Chapter 56

It wasn't only Fang Han; Second Miss Fang Qingwei and all the Fang family youths, servants and maidens in the convoy were all stunned by the tall youth's heroic bearing, their eyes widened, necks tilted back, standing dumbfounded on the spot.

"Chen Zheng?"

Fang Qingxue also stared at the tall youth who walked in from the horizon; the cold clarity in her eyes vanished in an instant, replaced by a rare astonishment and a hint of an indeterminate expression.

She seemed somewhat incredulous.

If she wasn't mistaken, she actually recognized that tall youth—it was none other than Chen Zheng, whom she had once met on the Forty‑nine Islands.

Only…

It had only been just over a month since she gave Chen Zheng a snow‑seal as an entry token and instructed him to come to the Feather‑Transformation Gate within three months for the outer‑gate disciple assessment.

Chen Zheng had already crossed the seas and successfully joined the Feather‑Transformation Gate?

He could even step mid‑air, clearly having attained the Shen Tong Mi Jing.

So, Chen Zheng is now a true‑line disciple of the Feather‑Transformation Gate?

This is simply beyond imagination!

And in the blink of an eye, Chen Zheng moved to the space above them, descended gracefully, finally hovering in the air before Fang Qingxue; a gentle smile appeared on his face as he clasped his hands and said, "Senior Sister Qingxue, it's been over a month since we last parted in the South Sea region, I hope you have been well."

Fang Qingxue restrained the astonishment in her eyes, a faint appreciative smile appearing on her face: "Chen Zheng, it really is you. You managed to attain the Shen Tong Mi Jing in just a short month, and you even have the audacity to challenge the Golden Stone Platform. Very good, very good!"

Her smile caused all colors in heaven and earth to vanish, leaving only her and Chen Zheng.

The two seemed like a pair of wall figures.

"Senior Sister Qingxue, you overpraise me,"

Chen Zheng shook his head and chuckled lightly; when Fang Qingxue praised someone, she remained this simple and blunt.

Fang Qingxue suddenly shifted her steps like a lotus, intending to circle behind Chen Zheng and block the Golden Stone Platform; as they crossed, the distance between them became extremely close, and she whispered, "Your Shen Tong has just formed and your realm is not yet stable; you should not intervene in the feud between me and the Golden Stone Platform, lest you get hurt."

Even though Chen Zheng's heart was as firm as iron, the faint fragrance exhaled from Fang Qingxue's mouth caused a slight tremor in his heartstrings.

He waved his hand and smiled, "Senior Sister Qingxue, no need to worry; I am fully confident I can slay the Golden Stone Platform."

Having said that, he stepped forward, moving as if the stars shifted, arriving before the Golden Stone Platform, gazing at it, and continued his earlier question, "Golden Stone Platform, do you dare to battle me on the Heavenly Punishment Platform?"

"Is that so?" A strange hue flashed in Fang Qingxue's eyes, and she no longer blocked Chen Zheng.

She was becoming increasingly curious about Chen Zheng.

The Golden Stone Platform furrowed its brows, neither saying dare nor not, but stared coldly at Chen Zheng and asked, "Junior Brother Chen, I, Jin, have never offended you; why do you stir up this murky water?"

Chen Zheng, a newly emerging true‑line disciple within the sect, naturally knew this and was shocked that he could achieve Shen Tong in such a short time.

He even harbored secret jealousy toward Chen Zheng.

It should be noted that his ascent to Shen Tong a few years ago was due to his father, an Elder, procuring a Yin‑Yang Ten‑Thousand‑Lifespan Pill for him from the sect.

Yet Chen Zheng managed to break through to the Shen Tong Mi Jing on his own; his talent was so high it far surpassed his, beyond any ordinary measure.

For such a person, it was almost a certainty that his future achievements would outstrip his.

He was naturally jealous, jealous to the point of near madness.

Fortunately, what gave him a little solace was that Chen Zheng was so ignorant of the heavens and earth, so arrogant, that he had offended the Celestial Capital, and would certainly have no good days ahead.

Even after the Hua Hua Tiandou Capital emerged from its seal, upon hearing of Chen Zheng's deeds, it might personally mete out punishment.

What does it matter how talented Chen Zheng is?

