17: Holding a girl in his arms, he went on a killing spree.

"Stop!"

Lu Tianzheng was dumbfounded.

He thought his overbearing aura would intimidate Chen Qingxuan, but the other party didn't follow the script at all.

Although he had opened his mouth to stop him the moment he saw Chen Qingxuan's movement, Chen Qingxuan's blade was faster than his voice. Before his words could even land, his daughter's head was already flying... Splash!

This scene left countless people staring in shock and awe.

Was he always this brave?

"Linger... My Linger!"

Lu Tianzheng's eyes instantly turned bloodshot.

Looking at the flying head, he raised his trembling hands, unsure whether to catch it or not.

While intimidating Chen Qingxuan had been a gamble, the boy was clearly just a wet-behind-the-ears kid... How did he dare?

"You, the 'Heaven' of Shenyou Stronghold, if you have the ability, then bring your daughter back to life!" Chen Qingxuan kicked the headless corpse beside him away and tilted his chin up to provoke Lu Tianzheng.

Is that all?

"You..."

Lu Tianzheng clenched his fists tightly, his body shaking with killing intent. "Kid, I swear... I will make you wish you were dead!!"

Chen Qingxuan remained calm and composed, his starry eyes looking down at the crowd with their complex expressions. "Every debt has its debtor. I don't care if you've abandoned your conscience to survive, but I advise you not to make a move. Otherwise... I will slaughter every last soul in Shenyou Stronghold. Even the infants in their swaddling clothes... I'll pull them out by the roots!"

"Impudent!"

Before Lu Tianzheng could act, his trusted subordinates couldn't wait to show off.

Two people at the Peak of the Spirit Sea Realm charged at Chen Qingxuan from the front, each wielding a sharp sword of Yellow Rank.

Given their cultivation and equipment, they were considered genuine experts in this stronghold that couldn't even be called a town.

However, facing Chen Qingxuan, who was already in the Bone Forging Realm and had just obtained the Nine Profound Pupils, they were lacking in both speed and power.

So much so that Chen Qingxuan didn't even need to use the divine phoenix sword. With just a dagger, he slashed forward, and his Profound Power condensed into a razor-sharp blade of Qi visible to the naked eye.

Squelch—

That Qi blade was an overwhelming strike for the two, instantly slicing them and their weapons in half at the waist.

They had no power to resist.

"Bone Forging Realm... He's actually in the Bone Forging Realm?"

The crowd watched in disbelief.

For a teenager in his teens to reach such a Realm... what kind of terrifying talent was that?

"Early Stage Bone Forging?"

Lu Tianzheng's eyes narrowed slightly; he hadn't expected this either.

However, such cultivation wouldn't make him afraid. He clenched his hands, and the thick Profound Power within his body erupted—Late Stage Bone Forging!

In this small stronghold, the strength of the Late Stage Bone Forging Realm could indeed be called invincible.

"Step aside, I'll do it!" Lu Tianzheng glared at Chen Qingxuan. After seeing the latter's talent, he was even more determined to erase him.

But just then, the crowd that had been silent before spoke up.

"Stronghold Master, why should you handle this? Let us do it!"

"Yes, Linger... we watched her grow up... we all treated her like our own child."

"Keep him alive! The Stronghold Master said he wants him to wish he were dead!"

The crowd suddenly acted as if they had been injected with chicken blood.

There was no other reason than they saw Lu Tianzheng was stronger than Chen Qingxuan. Smart people knew how to choose.

Otherwise, once Chen Qingxuan was dealt with, those who chose to stand by... their futures would certainly be difficult.

"..."

Jiang Susu watched this scene, tears streaming uncontrollably from her eyes.

Why?

Why did these elders, who were once kind to her, now know she had been bullied, yet instead of helping her find justice, they spoke up for the bad guy who bullied her?

The Little Girl's heart was filled with fear, grievance, and despair.

Just then, a pair of gentle, large hands suddenly picked her up, and Chen Qingxuan's gentle smile came into view. "Don't be afraid, Big Brother will protect you."

"Waaa..."

Suddenly feeling protected, Jiang Susu cried even harder.

And so,

Chen Qingxuan held the Little Girl in one arm and pointed the divine phoenix sword at the figures rushing toward him with the other.

