Not only was Xiao Chenxi's intelligence far superior to that of children her age, but her physique was also extraordinary. She was exceptionally sensitive to energy and had already sensed the powerful force within the people before her. She was very worried about Chen Nan, her eyes red, and nodded vigorously at the departing Chen Nan before falling silent.
The young marquis was already furious. This seemingly ordinary young man had repeatedly contradicted him, igniting a fire within him that had always been arrogant. He pointed at Chen Nan and said, "Boy, you're dead today!" Then he turned to the other young men beside him and said, "You are all nobles of Kaiyuan City. Today I want to play with him in public. Can you handle the aftermath?"
One of the young noblemen readily agreed, "No problem."
The young marquis laughed loudly, "Good, that's straightforward." A ferocious look appeared on his face as he glared fiercely at Chen Nan and said, "Boy, do you have anything else to say?"
Chen Nan was unusually calm at this moment, and said coldly, "I can reason with people, but I have nothing to say to you. If you want to fight, then fight!" After saying that, he took the lead and walked out of the tailor shop.
The young marquis, enraged, laughed coldly and said, "Haha...good! It's been a long time since anyone dared to speak to me like that. I'll see what makes you so special!"
Outside the tailor shop was a main thoroughfare in the city, incredibly wide, with a constant stream of pedestrians. When the young marquis and his entourage arrived at the very center of the street, the passersby involuntarily stepped aside, walking around them at a distance.
The reason was simple: at that moment, the young marquis emitted a powerful aura, and a violent energy fluctuation spread outwards from him like a tidal wave. The surging energy caused some people who wanted to get closer to stumble and fall, and many passersby stared at him in fear.
The once bustling street suddenly fell silent, and all the pedestrians stopped and watched from a distance. The wide street became completely empty in the middle. The alluring woman beside the young marquis and the several richly dressed noblemen had retreated to the side of the road, leaving only the young marquis and Chen Nan in the middle.
"Heh heh, kid, no one has ever dared to defy me like this before. Do you know the consequences of doing so?" The young marquis grinned menacingly, and suddenly a burst of azure light erupted from his body, enveloping him like a dancing flame.
His clothes shattered instantly, the fragments fluttering down like dust. His bare chest was covered in thick, dark chest hair, and the hair on the rest of his body was also exceptionally long and thick, making him look like a ferocious gorilla, his appearance particularly grotesque and terrifying.
Chen Nan's pupils contracted, flashing two cold beams of light. He said coldly, "Enough nonsense, let's fight!" Although he already knew that the young marquis's cultivation had reached the second-tier Mahayana realm and was about to enter the ranks of third-tier experts, he didn't care at all. At this moment, he was unusually calm. This was the mindset he had cultivated in battle ten thousand years ago. The stronger the enemy he encountered, the more intense the battle, the calmer he became.
The Immortal Martial Academy's warm-up tournament for top talents had just ended, and the young masters from various academies who participated in the main competition had not yet left. Over the past two days, many of these young powerhouses had been touring the capital of Jin, and the unusual events on this main road quickly attracted the attention of some young masters from the four major academies.
Among the crowd, someone immediately recognized the fierce-looking young marquis, who exuded an aura of power. Everyone knew he was the younger brother of the young marquis Shenwei. After all, the young marquis Shenwei had made a name for himself in the warm-up competition, defeating all the top contestants from the four academies, so the people around him naturally became the focus of attention.
These people didn't know why the arrogant young marquis was making such a fuss, but everyone was eagerly anticipating this major battle. Perhaps this is a common trait of the dark side of many people: finding pleasure in the tragic conflicts that happen to others.
Having repeatedly suffered verbal losses, the young marquis had long harbored intense hatred for Chen Nan. He roared, "You brat, go to hell!" The booming sound reverberated like thunder, shaking many onlookers, who hurriedly covered their ears in fright.
The young marquis transformed into a streak of azure light, rushing towards Chen Nan like a bolt of lightning.
