Chapter 118: I Can't Beat Him

“The Martial Arts Exchange Meeting has always been a challenge from our small city to the provincial capital. Young Master Chu’s proposal might not be appropriate, don’t you think?”

Yu Beilin’s expression turned unpleasant.

He had wanted Jiang Changkong to compete for a spot.

If they directly faced Chu Tianyun, who was at the Star Gate Peak Stage, what chance would they have?

“That would be too troublesome. Since we want a quick resolution, let the strongest talents fight it out.”

Chu Tianyun said indifferently, “Or is it that Jiangcheng Martial Arts School intends to forfeit directly?”

Yu Beilin’s expression darkened. “You’re violating the rules.”

“Rules? Principal, this exchange meeting is a matter between us students. If you keep clinging to the word ‘rules,’ then I can only wish you a safe journey back to the city.”

Chu Tianyun’s face turned grim.

Yu Beilin’s expression turned cold. “Are you threatening me?”

“Principal, what are you talking about?” Chu Tianyun laughed heartily, then suddenly roared, “Jiang Changkong, come out and fight!”

Vast Star Power surged, filling the air above the training ground.

The terrifying Star Power weighed down on everyone present, as if a small mountain were pressing on them.

Some Star Cloud disciples couldn’t withstand it, their knees bending as they nearly knelt.

“You—”

Yu Beilin was about to say something when a hand stopped him. Looking at the hand’s owner, he suppressed his anger. “Changkong, forget it. They’re clearly shameless.”

“Why forget it? He’s right—this is a matter between us students.”

Jiang Changkong smiled faintly and stepped forward.

“Changkong.” Ji Ziling and the others tried to pull him back but were repelled by the Star Power.

“Good, since you dare to come out, you have some guts—”

Chu Tianyun wore a cold smile, but when he saw the person who stepped forward, his smile froze, and his words died in his throat.

How could it be him?

Was this Jiang Changkong from Jiangcheng Martial Arts School?

Back then, Nantian Pang had called out “Changkong.”

Was this the same person?

Standing in the crowd, held back by Ji Ziling, he hadn’t seen Jiang Changkong at all and naturally hadn’t recognized him.

“Chu Tianyun?” Jiang Changkong stepped out of the crowd, looking at him indifferently. “You want to see what I’m capable of?”

Gulp.

Chu Tianyun swallowed hard, his legs trembling.

See what he’s capable of? What a joke.

This guy had severely wounded a Star Demon at the Star Gate Peak Stage with a single slash, shattered two top-tier fourth-grade Protective Shields, and severely injured two Star Gate Mid-Stage cultivators.

Even Yao Meng and Nantian Pang couldn’t do that!

As for the one transferred from Anding Province, he couldn’t do it either!

His face twitching, Chu Tianyun backed down, unconsciously retreating.

He wanted to run.

If possible, he would flee as far as he could, just like last time.

“What’s going on?” The vice-principal of Jiangshui City frowned.

“What’s happening?” The students from the four cities were confused. The situation seemed off.

Yu Beilin wondered, “Do they know each other?”

That shouldn’t be possible. Jiang Changkong had killed Chu Tianxing—they couldn’t be friends.

The principals of the other three schools were also bewildered. Something was very wrong.

Ji Ziling looked puzzled. “Chu Tianyun seems… afraid?”

Afraid?

Everyone was stunned. How could that be?

As far as they knew, Jiang Changkong was only at the Star Gate Initial Stage.

Chu Tianyun was at the Star Gate Peak Stage. Why would he be afraid of Jiang Changkong?

The vice-principal of Jiangshui City urged coldly, “Tianyun, what’s wrong with you? Why haven’t you started?”

Start?

Chu Tianyun clenched his fist. He had no weapon, and he didn’t even think of taking one out.

I definitely can’t withstand a single slash from this guy. Without a top-tier fourth-grade protective shield, I might be killed by one strike.

Chu Yunhe, you damn well screwed me over. You told me to go all out against this guy?

“If you won’t make a move, then I will.”

Jiang Changkong flipped his hand, and the hilt of his blade appeared in his grasp. The blade extended, Star Power gathering as the temperature began to rise.

Chu Tianyun trembled, his face pale, and suddenly screamed out: “I, I surrender!”

The crowd: “…”

What on earth is going on?

