Bang!
A deafening explosion sounded in the air when Jian Qiu Ping's Celestial Rod connected with Duan Ling Tian's gigantic sword that was formed by sword rays, causing many soldiers with a weaker cultivation base to feel a stabbing pain in their eardrums.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
A circle of shockwave rippled out from Duan Ling Tian's gigantic sword. It was as though a boulder had been through into a calm lake.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The shockwave spread out in all directions. Many officers and soldiers of the Black Dragon Army in the Valley of Ares were forced to retreat under this extreme pressure.
"Centurion Jian unleashed his full strength?"
"Of course, he was so angered earlier. There's no way he would hold back!"
Many of the officers and soldiers in the Valley of Ares discussed among themselves as they looked up into the sky above the First Ring. However, they were dumbfounded by the sight that greeted their eyes.
A purple-clad young man stood on a gigantic sword in the air, looking like a divine being.
Slightly below, Jian Qiu Ping's hand that was holding the long rod was bleeding. It could be seen that the web between his index finger and thumb was torn. Moreover, his face was dyed in shades of blue and white as he retreated ten steps. When he sensed the gazes in his surroundings, he became agitated, causing him to throw up a mouthful of blood that arced dazzlingly in the sky.
Upon seeing this, most of the soldiers felt a frisson of fear.
"Wh-what happened?"
"Captain Duan only defended himself, but he managed to make Centurion Jian look so wretched?"
"It was acceptable earlier since Centurion Jian didn't use his full strength. However, Centurion Jian attacked with all his might the second time, but he still couldn't hurt Captain Duan. Moreover, Centurion Jian is injured as well?"
"Heavens! How is Captain Duan so strong?"
In the Valley of Ares, the soldiers who regained their senses looked at Duan Ling Tian in shock and incredulity. Since their commander did not think highly of this new captain, they thought the new captain was bound to lose. The result was too shocking! Jian Qiu Ping, their former captain, had attacked with all his might, but he did not even manage to breach the new captain's defense.
Meanwhile, Duan Ling Tian's subordinates were similarly shocked when they witnessed this scene. However, they felt joy coursing through their veins as well. In the future, with such a strong captain at their backs, they would be able to do as they pleased, right?
"Our captain is so s-strong?"
"Heavens! Am I dreaming?"
"Based on his strength, it seems like he's even stronger than Captain Huang Ji Bing, right?"
'Who's he? Why did he come to my Black Dragon Army?' Chen Xuan Ba thought to himself as he shuddered slightly. He knew that even he could not have perfectly blocked Jian Qiu Ping's attack just by relying on his defensive technique. How could he not be stunned by this?
"H-how is this possible?"
"I-isn't he a Violet Moon Heavenly Celestial?"
Meanwhile, Hu Ji and Chai Wen Yu, who were standing behind Chen Xuan Ba, exchanged a look and saw the incredulity in each other's eyes.
"How strong!" Qin Yu and Zhao Dong Xing stared at Duan Ling Tian in awe.
At this moment, Duan Ling Tian was standing on his gigantic sword with his hands clasped on his back. He looked like an emperor looking down on his subject as he looked at the injured Jian Qiu Ping. "Are these all your skills and techniques?"
Jian Qiu Ping trembled when he heard Duan Ling Tian's words. At this moment, he stared at Duan Ling Tian as though he was the devil incarnate. His eyes were slightly widened and his expression changed drastically as he hastily said, "I surrender! I surrender!" He had no qualms admitting defeat. After all, although he was confused as to why Duan Ling Tian was so strong, he no longer doubted Duan Ling Tian's strength. He only wanted to get as far away as he could from Duan Ling Tian. Who cared about honor and pride at this time? He knew he would only be beaten if the battle continued. He had attacked with all his might, and yet, he could not even break through Duan Ling Tian's defense.
Duan Ling Tian said indifferently, "You'll have to receive one strike from my sword. If you survive, I'll allow you to surrender!" At the same time, the gigantic sword beneath his feet suddenly rose, radiating a dazzling light. The gigantic sword was formed from sword rays after all. For this reason, everyone in the Valley of Ares could feel the formidable Sword Qi from Duan Ling Tian's gigantic sword.
"No..." Jian Qiu Ping's expression changed drastically. He knew Duan Ling Tian intended to kill him. He said hysterically, "You can't kill me! We have a rule in the Black Dragon Army that prohibits us from killing unless we've signed a death pact! If you kill me, you'll be violating the Black Dragon Army's rules, and you'll be severely punished!" It could be seen that he was grasping at straws when he mentioned the Black Dragon Army's rules.
Boom!
However, Duan Ling Tian's only response was the sword slashing down from the sky. It seemed to have blotted out the sky at this moment. The gigantic sword's sharp blade did not fall on Jian Qiu Ping, but its body fell on Jian Qiu Ping instead. It looked as though a huge mountain was following after Jian Qiu Ping as Jian Qiu Ping tried to avoid it.
Jian Qiu Ping discovered the gigantic sword had locked onto his aura earlier so there was no way he could escape it. He felt he could no longer endure it. After all, he had been injured twice earlier. Even in peak condition, he would barely survive even if he unleashed all his strength. The power of the gigantic sword was far beyond what he could endure.
Boom!
The giant sword continued to shoot after Jian Qiu Ping, suppressing him. In just a blink of an eye, it was hovering above his head. He quickly turned to Chen Xuan Ba and pleaded, "No! No! Save me, Lord Commander! Save me!"
However, Chen Xuan Ba did nothing as though he was dumbstruck by the scene.
Bang!
At this moment, the gigantic sword, seemingly wielded by a god, fell on Jian Qiu Ping, crushing him. As soon as it fell on him, he exploded into a blood mist. Only a long rod and a Spatial Ring could be seen in the blood mist.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
At the same time, Duan Ling Tian who was hovering in the air casually raised his hand to retrieve Jian Qiu Ping's Celestial Weapon and Spatial Ring before putting them away.
A heavy silence descended on the Valley of Ares again. It took a while before the crowd finally regained their senses. They inhaled sharply as they turned to look at Duan Ling Tian in awe. Even the four captains standing behind Chen Xuan Ba look at him in admiration.
A hint of remorse could be seen in Hu Ji and Chai Wen Yu's eyes. They really regretted not being able to see through Duan Ling Tian's strength. They truly hated Jian Qiu Ping who was killed by Duan Ling Tian for misleading them. If it were not for Jian Qiu Ping, they would not have thought Duan Ling Tian was a mere Violet Moon Heavenly Celestial.
At this moment, Chen Xuan Ba, the Commander of the Black Army, finally said in a low voice as he stared at Duan Ling Tian, "Captain Duan, you didn't have a death pact with Jian Qiu Ping, and yet, you killed him. It seems like you didn't comply with the Black Dragon Army's rules, right?"