Chapter 245: The Three Wonders of Zhou Country (Part One)

Blood mist dispersed in the sunlight, splattering onto charred soil, filling the mountains and forests with a scorching stench of blood.

“I… I must kill…”

Cheng Yuan stared at Jiang Ye with bloodshot, bulging eyes, his lips trembling with froth, throat straining to utter more.

But the churning qi and blood in his chest gave him no chance.

In those bloodshot old eyes, fury and resentment burned together for one final instant.

Then his eyelids rolled back, his head slumped, and his entire body collapsed unconscious.

A primordial martial artist who had ruled Tianyun Peak for years had been enraged into a faint on this charred ground.

“Oh?!”

Jiang Ye raised an eyebrow, glanced down at the charred, unconscious body, and a faint look of surprise crossed his face: “This man… is this fragile?”

Liu Qingyu, who had just arrived, nearly choked on her breath at those words.

Her star-like eyes shimmered with a mixture of tears and laughter.

What kind of time is this, and he’s still saying such things…

It’s not Cheng Yuan who’s fragile—it’s your words that cut straight to the soul.

Lu Guizhou stared at the blood-spitting, unconscious Cheng Yuan, then burst into loud, booming laughter.

He laughed, shaking his head, and after a long while, calmed himself, pointing at Jiang Ye with a tone full of awe and amusement:

“Little Jiang, your tongue is sharper than my sword finger.”

“To kill with words—nothing surpasses this…”

“In all my years, I’ve never seen anyone knock a primordial martial artist unconscious just by speaking.”

As he spoke, he lifted the unconscious Cheng Yuan from the ground, his aged face gradually losing its smile:

“Enough. The show’s over. Let’s go down the mountain.”

With that, he dragged Cheng Yuan, limp as rotten mud, and strode down the mountain path.

Jiang Ye smiled faintly, calm and composed, and walked after him at an unhurried pace.

Liu Qingyu followed closely behind.

Compared to the tension and unease before ascending, the exquisite, radiant face of this Liu Peak Master now radiated uncontainable joy.

The heavy boulder that had pressed on her chest for so long had finally fallen.

Tianqing Sect has hope!

At the peak.

Seeing Cheng Yuan, who had tyrannized Tianyun Peak for years, now spit blood and collapse from rage…

Zhu Junwen and Shi Jian’s faces wore complex expressions of deep reflection.

Both felt a flicker of dark satisfaction, yet also an inescapable sorrow—the fear of tomorrow’s turn.

Before today, who could have imagined the greatest winner of the primordial qi would be Tianqing Sect, which didn’t even have a primordial martial artist?

Six strands of primordial qi…

They hadn’t seized a single one.

Both knew that once this news spread, it would ignite a massive uproar within the upper sect.

Their three sects would lose all face.

Tianqing Sect, having seized six strands of primordial qi, would rise to instant fame.

The rise of Tianqing Sect seemed already within reach.

The two stood in silence atop the peak for a long while.

Shi Jian suddenly spoke: “Brother Zhu, what do you think?”

Zhu Junwen gazed darkly toward Dongfeng, his fingers behind his back tightening slowly, then sighed deeply after a long pause:

“We misjudged everything.”

“Tianqing Sect is no mere Qingyun Sect.”

“It’s a true ‘crossing-river dragon’…”

“A dire threat has taken root. Our position on Tianyun Peak will only grow harder.”

Shi Jian nodded slowly and said gravely: “Brother Zhu, do you have any plan to curb Tianqing Sect?”

Zhu Junwen gave a bitter laugh and shook his head: “We’ll plan long-term… Right now, let’s go change our clothes.”

He glanced down at his robe, burned through with countless holes, barely covering him, his lips twitching as he turned and floated away toward Beifeng.

Shi Jian also looked at his own equally tattered, burned robe, stomped hard, shattering several charred rocks, and vanished in a low rumble toward Nanfeng.

Tianyun Peak, Dongfeng.

Nearly all Tianqing Sect disciples had gathered on the open ground halfway up the mountain, their gazes nervously fixed on the peak.

The massive commotion from the peak moments ago had been felt even here; even on this mid-slope, they could smell the acrid, scorched air.

“Do you think Elder Jiang and Peak Master Liu stand a chance of seizing the primordial qi…?”

One disciple swallowed hard, sweat pouring down his face.

The moment he spoke, silence fell—dead and absolute.

Even if they trusted Jiang Ye and Liu Qingyu, their opponents were three primordial martial artists.

Amid a sea of anxious stares, a figure slowly appeared on the mountain path.

Leading the way was Lu Guizhou, his hand gripping the unconscious Cheng Yuan.

The charred body hung limp like rotten mud.

Seeing this, everyone froze.

What’s going on?

How did Chiyan Sect’s arrogant Elder Cheng end up like this?

Was the battle on the peak truly this fierce…?

Even a primordial martial artist suffered such grave injury.

Then what of Elder Jiang and Peak Master Liu?

Their hearts sank instantly; several disciples turned pale.

But in the next instant—

Jiang Ye and Liu Qingyu appeared calmly behind Lu Guizhou, descending the path with composed steps. Though their robes still bore scorch marks from the peak battle, not a single wound marred their bodies.

“It’s Elder Jiang!!!”

Lu Ming was the first to scream, voice cracking:

“Elder Jiang and Peak Master Liu aren’t hurt!!!”

“They returned unscathed!!!”

The crowd erupted in cheers.

Chen Lili and Xu Qinghuan shrieked until their voices broke.

Xu Qinghuan secretly glanced at Chen Lili, thinking: “Hmm, Chen Shijie’s voice isn’t bad—when she screams later, it’ll be mighty loud.”

Even Liu Yiyi, standing in the corner, her usually cold, tense face softened slightly as she exhaled quietly.

Jiang Ye looked at the roaring crowd before him, a faint smile curving his lips.

When the noise subsided slightly, he spoke clearly, his voice carrying to every ear:

“All of you, regarding the battle for the primordial qi on Tianyun Peak—”

“Tianqing Sect has won a resounding victory!”

“All the primordial qi on Tianyun Peak now belongs to Tianqing Sect!”

He knew the disciples of Tianqing Sect had endured great hardship and anxiety these past days.

It was time to give them a little “stimulus,” to lift their spirits.

As his words ended—

The disciples, who had just been cheering, all froze.

Resounding victory?!

All the primordial qi belongs to Tianqing Sect?!

This…

Is it real?

The news was so shocking it stunned them into disbelief.

After a brief, deathly silence—

“Elder Jiang is invincible!!!”

Again, the chubby Lu Ming was the first to roar with wild celebration.