Chapter 7379
: Every sentence is jarring, every word is a dagger to the heart.
Half an hour later, Xiao Chen changed into a black, fitted outfit. The clean lines of the fabric accentuated his tall, slender figure. He glanced at his watch, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips, his expression remaining calm and composed.
Today is the day he has agreed to fight Duanmu Jue.
Whether he goes or not, and when he goes, is entirely up to him.
He seems to be keeping a low profile now, but that's just because he's too lazy to make a fuss. What's wrong with making Duanmu Jue wait a little longer for a mere challenge?
Of course, he still had to go to the battle. After all, he needed to show those petty thugs from the New Martial Arts Association that he, Xiao Chen, was no pushover and not someone anyone could easily bully!
Thinking of this, Xiao Chen glanced sideways at the extremely Yin patriarch who was bowing and waiting beside him, his tone calm but carrying an unquestionable authority: "Prepare the fastest private jet and come with me back to the western region of the Dragon Kingdom."
"Your subordinate obeys!" The Yin Ancestor bowed and replied, lowering his head even further. "The plane will be ready immediately, Master, please wait a moment."
With his power on Jiyin Island, it would be a simple matter of a word for him to summon not only a private plane, but also an entire squadron of aircraft.
Because he was once the supreme ruler of this extremely Yin Island, whose word was law!
……
Dragon Kingdom, the provincial capital of the western region.
Deep within the Dragon Group's exclusive training grounds stands a life-or-death arena, arguably the largest in western Dragon Kingdom.
This platform is made of a special alloy, and its surface is engraved with dense ancient runes. The thick stone patterns seem to flow with the vicissitudes of the Dragon Kingdom's martial arts over hundreds of years. Its scale and power are far beyond those of ordinary dueling platforms.
More importantly, this place is the core forbidden area of the Dragon Group. Ordinary martial artists, even the heads of the top families in the provincial capital, are not qualified to set foot here.
This is the authority of the Dragon Group!
At this moment, on the life-and-death arena, Duanmu Jue stood with his hands behind his back, his white martial robe fluttering in the wind, his aura surging like a tide, seemingly resonating with heaven and earth, displaying an invincible posture that could swallow mountains and rivers.
The audience was sparsely populated, mostly consisting of core members of the New Martial Arts Association, each with an arrogant expression and a disdainful gaze sweeping across the other side.
On Xiao Chen's side, there were only Zhuang Yuan, Li Can who was still injured, and a few Western Martial Arts Army soldiers, making them appear weak and outnumbered, a stark contrast to their opponents.
Originally, Duanmu Jue wanted to open the training grounds to the public so that all the strong figures in the Northwest martial arts world could witness his crushing victory over Xiao Chen and thus demonstrate his authority.
However, the New Martial Arts Association and the Dragon Group's upper echelons strictly forbade it, simply because they were deeply wary of Xiao Chen.
Although Duanmu Jue is strong, Xiao Chen is too unpredictable, and no one can guarantee victory.
If Duanmu Jue is defeated, the Dragon Group and the New Martial Arts Association will lose all face!
Only through closed-door competition can the risks be minimized.
Time ticked by, and Duanmu Jue frequently glanced at his watch, his brow furrowing with impatience. He glanced sideways at Zhuang Yuan below the stage, his eyes filled with undisguised mockery:
"Zhuang Yuan, could it be that Xiao Chen is scared and hiding in some corner, too afraid to come? The agreed time is almost here. If he doesn't show up soon, you know what the consequences will be."
Zhuang Yuan's face darkened. He stepped forward and shouted, "Mr. Xiao, as an instructor of the Western Martial Arts Army, is on important business outside. It's normal for him to be slightly delayed! Don't you dare to make baseless accusations!" "On important business?"
Duanmu Jue seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world, and he threw his head back and laughed wildly, making the surrounding air tremble.
"I really don't understand why your Western Martial Arts Army is protecting this kid so much. He's just a cowardly and mediocre talent, does he deserve your groveling? He's clearly afraid to fight, but you call it carrying out important missions. The excuses of the Western Martial Arts Army are becoming more and more ridiculous!"
Zhuang Yuan clenched his fists but remained silent. He turned to look at Li Can, whose face was pale beside him, and asked in a very low voice, "When Mr. Xiao rescued you yesterday, did he mention when he would return?"
Li Can clutched his chest wound, his brows furrowed, and whispered, "Mr. Xiao didn't mention... the garrison commander. Do you think... he might have encountered some accident on Jiyin Island?"
“With his strength, the probability of something going wrong is extremely low.” Zhuang Yuan’s brows furrowed even more, but a trace of anxiety flashed in his eyes. “But this morning, Jiyin Island suddenly announced a complete shutdown, severing all contact with the outside world. This is too suspicious! And just at this critical juncture, Mr. Xiao’s communications have also been completely cut off…”
The anxiety in my heart grew wildly like weeds.
Zhuang Yuan took a deep breath, his voice growing increasingly solemn: "If Mr. Xiao fails to arrive on time, the New Martial Arts Association will have the right to take coercive measures against all his properties and related personnel in accordance with the Martial Arts Convention, and may even... may even issue a global arrest warrant! At that time, Mr. Xiao will truly be trapped and unable to escape!"
On stage, Duanmu Jue glanced at the time again, his sneer deepening. His words were like knives, stabbing into the hearts of the crowd: "How arrogant Xiao Chen was back then, spouting wild words that he wanted to crush my pride. Now it seems he was nothing but a coward hiding his face!"
"What's even more ridiculous is that this coward is actually an instructor in your Western Martial Arts Army! It's laughable!"
"How many years has it been? Has the Western Martial Arts Army fallen so low? Relying on a good-for-nothing to maintain appearances, Zhuang Yuan, what is your punishment as the garrison commander?!"
These words were harsh and piercing!
Below the stage, several Western Martial Arts Army soldiers trembled with rage, their fists clenched so tightly they cracked, and their eyes were filled with fury that seemed about to burst forth! Although each of them was quite skilled, they kept military discipline firmly in mind and dared not move an inch without orders!
Suppressing his raging anger, Zhuang Yuan shouted sternly, "Everyone, stay where you are! No one is allowed to make a move without my permission!"
After calming his subordinates, he looked up at Duanmu Jue on the stage again, his gaze sharp as a sword: "Duanmu Jue! I can tolerate your insults to my Western Martial Arts Army! But you have insulted Mr. Xiao again and again, which is far too presumptuous!"
Yesterday, Xiao Chen single-handedly ventured into the Extreme Yin Island, riding the waves to kill countless powerful enemies and save dozens of elite Western Martial Arts Army soldiers from the brink of death!
Without Xiao Chen, Li Can would have already died!
Without Xiao Chen, the Western Martial Arts Army would have lost all face!
They will never forget this immense kindness!
He would never allow anyone to insult Xiao Chen like that!
"Mr. Xiao?" Duanmu Jue laughed even more arrogantly, as if he had heard some absurdity. "He dares to call himself 'Mr'? A piece of trash who doesn't even have the courage to show himself, does he deserve it? His arrogant words in the past, and now your Western Martial Arts Army has to bear the consequences. What a ridiculous joke!"
"I, Duanmu Jue, would never deign to give such a mediocre talent a second thought, one who only dares to boast with words!"
He glanced at the timer, his voice suddenly turning cold, carrying a suffocating pressure: "Ten seconds left! If this Mr. Xiao you speak of doesn't show up soon, I will immediately set off for the capital to request the Supreme Martial Arts Judgment!" (End of Chapter)