Chen Nan snorted coldly, and the powerful force dormant within him suddenly stirred, unleashing a mighty aura. A dazzling golden light filled his body, its brilliance enveloping him like the golden armor of a war god.
To others, it was a streak of blue light rushing towards Chen Nan; to Chen Nan, it was a dozen intertwined fist shadows viciously slamming towards him. He leaped forward, causing the entire street to tremble, and swung his right fist out, using force to counter force, violence to suppress violence.
Surrounding the golden fist shadow were streaks of blazing golden light, dancing like golden snakes. The immense power distorted space, seemingly tearing apart the void around the fist shadow. Immense pressure emanated from all directions, pushing the onlookers backward by the surging force. The terrifying fluctuations made everyone feel a sense of unease, even the most skilled cultivators in the crowd.
Chen Nan's right fist slammed straight into the center of the young marquis's fist shadow, and a deafening roar resounded in the arena, as an extremely powerful energy flow erupted within the arena.
Two beams of golden and azure light shone like two blazing suns in the sky, their dazzling brilliance blinding the eyes. A massive surge of energy erupted like a torrent. The overwhelming force propelled all the onlookers backward a distance of three zhang (approximately 10 meters), many falling backward to the ground, creating chaos on the scene.
In the very center of the street, energy surged, a strong wind howled, and the gale tousled Chen Nan's long hair, but his body remained firmly rooted there like an iron stake. At this moment, his figure exuded an aura of unapproachable grandeur, as if surrounded by a vast divine and demonic power, making him awe-inspiring like an emperor reigning over all.
An illusion? A hallucination? Those watching can no longer tell the difference.
The raging energy flow gradually dissipated, and the gale also stopped. A huge chasm, ten feet deep, appeared in front of Chen Nan, and the street was destroyed beyond recognition.
"Cough..." A series of coughs came from the deep pit. A huge hand gripped the edge of the pit, and the young marquis, his face covered in dust, struggled to climb out. He was in a terrible state, his right hand bruised and swollen. If he hadn't used his extraordinary skill at the last moment to redirect the force he had received on his fist to his limbs, his right hand would have been completely ruined.
One punch! Defeated with just one punch! This made the arrogant young marquis feel like crying. This was the greatest humiliation he had ever suffered in his life. Even his elder brother could not have defeated him so easily!
"I refuse to accept this! If you come again, I will kill you!" The young marquis roared like a wild beast, his eyes bloodshot.
Chen Nan seemed to awaken from a dream, having just entered a wondrous state. In the instant he threw his fist, he felt everything was so natural, perfectly round and harmonious, following the natural order. At that moment, he felt as if he had merged with heaven and earth! Without any attachment, without self or possessions, without a trace, a punch that seemed perfectly natural!
He sensed something was amiss, and coldly met the young marquis's angry gaze, saying, "You are no match for me!"
Upon hearing this, the young marquis seemed to have suffered a great humiliation. He looked up to the sky and howled, appearing as if he had gone mad. To ordinary people, the howl was like a demonic sound piercing their brains. Most people could not bear it and painfully covered their ears. Even the cultivators with slightly weaker cultivation levels in the crowd frowned deeply.
The young marquis's companions, the alluring woman, and the other noblemen rushed into the arena, trying to persuade him.
The young marquis pushed them away forcefully and shouted, "No, I can't stand it for a second longer! I want him dead right now! Wherever I go, my dragon will fly there too. It won't be far from here. When my dragon arrives, I will personally kill this brat!"
A black dot appeared in the sky, growing larger and larger until a flying dragon pierced through the clouds and hurtled towards the ground. Soon after, a black dragon over seven zhang long descended upon the street, circling continuously above it.
The dragon's massive, ferocious head gleamed with silver horns, its large, azure eyes shone brightly, and its wide mouth revealed gleaming white teeth that looked particularly terrifying. The black scales on its body shimmered with a sinister coldness, and four thick claws on its belly appeared powerful and formidable. A pair of enormous, horny wings whipped up gusts of wind, sending dust and sand flying from the ground below. At the end of its body, a long, massive tail resembled a divine whip from mythology, inspiring awe and fear.
