Chapter 400: Chapter 398: Crushing
Zhao Hongluan’s eyes flew wide open.
She watched as Jiang Chen shattered the nine blue arrows one by one with his bare hands, the broken shafts clattering to the floor.
Jiang Chen hadn’t actually used her as a human shield!
Gazing at the youth before her, whose figure was not imposing, but rather somewhat slender, Zhao Hongluan’s expression grew hazy and tinged with confusion. She realized she couldn’t quite see through Jiang Chen anymore.
Just a moment ago...
She had despised Jiang Chen.
He had dared to strike that place on her that no one had ever touched. But in this moment, she suddenly felt that Jiang Chen wasn’t so detestable after all.
’So... he just wanted me to see Lin Fan for who he truly is?’ The thought appeared in her mind and refused to leave.
Lin Fan’s face, however, was contorted with rage.
He was, after all, a Chosen of Heaven on the Human Venerable List. How could he not understand that after what had just happened, there was no longer any possibility between him and Zhao Hongluan?
’Damn it, it’s all because of this brat...’
Lin Fan’s venomous gaze locked onto Jiang Chen, his chest heaving violently. A cold light flickered in his eyes as if he wanted to tear Jiang Chen limb from limb. He snarled through gritted teeth, "Jiang Chen, I want you dead!"
SWOOSH...
Lin Fan spread his arms wide.
He drew the greatbow in his hands to its limit, the string forming a perfect full moon.
TWANG! TWANG! TWANG!
A volley of blue arrows shot out in quick succession.
Each arrow pulsed with boundless killing intent. The arrows spun rapidly in mid-air, their prismatic heads rotating at high speed, trailing blades of blue light as they shot toward Jiang Chen.
With a push of his hand, Jiang Chen shoved Zhao Hongluan to the side.
Instead of retreating, he advanced.
He kicked off the ground and instantly charged toward the overwhelming volley of arrows. As he rushed forward, Jiang Chen grasped at the empty air. The Spirit-Slaying Sword, pulsing with black light, materialized in his palm. He slashed out with it and yelled, "Celestial Flame Hundred Extremes Slash!"
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
A full hundred streams of Sword Qi erupted from the tip of his blade.
They split into a hundred paths!
Each stream of Sword Qi carried world-destroying power, and a scorching heatwave flooded the entire private room.
RUMBLE!
The Sword Qi and arrows collided. Blue and red light filled the entire room.
BOOM...
Amidst a violent roar, the two diametrically opposed forces exploded simultaneously.
"Divine Wind Celestial Fury!"
Within the churning Energy Storm, Jiang Chen’s figure suddenly broke through the blockade and appeared before Lin Fan. He thrust the Spirit-Slaying Sword forward, and surging True Essence erupted from his body.
It clung to the blade, transforming into a swirling gale that slammed viciously into Lin Fan.
’Not good!’
Lin Fan’s expression changed drastically.
The terrifying power contained within this sword strike made him feel that his life was in danger.
He gripped both ends of his greatbow and held it horizontally before him.
A faint blue light coalesced into a True Essence Shield, trying to block Jiang Chen’s attack.
However...
Jiang Chen’s strike was simply too powerful and too fast. In his hasty defense, there was no way Lin Fan could block the Spirit-Slaying Sword’s attack. With a dull BANG, the blue True Essence Shield instantly shattered.
The terrifying force instantly engulfed Lin Fan’s body.
BOOM—
The sharp Sword Qi slammed into Lin Fan’s chest. The robes over his chest immediately exploded, revealing a layer of pitch-black Soft Armor beneath, which radiated circular, ripple-like waves of energy.
It dissipated most of the force.
But the residual power of the strike still sent him flying.
BOOM!
Lin Fan was flung backward like an arrow released from a bow, flying at incredible speed directly into the wall behind him. The sturdy wall exploded with a BOOM, and Lin Fan’s body shot straight out of the private room.
He flew several hundred meters before crashing heavily onto the street below.
BAM!
As he landed, the green flagstones on the street were smashed to pieces. His body rolled on the ground like a spinning top for more than a dozen rotations before coming to a stop.
He staggered to his feet.
A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of Lin Fan’s mouth. His hair was disheveled, his face was grimy, and his robes were torn—he was an exceptionally sorry sight.
"Isn’t that Lin Fan? The one ranked in the seven-thousands on the Human Venerable List?"
"How did he end up in such a sorry state? It looks like he was thrown out of the Cloud Sea Business Alliance. Could it have been the Fire Phoenix, Zhao Hongluan?"
