C9 Come and Try!

Yan Nanfeng truly exemplified the prowess of a swordsmanship master trained by the royal family. He was acutely aware that the moment of Chu Tian's attack was when he was most vulnerable. As Chu Tian launched his assault, Yan Nanfeng squatted to anchor his stance, simultaneously lifting his sword in an upward thrust. He was certain that his sword could effortlessly sever Chu Tian's blade and then slice upward through Chu Tian's shoulder, effectively disabling his arm and leaving him at Yan Nanfeng's mercy. Yan Nanfeng might then find himself pondering whether to amputate Chu Tian's right or left leg first and whether to let Chu Tian perish slowly or swiftly.

With a resounding "Ding!" akin to a bell chime, everyone clapped their hands over their ears. The clash of sword against blade emitted a metallic resonance far louder than any temple bell they had ever heard.

Cradling his sword, Yan Nanfeng was dismayed to see it had lost all its luster, as though it had perished. The collision with Chu Tian's blade had left an indelible mark—a notch he would never forget. This sword, ever since it had been by Yan Nanfeng's side, had been used to cleave opponents with ease, cutting through metal as if it were mud. Anyone who dared to block it with their own weapon would be split in two, without fail.

However, this time Yan Nanfeng harbored concerns that a single strike might kill Chu Tian outright, robbing him of the pleasure of torment. His intent was to wound first, then capture. So, he launched a surprise attack on Chu Tian, who had just acquired the nameless blade, aiming for a decisive blow before savoring the slow agony of Chu Tian's defeat.

"Look, everyone! Yan Nanfeng's sword has a notch in it!" exclaimed an onlooker.

All eyes turned to the sword in Yan Nanfeng's grip. The once dazzling weapon, which had captivated onlookers upon its unveiling, had been reduced to an ordinary iron sword, now merely reflecting sunlight.

An informed spectator then spoke up, "Yan Nanfeng's sword is the emblem of Yan Kingdom's royal authority, known as Starlight. Legend has it that this sword belonged to the first emperor of Yan Kingdom, forged by the ancient swordsmith Gu Jianfeng using stars from the celestial realm, which is why it glows. Rumor has it that Starlight's radiance could illuminate the vast space we're in! For years, Starlight has only ever cleaved other swords, never sustaining so much as a scratch. Yet today, it has been notched by a blade wielded by Chu Tian—a man once deemed worthless by the martial stele and wielding a blade unseen by any before. Truly astonishing."

"Enough! If anyone else dares to speak, I'll kill them!" Yan Nanfeng bellowed at the crowd. The Starlight was a symbol from his father, signifying his right to ascend to the throne. Now, with a notch cut into it by Chu Tian, the certainty of his future reign was greatly undermined. The Starlight's most notable feature was its ability to shine brightly enough to illuminate the entire imperial court at night. Without its glow, how was he to earn the ministers' trust, command obedience from his brothers, or explain to the citizens of Yan Kingdom how he had allowed the Starlight to be damaged?

The murmurs of the crowd fueled Yan Nanfeng's rage; he blamed Chu Tian entirely. He vowed to dismember Chu Tian, to quell the fury burning within him.

The crowd's focus shifted to the blade in Chu Tian's grasp. This unexpected weapon had managed to chip the divine Starlight, forged from celestial materials. It must have been an extraordinary weapon, one that might never be seen again. Everyone gazed intently, eager to imprint its image in their memory.

Yet, because the blade did not reflect light, it seemed to shift in size and distance, mesmerizing the onlookers as if it were drawing them in.

Yan Nanfeng, wielding his three-foot sword, swung it down at Chu Tian. The sword, now devoid of light, had lost its vitality. Yan Nanfeng still treated it as if it were the Starlight, convinced it could sever anything in the world, unaware that he was merely holding a piece of worthless metal.

Chu Tian lifted the nameless blade above his head. At the sound of a sharp crack, he deflected the attack with a swift motion to his right hand and delivered a powerful kick to Yan Nanfeng's groin.

Yan Nanfeng immediately collapsed to the ground, clutching his groin in agony. Shen Mengxian, along with all the women present, averted their eyes, too embarrassed to watch. The men in the crowd sharply inhaled, empathizing with the excruciating pain, a sensation they couldn't even bear to contemplate.

Blood gradually seeped from Yan Nanfeng's hand — his testicles had been crushed!

As all the men fixated on Yan Nanfeng's groin area, a child exclaimed, "Daddy, daddy, that beautiful sword is broken!"

Upon hearing the child's comment, everyone's attention shifted to the Starlight Sword that Yan Nanfeng had dropped to the ground. Indeed, the sword had snapped into three segments. The Starlight Sword had fractured at the initial notch and then again where it had struck the nameless blade. Now in three pieces, it lay scattered on the ground, a testament to its once legendary status and its current tragic state.

Yan Nanfeng, unable to endure the agony, began to curse and wail. Chu Tian pressed the nameless blade against Yan Nanfeng's forehead, intending to use it to trepan him. Despite the excruciating pain, when the cold steel of the nameless blade touched his skin, Yan Nanfeng froze. It was as if all the pain had suddenly left his body. Faced with the threat of death, Yan Nanfeng cried out desperately, "Elder Chang Qianyu! Elder Chang Qianyu! Save me!"

Chang Qianyu had recently agreed to let Yan Nanfeng join the Coldtalons Sect, making it difficult to ignore his plea for help. To do so would brand Chang Qianyu a traitor in the eyes of his fellow sect members, jeopardizing his standing within the Coldtalons Sect. Already gravely injured, he would face criticism upon his return. Furthermore, abandoning a newly accepted junior would tarnish his reputation within the sect, potentially endangering his position as an elder.

Therefore, Chang Qianyu rose to his feet and addressed Chu Tian, "Chu Tian, Yan Nanfeng is one of our own in Coldtalons. If you kill him, you make an enemy of our sect. Coldtalons will pursue you to the ends of the earth."

Chu Tian laughed dismissively, "What's the loss in killing a worthless fool?"

Chang Qianyu saw Chu Tian's smile as a taunt, interpreting the term 'worthless fool' as a personal slight for having an arm severed. Enraged, Chang Qianyu retorted, "You insolent fool, how dare you mock me? My earlier oversight cost me an arm, but even with just one, I can still take your life!"

Chu Tian shook his head, pressing the nameless blade against Yan Nanfeng's cheek with a few light taps. "Go on, give it a try," he taunted.