If they were all enemies, then things were simple.

Squelch—

Chen Qingxuan no longer needed to hold back and boldly awakened the power of the divine phoenix sword.

The restrained cold light of the divine phoenix sword was released, and a world-destroying Sword Intent descended. Dark clouds curled and gathered from dozens of miles away to shroud the stronghold.

The entire Shenyou Stronghold seemed to have fallen into an abyss.

"Aaaaaahhhhh—"

Following that, countless people who had tried to trade their conscience for benefits let out pig-like screams of agony.

"This is... could it be a heaven-rank weapon... how is that possible?"

Lu Tianzheng was dumbfounded.

Compared to the cold light of the divine phoenix sword, his Late Stage Bone Forging prowess... was like a weary husband awakened by his beautiful wife in the middle of the night.

He couldn't even lift his head!

"Stronghold Master... we're no match... quickly save us!"

"...Utterly outrageous!"

Lu Tianzheng pondered for a split second and finally charged forward, hoping for a stroke of luck.

Even if it was one of the heaven-rank sword artifacts, in the hands of a Bone Forging boy... it surely couldn't exert much power.

There was still a chance of victory.

If he could seize the precious sword... it might even be an Opportunity.

"Go!"

Lu Tianzheng grabbed a trusted subordinate nearby, struck a special Magical Artifact into the man's chest, and threw him toward Chen Qingxuan without regard for his reaction.

Chen Qingxuan didn't hesitate and stabbed directly into the man's chest. But just as the man's chest was pierced, it suddenly exploded!

A metal-like Magical Artifact activated, wrapping around the divine phoenix sword like a mechanical blood-dripper. Although it failed to touch the blade itself, its powerful force pulled backward, instantly causing the divine phoenix sword to fly out of Chen Qingxuan's hand... "Good chance!"

Lu Tianzheng smiled.

After using the Magical Artifact to disarm Chen Qingxuan of the divine phoenix sword, he didn't hesitate for a second and flashed in front of Chen Qingxuan.

It seemed the battle was about to end.

In the eyes of others, it was the same. The only reason Chen Qingxuan could go on a killing spree was that heaven-Rank sword artifact that crushed everyone.

Now that the sword was gone, how could he be Lu Tianzheng's match with just his Bone Forging strength?

"Heh."

Chen Qingxuan also smiled.

Or rather, losing the divine phoenix sword was just him playing along with the plan.

Lest it be forgotten, the divine phoenix sword was no longer just a weapon; it had been imbued with the 'thousand-mile good sword' effect, allowing him to control it with his Divine Thought.

No prerequisites were needed; it was control at its Peak.

Thus, after Lu Tianzheng rushed over, Chen Qingxuan pressed two fingers together and gave a slight flick.

In an instant, the divine phoenix sword spun rapidly, breaking through the restraining Magical Artifact and flying back with lightning speed.

Puchi—

Lu Tianzheng was about to strike, but in the next moment, his hand froze in mid-air. Looking down, a sharp blade had already pierced through his heart from behind.

The pain took a second to surge through his entire body.

Pfft—

Lu Tianzheng felt a sweetness in his throat, and blood overflowed uncontrollably from the corners of his mouth. "No... how... how is this possible..."

Whoosh—

Seeing this, the experts of the stronghold who were about to rush up all came to an emergency halt.

The Stronghold Master... was killed?

"Good! As expected, a hero emerges from the youth!"

"Wonderful! The sky over Shenyou Stronghold has brightened... Susu, you're not hurt, are you?"

"Actually, we were all forced... our families are all in Shenyou Stronghold... we've suffered under Lu Tianzheng's oppression for a long time!"

"Susu, Susu, don't be afraid... we will always be your backing... no one will ever dare to bully you again."

Once it was certain Lu Tianzheng was dead, everyone's faces instantly changed.

It was as if the ones who just tried to attack Chen Qingxuan weren't them.

"Hmm?" Feeling the Little Girl in his arms tighten her grip on him, Chen Qingxuan looked down.

Jiang Susu looked up with her watery eyes, her cute little face filled with grievance and longing. "Big Brother... kill them... kill them all."