Attacked by the Female Demon at the Beginning-Chapter 266 - Cripple Him

Chapter 266: Cripple Him

Early morning.

The sunlight was gentle, and Jiang Hao arrived at the entrance of the courtyard.

A young man stood not far away, his calm eyes showing a steadiness not found in his peers.

Thinking about it, Junior Brother Han Ming was already twenty-four, first met when he was just eighteen.

More than five years had passed, not only had his cultivation increased rapidly, but even his personality had become much more stable.

Such a young man at the late stage of Foundation Establishment had raised Duanqing Cliff’s reputation considerably.

Different from Jiang Hao’s late stage of Foundation Establishment, Han Ming had fought his way up on his own.

Such a battle made him famous.

He was highly recognized in the sect.

“Junior Brother Han, long time no see, I was planning to visit and thank you in a few days,” Jiang Hao said with a smile.

Previously, when someone challenged him, it was Han Ming who took on the challenge on his behalf, and he indeed needed to express his thanks.

He had been putting it off until now, partly because he was busy with the curse and partly because Han Ming was in seclusion.

Having just advanced to the late stage of Foundation Establishment, naturally, he needed quite some time to consolidate his cultivation.

Now it seemed that his cultivation was very well consolidated.

“Senior Brother, I am now at the late stage of Foundation Establishment, the same realm as you,” Han Ming said respectfully with a fist salute.

“So today, I have come to challenge Senior Brother.”

“Challenge?” Jiang Hao was not surprised.

“Do you want to challenge now, Junior Brother, or set a date?”

“Are you free now, Senior Brother?” Han Ming was somewhat surprised.

Actually, he wanted to pick an auspicious day, but if Jiang Hao said he was free now, it would be difficult for him to refuse.

It would seem like he lacked confidence.

“I’m free,” Jiang Hao nodded.

“Then, Senior Brother, are you prepared? Unlike you, I not only challenge others but also undergo various trials, gaining rich combat experience. You’d best not take me lightly,” Han Ming said seriously.

“Junior Brother, with your exceptional talent, I naturally won’t underestimate you,” Jiang Hao replied earnestly.

......

After a short while.

The two stood by the riverbank.

One held a sword, the other gripped a saber.

As they faced each other, their auras blocked the gentle breeze.

At this moment, Jiang Hao could see that Han Ming’s aura was stable, but beneath that calmness was a turbulent force ready to erupt.

Indeed, the moment Han Ming moved, his aura surged with explosive power.

His sword unsheathed like thunder, rushing forward.

In response, Jiang Hao moved his saber.

Clang!

The Half-Moon was drawn.

Out of respect, he directly used the first form of the Heavenly Saber, the Moon Slash.

The first strike was evenly matched.

The second, Han Ming was outmatched.

The third, the long sword was sent flying, and the saber’s force carved a deep groove in the ground.

And the saber was already at Han Ming’s neck.

“Junior Brother Han, thank you for the match,” Jiang Hao said politely as he sheathed his saber.

Han Ming stared intently at Jiang Hao, then picked up his sword and said softly.

“I was just promoted a bit later than you, Senior Brother. Once I consolidate my cultivation, I will come to challenge you again.”

After saying this, he turned and left.

Jiang Hao smiled slightly.

He thought that next time he might use five strikes to affirm Junior Brother Han’s efforts.

But for the next year or two, he could look for an opportunity to reach the peak of Foundation Establishment.

Just outshining Junior Brother Han by a little wouldn’t attract too much attention.

After all, everyone knew he had opportunities.

And with achievements to his name, a ‘forced promotion’ wasn’t impossible.

It would just ‘hurt his potential’.

Afterward, Jiang Hao quickly headed to the chief challenge match.

This place was none other than Bai Ye’s residence, a valley.

Arriving at the Hundred Bones Forest, one could see a large number of people converging here.

The chief battle indeed attracted many people’s attention.

“Junior Brother, long time no see,” Liu Xingchen greeted from a distance.

