Chapter 21: What Are You?

"Xiao Chen, why are you surprised? Are you also surprised by my reaction?" Seeing Xiao Chen's shocked expression, the Ancient Divine Beast White Tiger asked curiously.

"I... I actually condensed Sword Qi! When I was at the Immortal Dao Sect, I heard from my master that only when one's cultivation reaches the Golden Core Stage can they have enough power to condense Sword Qi. But just now, I actually managed to do it!" Xiao Chen said in astonishment, not daring to believe it himself.

"Isn't that a good thing? It means your strength has become even more powerful!" the Ancient Divine Beast White Tiger said, seemingly not understanding the significance of Xiao Chen's words.

Xiao Chen, though shocked, quickly recovered and looked at Zhao Yun, who had been sent flying. Xiao Chen coldly said, "Sorry, I won!"

Zhao Yun looked at Xiao Chen with shock, seeing his pale, youthful face and those unwavering eyes that never seemed to give up. He was momentarily stunned.

Although Xiao Chen had broken through, his injuries were still present. A breakthrough did not mean his injuries were healed, only that he had gained greater power.

Xiao Chen also clearly felt that with his breakthrough, not only had his True Essence become stronger, but his incredibly strong physique had also improved. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to injure Zhao Yun with a single punch.

"I won't kill you because I owe you one. If you had ordered your men to kill me earlier, I would already be dead! Consider this as repayment," Xiao Chen said coldly, his eyes filled with icy determination as he looked at Zhao Yun.

"Yo! Isn't this Zhao Yun? How did you end up like this today? Oh, I see, it seems you were beaten up by this little kid, right?" At this moment, a sarcastic and very grating laugh was heard.

"Sun Ming!" Zhao Yun glanced sideways, a hint of fierceness flashing in his eyes.

"Don't look at me like that, you seem very dissatisfied. Do you want me to help teach this little kid a lesson?" Sun Ming sneered, his arrogant demeanor making people want to punch him.

"Fasting Stage!" Xiao Chen also looked at the middle-aged man, noting his cultivation level at a glance.

Sun Ming was tall and thin, wearing a blue and white long robe, holding a leisurely fan, and had a look of a scoundrel, with shifty eyes, clearly not a good person. There were quite a few lackeys behind him as well.

"Sun Ming has actually broken through to the Fasting Stage! No wonder he dares to be so arrogant in front of me!" Zhao Yun thought angrily. In the past, Sun Ming wouldn't have dared to be so presumptuous in front of Zhao Yun.

"Why aren't you speaking? Are you scared by my Fasting Stage cultivation? Or are you afraid of my revenge?" Sun Ming sneered sinisterly, looking somewhat proud, making him even more annoying.

Sun Ming's cultivation was previously not as good as Zhao Yun's, so he was often bullied by Zhao Yun. Because Sun Ming was insidious, Zhao Yun frequently taught him a lesson.

Now that Sun Ming had broken through to the Fasting Stage and Zhao Yun was seriously injured, Sun Ming naturally wouldn't miss the chance to kill Zhao Yun.

Sun Ming slowly walked towards Zhao Yun. One of Zhao Yun's burly subordinates shouted angrily, "Sun Ming, what do you want to do? Are you trying to take advantage of someone in a vulnerable position?"

"You worthless lot better get lost! Otherwise, I'll kill you all now!" Sun Ming laughed sinisterly, his cold eyes filled with murderous intent.

Seeing Sun Ming about to make a move, Xiao Chen extended his Divine Sword to block Sun Ming's path. Sun Ming coldly glanced at Xiao Chen and sneered, "Kid, do you want to die too? Don't think that just because you defeated Zhao Yun, you can defeat me!"

"Xiao Chen, forget it. This guy is stronger than Zhao Yun. You're no match for him, especially since you're injured. Let's not get involved and leave. Didn't you say you wanted to go to Tiandu?" The Ancient Divine Beast White Tiger quickly transmitted its voice, now even more worried with a Fasting Stage cultivator here.

Zhao Yun glanced complexly at Xiao Chen, not understanding why Xiao Chen wanted to help him, considering Zhao Yun had almost killed him earlier.

Xiao Chen coldly looked at Sun Ming and said, "I don't care what grievances you have with him, or if you want to kill him. But in my presence, I won't allow you to take advantage of someone's vulnerability! Your current actions are those of a despicable person, and I won't let you make a move!"

"Brat, do you know who you're talking to? Do you know what happens to those who meddle? They die. Earlier, I was thinking of taking you as my adopted son, but now I see there's no need!" Hearing Xiao Chen's arrogant words, Sun Ming's expression instantly turned grim, his fierce killing intent locking onto Xiao Chen.

"Such strong killing intent. Xiao Chen, hurry and leave! You can't beat him; your True Essence is almost depleted. You'll die," the Ancient Divine Beast White Tiger urged anxiously. Though it had just met Xiao Chen, it already considered him a true friend and didn't want anything to happen to him.

"Kid, you don't need to meddle. Get lost, I'll handle my own matters!" Zhao Yun coldly said to Xiao Chen, then, with the help of two burly men, struggled to stand up.