Chen Nan used to associate Western dragons with winged giant lizards, but as he learned more about these highly intelligent creatures, he became increasingly wary of them, gaining a deeper understanding of their strength and terror.
The onlookers had almost never seen such a colossal creature before. This hideous giant suddenly appeared in the sky above the street, causing widespread panic. People fled the scene in droves, the streets were in chaos and overcrowded, filled with cries and shouts.
Many people were injured in the chaotic street, trampled and crushed, and it took about fifteen minutes for the scene to return to calm. Those who remained at the scene were cultivators, numbering over a hundred, some of whom were students from the four major academies.
The young marquis laughed wildly, "You're dead, brat! Today I'll tear you to pieces!"
"You've said it countless times, but I'm still standing here unharmed. Actions speak louder than words." Chen Nan roared at the end, "Come and try, see if you can take my life!"
Since returning from Hundred Flowers Valley, he had been in a low mood. Just now, Xiao Chenxi had been bullied by this scoundrel, and Chen Nan's mood was extremely bad. At this moment, he was truly enraged.
The young marquis whistled, and the flying dragon slowly descended. Although the main road was wide, it was still too small to accommodate a seven-zhang-long dragon, so the dragon could only descend head to tail along the direction of the street.
After the young marquis mounted the dragon's back, the dragon soared into the sky, creating a fierce gust of wind that nearly knocked over several people with weaker cultivation levels outside the arena.
The young marquis drew his greatsword from his waist, pointed it at Chen Nan, and said, "I'll make you understand that dragon knights are the true warriors among cultivators!"
Chen Nan glanced at the enormous dragon hovering in the air, then at the tailor shop not far away. He feared the upcoming battle would endanger Xiao Chenxi, who was hiding inside. He shouted into the air, "Let's go to the square ahead for the final battle!" With that, he strode forward.
"Good, just what I wanted. That's where I can really unleash my power." The young marquis rode his flying dragon forward. The cultivators who had come to watch the spectacle also rushed over there.
Chen Nan felt a lingering worry. Even if he defeated that arrogant young master, he might still have to deal with several noble sons next. This was their territory, and he didn't know if he could escape unscathed. He had already prepared for the worst: even if it meant fighting to the death, he would definitely break through with Xiao Chenxi.
After walking a dozen steps, Chen Nan looked back and saw the delicate little Chen Xi standing in front of the clothing store, waving her little hand at him and softly calling, "Brother..." Her eyes were red and her face was full of worry.
Chen Nan's cold expression vanished, replaced by a bright smile. He waved to her and called out, "Chenxi, be good. Wait here for your brother. He'll come pick you up in a bit." Then he strode forward. No matter what, even if it meant his death, he couldn't let Chenxi get hurt.
A dragon roared from the capital of Jin, a colossal creature seven zhang long circling high in the sky, startling all the cultivators in Kaiyuan City. Local experts and students from the four major academies alike flocked to the plaza, and the crowd grew larger and larger.
The young marquis rode his flying dragon with great majesty. The black dragon roared and shook the heavens. The soldiers guarding the city noticed the unusual situation and a group of men rushed over.
Chen Nan called out, "Excuse me." He snatched a Western-style broadsword from a warrior in the crowd. This greatsword could be wielded with both hands or one hand. For those who preferred wide-ranging, powerful moves, it was a good weapon. Chen Nan weighed it in his hand and found it to be fairly comfortable.
He stood motionless on the ground, sword raised in one hand, broadsword pointing to the sky, and shouted loudly, "Come on!" Facing the ferocious flying dragon and its master, Chen Nan dared not underestimate them. He was already prepared for a great battle, his profound energy flowing, and powerful energy filling all his meridians.
"Roar!" The black dragon roared and charged down rapidly at the young master's command. A gust of wind descended from the sky, dust flew up on the ground, and the stone slabs on the square trembled.
