Chapter Seventeen: A Change of Ownership (Part I)

“Senior!”

“Senior?!”

Jian Chen looked at the still-standing Sword Saint, calling out anxiously, but his mind was racing: At this moment, the Sword Saint should be dueling Xiong Ba, so why was he standing here? And why hadn’t anyone from the World Alliance come forward?

Seeing no response from the Sword Saint, Jian Chen stepped closer and reached out to sense him—only to find that the Sword Saint no longer breathed!

Jian Chen glanced up at the World Alliance hall and then decided to move the Sword Saint’s body aside. But as soon as his hand touched the Sword Saint’s body, it turned to ash and blew away.

Suddenly, Jian Chen realized what had happened and hurried toward the Third Division Hall.

Inside the hall, as the Sword Saint’s body dissipated into smoke, his primordial spirit also gradually faded away, everything becoming as fleeting as a dream or a bubble.

Xiong Ba, half in disbelief, was also secretly relieved to have narrowly escaped disaster.

The martial arts masters in the hall were all stunned, but before they could fully react, a crimson mist erupted, stretching from earth to sky. The entire hall was instantly soaked in the stench of blood.

All those harboring ill intentions and attempting to strike the Sword Saint were seen through by the Sword Saint’s spirit sensing, clear as daylight, each met with a sword qi strike.

At this moment, as the Sword Saint vanished, most inside the hall collapsed, turning the floor into a river of blood.

“Ah!”

In midair, Bu Jingyun cried out in shock as one of the Sword Saint’s sword qies pierced through his arm, blood pouring.

With the temporal distortion effect fading, Bu Jingyun fixed his target on Xiong Ba.

At this moment, clutching his chest, Xiong Ba struggled to calm his runaway internal energy. Spotting Bu Jingyun’s descending palm strike, he glanced at Qin Shuang, then gathered his energy to counterattack.

Qin Shuang, struck by the Sword Saint’s spiritual sword intent, had to invoke the power of the Soul Pearl, desperately sealing the sword intent to preserve it for future contemplation. Though she had some strength left to watch Bu Jingyun and Xiong Ba, she couldn't engage further.

Despite his injuries, Xiong Ba activated the Three-Part Returning Qi, casting a glance at Bu Jingyun’s wounded left arm.

“Three-Part Returning Qi!”

“Melancholy Clouds!”

Bu Jingyun launched a decisive move, the twelfth form of his self-realized Cloud-Piercing Palm.

Their eyes met—cold and merciless. One determined to slay a traitor, the other fueled by deep-seated vengeance.

Both charged with lethal intent, the decade-long master-disciple bond shattered utterly at this moment.

Though surprised Bu Jingyun had mastered the twelfth form of the Cloud-Piercing Palm, Xiong Ba neither dodged nor avoided, calmly sitting on his throne, channeling internal strength to withstand the palm, secretly reserving some power to guard against Qin Shuang.

Confident in his profound skill, Xiong Ba did not retreat. Seeing such a chance to avenge his deep blood feud, Bu Jingyun also neither dodged nor avoided.

The two exchanged blows; Xiong Ba’s already grievously wounded body suffered new injuries, and his internal wounds erupted uncontrollably, blood spilling from his mouth.

Bu Jingyun was struck by Xiong Ba’s palm on the Sword Saint’s wound, and his left arm snapped with a cracking sound.

On the other side, Duan Lang saw the opportunity—both Bu Jingyun and Xiong Ba were severely injured, and Qin Shuang was immobilized by the Sword Saint’s sword strike. Instantly, he drew the Fire Qilin Sword and charged toward them.

Bu Jingyun and Xiong Ba glanced at Qin Shuang, then both turned their sights on the sword-wielding Duan Lang.

“Fire Qilin Sword Technique!”

“Three-Part Returning Qi!”

Gritting his teeth, Bu Jingyun tore at his severed arm.

“Melancholy Clouds!”

After the strike, without a backward glance, he cradled his broken arm and limped away.