“Senior Brother Liu,” Jiang Hao responded politely.

“Are you here to watch the match too?”

“Of course, I want to see what level the chief’s top ten disciples are at,” Liu Xingchen said with a smile.

Jiang Hao nodded.

At this moment, he noticed that Liu Xingchen, in addition to the True Dragon and Ancient Witch auras, also had a faint dark red aura.

Had the third remnant soul appeared?

He didn’t rush to appraise it but decided to watch the match first.

It wasn’t surprising that Liu Xingchen had found a suitable remnant soul after so long.

It might be hard to find elsewhere, but there should be plenty at the mines.

After all, the ancient battlefield was right beneath.

If there were treasures, there would certainly be remnant souls.

The Demon Cavern should also have many, but one would need to get close to the core.

Compared to the mines, the Demon Cavern was a more regulated place.

With treasures suppressed, everything was concentrated at the core location.

......

After a short time, the two arrived outside the valley.

No one went in because the arena was inside.

Battles between those at the peak of Nascent Soul and late Nascent Soul stages could have a wide impact, so spectators needed to keep their distance.

On the way, Jiang Hao recorded the surroundings in his mind.

The biggest gain this time was knowing Bai Ye’s residence.

It would be convenient for next time.

Because of Hong Yuye, he couldn’t keep cursing, but it wasn’t necessary anymore.

In two more months, he might be able to advance to the late Nascent Soul stage.

Then, he would come for Bai Ye.

But once Bai Ye became the chief, it would be much more troublesome than now.

“When does the challenge match start?”

“It’s hard to say, there’s no set time. It will probably start whenever Man Long arrives today,” Liu Xingchen said.

Jiang Hao nodded.

“By the way, I heard that people from the Corpse God Sect are coming to our sect. It seems they want to cooperate with us,” Liu Xingchen suddenly said.

“The Corpse God Sect wants to cooperate with us?” Jiang Hao was surprised.

With a Teaching Elder like Zhuang Yuzhen still imprisoned in the Tianyin Sect, they actually ignored this and came to cooperate?

Could it just be that interests are paramount?

But what do they want?

“It’s said to be related to the Corpse Realm Flower,” Liu Xingchen also found it unexpected.

Jiang Hao nodded.

That would make sense.

The Corpse Realm Flower can open a special passage to an unknown realm.

The people from the Corpse God Sect probably need to enter there, which is why they would come to cooperate.

The Tianyin Sect can’t refuse, given the other party’s strength.

A fight would benefit no one.

In any case, as one of the interrogators of Zhuang Yuzhen, he should keep a low profile to avoid drawing their attention.

After waiting for some time, more and more people gathered around.

In some conspicuous places, he saw some acquaintances.

For example, Senior Sister Ning Xuan.

At this moment, a tall and composed man stood on a slightly elevated plain in the valley.

Others saw him as a cultivator in the later stages of Nascent Soul.

But to Jiang Hao, this cultivation level seemed forcibly enhanced and consolidated, likely through the consumption of some special elixirs.

Not only that, this person had many curse marks on him, and his aura was unstable.

Bai Ye, the moment Jiang Hao saw him, he knew his curse had been successful.

The effect seemed quite good.

Not only did the other party’s cultivation not increase, but there were even signs of decline.

This self-damaging curse that harms the enemy at one’s own expense was indeed useful.

If it weren’t for Hong Yuye’s intervention, he would still be suffering from the curse now.

And Bai Ye, he would probably be tormented for a long time.

Boom!

Suddenly, a figure descended from the sky.

Man Long’s robust figure appeared in front of Bai Ye.

The moment they recognized him, many people cheered.

“Senior Brother Man Long, cripple him!”

“No one of the same rank is a match for Senior Brother Man Long. I heard Senior Brother Bai Ye is capable of fighting across ranks, but he can’t possibly win.”

Jiang Hao observed Man Long.

He noticed his vital energy was vast, and his powerful aura intertwined continuously, extremely dazzling.

Compared to him, Bai Ye seemed somewhat insignificant.