Divine Emperor Demon Emperor

Sensing the powerful aura radiating from Wu Ze, a trace of Battle Intent stirred within Lin Yun. ’He’s strong.’ Just from Wu Ze’s aura alone, Lin Yun knew he was incredibly powerful.

’Stronger than the Iron Blood Young Master and the Blood Refining Young Master.’

"So this is the strength of a young expert from Yunlu County?" Lin Yun muttered to himself, a hint of excitement on his face.

"You’re about to die, and you can still smile? Die for me!" Seeing the smile on Lin Yun’s face, Wu Ze roared in fury. ’I am a genius, one of the four strongest of Yunlu County’s younger generation. That expression is nothing but a sneer—a sneer aimed directly at me.’

Wu Ze’s punch was heavy and powerful, but Lin Yun didn’t dodge. He threw a punch of his own, and their fists collided violently in mid-air.

The shockwave from the impact instantly shattered all the tables and chairs in the inn’s main hall.

"What...?" Wu Ze exclaimed in surprise after the direct clash. ’My attack was actually blocked by this kid.’

Although Wu Ze hadn’t used a Martial Skill, neither had Lin Yun. It was unbelievable. Wu Ze never expected some unknown nobody to block his punch, especially when the kid was two realms weaker than him.

In contrast to Wu Ze’s shock, Lin Yun was purely excited. He had also just used his full strength, albeit without a Martial Skill. The fact that Wu Ze could fight him on even footing proved his strength was extraordinary.

"Interesting. Again." This time, Lin Yun took the offensive. As the words left his mouth, he instantly unleashed the Black Steel Tyrant Fist. He had now fully comprehended the technique, and every punch carried True Intent.

"Don’t get cocky." Having failed to crush Lin Yun in a single blow, all traces of contempt vanished from Wu Ze’s mind. He now considered Lin Yun on the same level as the other three top geniuses—a formidable rival.

"Stone Fall Palm!" With a furious roar, Wu Ze thrust a palm at Lin Yun. A Palm Seal made of Elemental Power instantly formed, smashing down on Lin Yun like a falling boulder.

"Break!" Lin Yun roared, frantically throwing out his Black Steel Tyrant Fists. After more than ten punches, Wu Ze’s Elemental Power Palm Seal shattered completely.

This didn’t mean Lin Yun’s Combat Power was inferior to Wu Ze’s, but rather pointed to the gap in their Martial Skill tiers. Lin Yun’s Black Steel Tyrant Fist was only Profound Mechanism Low Tier, while Wu Ze’s Stone Fall Palm was likely at the Earth Level Lower Tier.

After shattering Wu Ze’s Stone Fall Palm, Lin Yun didn’t pause. He kicked off the ground forcefully, his entire body shooting toward Wu Ze like a cannonball.

The two were locked in a fierce battle, and the inn was almost completely destroyed. The Innkeeper watched from the side, his heart aching, but he didn’t dare try to stop them.

Setting aside Wu Ze’s status, their Combat Power alone was far beyond his ability to handle.

"Am I seeing things? Wu Ze is actually being suppressed, and by someone at the Fifth Layer of Opening Realm!"

"Who on earth is that? To have such Combat Power at the Fifth Layer of Opening Realm... which family’s disciple is he?"

The crowd murmured amongst themselves. In the heat of battle, Lin Yun only grew more ferocious. Though he hadn’t used his Battle Intent or the Overlord Spear, Wu Ze also hadn’t drawn a Weapon.

In close-quarters combat, Lin Yun, relying on his Flawless Flesh Body, perfectly countered Wu Ze.

"Damn it! Kid, who the hell are you?" Wu Ze roared, growing more frustrated the longer they fought. He refused to believe Lin Yun was a nobody. With Combat Power that could rival his own, it was impossible for him to be unknown in Yunlu County.

