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

21

It just made you feel water build up in your throat, giving you a taste of what it's like to drown.

These words caused Xu Chen's pupils to shrink sharply—as someone who had just begun to understand the Five Elements, he knew all too well the difficulty of manipulating the water in another person's body.

It's like doing somersaults inside a blood vessel with a needle; the slightest mistake could...

"Little friend, you're pretty close to the truth."

The old man suddenly turned to Xu Chen, startling him so much that a chill ran down his spine. "The Five Elements Sect Master? I suppose so, but that's all ancient history."

"My withered fingers traced through the air, leaving faint watermarks. If we're really talking about it, I'd say I'm their founding ancestor."

"

"Emperor Yan Shennong?!" Xu Chen blurted out, only to find his sword-wielding companion's eyes widening in surprise.

The old man shook his head and chuckled: "You're half right. I'm just a wisp of thought left inside the armor."

"

"As you probably guessed, this isn't an ordinary place!"

"To put it another way, you might be more familiar with it—"

"This is the interior space of Shennong Armor!"

Xu Chen swallowed nervously after hearing this: "Master Shennong, what brings you here?"

Shennong slowly examined the two: "My remnant soul has been guarding Shennong Armor, just waiting for the destined person to discover that secret."

"

"I happened to see you fighting, and I also heard this guy say that—"

"You are not worthy to be a swordsman!"

"I'm the kind of person who loves to meddle in other people's business, so I couldn't resist dragging you all into this."

"

(Although the swordsman revered Shennong, he still retorted defiantly, "Am I wrong?")

"Xu Chen hasn't even grasped the basics of swordsmanship, he can't even find his own path, so what makes him think he can wield a good sword?"

"I should have handed the Crimson Sky Sword to Xu Chen!"

"Judging by his character, he's completely unworthy of inheriting the divine sword!"

Shennong laughed out loud: "Does not knowing how to use a sword mean one is not worthy of wielding one?"

Who is born a master of swordsmanship?

"If you ask me, you're far inferior to Xu Chen!"

"The Crimson Sky Sword should belong to him!"

As he spoke, he waved his hand and pushed the Crimson Sky Sword toward Xu Chen.

The swordsman instantly flew into a rage:

"A piece of trash without the soul of a swordsman dares to challenge Chixiao?"

"You are blaspheming the divine sword!"

After roaring, he pounced on Xu Chen.

Xu Chen had just caught the sword and was still in a daze when he saw this and hurriedly swung his sword to counterattack, only to find that the Crimson Sky Sword was trembling violently in his hand—this spiritual sword was unwilling to harm its former master and was desperately resisting Xu Chen's strength.

In a life-or-death situation, there was no room for hesitation. Xu Chen threw his sword to the ground and faced the enemy bare-handed.

During the fight, they suddenly sensed a familiar purple evil aura emanating from their opponent!

"It's the aura of an evil god!" Xu Chen, who had fought with the evil god many times, immediately realized this and hurriedly shouted to Shennong.

Watch out!

"It's too late!"

The black-clad swordsman roared, and the sword that was originally aimed at Xu Chen suddenly changed direction, thrusting straight at Shennong's heart! This sword strike was both fast and ruthless, clearly intended to take a life.

But Shennong was prepared. He suddenly flicked out a green vine from his sleeve, which wrapped around the swordsman's wrist like a snake.

He clenched his fingers, and the vines suddenly tightened, constricting the other person until their veins bulged.

"You evil spirit hiding in the sword, do you really think I can't smell your stench?" Shennong sneered. "From the moment you stepped into this foreign land, your stench could no longer be hidden—I just couldn't be bothered to expose you."

"

"You jumped out on your own."

"

The swordsman suddenly let out a strange, cloying laugh: "Shennong! I've searched for you for three thousand years, knowing you would come looking for Xu Chen!" Purple-black mist seeped from his seven orifices, transforming into a hideous demonic face: "Last time you escaped like a cicada shedding its shell, this time I'll make sure your soul is annihilated!"

"Noisy!" Shennong flicked his finger, and a wisp of green fire entered the swordsman's brow.

The stench of burning filled the air, and the purple mist screamed as it fled into the sky.

Xu Chen watched the dissipating purple mist, a chill creeping into his heart.

Those omnipresent eyes seemed to have seen through his entire life.

I'm sorry.

