Volume One – The Borderlands of the State of Chen, The Rebellious Marquis’s Immortal Path Chapter 41: Daoist Jiang Qing

Jing Zhe immediately felt disgruntled and cursed, “You old wretch, come on—let’s see what kind of skill you, a fool from the Nine Provinces, actually have.”

“Hmph, impudent thief! My immortal arts are far beyond your comprehension,” the national advisor of Zheng, Master Jiang Qing, replied disdainfully. “Very well, since we have crossed paths, let me send the three of you to the Western Paradise. Afterwards, I shall raze your Chen Kingdom and bury it alongside my disciple.”

“Old bastard, you’re shameless indeed. Let’s see who ends up defeated—you or us!” Jing Zhe bellowed in anger. The three of them unleashed their aura, their power swelling rapidly.

“So this is what you rely on?” Jiang Qing’s expression darkened. “Such young men, yet you’ve reached this realm—you truly are prodigies. It’s unfortunate you’re destined to die by my hand.”

Jiang Qing formed his fingers into a sword and thrust at them.

“Careful!” His sword-like fingers split into dozens of shadows that shot toward them. Startled, the three quickly retreated.

“Do you really think you can escape?” Jiang Qing sneered. The finger shadows moved with relentless speed, closing in.

“Break!” With nowhere left to retreat, the three launched their attacks.

Chen Yu wielded the Sword of Vastness; Xue Han unleashed the Sword of Cold Wind; Jing Zhe summoned his Eight Desolate Force. The combined might of their blows stirred the winds and surged through the heavens, meeting Jiang Qing’s strike head-on.

“Haha—old bastard, you’re not so extraordinary after all,” Jing Zhe jeered as he closed in, his movements swift and fierce.

Chen Yu and Xue Han followed, forming a triangle around Jiang Qing, quickly cutting off his escape.

“I underestimated you.” Jiang Qing grew serious, darting toward Jing Zhe.

Their clash sent shockwaves rippling outward, shattering the stones nearby into rubble.

Crack—ultimately, Jing Zhe’s inexperience showed. Jiang Qing spotted an opening and struck him squarely, forcing him back with a palm and drawing blood from his lips.

“Brother!” Chen Yu and Xue Han cried out, rushing to his side and attacking Jiang Qing simultaneously.

Jiang Qing moved with uncanny speed, sometimes swift, sometimes slow, matching the two in combat with no clear advantage.

The expressions of Chen Yu and his companions grew grave—they had misjudged Jiang Qing’s strength. Still, they did not lose hope, for victory was not entirely beyond reach.

Very soon, Jing Zhe rejoined the fray. Their coordinated assault began to press Jiang Qing, forcing him onto the defensive.

Outwardly, Jiang Qing remained calm, but inwardly he was deeply shaken. He had not expected these three to possess such formidable strength. Despite living for over a century, that very longevity had left him weakened, his energy waning. If he could not finish the fight quickly, he might well end up defeated.

“Absurd! You dare challenge me?” Jiang Qing roared angrily, activating his cultivation arts. His formidable aura pressed back against the three.

Boom—an overwhelming wave of force slammed into them before they could react, sending them reeling.

“Do you even understand what immortal arts are? You think your skills can defeat me? Ridiculous!” Jiang Qing scoffed.

But as he began his incantations, the three sensed it—it was the Nine-Breath Vitality Art.

“Heh…is this the immortal art you speak of?” Chen Yu replied with scorn. “Nine-Breath Vitality? As if you’re the only one who can use it.”

The three immediately activated the Nine-Breath Vitality Art, astonishing Jiang Qing.

“How is this possible? How do you know the arts of the Nine Provinces? Are you outsiders as well?” Jiang Qing cried out in disbelief, then quickly denied his own suspicion. “No, you’re the Eighth Prince of Chen, you couldn’t have come from the Nine Provinces. Then you two—are you disciples of a Nine Provinces sect? No…even so, how could a rebel lord of Chen have mastered the Nine-Breath Vitality Art?”

“Where do all your questions come from, old bastard?” Jing Zhe roared, launching a punch at Jiang Qing. “I was born and raised in Chen. If I can cultivate, it’s because I’m exceptionally gifted—nothing you could ever compare to!”

Caught off guard, Jiang Qing was forced back several steps by Jing Zhe’s blow.

Seizing the opportunity, the three pressed their advantage, unleashing a barrage of attacks that threatened to overwhelm Jiang Qing.

Yet, Jiang Qing’s experience showed. He quickly regained his composure, though he was being suppressed, he did not panic—he still had tricks left.

“Haha…however you mastered the Nine-Breath Vitality Art, perhaps now we can pause and have a proper conversation,” Jiang Qing retreated strategically, attempting to persuade them.

“Hmph, how absurd! What could we possibly have to discuss with you?” Jing Zhe sneered, his strikes growing even fiercer.

“Oh? Is that so?” Jiang Qing replied calmly. “Since you’ve mastered the Nine-Breath Vitality Art, don’t you wish to enter the Nine Provinces?”

At these words, Chen Yu and his companions’ eyes narrowed, their attacks slowing.

“If I had the help of you three, I’d have a good chance of crossing the Heaven’s Severance Mountains,” Jiang Qing pressed on.

After a few exchanges, both sides retreated.

Chen Yu glanced at his companions and asked, “You’re confident you can cross the Heaven’s Severance Mountains?”

“Of course. But I need your aid,” Jiang Qing replied enthusiastically.

“Oh…are you telling the truth?” Chen Yu questioned. “And how can you prove your words?”

“Hmph, you think you can trick me into revealing my secrets so easily?” Jiang Qing replied coldly, as if everything was under his control. “If you truly wish to enter the Nine Provinces, you must cooperate with me.”

The three exchanged glances, their brows furrowed as they quickly discussed.

“Third Brother, do you think this old bastard can be trusted?” Jing Zhe asked.

“He doesn’t seem to be lying,” Chen Yu analyzed, “but he clearly has ulterior motives.”

Xue Han nodded in agreement. “I think so, too. He might really have a method, but he surely wants to use us as tools. Remember what happened at Heaven’s Severance Mountains? With the power he’s shown today, saving his two disciples would have been easy—so what happened in the end?”

“Exactly! That’s just what I think,” Chen Yu said.

“So, what do you propose? Shall we cooperate?” Jing Zhe asked.

At that moment, Jing Zhe and Xue Han both looked to Chen Yu, leaving the decision to him.

“If it were up to me, I’d kill him to send a message to Zheng. He cannot cross the Heaven’s Severance Mountains, but that doesn’t mean we can’t,” Chen Yu said confidently.

“Good—let’s do it, then!”