The dragon, its blood-red mouth wide open and its gleaming white teeth exposed, lunged menacingly at Chen Nan. At the same time, its two thick, powerful forepaws reached out to grab him. The black, shiny, and sharp claws were more than half a zhang long, their cold light gleaming and terrifying.
The young marquis sat upright on the back of the flying dragon, grinning maliciously. He held a Western-style greatsword in his hand and slashed fiercely at Chen Nan. The cyan battle aura emanating from the sword's blade was dazzling, cold, and intimidating.
Faced with this fierce impact, Chen Nan dared not be careless. He changed to gripping the sword with both hands, raising the broadsword high above his head. The originally dull blade suddenly brightened, golden light filling the blade. The broadsword seemed to come alive, trembling and emitting bursts of sound.
A sword beam over ten feet long shot straight upwards, its sword energy piercing the air, its sharpness dazzling. The sound of it cutting through the air was like the clash of metal, the clanging sound carrying an aura of death.
"Roar!" The enormous roar of the flying dragon echoed across the square, making everyone's ears ring. In the blink of an eye, the dragon rushed to Chen Nan's front.
Chen Nan unleashed a powerful and dazzling sword aura, which collided with the young marquis's incoming battle aura, erupting in a burst of brilliant light. Then, he moved backward two zhang like lightning, leaving an afterimage in his wake.
The swooping dragon missed its target with its claws and instead slammed them into the ground, creating two large craters more than half a meter deep in the plaza, causing the earth to tremble.
Chen Nan had already taken to the air, leaping three zhang into the void, and slashed downwards with his broadsword. The flying dragon swung its head and charged upwards, its two giant horns, each more than half a zhang long, aimed at Chen Nan. At the same time, the dazzling battle aura unleashed by the young marquis's longsword also rushed towards Chen Nan.
Chen Nan roared at the top of his lungs, "Slash!"
The immense power surged across the plaza like ocean waves. The broadsword in Chen Nan's hand erupted with a light more dazzling than the sun, and a nearly two-zhang-long solidified sword aura appeared in the sky above the plaza like a rainbow.
A terrifying surge of power permeated every inch of space. All the cultivators watching from the sidelines felt a suffocating sense of oppression. The immense pressure was as heavy as Mount Tai, making it difficult for them to breathe.
This incredibly powerful sword strike had exhausted Chen Nan's full strength; it was the most powerful strike he could currently unleash. The overwhelming force instilled fear in Feilong, and the young marquis's expression changed drastically. He concentrated all his power into the giant sword in his hand and charged forward to meet the attack.
A dazzling light, like ten suns illuminating the sky, illuminated every inch of the plaza, with surging energy flows rampant everywhere. A mournful dragon roar resounded in the arena, the shrill cry deafening, as the black dragon surged and soared into the sky, spraying waves of blood down from the heavens.
After the scene calmed down, two bloody dragon horns, each over half a meter long, could be seen lying on the plaza. The entire plaza had been ravaged by the raging energy flow, leaving it riddled with craters.
The broadsword in Chen Nan's hand could not withstand the materialized sword energy and shattered completely under the impact of that enormous force.
The black dragon roared mournfully in mid-air, thrashing about. The young marquis, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, clung desperately to the reins. It took a long time for the black dragon to calm down. Not only had its two horns been severed by Chen Nan, but a terrifying wound more than half a zhang long had also been cleaved open on its head, from which blood gushed out continuously, revealing even the white bones beneath.
At this moment, hundreds of people had gathered outside the arena, all drawn by the black dragon's roar. Chen Nan's incredibly powerful sword strike had nearly taken the black dragon's life, sending chills down the spines of every cultivator watching from the sidelines. Such skill was truly astonishing.
The students from the four academies were especially shocked. Chen Nan was about the same age as them, but his skills far surpassed theirs.
The young marquis was furious. His beloved black dragon had been injured in such a state, and he himself was also seriously injured. He was so angry that he kept yelling.
"Hmph," Chen Nan snorted coldly, the resounding sound striking the hearts of everyone present like a hammer blow, sending a chill down their spines.
