Three Kingdoms: Start by marrying Cai Yan, then vie for supremacy.

15

If he hadn't taken that half step back, would the Crimson Sky Sword have truly pierced through his chest? What shocked him even more was that, faced with such a deadly move, Shennong Armor showed no reaction whatsoever, as if it had been completely suppressed by some kind of power.

This duel made him realize that he was still far from being a true champion.

Chu He stood quietly to the side the whole time.

She wasn't even qualified to intervene in a conflict at this level.

Perhaps only someone like Master is qualified to stand shoulder to shoulder with Xu Chen and that mysterious swordsman.

Let's go.

"

Xu Chen calmed himself down and sheathed his sword. "I need to find a place to stay before dark."

"

"Who exactly is that person?" Chu He couldn't help but ask, "They seem even more..."

Before he could finish speaking, Xu Chen waved his hand to interrupt him.

The setting sun cast long shadows of the two figures, which quickly disappeared into the vast mountain path.

Unable to suppress her doubts, Chu He asked.

If it were any other monarch, hearing a young woman say that her skills were inferior to others would probably have enraged him.

But Xu Chen seemed remarkably calm when he heard her question.

"That person is indeed a master swordsman, and in terms of swordsmanship, he is certainly superior to me."

"

"However, this is only temporary."

Once I find my own path, the first thing I will do is avenge today's humiliation!

"Then why did he come all the way to find us? What grudge do you have against each other?" Chu He pressed.

Xu Chen chuckled and said, "Not every single thing in this world needs a reason."

"

"If we must give an explanation, his appearance was nothing more than a way to hone my sword."

"

"And that Crimson Sky Sword in his hand..."

Xu Chen noticed Chu He's hesitant expression and nodded, "That's right, it is indeed the sword of Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang—Chixiao."

"

"Back then, Emperor Gaozu used this sword to slay the white snake and started a rebellion, overthrowing the tyrannical Qin Dynasty, unifying the country, and establishing the Han Dynasty."

"

"That man was wielding this very Emperor's Sword!"

Chu He was initially skeptical, but after hearing Xu Chen confirm it himself, a look of surprise flashed in her eyes.

The closer you get to the snow-capped mountains, the sparser the population becomes.

As dusk fell, if they couldn't find a place to stay, the two would have to spend the night in the wilderness.

This was nothing to Xu Chen, but Chu He really didn't want to use the yellow sand as her bed—as a disciple of the Water Element Sect, she had a natural aversion to the desert.

"Look! There's a house over there!" Chu He suddenly exclaimed, pointing into the distance.

In fact, Xu Chen had already spotted the wooden house, but the house that suddenly appeared in this desolate place seemed suspicious no matter how you looked at it.

"Why would an ordinary person choose to stay here? Could they also be someone seeking refuge from disaster?"

While she was pondering this, Chu He had already run towards the wooden house.

After tonight, we'll reach the snow-capped mountains tomorrow!

As soon as Xu Chen stepped into the open space in front of the house, he suddenly became alert—there was a hidden barrier around the wooden house!

"Watch out! Something's strange about this house!"

Before she could finish speaking, Chu He suddenly cried out in surprise.

Seven or eight emerald green vines broke through the soil, coiling around her limbs like serpents, and in the blink of an eye, they lifted her high into the air.

"Xu Chen, save me!"

Chu He's body was suspended in mid-air, her legs dangling, her face filled with fear as she stared straight at Xu Chen.

She was terrified!

Xu Chen gripped the hilt of the Tai'a sword tightly, but did not immediately draw it.

He keenly sensed that these vines were unusual, with some strange spiritual energy fluctuations swirling around their surface.

What's even more troublesome is that this spiritual power is intertwined with the water-elemental true energy within Chu He's body.

If the vines were cut off rashly, it could very likely endanger Chu He's life.

We've run into a tough opponent again!

Xu Chen abandoned his plan to forcibly rescue the man and instead stared at the wooden house, his voice deep and powerful: "I am the ruler of the Great Liang Kingdom, passing through this place."

If there is anything offensive, please forgive me.

"

For the ruler of a country to say such polite words is already a great honor.

But the owner of the cabin clearly had no intention of responding—the cabin was quiet, without the slightest reply.

But Xu Chen clearly sensed that there was definitely someone inside the house!

