Chapter 729: Jian Wuque Comes To Challenge, Return To Stronghold Seventeen
Stronghold Seventeen.
Outside the command headquarters, a sword ray descended upon the entrance, making the guards wary of its presence.
Their guest was a swordsman who was dressed in a set of white robes.
However, his aura was seething with a cold, oppressive presence that sent s.h.i.+vers down the soldiers’ spines.
“You there, report yourself!”
One of the guards yelled.
“Jian Wuque of the Sword Tribe from Stronghold Eighteen!”
Jian Wuque uttered calmly.
The guards were shocked.
Some of the cultivators in the streets even halted their footsteps.
“Jian Wuque, who ranks ninety-eight in the world battle leaderboard? What’s he doing here?!” a cultivator exclaimed.
Some of them, who were not aware of who Jian Wuque was, immediately grew fond of him when they heard of his battle leaders.h.i.+p ranking.
In all of the strongholds, a person’s combat merit more or less signified their stature. The higher the combat merit, the more people revered them.
Cultivators who made it to the top one hundred of the world battle leaderboard were often widely respected by the public.
“There’s only one in Stronghold Seventeen who has managed to make it into the top one hundred ranks, which is the commodore himself.”
“That’s right.”
“Jian Wuque is a Sword Tribe member. What’s he doing here?”
Before the guards could report the incident, Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade had already sensed Jian Wuque’s arrival.
He stepped out of the headquarters and chuckled. “Brother Wuque, this is unexpected. What brings you here?”
Due to Jian Wuque’s remarkable combat merits, Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade saw it fit to welcome him personally to this territory.
In return, Jian Wuque repaid the respect to the stronghold leader with a fist salute as well. “Greetings, Commodore Ghostblade. I’ve come to look for Chu Kuangren.”
“Oh, why are you looking for him?”
Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade was mildly surprised. How did Chu Kuangren manage to get involved with Jian Wuque even though he had only been in the Extraterritorial Region for such a short amount of time?
“I’ve come to finish our battle!”
Jian Wuque said.
A commotion immediately ensued.
Many were shocked by the swordsman’s statement.
“Did Jian Wuque travel so far to challenge a person? Who could it be?”
“Chu Kuangren does sound familiar. It seems like many in the command headquarters are familiar with him.”
“Why is Jian Wuque taking this challenge so seriously? Is the other party one of the top one hundred cultivators in the world battle leaderboard as well?”
“I don’t think so. I’ve basically memorized all of the names of the top five hundred cultivators, but I’ve yet to come across Chu Kuangren’s name.”
Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade frowned. “Brother Wuque, is there a misunderstanding between you and Brother Chu? I’m more than happy to mediate this conflict.”
“Commodore, there’s not much to say about my issue with Chu Kuangren. Can you please have him meet me?”
Jian Wuque said.
“Brother Chu has not returned.”
“When’s he returning then?”
“Well… I don’t know.” Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade shook his head.
“If that’s the case, I’ll wait for him in Stronghold Seventeen. When he returns, please forward the message that I’ll be waiting for him in the combat arena to finish our battle!” Jian Wuque said.
He then turned to leave.
However, Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade stopped him in an attempt to dissuade him. “Brother Wuque, please think twice about this. You’re both stellar soldiers of the Extraterritorial Region. If someone gets injured in this battle, it’ll be a huge step backward for mankind.”
After all, Chu Kuangren’s current combat strength was enough to kill off an enemy like Bai Juexin.
Although Jian Wuque was a formidable High-rank Heavenly Imperial, Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade knew he was far behind Chu Kuangren in terms of power.
However, Jian Wuque seemed to have misunderstood his intention. “Commodore Ghostblade, rest a.s.sured. I’m aware that Chu Kuangren is an exceptional talent. I’ll be careful to not hurt him too much during our battle.”
Commodore Ghostblade could only laugh bitterly.
No one was afraid that Chu Kuangren would be harmed.
The only concern was that Chu Kuangren might accidentally kill Jian Wuque!
Seeing as his attempts failed, Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade could only sigh helplessly as Jian Wuque left in the distance. “Oh, Brother Wuque. I wish you the best of luck.”
Soon, news of Jian Wuque’s challenge spread throughout Stronghold Seventeen.
After all, any news that involved one of the top one hundred cultivators in the world battle leaderboard was destined to blow up.
Many were also becoming aware of Chu Kuangren’s existence as the cultivators dug deeply into his past.
Their investigations yielded much surprising information.
Supreme Sage?
Stopping a demonic invasion twice?
Killing several Emperors upon ascension?
Ascending into a Heavenly Imperial within years?
How was he a human?!
“If what they say is true, then Chu Kuangren is truly an unprecedented character. Just the merits of stopping the demonic invasions alone would have made him an exceptional hero.”
“Indeed. If it weren’t for him, who knows what Firmament Star would’ve become? It may well be a living h.e.l.l plagued by demons. By then, our battle in the Extraterritorial Region would’ve been meaningless.”
“Hm, that makes sense.”
“Tsk, I didn’t think Firmament Star would produce a freak like him. However, I did hear that he’s only a Low-rank Heavenly Imperial for now. Is that enough to defeat Jian Wuque?”
“I’m afraid not, but I don’t think Jian Wuque can kill him either. A talent like him will definitely be treasured by the upper ranks of the military.”
“You’re right…”
Many cultivators were eager to witness the fight that was about to come.
On this day, a wars.h.i.+p arrived near Stronghold Seventeen.
Chu Kuangren stored the s.h.i.+p after deboarding it and teleported to the command headquarters using his Spatial Conveyor Skill.
The guards rejoiced at the sight of Chu Kuangren.
“Brother Chu, you’re back!”
“Yep, where’s the Commodore?”
“He’s inside. Feel free to head in.”
Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade had once instructed that Chu Kuangren was allowed to roam all the areas within the command headquarters freely.
Chu Kuangren was greeted warmly by Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade, who gave him a big hug. “Brother Chu, welcome back.”
Chu Kuangren chuckled lightly.
The duo caught up with one another as they entered the main hall.
Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade brought up the issue of Jian Wuque’s challenge. “Brother Chu, what have you done to provoke Jian Wuque?”
“Nothing much. Just killing one of the Sword Tribe’s commanders, that’s all.”
Chu Kuangren smiled.
The corner of Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade’s mouth twitched.
The Sword Tribe Commanders were cultivators who were at least of the Heavenly Imperial Realm, and only a few of such people existed in the Sword Tribe. Yet, they sounded so puny and insignificant from Chu Kuangren’s perspective.
Chu Kuangren then shared the entire incident with Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade.
Instantly, the sympathies that Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade once had for the Sword Tribe vanished as he slapped on the table. “Hmph, that ungrateful b*stard deserves to die! How dare Jian Wuque make an issue out of this?! To think that I addressed him as my Daoist Brother! How shameless.”
Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade was infuriated.
After all, when Jian Que betrayed Chu Kuangren, he was also putting Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade’s beloved descendant, Shang Honghua, in danger.