54: Blind your dog eyes

On the hillside, Jiang Chen sat casually on a large rock, while Nangong Mingyue stood beside him, her cool gaze fixed on the entrance to the Ancient Tomb, shrouded in Chaos mist, not far away.

Although she tried her best to remain calm, her slightly reddened earlobes and the occasional glances she cast towards Jiang Chen still betrayed her inner thoughts at the moment.

Xiao Tiandu found a spot to wipe his longsword, its Sword Qi restrained, his demeanor as steady as a rock.

Qing Linghe and Song Ningxue stood together, conversing in low voices, discussing the Formation and Restriction of the area.

Wen Yan, on the other hand, fanned himself, surveying his surroundings.

It was unclear if he was acting as a temporary guard or scouting for handsome men and beautiful women from various Sects.

However, in this temporary tranquility, a few discordant figures brazenly walked towards them.

Leading them was an arrogant young man in a crimson robe, followed by several equally restless hangers-on.

They came from a second-rate Sect called Blazing Sun Sect, accustomed to lording over their own territory. Upon seeing Nangong Mingyue's stunning beauty, they immediately had ideas.

"Oh, aren't these the Prodigies of Hongtian Holy Land? Why are you hiding in this corner? Are you perhaps afraid?"

The leading young man, named Zhao Tiankuo, spoke with a sarcastic, Yin and Yang tone.

His gaze, however, unreservedly swept back and forth across Nangong Mingyue, Qing Linghe, and Song Ningxue.

His eyes were filled with undisguised lewdness, not even bothering to conceal it.

It was clearly an expression of, 'I've taken a liking to you all.'

"This Fairy is truly a beauty. Wouldn't it be a shame to stay by this pretty boy's side? Why not come to my Lieyang Sect? I guarantee you'll become the Sect Master's wife and enjoy endless wealth and glory!"

Zhao Tiankuo said with what he believed to be a graceful smile.

As soon as these words were spoken, the surrounding atmosphere instantly turned cold.

Xiao Tiandu stopped wiping his longsword, and Song Ningxue and Qing Linghe ceased their conversation, looking over with cold eyes.

"Where did this wild dog come from, barking here?"

Wen Yan snapped his fan shut and stood in front of Zhao Tiankuo, his face grim. "Are you blind, you dog? Do you know who you're talking to?"

Zhao Tiankuo's followers immediately started shouting: "Presumptuous! This is our Lieyang Sect's Young Sect Master! How dare you disrespect our Young Sect Master?"

"Lieyang Sect?"

Wen Yan scoffed, "Never heard of it. If you know what's good for you, kneel and apologize now, then scram. Otherwise, today, this God Burial Valley will be your burial ground."

Zhao Tiankuo's face completely darkened. He hadn't expected Wen Yan to be so unyielding.

He glanced at Jiang Chen, who was still sitting calmly not far away, and seeing him appear indifferent, his courage swelled again.

In his opinion, Jiang Chen, who was beside Nangong Mingyue, was nothing more than a pretentious coward, relying entirely on the women and fellow Disciples around him.

"Hongtian Holy Land? Is that so impressive?"

Zhao Tiankuo sneered, his tone growing more arrogant. "I'm telling you, my Lieyang Sect has now pledged allegiance to the Tianyuan Divine Dynasty! His Highness, Crown Prince Yuan Haotian, is watching over there! Try to touch me if you dare?"

As he spoke, he proudly gestured with his chin towards Yuan Haotian's direction.

Yuan Haotian, sensing the commotion, showed no reaction, only a cold smirk of someone enjoying a show, without any other expression.

In his view, having such a fool test Jiang Chen's depth was not bad at all.

"Tianyuan Divine Dynasty?"

Wen Yan's expression changed, but then it turned into a cold sneer. "So, you're a dog who found a new master. Unfortunately, you've picked the wrong person."

"Enough nonsense!" Zhao Tiankuo completely lost his patience. He reached out and directly grabbed towards Nangong Mingyue. "Beauty, follow me, I guarantee it'll be better than following this good-for-nothing!"

His movements were swift. Nangong Mingyue's delicate brows furrowed, and the spiritual Qi within her body began to circulate, ready to strike.

But someone was faster than her.

Jiang Chen, who had remained seated and unmoving, didn't even stand up.

He merely slowly raised his eyelids.

His eyes, with the left like the sun and the right like the moon, calmly looked at Zhao Tiankuo who was rushing over.

The moment Zhao Tiankuo's hand was about to touch the hem of Nangong Mingyue's clothes, his entire body suddenly stiffened in mid-air.

Time, at this moment, seemed to have stopped.

The lewd smile on Zhao Tiankuo's face was still frozen, but fear began to emerge in his eyes.

He found that he couldn't move.

An invisible, irresistible force squeezed him from all directions.

The spiritual Qi in his body, the Blazing Sun True Fire he was so proud of, was instantly crushed into dust before this power, like a firefly before a bright moon.

"Crack... crunch..."

Clear sounds of bones cracking, dense and numerous, emanated from within his body.

His body was like it was held by an invisible giant hand, being crushed inch by inch.

Skin, muscles, bones, internal organs... everything began to collapse under this terrifying pressure.

"No..."

He wanted to beg for mercy, wanted to scream, but couldn't even utter a complete sentence.

Under the horrified gazes of everyone around, Zhao Tiankuo and his few followers, like sand sculptures weathered by the wind, began to turn into dust from their extremities, little by little.

There was no blood, no severed limbs.

They were simply erased from everyone's sight, silently, without leaving even the slightest trace.

A gust of wind blew, scattering the last bit of dust.

On the hillside, silence returned.

Those few people were as if they had never appeared.

The entire God Burial Valley was dead silent.

Everyone who witnessed this scene, whether they were Disciples from second and third-rate Sects, or top Prodigies like Yuan Haotian, Mo Yuan, and Ao Ya, their pupils sharply constricted.

Yuan Haotian's cold sneer froze on his face, and for the first time, a look of solemnity appeared in his eyes.

A hint of surprise flashed in Ao Ya's vertically slit pupils, which were full of savagery.

Mo Yuan, in the black mist, let out an almost inaudible sigh of admiration: "Interesting..."

Jiang Chen slowly stood up. He walked to Nangong Mingyue, reached out, and gently brushed a strand of her hair, disheveled by the wind, back into place.

Nangong Mingyue stared at him in a daze, her heart pounding.

She had personally witnessed Jiang Chen's strength displayed during the Grand Competition, but even that was far less shocking than what she had just seen.

He had grown stronger again?

Killing, without even needing to lift a hand.

Just a glance was enough to turn a living person into dust.

After completing all of this, Jiang Chen slowly turned around, his indifferent gaze sweeping across the entire scene, finally resting in the direction of the Tianyuan Divine Dynasty.

He slowly spoke, each word clearly entering the ears of everyone in the valley.

"Is there anyone else who wants to try?"