Chapter 78

In order to recruit the two geniuses Jiang Chen and Jiang Yan into the sect, he forcibly suppressed the fury in his heart and deliberately chose to launch his attack avoiding any vital points.

Seeing this, Jiang Daoxuan didn't even dodge—merely shifted his thoughts, releasing a Sword Dao True Intent nearly at the Great Accomplishment realm!

Boom—

The terrifying Sword Intent descended over Xu Gu's body, freezing his movements, clouding his mind, and conjuring layer upon layer of dazzling, resplendent sword shadows before his eyes!

Immediately after, Jiang Daoxuan struck out with a palm like a flash of lightning, slamming straight into Xu Gu's sword-gripping right hand!

Slap!

A crisp crack echoed through the entire council hall, and Xu Gu, overcome by pain, could not help but let out a miserable scream.

At the same time, his right palm instantly lost all strength, his five fingers loosened, and the hilt slipped from his grasp; the sword flew several meters away and embedded itself into the wall!

Jiang Daoxuan's expression was calm as he slowly withdrew his right hand and placed it behind his back: "You can't even hold onto the sword in your own hand, and you dare ask me for guidance?"

The contempt in his tone made Xu Gu's face flush alternately green and white; though fury blazed within him, he had nothing to say in reply.

At this moment, he finally understood that Jiang Daoxuan's strength was far from as simple as the rumors described!

If that strike just now had landed not on his palm but on some other part—say, his throat—wouldn't he have been killed in a single move?

Thinking it over carefully, Xu Gu could not help but shudder, cold sweat pouring down his entire body.

What was the background of this Jiang Family Head? How could he possess such strength? Defeating him in a single move without even needing a weapon—this didn't seem like the kind of power a Purple Mansion realm cultivator could display.

Could it be that the man was a Yuanhai realm cultivator?!

At this thought, Xu Gu suddenly felt that the Jiang Family, which he had originally assumed he could crush at will, had abruptly transformed into a dragon's pool and tiger's den, making him utterly uneasy and desperate to flee!

At the same time, Ding Xuan, seated on the wooden chair, stared at the scene with his expression frozen, his entire body stiff.

He could never have dreamed in his wildest fantasies that Xu Gu, on whom he had pinned such high hopes, couldn't even take a single strike from Jiang Daoxuan!

Such a pathetic display simply could not have come from Xu Gu, a master at the ninth level of the Purple Mansion realm!

Wait—he himself had been defeated in one move, and Xu Gu had also been defeated in one move. Could it be that this Jiang Daoxuan had actually been hiding his cultivation base?

Ding Xuan nervously swallowed, instantly feeling as though he were sitting on a bed of needles.

For a time, the entire council hall fell deathly silent—so quiet one could hear a pin drop—and no one dared to speak up.

After the standoff dragged on for more than ten breaths.

Xu Gu no longer wished to stay in the Jiang Family for even a single second longer, so his lips parted slightly, preparing to speak and take his leave.

However, Jiang Daoxuan saw through his intention first and said coldly: "You spout reckless nonsense in my Jiang Family—the death penalty may be spared, but the living punishment cannot be escaped. Slap yourself thirty times, then get lost."

Xu Gu looked around, gazing at the Jiang Family clansmen watching from all sides, feeling those gazes landing on him one by one, and instantly felt his face burning hot, utterly unable to face anyone.

No matter what, he was still an enforcer of Qingshan Sect—his status was noble, far beyond what these commoners could compare to. How could he be willing to be laughed at by these people?!

Still, thinking back on everything that had just happened, Xu Gu inevitably felt a bit panicked.

He was well aware that the gap between them was enormous.

After a brief internal struggle, his will to survive ultimately outweighed everything else.

Xu Gu hardened his heart, clenched his teeth tightly, raised his right palm, and brought it down on his own face!

Slap slap slap.......

Thirty resounding slaps in a row instantly left him dizzy and disoriented, his face swollen and red across large patches.

Immediately after, Xu Gu didn't even dare to lift his head, simply raising his sleeve to cover his face, then losing the composure a Purple Mansion realm cultivator should possess, and began to flee in panic.

As he pushed through the crowd, he muttered to himself inwardly.

This godforsaken place Cangwu Mountain—I never want to come back here again in my life!

Soon, after Xu Gu's figure vanished from the scene.

Having lost his backing, Ding Xuan instantly felt his scalp prickle, his whole body trembling uncontrollably, his legs going weak; one careless moment and he nearly collapsed to the ground.

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