Shennong dusted off his sleeves, his smile as gentle as spring sunshine melting snow, "My old friend came for me, but it has implicated you."

"That smile was so warm it was almost dazed, and Xu Chen's eyes even started to well up with tears."

Suddenly, the old man's expression changed drastically: "There's murderous intent! You and that girl must leave this place immediately!" With a flick of his sleeve, he added, "If you wish to find the Unquenchable Flame, Chixiao will guide you—"

Before he could finish speaking, a blinding white light flashed before Xu Chen's eyes.

When he opened his eyes again, the Crimson Sky Sword in his palm was glowing with a faint red light.

The wind and sand howled across the Gobi Desert. When Xu Chen regained his footing, the mysterious swordsman had already vanished without a trace.

Chu He huddled behind the rock, only half her face showing as she nervously observed them, barely daring to breathe.

The Crimson Sky Sword lay quietly in Xu Chen's palm, its blade radiating a scorching heat that flowed through his meridians like magma.

He vaguely heard a deep dragon's roar echoing from within the sword—as if a real dragon were swimming within it.

Xu Chen suddenly remembered Shennong's warning.

Danger? Where exactly is it lurking? But there's no time to think about it now; the most urgent task is to find the inextinguishable fire as soon as possible.

It's time to get going.

Xu Chen sheathed his sword and called out to Chu He, who was behind the rock.

Just as Chu He was about to get up, a sharp laugh suddenly erupted from the sky: "Go? You're not going anywhere!" Several blue figures swept across the sky, and the white-haired man at the head blocked their way with his flowing sleeves.

The group of followers behind him, all wearing identical masks, were dressed in the insignia of the Five Elements Sect.

"Sect...Sect Master?!" Chu He's exclamation escaped through her fingers.

Xu Chen's pupils suddenly contracted.

The arrival of the Water Element Sect Master himself makes the situation a hundred times more troublesome than anticipated.

"Shut up!" the white-haired sect leader roared. "Harming fellow disciples and colluding with foreign enemies, Chu He, you deserve to die a thousand deaths to atone for your crimes!"

Tears welled up in Chu He's eyes: "No! I never..."

A blue shadow suddenly appeared, and Chu He suddenly found herself like an insect frozen in amber, unable to even move her fingertips—it was the Water Element Sect's secret binding technique! She struggled desperately, but the invisible shackles tightened more and more...

A crimson light flashed!

The disciple who launched the sneak attack was sent flying backward as if struck by lightning. If the sect leader hadn't come to his rescue in time, he would probably have fainted on the spot.

The white-haired old man's cold gaze was fixed on Xu Chen, his wide sleeves fluttering even without wind.

The Clash Between King Xu Chen of Great Liang and the Water Element Sect

"Liang King Xu Chen, are you desiring to become an enemy of my Five Elements Sect?"

"With your meager abilities, you dare to challenge my declaration of war?"

Xu Chen stood with his hands behind his back, glancing at the Water Sect Master out of the corner of his eye, his face full of disdain.

With a casual wave of his hand, a transparent sword of energy condensed in the void. The sharp sword energy pressed down like a tidal wave, and the disciples of the Water Element Sect immediately had difficulty breathing and their faces turned pale.

This power is truly terrifying!

Seeing this, Xu Chen sneered inwardly: a mere sword aura was enough to terrify them; they were far inferior to the fierce generals under the Evil God's command.

The decline of the Five Elements Sect seems to have its reasons.

A flash of blue light appeared at his fingertips, and the water prison that had trapped Chu He shattered instantly.

Hydrolysis!

The Water Sect Master and his disciples exclaimed in unison, their faces filled with disbelief.

This is a secret technique passed down by the Water Element Sect, and only those with the talent to control water can learn it.

What's even more remarkable is that this technique has extremely strict requirements for the control of water elements, and many beginner disciples have yet to master it.

And this outsider, Xu Chen, did it with ease!

"Chu He! Still dare to deny betraying the sect? If you hadn't leaked the secret, how could outsiders have learned this technique?"

Chu He looked at Xu Chen, speechless—she herself hadn't even mastered this trick yet, so where did Xu Chen learn it from?

Xu Chen sneered, "You think they'll let you go?"

After saying that, he grabbed Chu He and was about to leave.

"Halt!" The Water Element Sect Master blocked his path, his sword drawn, his eyes flashing with murderous intent: "Sect rules clearly state that outsiders who steal secret techniques—"

"capital offense!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Chen burst into laughter: "You?!"

