Chapter 141: Not only does it determine superiority and inferiority, but it also decides life and death.

"Pan Junfeng, what a good name!"

Yan Chu stared fixedly at the middle-aged man for a long while before suddenly revealing a harmless smile and chuckling.

"Hmph!"

Pan Junfeng snorted coldly and turned his head away in disdain.

He was also at the Peak of the Great Grandmaster Realm and practiced first-class martial arts from the Great Jin Dynasty's armory. He was confident that he had few rivals in the same Realm and didn't take Yan Chu seriously at all.

If it weren't for the fact that the other party had caught the eyes of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor due to his youth...

He would have insisted on having a battle with him!

Zhao Jiyao's heart finally settled back into her chest.

She was truly afraid that Yan Chu would start a fight with Eunuch Sun's subordinates at this time.

If that happened, things would become irredeemable.

In that situation just now, knowing Yan Chu as well as she did, she hadn't been able to speak up to persuade him.

Otherwise, it might have caused Yan Chu displeasure.

She didn't want to ruin her image in Yan Chu's heart.

But her Family was backed by the Imperial Six Doors, and it was impossible for them to turn against the court, which made her feel very conflicted.

"Eunuch Sun, Yan Chu is just in a bad mood today. He's usually quite easy to talk to. Please don't take what just happened to heart!"

Zhao Jiyao spoke up, hoping to ease the tension.

"Oh?"

A fake smile appeared on Eunuch Sun's wrinkled Face as he said,

"Great Hero Yan is a young Prodigy after all, and he is highly valued by the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. As a mere eunuch, how could I dare to hold a grudge against Great Hero Yan!"

It was over; he clearly held a grudge.

Zhao Jiyao felt somewhat helpless.

Among the seven people ahead, there were three Great Grandmasters and four Grandmasters. This force, if placed in Cangzhou Prefecture, could almost sweep through every power except for the Marquis's Estate.

But in the imperial court, it was just a drop in the ocean.

Eunuch Sun's adoptive father was Tian Taixing, a Chief Eunuch in the palace and one of the Emperor's close attendants.

If the other party went back and made a small report, Yan Chu's newly appointed position as the cangzhou assistant administrator might be revoked.

Yan Chu didn't care about any of this and simply waved his hand, saying,

"Proclaim the decree!"

The several guards also restrained their auras. Eunuch Sun took out the Imperial Decree, cleared his throat, and said,

"Yan Chu, receive the decree!"

Thump! Thump!

As soon as Eunuch Sun's voice fell, Wan Yao and Jiang Qingbo behind Yan Chu immediately knelt down. Song Xingwu and the others all looked toward Yan Chu.

"Yan Chu—receive the decree!"

Eunuch Sun frowned and repeated himself heavily.

"Read it!"

Yan Chu stood with his hands behind his back and spoke calmly.

"Eunuch Sun, Yan Chu has never held a government post before and has some Jianghu habits. Please forgive him!"

Zhao Jiyao spoke up again at this moment.

When it came to Imperial Decrees, not everyone needed to kneel to receive them.

For example, some top-tier experts who shook the world didn't think much of the imperial court or Imperial Decrees.

Decades ago, the previous Emperor wanted to confer the title of Marquis upon Feng Siyuan, the 'Mountain-Driving Whip' ranked fourth on the Earth Ranking, but the other party directly tore up the Imperial Decree and walked away.

Although the person delivering the decree was furious, they were wary of Feng Siyuan's powerful strength and could only obediently return to report the truth.

In the end, the imperial court did not pursue Feng Siyuan's offense.

Furthermore, those masters on the Heaven Ranking could be called Martial Immortals of the human world. Every single one of them was a existence capable of protecting a nation and was not someone the imperial court could simply bestow titles upon.

Sure enough, Eunuch Sun snorted coldly and said nothing. He opened the Imperial Decree and began to read it to himself,

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I have heard that the youth Yan Chu is a hero..."

The Imperial Decree was only a dozen lines long, filled with praise for Yan Chu, and appointed him as the cangzhou assistant administrator.

"Great Hero Yan, please receive the decree."