"If you won't listen to reason, you'll have to suffer the consequences!" A cold glint flashed in Xu Chen's eyes, and the Tai'a sword was drawn inch by inch, its chilling sword energy sweeping across the surrounding area.

call out!

A beam of emerald light suddenly burst through the window, piercing straight for Xu Chen's brow! That familiar cyan aura was none other than the Wood Element True Qi.

People from the Five Elements Sect?!

Xu Chen reacted extremely quickly, his waist snapping and bending.

The green light grazed his chin and struck the trees behind him.

The ancient, verdant tree that was struck withered and died in the blink of an eye.

What domineering wood-elemental true energy!

Xu Chen's expression turned serious.

Why are the Five Elements Sect members here? Did they follow us here? Or were they originally lying in wait here?

With a thought, seven dazzling stars appeared out of thin air and surrounded him.

At that moment, the wooden door creaked open, and a middle-aged man with a mocking expression stepped out: "Liang King Xu Chen? Ha..."

"This is not a place for you, get out of here!"

"Otherwise, I'll deal with you too!"

"Elder Chi!" Chu He, who was suspended in mid-air, suddenly shouted excitedly.

She actually recognized this person from the Wood Path Sect!

The elder, addressed as Chi Huan, was taken aback upon hearing this. Looking up and recognizing the girl's face, he exclaimed in surprise, "Chu He? How could you..."

"The sect elders sent me to find my master!" Chu He hurriedly explained, "You've misunderstood, please put me down!"

The girl was overjoyed.

She had known Elder Chi, who was always smiling, since she was young. He was a well-known kind elder in the sect.

Whenever her master went out, Chu He always liked to pester Elder Chi to play.

Later, it was said that Elder Chi was ordered to leave the sect, and that figure in green never appeared again.

"Nonsense!" Elder Chi suddenly roared, the vines in his sleeves rustling. "Chu He, how dare you deceive me!" His cold gaze swept over Xu Chen. "So you've sided with the Liang King—you even dare to covet the Frost Qi!"

Xu Chen's pupils suddenly contracted.

Snow-capped mountains...seclusion...could Master Chu He be related to this secret treasure?

"I am Chu He!" The girl's voice trembled with anxiety. "My master is in seclusion in the snowy mountains, so I came here specifically to find him—"

"Shut up!" Chi Huan's face twisted, his withered vine-like knuckles cracking. "Your master betrayed the sect back then, causing me to fall to this state! Are you and your master going to use the same trick again today?" Countless green python-like vines suddenly tightened, and Chu He's face quickly turned ashen.

Xu Chen's Tai'a sword drew a bright arc of light.

"One Heart Sword!" The sword energy, like a dragon's roar, reverberated through the valley.

Chi Huan sneered and flipped his palm, causing the ground to explode. Thousands of poisonous vines transformed into a giant net that blotted out the sky, with each vine flowing with a terrifying vortex of spiritual energy.

Xu Chen was completely focused on dealing with the vines that kept attacking from all sides, his hands moving non-stop, trying to completely eliminate these annoying plants.

Seeing his expression, Chi Huan couldn't help but laugh.

"Over the years, I have stayed here every step of the way, devoting myself to cultivating the myriad phenomena of the Wood Sect."

"

I have already planted countless vine seeds on this land.

"

Even if you had nine lives, you'd still die here today!

Before Chi Huan could finish speaking, his hands quickly formed a hand seal.

As if understanding a command, the vines rushed frantically towards Xu Chen.

Xu Chen kept swinging his sword to cut the vines, but new vines kept sprouting from the ground, and he could never cut them all off.

"If this keeps going, we'll either be exhausted or trapped here to death!"

Xu Chen knew in his heart that he had no room for delay.

Hummus and the others are still waiting for him to rescue them; even a moment's delay could lead to disaster.

Thinking of this, a resolute look flashed in Xu Chen's eyes.

He wanted to see just how capable Elder Chi really was!

The Tai'a sword emitted a clear and melodious dragon's roar.

This sword was originally just ordinary iron, but it became spiritual in its master's hands.

Since following Xu Chen, it has absorbed its master's kingly demeanor and now possesses the majesty of an emperor.

The dragon's roar shook his mind, causing Chi Huan to momentarily lose his senses.

In the instant he was distracted, a sharp sword light, carrying a chilling aura, swept over him.

