’I only said those goading words because I genuinely hoped Chen Jun would put up more of a fight. Otherwise, what damn chance would I have at a breakthrough?’

After a brief moment of shock, Chen Jun sensed the danger and quickly abandoned his sword, retreating.

Zou Feng, however, casually tossed the Li Huo Sword to Chen Jun’s feet, striking a pose as if waiting for him to get serious.

A moment later, Chen Jun took two deep breaths, in no hurry to pick up the Li Huo Sword.

"So that’s how it is... No wonder Junior Brother He fell to you..."

"That was indeed a poor display on my part..." As he spoke, Chen Jun formed his fingers into a Sword Point and thrust it toward Zou Feng with deceptive speed.

"Well then, how about this move!?"

With that one thrust, countless "Fire Swords" materialized around Chen Jun, surging toward Zou Feng like a torrent.

But that wasn’t all. Chen Jun formed a Sword Point with his other hand and gestured toward Zou Feng.

Chen Jun had executed numerous Sword Techniques moments before. Though they’d had little effect on Zou Feng, the Sword Qi still permeated the surrounding air.

This lingering Sword Qi was now channeled anew by Chen Jun’s Sword Formulas, coalescing behind Zou Feng into a Sword Qi Giant Dragon.

Amid a deafening roar, the giant dragon thrashed and tumbled through the air as it lunged at Zou Feng.

"Sword Qi Dragon Roar and Sword Qi Torrent!?"

"Nineteen Swords and the Twenty-Second Sword, executed at the same time!?"

"Impossible! Someone in the Third Grade Realm absolutely couldn’t execute both those techniques at once, unless..."

"There’s no mistake. Brother Chen... he’s reached Second Grade!"

The members of the Celestial Essence Sword Sect immediately understood the situation.

While executing those two techniques, Chen Jun had successfully broken through and entered the Second Grade Realm.

In truth, ever since Chen Jun had his epiphany from observing the sword marks left by the previous Sword Saint—and was affected by a side effect that led him to sever his own "root of impurity"—he had been completely transformed. He could have broken through to Second Grade at any time.

He had deliberately held off on his breakthrough, wanting to show off a mid-battle advancement during his duel with Zou Feng and stun the entire crowd.

He even wanted to savor Zou Feng’s expression of utter despair when the man, who thought he could contend with him, suddenly found the tables turned against him.

It had to be said that after the side effect altered his personality, Chen Jun’s mind was filled with nothing but showboating; he was obsessed with being in the spotlight.

"Zou Feng, today is the day you answer for your crimes!" Having unleashed two consecutive Big Moves, both from the Second Grade Realm, Chen Jun’s confidence was completely restored.

However, Zou Feng had been waiting for Chen Jun to unleash his ultimate.

What Zou Feng didn’t get was why Chen Jun thought he was the only one with an ace up his sleeve.

"Congratulations. You’ve earned the right to witness my second form..." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Before his words had even faded, Zou Feng entered his True Man State. Having already decided to tank Chen Jun’s Big Move, he now looked even more composed.

That’s right. He was just going to tank it.

No dodging. No countering with his own Martial Arts.

He was relying purely on a skill derived from his Tribulation-Indestructible Body: Iron—no, Steel!

He wasn’t tanking the hit to show off; he needed this kind of pressure to up the intensity on himself, hoping to seize the opportunity to break through to Second Grade.

At first, getting hit by both techniques simultaneously was a bit of a strain.

But once he activated State Two, the pressure began to ease, and soon, the attacks started to feel disappointingly weak.

The Sword Qi Torrent washed over him for a moment before dwindling into what felt like a shower from a low-pressure hose.

As for the Sword Qi Dragon Roar, its cries grew feebler and feebler until they became hoarse and powerless.

’To be honest, I would have been satisfied if those two techniques could have just maintained their power and kept hammering me. I was actually starting to feel something. If the pressure had just been sustained long enough, I might really have been able to use it to break through.’

’The problem is, it was too short-lived! What pathetic stamina!’

And so, before long, as Zou Feng watched on with an unsatisfied expression, the Sword Qi Torrent dried up completely, and the Sword Qi Giant Dragon shriveled into a tiny lizard.

Seeing the tiny lizard still trying to nip at him, Zou Feng flicked a finger in utter disgust, and the creature instantly disintegrated into dust.

"Is that all?" Zou Feng asked, frowning at Chen Jun.

