Chapter 1460: Chapter 1449: Harboring Other Motives

The blazing shadows of the sword descended, splitting the sea’s surface with a massive chasm, as if cutting the ocean into two halves.

Under the sword’s shadow, Chen Nan’s figure appeared minuscule, surrounded by countless intersecting Sword Qi.

Ding ding ding...

The continuous strikes of Sword Qi on Chen Nan sounded like the clash of metal, as the "Black Tortoise Form" made his body incredibly hardened.

Ignoring the annoying Sword Qi, he looked up at the massive sword shadow, actively charging forward to meet it; the mighty power gathered in his palm, causing the surrounding space to faintly distort.

With a punch, a massive explosion resounded through the sky, dispersing clouds with its shockwave, shattering the gigantic sword shadow into countless rays of light scattered around.

Zheng Tuo’s expression turned somewhat dazed; his powerful attack was shattered by a single punch, completely crushing his confidence.

The mind-numbing anger quickly dissipated, replaced by an icy chill down to the bone.

"Is this... a prodigy?"

He muttered to himself. In his understanding, only those called prodigies, favored children of heaven, could possess such strength to easily crush cultivators of the same realm.

Yet these prodigies were the precious darlings of top families and sects, like dazzling stars. How could one appear in such a small place?

Before Zheng Tuo could figure it out, Chen Nan rushed right in front of him, performing a sealing technique with his hands. A bloodthirsty smile suddenly appeared on his face, and a flash of scarlet glimmered in his eyes.

"Heaven-Slaying Art!"

In a low shout, a gigantic crimson phantom emerged behind Chen Nan, towering like a martial deity, releasing overwhelming blood energy. Holding a long spear, it swept out with terrifying momentum.

With a swish, as if space itself was torn by the battle spear, Zheng Tuo’s vision started spinning; he saw his bloodstained lower half, realizing only then that his body had been split in two, his consciousness sinking into eternal darkness.

After killing Zheng Tuo, Chen Nan seized the storage bags from his and Shi Rou’er’s corpses. He then dispersed his imposing aura, returning to his prior inconspicuous appearance, even suppressing his aura to the First-Layer Golden Core Realm.

He did not rush to leave but instead looked into the distant void, knowing many eyes were watching him there, belonging to cultivators who wanted to be the ones to reap the benefits unnoticed.

Yet at the moment, just standing there made people tremble with fear; several less powerful cultivators retreated in panic, lacking even the courage to face Chen Nan directly.

After sensing those trailing presences dissipate, Chen Nan finally flew back to Yun Ying, jovially retrieving the Golden Dawn Sword from Shi Rou’er’s storage bag.

"See, didn’t I say they came to deliver swords to us? Do you believe it now?"

He spoke with a tinge of boastfulness, as if he wasn’t the terrifying person who just killed two people.

Yun Ying took the sword in a daze, her eyes filled with confusion, suddenly looking up to ask, "Is the outside world like this?"

"Pretty much." Chen Nan chuckled, removing his Sword Qi-tattered clothes and discarding them, changing into a new set: "Such things are all too common."

"But surely there are female knights like you, so you must strive harder."

"Is that so." Yun Ying lowered her head, speaking softly; it was nothing like she had imagined.

Seeing her somewhat dejected mood, Chen Nan sighed slightly, "Senior sister, we should head back. After a few days of recuperation, we’ll venture into the Moon River Valley’s forbidden area."

"It’s bound to be very dangerous, as Moon River Valley has three at Golden Core Realm Great Perfection. If only we could separate them."

He murmured softly, but unexpectedly hit the mark with his words, just as a powerful aura rapidly approached from afar, visible within a few breaths.

"Hostile intentions incoming, be cautious." Chen Nan stepped forward, shielding Yun Ying behind him.

Yun Ying tensed, gripping the Golden Dawn Sword tightly.

The approaching figure became clear, eventually standing before Chen Nan and Yun Ying, revealing itself as the Elder of the Medical Hall in Moon River Valley: Mei Gui.

"Is it you?" Chen Nan raised an eyebrow in surprise, with a hint of suppressed delight.

"So you really didn’t flee far; seems Taiyin was right. Even I have to admire your courage, Chen Nan. Do you really think you can oppose us?"

"The gap in cultivation is insurmountable for you!"

Mei Gui’s eyes carried ridicule, as she unleashed her Golden Core Realm Great Perfection’s cultivation, extending with terrifying oppression.

Under this oppressive aura, Yun Ying almost knelt, but suddenly felt a warmth pushing out the pressure, easing her immediately. She turned her head to see Chen Nan’s determined face.

"Junior brother..."

"Senior sister, wait for me at a distance." Chen Nan didn’t even turn around, with battle intent rising in his heart; this was the best opportunity to weaken Moon River Valley’s strength.

Yun Ying sighed softly, suddenly raising her head to meet Mei Gui’s eyes, "Aunt, why is it? Does cultivating immortality mean abandoning all emotions? Am I just a tool in your eyes?"

By the end, her voice had turned into an accusation.

Mei Gui laughed lightly, sarcasm thick in her eyes, "Do you think you mean so much to us? You’re merely a tool; if not for Taiyin’s demand, you wouldn’t have survived till now."

"Why invest feelings in a tool? When we found you a hundred years ago, you were just an infant. Your parents refused to give you up, so they died. Now do you understand?"