Heaven-Surpassing Divine Emperor

Faced with Li Yunlong’s powerful sword strike, Jiang Chen didn’t dare hold anything back.

His black battle robes rustled in the wind, his long hair dancing wildly. He stood upon the Blood Battle Arena like an invincible Demon God, Qingfeng Longsword in hand.

A piercingly cold glint, almost tangible, shot from his eyes. With a sweep of his arm, a terrifyingly immense Sword Qi erupted from the Qingfeng Sword.

The Sword Qi soared to the heavens, a single strike tearing through the sky.

It was the third form of the Infinite Sword Technique, and also the strongest Sword Technique Jiang Chen had mastered—Endless Sky!

SWOOSH—

A golden Sword Qi shot straight into the clouds.

A hundred-zhang Sword Aura tore through the air, like a brilliant rainbow ripping the very sky asunder.

The two hundred-zhang giant swords collided in the void.

Tip to tip!

A perfectly matched clash...

The two hundred-zhang-long sword edges crashed against each other in the void, their tips simultaneously erupting with a blinding light, like a blazing sun suspended in the sky.

From within the terrifying sphere of light, streams of dazzling brilliance shot out.

This brilliance was composed of razor-sharp Sword Qi, which shot out in all directions and landed upon the Blood Battle Arena. A series of deafening RUMBLES echoed out. Each stray wisp of Sword Qi triggered a terrifying explosion the moment it hit the ground, blasting massive craters into the arena’s hard surface.

Dust billowed and stone fragments flew through the air.

The scattered Sword Qi fell like a torrential downpour, leaving the entire Blood Battle Arena pitted, scarred, and utterly devastated.

Some of the Sword Qi even scattered below the arena, causing the Outer Sect experts to cry out in panic and flee in all directions.

"Those two are way too strong, aren’t they?"

"It’s one thing for Senior Brother Li Yunlong to be powerful, but how is Jiang Chen so terrifying too? He’s actually fighting on even ground with him?"

"No, Senior Brother Li Yunlong has the upper hand..." one of the experts suddenly said.

All eyes were on the two hundred-zhang Sword Auras clashing in mid-air. As they fought, the sky seemed to shift and the winds howled, yet neither could gain an advantage.

Li Yunlong’s eyes narrowed. "I never expected you to have mastered Wind Sword Intent as well. And... your proficiency with it is no weaker than mine. What a terrifying genius. I’m finally beginning to understand why Jiang Ziyou would go so far as to issue a Blood-colored Killing Order to get rid of you. A pity. Such a genius is to be buried here on this Blood Battle Arena today!"

Li Yunlong’s expression suddenly changed. Pushing his Profound Technique to its absolute limit, he thrust his Blue Blood Sword down through the air!

BOOM—

The turbulent vortex surrounding the blue Sword Aura suddenly froze. The gales around the Sword Aura coalesced into a heaven-propping hand that pressed down violently.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The massive hand multiplied into thousands, continuously striking and slapping down hard on the Qingfeng Sword’s Sword Aura.

Cracks spread across the Sword Aura.

Jiang Chen retreated step after step, each one shattering the ground beneath his feet.

"Break for me!"

Jiang Chen roared like thunder and thrust his arm forward violently.

The two unparalleled Sword Auras collided and battered each other relentlessly, and terrifying cracks appeared on both of them simultaneously.

The Sword Auras exploded and shattered.

From a hundred zhang, they shrank to ninety...

Eighty...

Fifty...

Ten...

BOOM!

Both Sword Auras shattered at the same time, dissolving into motes of light that rained down.

WHOOSH—

A gust of wind swept across the Blood Battle Arena. Upon the devastated stage, which now looked like a sieve, Jiang Chen stood tall with his sword, his black robes fluttering. His eyes were bright and sharp, shooting out two beams of brilliant light as he stared at Li Yunlong before him.

"He... he blocked it?"

"Holy shit, can someone tell me if I’m hallucinating? Did Jiang Chen really just block Li Yunlong’s fatal strike?"

"That’s incredible!"

Gasps of astonishment rippled through the crowd.

Li Yunlong acted as if he hadn’t heard, his face calm.

But deep in his eyes, a flicker of shock flashed past. He gave Jiang Chen a long, hard look. "Everyone has underestimated you. I admit, you, Jiang Chen, are worthy of being my opponent. I honor my bets. Since you survived one of my strikes, from now on, no one from my Celestial Alliance will stand in your way until you’ve reached the top ten. When that time comes, I will kill you with my own hands!"

