Chapter 136: So What If You Are an Elder

As Li Jiansan swung his blade, Elder Mo sensed the terrifying power it carried. He realized that if he were struck, being obliterated on the spot was a very real possibility.

"Pfft..."

Although the two managed to dodge in time, the shockwave of the terrifying sword energy erupting in the void still sent them reeling, blood spilling from their mouths.

"How can the sword in his hand unleash such devastating power?" Elder Mo stared at the golden greatsword in Li Jiansan’s grip, his heart racing with palpitations.

Soon, a realization dawned on him: if Li Jiansan was launching an attack at them, didn't that mean he had discovered them long ago?

"Good heavens!"

Elder Mo stood frozen, as if terrified out of his wits, his lips trembling uncontrollably. He seemed to lose his composure, muttering like a madman, "How is this possible? He is only a teenager; how could his sensory perception be so profound? Even monsters who have cultivated for decades couldn't achieve this. How long has he even been practicing?"

Elder Zhang’s expression was equally ghastly, unable to accept this cruel reality. Had he known Li Jiansan’s talent was this formidable, he would never have provoked him. Now, it was too late. If the academy discovered they had bullied such a prodigy, not even Elder Liu Yan would be able to protect them.

"What a disaster. Why did I have to provoke him? Was the brothel no longer fun, or was the wine not sweet enough? I am such a fool!" Elder Zhang cursed, slapping his own face repeatedly. He was truly ruthless to himself.

"Stop acting like a fool! We must take action ourselves and kill this brat. If he leaves here alive, neither of us will have a good end." Elder Mo quickly regained his senses. Their previous attempts to kill Li Jiansan had turned this into a mortal feud; reconciliation was impossible. Therefore, Li Jiansan had to die.

"Boy, I must admit, you have some strength!" Elder Mo leaped onto the ground, landing before Li Jiansan, his eyes burning with greed as he stared at the golden greatsword. "What kind of sword is that?"

"The sword that will kill you!" Li Jiansan replied, his gaze icy.

Elder Mo’s expression turned frigid. "Kill me? With your pathetic self? Is that even possible?"

Li Jiansan spared him a single glance. "No wonder the Azure Dragon Academy has become so mediocre; it turns out it’s run by fools like you!"

After being struck by the golden sword, for Elder Mo to still speak this way—was he not a fool? Li Jiansan truly wondered how such an idiot had survived this long.

Li Jiansan’s remark made Elder Zhang, standing behind Elder Mo, contort his face in fury. Having overseen the Labyrinth Forest examinations for so many years, this was the first time he had encountered such an arrogant newcomer.

"For that statement alone, you deserve to die ten thousand times!" Elder Mo was incensed, his killing intent manifesting into something almost physical.

Li Jiansan’s entire body erupted with overwhelming battle intent. "If you have the capability, feel free to try."

"Hmm?" Elder Mo frowned slightly, taken aback by the intensity of Li Jiansan’s aura, but then he flew into a rage. "You trash, do you even deserve for me to soil my hands?" He turned back and shouted, "Elder Zhang, take care of him for me."

"Brat, prepare to die!"

The surging spiritual energy radiating from Elder Zhang was like erupting magma, permeating the area for hundreds of meters and shrouding the space around him in his oppressive might. His energy, carrying the thunderous weight of a storm, bore down upon Li Jiansan.

"This kid actually withstood my pressure!"

In the Foundation Establishment stage, every level was a chasm; the gap between them was immense. A cultivator one level higher could easily crush or even obliterate their opponent. Yet, Li Jiansan stood there completely unscathed. How could this be? Elder Zhang was several levels higher than Li Jiansan; logically, he should have been able to slay him with ease. This development was utterly unexpected.

Li Jiansan brandished the golden greatsword, unleashing a ferocious wave of sword energy. The violent energy surged forward like a gale, instantly shattering Elder Zhang’s pressure.

"What!" Elder Zhang felt the biting chill of the sword energy and was struck with extreme shock. He had crossed blades with many martial artists, but this was the first time in his life he had encountered energy so sharp and piercing, leaving one feeling completely helpless to resist.

