Commander Yan was currently wrestling with indecision. He was a ninth-step powerhouse of the Heavenly realm, and in the Blue Smoke Island Domain, he was one of the most notable experts around.
Most importantly, the reason the Blue Hawk Guard had been so aggressive and insolent lately was that they had recently acquired a formidable backer.
This was why the Blue Hawk Guard had grown even more domineering than before, why they dared to enforce the law in such an unreasonable manner.
A few days ago, they had used this approach with virtually unopposed results, encountering no resistance whatsoever.
But today, Commander Yan discovered that walk by the river long enough and your shoes are bound to get wet. This kick had landed squarely on an iron plate—and a super-thick one at that.
Jiang Chen had not been in the best of moods lately. Between the demon clan and the Myriad Spirits Lock God Grand Formation, his nerves had been stretched taut.
Here in the Blue Smoke Island Domain, he had simply wanted to dispose of the ancient jade pieces he was carrying. Yet even staying at an inn had landed him in this mess.
Originally, he had no intention of doing anything to the Blue Hawk Guard, but the Blue Hawk Guard simply insisted on provoking him. Truly, when the tree wishes to be still, the wind refuses to stop.
"Commander Yan, I've already seen enough of your Blue Hawk Guard's arrogance. Unfortunately, you have arrogance to spare but skill falls a bit short. I wonder whether Commander Yan has anything fresher to show me?"
Jiang Chen's tone was clearly dripping with mockery.
Commander Yan glared viciously at Jiang Chen, his eyes like those of a ferocious wolf.
Against Commander Yan, Jiang Chen didn't even need to summon the Vermilion Bird Divine Beast. With his own divine abilities alone, he was seventy to eighty percent confident he could defeat the opponent.
As for the other members of the Blue Hawk Guard—to a cultivator of Jiang Chen's caliber, they were mere decorations. No matter how many came, it wouldn't be enough for him to handle.
Commander Yan was ultimately unwilling to concede. He snarled viciously, "Boy, I admit you have a modicum of skill, but I, Yan, will put you to the test myself."
Commander Yan had made up his mind to strike personally.
If he could win, he would win. If he couldn't, he would retreat for the time being and find another way to settle the score.
Seeing Commander Yan's stance, Jiang Chen knew the man hadn't given up yet and still wanted to put up a fight. A cold laugh stirred in his heart.
He also rallied himself to the utmost.
Since they were going to fight, he had to win—absolutely. He could not let Commander Yan seize the initiative. He could not allow the man to start a fight whenever he wanted and leave whenever he pleased.
Commander Yan's aura surged violently upward.
In the next instant, Commander Yan's arms snapped outward. Countless beams of blinding light transformed into streaks of brilliance, shooting toward Jiang Chen like a torrential rain of arrows.
The attack came without warning.
However, Jiang Chen had been on guard all along. The defenses of the Magnetic Golden Mountain rose once more, pushed to their absolute limit.
Those streaks of light were Commander Yan's concealed weapon attacks—flying knives shaped like the tail feathers of swallows. They struck the golden current and were immediately absorbed by the Magnetic Golden Mountain.
The Magnetic Golden Mountain accepted all metal-natured attacks without discrimination, drawing them in greedily.
Thus, Commander Yan's ambush ended in failure.
"Hmph, parlor tricks—and you dare show them off." Jiang Chen had actually broken into a cold sweat. If he hadn't been on guard, the ambush might not have harmed him, but Huang'er and Chu Xinghan inside might not have been so fortunate.
At the thought of this, Jiang Chen's disgust toward Commander Yan deepened even further.