Jiang Chen descended from the clouds with Huang'er, watching the two sides clash at low altitude, his expression blank.
He was currently in disguise. Not only would Tian Shao and Tang Long fail to recognize him — even if Gong Wuji had risen from the grave, he wouldn't have been able to tell that the person before him was his enemy.
The black-clad men caught sight of Jiang Chen and Huang'er and realized they weren't riding spirit beasts but flying freely through the open sky. A flicker of fear crept into their eyes.
Flight!
On the other side, Tian Shao and the others had clearly seen the same thing. Their faces drained of color as they exchanged stunned glances, eyes brimming with shock.
They could fly without spirit mounts — soaring straight through the air. This... this had to be at least a Saint Realm expert.
Saint Realm experts did occasionally appear in the Tiangui Kingdom these days, but ordinary people had no chance of ever meeting one. And even if they did, they wouldn't recognize what they were seeing.
Now, with everyone watching someone fly through the sky with their own eyes, the shock was overwhelming.
The leader of the black-clad men stammered, "Wh-who are you, sir? Our... our Chasing Life Dark Gate's business—"
Jiang Chen cut in coolly. "The Chasing Life Dark Gate? Is that the shady assassin organization too cowardly to show its face?"
Hearing Jiang Chen speak of the Chasing Life Dark Gate with such casual contempt, Tian Shao and the others collectively breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed this powerful expert had no fondness for the Chasing Life Dark Gate.
The black-clad leader nodded. "That was before. Our Chasing Life Dark Gate has since pledged allegiance to the Nine Yang Heavenly Sect — a force under a first-rank sect. Our current gate master is one of the hall masters of the Purple Light Branch Hall."
"Nine Yang Heavenly Sect? Purple Light Branch Hall?" Jiang Chen paused. Wasn't the Purple Light Branch Hall the stepping stone the Purple Sun Sect had used to ally with the Nine Yang Heavenly Sect years ago?
Now that the Purple Sun Sect's core members were dead, the Purple Light Branch Hall had fallen into the hands of the Chasing Life Dark Gate?
The black-clad leader declared proudly, "That's right! The Nine Yang Heavenly Sect! Our lord gate master has sworn brotherhood with an eleventh-ranked inspector from the Heavenly Sect. With the Heavenly Sect's backing, he has become a Saint Realm expert himself. The two of you, my friends—"
Jiang Chen's expression darkened. "Friends? What qualifies you to call me a friend?"
The black-clad leader raised his voice. "We may not have that qualification, but surely you've heard of the Nine Yang Heavenly Sect?"
Is he trying to use the Nine Yang Heavenly Sect's name to pressure me?
Jiang Chen couldn't help but smile. Back when he was still in the Spirit Realm, he hadn't feared the so-called Nine Yang Heavenly Sect. How could those four words intimidate him now?
Tian Shao and the others were growing desperate with anxiety. What if these two powerful experts heard the name of the Nine Yang Heavenly Sect and simply decided to walk away?
If that happened, the narrow chance of survival they had just been granted would be snatched away in an instant.
Seeing Jiang Chen fall silent, the black-clad leader assumed he was wary of the Nine Yang Heavenly Sect and pressed further. "You have no kinship or friendship with these Tiangui Kingdom insects — why bother standing up for them? Besides, these people have old grudges with our Chasing Life Dark Gate. What business is that of yours?"
Jiang Chen sneered. "Are you threatening me?"
"I wouldn't call it a threat. I'm merely suggesting you read the situation correctly and don't make an enemy of our Nine Yang Heavenly Sect. Otherwise, in all this vast world, you won't find a place to call home."
The more Jiang Chen listened, the more amused he became. Threats like this weren't exactly new — he'd heard his share. But for these black-clad men, not one of whom had even reached the Yuan Realm, to brazenly threaten him — that was something else entirely.
Was this Chasing Life Dark Gate truly just an upstart? They'd latched onto the Nine Yang Heavenly Sect and decided they were the biggest thing in the world?
Jiang Chen gave a slight nod. "As it happens, I have old grudges with the Chasing Life Dark Gate as well. You lot — consider this the first interest payment."
"What? Sir, think carefully — AAAGH!"
Jiang Chen didn't bother with another word. His palm swung down, and a golden handprint expanded rapidly, swelling to the size of a mountain in the blink of an eye before crashing down in a single devastating blow.
Those several dozen black-clad men burst like soap bubbles beneath the golden palm. They managed half a scream before vanishing completely — snuffed out like candle flames in a gale.
With Jiang Chen's current cultivation, his combat strength could already stand toe-to-toe with an Imperial Realm expert. Spirit Realm martial artists? They were nothing before him.
One slap, and they were all reduced to dust.
Yet the sight sent ripples of horror across the faces of Tian Shao and the others. Though these were their enemies being killed, such heaven-defying methods of slaughter were enough to chill anyone to the bone.
Dozens of Chasing Life Dark Gate experts — the very ones who had nearly been their doom moments ago — couldn't even withstand a casual slap. They were simply obliterated into ash.
What manner of divine ability was that?
Tian Shao's legs went weak, but he forced himself to steady his composure and cupped his fists in a respectful salute toward Jiang Chen. "Many thanks, sir, for your aid."
Jiang Chen glanced at Tian Shao, then at Tang Long.