"Boom!"

Elder Zhang hurriedly struck out with a palm. The fierce sword light instantly tore through his palm energy, causing the wind from his strike to scatter. The turbulent air waves rippled outwards, and the sharp gale whistled past Elder Zhang’s face, cutting his skin painfully.

"Oh no!"

Having felt the terror of Li Jiansan’s sword energy firsthand, Elder Zhang realized the danger and panicked, desperately trying to evade. Though he moved quickly, the sword energy was faster!

*Slash!*

The blade of energy swept past like a comet, piercing through Elder Zhang’s true essence and slicing cleanly across his arm.

"Pfft!"

Flesh parted as the sword energy severed his arm. The next moment, his limb was ripped away, and blood sprayed wildly, staining a vast patch of earth red. Li Jiansan’s single stroke had lopped off Elder Zhang’s arm!

"Boom!"

The residual energy crashed into the giant trees behind him, and in an instant, the forest within a hundred meters was reduced to splinters and debris.

"Li Jiansan, you actually..." Elder Zhang’s body trembled uncontrollably. He felt a chill emanating from Li Jiansan—a cold that seeped into his very marrow. He never imagined that a single strike from Li Jiansan could sever his arm; this was far beyond the power of a Martial Spirit! Was he hiding his true cultivation? Was he playing the fool to catch a tiger?

He had previously intended to kill Li Jiansan, but now, that thought had vanished entirely. Forget about fighting; even looking at Li Jiansan filled him with terror. The disparity in their strength was too vast—a disparity that proved fatal.

Li Jiansan followed up with a punch. Elder Zhang, horrified, could only raise his remaining arm in a frantic attempt to defend. Unfortunately, Li Jiansan’s current strength was terrifying to the point of absurdity.

"You possess such horrifying power!" Elder Zhang’s voice was laced with a chilling dread. "Stop! I am an elder of the Azure Dragon Academy! Do you have any idea what the consequences of this will be?"

Seeing Li Jiansan walking toward him step by step, Elder Zhang roared in panic. But Li Jiansan’s sword moved even faster. A flash of light, as dazzling as a thunderbolt, streaked through the air.

Elder Zhang’s other arm was pierced through, and both his arms were severed. The immense pain caused his face to twist in agony, but he didn't even have the chance to scream before the youth closed the distance, his fierce fist descending. Li Jiansan’s punch felt like a falling meteor, causing the ground to quake and kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Ah..."

Elder Zhang felt as if Mount Tai were crushing his chest; the weight was so immense that he coughed up several mouthfuls of blood.

"Ah! You little bastard, let me go..." Elder Zhang wailed like a slaughtered pig, the sound of his bones shattering echoing from within his body. At this moment, the murderous Li Jiansan appeared like a god of death, striking terror into the hearts of all who saw him.

"Don't... don't kill me. I beg you, don't kill me." Elder Zhang was in total despair, his eyes filled with terror. With no strength left to resist, he could only beg like a whipped cur for Li Jiansan to spare him. "This was all Elder Mo forcing me; I had no intention of offending you, please, I beg you..."

"You cannot kill me! I am an elder of the academy! If you kill me, the academy will never let you go. If you let me go, I can pretend that nothing happened."

Li Jiansan smiled. "Pretend that nothing happened?"

"Yes, as long as you spare me, I will even..."

"You might be able to pretend nothing happened, but I cannot. So, die!"

A cold glint flashed in Li Jiansan’s eyes. With a low growl, he raised his sword high and brought it down ruthlessly into Elder Zhang’s chest.

"Crack!"

Li Jiansan drove his blade deep, instantly shattering the ribs within, and the merciless sword light flooded his body, piercing his heart. After twitching for a moment, Elder Zhang breathed his last. His expression froze, his eyes wide with disbelief—even in death, he could not fathom that he had fallen so easily at the hands of a mere teenager.

Li Jiansan had killed an elder with a single strike!

He calmly withdrew his golden greatsword, acting as if nothing had happened. A true villain—wasn't killing a part of the job? What was there to be excited about? What did it matter if he was an elder? A great villain would never allow such ants to dance before his eyes.