42: Nalan Yanran: I regret it! I regret it so much now.

The coffin landed, shattering the dignity of the Yunlan Sect.

Xiao Chen arrived, stepping through the air, bringing humiliation more unbearable than death.

The entire Yunlan Sect Square was deathly silent.

Everyone’s gaze was focused on the girl who they once regarded as a Goddess but whose face was now deathly pale.

Nalan Yanran.

She bit her lip tightly, her nails digging deep into her palm, and a trace of blood dripped from between her fingers.

Humiliation.

Unprecedented humiliation.

She should have been the protagonist today, the Favored Daughter of Heaven who would accept the admiration of thousands and become engaged to a Prodigy from the Central Continent.

But now, the Trash she kicked away three years ago had descended upon this place in a manner she could not possibly comprehend.

And he even sent her a coffin as a “congratulatory gift”?

“Xiao Chen...”

Nalan Yanran took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the panic in her heart.

She was the Young Sect Master of the Yunlan Sect; she could not retreat.

Behind her lay the honor and disgrace of the entire Sect.

“Clang!”

A clear, resonant sword cry rang out.

Nalan Yanran drew the personal sword at her waist. It was a High Grade Spiritual Artifact, entirely azure, with a flowing, colorful gleam on its blade, named “Autumn Water.”

“Three years unseen, you've certainly improved your verbal skills.”

She feigned composure, pointing her sword at Xiao Chen, her voice cold, “I just wonder, after shrinking away in that beggar's den for three years, are your fighting skills even half as hard as your mouth!”

“Today, I will let you know that the gap between us is already as vast as the difference between heaven and earth!”

“Thirteen Swords of Cloud Mist!”

Before she finished speaking, Nalan Yanran moved.

Her figure was ethereal, like a Fairy stepping on clouds and mist, and the Autumn Water Sword in her hand drew up thousands of sword blossoms.

Instantly, Sword Qi crisscrossed the entire square, and azure sword light surged toward Xiao Chen like a tide. Her sword moves were unpredictable, with the special effects maximized.

This was the Yunlan Sect's ultimate founding technique!

It is said that upon reaching Major Achievement, one can summon the Power of the Sea of Clouds; with a single sword strike, all things can be severed!

“Excellent sword technique!”

“As expected of the Young Sect Master! This move already possesses seventy percent of the Sect Master's skill from back then!”

“That boy is dead for sure! Under the Thirteen Swords of Cloud Mist, he won't even be able to touch the Young Sect Master's hem!”

The Disciples of the Yunlan Sect erupted in earth-shattering cheers, as if they had already witnessed Xiao Chen's fate of being pierced by ten thousand swords.

However.

In the center of the storm.

Facing that overwhelming, terrifying sword net capable of strangling a Golden Core Cultivator.

Xiao Chen's expression did not change in the slightest.

He didn't even bother to lift his eyelids.

He simply floated quietly in mid-air.

His hands were clasped behind his back.

He looked completely relaxed, as if saying, “Do whatever you want; if I move, I lose.”

“Arrogant!”

Seeing this, Nalan Yanran was consumed by rage.

What extreme contempt!

“Die for me!”

She mobilized all her spiritual energy. The sky-full of sword light instantly condensed into a ten-zhang long azure giant sword, carrying the terrifying might capable of severing mountains, and slashed fiercely toward Xiao Chen's head!

Just as the giant sword was about to fall.

Xiao Chen finally moved.

He did not draw his sword.

Nor did he dodge.

He merely... slightly lifted his eyelids.

“Buzz—”

A layer of light-golden Body Protecting Protective Aura instantly appeared around him, like an inverted bowl.

The Protective Aura was very thin.

It looked fragile enough to burst with a breath.

But the moment the azure giant sword touched the golden Protective Aura.

“Clang—!!!”

A deafening crash!

Immediately after.

Under the terrified gazes of everyone present.

The azure giant sword, condensed from thousands of Sword Qi, was like glass crashing into an indestructible divine mountain.

“Crack!”

A crisp sound.

The giant sword began to shatter inch by inch, starting from the tip!

Then it violently burst apart, turning into a sky full of azure light rain, dissipating into the air.

It didn't even manage to shake Xiao Chen's Body Protecting Protective Aura in the slightest.

“This... how is this possible?!”