"I am the Martial Emperor of Great Liang, and this land is all my territory."

"

"You dare to stop me?"

The Crimson Sky Sword was drawn with a clang, its dragon-patterned blade radiating scorching heat, sweeping over the enemy with overwhelming killing intent.

The Water Sect Master had never felt such a terrifying sense of oppression before—this was no weapon! It was clearly a ferocious beast that would devour its prey!

A chill ran from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head, and the Water Sect Master's hand holding the curved blade trembled slightly.

Xu Chen gripped Chu He tightly in his left hand, while the Crimson Sky Sword whistled in his right, his piercing gaze fixed on the Water Sect Master.

The sect leader of the Water Element Sect desperately wanted to rush forward and stop Xu Chen, but his body was frozen in place as if filled with lead, and he could only watch them walk away.

The oppressive aura emanating from Xu Chen was so strong that it made it impossible for anyone to even think of resisting.

Under the watchful eyes of the entire courtyard of Water Element Sect disciples, Xu Chen swaggered out of the mountain gate with his men.

Only when the two figures completely disappeared from sight did the sect leader's tense shoulders finally relax.

("call--"

The Water Element Sect leader exhaled a heavy breath, only then realizing that his back was already soaked with cold sweat.

He patted his chest with lingering fear. Liang Wang Xu Chen was indeed worthy of his reputation; just one glance was enough to leave one breathless.

The most terrifying thing was that crimson longsword. When the sword rang out just now, he clearly felt his blood tremble all over his body, and even his soul was filled with instinctive fear.

"Master, are we really just going to let them go like this?" a disciple asked unwillingly.

The sect leader scoffed, "Or you can go after them?"

"Today is just a formality. If we were to lay a finger on King Liang, would the thousands of people in our Five Elements Sect even survive?"

"Don't forget that they have a million soldiers under their command, and the mighty Snow Dragon Riders who have swept across the world protect them."

If such a person were to fall into our territory, the imperial cavalry would raze the mountain gates to the ground tomorrow!

These words made the disciples realize the truth, and they all sighed that their master was indeed far-sighted.

"But what about Senior Sister Chu's defection..."

Upon hearing someone mention Chu He, a cold glint flashed in the sect leader's eyes: "Run? Where can she run to?"

"Her natal water essence is kept in the sect, so even if she hides in the Netherworld, she can still be found."

Betraying the Water Element Sect only leads to death, and Chu He will be no exception!

Just as they were about to lead their men back, the sect leader suddenly turned around alertly.

Ripples appeared in the air behind them, and a figure slowly emerged from the distorted space.

"Greetings, Master!"

The sect leader fell to his knees with a thud, his forehead pressed against the ground.

The only person capable of performing such a teleportation technique is He Qiu, the leader of the Five Elements Sect.

The disciples hurriedly prostrated themselves in respect.

He Qiu stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the snow-capped mountains to the north: "Where are they?"

"Reporting to the sect leader, Xu Chen has taken Chu He south."

"

He Qiu remained silent for a long time after hearing the Water Element Sect Master's reply.

Just as everyone was wondering if the cult leader had already left, a deep male voice suddenly rang in their ears: "What? Even you can't beat Xu Chen?"

The sect leader of the Water Element Sect hurriedly explained, "Sect Leader, Xu Chen was originally no match for me."

But he has a strange weapon in his hand that instantly kills anyone's fighting spirit the moment he takes it out.

I know what that is—it's the Crimson Sky Sword!

"The Crimson Sky Sword?!" Everyone was shocked upon hearing this.

Who doesn't recognize this sword that belonged to Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang? Who would have thought it would fall into Xu Chen's hands! No wonder everyone felt fear when facing this sword; its imperial aura was truly terrifying.

Seeing the shocked expressions on everyone's faces, He Qiu silently turned and left.

In fact, before his trip, Elder Chun had clearly warned him not to provoke Xu Chen.

He came here this time only because he sensed the aura of Master Shennong.

------

"Where are we going?" Chu He asked, looking at Xu Chen who was holding her arm, after confirming that no one was chasing after them.

Xu Chen glanced at her: "Go south, find the Unquenchable Flame to save your master."

"

"Do you know the exact location?" Chu He's voice trembled.

In this world, her master is her only support.