Emperor of the Mysterious Heavens

Chapter 69: Chapter 041 Jiangnan who overestimates his capabilities

While Yan Chuan and Huo Guang conversed quietly, Jiujian Sheng and the others approached.

Jiujian Sheng, along with the Six and Seven Sword Knights, wore expressions of bewilderment on their faces.

"Greetings to the Master of Tianfeng Peak!" the three said with some hesitation.

"Thank you for looking after me during this time. If you ever need anything in the future, don't hesitate to come to me," Yan Chuan replied with a smile.

"Uh?" The three were momentarily stunned.

Suddenly, Jiujian Sheng realized why Yan Chuan had never addressed them as fellow brothers. This was the moment he had been waiting for.

Nephew?

"I will do my utmost to advance my cultivation!" Jiujian Sheng said, feeling stifled.

"I'll be waiting," Yan Chuan said, still smiling.

"Let's go. I'll take you to Tianfeng. Although no one has lived there for seven years, it's still regularly cleaned," Jiujian Sheng said as he led the way.

"Wait!" A sharp voice suddenly called out from the crowd.

"Hmm?" Everyone turned to look.

A man in a black robe slowly stepped forward, gripping the hilt of his sword. It was Jiangnan, the third-generation senior disciple.

Jiangnan's brow furrowed deeply as he stared at Yan Chuan, unable to mask his inner conflict. The humiliation of the past was still vivid in his mind. A sapling? He had called him a sapling?

Ever since returning to the sect, Jiangnan had trained relentlessly, day and night, determined to cleanse the disgrace of that year. At last, he had reached the peak of his cultivation stage, and Yan Chuan had also returned to the sect.

But now, in the blink of an eye, Yan Chuan had become a first-generation disciple!

How was he supposed to get his revenge now?

When Feng Tairan had agreed to this, Jiangnan had nearly roared in protest.

"Jiangnan? What are you planning?" Jiujian Sheng frowned.

Jiangnan was a genius, and Jiujian Sheng understood that. In fact, it wouldn't be long before Jiangnan would surpass him and become his junior brother. Jiujian Sheng didn't put on any airs.

"I, Jiangnan, as the senior disciple of the third generation, challenge the Master of Tianfeng Peak. I ask for a duel!" Jiangnan declared solemnly.

"Whoa!" The crowd burst into an uproar.

"A challenge? Senior brother wants to challenge Yan Chuan?"

"Did I hear that right? Senior brother has reached the peak of his cultivation stage! Challenging Yan Chuan? Isn't that outright bullying?"

"But senior brother is a third-generation disciple, challenging a first-generation disciple. That's against the rules!"

"Yan Chuan has been too arrogant. Senior brother is right to knock him down a peg!"

The crowd was abuzz with discussion.

"Jiangnan, mind your status. You've reached the peak of your stage, and the Master of Tianfeng Peak has just entered the sect," Jiujian Sheng said in a low voice.

"Exactly! Your cultivation is far higher than the Master of Tianfeng Peak's. Is this even a challenge?" the Six Sword Knight frowned.

"No, strength isn't measured by cultivation alone. A year ago, Jiangnan was defeated by the Master of Tianfeng Peak. My uncle can attest to that. Today, Jiangnan only wishes to test the fruits of his year of training. I ask the Master of Tianfeng Peak for this opportunity!" Jiangnan insisted, undeterred.

"What? Senior brother was defeated by Yan Chuan a year ago?"

"That can't be true!"

The surrounding disciples of the Dahe Sect looked bewildered, unable to believe what they were hearing.

Among the third-generation disciples, Jiangnan was the strongest. How could Yan Chuan, who had just joined the sect, possibly have defeated him?

"I ask the Master of Tianfeng Peak for this opportunity!" Jiangnan repeated.

Jiujian Sheng awkwardly looked at Yan Chuan.

Yan Chuan simply smiled faintly and said, "I don't enjoy these arena duels."

"Huh?"

Some people nearby immediately cast disdainful glances at him, thinking Yan Chuan was afraid.

"If you don't like duels, then why carry a sword on your back?" Jiangnan persisted.

"My Jade Emperor Sword isn't for duels. It's for killing."

