Chu Lingjun’s pretty face was frosted with cold. Although she did not respond to Ma Cheng’s words, she had committed every single one of them to memory.
Yet, Ma Cheng interpreted this silence differently. To him, it seemed Chu Lingjun and the other Disciples of Martial Sect were swallowing their anger simply because they were afraid.
"Chu Lingjun, don’t be a fool and throw my goodwill back in my face!"
"I’m warning you, letting you call me ’brother’ is already a great kindness," Ma Cheng said angrily. "Otherwise, I have plenty of ways to crush you and leave you at my mercy! Do you understand?"
Chu Lingjun’s brows knitted together, a cold glint flashing across her face.
She thrust two fingers forward, aiming directly at Ma Cheng. A piercing projection from her fingers shot straight toward him!
Seeing this, a sly smile crept onto Ma Cheng’s face. He had deliberately provoked Chu Lingjun into attacking first. Unhurried, he extended a hand. A Rune Inscription materialized before him, intercepting her attack.
"What is the meaning of this, Martial Ancestor?" he deliberately raised his voice so that everyone present could hear him clearly. "I was speaking to you politely, and you resort to violence?"
Instantly, all eyes focused on Ma Cheng and Chu Lingjun.
Seizing the opportunity, Ma Cheng added coldly, "Since that’s how it is, don’t blame me for retaliating!"
The moment the words left his mouth, Ma Cheng stepped forward, his body blurring into an afterimage. In the blink of an eye, his fist rapidly filled Chu Lingjun’s vision.
Chu Lingjun dodged to the side, and the two immediately fell into a flurry of blows.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
A series of dull impacts rang out. The disciples of both the Martial Sect and the Sword Ancestor began cheering for their respective sect’s Heaven’s Chosen. For a moment, the once-silent Nine Demons Mountain Range became boisterous and lively.
Long Chen watched their clash carefully. Ma Cheng and Chu Lingjun were evenly matched; it was impossible to determine a winner so quickly.
"Spirit Monarch, stop!"
A voice boomed from the sky, filling the air. Upon hearing this, Chu Lingjun withdrew her hand, ceasing her fight with Ma Cheng.
Ma Cheng, however, was relentless and pressed his attack.
"Presumptuous!"
The crowd saw a blur, and three figures appeared in the air above the Disciples of Martial Sect. The newcomers were none other than the three rulers of the Martial Ancestor. The one in the lead was Chu Zhentian!
With a gentle wave of his hand, a powerful force sent Ma Cheng flying backward. Utterly unable to resist, he was thrown into a disheveled heap, though he was not injured.
"Chu Zhentian, how dare you attack a junior! Have you no shame?"
As the words fell, An Zhun appeared behind Ma Cheng, steadying him while staring coldly at Chu Zhentian.
"That’s because your Sword Ancestor is always committing disgraceful acts behind the scenes," Chu Zhentian retorted domineeringly in the face of An Zhun’s accusation. "Why should I bother with decorum when dealing with disgraceful people like you?"
An Zhun’s eyes narrowed, and a palpable chill emanated from his body, causing the surrounding air temperature to plummet.
Just then, an oppressive power swept down from the sky, crashing upon the two groups below. All the invisible forces locked in their standoff were instantly shattered.
The void tore open, revealing several new figures.
Li Sheng gazed down indifferently at the members of the Martial Ancestor and Sword Ancestor. "Did you all let my earlier words go in one ear and out the other?!"
The moment he spoke, an immense pressure enveloped the crowd below. Everyone’s breath caught in their throats. Their bodies felt impossibly heavy, and cold sweat beaded on their foreheads.
Ma Cheng immediately complained, "My Lord, this has nothing to do with my Sword Ancestor! It was the disciples from the Martial Sect who attacked first. I was merely forced to retaliate. I implore you to see the truth, My Lord!"