"Aaargh! Stone Fall Palm!" Without waiting for a reply, Wu Ze ignored the drain on his Elemental Power and frantically thrust out both palms, sending a wild barrage of Palm Seals made of Elemental Power raining down on Lin Yun.

Facing Wu Ze’s powerful assault, Lin Yun relentlessly threw out his fists, pushing his Black Steel Tyrant Fist to its absolute limit. Everyone watching felt an incomparably domineering aura wash over them.

BANG! BANG! BANG! One by one, the Elemental Power Palm Seals were shattered by Lin Yun. In the end, Wu Ze had less than a tenth of his Elemental Power remaining. Lin Yun was in better shape, but he had also expended a great deal of energy.

The two had no deep-seated hatred for each other, and their strength was too evenly matched. They stopped fighting. With a look of shock, Wu Ze stared at Lin Yun and asked...

"Kid, who are you really?"

"Lin Shan," Lin Yun replied calmly.

"Good. I, Wu Ze, will remember you. We’ll continue this at the Academy." After saying this, Wu Ze didn’t linger and walked straight out of the inn.

Geniuses possess their own pride. Wu Ze wasn’t like other spoiled brats who would call on their family’s experts for revenge after a loss. In his heart, he believed he must be the one to defeat his own rivals.

’So this is the true strength of a Yunlu County genius?’ Lin Yun murmured, watching Wu Ze’s retreating back.

Back in Mysterious City, Lin Yun had thought the three great young masters represented the pinnacle of talent in Yunlu County. But after crossing blows with Wu Ze today, he finally understood.

In front of a true genius like Wu Ze, the Iron Blood Young Master and the Blood Refining Young Master weren’t even worth a second glance.

His own Combat Power was much greater than it had been back in Mysterious City, yet against Wu Ze, he could only gain a slight upper hand, not achieve a decisive victory.

After Wu Ze left, Lin Yun and Qin Feng went to their room. The Innkeeper didn’t say a single word about compensation. In the world of Martial Artists, strength was paramount. Both Lin Yun and Wu Ze were so incredibly powerful; how could the Shopkeeper possibly dare to bring up the matter of damages?

However, when the Shopkeeper looked back at his counter, he discovered a hundred Primordial Stones lying there—more than enough to cover his losses.

「Nightfall.」

Qin Feng was already fast asleep, but Lin Yun felt no desire to sleep. Staring at the night sky outside his window, he came to a realization after today’s battle.

One’s horizons determine one’s achievements. He was a perfect example. Having only been to the area around the Yunlu Mountain Range, he had met the three great young masters of Mysterious City. Back then, Lin Yun had believed they were the strongest of Yunlu County’s younger generation.

But after meeting Wu Ze today, Lin Yun discovered that the true geniuses of Yunlu County’s younger generation were far stronger than the three from Mysterious City.

The world was vast. He might be considered a genius in the eyes of others now, but across the entire Eastern Domain, he might only be average.

’The world is truly vast,’ he thought. ’I wonder how strong the so-called Five Great Demon Fiends are.’ Lin Yun knew he had seen too little of the world and met too few people. Now that he understood its sheer scale, a profound curiosity about the Five Great Demon Fiends ignited within him.

The Five Great Demon Fiends, revered by every Eastern Domain Martial Artist—just how powerful were they? ’Can they instantly kill Qi Sea Realm experts while they’re still in the Opening Realm? Can they kill Primordial Ocean Realm experts while in the Qi Sea Realm?’

"I don’t know how strong you all are, but one day, I will be able to stand against you," he whispered to the sky. Only now did it feel as if Lin Yun was truly beginning to understand this world.

Understanding its vastness and the multitude of experts who inhabited it.

「Meanwhile.」

In another inn within the County City, Wu Ze, who was sitting cross-legged in meditation, slowly opened his eyes. They burned with intense Battle Intent.

’Kid,’ he thought, ’Yanhuang Academy will be the true stage for our contest.’