But one look at Chen Jun—panting for breath, his legs trembling—was all Zou Feng needed to know the answer.

It couldn’t be helped. Chen Jun had only just broken through, and his Second Grade Realm wasn’t yet stable.

He had disregarded the immense energy cost to forcibly execute both Nineteen Swords and the Twenty-Second Sword.

He’d assumed that an all-out attack like that should have been enough to annihilate Zou Feng in an instant.

But in the end, the look in Zou Feng’s eyes was one of... dissatisfaction!?

"You... Impossible..." More than just shocked, Chen Jun was utterly bewildered.

This bizarre event, so far beyond his comprehension, was making his brain short-circuit.

Zou Feng seemed to take just one step, but in the next instant, he was towering over Chen Jun.

"Answer me!"

"Do you have any more decent techniques?" Zou Feng demanded, his voice laced with disappointment at his opponent’s weakness.

Chen Jun shuddered and instinctively stepped back. "You... you... OWW—"

His stammering was cut short by a blood-curdling scream.

Zou Feng was making good on his promise. If Chen Jun had no more decent techniques, he would break his legs.

And so, with one swift kick, he shattered Chen Jun’s right kneecap.

Zou Feng was, after all, in his True Man State, with his Tribulation-Indestructible Body operating at full capacity. His body was as hard as steel.

Chen Jun, on the other hand, was completely spent. Thus, a seemingly casual kick was enough to inflict the agony of a shattered leg.

"Answer me!!"

Zou Feng was genuinely furious. ’If this guy had just held on a little longer, I might have already broken through to Second Grade by now!’

Grimacing in agony, Chen Jun flinched at the roar and stammered, "N-Nothing... I have nothing left... I swear..."

"Worthless!"

Before the word had left his lips, Zou Feng kicked again, aiming for the man’s other leg.

"AAAAHHHH—"

A scream like a pig being slaughtered echoed through the sky, signaling that the duel was over. There was no suspense left.

With both legs broken, Chen Jun could no longer stand. He collapsed to his knees on the city gate wall, wailing in agony.

"Enough! The match is decided!"

"Stay your hand! Release Brother Chen at once!"

"Zou Feng, that’s enough..."

The members of the Celestial Essence Sword Sect began to stir. Several of them, having the gall to intervene, shot forward to rescue Chen Jun.

Most of the other spectators still hadn’t snapped out of their stupor.

Many of the experts in the crowd had predicted Zou Feng would win, but none had imagined he would do so with such ease, so overwhelmingly.

’Chen Jun even had a dramatic breakthrough to Second Grade, and he still couldn’t even give Zou Feng a satisfying fight!?’

’They called him a genius Poison Cultivator seen once in decades? He’s clearly a peerless master seen once in a century!’

But seeing the shamelessness of the Celestial Essence Sword Sect, the experts from Biyou Palace were certainly not going to stand idly by.

"What do you think you’re doing? Have you no shame?"

"Which one of you bastards was it that said this was a duel to determine not just a winner, but life and death?" several Poison Cultivators shouted as they too made their move.

Bai Chen’s expression was grim, and he stood ready to intervene at a moment’s notice.

Zou Feng, however, couldn’t be bothered to waste his breath on these shameless Sword Cultivators.

He completely ignored their threats and clamoring, simply flinging a palm out to strike Chen Jun across the face.

Five Poison Face-breaking Palm!

Chen Jun, who had been wailing from the pain in his legs, went abruptly silent as he was sent flying backward like a kite with a snapped string.

He soon crashed into the arms of a Second Grade Elder from the Celestial Essence Sword Sect.

This Elder had been intending to rescue Chen Jun regardless of the consequences, so he immediately used a Soft Force to catch him securely.

"Chen Jun, are you all right?"

As he asked, the Elder placed a hand on Chen Jun’s shoulder, preparing to use his own True Qi to heal his wounds and expel the poison.

"Elder Zhao... I... I..."

Chen Jun trembled, unable to form a complete sentence, so Zou Feng answered for him. "Don’t bother asking. He’s already dead!"

The moment he finished speaking, Chen Jun’s head exploded.

A spray of red and white splattered all over Elder Zhao.

After a stunned moment, Elder Zhao flew into a rage.

The next instant, he lunged toward Zou Feng, roaring, "Winning should have been enough, but you had to take his life! Do you have no respect for me, Zhao Lihai, the ’Thunderbolt Sword’?!"