Sun Yun said with a smiling Face.

As expected of someone from the palace, this Face was truly like a woman's, able to change at will, smiling whenever he wanted.

Even though he wished he could kill Yan Chu in his heart, he could still show such a smile.

Yan Chu took the Imperial Decree and skimmed through it.

This was the first time in his two lives that he had seen an Imperial Decree. He felt a bit of novelty, and it felt very comfortable to the touch; it was indeed a high-quality item.

"Great Hero Yan, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor heard that you have some conflicts with the Marquis of Annan's Estate, which is why they specially conferred this official title upon you. You must remember the kindness of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor!"

This was a hint to Yan Chu.

It was to let him know that they gave him such a high-ranking position specifically to prevent the Marquis's Estate from taking action against him.

Zhao Jiyao also said from the side,

"The Marquis's Estate has acted perversely in Cangzhou. In all the years they have been stationed here, countless families have been ruined. People have long been dissatisfied with the Sima Family."

"Someone petitioned to remove Sima Yutang from his position as Governor and strip the Sima Family of their noble title. If His Majesty hadn't remembered Sima Tao's contributions from his youth, the Marquis's Estate would have long..."

"I also have one thing I need Eunuch Sun's help with!"

Before Zhao Jiyao could finish, Yan Chu spoke again.

"Oh? I wonder what favor Great Hero Yan needs from me?"

"I want you to deliver a challenge letter to the Marquis of Annan's Estate. One month from now, I want to challenge the Old Marquis, Sima Tao, to a battle at Yellow Dragon Mountain in Cangzhou."

"Not only to determine superiority, but also to decide life and death!"

Silence!

After Yan Chu said those words, the entire place became so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

The black clouds above pressed down even lower, weighing heavily on everyone's hearts.

Even Song Xingwu and the others behind him looked at him in shock.

The guards behind Eunuch Sun showed undisguised mockery.

Pan Junfeng sneered even more mercilessly,

"Yan Chu, do you think you can turn the world upside down just because you've become the cangzhou assistant administrator?"

"Sima Tao has been famous for a hundred years, and the depth of his strength is beyond imagination. He has defeated more than one or two in the Mountain Shaking Realm. You, a mere Grandmaster, dare to challenge the majesty of a Supreme Grandmaster?"

"Do you think you are stronger than those in the Mountain Shaking Realm?"

Yan Chu glanced at him and looked back at Sun Yun.

A piece of trash who only knew how to wag his tongue—Yan Chu guaranteed he wouldn't live past three days.

"Eunuch Sun, how about it? Will you help with this favor or not?"

"Hahahaha!!!"

Sun Yun threw his head back and laughed, his voice like the sharp cry of a white crane piercing the nine heavens.

"Good!!"

"What a Blade Demon Yan Chu!!"

Eunuch Sun's gaze was inscrutable as he stared intently at Yan Chu and said,

"I thought Great Hero Yan was only disrespectful to me, but I didn't realize it was your inherent nature. I think you shouldn't be called Yan Chu, but Yan the Madman instead!"

"I will help you deliver your challenge letter!"

"However, if you die at Sima Tao's hands then, you can't blame anyone!"

The corners of Yan Chu's mouth curled slightly as he said to Song Xingwu behind him,

"Bring paper!"

"Yes!"

Song Xingwu hurried away and brought back a sheet of white paper.

Using his True Essence as a pen and outlining with his Divine Sense, Yan Chu imprinted a large character for "War" on the paper.

This character was like a precious saber with infinite sharpness, radiating a terrifying Saber Intent.

The moment the "War" character took shape, the paper became pulled taut and straight.

As the edge of the paper cut through the air, it actually made a sound like a blade slicing through flesh.

The scene was extremely exaggerated.

With Yan Chu's current Wooden Saber Realm, even if this paper fell into the hands of an ordinary person, it could kill a Grandmaster, and even a Great Grandmaster would be severely injured.

Eunuch Sun and the others stared fixedly at the paper, and everyone's expressions couldn't help but turn extremely solemn.