Li Yunlong’s cold gaze swept over the eighteen people behind him as he said coolly, "You can all get off the stage. The two of us are the ones advancing from this group."

"Yes!"

The eighteen fighters looked at each other with bitter smiles. Though unwilling, there was nothing they could do but concede.

"Advancing from this round are Li Yunlong and Jiang Chen!" the referee announced after a moment’s stun, his expression complicated.

Up on the high platform...

Third Elder Zong Han was completely dumbfounded. "H-How is this possible?"

The Tower Guardian Elder stood up, a smile on his face. "Elder Zong, isn’t it time to make good on your promise? This stone bench I was sitting on is still warm. It should taste pretty good!"

"You..." Zong Han’s eye twitched, and his face instantly darkened.

The Tower Guardian Elder said nonchalantly, "What? Are you planning to endure the obstruction of a Heart Demon?"

"I..."

Zong Han’s face was a mask of misery. As if terribly constipated, he squeezed out the words one by one, "I... I’ll eat it!"

And so, the crowd witnessed a bizarre sight: the distinguished Third Elder of the Outer Sect, Zong Han, squatting on the high platform and gnawing on the incredibly hard stone bench and table with his yellowed teeth.

Zong Han wanted to cry but had no tears.

He knew his reputation was ruined. From this day forward, he would likely be known as the "Stone-Eating Elder" for the rest of his life.

As he gnawed on the stone table, chewing the hard Cyan Gang Rock, a furious killing intent surged in Zong Han’s heart. ’Jiang Chen... this is all your fault! I’m going to tear you to pieces!’

Zong Han gnawing on stone didn’t stop the competition from continuing.

The top one hundred had been decided.

The hundred fighters were once again divided into ten groups. Because Li Yunlong had given the order to let Jiang Chen reach the top ten, the other elders didn’t try to interfere.

The ten strongest competitors were separated into different groups, and in the end, Li Yunlong, Yuwen Xunyi, Luo Qing, Lin Feifei, Qiu Yunbo, Ruan Lingyun, Hex Junchen, Sunx Yang, Jiang Chen, and Bai Ling advanced to the top ten with no suspense.

At the same time, these ten were also the new generation of the Outer Sect’s Ten Great Prodigies!

Third Elder Zong Han had already finished eating one stone table and one stone bench. Stuffed to the point of bursting, he was now circulating his energy to dissolve the Cyan Gang Rock in his stomach. Therefore, the task of hosting the next part of the proceedings was handed over to Fourth Elder Wan Kang.

Wan Kang cleared his throat, his resonant voice echoing over the Earth Martial Hall. "Congratulations on reaching the top ten, and congratulations on becoming the new Ten Great Prodigies of the Outer Sect. Every one of you is a pillar of our Saint Martial Sword Sect, and I hope you will continue to strive for greatness. It is getting late, so everyone should return and rest for now. The final round, the top ten ranking competition, will officially begin tomorrow at noon!"

Night was already approaching, so the ranking competition had to be postponed until the next day.

Wan Kang glanced at Zong Han, gave a wry smile, and ordered some people to carry him out of the Earth Martial Hall.

The Elder Level experts were the first to leave.

Only then did the disciples below begin to depart one after another. Jiang Chen returned to Lui Yifa’s side and looked at the Black Emperor. "How is Afa?"

"His bones will heal easily enough, but his meridians are severed. Making a full recovery will be troublesome," the Black Emperor said.

Jiang Chen looked at Lui Yifa and said in a low, serious voice, "Afa, don’t worry. No matter how difficult it is, I’ll make sure you’re restored to how you were before!"

"Boss, I believe in you!"

Lui Yifa nodded emphatically.

Just then, Hex Junchen happened to walk by, a sneer on his face. "Aww, what touching brotherly love! Lui Yifa, I’d advise you not to even bother with treatment. So what if you recover? The next time you run into me, I’ll just cripple you again. Jiang Chen can protect you once, but can he protect you for a lifetime? Heh heh heh..."

Hex Junchen let out a few cold laughs and sauntered away.

Watching his retreating figure, Jiang Chen clenched his fists, his gaze chilling. "Afa, come with me tomorrow. I’ll let you get your revenge with your own two hands!"