By the time he realized what was happening, the Tai'a sword was already at his chest.

laugh--

Xu Chen's sword strike was both fast and ruthless, reaching its peak in both speed and power.

Although the sword pierced through Chi Huan's chest, Xu Chen showed no joy on his face.

He had a vague feeling that this sword strike might not be fatal.

A hint of surprise flashed in Chi Huan's eyes, but there was no sign of pain.

"King Liang, this snow mountain is not a place for you."

"

"If you know what's good for you, leave now, and I might spare your life."

"

"Otherwise, you can stay here forever, keeping these vines company!"

Hearing Chi Huan's threat, Xu Chen sneered, "You've already pierced my heart, and you still dare to spout nonsense?"

"Hahaha, Xu Chen, you really think this sword can hurt me?"

Under Xu Chen's shocked gaze, Chi Huan's body rapidly aged and withered, her vitality quickly fading away.

In the blink of an eye, his body transformed into a wooden sculpture, firmly locking the Tai'a sword within.

"Xu Chen, this is the wooden elephant lock!"

"He's using the Wood Element Sect's Wood Elephant clone; his real body must be nearby!"

Watch out behind you!

Chu He suppressed her panic and kept a close eye on the battle. When she discovered Chi Huan's wooden elephant incarnation, she immediately issued a warning.

"court death!"

Chi Huan appeared behind Chu He like a ghost, grabbing her shoulders with both hands.

A ghostly green light emanated from his palm as he licked his lips and grinned maliciously: "The spiritual power of the Water Element Sect is best suited to nourish wood-type spells—and your pure spiritual power is truly a gift from heaven."

"

"Don't worry, I will personally return you to your master."

"

"I really want to see that old man in excruciating pain!"

Chu He suddenly trembled all over—she clearly felt her life essence being drained away! Water Element Sect cultivators are different from ordinary people; they can still live even when their spiritual power is exhausted, but if their source true water is depleted, they will forever lose the protection of the Water Element Sect!

laugh!

Just as he was about to suffocate, the sound of a sharp weapon cutting through the air suddenly rang out!

Warm blood splattered all over Chu He's back, and the immense force that had been suppressing her vanished instantly.

She staggered to her knees and coughed violently, the strong smell of rust filling her nostrils—it was Chi Huan's blood!

"impossible!"

"I clearly sealed your Tai'a sword!"

Chi Huan crashed into a tree trunk and vomited blood clots.

He had long seen that this sword was Xu Chen's Achilles' heel, and deliberately used a wooden seal to weaken its power.

Countless masters have been worn down and killed by this move in the past, but who knew...

"Have you ever heard of having no sword in hand but a sword in heart?" Xu Chen formed a hand seal, his body surging with sword energy. "Weapons are ultimately external things; sword intent is the essence."

"

Thanks to my discussion with Sima Hui on swordsmanship, I grasped the true essence of the art of swordsmanship; otherwise, I would have truly capsized in the ditch today.

"The formless sword?" Chi Huan pressed his sunken chest, his pupils beginning to dilate.

Chi Huan stared wide-eyed at Xu Chen in disbelief.

He had spent many years working in the Five Elements Sect and his experience far surpassed that of a novice like Chu He.

That invisible sword is clearly the ultimate realm that swordsmen dream of!

Those who can master this skill are all capable of causing mountains to collapse and the earth to split with a stomp of their feet. Looking at the entire Five Elements Sect, apart from the elusive Sect Leader, who else has such abilities?

But how old is Xu Chen? Chi Huan suddenly felt a jolt and exclaimed, "You are the chosen one!" These words also stunned Chu He. She stared blankly at Xu Chen, never expecting that the legendary chosen one was right in front of her.

Xu Chen didn't care about the title at all.

He remembered that in the land of Shennong, that strange old man called Chun Laoren had said the same thing.

Now all he wants to do is kill Chi Huan, who's been running rampant on Liang Kingdom's territory!

Swish! Swish! Swish! Streams of invisible sword energy shot out from Xu Chen's palm.

Chi Huan felt a chill run down his spine—if this hit him squarely, he'd be lucky to escape with his life! Even more terrifying was the fact that he had to bring the news of the Chosen One back!

Seeing that Chi Huan was about to slip away, Xu Chen sneered, "Trying to run?" His sword, accompanied by the sound of wind and thunder, aimed straight for the other's throat.