42: It's okay

Boom!

Black Devilish Qi shot straight into the sky.

Jiang Chen stood at the center of the Devilish Qi, his robes fluttering and his black hair wildly dancing.

His eyes, at some unknown point, had transformed into pure dark gold, and deep within his pupils, it was as if sun, moon, and stars flickered.

A vast, ancient, and overbearing aura, centered around him, swept across the entire arena!

Dao Yan Heavenly Demon Body!

At this moment, Jiang Chen no longer concealed anything, completely unleashing the most Origin power of this Physique!

"This... what kind of power is this?!"

On the high platform, even a powerful individual like Nangong Zhuo, who was accustomed to grand spectacles, now had a face filled with shock.

Aside from a few who knew the inside story, everyone else was astonished.

The aura emanating from Jiang Chen's body, in its essence, even surpassed their Saint power! It was a power closer to the Origin of the Dao!

"This kid..." Nangong Zhuo murmured to himself, realizing that he felt as if he were meeting his future son-in-law for the first time.

Nangong Mingyue, even more so, stared blankly at the figure that seemed like a devil god descended upon the world.

She clutched her injured shoulder, feeling not pain, but an unprecedented palpitation.

That monstrous rage, that world-destroying power, had all originated because of her.

This discovery stirred up a tempestuous wave in her heart.

Su Qinger's face was also pale; she gazed at Jiang Chen, her eyes filled with both fear and a strange fascination.

Is this his true appearance?

The Saint who was usually gentle and refined, occasionally overbearing, actually concealed such a terrifying side within him.

"This power... impossible... how can there be such pure Devilish Qi in this world..."

Lin Fan's laughter abruptly ceased.

In front of Jiang Chen's aura, he was as insignificant as the difference between a firefly and a bright moon.

His proud devil core power even trembled in front of this aura.

He finally felt fear.

An uncontrollable fear that originated from the depths of his Soul.

"Only now do you remember to be afraid?"

Jiang Chen's voice resonated directly within Lin Fan's Soul.

The next moment, his figure vanished from its original spot.

Lin Fan's pupils suddenly constricted.

He wanted to escape, but his body simply couldn't keep up with his consciousness's reaction.

A hand covered in black demonic patterns gripped his throat, lifting him from the ground.

"Didn't you want me to feel pain?"

Jiang Chen's dark golden eyes stared at him indifferently.

"I'll grant your wish."

As his voice fell, his other hand, fingers joined like a blade, slowly pierced into Lin Fan's Dantian.

"Pfft!"

There was no obstruction whatsoever.

Jiang Chen's hand directly pierced through Lin Fan's lower abdomen.

Lin Fan's body twitched violently; he could feel that the devil core, upon which his life depended, was being forcibly... stripped away by an irresistible power!

"Ah ah ah!!"

The bloodcurdling screams made everyone present's scalps tingle.

Jiang Chen expressionlessly pulled out the still-beating devil core, emanating an ominous aura, from Lin Fan's body.

Then, in front of Lin Fan, he closed his five fingers.

"Bang!"

The devil core shattered in response, transforming into the purest energy and dissipating into the air.

Lin Fan's aura rapidly withered at a visible speed; all his cultivation was completely abolished at this moment.

But this was only the beginning.

"You used this hand to hurt her."

Jiang Chen's voice was icy cold as he grabbed Lin Fan's right arm and gave a fierce tug!

"Rip!"

Accompanied by the sound of flesh tearing, Lin Fan's entire right arm was forcibly ripped off by Jiang Chen!

"You used these eyes to covet her."

Jiang Chen's fingers pressed onto Lin Fan's eyes.

"Ah!"

Lin Fan's eyes instantly burst into two sprays of blood mist.

In the square, some female Disciples with weaker psychological endurance immediately vomited on the spot.

Too cruel!

Wen Yan had already put away his fan, his face pale; for the first time, he was grateful that he had never offended Jiang Chen and Nangong Mingyue.

Qing Linghe and Song Ningxue also had solemn expressions.

As they looked at Jiang Chen, who was like an Asura on the stage, they no longer had any thought of competing with him.

Jiang Chen, however, seemed to hear nothing around him.

He crippled Lin Fan's limbs, crushed every inch of bone in his body, stripped away his Divine Soul, and repeatedly burned it with Devilish Qi.

He wanted Lin Fan to pay the most painful price for his foolishness in endless agony.

"Jiang Chen... if you have the guts... kill me!"

Lin Fan used his last ounce of strength to utter a sound.

"Kill you?"

Jiang Chen smiled, a smile that sent shivers down many people's spines.

"That would be too easy for you."

He raised his hand, and a ball of black Devilish Qi rose from his palm.

"I won't let you die; I'll make you repent in here for all eternity!"

With that, he pressed the ball of Devilish Qi onto Lin Fan's crown.

"No!!"

Lin Fan let out his last scream in this life, filled with fear and despair.

His body, in the Devilish Qi, did not turn to ash, but disintegrated inch by inch, and finally, along with his Divine Soul, was completely swallowed, leaving not a trace in this world.

Annihilation of body and spirit! Never to be reborn!

After doing all this, the monstrous Devilish Qi on Jiang Chen's body slowly receded back into him.

His dark golden eyes returned to their pitch-black color, and he transformed back into the handsome and transcendent Saint.

It was as if the devil god from just now was merely everyone's illusion.

He didn't even glance at the spot where Lin Fan had disappeared; he turned, took a step, and his figure appeared in front of Nangong Mingyue.

The entire arena was silent.

Nangong Mingyue looked at Jiang Chen, who was so close, and her heart began to pound uncontrollably.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found her throat a little dry.

Jiang Chen did not speak.

He looked at the wound on her shoulder, which she had already stopped bleeding with her spiritual power, and at the still-stark bloodstains on her light blue gauze dress, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.

Nangong Mingyue was also looking at him.

Her normally cool and clear eyes were now filled with complex emotions.

There was shock, there was horror, but more than that, there was a kind of... stirring that she herself couldn't quite describe or explain.

She wasn't afraid of his devil-god-like appearance from just now.

For some reason, when he erupted with such terrifying power for her, not only did she feel no fear, but an unprecedented sense of... security welled up in her heart.

So, this man cared about her this much?

Jiang Chen didn't speak; he just extended his hand, a wisp of gentle light swirling around his fingertips, and lightly touched her wound.

A warm energy flowed in, and the wound, corroded by blood, healed at a visible speed, leaving not even a scar.

After doing all this, Jiang Chen withdrew his hand, looked at her exquisite face so close to him, and finally spoke.

"It's alright now."

These simple three words, however, touched Nangong Mingyue's heartstrings more than any sweet nothings.

She looked at him, at the lingering tension and anger in his eyes, and, as if by some strange impulse, softly hummed in affirmation.