This was similar to what happened with the Sword Saint, Jing Huaisong. When he discovered Su Qingyu had returned and taken on the Twenty-Third Sword, he immediately ordered the Celestial Essence Sword Sect to retreat without a moment’s hesitation.

It wasn’t that Jing Huaisong was truly afraid of Su Qingyu. He simply didn’t want to risk injury by insisting on a duel with her.

In any case, only someone as wildly unpredictable as Su Qingyu would insist on a duel with Gongsun Xiang at the Forbidden City Peak.

Zou Feng sized up Bai Chen, wondering how the man had recovered so quickly.

’Don’t tell me he’s having a final burst of energy before the end?’

The more Zou Feng thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. After all, Bai Chen looked a little *too* full of life right now.

He was a completely different person from the sickly man he had been before.

The arrival of the group from Biyou Palace drew several experts from the Evil Sects out into the open to greet them.

Among them was an acquaintance of Zou Feng’s: Leng Jing, a True Qi Realm expert from the Rakshasa Sect. They had once hunted Yuchi Jue together.

Some True Qi Realm experts from the Cyan Nether Sect and the Celestial Awakening Sect, an Evil Sect from the Northern Border, also made an appearance.

Of course, these Evil Sects of the Great Yan Dynasty weren’t nearly as friendly with each other as they appeared.

But for this battle, which would decide the future of the world, they were on the same side. For now, they would stand or fall together.

After all, if Su Qingyu won, the current balance—the Central Plains Righteous Sects’ firm suppression of the surrounding Evil Sects—would be shattered.

It would then be much easier for these Evil Sects to re-establish a foothold in the Central Plains.

As for why the outlying Evil Sects were so intent on returning to the Central Plains...

The reason was simple: the Grotto Heaven Blessed Lands in the Central Plains Region were more numerous and of higher quality.

Leng Jing was clearly confident that Zou Feng would win, having placed a heavy bet with a large amount of cultivation resources.

Of course, plenty of people didn’t believe Zou Feng could win.

They had heard from reliable sources that Chen Jun was on the verge of breaking through to the Second Grade. Consequently, they couldn’t favor Zou Feng, a newcomer who had only just reached the Third Grade.

With time still to spare, Zou Feng sat down cross-legged and cultivated his Heart Skill for a while. He didn’t even bother tormenting Chen Jun with the side effects anymore.

After reaching the Third Grade True Qi Realm, further advancement relied not just on accumulation, but primarily on "enlightenment."

And since his Five Poison Sacred Lotus Palm had already reached the Realm of Transcendence and Sanctity, Zou Feng’s accumulation was more than sufficient.

In other words, while Chen Jun was supposedly on the verge of advancing to the Second Grade, the same could be said for Zou Feng.

Therefore, Zou Feng genuinely hoped this battle would be a satisfying one, so he could use it as an opportunity to break through to the Second Grade.

A mid-battle breakthrough would be ideal. It would allow him to face the truly momentous battle against Gongsun Jinghong with greater ease.

As he sat in meditation to regulate his state, Zou Feng felt several gazes probing him from a distance.

This was normal. He had plenty of enemies in both the Celestial Essence Sword Sect and the Xuanhuang Sect.

Although those who dared to spy on him now were mostly Second Grade, Zou Feng was no longer intimidated.

He just had to wait for his breakthrough. Then, he could pretty much do as he pleased throughout the entire Great Yan.

After all, First Grade Experts were pitifully few. Biyou Palace, for instance, had only two—Su Qingyu and Bai Chen—and other sects were in a similar situation.

Moreover, Zou Feng had realized that most who broke through to First Grade, once they were fully prepared and confident, would likely choose to cross the East Sea to a region truly suited for cultivation.

「At dawn.」

As the first ray of sunlight touched the Forbidden City, an androgynous voice called out from the distance.

"Zou Feng, it’s about time. Come out!"

The voice made many in the crowd exchange confused glances.

After all, no one who knew Chen Jun could associate this voice with that paragon of masculinity.

Then, Chen Jun slowly descended from the sky, appearing on the eaves above one of the Imperial City’s gates.

The experts from the Righteous Sects were more confused than ever.

’Who’s this?’

’Where’s Chen Jun?’

Zou Feng, however, was not surprised to see Chen Jun’s current appearance.

