A faint sound echoed through the courtyard.
Jiang Chen descended from the sky like a meteor, landing a devastating blow directly on the black-robed elder.
Sky-Meteor Step!
This was Jiang Chen's newly mastered Intermediate-level Black-grade Foot technique. After refining his Flowing Light Phantom Step during his time in Cangshan City, Jiang Chen had advanced it to this more formidable technique on the way to Thunder Stone City.
Sky-Meteor Step wasn't just faster; it was an offensive maneuver. It could rival Foundation Opening level martial artists.
The black-robed elder's face twisted in terror as Jiang Chen descended. He hastily channeled his Qi, forming a protective black energy shield around him.
But Jiang Chen's expression remained cold. With an effortless step, a wave of golden energy surged from him, crashing down like a mountain.
Boom!
The ground shook violently, the
courtyard's stone floor splintering into shards. Debris scattered in all directions, forcing everyone-except Meng Qingxue-to activate their defensive shields and retreat.
Lu Xiao, caught off guard by the shockwave, was thrown several meters back, landing hard.
When the dust settled, silence
blanketed the courtyard. All eyes turned toward the scene in shock.
Jiang Chen stood calmly in the center, a towering presence. Before him lay a three-meter crater. Half-buried in the shattered ground was the lifeless body of the black-robed elder. His eyes were wide with terror, mouth agape in a final, silent scream.
The members of the Azure Adventure Group stared in stunned disbelief. The black-robed elder had been a peak eighth-level Qi Protection warrior, a renowned powerhouse even among the strongest adventure groups in Thunder Stone City.
And Jiang Chen had crushed him with a single blow.
Incredible. Unbelievable.
Lu Xiao's face drained of color. Witnessing the effortless defeat of his strongest protector, fear consumed him. Without a second thought, he turned and bolted for the courtyard's exit.
"Did I give you permission to leave?"
Jiang Chen's voice was icy, and in an instant, he appeared beside Lu Xiao, gripping his shoulder. With a flick, he sent Lu Xiao flying backward. The young leader crashed to the ground, landing face-first.
"You... what do you want?" Lu Xiao stammered, his voice trembling. His eyes were wide with fear. "I'm the young leader of the Black Tiger Adventure Group! If you harm me, my father will hunt you down! He won't let you go!"
Jiang Chen's expression remained cold. In a flash, he was in front of Lu Xiao, his hand clamped around Lu Xiao's neck, lifting him effortlessly off the ground.
"Don't use your father to threaten
me." Jiang Chen's voice was like ice.
"What if he comes?"
He tightened his grip, his eyes glinting with a dangerous light.
"If he dares to come, I'll kill him too. I'll send him underground to join you."