Heaven-Surpassing Divine Emperor

He had broken through to the Half-step Human Emperor Realm.

Jiang Chen was elated. He had completed the urgent mission and knew he would surely be rewarded upon his return to Blood Jade City.

It was the icing on the cake!

Jiang Chen rushed back to Blood Jade City at top speed. Just as he reached the gates, he saw Zhuge Tao already waiting there.

He seemed to be waiting specifically for him. He approached with a broad smile. "Centurion Jiang, you're finally back! Congratulations!"

"Hm?"

Jiang Chen was taken aback. He raised an eyebrow and said, "Ah, Centurion Zhuge. What's the happy occasion?"

He didn't have a very good impression of Zhuge Tao.

'This man is like a venomous snake,' he thought, 'lying in wait in the shadows, ready to strike at the first opportunity. I feel like he could bite me at any moment!'

Zhuge Tao smiled. "Centurion Jiang, you led the first squad to rescue Zhang Kang and his men, ensuring the Profound Weapons from Black Wind City arrived safely in Blood Jade City. On top of that, you annihilated three thousand members of the Kun-eating Race. These are all tremendous achievements! The City Lord himself has ordered that you be rewarded handsomely, and the three Commanders instructed me to wait for you here. The moment you returned, I was to take you to the Blood Saber Hall to be ennobled. After that, I'll have to start calling you Lord Marquis of Ten Thousand Households!"

Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow.

He knew of the Blood Saber Hall, of course. It was the Forbidden Land of the Blood Saber Guard. No one was allowed to set foot inside unless summoned by all three Commanders at once.

Trespassing in the Blood Saber Hall was a crime punishable by death!

However, on second thought, he had completed the urgent mission and killed three thousand members of the Kun-eating Race. Those were indeed great achievements.

'So being summoned to the Blood Saber Hall to be ennobled is perfectly reasonable.'

He didn't think any more of it and said, "Then I'll trouble you to lead the way, Centurion Zhuge!"

"This way!"

Zhuge Tao smiled respectfully.

He led Jiang Chen toward East City. The Blood Saber Hall was located in the Blood Saber Guard headquarters.

But Jiang Chen failed to notice the sinister, cold glint that flashed in Zhuge Tao's downcast eyes.

They both moved quickly.

Soon enough, they arrived at the Blood Saber Hall. The hall was majestic and imposing, flanked by two crossed, blood-red sabers that radiated a cold light.

"Centurion Jiang, the Blood Saber Hall is the Forbidden Land of our Blood Saber Guard. Only those summoned by the three Commanders may enter. I cannot go in myself," Zhuge Tao said with a smile, standing just outside. "Centurion Jiang—please, go ahead."

"Alright."

Suspecting nothing, Jiang Chen straightened his clothes and stepped into the Blood Saber Hall.

The interior of the Blood Saber Hall was simple. The sides were lined with racks of weapons, and in the center sat three deep-red Grandmaster's Chairs arranged in a row. Directly above them hung a plaque inscribed with the three words "Blood Saber Hall."

The three words were written in a wild, flamboyant script, and they radiated a dense Evil Qi.

Every stroke seemed to contain a tyrannical saber's gleam reaching for the heavens, carrying with it the cold aura of death.

Jiang Chen's gaze sharpened. 'The expert who wrote these three words was definitely a master of the Sword Dao!'

Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes, studying the three words intently. Within each stroke, he could almost see an invincible Swordsman executing a powerful Saber Technique.

Suddenly, a cold snort came from outside the door, followed by an icy rebuke. "How dare you, Jiang Chen! You dare trespass in the hallowed Blood Saber Hall? Are you aware this is a crime punishable by death?"

"Hm?"

Jiang Chen's expression changed drastically.

He looked behind him to see three figures appearing at the entrance of the Blood Saber Hall. They were none other than the three Commanders of the Blood Saber Guard: Lian Yue, Zhao Ziyun, and Pei Yidao.

The one who had just shouted was Pei Yidao.

The three Commanders' expressions were grim. The Blood Saber Hall was a vital location for the Blood Saber Guard. In all of Blood Jade City, besides the supreme City Lord, only the three of them were allowed inside. Anyone else, even the City Lord's own children, would face a death sentence for daring to enter without permission!

Jiang Chen's face fell. When he saw the sinister look on Pei Yidao's face, and Zhuge Tao standing right behind him, he instantly understood he had been set up.

'Dammit, I was too careless.'

Jiang Chen cursed inwardly before speaking up. "This subordinate, Jiang Chen, greets the three Commanders. I did not trespass in the Blood Saber Hall. Zhuge Tao told me that Commander Pei had summoned me."

"Don't you dare slander me, Jiang Chen!" Zhuge Tao retorted. "I've been by my master's side this whole time. When would I have had the time to inform you of anything?"

"That's right," Pei Yidao nodded. "Tao has been with me the entire time. Jiang Chen, you dared to trespass in the Blood Saber Hall. Not even the City Lord himself could save you today!"

Lian Yue frowned.

He also sensed something was amiss. His gaze shifted between Pei Yidao and Jiang Chen, but in the end, he sided with Pei Yidao. "Just handle this according to the rules," he said flatly.

"Rest assured, Grand Commander. I will handle this properly," Pei Yidao said with a nod.

Zhao Ziyun opened his mouth.

But it ended in a soft sigh. He glanced at Jiang Chen and shook his head gently. "Ah, you..."

With that, Zhao Ziyun also turned and left.

They were all sharp enough to know that Jiang Chen would never trespass in the Blood Saber Hall on his own; something was clearly afoot. Moreover, it was Pei Yidao who had summoned them, which meant he was undoubtedly involved. Although Zhao Ziyun valued Jiang Chen highly, he wasn't about to offend Pei Yidao for his sake.

「Inside the Blood Saber Hall.」

Jiang Chen's expression slowly darkened. He hadn't expected Lian Yue and Zhao Ziyun to side against him without even an investigation.

"Hahaha, Jiang Chen, who's going to save you now?" Zhuge Tao sneered. "Weren't you so arrogant? The great Centurion, completing an urgent mission on your first assignment, killing over three thousand members of the Kun-eating Race... So what? You offended someone you shouldn't have, and now there's no escaping death!"

Pei Yidao glared at Jiang Chen, his eyes filled with a grim killing intent. "Jiang Chen," he snarled, "you dared to kill my son. Today, no one can save you!"

This was all a trap they had set!

The Blood Saber Guard's rules were strict. Even though Pei Yidao was the Third Commander, he couldn't just attack Jiang Chen directly. He needed to find a legitimate reason!

And so, at Zhuge Tao's suggestion, they had orchestrated this very scene.

Jiang Chen stood firm in the Blood Saber Hall. A cold light flickered in his eyes, as bright as starlight, as he met Pei Yidao's gaze without a shred of fear. "Pei Yidao, do you know why your son died? He coveted my Storage Ring and plotted to have me killed to steal my treasures. I killed him in the end."

"By doing this, you are following in his footsteps. Do you realize that?" Jiang Chen said coolly.

"Hmph!"

Pei Yidao sneered. "Kid, you're still so arrogant, even now. Following in his footsteps? You're not worthy of the comparison. Today, the Blood Saber Hall will be your grave!"

As soon as the words left his mouth,

Pei Yidao transformed into a streak of blood-red light and charged at Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen's entire body tensed, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes. "Human Emperor Realm Ninth Stage, is it? Then today, I will fight you!"