today, you’ll be the first."

Guo Jiang walked toward Ning Jiang step by step, flames erupting from his entire body. He was like a furnace, the heat waves oppressive.

"First, take a punch from me. Fire Cloud Fist!"

In a flash, Guo Jiang appeared three steps in front of Ning Jiang. His fist was scorching hot, wreathed in roiling flames that left a crimson trail in the air as he threw the punch.

Seeing the fist about to land, Ning Jiang was no longer indifferent. He took a step forward, his right fist suddenly erupting with a brilliant golden light, as if forged from gold. He met the attack head-on, his punch tearing through the air with a ripping sound.

DONG.

A shockwave spread out in all directions.

"You have some skill to be able to take one of my punches."

Guo Jiang’s arms trembled, then twisted like two Flood Dragons, striking viciously toward Ning Jiang’s chest.

Ning Jiang’s footing blurred, and he vanished from his spot.

When he reappeared, he was already behind Guo Jiang, his fist shattering the air as it shot toward his opponent’s spine.

The spine is the pillar of the human body. Once shattered, a person would be instantly half-crippled.

"Hmph."

At the critical moment, the flames on Guo Jiang’s body surged, forming a suit of Flame Battle Armor that enveloped him and blocked Ning Jiang’s punch.

’He’s tough.’

A strange light flashed in Ning Jiang’s eyes as he gracefully retreated.

From that brief exchange, he now had an understanding of Guo Jiang’s strength.

This Guo Jiang’s Cultivation had already entered the Spirit Realm Middle Stage, making him stronger than the Elder Han he had killed.

Elder Han had only been approaching the Spirit Realm Middle Stage; in terms of strength, he was no match for Guo Jiang.

As for the current Ning Jiang, he had yet to step into the Spirit Realm. Some gap in power was inevitable.

"The Fire Cloud Scripture is the core Cultivation Technique of our Fire Cloud Sect. Only Core Disciples are able to practice it. Senior Brother Guo Jiang is one of the few who has cultivated it to the Great Success stage. With the protection of the Fire Cloud Battle Armor, this person has no chance of winning."

The Flame Battle Armor... even among the Elders, not many had successfully mastered this Martial Technique.

It was precisely because of this protective armor that Guo Jiang had been able to slay two of the Yanyue Sect’s top-tier experts.

"I’ll defeat you in ten moves."

After activating the Flame Battle Armor, Guo Jiang wanted to end the fight quickly.

For one, the Flame Battle Armor consumed a great deal of energy. For another, he had never taken Ning Jiang seriously. If he couldn’t take down a mere Ning Jiang in ten moves, he might as well just kill himself.

’Looks like I’ll have to go all out, too.’

Ning Jiang realized this was going to be a tough fight.

He could kill those in the Spirit Realm Early Stage with ease, but it was a different story against someone in the Spirit Realm Middle Stage, especially a genius with formidable combat strength like Guo Jiang.

A torrent of golden light burst forth as the Great Sun Dharma Body manifested, complete with three heads and six arms.

"Die!"

Guo Jiang roared. Clad in his Flame Battle Armor, he made a grabbing motion with his hand, and the flames actually coalesced into a giant hammer.

"Fire Cloud Divine Hammer!"

He brought the hammer down with boundless power, terrifying to the extreme.

"That’s one of the killing moves from the Fire Cloud Scripture. Among the Core Disciples, no more than five have mastered it. I can’t believe he actually succeeded," Cai Qingqiu said, slightly stunned.

"Even the young prodigies of my Star Sword Sect have praised this Fire Cloud Divine Hammer. Its might is truly astonishing," Shangguan Yang nodded.

"Great Sun Divine Shield."

A massive shield appeared before Ning Jiang.

BANG...

An earth-shattering sound erupted. The ground trembled and split open with cracks, and heat waves swept out in all directions, scorching the hair of some Martial Artists who were standing too close.

"Hm? Such strong defense?"

Guo Jiang’s pupils shrank. With the power of the Fire Cloud Divine Hammer, a single strike could shatter a mountain. It was unbelievable that Ning Jiang’s shield could withstand it so steadily.

"Great Sun Divine Spear."

A spear of golden light shot out, striking Guo Jiang’s chest with lightning speed.

DING.

Guo Jiang’s body shuddered violently as he was thrown backward. He looked down and saw that cracks had appeared on the chest of his Fire Cloud Battle Armor.

’This armor’s Defense Power is even sturdier than Elder Han’s Ten-sided Earth Wall. Of course, the main reason is his higher Cultivation,’ Ning Jiang mused. ’With Guo Jiang’s Cultivation, he could probably take on three Elder Hans without a problem.’

"Kid, you almost hurt me. Good. You’ve infuriated me!" Guo Jiang stomped his foot on the ground and shot forward.

WHOOSH.

Under his control, several long dragons of flame coiled toward Ning Jiang.

"I’m going to capture you and make you wish you were dead, just like those two from the Yanyue Sect."

"The one who dies will be you."

Ning Jiang’s body vanished and reappeared in the distance. A pair of black wings unfurled from his back, resembling two Celestial Blades.

The Great Sun Dharma Body combined with the Heaven-Devouring Sparrow’s Wings. This was his strongest state.

"Is hiding all you can do? Great Fire Cloud Palm!"

With a slap of his palm, a gigantic flame hand, as large as a mountain, descended. The air sizzled like boiling water.

Instead of retreating, Ning Jiang advanced. He shot forward, transforming into a beam of light like a white rainbow piercing the sun, and tore through the palm of flame.

"Go."

The Great Sun Divine Spear shot out, and all anyone could see was a streak of golden light.

BANG.

