Heaven-Surpassing Divine Emperor

"Brother Chen, congratulations on your one hundred victories!" Xiao Qingyi’s face beamed with a radiant smile as she glided gracefully to stand before Jiang Chen.

Cui Zheng and Kumu were also flushed with excitement, their faces red. "Congratulations, Young Master Jiang, on your spectacular hundred-victory streak, making you the strongest person since the Martial Arts Arena was founded!"

"Congratulations, Young Master Jiang!"

"Young Master Jiang, I am the Steward of the Grand General’s Mansion. My master has prepared a banquet and would like to know if you would be free to grace us with your presence?"

"Young Master Jiang, my master is the current Prime Minister. This is his lordship’s Token. If you encounter any problems in the Imperial Capital that you cannot solve, you may take this Token to the Prime Minister’s Mansion. My master will certainly do everything in his power to help!"

"We are..."

One expert after another extended an olive branch to Jiang Chen, their enthusiasm immense.

His reputation preceded him.

Jiang Chen had claimed a hundred victories in the Martial Arts Arena, surpassing the record once set by Lan Haichen, the current number one on the Earth List. Naturally, he had become a hot new star.

What’s more, Jiang Chen was a top-tier genius with Twin Sword Intent.

His future achievements would be limitless. As long as the experts from these factions weren’t fools, they would never get on his bad side.

Of course, this was also because they knew Jiang Chen was from Yandu City and didn’t belong to any major faction, which was why they were so enthusiastic about recruiting him.

Jiang Chen had Cui Zheng and Kumu receive these people on his behalf.

In that moment, Cui Zheng and Kumu became Jiang Chen’s spokesmen, and their own status rose accordingly.

"Young Master Jiang, my nephew and I had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai. Please forgive us, Young Master Jiang!" Just as Jiang Chen was preparing to leave, Shan Gang made Shan Le kneel before him and spoke respectfully.

Nearby, Xiaoling watched the kneeling Shan Le with a complicated expression and sighed internally.

’The ways of the world are truly wondrous.’

’Just half a day ago, Shan Le had been so arrogant and disdainful toward Jiang Chen, calling him a "country bumpkin" over and over. And now, here he was, kneeling before Jiang Chen, not daring to have a single rebellious thought.’

Jiang Chen glanced at the two of them and said coolly, "I’m magnanimous enough not to hold this against you."

"Thank you, Young Master Jiang!"

"Young Master Jiang’s magnanimity is an example for us all!"

The two of them spoke in quick succession.

Jiang Chen waved his hand dismissively and walked off the Observation Platform with Xiao Qingyi, the Black Emperor, and Little White. Experts from the Martial Arts Arena were already waiting for him at the exit. The arrivals were precisely the two men who always followed the arena master. They both stepped forward, giving Jiang Chen a complicated look.

Not long ago, they were still searching everywhere for masters to put Jiang Chen to death.

But now, they had to bow and scrape, personally welcoming Jiang Chen.

Fate truly made fools of people!

The man on the left was named Wui Yi. He said respectfully, "I am Wui Yi, and this is my younger brother, Wui the Second. Our master intended to receive you personally, but there are too many eyes and ears here, so he sent us to invite you instead!"

"Lead the way," Jiang Chen said.

Wui Yi and Wui the Second bowed and led Jiang Chen’s group to a luxuriously decorated VIP room in the back.

Xiao Qingyi, holding Little White, followed by Jiang Chen’s side. As they entered the VIP room, a tall and burly middle-aged man in a gold cloak strode toward them with the gait of a dragon and the stride of a tiger. At the same moment his hearty voice rang out, the entire room lit up with brilliant lights. "Hahaha, welcome to our hundred-victory prodigy!"

"And you are?" Jiang Chen eyed the man.

Wui Yi quickly said, "Young Master Jiang, this is the master of our Martial Arts Arena. He is also the current emperor’s own younger brother, Prince Gong!"

"So it’s Prince Gong. Jiang Chen greets you, Your Highness." Jiang Chen’s tone was flat; he had no favorable impression of the arena master.

’He was the one who sent Leng Feng to kill me!’

Prince Gong was extremely shrewd. A quick glance was all it took for him to understand the reason for Jiang Chen’s coldness. He laughed heartily and said, "Young friend Jiang Chen, this Prince apologizes to you. After all, when you’re in a certain position, you sometimes have to do things that go against your conscience. As the master of the Martial Arts Arena, I must prioritize the arena’s interests, which is why I sent someone to intercept you. To express my apologies, I have already ordered that your share of the profits be raised to fifteen percent." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

’Prince Gong is certainly worthy of being entrusted with such great responsibility and placed in charge of the Martial Arts Arena. His boldness is truly astonishing!’

