Humanity is truly a peculiar thing. At times, kindness is perceived as weakness, and sincerity as folly. At this very moment, Jiao Xiong’s laughter echoed, fueled by precisely this “folly.”

“What do you imagine? Is this a squabble between neighbors, where a few kind words will suffice for them to let you go?”

Jiang Wang felt a pang of vexation. He had barely set foot upon Chi Yun Mountain, seen nothing of its wonders, only to find himself locked in confrontation with Jiao Xiong. This was hardly in keeping with his usual low-key demeanor. Yet, Jiao Xiong was clearly set on making trouble for the Ling Xiao Pavilion; there was no way to avoid it.

“With so many neighbors present, it’s hardly proper to make a spectacle,” Jiang Wang attempted one last time.

Jiao Xiong sneered, no longer even sparing Jiang Wang a glance, his gaze shifting to Ye Qingyu. “Miss Ye, why not join my side? I shall share a portion of this trip’s harvest from Chi Yun Mountain with you.”

Ye Qingyu’s smile was as clear and elegant as a spring morning. “Does Chi Yue have no objection?”

Jiao Xiong’s tone was overbearing. “Everything is decided by me.”

The woman named Chi Yue, the inheritor of Qing Yun Pavilion, forced a smile, appearing already subjugated. Ye Qingyu offered no comment, only glancing playfully at Jiang Wang. “Young Master, what do you think?”

Jiang Wang, with a苦 face, replied, “That hardly seems appropriate, does it?”

Jiao Xiong extended a hand and pushed aside the cooperatively “pushed” Yun You Weng. He turned directly to Jiang Wang. “And report your name! I, Jiao Xiong, do not slay the nameless!”

His posture suggested an immediate strike. Jiao Xiong possessed the confidence to overwhelm everyone, or he would not have initially targeted them all. Defeating them individually, however, was naturally preferable.

Jiang Wang, though helpless, bowed courteously. “Easy to say. This one is named Du Gu Wudi.” He had no desire to gain notoriety among the people of Yong and Cheng. He had already used the name Zhang Linchuan in Wangjiang City and feared it might be linked to the Ling Xiao Pavilion by those with ulterior motives. Hence, he opted for Du Gu Wudi.

Jiao Xiong scoffed. “What audacious words!”

Jiang Wang continued to sigh. “My parents were audacious; I can’t be blamed for that.”

“Do your parents not know that a humble name is easier to nurture? With a name like yours, I fear you won’t live long!” Jiao Xiong might not have held Jiang Wang in high regard, but since he was targeting him, provoking anger was an age-old tactic.

Jiang Wang made a show of sudden realization. “So that’s why you’re called Er Gouzi?”

Jiao Xiong, originally intending to provoke Jiang Wang, found himself the one angered. His foot lifted, poised to strike. However, at that moment, a faint bell resonated from within Chi Yun Mountain. The bell tolled abruptly, then faded into silence. Everyone knew that something within Chi Yun Mountain was changing.

Jiao Xiong was not venturing up the mountain for the first time, yet he remained blocking the path, preventing others from ascending first. On the surface, he disdained all opponents and possessed ample confidence, yet he maintained a degree of caution. This caution was primarily directed at Yun You Weng. In his estimation, Du Gu Wudi was the most cowardly and weakest. The thin man invited by Ling Kong Hall seemed eager for a challenge and likely possessed some strength. Yun You Weng, who arrived alone and shrouded in mystery, was the one to be most wary of. Of course, in his eyes, they were all crooked melons and split dates, far from the caliber of opponents he had faced in Yong Country.

Though he still cast a cold glance at Jiang Wang, he simultaneously observed the others. “Let me enlighten you: base individuals should bear base names!”

Jiang Wang was utterly sincere. “Pray, do not speak of yourself in such a manner.” While he might not surpass the likes of Chong Xuan Sheng, Xu Xiangqian, and Ku Jue in verbal sparring, prolonged exposure had honed his skills. He successfully infuriated Jiao Xiong to the point where veins pulsed on his forehead. Even with other matters on his mind, he found it difficult to contain his anger.

Chi Yue, the inheritor of Qing Yun Pavilion, sharply interjected, “Jiao Xiong is a genius ranked among the top fifteen of Yong Country’s younger generation! What are you, that you dare speak with such an attitude?” This woman’s words seemed utterly thoughtless.

Jiang Wang was too lazy to respond, only looking at Ye Qingyu. “A genius ranked fifteenth among Yong Country’s younger generation, is he very strong?”

Ye Qingyu stifled a laugh, replying very seriously, “I only know that the second-ranked genius of Yong Country was easily defeated two-on-one by Zhuang Country’s Zhu Weiwo in Bushu City.”