"Is Zhao Hongluan that strong? Even Lin Fan is no match for her?"
The street was bustling with people. Some recognized Lin Fan and began to whisper among themselves.
Their voices weren’t loud, but every single word reached Lin Fan’s ears.
Every sentence, every word, even every expression and glance from the crowd, became the world’s most unbearable mockery in his eyes. His face turned deathly pale, a truly ugly sight.
A venomous hatred burned in his eyes as he looked toward the towering Cloud Sea Business Alliance hall. He ground his teeth and spat, "Jiang Chen... Zhao Hongluan... Good, very good. Since you dare to treat me this way, then don’t blame me, Lin Fan, for being ruthless and forgetting our past!"
He snorted coldly, turned, and disappeared into the crowd.
...
Inside the private room at the Cloud Sea Business Alliance.
Jiang Chen and Zhao Hongluan both watched Lin Fan disappear into the crowd. With a complicated expression, Zhao Hongluan looked at Jiang Chen, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Jiang Chen, you should leave Icebound City."
"Hm?"
Jiang Chen was taken aback.
’I should hate Jiang Chen,’ she thought.
But she found that she couldn’t muster even a shred of dissatisfaction or hatred toward him.
Zhao Hongluan tucked back a strand of her fiery red hair and gave a wry smile. "The Lin Family, which Lin Fan belongs to, holds power in Icebound City that is no weaker than our Cloud Sea Business Alliance. You’ve completely offended him today. If he uses the Lin Family’s power to retaliate against you, even I won’t be able to protect you!"
Zhao Hongluan was speaking the truth.
Even though she was the young mistress of the Cloud Sea Business Alliance, she was not the one who called the shots.
Faced with a choice between the Business Alliance’s interests and Jiang Chen’s safety, she believed the Alliance would definitely choose its interests!
Jiang Chen smiled. "It’s fine. I was the one who beat Lin Fan. If the Lin Family really dares to come for me, I won’t involve the Cloud Sea Business Alliance. Let them come. I’ll deal with whatever they throw at me."
"..."
Zhao Hongluan opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say.
TAP! TAP! TAP!
A series of hurried footsteps came from outside the room. Led by Lei Tong, a group of Cloud Sea Business Alliance experts filed in. Lei Tong asked anxiously, "Young Mistress, are you alright?"
Jiang Chen glanced at Zhao Hongluan and smiled. "I’ll leave this for you to handle. I’m going to get some rest. Remember to call me when we’re setting out tomorrow!"
With that said, Jiang Chen nodded to Lei Tong, called for the Black Emperor, and turned to leave.
Lei Tong: "..."
He looked at the departing Jiang Chen, then at Zhao Hongluan, unsure of what to do.
After a moment’s hesitation, Zhao Hongluan sighed softly and looked at Lei Tong. "Uncle Lei, I’ll trouble you to clean this up. I’m also a bit tired today. Remember to inform me before we depart tomorrow."
"Yes, Young Mistress!"
Lei Tong nodded quickly and watched as Zhao Hongluan and the Little Vermilion Bird left. His expression remained strange and inscrutable.
After leaving, Zhao Hongluan did not rest, however.
She dispatched experts to secretly monitor the Lin Family’s movements, but after waiting an entire night, it was as if they had vanished without a trace. There was no activity whatsoever.
The night passed without incident.
By noon the next day, Wuu Rui knocked on Jiang Chen’s door. Everyone gathered at the main entrance of the Cloud Sea Business Alliance.
Zhao Hongluan stood at the front of the group. When she saw Jiang Chen arrive, a faint blush crept onto her face. She nodded at him, then quickly looked away.
Wuu Rui was a sharp one. He sidled up to Jiang Chen and whispered, "Younger Brother Jiang, be honest. Did something happen between you and the Young Mistress yesterday?"
"What are you imagining?"
Jiang Chen shot him an annoyed glance and changed the subject. "We should be setting off now, right?"
"Yeah, we’re about to leave!"
Wuu Rui’s attention was successfully diverted.
Zhao Hongluan glanced at the crowd, and after confirming that everyone was present, she gave the order. The grand procession of guards set off toward the Profound Celestial Ice Field.
However, neither Zhao Hongluan nor Jiang Chen noticed that as they headed out of Icebound City, a figure in the darkness curled its lips into a smirk, its gaze filled with venomous and gleeful hatred.
A sinister voice, grating and chilling enough to make one’s skin crawl, echoed...
"Jiang Chen, Zhao Hongluan... For offending me, Lin Fan, the Profound Celestial Ice Field will become your burial ground!"