Once Hua Hua Tiandou Capital is enraged, there is no escape!

Therefore, he quickly cast Chen Zheng aside from his mind.

He did not expect that the Celestial Capital had not yet trouble Chen Zheng, yet Chen Zheng took the initiative to approach him, to stand up for Fang Qingxue, inviting him to the Heavenly Punishment Platform for a decisive battle.

How infuriating! "Hehe, you have never offended me?"

Chen Zheng sneered, "You sent Zuo Lingfeng to assassinate me in the underground world, and you have forgotten so quickly?"

"Zuo Lingfeng?"

The Golden Stone Platform pondered for a moment, finally recalled the incident, and its expression grew grim.

Back then, when he left Azure Flame Peak to go to the Great Li Dynasty in search of the Jiao Fu Treasure Map, Zuo Lingfeng had mentioned Chen Zheng, saying he was recommended by Fang Qingxue for entry.

Zuo Lingfeng also consulted him on how to deal with Chen Zheng.

At that time he was eager to find the Jiao Fu Treasure Map, paid no mind to the nameless foot soldier Chen Zheng, casually ordered Zuo Lingfeng to handle it himself, and hurried away.

Zuo Lingfeng actually went to assassinate Chen Zheng?

No wonder he hasn't returned for a long time.

"Golden Stone Platform, you waste, do you actually dare to accept the challenge?" Chen Zheng spoke again, his tone already impatient.

"How dare you insult me?"

The Golden Stone Platform's anger flared instantly, but it forced itself to restrain, forcing a cold sneer from between its teeth: "Chen Zheng, the more you provoke, the less likely I am to go onto the Heavenly Punishment Platform to fight you. Because you have already offended Senior Brother Hua, you are not worth my effort to kill. Moreover, I will later watch with my own eyes you being mercilessly crushed by Senior Brother Hua, ha ha!"

This novel you

In the end, he laughed out loud.

"Indeed, a waste."

Chen Zheng shook his head.

If you don't dare to fight, you simply don't; all that useless talk is of no use.

He extended a finger to lightly tap the void, and instantly a black‑golden blade of lightning, like dawn thunder, flashed across the heavens, slashing swiftly toward the Golden Stone Platform; its speed was such that it seemed to traverse time and space in an instant.

The blade's sharp qi surged violently, causing countless currents in heaven and earth to resonate and surge, as if the universe trembled and the four seas roiled.

"What? In just a few days, you have already mastered the instant‑kill technique of the Great Freedom Black‑Gold Sword Qi?"

The Golden Stone Platform turned pale with shock, instinctively wielding the Azure Flame Seven‑Refinement Beam, attempting to block the black‑golden blade.

Unfortunately, the black‑golden blade was as fast as a meteor, swift as lightning, and could not be blocked in time.

A flash of golden light vanished instantly!

Pfft!

"Ah!"

"Jinshitai let out a mournful, miserable howl, an arm as fragile as porcelain, the moment it touched the Profound Metal Silk it directly burst open, turning into a sky‑filling blood mist that drifted away."

"You who rely on pills to be pumped up, every time I see you I'll hit you—get lost!"

"Chen Zheng flicked his sleeve, a vast power sweeping toward Jinshitai, like sweeping away trash, he swept this person flying over a hundred li away; finally with a bang, he smashed into the distant mountains, leaving no sound."

"The entire venue fell silent."

"What sword qi is this? Is this the contention in the Immortal Dao? Indeed it's terrifying countless times more than battlefield slaughter! My aspiration since childhood was merely to become a great general in the Great Li Dynasty, commanding the military. But now I see, emperors and generals compared to the Immortal Dao are just a joke, utter nonsense!"

"Fang Han gazed dazedly at the midair, looking at Chen Zheng, who seemed to have casually done a small thing, his mind and spirit tumultuous, unable to calm."

"Deep inside his heart a voice shouted, someday he too would be as overbearing as Chen Zheng, with one sword shatter the foe, swiftly gratifying grudges and gratitude."

"However…"

"What left Fang Han baffled was that Chen Zheng in the air suddenly glanced at him."

"Could it be that this Immortal saw his good aptitude and was hinting that he should take him as a master?"

"(End of Chapter)"