Chapter 374: Chapter 373: Heartless Young Master_1
"Who is this?"
Seeing this white-clothed youth approaching step by step, Ling Chen couldn’t help but frown. He could not sense any evil aura from this youth, but equally, there was no sense of **Righteous Qi**. However, considering he saved Chu Tiange and Mei Ji, it was likely that he meant no good and could be from the **Demon Way**.
Moreover, what deeply troubled Ling Chen was the youth’s **Cultivation**. It was probably at least at the **Fifth Level Grandmaster** stage, simply inscrutable.
"I’ve heard that among the ’**Ten Outstanding Talents of the Demon Sect**,’ there’s one named ’**Heartless Young Master**.’ He is the only **disciple** of the **Heartbroken Elder**, known for his ruthlessness and utter disregard for humanity, making him extremely difficult to deal with. I’m afraid it could be him."
At this point, Xu Ruoyan’s voice came from the side.
"**Heartless Young Master**."
Ling Chen’s face grew grave. The ’**Ten Outstanding Talents of the Demon Sect**,’ although all hailed as the top geniuses of the **Demonic Sect**, had members whose strengths varied immensely. Take Mei Ji, Chu Tiange, and Xia Yunxin for example—they weren’t even in the same league.
And this **Heartless Young Master** was evidently another tough character like Xia Yunxin.
The extent of Xia Yunxin’s true power was still a mystery to Ling Chen. He hadn’t truly defeated Xia Yunxin during their previous match at the **Martial World** Convention; instead, he had merely exposed her disguise, leading to her disqualification. Furthermore, Xia Yunxin had competed under the alias "**Young Master Ye**," so all the techniques she had used were those of "**Young Master Ye**." She hadn’t used any of her own **Saint Witch Religion** techniques. Ling Chen even suspected she had hidden her true combat strength.
The leader of the ’**Ten Outstanding Talents of the Demon Sect**’ would certainly not be someone famous for nothing.
Moreover, Ling Chen vividly remembered how **Prince Tai** had been killed by Xia Yunxin with a single strike in the **Demon Forest**. **Prince Tai’s Cultivation** was at least at the **Grandmaster Fifth Realm**. If it came to a true battle of **life and death**, Ling Chen wasn’t very confident he could defeat her.
"How much do you know about his strength?"
Ling Chen looked at Xu Ruoyan.
"Only what I’ve heard."
A thoughtful expression appeared on Xu Ruoyan’s pretty face. "Legend has it that the **Heartbroken Elder** was once betrayed by a loved one, which drove him to **despair**. In his extreme anguish, he went into seclusion for ten years and forged the **Sad Bow** and the **Ruthless Arrow**."
"These two **treasures** are imbued with an incredibly heavy aura of **despair**. Ordinary people cannot control these **treasures**, much less unleash their true power. And this **Heartless Young Master**, **Xun Wujie**, being the **Heartbroken Elder’s** only **disciple**, is also the second person in this world capable of wielding these two **treasures**."
"However, it seems he didn’t bring those two **treasures** with him today, so his strength should only be at about seventy percent of its full capacity."
"Then, if we team up, we should have a good chance of winning, right?"
Hearing this, Ling Chen felt somewhat relieved. Surely, they could handle seventy percent of the **Heartless Young Master’s** strength.
"Even at only seventy percent of his full strength, I’m afraid we’re still no match for him."
Xu Ruoyan was not as optimistic as Ling Chen; he was getting ahead of himself.
"Don’t be so quick to diminish our own spirit while praising his," Ling Chen retorted, clearly unconvinced. "With the **Thunder Shadow Sword** in hand, who among the younger generation can contend with me? I’d like to see just how strong this **Heartless Young Master** can be!"
With this thought, Ling Chen took a step, leaving an afterimage as his true form appeared before the **Heartless Young Master** in an instant. A spark of **thunder light** rapidly condensed at the tip of his **sword**, thrusting directly towards the **Heartless Young Master’s** brow.
"Fool! You’re courting death!"
Seeing this, Chu Tiange smirked, looking at Ling Chen as if he were already dead. Daring to confront **Xun Wujie** head-on is simply suicide!