The young marquis once again rode the flying dragon down, but the black dragon was filled with fear of Chen Nan, and its speed slowed down significantly as it approached him, as if it was unwilling to get close.
Just then, a soft laugh rang out from outside the arena, and a sweet, coquettish female voice said, "Hehe, you little girl are so cute, let your big sister pamper you a bit."
Chen Nan glanced over and saw that the alluring woman among the young marquis's group was holding little Chenxi, but not in an ordinary way; her arms were tightly wrapped around Chenxi. Chenxi's delicate eyebrows were furrowed, and her little face was full of pain, but she stubbornly remained silent.
Chen Nan was enraged, a raging fire burning within him. He unleashed a powerful punch, forcing the flying dragon back with its immense force, and roared, "You bitch, release Chen Xi!"
The alluring woman chuckled coquettishly, "Hehe, I'm so scared!" She held Chenxi in one arm and gently patted her ample breasts with the other.
Chen Nan was furious and rushed towards her.
"Stop." The alluring woman said coldly. She placed one hand on Xiao Chenxi's throat and then smiled seductively, "Don't worry, I will take good care of her. But if you dare to do anything reckless, don't blame me for being impolite."
Chen Nan stopped in his tracks, seething with anger. He stared coldly at the alluring woman for a moment before retreating helplessly. At that moment, the young marquis, riding a flying dragon, charged at him again. Chen Nan's broadsword was already shattered, so he drew the dagger from his boot and met the swooping dragon head-on.
Above the plaza, the dragon's roar shook the heavens, sword energy and battle energy surged and raged, energy flowed everywhere, and powerful power fluctuations rippled through every inch of space.
"Ah..." Xiao Chenxi's childish voice suddenly rang out from outside the arena, filled with pain.
Chen Nan's heart tightened. While dodging the flying dragon's attacks, he turned his head to look. The alluring woman was pinching Xiao Chenxi's little face, causing her smooth cheeks to change shape repeatedly. Although they were far apart, Chen Nan could still see that Xiao Chenxi's little face had been pinched until it was covered in bruises. His eyes blazed with fury, and he was on the verge of madness.
While Chen Nan was distracted, the young marquis's vicious slash of battle energy had already reached within three feet of him. He hurriedly activated his profound technique, unleashing a golden light to resist the powerful battle energy attack. However, due to the haste, the light barrier he erected was unable to completely block the battle energy, and he was instantly blasted away.
Chen Nan tumbled through the air for three zhang before landing. Although the impact of his battle qi hadn't caused him any serious internal injuries, it still left him with a dull ache in his chest and abdomen. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, stared coldly at the alluring woman, and said, "If you release Chen Xi now, I swear I will never touch you again."
"Haha..." The alluring woman laughed wildly and said, "You can talk big again when you're alive to leave here today." The four noble young men beside her also laughed, clearly indicating that they had decided to spare Chen Nan's life.
When Xiao Chenxi saw blood on Chen Nan's lips, she cried out anxiously, "Brother, I'm fine, don't be distracted..." But before she could finish speaking, the alluring woman pinched her lip hard.
At this moment, many cultivators in Kaiyuan City were drawn to this place, all with a "let's watch the show" mentality. Although many were furious at the shamelessness of the glamorous woman and her group, no one was willing to step forward. None of them wanted to offend those noble young masters, knowing all too well the terrifying power of their families.
When Chen Nan and the young marquis clashed again, the alluring woman tossed Xiao Chenxi away like a sandbag. Just as Chenxi was about to hit the ground, a noble young master caught her, but then immediately tossed her to another noble young master.
The alluring woman and four noble young men passed Xiao Chenxi around like a sandbag, but the stubborn Xiao Chenxi refused to utter a sound, afraid of distracting Chen Nan.
But how could Chen Nan not see it? Half of his mind was on Chen Xi, otherwise he wouldn't have fought the young marquis for so long without being able to take his life. He was heartbroken!