Devouring Soul Emperor

"Ahem! Everyone, the Great Xia nation was founded on martial prowess. The Martial Dao has always been our foundation!"

"The Four Races Martial Arts Competition has always been a humble contribution from the Ye, Jin, Zhou, and Xiao families of Lianshan County City. It serves to bolster the martial might of Lianshan County and foster exchange in the Martial Dao among the younger generation."

"Next, our talented youths are free to challenge the Martial Artists of the Four Races. Of course, you may also challenge anyone else!"

Seeing that the situation was growing tense, a Celestial Spirit Realm Elder from the Jin Family quickly stood up and announced loudly, moving the event along to the next stage.

Many people in the crowd scoffed inwardly upon hearing these pompous words.

Everyone knew the Four Races Martial Arts Competition was originally just a way for the Four Great Clans to show off their power.

Unexpectedly, right from the very first competition, they were thoroughly suppressed by the Great Xia Dragon Guard. For decades, the event had become a complete joke.

However, everyone present perked up.

They all knew the next part of the show would be the Great Xia Dragon Guard’s captains absolutely demolishing the Martial Artists of the Four Races.

It had to be said, watching the normally high and mighty geniuses of the Four Races get crushed was rather entertaining.

The Jin Family Elder had barely finished speaking.

Jintai leaped onto the arena stage. "Jintai of the Jin Family wishes to challenge a talented Martial Artist from the Great Xia Dragon Guard’s Celestial Wind Army!"

An uproar instantly erupted from the crowd.

’Challenging the Great Xia Dragon Guard right off the bat? Is he... asking for a beating?’ 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

However, the Celestial Wind Army Master and his subordinates all frowned slightly. They could sense that something about this year’s competition was off.

The Celestial Wind Army Master stared intently at the four Celestial Spirit Realm Elders, trying to discern something from their expressions.

However, the four of them were wily old foxes. They were all smiles. "Lord Military Commander, please forgive us. Young people, you know, are just a bit impulsive. Besides, the Great Xia Dragon Guard has been ’guiding’ our disciples at the Four Races Martial Arts Competition for many years now..."

Their words were polite on the surface, but they carried a hard, provocative edge.

"Oh? So you’re saying that this year, you intend to ’guide’ my Great Xia Dragon Guard’s captains?" the Celestial Wind Army Master retorted with a soft chuckle.

"We wouldn’t dare, we wouldn’t dare. We’re merely seeking to exchange a few pointers..."

Although they spoke with humility, triumphant, conspiratorial smiles crept onto their faces.

At that moment, with a nod from Liu Taian, one of his Gold Medal Captains stepped forward. He clasped his fist and said, "Lord Military Commander, your subordinate, Huo Pengzhan, is willing to accept the challenge!"

This Huo Pengzhan was the very person Liu Canghai had wanted to hire to deal with Chu Qingyun, a request Liu Taian had denied.

Liu Taian wanted him to showcase his prowess at the Four Races Martial Arts Competition, earn the Celestial Wind Army Master’s recognition, and secure the last Control-type spot on the elite squad.

The other four spots had already been filled by the publicly acknowledged strongest captains in the Celestial Wind Army.

But the final, Control-type spot remained undecided, as there was no consensus on who was the strongest among the many Gold Medal Captains with Control-type Martial Souls.

The Celestial Wind Army Master had heard of Huo Pengzhan; Liu Taian had mentioned him many times, attesting to his great strength.

So, the Celestial Wind Army Master nodded his assent. "Go. Don’t bring shame to the Celestial Wind Army."

Having been beaten to the punch by Huo Pengzhan, many of the other Gold Medal Captains looked annoyed.

In their eyes, teaching these disciples of the Four Races a lesson was a simple task and a golden opportunity to make an impression in front of so many high-ranking members of the Celestial Wind Army.

The other Grand Commanders shook their heads helplessly, and a couple of them couldn’t resist teasing Liu Taian.