Nalan Yanran was struck by lightning, frozen on the spot, the Autumn Water Sword in her hand buzzing mournfully.

That was her full-power strike!

Yet... it couldn't even break the opponent's defense?!

He didn't even... move his hand!

The entire venue was dead silent.

The Yunlan Sect Disciples who had been cheering wildly just moments ago were now like ducks whose necks had been squeezed, their expressions frozen on their faces.

Xiao Chen, with his hands behind his back, slowly floated forward one step.

He looked at Nalan Yanran's pretty face, which was filled with shock and disbelief, shook his head, and spoke in a tone so flat it was as if he were discussing a trivial matter.

“Three years.”

“You haven't made any progress.”

The voice wasn't loud.

But it was like a resounding slap, fiercely striking Nalan Yanran's Soul.

It made her thousands of times more miserable than the shattering of her previous sword strike!

“You... you...”

Nalan Yanran was trembling with anger, unable to utter a single word.

“It's over.”

Xiao Chen seemed to have lost his last bit of patience.

He no longer concealed himself.

A terrifying aura belonging to the Golden Core Peak, one that faintly touched the threshold of the Nascent Soul, erupted violently from his body like an awakened Primordial Vicious Beast!

Boom—!!!

Heaven and Earth changed color!

Wind and clouds churned backward!

The Yunlan Sect's entire Mountain-Protecting Formation flashed wildly under the impact of this aura, seemingly on the verge of collapse at any moment!

On the square.

All Disciples whose cultivation was below the Foundation Establishment Stage simultaneously spat out a mouthful of blood, directly suppressed by this pressure until they knelt on the ground, unable to move!

Even the Golden Core Stage Elders were pale-faced, struggling to hold on, their eyes filled with horror.

Golden Core Peak?!

How is this possible?!

Three years ago, he was still Trash whose cultivation was regressing!

Three years later, he actually stood at the Peak of the younger generation in the Eastern Wilderness?!

What exactly did he experience during these three years?!

And at the very center of the pressure.

Nalan Yanran felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave.

The High Grade Spiritual Artifact “Autumn Water Sword” in her hand let out a mournful cry under the overwhelming pressure of this terrifying aura.

“Crack!”

A tiny crack appeared on the sword body.

Immediately after.

The crack spread across the entire sword body like a spiderweb!

“No!”

Nalan Yanran cried out in alarm.

“Bang—!!!”

A sharp snap.

The personal sword that had accompanied her for several years, without even being touched, was forcefully shattered into countless fragments by the aura, clattering onto the ground.

“Pfft!”

Her Natal Spiritual Artifact destroyed, Nalan Yanran's mind was injured, and she violently spat out a mouthful of blood.

She could no longer support herself; her legs gave out, and she collapsed weakly onto the ground.

On that face, which was originally proud and beautiful, there was now only endless paleness and... bewilderment.

She lost.

She lost completely.

She lost without even the qualification to fight back.

She raised her head, gazing up at the figure floating in mid-air, black hair flying, resembling a god or demon.

The sunlight was blinding, preventing her from seeing his face clearly.

But she could feel the gaze cast down upon her—cold and indifferent.

It was like looking at an... insignificant passerby.

“Why... why did this happen...”

Nalan Yanran muttered to herself, utterly dispirited.

Endless regret, like a burst dam, instantly flooded her heart.

She recalled three years ago.

She recalled the young man who, though down on his luck, still had clear eyes.

She recalled her own high and mighty demeanor at the time.

If... if back then, she hadn't gone to break off the engagement.

If back then, she had chosen to face the difficulties with him.

Then today, standing under this boundless glory, accepting the reverent gazes of everyone—shouldn't there have been a place for her too?

This honor, this power... it should have... belonged to me... Tears of remorse streamed down her pale cheeks.

But the most useless thing in this world is regret.

Xiao Chen slowly retracted his aura, not bothering to look at her again, and instead cast his gaze toward the depths of the Yunlan Sect's Main Hall.

He knew.

This matter was not over today.

“Yun Shan, you old dog.”

His voice was not loud, yet it spread throughout the entire Yunlan Sect.

“Are you going to continue hiding like a scared turtle?”

“Your precious Disciple has been beaten. Aren't you, her Revered Master, going to come out and... give me an explanation?”