Dragon-Marked War God Chapter 3040 - An Old Rival

Xue Liang claimed the Sword of Solitude, and instantly, the aura of the Immortal Execution Great Emperor vanished into the ether. He had arrived like a ghost and departed just as swiftly. As the youth glanced downward, the enigmatic shadows cast upon the Eight Diagrams Altar dissolved into fine dust. The Six Directions and Eight Desolates Formation shuddered, slowly crumbling into grey remnants.

“He has moved on. The Immortal Execution Great Emperor has truly left us behind,” Bing Yun whispered, her voice trembling. Tears welled in her eyes as she spoke. She had held the Great Emperor in the same reverence one reserves for a benefactor, and though their actual exchange was minimal, her heart was filled with profound gratitude.

Jiang Chen peeled his eyes open. When his gaze collided with Xue Liang’s, a silent spark of competitive fire ignited between them. They exchanged a brief, understanding smile. Even if a duel were in their future, it was prudent to delay such a clash until they departed this perilous realm. Both men recognized that their power had surged immensely. Xue Liang, in particular, would have never dared to cross blades with Jiang Chen prior to inheriting the Great Emperor’s mantle.

“Jiang Chen, you have finally awakened! This is the Sword of Solitude; the Immortal Execution Great Emperor bestowed it upon you,” Xue Liang stated.

“The Immortal Execution Great Emperor has passed into memory,” Jiang Chen replied, tilting his head in silent acknowledgment. The legendary figure had faded away, his lone, commanding presence reduced to nothingness. Gripping the sword, Jiang Chen alone could sense the profound sorrow etched into the soul of the fallen master. This blade was not meant for a rival; it was destined for his hand. The Great Emperor had walked a path of solitude, and his very sword intent was steeped in that same profound isolation.

At that moment, the altar disintegrated completely, and the formation vanished, granting them their liberation.

“We must track down Xuanyuan Canglan,” Xue Liang declared, his expression darkening.

Jiang Chen and his companions pressed forward, eventually spotting Xuanyuan Canglan. The man stood poised, gripping a shimmering green spear.

“Ah, so the lot of you survived. It appears your luck is surprisingly persistent,” Xuanyuan Canglan remarked with a twisted grin, having just fended off the spear-wielder.

The man with the green spear turned, his features contorted in rage. Even Jiang Chen’s expression grew grave. Their eyes met, and it felt as though the years had collapsed into a single moment—it was a meeting not of friends, but of bitter enemies bound by a blood feud.

“It is you! I never imagined our paths would cross again,” the green-speared man sneered, fixed solely on Jiang Chen with lethal hatred burning in his eyes.

“The surprise is mutual. It seems your talent for survival in the Immortal World is truly remarkable,” Jiang Chen retorted coolly. He was briefly stunned; the past surged back with the weight of ancient grudges. It was unfathomable, yet this was indeed Jun Tianchou, the very man he had slaughtered back in the Saint Origin World.

“That was merely a fraction of my true self, but today, you will pay the blood price. Had it not been for your interference, I would have ascended to the Divine Emperor Realm long ago,” Jun Tianchou hissed.

The two glared at each other, fire simmering in their eyes. No one present had anticipated this rivalry. Because Jun Tianchou held a slight edge over him in combat, Xuanyuan Canglan had struggled to secure a victory despite his best efforts.

“Fate is rarely kind to you, meeting me a second time,” Jiang Chen noted.

“Fortune favors us both, I suppose. It is divine providence that we meet again in this vast Divine World. I shall relish ending you to purge the stain of my past humiliations,” Jun Tianchou declared, his anger reaching a boiling point. The destruction of part of his Nine Revolution Golden Body had tethered him to the Hierarch Realm, blocking his path to the Divine Emperor Realm. He would never forgive Jiang Chen for stalling his destiny.

“We shall see if you have the mettle for it. I dismantled you once before, and I shall do so again,” Jiang Chen countered with unwavering confidence.

“What hollow arrogance! Do you honestly imagine your strength measures up to mine? You are utterly delusional. I shall cast you into the abyss today for your sheer ignorance,” Jun Tianchou scoffed. To him, an Early Hierarch Realm cultivator was merely a nuisance waiting to be eradicated.

“Tell me, does the pain of your previous death still linger in your memory?” Jiang Chen asked, his hands clasped behind his back. The question caused Jun Tianchou’s face to drain of all color; he found the youth’s arrogance an insult to his dignity.

“Your end is here,” Jun Tianchou roared, stepping forward as a suffocating pressure filled the sky. His spirit was vastly different from the likes of the Scarlet Flame or Xuanyuan Canglan; it was a more refined, lethal power. This disparity explained why Xuanyuan Canglan had failed to overcome him.

“My enemy’s enemy is my ally. Shall we join forces?” Xuanyuan Canglan suggested, eyeing Jun Tianchou with a calculating smirk.

“An excellent proposal,” Jun Tianchou agreed. Though solitary by nature, the opportunity to use a tool to eliminate Jiang Chen was too convenient to ignore.

“It seems the challenge has been issued, Jiang Chen,” Xue Liang noted, casting a glance at his counterpart.

“Then we fight. Only the victor earns the right to speak,” Jiang Chen replied, a faint smile gracing his lips.

“So you managed to break into the Hierarch Realm, no wonder you feel so bold,” Xuanyuan Canglan mused, his focus shifting to Xue Liang. He realized with a start that Xue Liang had surged to the Late Hierarch Realm. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Xuanyuan Canglan braced himself for a difficult battle.

“I will handle Xuanyuan Canglan. Leave the other to you,” Xue Liang said, his resolve hardened. His power had been sharpened by the Great Emperor’s legacy, and he was confident he could finally surpass his rival. It would be an insult to his master’s memory to falter now.

“Understood!” Jiang Chen nodded, his eyes locked onto Jun Tianchou. Having bested him once, he was ready to do so again.

“I just hope you do not crumble as easily as you did last time,” Jiang Chen added pointedly.