Heaven-Surpassing Divine Emperor

Beis Ming and Jiang Chen walked in silence the entire way.

Not until they reached the main gate of the Jiuhua Celestial Sect did Beis Ming finally speak. ”Jiang Chen, I’m truly sorry I wasn’t able to help you.”

For a mighty Human King Realm Powerhouse to be able to bow his head to Jiang Chen at this moment was remarkable.

It was truly a rare and commendable gesture.

This also went to show that Beis Ming’s relationship with the Intestine Sword Saint, Lui Chuanchang, was certainly something special.

Jiang Chen shook his head and smiled. ”This whole affair was orchestrated by Jian Yulou and his master to target me. What does it have to do with you, Senior?”

”Sigh... I never expected Pei Shenghai to be the Rotating Elder in the Teleportation Hall.” Beis Ming shook his head with a wry smile. ”Jiang Chen, why don’t you wait for another month or two? When the next elder is on duty, I’ll bring you to use the Teleportation Array then.”

”That won’t be necessary. I plan to leave the Cloud Domain and head to the Divine Celestial Dynasty in the Heaven-Reaching Realm to use their Teleportation Array.” Jiang Chen smiled, shook his head, and after a brief farewell to Beis Ming, turned and departed.

Beis Ming opened his mouth.

In the end, he said nothing more.

He had already done his best to help Jiang Chen; things just hadn’t gone according to plan. With a clear conscience, he was unwilling to invite more trouble for Jiang Chen’s sake.

As for Jiang Chen...

He returned directly to the Drunken Immortal Inn, sat at a table, and poured some tea onto its surface.

Slowly closing his eyes, the layout and routes within the Jiuhua Celestial Sect, which he had forcibly memorized during the day, suddenly appeared in his mind.

WHOOSH!

Jiang Chen’s eyes snapped open. He dipped his finger in the tea and began to sketch on the surface of the table.

If any expert from the Jiuhua Celestial Sect saw this, they would be utterly shocked. Weren’t these the routes within the Jiuhua Celestial Sect? There was also the path to Nine Swords Valley, and even the mystical route Beis Ming had taken through it during the day—all of it was replicated by Jiang Chen on the tabletop.

Watching the water stains slowly fade, Jiang Chen grinned, a cold smile spreading across his face. ”Jian Yulou, Pei Yuan, Pei Shenghai... you targeted and obstructed me at every turn, preventing me from using the Teleportation Array to get to the Profound Celestial Ice Field. You didn’t actually think I’d forget this grudge, did you? Hmph, when I take revenge, I never let it wait overnight!”

’I’ll rest for a while. Once Little Black gets back tonight, we can make our move!’

Jiang Chen took a deep breath, lay down on the bed, and fell into a deep sleep.

「A short while later...」

Moonlight bathed the land.

The entire Imperial Capital, after the clamor of the early evening, had become incredibly quiet. Only the occasional patrol of soldiers could be seen wandering the streets.

SWOOSH!

The Black Emperor transformed into a black shadow and shot into the room, only to see Jiang Chen wide awake and staring at him. The Black Emperor was taken aback. ”Jiang Chen? Why aren’t you resting yet? How did things go at the Jiuhua Celestial Sect today?”

”It fell through.”

Jiang Chen replied coolly, ”Little Black, get ready. It’s time for us to make our move!”

”Make our move?” The Black Emperor was stunned.

Jiang Chen then told the Black Emperor everything that had happened at the Jiuhua Celestial Sect that day.

The Black Emperor was filled with righteous indignation after hearing the story. He roared, ”A measly Elder from the Jiuhua Celestial Sect dares to be so arrogant? Jiang Chen, you’re right! We’re not the type to take bullying lying down. This debt must be paid! Let’s go! I, the Emperor, will accompany you to infiltrate the Jiuhua Celestial Sect tonight!”

”Alright!”

A faint smile appeared on Jiang Chen’s face.

After putting on disguises, the man and beast silently vanished into the darkness.

......

「Jiuhua Celestial Sect.」

During the day, two disciples at the True Martial Realm Ninth Stage stood guard. At night, they were replaced by disciples at the Heavenly Destiny Realm Ninth Stage.

After all...

Unexpected incidents were more likely to occur in the dead of night!

This precaution showed the Jiuhua Celestial Sect’s thoroughness.

”Sigh, this is so fucking boring!”

”Nothing to be done. It’s just our bad luck to be on duty today.”

”I’m so envious of those guys. They all went to the Cyan Flower Garden for Senior Brother Jian’s banquet.”

”Senior Brother Jian taught some ignorant country bumpkin a lesson today. He’s in a good mood, so he’s treating everyone. I heard he even brought out fine wine he’s been cellaring for decades...”

The two disciples guarding the main gate of the Jiuhua Celestial Sect were chatting with each other.

Suddenly...

A BUZZ went through both of their heads, their minds going completely blank. In a daze, they seemed to hear a voice filled with an endless Magic Power ring in their ears: ”Where is this Cyan Flower Garden you speak of?”

”The Cyan Flower Garden is in the eastern district. After you enter, just keep heading east. You’ll see it soon enough!”

The man’s expression was numb as he replied stiffly.

”Thank you!”

A gust of wind blew past. The two of them shuddered, and the vacant look in their eyes cleared up. They didn’t notice anything amiss and continued their conversation.

Little did they know...

...that in that brief moment, Jiang Chen and the Black Emperor had already slipped into the Jiuhua Celestial Sect.

”Jiang Chen, are you planning to go after Jian Yulou?” the Black Emperor asked.

Jiang Chen nodded, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. ”That Jian Yulou ruined my plans and even instigated his master, a mighty Human King Realm Powerhouse, to try and kill me. How can I not avenge such a grudge?”

’During the day, in that great hall, Pei Yuan tried to kill me just because of a single sentence from Jian Yulou.’

’Then, at Nine Swords Valley, Pei Shenghai also launched a killing blow.’

’If I weren’t strong enough, I don’t know how many times I would’ve died today because of Jian Yulou!’

The Cyan Flower Garden wasn’t far.

Jiang Chen quickly found it. The place was a raucous scene, the air thick with the stench of wine. Jian Yulou was presiding over a group of Jiuhua Celestial Sect disciples, two beautiful young women in his arms. He was already slurring his words, drunk from endless toasts. ”Everyone! Today, I, Jian Yulou, put some ignorant country bumpkin in his place! I’m in a great mood, so drink as much as you want!”

”Haha, Senior Brother Jian, your power is unmatched! For that country bumpkin to oppose you, he was simply asking to die!”

”To Senior Brother Jian’s might! We raise our glasses to you!”

The crowd raised their glasses one after another.

Jian Yulou laughed heartily and drained his cup, then put on a regretful expression. ”It’s just a pity I couldn’t kill that bastard!”

”Senior Brother Jian, that kid has probably run far away by now. How would he dare to remain in the Celestial Fate Dynasty!”

”He definitely ran. He knows Senior Brother Jian’s status. If he didn’t run, would he stay in the Celestial Fate Dynasty waiting to die?”

One by one, the cultivators chimed in with flattery.

Jian Yulou was all smiles. After a few more drinks, he wrapped his arms around the two beautiful young women and headed into a bedroom.

Pushing the two young women onto the bed, Jian Yulou’s face wore a greedy smile. He rubbed his hands together and said, ”My two little beauties, serve this young master well tonight!”

As he spoke, he began to take off his clothes.

However...

Halfway through undressing, Jian Yulou’s movements suddenly froze. He remained in the same posture, not daring to move a muscle. A drop of cold sweat trickled down his forehead. A sharp longsword was pressed against his throat, having already sliced open a small cut.

GULP!

Jian Yulou swallowed hard. ”Wh-wh-which senior or junior brother is playing a joke on me?”

”Jian Yulou, you sure are forgetful for someone so important. It’s only been a few hours, and you’ve already forgotten me?” A sneering voice sounded out as Jiang Chen stepped from behind him.

Jian Yulou’s pupils contracted violently. ”Ji-Jiang Chen? How is it you? No, this is impossible! How could you be in the Jiuhua Celestial Sect?”

”And why can’t I be in the Jiuhua Celestial Sect?” Jiang Chen gave a cold smile and mocked, ”Then again, you must think I should have been scared off and fled for my life, right? A pity you thought wrong. Not only did I not flee, but I broke into the Jiuhua Celestial Sect at night. Do you know what I’m here to do?”

”Y-y-you, what do you want to do?” Jian Yulou felt a chill run down his spine, his voice trembling.

Jiang Chen grinned. ”I never let my revenge wait overnight. Today, you wanted me dead. To avoid any future trouble, I’ll have to send you on your way first!”

”You’re going to kill me? No, you can’t! You can’t kill me...”

Jian Yulou trembled all over. His legs went weak, and he knelt on the ground, wailing, ”Spare me! Jiang Chen, Uncle Jiang... I was wrong, I was really wrong! Please don’t kill me, I’ll never dare again. As long as you spare my worthless life, I’ll go beg my master right away, get my martial uncle to open the Teleportation Array, and send you away. I’m begging you...”

”Now you know to beg me? A pity, it’s too late!”

Jiang Chen gave a cold smile and slapped his palm on top of Jian Yulou’s head. With a CRACK, his skull shattered.

Jian Yulou died, bleeding from all seven orifices!

Jiang Chen snorted. ’Devouring Spirit Ten Thousand Dao Scripture—devour!’

RUMBLE!

A dark gold vortex spun within his body, and a terrifying Devouring Power enveloped Jian Yulou. In moments, the Essence Blood in his body was completely devoured, along with his Celestial Tier Sixth Grade Martial Soul.

Jiang Chen couldn’t help but give a wry smile. ’After reaching the Union Palace Realm, comprehending the realm and the power of Mystical Techniques is more important. It’s getting hard to raise my cultivation just by devouring Essence Blood. My Martial Soul, on the other hand, is about to reach Celestial Tier Eighth Grade. It looks like I’ll have to focus on devouring Martial Souls from now on!’

He took Jian Yulou’s Storage Ring and tossed the desiccated corpse aside.

Jiang Chen turned and left the Cyan Flower Garden, heading for his next destination...