Jiang Changkong: “…”

Still such a coward.

“This is the strangest thing I’ve seen this year—Chu Tianyun surrendering?”

“They haven’t even fought yet.”

In the distance, the watching students were dumbfounded. Was this their school’s second-strongest fighter?

The one who transferred from Anding Province is now number one, and Chu Tianyun automatically dropped to second.

The principals and students from the four cities were also confused. What was happening?

Ji Ziling looked puzzled: “Chu Tianyun surrendered? Wasn’tt he shouting pretty fiercely just now?”

He was yelling so loudly earlier, demanding Jiang Changkong come out, and now that he’s here, you surrender?

The vice principal of Jiangshui City’s Martial Arts School was furious: “Chu Tianyun, have you lost your mind? Are you insane?”

Others might fear the Chu family, but the Martial Arts School didn’t. The principal was also at the peak of Star Vault, no weaker than the Chu family’s patriarch. Moreover, the school had the backing of the Federation.

“I, I can’t beat him.” Chu Tianyun’s voice trembled, on the verge of tears.

I really can’t beat him. He could kill me with one slash, truly.

The vice principal roared: “Nonsense! You haven’t even fought yet. How do you know you can’t beat him?”

Weren’t you shouting pretty happily earlier? Now that you see him, you tell me you can’t beat him and want to surrender?

“What a useless younger brother Chu Yunlong has.”

A young man at the peak of Star Gate stepped forward, pushing Chu Tianyun aside: “Fine, surrender if you want. You’re getting a spot for nothing. Next, I’ll take over.”

“Next, you’ll take over?”

Jiang Changkong looked indifferently at the young man: “Alright, then make your move.”

“With you?” The young man was taken aback.

“Is that not allowed?” Jiang Changkong said calmly.

“You’ve already secured a spot.” The vice principal of Jiangshui City frowned.

“Chu Tianyun said earlier that this is a matter between us students.

Vice Principal, please don’t interfere. I want all three spots!”

Jiang Changkong showed him no respect.

“You…”

The vice principal was furious, but the young man raised his hand and said: “Fine, arrogant enough. Then I’ll grant your wish. But blades and swords have no eyes—be careful not to lose a limb.”

By the end, his eyes were filled with coldness and brutality.

“Brother Jin Feng, he’s very strong. Don’t be impulsive.” Chu Tianyun hurriedly warned.

“Get lost. A mere waste like him has you this scared?”

The young man, Jin Feng, scolded him, golden Star Power transforming into a vast, sharp sword aura that shot into the sky: “Golden Radiance Illuminates the World.”

The golden sword aura condensed into a massive sword beam, emitting an overwhelmingly sharp aura.

The ground instantly cracked with countless fissures, and the principals and students from the four cities quickly retreated.

Even the Jiangshui City students watching from afar felt the terrifying power of the sword aura, their faces pale: “Such terrifying strength. Is this the peak of Star Gate?”

“This sword strike has reached the limit of Star Gate. Only those at Star Vault or above could withstand it.”

The vice principal of Jiangshui City praised, noting that even a peak Star Gate Star Demon would suffer significant injuries.

“Slash!”

Jin Feng shouted lightly, and the massive sword beam descended with a thunderous force.

“Changkong, be careful.” At this moment, Yu Beilin and the others could only offer a verbal warning.

The evening glow burned like fire, the setting sun bled like crimson.

There was no intense heat, only a trace of desolation, a hint of twilight.

The long blade soared through the air, releasing an immense Blade Qi that radiated an invisible pressure.

Jiang Changkong pondered for a moment, deciding not to use too much Star Power—about sixty percent, roughly equivalent to the strike he had unleashed in the underground river. “One strike, Sunset.”

Using a hundred percent would be excessive; this sword strike posed no real threat, and sixty percent was more than enough. Any more, and he feared it might frighten Chu Yunhe into backing down.

“What? Impossible, this strike…”

The vice-principal of Jiangshui City paled drastically. This strike had undoubtedly reached the early stage of Star Vault.

“How could…”

Jin Feng’s expression changed dramatically. As someone who had seen his share of the world, this strike completely exceeded his expectations.

Boom!

The Sunset Blade descended, with Taiji faintly appearing. The golden sword radiance instantly shattered, dissolving into specks of starlight that vanished into the heavens.

“Ah…”