Chapter 114: Scared Off

Upgrading other martial arts might disrupt the balance of techniques and affect their synergy.

Now, with Nantian Wang’s promise, upgrading the Three Blades of the Fleeting Swan was the most cost-effective option.

The Star Power within his body surged once more as Jiang Changkong unleashed a blade strike with all ten parts of his strength.

The evening glow burned like fire, and the blade emerged like blood.

Roar!

The Star Demon roared, sensing an extreme danger.

The two youths at the late Star Gate stage simultaneously changed expressions, raising fourth-tier Protective Shields around themselves.

Yet, they felt no sense of security at all.

Yao Meng’s beautiful eyes widened in shock and doubt—this blade strike had already surpassed the limits of the Star Gate stage.

Star Hidden Level!

Moreover, even ordinary Martial Artists who had just broken through to the Star Hidden Level would suffer severe injuries if they weren’t careful!

And this was under suppression. Without it, this guy’s blade strike would likely rival that of a stabilized early Star Hidden Level practitioner.

“One blade, sunset!”

The sunset waned, and the blade strike carried a desolate chill.

The evening glow burned like fire, and blood spurted like pillars.

The Star Demon roared in pain, its massive body tumbling backward.

A blade scar split its defenses, carving a terrifying wound across its back.

Crack!

A crisp sound echoed as the fourth-tier Protective Shields shattered instantly. Two figures, blood streaming from them, were sent flying backward.

Thud!

They crashed heavily against the cave wall, bounced off, and fell into the river. Their clothes were tattered, their bodies covered in multiple blade wounds, stained with blood, looking utterly disheveled.

“They actually didn’t die from that strike…”

Jiang Changkong sheathed his blade, feeling a hint of dissatisfaction.

Earlier, with eighty percent of his Star Power, he had already overpowered Nantian Wang and Yao Meng.

Now, after upgrading the Three Blades of the Fleeting Swan—though he hadn’t faced a Star Hidden Level opponent—he believed he should be able to contend with early Star Hidden Level practitioners.

Under the suppression of the cold energy, with his full Star Power unleashed, he should have been able to finish them off in one strike. Yet, that blade had only shattered their shields and severely wounded them.

Had his strength truly reached the Star Hidden Level?

He couldn’t be sure.

Yao Meng: “…”

You really are a little freak.

Nantian Wang was also dumbfounded—this was even more ferocious than he had imagined, unfathomably so.

Chu Tianyun’s expression changed. With one blade strike, he had shattered the shields of two fourth-tier peak practitioners and wounded a peak Star Gate Star Demon.

All three were severely injured—this combat power had undoubtedly reached the Star Hidden Level.

Yao Meng couldn’t break through the three’s shields immediately, but she could delay them.

Once Jiang Changkong finished off the Star Demon and the two, freeing his hands, would he be next?

Regardless of what Chu Tianyun was thinking, Jiang Changkong raised his Sunset Blade once more, and the evening glow reappeared.

“Kill!”

The two late Star Gate youths climbed to their feet, roaring in anger as they charged straight at Jiang Changkong.

The long blade struck the Star Demon, and the two seized the opportunity to switch to close-quarters combat.

Since they lacked their weapons, close combat would pose less of a threat.

Sensing their intentions, Jiang Changkong sneered inwardly, allowing them to thrust forward. He would use this blade strike to finish off the Star Demon.

Boom!

The Sunset Blade descended, plunging directly into the Star Demon’s body. Surging flames rushed into its form, incinerating it from within.

Two sword gleams thrust toward him simultaneously: “Die!”

The long blade had just struck the Star Demon and couldn’t be retracted in time—this was their best chance.

Unfortunately, they were mistaken.

Hum!

A black-and-white Taiji Diagram materialized, instantly nullifying sixty percent of the sword gleams’ power and reflecting it back toward their vital points.

“How could… Ugh!”

In their haste, they barely managed to avoid their vital points but were pierced by sixty percent of their own sword energy.

Blood flowed freely as flames blazed around Jiang Changkong—Vajra Treading Fire!

The three Power Runes within his body vibrated simultaneously, generating a terrifying force that compressed the air. Carrying immense Star Power, he pressed down with overwhelming force.

The two hurriedly raised their swords to block.

Thud

Boom

Blood sprayed as the two were sent flying backward, their crimson stains dyeing the river red.

Splash

They fell into the river, bodies convulsing, breaths faint as gossamer, unable to even crawl to their feet.

“Step back.”

After dealing with the two, Jiang Changkong flashed to Yao Meng’s side. The fiery sunset glow rose once more, an endless twilight.

Yao Meng seized the moment to withdraw, the Sunset Blade descending.

“Retreat, now!” The three youths’ expressions changed simultaneously.

Boom

Crack

The sound of shattering echoed again as the golden Protective Shield dissolved into specks of starlight, scattering into the world.

The three youths, disheveled and wild-haired, were sent flying sideways.

Rubble from the cave walls fell once more, and the Taiji Diagram materialized, blocking the debris.

Jiang Changkong leaped onto the raised platform. “Leave him to me. You and Yao Meng handle the other three.”