Guo Jiang was sent flying back thousands of feet, spitting out a mouthful of blood. The Great Sun Divine Spear had only managed to crack a part of his Battle Armor.

’Not good. Guo Jiang might lose.’

Cai Qingqiu’s expression suddenly grew solemn. Although Ning Jiang’s attack power couldn’t kill Guo Jiang right away, Guo Jiang was basically just a punching bag in front of him.

Ning Jiang’s speed was simply too fast. As he moved, Guo Jiang could barely even touch the corner of his clothes.

’When did the Yanyue Sect produce someone like this?’

Cai Qingqiu frowned. In the Fire Cloud Sect, Guo Jiang’s strength was second only to that young prodigy. For someone of his power to be unable to gain an advantage against Ning Jiang was shocking.

"AHH!"

In the brief moment she was lost in thought, Guo Jiang cried out as he was struck by the Great Sun Divine Spear again. His entire body plummeted from the sky and slammed viciously into the ground.

BOOM.

A massive crater appeared in the ground, with cracks spreading out from it like a spiderweb.

’It seems this armor can’t hold out much longer.’

Ning Jiang saw that Guo Jiang’s Fire Cloud Battle Armor was much dimmer than before, and it was even covered in fine cracks.

After taking so many of his attacks, the armor was reaching its limit.

Naturally, he wouldn’t miss such an opportunity. His body plunged into the crater like a falling star.

Strike while the enemy is down.

"Great Sun Demon Slaying Fist."

"Vajra’s Fury."

Ning Jiang activated two killing moves at once, his three heads and six arms unleashing their full power.

BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM—

Everyone watched, dumbfounded. The scene was too brutal. Every punch landed with fleshy impact, a truly blood-pumping sight.

They could only watch as Ning Jiang pinned Guo Jiang down in the crater and beat him relentlessly. Under the tremendous power of the blows, his body sank deeper and deeper, the crater growing wider and wider.

One hundred punches.

After exactly one hundred punches, Ning Jiang stopped.

Guo Jiang’s Fire Cloud Battle Armor had long since shattered. He was bleeding from all Seven Apertures, most of the bones in his body were broken, and he was barely breathing.

SWOOSH.

He flew out of the hundreds-of-feet-deep crater, carrying Guo Jiang’s body.

Seeing Guo Jiang hanging limply in Ning Jiang’s hand like a dead dog, everyone was overcome with shock.

Someone with the potential to become a new prodigy was defeated just like that?

The faces of everyone from the Fire Cloud Sect turned ashen, as if they had lost their own parents.

"We won!" The people from the Yanyue Sect were overjoyed.

"I told you, someone is waiting for you in the Yellow Springs." Ning Jiang raised his hand, his killing intent surging.

"Stop! You can’t kill him." Just then, Cai Qingqiu barked, stopping Ning Jiang.

"The victor lives, the loser dies. This is a battle to the death," Ning Jiang said coldly.

"Brother Shangguan," Cai Qingqiu said, looking at Shangguan Yang.

A glint flashed in Shangguan Yang’s eyes. ’This is a good opportunity to get closer to Cai Qingqiu,’ he thought. He cleared his throat and stepped forward. "Alright, this ends here. Where it’s possible to let someone off, one should do so. Let Guo Jiang go."

Although his tone was calm, it carried an authority that could not be questioned.

Ning Jiang raised an eyebrow. "He lost. His life is mine. How I choose to deal with him is none of your business."

"Hm?" Shangguan Yang’s face darkened with displeasure. "None of my business? It is my business because I am from the Star Sword Sect, and because I am Shangguan Yang. Since I’ve already spoken, you will put him down!"

"Young Master Shangguan, this is a grudge between our Yanyue Sect and the Fire Cloud Sect. Please do not interfere. Besides, these three matches were held according to the rules set by the Five Great Sects. Are you going to defy those rules, Young Master Shangguan?" Zi Yunfei said.

"Rules? The Star Sword Sect *is* the rules. My words are the rules. I’ll say this one last time: put Guo Jiang down." Shangguan Yang’s tone was forceful, allowing no defiance.

’Unfortunately, I’m not alone right now. I can’t act so recklessly.’

Ning Jiang didn’t act rashly. He gave Guo Jiang a light pat on the back, then tossed him back.

"Hmph. You know what’s good for you," Shangguan Yang snorted.

But his words had barely faded when a disciple from the Fire Cloud Sect roared in fury, "You’re vicious! You actually destroyed Senior Brother Guo Jiang’s Dantian!"

A destroyed Dantian meant he was crippled. Even if Guo Jiang continued to live, he was now worthless as a Martial Artist.

"What?" Shangguan Yang flew into a rage. "You dare to trick me?"

"You never said he had to be unharmed," Ning Jiang said impassively.

"Brother Shangguan, you have to stand up for my Fire Cloud Sect!" Cai Qingqiu pleaded.

"Qingqiu, don’t worry. I will give you a satisfactory resolution for this matter."

Seeing the beautiful woman looking to him for help, Shangguan Yang’s face darkened. "I hereby declare that the Yanyue Sect is not qualified to possess this Spirit Vein. It belongs to the Fire Cloud Sect."

"Furthermore, everyone from the Yanyue Sect will pay the price for what happened to Guo Jiang. All of you, get on your knees, kowtow three times, and then get the hell out of here."

When these words reached their ears, everyone’s expression changed drastically. "You’ve gone too far!"

"Shangguan Yang, you may be from the Star Sword Sect, but don’t think you can humiliate us like this!" Zi Yunfei said angrily.

"If you refuse to comply, then death is your only option." Shangguan Yang took a step forward, his killing intent washing over them.

"There’s no other way. We’ll have to kill him, then slaughter everyone else here. Leave no survivors." At that moment, Ning Jiang spoke slowly.