However, Jiang Jichen acted as if he hadn't even seen the Fifth-Realm Saint Fierce Bandit's attack.
He watched Zuo Feng quietly, a look of relief and admiration flashing in his eyes.
Although Zuo Feng was covered in wounds, with pieces of his flesh having been sliced away.
Yet he hadn't so much as frowned, remaining dauntless and defiant.
He had slain six Saint-level Fierce Bandits against the odds and still hadn't fallen.
At that moment, Zuo Feng finally knew he wasn't hallucinating. This was all real.
'My hero, my childhood idol... he's... back!'
"Master, I missed you so much!"
"Those bastards actually said I have no backing, no one to protect me. You've come back at the perfect time."
"Master, you have to avenge me! Cut down those Three Great Bandit Kings!"
After confirming it was Jiang Jichen, Zuo Feng's previously cold and cool demeanor vanished, replaced by a somewhat whiny attitude.
"Alright. Today, your master will lead you to cut down these bastards. How dare they bully my apprentice!"
Jiang Jichen declared this with an air of utter arrogance and swagger.
At the same time, he struck out with a backhand palm!
BANG!
The furiously attacking Fierce Bandit at the Fifth Realm of the Saint Realm had all his attacks annihilated. His body shuddered and was sent flying by an immense force.
The body of the Fierce Bandit of the Fifth Layer of the Saint Realm smashed uncontrollably into the ground.
BOOM!
The ground trembled, and countless fissures spread out.
The Fifth-Realm Fierce Bandit lay motionless on the plains. Dead!
"This..."
Everyone stared at the scene, their faces filled with shock and disbelief.
A Fierce Bandit at the Fifth Realm of the Saint Realm had been casually slapped to death by the young man who had suddenly appeared!
One had to remember, that young man's Cultivation was only at the Saint First Realm. How could he be so heaven-defyingly strong?
Zuo Feng's eyes widened. He clapped his hands and shouted, "Yes! Master, you're too strong! Go on, take out a Bandit King with your next punch!"
Hearing Zuo Feng's words, not only the crowd but even Jiang Jichen was left speechless, looking at him.
"You brat, do you think a Seventh Level of Saint Realm, Great Saint Level existence is a pushover?"
"It'll take at least a few more punches!"
Jiang Jichen said, patting Zuo Feng on the head.
Middle Saints and Great Saints were on completely different levels. Jiang Jichen could easily slaughter a Sixth Layer of Saint Realm Cultivator of average talent, but when facing a Great Saint...
Even if it was the least talented kind of Great Saint, killing them would inevitably come at a price.
Furthermore, you never knew what kind of Dao of Ultimate Killing they possessed, so a single careless mistake could get you killed instead.
So, while Jiang Jichen acted all high and mighty, it was just a facade. In his heart, he was extremely cautious and dared not be careless.
"Jiang Jichen, so it's you!"
Only then did the Skyfury Bandit King speak.
His words shocked everyone present.
How many among them hadn't heard the name Jiang Jichen?
At this point, some people recalled that it was Jiang Jichen who had sent Zuo Feng to the Heavenly Sword Academy all those years ago.
Back then, Jiang Jichen was only at the Foundation Establishment Realm, yet he had already swept through the Heavenly Sword Academy.
Now, seven or eight years had passed. How powerful would Jiang Jichen, who had already stepped onto the Holy Dao, have become?
"Jiang Jichen is truly a terrifying and respectable figure, but it's a pity. Facing a Great Saint, he still can't escape defeat!"
By now, many people had come to their senses and were sighing with emotion.
Jiang Jichen was now floating in mid-air, facing the Three Great Bandit Kings from a distance.
The Skyreach Bandit King sneered mockingly. "Ignorant, laughable, and overconfident. Today, I'll send both master and apprentice to the Underworld!"
The Skyrebellion Bandit King also spoke coldly, "This trash Jiang Jichen has the same Cultivation as his apprentice, both at the Holy Dao First Realm. He actually has the nerve to be someone's master? And he calls himself a backer, protecting his apprentice? He's courting death and is shameless to the extreme. If I were you, I'd have killed myself out of shame long ago."
Zuo Feng shouted from behind, "Master, these bastards are saying you're no good! Hurry up and cut them down to prove you're the man!"
Jiang Jichen chuckled softly. "Zuo Feng, have you forgotten what I once told you? Realm is nothing but a fleeting cloud!"
Jiang Jichen looked calm and composed, exuding an air of superiority.
Zuo Feng watched in awe. "Of course I remember what you said, Master. 'More haste, less speed.' You said that the more perfectly one polishes each Realm, the greater their advantage on the undying Path of Longevity. Billions might be qualified to seek longevity, but in every domain, only a select few can truly knock on the Immortal Gate and set foot on the path to contend for eternal life."
These were words Jiang Jichen had said to Zuo Feng back when he himself had suffered a setback.
He had said them to prevent his apprentice's Realm from surpassing his own.
But he never expected that after so many years, Zuo Feng's Cultivation Realm had still surpassed his.
Jiang Jichen sighed. "But you were still too hasty. You need to slow down!"
"But, Master," Zuo Feng said guiltily, "I really couldn't suppress my Realm any longer and was forced to break through. I..."
"Couldn't suppress it? How could you not suppress it? Let your master help you!"
Jiang Jichen said loudly, then directly sent out a wave of Secret Power that fell upon Zuo Feng.
"There. My secret seal will prevent you from making any breakthroughs for three years. But if you can surpass your limits and break the seal, you will make an earth-shattering advance with unstoppable momentum, achieving the Strongest state within your rank!"
Jiang Jichen announced proudly.
At this moment, he was finally relieved.
With Zuo Feng unable to break through for three years, he no longer had to worry about his apprentice's Realm surpassing his own.
However, Jiang Jichen did genuinely feel that Zuo Feng was breaking through too quickly.
The reason he couldn't suppress it was because the world had undergone a great change, rendering ordinary suppression methods useless.
After doing all this, Jiang Jichen finally took a step forward and charged toward the Three Great Bandit Kings.
"I have said that Realm is nothing but a fleeting cloud. Today, I shall slaughter a Great Saint as a Holy Dao First Layer. We'll see if you're still laughing then!"
As he spoke, One Corner of the Sky Killing Array appeared in Jiang Jichen's hand.
He directly activated the Great Killing Artifact, unleashing a Strongest Ultimate Kill attack.
A vast, boundless killing intent erupted, poised to turn all things between heaven and earth to ash!
Above the void, streams of invisible killing intent descended, instantly submerging the three Great Saint Realm Bandit Kings.
"That's a Great Killing Artifact! This is bad!"
The expressions of Skyfury Bandit King, Skyreach Bandit King, and Skyrebellion Bandit King all changed as they cried out in alarm.
At the same time, the three of them also erupted with their strongest combat power, stirring up the infinite Dao of the Great Saint.
RUMBLE!
In the Endless Void above, lightning flashed and thunder roared. The Sun and Moon lost their light as an infinite Power of Destruction submerged the three Bandit Kings and Jiang Jichen.
The void shattered, and terrifying torrents of the Power of Chaotic Flow Space-Time filled the area.
It was like a scene from the end of the world.
Finally, when the four of them leaped out from the world of Destruction, they were all wounded, their clothes stained with blood!
However, Jiang Jichen was incredibly ferocious. Though he appeared to be a mess of torn flesh and blood, he acted as if he were completely unharmed. With the Holy Sword in one hand and the Sinking Mountain in the other, he charged at the Three Great Bandit Kings once more.