The several people who had just looked down on Yan Chu were now all feeling their hearts skip a beat.

They actually couldn't look at the character on the paper for long.

If they looked for too long, even their eyes would sting with pain, as if their eyeballs were about to be split open by the sharpness.

"Good calligraphy! Good saber technique!!!"

After a long while, Eunuch Sun finally couldn't help but let out a sigh of admiration.

Sun Yun looked at the paper with a solemn old Face.

Yan Chu really knew how to find people to help.

This paper was now a precious saber with infinite sharpness; just holding it was not easy.

If it weren't for his deep cultivation and the fact that he was also a Great Grandmaster...

He really wouldn't dare to take on this job!

However, a smile appeared on his old Face again.

Yan Chu was audacious and overestimating himself, daring to challenge Sima Tao; it was truly no different from seeking death.

Although Sun Yun admitted that the other party's move just now was very strong.

But compared to the Old Marquis Sima Tao, who had been famous for many years, he was still quite far off.

Sima Tao was no ordinary Mountain Shaking Realm expert.

It was something that couldn't be made up for by Saber Dao Realm alone!

Yan Chu was seeking death himself, and he couldn't be blamed!

He had dared to be disrespectful to him just now, and he was just looking for a reason to deal with him.

Once he was killed by Sima Tao, even the Empress Dowager and the Emperor wouldn't be able to blame him.

Yan Chu folded the paper, and the terrifying Saber Intent that seemed capable of slashing through everything was also restrained.

He took an envelope from Song Xingwu's hand and placed the paper inside.

Yan Chu handed the envelope to Sun Yun and gave a faint warning,

"Eunuch Sun, don't just open it casually!"

"Otherwise, if something bad happens, I won't be responsible!"

Sun Yun didn't say a word and didn't dare to keep the envelope himself, instead handing it to another Great Grandmaster behind him.

Damn!

That Great Grandmaster's eye corner twitched slightly.

He was also extremely wary of this envelope containing Yan Chu's world-shaking Saber Intent, fearing that the intent would suddenly explode and cause him serious injury.

But Eunuch Sun had already handed it to him, and he didn't dare to refuse in public, so he could only bite the bullet and take it.

He would have to find something to put this challenge letter in later.

To avoid it suddenly exploding while on his person; then he would be finished.

"Great Hero Yan... oh, that's not right, I should call you Assistant Administrator Yan now!"

"Currently, the Assistant Administrator's Residence is being built for you in Cangzhou City. In a while, the imperial court will send you the official seal. I hope you won't disappoint the Empress Dowager and the Emperor!"

"That is not for Eunuch Sun to worry about!"

"See the guests out!"

Damn it!

Sun Yun and the others saw that Yan Chu had only said two sentences before waving his hand to drive them away, and they all couldn't help but curse in their hearts.

Normally, those who received a decree would wish they could treat them like the Heavenly King himself, with good food, good drink, fine delicacies, and beautiful women.

At the very least, they should be well-served for ten days to half a month.

But with Yan Chu, he didn't give them any Face at all.

He just waved his hand to drive them away?

Forget it! Why get angry with a dead man?

Anyway, with Yan Chu's arrogance, he would die at Sima Tao's hands in a month.

If they got angry with Yan Chu, it would make them look like petty people.

With the composure Cultivation Technique Sun Yun had practiced in the palace, it took him a lot of effort to calm his mood.

With this attitude, he still asked him to help deliver the challenge letter?

He was also being cheap just now!

Why did he agree to help him with this favor?

"Gentlemen, please!"

Song Xingwu, standing behind, now reached out his hand toward the exit of Lanjiang Valley.

"Let's go!"

Eunuch Sun took a deep look at Yan Chu, snorted coldly, and turned to leave without looking back.

Originally, because the Empress Dowager attached great importance to Yan Chu, he had thought about building a good relationship with Yan Chu before coming here.

Now it seemed that this person was simply too arrogant and conceited.

As the saying goes, what is too hard is easily broken; even if he didn't challenge Sima Tao, Yan Chu would one day die at the hands of another expert.

After returning to the palace, he would surely report today's events truthfully.