Liu Taian simply smiled, looking smug.

Everyone from the Celestial Wind Army, and indeed most of the spectators, believed that the Gold Medal Captains brought by the Celestial Wind Army Master could easily sweep the floor with anyone from the Four Races.

"Huo Pengzhan, Gold Medal Captain of the Celestial Wind Army. I await your guidance."

Once on the stage, Huo Pengzhan gave a casual salute. His words were polite, but his tone was dismissive of Jintai.

But if he was arrogant, Jintai was even more so.

"Huo Pengzhan," Jintai sneered. "Tch. How would you like to be thrown off this stage?"

Huo Pengzhan’s expression flickered. "Hmph! Arrogant brat! Just wait, I’ll be the one kicking you off this stage!"

"Oh? So you’d like to be kicked off? I can certainly grant that wish."

"Cliff-Breaking Golden Saber—Golden Saber Cliff!"

Jintai shot back another taunt, then immediately attacked. He unleashed his Tier Three Martial Soul, the Cliff-Breaking Golden Saber, and slashed at Huo Pengzhan.

A colossal golden saber, dozens of meters long, descended with menacing power!

The Golden Saber was huge and looked awe-inspiring, but Huo Pengzhan just snorted in disdain. "You dare show off with such pathetic strength?!"

"Demon-Subduing Fist!"

Huo Pengzhan threw a punch. A fierce gust of wind carrying powerful Fist Momentum shattered the colossal, dozens-of-meters-long Golden Saber to pieces!

The Golden Saber looked enormous and powerful.

But any discerning eye could see it was merely a Tier Three Soul Technique. The Saber Momentum within it was pitifully weak. By using a Spirit Level Fist Technique, Huo Pengzhan could shatter it with a single punch!

This showed that the Jin Family’s Young Clan Leader had no particular talent when it came to Saber Technique Secret Manuals.

"Bone Forest!"

Huo Pengzhan shouted, unleashing his Soul Technique.

On the stone stage, a forest of dense white bones erupted in a radius of more than ten meters around Jintai.

Some of the bones resembled human arms, others looked like the claws of beasts. All of them continuously stretched out, grasping for Jintai at the center.

Soon, several bone claws had latched onto Jintai’s arms and legs, holding him fast.

’The younger generation of the Four Great Clans... this is all they amount to, in the end.’

Huo Pengzhan shook his head. He once again used his Demon-Subduing Fist and charged forward, throwing a punch at Jintai.

However, just as Huo Pengzhan closed the distance, Jintai suddenly looked up, a sinister smile spreading across his face.

"A Tier Three Soul Technique? A Spirit Level Fist Technique?"

"Vajra Indestructible—Vajra Body!"

Jintai suddenly roared. Golden light surged from his entire body, forming a brilliant golden barrier around him. It was so powerful that it forced the bone claws gripping him to retreat slightly.

DONG!

Huo Pengzhan’s fist slammed into the golden light, producing a long, resonant sound like the striking of a bell. Jintai didn’t even budge. The golden light merely rippled, easily neutralizing all of the Fist Power!

"How can this be!"

Huo Pengzhan couldn’t help but cry out in shock.

"Hahahaha! So this is the great Gold Medal Captain of the Great Xia Dragon Guard! Nothing special at all!"

"Vajra Indestructible—Vajra Power!"

Jintai let out a wild laugh as his skin took on a bronzed, golden hue.

After unleashing his Vajra Power, his strength multiplied several times over. With a powerful wrench, he shattered all the bone claws restraining him!

"Now get the hell off my stage!"

Jintai lifted his leg and kicked Huo Pengzhan squarely in the chest.

"No—" PUH!

Huo Pengzhan let out a roar of indignation.

The kick’s terrifying force exploded in his chest, shattering his Protective Primordial Power and breaking his sternum before sending him flying off the arena stage!

Gold Medal Captain Huo Pengzhan was defeated with ease!