Chapter 40: You Run Ahead, I Shall Pursue!
Page 1 of 3
The rain of swords dispersed, leaving the ground bristling with sword shadows. The blood-red barrier Jiang Tian had summoned had long since exploded apart.
He stood where he was, his body covered in sword wounds of varying depths, looking as though he had been beaten into a sieve.
The dashing and spirited Holy Son from before was nowhere to be seen. All that remained was a figure in utter disarray.
Nearby, Dongfang Ting had already clenched his fists. Seeing Jiang Tian in such a state, his expression was grave, and his heart ached terribly.
In his pursuit of the Great Dao, Dongfang Ting had never married or had children, and had always treated Jiang Tian as his own son.
Jiang Tian slowly spat out a mouthful of blood, his entire body weakened to the extreme.
With one hand clasped behind his back, Ye Changsheng slowly walked toward him.
“Holy Son Jiang Tian, when it comes to the sword, which of us is stronger?”
The answer was obvious at a glance. Jiang Tian had been utterly defeated in the sword dao.
Ye Changsheng raised one hand and struck fiercely toward Jiang Tian.
When the palm landed on Jiang Tian, he felt no pain at all.
“What’s going on? That strike didn’t hurt?”
Seeing this, Jiang Tian instinctively began to taunt him. “Did you not eat today? Is that all the strength you have left?”
Ye Changsheng smiled faintly and pointed beneath Jiang Tian.
“Before you start barking, why not take a look at what you look like right now?”
Hearing this, Jiang Tian abruptly lowered his head and saw his physical body standing foolishly in place.
“What’s going on?” Jiang Tian asked in astonishment.
“And you call yourself a Holy Son? Do you not even possess this much knowledge? Isn’t it obvious? I’ve beaten your soul out of your body.”
Jiang Tian’s brows drew tightly together. He asked in a low voice, “What are you going to do?”
“Of course I’m going to destroy your soul! Did you think I called you out to have afternoon tea?”
The instant those words were spoken, Jiang Tian’s expression changed drastically, and his arrogance was extinguished on the spot.
Once a cultivator reached the Spirit Infant Realm, as long as the soul remained intact, the body could be reconstructed even after death.
But once the soul was destroyed, there was no possibility of resurrection.
Jiang Tian said nothing. He simply turned and ran.
Ye Changsheng chuckled and immediately gave chase.
“Don’t run!”
Jiang Tian gritted his teeth and replied, “I’m not an idiot. If I don’t run now, am I supposed to stand there and wait to die?”
With that, Jiang Tian accelerated.
Jiang Tian sprinted wildly ahead while Ye Changsheng pursued him leisurely from behind.
He did not know how things were in other places, but in a soul state, Ye Changsheng was practically invincible.
“You run, I chase. Even with wings, you won’t escape!”
Jiang Tian’s soul fled ahead while Ye Changsheng chased after him, creating a scene of utter absurdity.
Page 1 of 3
Page 2 of 3
Of course, Jiang Tian was not running aimlessly. His gaze remained fixed on his physical body.
“As long as I can return to my body, I’ll be fine!”
At that thought, Jiang Tian unleashed his full speed, desperate to get back as quickly as possible.
But just as he was about to enter his body, the sound of a gong rang out.
The gong reverberated through the air. Jiang Tian’s soul trembled violently, then froze in place, completely unable to move.
“What exactly have you done?” Jiang Tian asked in panic.
“My esteemed Holy Son, don’t run!”
Ye Changsheng was in no hurry. He walked toward Jiang Tian one step at a time.
Jiang Tian stared at him, terror filling his eyes. Even his breathing had become rapid.
“Fellow cultivator, what happened just now was all a misunderstanding. Let’s talk this over calmly.”
“So now it’s a misunderstanding? Weren’t you fond of barking just a moment ago? What else is there to say? Kill me and let me be on my way.”
At these words, Jiang Tian panicked completely.
“I was wrong!”
He collapsed to the ground, his voice trembling.
The corners of Ye Changsheng’s mouth lifted slightly. With a cold laugh, he said, “You don’t really think you were wrong. You just think you’re about to die.”
Tears streamed down Jiang Tian’s face as he whispered, “Fellow cultivator, I was wrong…”
Jiang Tian had struggled for so many years before finally becoming a Holy Son. He had barely enjoyed his good fortune for a few days before facing death. Who could possibly accept that willingly?
“Don’t tell me these things. Go tell them to the King of Hell!”
“Destroy!”
Ye Changsheng raised one hand and struck fiercely toward Jiang Tian’s soul.
As his palm descended, terrifying power erupted at once. Jiang Tian’s soul trembled, then twisted violently. In the next moment, it exploded, transforming into billowing soul energy that dispersed into the air.
“Ah!”
A shriek rang out as Jiang Tian’s soul was destroyed on the spot.
“Done.”
Destroying that fellow’s soul could also be considered the completion of the burial.
Ye Changsheng slowly opened his eyes and looked at Jiang Tian before him.
His soul had been destroyed. The figure standing there was merely an empty shell, a mindless walking corpse.
Wan Jianyi seemed to realize what had happened and gave a faint smile. “Looks like the boy is finished. Now it’s time for me, as his big brother, to step in.”
Ye Changsheng looked at Jiang Tian and let out a cold laugh. “Holy Son Jiang, don’t stare at me like that! Say something!”
“What’s wrong? Have you suddenly lost your love of talking?”
When Jiang Tian remained motionless for a long time, Dongfang Ting, who had been silent until then, panicked completely.
Page 2 of 3
Page 3 of 3
“What happened to my disciple?”
Ye Changsheng smiled but did not answer.
Seeing this, Dongfang Ting became utterly frantic and shouted furiously, “Brat, answer me! What happened to him?”
As his voice rang out, the pressure bearing down on Ye Changsheng grew even heavier.
“Don’t be anxious. You’ll know soon enough.”
Ye Changsheng wore a beaming smile. He was already looking forward to seeing everyone’s expressions in a moment.
“Thud!”
The instant his words fell, Jiang Tian’s body collapsed, hitting the ground face-first.
He showed no reaction whatsoever, simply lying there in silence.
Seeing this, Dongfang Ting hurried over and patted Jiang Tian on the shoulder, asking anxiously, “Disciple, what happened to you?”
“Disciple, don’t frighten your master. Say something!”
Ye Changsheng smiled faintly. “Enough calling out to him. Your disciple is already dead.”
“Dead?”
Dongfang Ting quickly reached out and felt for Jiang Tian’s pulse. There was no life left in his body.
“You killed my disciple, you bastard!”
Dongfang Ting was furious beyond measure. His eyes were bloodshot as he charged straight at Ye Changsheng.
“Today, I’ll make you pay with your life!”
Faced with the full-force attack of an Earth Spirit powerhouse, Ye Changsheng had no chance of victory. Yet he remained standing where he was, perfectly calm, as though everything were under his control.
“Brat, you’re not even running? I’ll take your life!”
The instant his words fell, Wan Jianyi shot forward like a bolt of lightning and shielded Ye Changsheng behind him.
The two had not even made contact when Dongfang Ting, who had been charging forward at tremendous speed, suddenly shuddered and was sent flying backward.
“Big Brother, you’re here!”
Wan Jianyi glanced back at Ye Changsheng and grinned. “You’re my little brother. How could I stand by and watch him bully you?”
“All right. You’ve done very well. Leave what comes next to me!”
“Mm-hm.”
Ye Changsheng nodded and stepped back.
Wan Jianyi slowly raised his head and smiled faintly.
“Now, let me have some fun with all of you.”
Page 3 of 3