Not for duels, only for killing? The crowd's faces twitched in response. This Master of Tianfeng Peak was indeed arrogant.

Jiangnan, too, felt stifled, about to speak again.

"You're nearing your second tribulation, aren't you? Focus on stabilizing your cultivation and don't cause trouble before your tribulation, or you may leave behind hidden dangers. Life only comes once. Cherish it." Yan Chuan's tone was calm and detached.

"I'm causing trouble?" Jiangnan fumed.

"Oh, by the way, my Tianfeng Peak will undergo a tribulation tomorrow. It might cause quite a commotion, so you might want to delay yours," Yan Chuan added nonchalantly.

With that, he turned away from Jiangnan and looked back at Jiujian Sheng. "Let's go."

Jiujian Sheng sighed, nodding as he led the group away.

"Why? Do I need to ask for his permission to undergo my tribulation?" Jiangnan muttered in frustration.

Jiangnan's followers gathered around him, grumbling about Yan Chuan.

Not far away, Feng Shao looked on with a complex expression, watching as the group departed. He glanced at Jiangnan with a frown.

"Uncle Feng Shao, are we just going to let this grudge go?" a disciple asked him.

"Hmph, humiliation must be avenged. Yan Chuan won't get away with this. But I need to grow stronger first. I was too arrogant before. When I've become powerful enough, I'll settle this score with him!" Feng Shao said coldly.

Little did Feng Shao realize that this incident had already caused a profound change in him, igniting a stronger drive for self-improvement than ever before.

As they traveled, Jiujian Sheng, the Six Sword Knight, and the Seven Sword Knight occasionally cast glances at Yan Chuan.

"Uncle Yan..." Jiujian Sheng's face twitched.

"What is it?"

"Why didn't you fight earlier? If you had entered the Blood-like Hair state again, you could have established your authority. The disciples wouldn't dare look down on you anymore."

"Hahaha! Is that necessary? Besides, a duel with Jiangnan holds no appeal for me. My sword prefers to kill." Yan Chuan chuckled.

"Uh, alright then." Jiujian Sheng and the others thought Yan Chuan was bluffing but couldn't say otherwise, nodding awkwardly.

Before long, they arrived at Tianfeng. Positioned in the northwest of the Dahe Sect, it was surrounded by smaller peaks with a grand main peak at its center.

Halfway up Tianfeng, a large portion had been leveled to build a complex of palaces. As the group arrived, they looked at the main hall.

"The Hall of Yanwang," Huo Guang read the name aloud.

"Uncle Yan Tao renamed it years ago. As the peak master, you have the right to name it as you wish. Do you want to change it?" Jiujian Sheng explained.

"The Hall of Yanwang? I like it. Let's keep it." Yan Chuan smiled slightly.

"Hmm." The group nodded in agreement.

Tianfeng, the Hall of Yanwang.

"Huo Guang, have the soldiers rest for the night. Tomorrow morning, prepare for the tribulation," Yan Chuan ordered.

"Yes!" Huo Guang responded.

The next morning, just as dawn broke, the valley beneath Tianfeng was filled with people.

Three thousand soldiers stood in high spirits, their eyes fixed on Yan Chuan at the front.

Jiujian Sheng, the Six Sword Knight, and the Seven Sword Knight all watched with eager anticipation.

"Liu Jin, you may begin. Summon the tribulation," Yan Chuan commanded.

"Yes!" Liu Jin nodded.

"Rumble!"

Suddenly, a deafening roar echoed from within the Dahe Sect.

Early-rising disciples looked toward the northwest, where Tianfeng stood.

At Xuanfeng Peak, Jiangnan also noticed the black clouds forming in the distance.

"A mere first-level heavenly tribulation?" Jiangnan scoffed.

Beside him stood two of his followers.

"This Yan Chuan is so arrogant. Why does he get to undergo his tribulation while senior brother has to wait?" one of them grumbled.

"Exactly! His tribulation is just a first-level one, while senior brother's is a second-level heavenly tribulation!" the other added.

As they spoke, Jiangnan's face darkened further. Why should I have to listen to him?

Gazing at the thousand-foot-wide tribulation cloud