Seeing Eunuch Sun and his group leave in anger, a look of hesitation appeared on Zhao Jiyao's pretty Face, but she still chose to stay by Yan Chu's side for now.

If she left with Eunuch Sun now, she might leave a bad impression in Yan Chu's heart.

She knew that Yan Chu could be quite petty...

At worst, after comforting Yan Chu, she would make another trip to the capital to see if she could smooth things over from today.

"Do you really intend to go and challenge Sima Tao in a month?"

"I think you're being a bit too impulsive!"

Withdrawing her gaze, Zhao Jiyao's beautiful eyes looked at Yan Chu.

The Old Marquis of Annan's reputation shook Cangzhou, and even the Zhao Family's Old Ancestor was somewhat wary of him. If the Sima Family hadn't gone too far in Cangzhou and caused so much resentment, the imperial court wouldn't have appointed Yan Chu to oppose the Sima Family.

Of course, the Zhao Family had also played a significant role in this.

Moreover, Yan Chu's fame was now widespread throughout the Great Jin Dynasty.

Even the Empress Dowager, far away in the inner palace, knew of his deeds and was willing to invest in him.

Yan Chu looked at Zhao Jiyao, who was a head shorter than him. Her slightly heroic Face had beautiful red lips, and he couldn't help but feel a bit stirred again.

He said in a voice full of confidence,

"Don't worry, in a month, I will surely kill Sima Tao!"

Once the other party received his challenge letter, he would definitely accept the challenge.

Both sides wanted to take this opportunity to eliminate their opponent openly and honorably.

"Young Master, how should we deal with these two?"

Liu Dayuan spoke up at this time, asking in a low voice.

Behind them, Wan Yao and Jiang Qingbo's eyes flickered, and it was unclear what they were planning.

Yan Chu actually dared to challenge Sima Tao; this was giving the other party an opportunity.

This person was so arrogant; wouldn't he be killed in a month? Then wouldn't they have joined the wrong person?

While they were considering this, Wan Yao saw Yan Chu's gaze turn toward him and land directly on him. His heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly knelt and begged for mercy,

"Great Hero Yan, spare my life!"

"Those previous ideas were all for the sake of our respective masters. I just want Great Hero Yan to know that it wasn't a personal grudge!"

Yan Chu chuckled and rubbed his fingers together, saying,

"Then it looks like it is a personal grudge!"

What he was worried about was his enemies taking action against his women and subordinates; otherwise, why would he need to establish the World Society and recruit experts to hold the fort?

But Wan Yao just had to come up with such a rotten idea!

Then sorry, truly sorry!

Seeing Yan Chu's gaze turn cold, a deep chill appeared in Wan Yao's heart, and a trace of unwillingness showed in his eyes.

Boom!

He suddenly burst forth, his hands curved into claws, and a sharp Qi surged out. However, he didn't strike at Yan Chu, but at Zhao Jiyao beside him.

Anyone with eyes could see the relationship between the two.

Having witnessed Yan Chu's unfathomable strength just now, Wan Yao didn't think he could escape with his life.

At this moment, only by seizing his woman as a hostage would there be a slim chance of survival.

How hateful!

He was still deeply hating himself at this moment for being clever his whole life, only to now walk into a trap.

"Overestimating yourself!"

Yan Chu shook his head, showing disdain.

The moment his voice fell, he pointed a finger and tapped three times in quick succession.

Before everyone's eyes could even register it, Yan Chu had already withdrawn his hand and turned around.

A bizarre scene appeared before them.

Wan Yao, a living person, suddenly froze in mid-air, then his entire body contracted inward. Within a few breaths, he was like a dream or a bubble, shrinking into a mass of nothingness.

Boom!

Everyone could feel a violent wind with a bloody smell scattering outward, but they couldn't see a single trace of flesh or blood.

This meant that a Grandmaster expert had been directly decomposed by Yan Chu's finger, leaving no trace of his existence in the world.

This ghostly and unpredictable method was something that not only Jiang Qingbo, an outsider, but even Song Xingwu and the others were seeing for the first time.