Tang San's expression shifted slightly—he hadn't expected Jiang Chen to be so blunt. Yet, the latter really had entertained such thoughts.
"Then show me what you're capable of!" Before the words had even left Jiang Chen's mouth, he charged straight at Tang San.
He'd long wanted to gauge Tang San's strength. Since he was in a bad mood today, he might as well fight.
Facing Jiang Chen's fierce attack, Tang San fully unleashed his Xuan Jade Hand technique to meet him head-on.
The Xuan Jade Hand could resist toxic corrosion. Even Jiang Chen's corpse poison wouldn't faze him.
At their first collision, Jiang Chen took the absolute advantage. In a clash of brute force, Tang San was blasted backward.
Jiang Chen stood firm, unmoved. Tang San's strength was far weaker compared to his.
Tang San flipped twice in the air, then landed and retreated a few steps before steadying himself.
"What powerful strength," he thought, inwardly shocked.
He had already known Jiang Chen was strong just from watching, but experiencing it firsthand still left him stunned.
Shaking the numbness from his palm, Tang San looked seriously at Jiang Chen. "I admit your strength is great, but strength alone means nothing. Without skill, no matter how powerful your force is, it's just brute strength."
Tang San's words darkened Jiang Chen's face. He remembered all of Tang San's techniques: the Purple Extreme Demon Eye, Xuan Jade Hand, Ghost Shadow Mirage, and the deadly hidden weapons—all formidable.
Besides raw strength, Jiang Chen had nothing to compare with Tang San's skill—and he had never actually fought before.
While he was thinking, Tang San closed in, stepping on Ghost Shadow Mirage, creating countless shifting afterimages that left Jiang Chen blinking in confusion.
To Tang San, Jiang Chen was full of openings—one kick landed solidly.
Jiang Chen reacted quickly, raising his hand just in time to block Tang San's strike. But when he tried to counterattack, Tang San's figure had already vanished.
After several exchanges, Jiang Chen was covered in punches and kicks, but he could sense Tang San hadn't used his full power.
His speed wasn't slow, but without Tang San's uncanny footwork, Jiang Chen's straightforward attacks couldn't keep up.
He roared in frustration, but couldn't even graze the corner of Tang San's robe.
Ten minutes later, Jiang Chen's body was covered in footprints. He no longer wanted to fight. Against Tang San's strange and elusive techniques, he had no strength left to resist.
The feeling was deeply frustrating—power without effect, speed without catch. It was unbearable.
He even began to curse his system. Others' "golden fingers" were strong and amazing, but his? He had to suffer lightning strikes just to get gifts.
Tang San finally stopped. He had no real intention of killing Jiang Chen—the thought had only crossed his mind briefly.
Recalling Jiang Chen's behavior over the years, he seemed never to have attacked anyone unprovoked.
"Is it really that boy who wanted to kill you?"
Jiang Chen sighed helplessly and nodded. "Absolutely. If I lie, may lightning strike me down. That boy's already under my control since I bit him. If you don't believe me, I can call him to you in a few days."
Suddenly recalling something, Tang San's expression changed. He didn't know if Jiang Chen's zombie martial soul had the same traits as zombies from his previous life, so he asked:
"After you bit that boy, will he turn into a zombie?"
"Yes. But he's under my control now. Without my order, he wouldn't dare bite anyone."
"Let's leave it at that for now. But if I find out you hurt Grandpa Jack, I won't let you off," Tang San warned, then turned and headed down the mountain, ignoring Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen patted his head and grumbled, "Stingy system! Couldn't you have given me some footwork? Or a fighting style? Instead, you let me get struck by lightning."
He had thought that with his innate full soul power and powerful zombie martial soul, he could rival Tang San. But once they fought, he was utterly crushed.
At that moment, a strong urge to absorb the divine soul ring surged within him. With one more skill, maybe he could turn the tables and give Tang San a taste of his own medicine.
But after thinking it over, he suppressed the impulse. No reckless bravery—his life was more important.
He dusted himself off and found no serious injuries.
Tang San had held back and hadn't unleashed his full strength. Even if he had, it wasn't certain Jiang Chen would be hurt.
After all, Jing Wuming's sword had pierced Jiang Chen's heart before, yet here he was, still alive and kicking.
Kicking a large stone into fragments, Jiang Chen gritted his teeth. Once he absorbed the soul ring, he'd make sure to thrash Tang San and get his revenge.
At that moment, through his connection with Jing Wuming, Jiang Chen learned that Jing Wuming had returned to Nodding City.
Jing Wuming was a prominent figure in Nodding City's assassin organization—finding out who hired the killer for Jiang Chen shouldn't take long.
...
Meanwhile, in the Martial Soul Hall of Nodding City, Matthew Nuo summoned Su Yuntao to his office.
He had just received the news of Jiang Chen's death from the assassin organization and couldn't wait to inform Su Yuntao.
The moment Su Yuntao pushed open Matthew Nuo's office door, he saw Matthew inside. To his surprise, Sisi was there as well.
At that moment, Sisi's complexion was rosy, and her large, glistening eyes were enchanting.
The wolf's keen sense of smell twitched—he caught a faint scent but couldn't quite place it.
"Master Matthew Nuo, Sisi, why are you here? I've been looking for you all morning."
Sisi smiled gently. "This morning I went to Saint Soul Village to carry out a task given to me by Master Matthew, so you didn't see me."
"What task?"
Matthew's voice was heavy with sorrow as he spoke, "Yuntao, I have some very unfortunate news to tell you—about Jiang Chen."
Su Yuntao froze, then tension flooded his face. "Master Matthew, what happened to Jiang Chen?"
"He's dead."
Matthew hung his head low, his voice thick with regret and gravity.
It was like a thunderclap on a clear day. Su Yuntao's vision darkened; he staggered, nearly collapsing.
Jiang Chen—the hope for his promotion—was gone just like that.
A surge of wild emotion overtook Su Yuntao. He stepped forward, gripping Matthew's shoulders tightly and shaking him, demanding loudly, "Tell me—how did he die?"
"Drowned while fishing in the river. Such a talented child... it's truly a pity..."
Su Yuntao's hands fell away weakly from Matthew's shoulders as he collapsed onto the table, sobbing quietly.
He had struggled and clawed his way through the lowest ranks of the Martial Soul Hall for so many years, awakening thousands of children. Now, just when he was about to rise above them all, it was all for nothing.
Sisi stepped forward and gently patted Su Yuntao's back, comforting him softly, "Don't be so sad. I saw with my own eyes that Jiang Chen has been laid to rest. I believe in you—you will surely awaken even more outstanding children in the future."
Su Yuntao brushed Sisi's hand aside and, utterly dejected, walked out.
He wanted to drown his sorrows in drink.