Volume 1: Femme Fatale Chapter 57: Making an Example of the Chicken to Scare the Monkeys

“Master, please teach me how to cultivate the Void-Splitting Slash!”

As soon as he returned to his cave dwelling, Jiang Hao earnestly pleaded with Feng Ling’er.

Jiang Hao knew very well that without his master’s careful guidance, mastering this third-level spell, the Void-Splitting Slash, within a month would be an arduous task.

“Cultivate?” Feng Ling’er snorted coldly in response. “Kid, you should first deal with your own troubles before thinking about that.”

Jiang Hao wore a puzzled expression and was about to ask Feng Ling’er the reason when a commotion broke out again outside the cave…

“Kid, get out here right now!”

“If you don’t come out, I’ll smash your cave to pieces!”

“No way! Someone else is causing trouble already?” Jiang Hao was thoroughly vexed, shaking his head helplessly and sighing, “Can’t I just cultivate in peace?”

“Why, are you only now realizing how unwise it is to be soft-hearted?” Feng Ling’er teased.

“Master, don’t mock me,” Jiang Hao said with a bitter smile, secretly sighing, “It’s time to make an example of them; otherwise, I can’t focus on my cultivation.” With that, Jiang Hao drew the Execution Sword from his Universe Ring, preparing to deal with the intruders swiftly.

“Kid, their cultivation is at the mid-Spiritual Spring stage; don’t underestimate them. Also, there are many eyes and ears in the academy. Try not to reveal too much before the Azure Cloud Tournament begins,” Feng Ling’er warned.

“Understood, Master.” Jiang Hao tightened his grip on the Execution Sword and stepped outside.

When Jiang Hao emerged, seven or eight people had already gathered, with two leading figures and the rest appearing to be onlookers.

“Looks like most of the disciples cultivating in the forbidden rear mountain have gathered here,” Jiang Hao quickly scanned the crowd, noting that about half were stronger than him.

Among the crowd, only one female disciple caught Jiang Hao’s attention.

She was about the same age as Jiang Hao, yet exquisitely beautiful, a breathtaking vision. Draped in flowing purple robes that seemed as light as clouds, she exuded an air of nobility and grace.

“This face… I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere before…” Jiang Hao frowned, his thoughts drifting.

“That kid’s bound to die at a woman’s hand sooner or later. A battle is imminent, yet he’s still distracted by a pretty face,” Feng Ling’er scoffed.

Before Jiang Hao could recall her identity, the man leading the group, wielding two massive hammers, strode forward, shouting, “Kid, you’re the one who hurt my brother, aren’t you? Do you even know the reputation of Liu Shan?”

Beside him, Liu Jiang quickly chimed in, “Big brother, it was him! I even called out your name, but he said he wasn’t afraid of you at all.”

“He even said that even if you came, he’d still knock you down together with us!” Liu Jiang fanned the flames.

“What? That’s outrageous! It infuriates me!” Liu Shan’s face contorted with rage, looking as if he wanted to shred Jiang Hao to pieces.

“Liu Jiang’s mouth sure is sharper than his fists,” Jiang Hao thought, annoyed.

At this point, Jiang Hao decided not to explain. Gripping the Execution Sword, he stepped forward and said coldly, “Liu Shan, is it? Then let’s begin.”

---

The moment he spoke, a stir rippled through the crowd!

“Did I hear that right? That kid is so audacious!”

“Liu Shan is known as the unbeatable master of the twin hammers in his realm!”

“With only an early Spiritual Spring cultivation, who gave him the courage to provoke Liu Shan?”

“Who knows? But he’s angered Liu Shan; he won’t have a good outcome.”

“Exactly! Liu Shan ranks fifth on the Dragon Gate List. Even I might not defeat him!”

“With that cultivation, going up against Liu Shan is like an egg hitting a rock!”

Meanwhile, Liu Shan’s fury erupted. Without a word, he swung his twin hammers fiercely at Jiang Hao.

“Kid, take this!”

Before he finished, the hammers flashed like lightning toward Jiang Hao, the overwhelming killing intent sending chills through the onlookers.

What shocked everyone was that Jiang Hao didn’t dodge but instead swung the Execution Sword directly to meet Liu Shan’s attack.

“Boom!”

The clash of sword and hammers rang deafeningly!

Just when everyone expected Jiang Hao to be severely wounded or worse, the two massive hammers flew out of Liu Shan’s hands, struck away by Jiang Hao’s counterattack.

“This… how is this possible?” Liu Shan’s face showed utter disbelief.

Before he could react, Jiang Hao launched a second strike.

“Mountain-Splitting Palm!”

With a surge of spiritual power, Jiang Hao’s palm, filled with all his strength, struck Liu Shan’s chest, sending him flying several dozen feet.

“Clang!”

Only when Liu Shan’s twin hammers hit the ground with a sharp, piercing sound did the crowd come back to their senses.

Meanwhile, Liu Shan lay on the ground, heavily injured.

“You…” Liu Shan struggled to lift his head, eyes wide with terror as he glanced at Jiang Hao before fainting.

“Big brother!”

“Big brother! What’s wrong?”

---

Liu Jiang couldn’t believe it. In just two moves, his supremely powerful older brother was easily defeated by Jiang Hao, and so decisively!

“Oh my god! What just happened?”

“Did I see that right? Liu Shan was defeated by an early Spiritual Spring kid?”

“No way! Was Liu Shan careless? He didn’t even use any spells and was knocked down directly?”

“Did you notice that sword he’s holding? There’s something strange about it.”

Murmurs spread among the crowd, and no one dared underestimate the young man any longer.

“That guy fights clean and quick. That sword has a sinister aura—makes one’s heart restless,” said the purple-robed female disciple, stepping forward, intent on sparring with Jiang Hao.

“Why are you all gathering here to brawl?” Before she could approach, Lin Feng’s voice rang out.

“I just stepped away briefly, and such a big commotion has happened!” Lin Feng arrived, wiping his brow, silently grateful, “Luckily, nothing happened to Jiang Hao.”

“Disciples, greet Elder Lin Feng!” The crowd saluted upon seeing him.

Lin Feng waved off the greetings, then turned to glare at Liu Jiang. “Liu Jiang, why did you incite your brother Liu Shan to trouble Jiang Hao? Do you know that Jiang Hao is the academy disciple personally appointed by Her Majesty the Queen?”

Liu Jiang trembled at the words, stammering, “Elder Lin Feng, I truly didn’t know! Otherwise, even if I had a hundred guts, I wouldn’t have dared to cause trouble for Junior Brother Jiang!”

Seeing this, Jiang Hao stepped forward and bowed to Lin Feng. “Junior Jiang Hao greets Elder Lin Feng.”

“Elder Lin Feng, I was only sparring with Senior Brothers Liu Jiang and Liu Shan, no intention of fighting. Please don’t make things difficult for them,” Jiang Hao said sincerely.

“Yes, yes! Elder Lin Feng, we were just sparring with Junior Brother Jiang,” Liu Jiang quickly agreed.

Lin Feng stroked his beard, squinting at Jiang Hao, and then smiled. “If that’s the case, then forget it! Take Liu Shan to recover from his injuries.”

“Yes, yes! I’ll leave now!” Liu Jiang responded hastily, hoisting Liu Shan and leaving in a hurry.

“Everyone else, disperse!” Lin Feng signaled the rest.

“As you command!” The crowd saluted and gradually dispersed.

“I never expected this guy to be the one my sister appointed. Why has she never mentioned him?” The purple-robed woman rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought.