Chaotic Sword God Chapter 3953: The Mad Master

The moment the Scholar Capital Master spoke, numerous cultivators instinctively turned their attention toward Jian Chen. Their eyes occasionally shifted toward the Heavenloss Master as well.

Ever since the Spiritual Fruit of Sword Nurturing first appeared, these two had been the primary contenders for its possession. The Heavenloss Master had even staked a premature claim, intending to present the fruit as a gift to the elder princess of the Heavenly Palace of Great Radiance.

However, the Heavenloss Master’s demeanor had later undergone a baffling transformation. His sudden shift in attitude toward Jian Chen was so drastic that many observers found it impossible to comprehend.

The Scholar Capital Master fixed his gaze upon Jian Chen, his brow furrowing slightly. He sensed that Jian Chen’s current aura differed significantly from the individual who had initially breached the formation.

Yet, he did not dwell on this discrepancy. He was well aware of the ruthless nature of the Skyscraping World. It was common for heavenly resources found within to change hands multiple times. The person currently holding the Spiritual Fruit of Sword Nurturing did not necessarily have to be the one who first broke the seal.

“Fellow, do you have the Spiritual Fruit of Sword Nurturing in your possession?” the Scholar Capital Master inquired with a stern tone.

“Scholar Capital Master, I have personally visited the site where the Spiritual Fruit of Sword Nurturing grew. Based on the remnants left behind, it is clear the fruit was planted there by the Skyscraping Sword Venerable. Since it was his legacy, it naturally belongs to whoever is destined to find it; it was never your personal property,” Zuo Dao stated while standing beside Jian Chen. He remained perfectly composed, neither being overly aggressive nor excessively humble. Even when confronting a Sixth Heavenly Layer Immortal Exalt like the Scholar Capital Master, he showed no sign of intimidation.

“And who might you be?” The Scholar Capital Master’s expression darkened, a flicker of murderous intent manifesting in the depths of his eyes.

He was obsessed with obtaining the Spiritual Fruit of Sword Nurturing. It was far too vital to his plans. Regarding the ownership of this fruit, he would tolerate no interference or dissent.

“I am Zuo Dao of the Divine Valley of the Nine Heavens, hailing from the Wondrous Success Heaven!” Zuo Dao announced, clasping his fist in a formal greeting.

Hearing this, the Scholar Capital Master’s eyes narrowed. The killing intent buried in his gaze vanished instantly. He frowned and remarked, “My Spiritual Fruit of Sword Nurturing is not with you, so why are you interfering?”

“I am merely speaking the truth. Everything within the Skyscraping World was left by the Skyscraping Sword Venerable for the benefit of the younger generations of the Immortals’ World. These treasures belong to the destined. As one of the three sages of the Modest Silence Heaven and a powerful Sixth Heavenly Layer Immortal Exalt, your current actions are somewhat beneath your status,” Zuo Dao replied.

Xing Caijian’s eyes gleamed with curiosity. She glanced at Jian Chen and sent a secret transmission, asking, “Is he one of yours?”

Jian Chen gave a slight shake of his head, indicating he was unsure. In truth, seeing how Zuo Dao frequently accompanied the Heavenloss Master had already led him to form a private suspicion.

Xing Caijian looked at Zuo Dao, her eyes filled with uncertainty. The Divine Valley of the Nine Heavens was a formidable power. Prior to the emergence of the Heavenly Palace of Great Radiance, they were the undisputed masters of the Wondrous Success Heaven. At their peak, they even boasted a Ninth Heavenly Layer Immortal Exalt.

Though the Divine Valley of the Nine Heavens had declined from its golden age, they remained a force to be reckoned with, possessing an Eighth Heavenly Layer Immortal Exalt. Their strength was comparable to the Immortal Sect of Sacred Fire, the sect governed by her mother.

Xing Caijian could dismiss the Heavenloss Master of the Sword Sect of Yang Soul helping Jian Chen, but if the Divine Valley of the Nine Heavens was backing him, the situation became far more complex.

As Zuo Dao revealed his ties to the Divine Valley of the Nine Heavens, the various masters of the medicinal gardens looked on with newfound caution.

The Scholar Capital Master had no desire for further debate with Zuo Dao. He returned his focus to Jian Chen and demanded, “Is the Spiritual Fruit of Sword Nurturing on your person?”

“It is true that I obtained the Spiritual Fruit of Sword Nurturing. However, if you expect me to hand it over, I must decline. Scholar Capital Master, I cannot give it to you,” Jian Chen answered calmly.

“That fruit is of extreme importance to me. If you return it, I am willing to compensate you with items of equal value!” The Scholar Capital Master glared at Jian Chen. He compared the man before him to the final images captured by the soul wisp he had left inside the Skyscraping World.

He suspected that the person who shattered his concealment formation was standing right there. Despite the different appearance and aura, the man’s mannerisms felt hauntingly familiar.

However, he noticed the Thousand Soul Demon Exalt was missing. This caused him to hesitate, preventing him from reaching a definitive conclusion.

The formation banners he had utilized to hide the fruit were of high quality and precious even to someone of his stature. He desired to reclaim those lost treasures as well.

“The Spiritual Fruit of Sword Nurturing is already gone,” Jian Chen said, looking at the Scholar Capital Master with a strange expression.

“W-what? Gone?” The Scholar Capital Master’s pupils dilated in shock. He stared at Jian Chen, his eyes wide with disbelief at such an outcome.

He had spent years waiting anxiously outside the Skyscraping World. His greatest fear was that the fruit would be consumed within the realm. He never imagined his worst nightmare would actually come true.

Without that fruit, the artifact spirit of the Divine Sword of the Immortal Soul could not be restored. Without the artifact spirit, he would never master the Immortal Soul Annihilation technique.

The only Spiritual Fruit of Sword Nurturing of sufficient quality to mend the Divine Sword was the one from the Skyscraping World.

In the Immortals’ World, such fruits were either of too low a grade to be useful, or they were strictly controlled by the Immortal Sect of Myriad Swords.

In fact, the Immortal Sect of Myriad Swords monopolized almost every high-quality fruit, and even the lower-grade ones often ended up in their hands.

It was no exaggeration to say that the Scholar Capital Master had no other way to secure another fruit of that caliber if this one was lost.

His only other option would be to risk the wrath of the Immortal Sect of Myriad Swords by trying to steal from them.

Suddenly, a murderous aura erupted from the Scholar Capital Master. His eyes turned a blood-red hue. He looked at Jian Chen with a gaze that radiated bone-chilling hatred.

“You wretched brat, you actually dared to consume the Spiritual Fruit of Sword Nurturing! You dared to use it! Do you have any idea how much effort I poured into that fruit? Do you know the price I paid? I even turned my back on the war in the Modest Silence Heaven, guarding this place for years just to reclaim it, and you… you… you actually used it…”

“Argh! I will kill you!” The Scholar Capital Master snapped. His aura surged violently. The overwhelming pressure of a Sixth Heavenly Layer Immortal Exalt rocked the area and warped the very fabric of space, forcing the surrounding Immortal Exalts to retreat.

Driven by pure rage, he struck out. His palm shattered the void, hurtling toward Jian Chen with world-ending power.

His long, agonizing wait had been for nothing. The loss of the fruit was a blow he could not endure. In his madness, he forgot to even ask about Jian Chen’s background. His only desire was to rip the person who destroyed his hopes into pieces and subject him to a gruesome death.

Nearby, within an immortal vessel, the Illusion-condensing Master paused. He looked up, his gaze piercing through the vessel to land on Xing Caijian and Jian Chen.

Simultaneously, the Heavenloss Master’s face paled. He could sense the lethal threat contained within the Scholar Capital Master’s strike.

If that palm hit him, he would be left on the brink of death, even if he managed to survive.