The three were already severely injured. With their strength, they should be able to finish them off with a single slap each.

“Understood.” Nantian Wang said no more, turning and jumping off the stone platform.

“You… stay back, stay back!”

Chu Tianyun’s face was filled with terror as he retreated step by step. Even his peak Star Gate strength couldn’t muster a shred of courage now.

This was impossible to fight—this guy could definitely cleave him in two with a single slash.

“Chu family, Chu Tianxing.”

Jiang Changkong’s expression was cold as the sunset glow rose again, the evening clouds blazing like fire.

“Help—”

With a sharp scream, Chu Tianxing turned and fled.

Jiang Changkong was momentarily stunned. Seriously? He ran away scared?

“Where do you think you’re going—”

“Get out of my way!”

Chu Tianxing roared angrily, slashing out with his sword. The Protective Shield around him blazed with golden light as he charged forward with overwhelming force.

Just as Yao Meng moved to intercept, a blue flower shot out, crashing directly toward her.

She hastily withdrew her Star Power and caught the blue flower in her grasp.

“I’ll go after him.”

The sunset glow dissipated as Jiang Changkong prepared to give chase.

“Don’t bother. You won’t catch him. He must have brought underwater equipment. What’s important now is retrieving the item. Let’s hope it’s really here.”

Nantian Wang jumped onto the stone platform and approached the spot where the flower had grown, carefully digging into the soil.

A piercing, bone-chilling cold emanated from within, revealing a silver-white stone the size of a palm, shaped like a crescent moon.

“What is this?”

Jiang Changkong asked in surprise.

The biting cold was so intense it felt almost unbearable even to him.

“Moon Stone. It fell when starlight scattered—from the Taiyin Star, the moon itself.”

Nantian Wang explained cautiously. “It’s laughable that Chu Tianxing thought I was after the Moon Blue Flower. This is the real treasure.”

“Is it valuable?” Jiang Changkong’s eyes gleamed.

Something that fell from the moon—no wonder it can suppress my Blazing Sun Art.

Nantian Wang’s lips twitched, barely resisting the urge to call him a poor bastard. Can we not talk about money?

“It’s extremely rare. A piece this size could be considered priceless—to those who recognize its worth, of course.”

Yao Meng, having dealt with the three severely injured individuals, walked over, her gaze carrying a hint of delight.

After speaking, both she and Nantian Wang looked warily at Jiang Changkong.

Jiang Changkong scoffed. “What do you take me for? I only take what’s rightfully mine.”

Nantian Wang cautioned, “I hope you won’t speak of this Moon Stone to anyone for a month.”

“Rest assured. As long as you’re not an enemy, Jiang keeps his promises,” Jiang Changkong said calmly.

Now it was Nantian Wang’s turn to hesitate. “How about… a little less? I was just angry earlier.”

He really had been furious and too hasty, blurting out the offer to increase the payment.

Jiang Changkong’s expression turned unfriendly. “You were the one who offered to pay more. Now that you have your treasure, I haven’t even asked for it. Can we be reasonable here?”

“Whatever was promised, give exactly that.” Yao Meng frowned.

Only then did Nantian Wang wave his hand, sending out fifteen hundred Star Stones.

One thousand low-grade fourth-tier, five hundred top-grade third-tier—not one more, not one less.

Jiang Changkong’s eyes turned somewhat red. Just how many Star Stones did this guy have?

“Sometimes, I really want to rob you,” Jiang Changkong said, almost through gritted teeth.

“Life can’t be all about Star Stones. These few people probably have some things on them. You can pick them up yourself.”

Nantian Wang collected the Moon Stones and pointed at the five corpses and the Star Demon corpse. “Dig out the Star Stones yourself.”

“Burn these corpses too. You handle it. We’ll wait for you outside.”

After saying this, the two walked out.

Jiang Changkong was happy to handle it himself, extracting the Star Demon’s Essence, Qi, and Spirit, and searching their spatial jade pendants.

Unfortunately, the two at the mid-stage of the Star Gate were clearly not doing well—they didn’t even have spatial equipment.

As for the other three, they had spatial jade pendants, containing a total of thirty-five fourth-tier Star Stones.

Eight top-grade, ten high-grade, seventeen mid-grade, and none low-grade.

After finishing the inventory, Jiang Changkong burned the corpses and strode away.

The two were waiting for him at the cave entrance. They had been talking but fell silent when he came out.

Jiang Changkong only caught something about giving Moon Stones to someone and pulling in an ally.

He didn’t hear the specifics and didn’t bother asking, having no interest anyway.

The three retraced their steps but saw no sign of Chu Tianyun.

“He really escaped fast,” Jiang Changkong remarked.

“I told you, he must have brought equipment. Traveling underwater is ridiculously fast. Chasing him would be a waste of effort.”

Nantian Wang said with full sarcasm, “Just like his boss—no real skill, but top-notch at running away.”

Jiang Changkong said nothing more. The three arrived at the hole they had descended from, only to find the rope cut.

But it was no big deal, just a minor inconvenience. With their abilities, they could easily climb up.

Once he got up, he’d properly count the Star Stones and level up.