“Oh…” Jiang Wang drew out the sound, imbued with significant meaning. But before Jiao Xiong’s face could completely darken, he cut off the lingering sound, his brow furrowed in cold gaze. “Jiao Fifteen, are you going to act or not? If not, stop blocking my path up the mountain.” The Chi Yun Mountain bell had already rung; Jiang Wang had lost all interest in playing along with Jiao Xiong. After all, this person truly seemed intent on refusing to be given face.

“This old man is Jiao Xiong!” Jiao Xiong glared fiercely at Yun You Weng and the two from Ling Kong Hall, intending to deter them, to dispel any thought of them sneaking up Chi Yun Mountain. Then he turned his glare back to Jiang Wang. “If you wish to die, don’t be in such a hurry!” He didn’t know what he was waiting for; he kept clamoring but never made a move. Jiang Wang, however, was tired of waiting.

He raised his eyebrows, and the sword unsheathed! There seemed to be a sound of wind breaking, in his ears. There seemed to be a flash of light, in his eyes. Long Xiangsi leaped from the water’s surface. He was so fast that his movements were no longer discernible; person and longsword seemed to have been at Jiao Xiong’s front all along. It was as if Jiang Wang had merely thrust lightly forward.

The sword tip was a point, like a setting sun falling! The old general’s late-life sword was the most tragic and resolute swordsmanship within the path of humanity. Once the sword came, it was irreversible.

Jiao Xiong, for all his faults, was also a Three Mansions stage cultivator, a twenty-one-year-old Three Mansions cultivator. Of course, he was considered a genius. Even the stunning Zhang Linchuan, in Fenglin City back then, had only opened four Mansions. Facing Jiang Wang’s sudden sword strike, Jiao Xiong also drew his sword. His sword was heavy and broad; a single chop was like a great river, a turbulent flow rushing, unstoppable. It collided with Long Xiangsi. The sword momentum driven by the Three Mansions was instantly scattered by the old general’s late-life sword! His sword was inferior to Long Xiangsi, his sword momentum inferior to the old general’s late life. His Tongtian Palace was far less vast than Jiang Wang’s. His Heaven and Earth Isolation Island was far less vast than Jiang Wang’s. Though he had opened three Mansions, the internal development of these three inner Mansions combined did not reach three thousand!

In the void, two black chains, like flood dragons, drilled out, instantly binding the out-of-control Jiao Xiong by his sword momentum. The Prison Body Chains temporarily fettered all of Jiao Xiong’s resistance. Long Xiangsi penetrated directly, successively breaking through the Tongtian Palace and the three inner Mansions, extinguishing Jiao Xiong’s life force.

Even in the Tenglong Realm, Jiang Wang and Chong Xuan Sheng, working together, had managed to slay a Two Mansions guard of Rìzhào Jūn, though it was a surprise attack and the guard was elderly and weak. But how much stronger was Jiang Wang today compared to then? Now, Jiang Wang could even engage in a life-and-death struggle with an Outer Building peak cultivator like Hai Zongming. Dealing with an ordinary Inner Mansion cultivator like Jiao Xiong was completely without pressure. If he didn’t act, so be it. Once he acted, he killed cleanly.

Qing Yun Pavilion’s Chi Yue was stunned beyond words. She could not have imagined that Jiao Xiong, who should have been able to easily suppress all opponents before these small country cultivators, would die so simply. Although to her, Jiao Xiong was merely a tool she had tricked into service, and she would have found a way to kill him later even if he didn’t die now, she would never have been able to kill him so easily! This man named Du Gu Wudi was too strong! She quickly made a decision: to join forces with the other two parties and strive for a slim chance.

But after Jiang Wang killed Jiao Xiong, without the slightest hesitation, he shook his hand, and a whip shadow lashed out!

“You two, are you still not going to help?! If this continues, we will all be killed!” Chi Yue grabbed the whip, shouting urgently. But as soon as she grabbed it, she felt something was amiss. That was not a whip, but… a rope?

The Prison Dragon Rope instantly wound around her body, binding Chi Yue into a bundle on the spot. The Prison Dragon Rope was a treasure that Hai Zongming relied on, even extremely useful against Outer Building cultivators. Its characteristic was to bind upon touch; those who didn’t know its nature easily suffered losses. Chi Yue was instantly restrained, her ample figure even more highlighted under the bind of the Prison Dragon Rope. She writhed on the ground, her attitude instantly changing. Her charming eyes were like silk, and she panted coquettishly, “Young Master Du Gu, perhaps there is a misunderstanding between us. Qing Yun Pavilion is willing to…”

The longsword swept horizontally, and the charming head rolled.