At that moment, the long-silent Qin Shuang finally opened her eyes, assessed the scene, and without hesitation, lightly tapped her toes. In the split second she passed Bu Jingyun, she seized his right hand with her left and delivered a chilling internal energy blow to his severed arm with her right.

Then, she held back her internal energy, striking Bu Jingyun’s chest, sending him flying out of the Third Division Hall, narrowly missing Jian Chen, who had just arrived.

Jian Chen swiftly sidestepped to avoid Bu Jingyun.

Qin Shuang turned to face Xiong Ba and Duan Lang. Xiong Ba had been pierced in the chest by a sword, while Duan Lang was in worse shape, struck by the Three-Part Returning Qi and a Cloud-Piercing Palm strike.

It turned out Bu Jingyun’s final palm was not aimed at Xiong Ba but rather a joint attack on Duan Lang.

Though Duan Lang blocked both attacks, he was still injured by residual force. Seeing Qin Shuang move, another unfamiliar expert appeared, prompting him to try and escape.

Qin Shuang glanced at Xiong Ba but did not move to help him; his defensive stance was clear.

“Duan Lang, take one more step, and I guarantee you won’t leave the World Alliance!”

Qin Shuang’s aura locked onto Duan Lang while Xiong Ba silently closed his eyes to regulate his breath.

Jian Chen stood at the entrance, gazing at the blood-soaked hall.

For a moment, the entire hall fell silent. Though many guests still lived, they had first witnessed the Sword Saint’s dreamlike ordeal, followed by the successive attacks from Bu Jingyun, Duan Lang, and Qin Shuang. The changes and underlying truths were beyond the comprehension of those present.

“I am Jian Chen, sent by my master to urge Leader Xiong not to be so ruthless!”

Finally, Jian Chen spoke. Qin Shuang still locked her gaze on Duan Lang, buying time for Bu Jingyun.

Xiong Ba, eyes closed as he regulated his breath, opened them to look at the sword in Jian Chen’s hand.

“The Hero Sword?!”

Though questioning, Xiong Ba was certain: The Sword Saint’s appearance implied that the heir of the Nameless had also appeared naturally.

“Exactly!”

Jian Chen’s face brimmed with pride—proud to have a master like Nameless, proud of the Hero Sword.

“Your master is Nameless?”

Despite his injuries and cold sweat pouring down his forehead, Xiong Ba forced himself to confirm this news.

If the Sword Saint was already formidable, what about Nameless, who stood above him?

Nameless’s appearance would surely shift the balance of power in the martial world.

“Indeed, my master!”

Jian Chen was fair-featured, dressed in white robes, exuding the air of a gentleman.

“In that case, since he is the legendary Nameless, I will make an exception.”

Xiong Ba unconsciously touched his chest.

“Shuang’er, show them out!”

Qin Shuang lowered her eyes obediently, as in the past, yet her words enraged Xiong Ba into bitter laughter:

“Since master is severely wounded, you’d better return to the World’s Number One Tower to cultivate and heal! Leave the World Alliance to me—please rest assured, master!”

“Hahaha…”

Xiong Ba’s glare turned fierce. “Never expected my dear disciple to plot a coup—I had even planned to name you my heir!”

At this moment, Duan Lang showed no rush to leave, instead clutching the Fire Qilin Sword, looking on with amusement.

Xiong Ba looked toward Jian Chen, as if to say, Are you not here to mediate?

Jian Chen clasped his fists.

“Leader Shuang, why cling to power? Power is but a fleeting illusion.”

“Please, master, return to the World’s Number One Tower and heal in seclusion!”

Qin Shuang spoke again, ignoring Jian Chen’s words.

Jian Chen’s expression darkened. As a disciple of Nameless, he was usually held in high regard wherever he went, the center of attention. When had he ever been so disregarded?

Duan Lang’s face bore a playful expression, his gaze shifting between the three.

Xiong Ba remained motionless, watching Jian Chen, waiting for his next move.

Qin Shuang still lowered her head obediently, not even glancing at Jian Chen.