The Signal Flare that exploded from Ao Xi’s direction told him everything—she was in trouble.
He moved with incredible speed, his figure a mere phantom as he streaked through the forest.
Before long, Jiang Chen was near Ao Xi’s position.
As he arrived, he saw another figure emerge from the edge of the woods from a different direction.
It was Tian Ci.
And Tian Ci noticed Jiang Chen as well.
His eyes fell on Jiang Chen, and he froze, clearly stunned.
Jiang Chen, however, hesitated for only a second before appearing by Ao Xi’s side.
At that moment, Ao Xi was covered in blood.
Blood streamed continuously from her mouth.
"Ao Xi..."
Jiang Chen knelt, looking down at Ao Xi.
Ao Xi was still breathing.
But Jiang Chen knew his Elixirs couldn’t save her. Her Life Force was fading too quickly.
"Be... careful..."
They were her last two words, faint and garbled, but Jiang Chen understood.
Then, he watched as the last of her breath left her body.
Jiang Chen rose, his face grim.
Tian Ci had already drawn near. He glanced at the dead Ao Xi, then looked back at Jiang Chen.
He then knelt and gathered Ao Xi into his arms.
A mournful cry escaped his lips.
"Ao Xi..."
Jiang Chen noticed the trace of deep affection in Tian Ci’s eyes. ’So he had feelings for her.’
A pity that Ao Xi could no longer hear him.
"My condolences."
Jiang Chen didn’t say anything more.
He knew Tian Ci must be stunned to see him risen from the dead.
But Tian Ci didn’t ask how he had come back to life.
After a long while, Tian Ci finally released Ao Xi and stood up.
His eyes were bloodshot.
He looked at Jiang Chen.
He was silent for a moment.
His eyes held a silent question.
Jiang Chen understood the look in his eyes. "It was Tang Yuan," he said grimly.
Tian Ci was no fool. He realized now that the deaths of Hai Xunyi and Ao Xi had nothing to do with Jiang Chen.
He didn’t ask how Jiang Chen had revived, either.
"I will kill Tang Yuan with my own hands and avenge Ao Xi."
Tian Ci was not a man of many words, but each one he spoke was like an oath.
Jiang Chen wasn’t talkative either.
Still, he spoke up. "Killing Tang Yuan here will be difficult. He arranged for those men in black to be here."
"We should work together from now on. First, let’s get out of Cannibal Valley."
Tian Ci looked at Ao Xi’s body, then walked over and lifted it into his arms.
"Let’s go."
The two were just about to leave.
But, in the next moment, they froze.
Because dark figures were emerging from the woods, one after another—men in black.
They were surrounding them.
They looked and saw Tang Yuan. Despite his severed arm, he wore a cold sneer.
He carried himself like a god toying with the lives of mortals, a being in absolute control, exuding unparalleled arrogance.
"Haha, excellent. Excellent."
"Since you both already know that I, Tang Yuan, was behind all this, I won’t bother to deny it."
"That’s right. It was I, Tang Yuan, who did it."
Tang Yuan roared with laughter as a group of men in black slowly gathered around him.
They advanced slowly.
Tian Ci’s gaze turned ice-cold.
"Tang Yuan, so this was your plan all along."
He was beginning to hate Tang Yuan. It was Tang Yuan’s men who had killed Ao Xi.
In truth, he and Ao Xi had feelings for each other for a long time. They were both just restraining themselves, waiting for the right moment to make it public.
But now, it was all over. He would never have Ao Xi.
Just as she would never have him.
The two were destined to be torn apart.
"Hahahaha...."
"For me to kill you so-called geniuses one by one, shouldn’t I, Tang Yuan, consider it an honor?"
"Do you hate me?"
Tang Yuan looked at Tian Ci and Jiang Chen like a cat watching two mice, his eyes filled with playful amusement, ready to pounce at any moment.
Tian Ci suddenly laid Ao Xi’s body down.
The green longspear he always used appeared in his hand.
Without a single word, he charged at Tang Yuan.
He had to kill Tang Yuan.
Seeing this, Jiang Chen quickly tried to stop him. "Tian Ci, get back!"
He tried to grab Tian Ci, but it was too late. Tian Ci was consumed by grief.
His desire to kill Tang Yuan was stronger than ever.
"Protect the Prince."
One of the men in black beside Tang Yuan gave the order, moving to shield him.
All the men in black swarmed forward.
Tian Ci was instantly swallowed by the crowd of men in black.
Although Tian Ci was a master at the Fifth Heaven of the Martial Arts Sect, the experts Tang Yuan had placed in Cannibal Valley were all formidable—even the Six-Fingered Demon, who possessed a Martial Emperor’s Cultivation, was among them.
How could Tian Ci possibly be their match?
Jiang Chen sighed softly.
Soon, he watched as Tian Ci, surrounded by the men in black, fell.
He didn’t even make a sound.
"Hahaha...."
Tang Yuan burst out laughing.
"Watching you all die one by one truly brings me joy."
"Geniuses? These are your so-called geniuses. In my hands, they’re nothing but corpses."
"From now on, *I* am the true genius."
Tang Yuan’s laughter was crazed, filled with smug triumph.
He had won. All the geniuses had been killed by his men, which was the same as being killed by his own hand.
The situation was completely under his control.
With Tian Ci fallen, Tang Yuan’s gaze locked onto Jiang Chen.
His smile was lazy, and full of amusement.
"Heh, Jiang Chen. What a surprise."
"To think you’re still alive."
He had been there when Jiang Chen was killed.
But here Jiang Chen was, alive. Tang Yuan was surprised, even shocked.
After all, Jiang Chen’s death had seemed so convincing. All three of their attacks had landed, and Ao Xi’s ice spikes, in particular, had turned him into a human pincushion.
And yet, here was Jiang Chen, alive and well.
Tang Yuan decided that Jiang Chen was the most terrifying genius of them all.
Not even Tian Ci could compare.
Walking over to Tian Ci, Tang Yuan viciously stomped on his corpse.
Then, his eyes grew cold.
"Jiang Chen, I have to admit, you’re an even bigger freak of a genius than Tian Ci."
"Heh. But unfortunately for you, today you will die by my hand."
Jiang Chen stood his ground. Behind him, several men in black blocked his escape route.
As Tang Yuan began to move, the men in black started to close in on Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen knew the experts with Tang Yuan were not to be underestimated. They were surely powerful masters from the Tang Kingdom.
What’s more, the Six-Fingered Demon was a Martial Emperor. Even if Jiang Chen gave it everything he had, he would be no match for the Six-Fingered Demon.
He was in grave danger.
"Tang Yuan, the people you’ve killed are not nobodies."
"What you’ve done will come to light."
Tang Yuan scoffed.
"You’re the only one left alive here."
"Once I kill you, who will be left to know I killed them?"
"In fact, perhaps the world will believe *you* were the killer. That someone from your Fire Sparrow Kingdom did it. Wouldn’t you agree?"