Xiao Chen didn't speak, but his True Essence had already begun to circulate, quickly pouring into his Divine Sword. Without another word, he suddenly slashed at Sun Ming.

"Whoosh!"

A powerful white Sword Qi shot out from the tip of the sword, rushing towards Sun Ming. The latter hurriedly dodged, leaping backward in panic.

"Boom!"

The powerful white Sword Qi struck a wall of a pavilion, exploding with a loud bang, creating a hole and spreading cracks.

"I injured you. I don't want you to be killed because of me. Leave now, I'll distract him!" Xiao Chen said without turning back to Zhao Yun, his cold eyes fixed on Sun Ming, who had retreated to a distance.

Looking at Xiao Chen's small figure, Zhao Yun felt a storm surge in his heart. This kind of courage, this kind of determination and calmness, was not something a mere teenager could possess.

"Xiao Chen! What a strange kid..." Zhao Yun could only use these words to describe Xiao Chen.

Sun Ming was shocked, looking at the hole in the wall. He exclaimed, "Was that Sword Qi just now?"

Shocked, he looked at Xiao Chen and said, "A kid in his teens can condense Sword Qi? This is impossible!"

Xiao Chen defeating Zhao Yun had already shocked Sun Ming, making him consider taking Xiao Chen as his adopted son. But now that Xiao Chen could condense Sword Qi, it left him even more astounded.

"Bang!"

Xiao Chen launched another attack, stepping forcefully on the ground. His small figure swiftly moved towards Sun Ming, holding the cold, radiant Divine Sword.

"Brat, you've underestimated me!" Sun Ming sneered sinisterly, frantically circulating his True Essence. Facing the charging Xiao Chen, he was not afraid.

"Ha!"

As Xiao Chen approached Sun Ming, he shouted, gripping the Divine Sword with both hands and slashing upward with all his might. This strike contained Xiao Chen's strongest power, the surrounding air vibrating with its destructive force.

"Ding!"

However, Xiao Chen's full-force attack was caught by Sun Ming with his bare hand. With a crisp sound, all the power in the Divine Sword was instantly dissipated by Sun Ming.

"What? Barehanded..." Seeing this, Xiao Chen was shocked. His full-force attack was easily caught by Sun Ming's right hand, without any movement!

Sun Ming's cold eyes were filled with disdain. He sneered, "Kid, don't naively think that because you injured the useless Zhao Yun, you can deal with me. Now I'll show you what fear is!"

"Boom!"

As soon as Sun Ming finished speaking, he fiercely swung his arm holding Xiao Chen's sword, throwing Xiao Chen and his sword out. Xiao Chen crashed into a pavilion with a loud bang, collapsing the wall.

"This guy's strength is so powerful! His power is overwhelming!" Xiao Chen said in shock, spitting out a mouthful of blood as he crashed into the wall, his injuries worsening.

"I told you not to meddle. This guy is in the Fasting Stage, and you're only in the Mid Heart Movement Stage. You can't beat him! Now you realize your mistake?" the Ancient Divine Beast White Tiger said angrily, blaming Xiao Chen for not listening.

"What? Is it over already? Is this all you've got?" Sun Ming said coldly, looking disdainfully in Xiao Chen's direction.

"Your power isn't that great!" Xiao Chen said, dragging his severely injured body to stand up, his cold eyes sweeping towards Sun Ming without any hint of wavering.

"Xiao Chen! Run quickly! Don't be reckless!" the Ancient Divine Beast White Tiger urged more urgently. If Sun Ming got really angry, Xiao Chen would be done for.

"Kid, not bad, you can still stand. But it's better this way; the game doesn't have to end so quickly!" Sun Ming sneered sinisterly, then looked at Zhao Yun, saying, "Zhao Yun, watch how I tear this kid apart!"

Xiao Chen slowly walked out and said coldly, "With your strength, you want to tear me apart? Who do you think you are? A despicable person"

"What are you!" Xiao Chen said coldly.

"You're asking for death!" Sun Ming roared angrily, charging towards Xiao Chen in a fit of rage.

"If you have the guts, come chase me!" Seeing Sun Ming rushing towards him, Xiao Chen also moved, swiftly darting in another direction.

"Chase after me! Seal off all exits of Qiufeng Town! Don't let that brat escape!" Sun Ming immediately turned back to angrily command his lackeys, then swiftly pursued Xiao Chen.

"Little White Tiger, I'll rely on you later!" Xiao Chen said as he ran.

The Ancient White Tiger finally understood Xiao Chen's plan, which was to provoke Sun Ming and then lead him away, giving Zhao Yun and the others a chance to escape.

The Ancient White Tiger transmitted its voice with a laugh, "Xiao Chen, you're quite clever. Don't worry, as long as you run, I guarantee they won't catch up to you!"

"Hehe! With you saying that, I'm relieved. Otherwise, with my current serious injuries, I wouldn't be able to run at all! That guy is too fast!" Xiao Chen chuckled, his slender figure swiftly leaping across the rooftops of Qiufeng Town, soon disappearing from sight.