He had suffered the side effects of the Formless Divine Skill, after all. Zou Feng had predicted long ago that something would go wrong with him.

’Judging by the way his hand, forming a sword formula, looks more like an effeminate gesture, he’s probably castrated himself. But this might not be a bad thing for Chen Jun. His strength has clearly skyrocketed, and his enlightenment in the Sword Dao is plain to see.’

A moment later, Zou Feng slowly rose, ready to head to the Imperial City gate and answer the challenge.

It was worth noting that both men had a tacit understanding not to go to the Celestial Sacrifice Platform.

Both knew their place; the true Forbidden City Peak was to be left for Su Qingyu and Gongsun Xiang.

"May your martial path be prosperous, Brother Feng! I wish you a swift victory!" Teng County blurted out the auspicious words upon seeing Zou Feng about to head into battle.

Bai Chen advised, "Even if you’re completely confident, don’t get careless!"

"Younger Brother Zou, the Hundred-legged Ancestor performed a divination. He’s certain that both you and the Palace Master will win!" Zhong Zhe said.

Leng Jing, who was standing closest to the people from Biyou Palace, still looked utterly confused. "Er, Brother Zou, are you sure the one issuing the challenge is the Fire Fierce Sword, Chen Jun?"

"I don’t remember him looking like that..."

Zou Feng leaped into the air, calling back over his shoulder, "It doesn’t matter what he looks like. He’s about to die anyway..."

A few moments later, Zou Feng landed on the eaves on the other side of the gate, facing Chen Jun from across the way.

Seeing Zou Feng accept the challenge, those who were still wondering if the challenger really was Chen Jun finally had their confirmation.

But even with confirmation that it was Chen Jun, his transformation was so drastic that it fueled endless speculation among the crowd.

Some had already concluded that Chen Jun must have castrated himself.

"To pursue a more extreme and pure Sword Dao, he must have castrated himself to prove his resolve!"

"Is that true? Was it worth it? I mean, the Sword Saint, Jing Huaisong, didn’t castrate himself, and he still achieved enlightenment in the Sword Dao, didn’t he?"

"You can’t compare one person to another. Chen Jun must have realized that without making this drastic decision, he could never advance further on his path of the Sword Dao..."

"If that’s true, then Chen Jun is guaranteed to win this fight!"

As the spectators chattered amongst themselves, Chen Jun stared daggers at Zou Feng, his eyes filled with rage.

After all, the main reason he had challenged Zou Feng was to avenge his junior brother, He Yuan. Otherwise, his heart would never be at peace.

But now, face to face with his enemy, even though his hatred was overwhelming and he yearned to slay him immediately to appease his junior brother’s spirit... as Chen Jun stared, a hint of appreciation for Zou Feng slowly crept into his eyes.

This had nothing to do with anything else. It was simply that Zou Feng looked starkly different from most of the Poison Cultivators Chen Jun had ever seen.

To put it bluntly, he looked too normal, lacking the various unsightly and disgusting traits common to other Poison Cultivators.

Moreover, Zou Feng had been the most handsome General Leader in the history of the Hongxing Gang. Free of a Poison Cultivator’s typical features, he looked the very picture of suave elegance just by standing there casually with his hands behind his back.

Chen Jun had been so twisted by the Formless Divine Skill that even his sexual orientation had changed. His current admiration was merely a normal physiological response to seeing a man with such excellent bearing and looks.

An audacious thought even surfaced, beyond his control: ’If only this man wasn’t a Poison Cultivator. We might have become friends, sharing wine and good conversation...’

But he quickly banished the thought.

Taking a deep breath, Chen Jun spoke again, his anger surging. "Zou Feng, do you remember He Yuan, the Flying Snow Sword of my Celestial Essence Sword Sect?"

Zou Feng certainly remembered the name. After all, He Yuan was the first Third Grade expert he had ever killed.

The problem was, the fight had been over so quickly that Zou Feng had no real memory of what He Yuan even looked like.

So he simply shook his head. "Do you remember how many pieces of bread you’ve eaten in your life?" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"You..."

Though he seemed like a different person, Chen Jun’s fiery temper remained.

Provoked by Zou Feng’s words, his reaction was to... throw a tantrum, stamping his foot and whining coquettishly.

A wave of revulsion washed over Zou Feng.

The spectators from the Celestial Essence Sword Sect silently put their hands to their foreheads, unable to watch any longer.