’He started by openly admitting that he sent an expert to stop me only because the situation demanded it, not because he wanted to. Then, he offered a huge benefit as an apology gift. Based on the total bets from the previous matches, that extra five percent is probably worth hundreds of billions in Gold!’

Jiang Chen couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. "Prince Gong, you’re too kind. As the saying goes, ’in a position, one must act for it.’ As the master of the Martial Arts Arena, what you did was simply your duty."

"Hahaha, it’s wonderful that you can understand, young friend Jiang Chen!"

Prince Gong laughed heartily, then took out a gold token. On the token was a flamboyantly written character for "Combat." "This is the Martial Arts Arena’s Golden Martial Fighting Order. With this order, young friend Jiang Chen, you will be a VIP of the highest level at our Martial Arts Arena, entitled to enjoy all its services for free. Additionally, this order is equivalent to the Royal Family’s presence and will grant you a fifty-percent discount at the Money Commerce Association, the Alchemist Guild, and the Artifact Refiner Union."

HISS!

At their side, Wui Yi and Wui the Second both sucked in a sharp breath.

As they looked at Jiang Chen, their eyes were filled with burning envy.

’That Golden Martial Fighting Order is incredibly precious. Since the founding of the Martial Arts Arena, only five people had ever received one. To think another one was being given out now.’

’But then they remembered Jiang Chen’s Twin Sword Intent, and how he, not yet twenty years old, had already defeated Luo Rui, who was ranked thirtieth on the Spirit List. The two of them then understood the meaning behind Prince Gong’s action.’

’This was the Royal Family’s way of recruiting Jiang Chen!’

Jiang Chen, however, remained calm and unfazed. He put the Golden Martial Fighting Order into his Storage Ring and looked at the Storage Ring that had just appeared in Prince Gong’s hand.

Prince Gong smiled. "This Storage Ring contains your rewards for the consecutive victories, as well as the money you won from the bets. However, the Martial Arts Arena couldn’t produce that much Gold on such short notice, so this Prince took the liberty of substituting it with Spirit Crystals. I hope you don’t mind, young friend!"

Although he said that, Prince Gong wore a faint smile.

’Clearly, this substitution with Spirit Crystals was intentional. It wasn’t that he truly couldn’t produce the Gold; he was trying to win my favor in order to recruit me.’

Jiang Chen’s heart skipped a beat, but he accepted the Storage Ring with a nonchalant expression. "I’ve troubled Your Highness to deliver this to me personally."

"Not at all, not at all!"

Prince Gong laughed, sensing Jiang Chen’s detached attitude. He knew Jiang Chen was still holding a grudge about him sending someone to intercept him, but Prince Gong didn’t mind. He said, "This Prince is preparing a banquet in your honor, young friend. I wonder if you have the time?"

"I plan to enter seclusion for a while first. After that, I need to go to the Saint Martial Sword Sect. Once matters here are settled, I will pay a visit to Your Highness," Jiang Chen declined.

Prince Gong seemed to have already known that Jiang Chen was a disciple of the Saint Martial Sword Sect and showed no surprise. He nodded and said, "In that case, this Prince won’t take up any more of your time! Please!"

"Please."

Jiang Chen nodded.

Prince Gong watched Jiang Chen leave the VIP room. A scroll appeared in his palm, on which was written: Jiang Chen, a native of Yandu City in Yulan Mansion, once awakened a Yellow Tier First Grade Martial Soul and was scorned...

It was a detailed intelligence report on Jiang Chen!

WHOOSH—

A burst of flame shot from Prince Gong’s hand, incinerating the scroll. He narrowed his eyes and murmured to himself, ’Awakened a Yellow Tier First Grade Martial Soul and was mediocre for six years, only to suddenly explode with talent. In less than a year, he’s grown to this level... This Jiang Chen is no simple character. A pity my previous actions seem to have made him hold a deep prejudice against me. Forget it, this matter will require careful planning. However, he seems to have offended Lan Haichen, yet he still dares to go to the Saint Martial Sword Sect? Hmm, it seems I need to inform my elder brother about this...’

「At the same time.」

Jiang Chen and his group returned to Cui Zheng’s residence. And Jiang Chen opened the Storage Ring.

When he saw the mountain of Spirit Crystals piled inside, Jiang Chen was utterly dumbfounded.

Because inside the Storage Ring, the pile of Spirit Crystals amounted to a million!

A million Spirit Crystals!

Converted to Gold, that was one trillion taels of Gold!

Cui Zheng and Kumu were so excited their faces turned bright red, leaving them speechless...