A flicker of worry appeared in Xu Ruoyan’s beautiful eyes as she watched Ling Chen rush out so rashly. Though she had confidence in Ling Chen’s strength, this **Heartless Young Master** was not on the same level as them. He rarely acted, but he was by no means an ordinary person. It was quite possible he had already reached the level of the **Four Outstanding Talents**.
Facing Ling Chen’s incoming **Sword Light**, the **Heartless Young Master** didn’t dodge. He lightly tapped his foot on the ground, his entire body drifting backward. Just as Ling Chen’s **sword** tip, crackling with **thunder light**, was about to pierce his brow, he acted. He merely extended his index and middle fingers and tapped the side of Ling Chen’s **sword**. The next moment, Ling Chen’s sword trajectory was forcibly deflected.
"Damn it!"
Ling Chen was astonished. No one had ever dared to counter his **Swordsmanship** with just their fingers, especially not against the **Thunder Shadow Sword**, yet this **Heartless Young Master** had done it. This man is truly unfathomable!
His heart pounded like a storm. Ling Chen estimated this person had likely reached the level of the **Four Outstanding Talents**, comparable to Xia Yunxin.
"Retreat!"
His **sword technique** easily countered, Ling Chen didn’t press the attack and immediately fell back.
"Why the rush to leave?"
But **Xun Wujie**, opposite him, wouldn’t let him retreat so easily. His right hand shot out like a phantom towards Ling Chen’s chest. A cold gleam rapidly neared Ling Chen’s heart; between his fingers, a **Hidden Weapon**—a gleaming **poison needle**—was clearly visible.
Seeing he was about to be struck by the **poison needle**, Ling Chen sensed immense danger. He instantly activated the **Ancient Saint King Battle Technique** while simultaneously pushing his **Dragon Bloodline** to its absolute limit, unleashing his full power to form a **True Qi** Shield around his body.
However, before **Xun Wujie**, the newly formed **True Qi** Shield was like a wall of tofu, shattering on impact, utterly failing to block him.
At the critical moment, the **True Qi** enveloping Ling Chen vibrated intensely. He expended a massive amount of **True Qi** to leave a **True Qi** afterimage in place while his real body shot backward.
But **Xun Wujie**, as if he could see through everything, directly shot the **Hidden Weapon**—the **poison needle**—at Ling Chen’s true form.
PFFT!
Ling Chen’s "true form" was pierced by the **poison needle**, but no blood flowed out.
"Hm?"
For the first time, a flicker of surprise crossed **Xun Wujie’s** emotionless face. His gaze instantly shifted, landing on a spot further back—where Ling Chen’s actual body was.
"Feints within feints. Interesting."
Musingly touching his chin, a look of interest seemed to appear on **Xun Wujie’s** face.
This man’s strength is truly exceptional. I never expected to encounter such a formidable opponent here.
Ling Chen’s heart grew heavy.
Today, it seems, will be another desperate battle of **life and death**.
"Ling Chen, perhaps we’re not entirely without a chance of winning."
At this moment, Xu Ruoyan’s slightly hesitant voice suddenly cut in.
"You have a way?" Ling Chen’s face lit up, his eyes filling with tenderness as he looked at Xu Ruoyan. "At critical moments, my wife is always the most dependable!"
"Shut up! Who’s your wife?"
Xu Ruoyan’s pretty face flushed red. Her fair left hand clenched, feigning a punch at Ling Chen. The blush then subsided, and she said, exasperated, "You! Surely you haven’t forgotten the **Swordsmanship** we learned together at **Guantian Pavilion**?"
"**Guantian Pavilion**?"
Ling Chen paused, then it dawned on him, his eyes suddenly brightening. After the Sword Discourse Convention, he and Xu Ruoyan had jointly cultivated a partnered **Swordsmanship** technique at **Guantian Pavilion** called the "**Yin-Yang Sword Song**." That **Swordsmanship** was exceptionally profound, its rank unknown, but its power was at least **King Level**. The strength of this partnered **Swordsmanship** depended on the spiritual attunement between the two practitioners. In other words, the more in sync Ling Chen and Xu Ruoyan were, the greater its power would be.
A spark of inspiration lit his eyes as Ling Chen recalled the incantations for the **Swordsmanship**. This **Yin-Yang Sword Song** was undoubtedly their only hope for victory this time!