Chapter 1294: The Strongest Expert Below the Peak (1/2)

A clamor burst through the crowd.

Long before, when Ji Cang, Qu Yi, Chu Yuan, and the other peak experts had discussed who would be the next to break through into the late God domain, one name had been mentioned repeatedly: Jiang Yuanchi.

To these luminaries and imperial lords of the human world, Jiang Yuanchi had been the one who had the best chance at advancing to the late God domain.

Many were also convinced that he was the strongest expert below the peak.

Only after Mo Heng had broken through into the middle God domain, defeated Grand Monarch Bloodlust, and survived his duel against Grand Monarch Primal Demon had people started to compare him to Jiang Yuanchi.

Even so, the majority still reckoned that Jiang Yuanchi was stronger.

Now, the man who people referred to as the strongest expert below the peak was calling aloud outside the Realm of Fragmentary Star, challenging Chu Rui to a duel?

In the Fragmentary Star Palace, Wang Meijia was so indignant that she itched to charge out by herself to accuse Jiang Yuanchi of being despicable and shameless. “Jiang Yuanchi! He knows perfectly well that Vice Sectmaster Chu has sustained multiple injuries after being trapped in the Domain of Frigid Depths by Grand Monarch Ice Bones for a long time and fighting that battle against Grand Monarch Bloodlust!”

Wei Lai, Yan Zhan, and the others were taken aback by Jiang Yuanchi’s words.

Dou Tianchen sighed in frustration. “After the disappearance of Vice Sectmaster Luo, Vice Sectmaster Chu has become the sole pillar that’s propping up our sect. I thought that Jiang Yuanchi would attack our Nine Star Heavens directly. I was convinced that as powerful as he and his divine tool might be, he wouldn’t be able to shatter the Nine Star Heavens within a short time.

“By the time he’d consumed a significant amount of his strength, Nie Tian and Elder Zu Guangyao might arrive.

“Who would have thought that he’d challenge Vice Sectmaster Chu to a duel as soon as he got here?”

Fang Yuan chimed in. “This is a miscalculation on our part, and impudicity on Jiang Yuanchi’s!”

Even if Chu Rui hadn’t been injured, he wouldn’t be able to match Jiang Yuanchi in battle.

Not to mention he wasn’t at his peak state now.

Outside the realm barrier of the Realm of Fragmentary Star, Chu Rui, in his dharma idol form, looked deeply at the dark figure that was looming in a cluster of charcoal gray aura. “Jiang Yuanchi, Senior Jiang. You... want to challenge me to a duel?”

Chu Rui found the idea ridiculous.

“We’re both at the middle God domain, and you’re a vice sectmaster of the Ancient Fragmentary Star Palace,” Jiang Yuanchi said confidently and eloquently. “Both your cultivation base and status make you a good match for me. What? I came here already, and issued the challenge. You’re not too scared to accept it, are you?

“Don’t you worry. No one has to die in this duel. We’ll only fight until a winner emerges.”

With a dark, cunning smile, Shangguan Zhi from the Shadow Society said, “Of course, if Vice Sectmaster Chu wins, we’ll turn around and leave right away. And we’ll promise to not set foot in the Realm of Fragmentary Star for ten thousand years.”

You Qimiao laughed coldly. “Where’s your heroic bravery, Chu Rui?! I still remember what you were like in the Domain of Heaven Python!”

“Chu Rui!” Duan Hongwen joined the taunting. “Don’t tell us you’re too scared to accept the duel!”

One after another, they tried to either lure or provoke Chu Rui into accepting the duel.

Chu Rui was the Ancient Fragmentary Star Palace’s last bulwark. If he were defeated or injured so badly that he couldn’t fight anymore, their following moves against the Ancient Fragmentary Star Palace would meet much fewer obstacles.

With a wan smile, Chu Rui asked, “What if I lost?”

“If you lose, you lose. We won’t demand anything from you.” Jiang Yuanchi said with a soft chuckle. “This duel can be considered an opportunity for us to exchange and learn.”

Face grim, Chu Rui pondered in silence for a long while before nodding and saying, “Alright! I accept the duel!”

“Wait!” Sikong Cuo’s loud cry suddenly echoed out.

In the next moment, he flew out of the Realm of Fragmentary Star, enveloped in his newly-forged domain, which looked like a glorious nebula filled with dazzling stars.

Inside of his domain, the Immortal grade divine tool Heavenly Stellar Stream morphed into numerous mysterious shooting stars.

Each and every one of them seemed to carry enough might to inflict heavy injuries on any Saint domain expert.

His star domain looked like a miniature starry river, where wisps of his soul awareness seemed to have merged with his star souls to form countless diamond-like stars.

Every single star was a condensation of star power, with might beyond measure.

Upon charging out, he shouted, “I, Sikong Cuo, challenge the Shadow Society, the Remote Beginning Heavenly Sect, and the Jade Heaven Sect! If any Saint domain member of your sects can best me in a duel, I’ll surrender all of my subordinate domains!”

He bet all of his subordinate domains!