Heaven-Surpassing Divine Emperor

Throughout the Floating Battlefield, waves of energy surged to the skies and fierce gales raged. A tornado-like vortex of wind enveloped the two men.

The raging winds were like an exhaling Azure Dragon, continuously sweeping the seawater high into the sky.

A torrential downpour began to fall. The heavy raindrops, propelled by the gale, reached incredible speeds, shooting out in all directions.

They struck the mountain peaks and forests on the shore.

Sharp as arrows loosed from a bow, they pierced straight through the mountains, and ancient, towering trees were blasted apart by the drops. The sound of impacts, PFFT, PFFT, PFFT, was incessant.

"So strong!"

"The strength of both these men has reached the level of the Union Palace Realm!"

"When Lan Haichen was at the Heavenly Destiny Realm Ninth Stage, he was already ranked first on the Earth List and had killed experts of the Union Palace Realm. Now that he’s actually in the Union Palace Realm, it’s only natural for him to possess such might. But how can Jiang Chen be this powerful? He’s only at the Heavenly Destiny Realm Seventh Stage!"

"He’s a monster!"

"This is definitely the peak battle of this Celestial Fate Hunting!"

"After this battle, whoever wins will become the undisputed leader of the younger generation among the Ten Great Dynasties!"

Countless experts were abuzz with discussion.

The impact was most keenly felt by Xuue Yinhao, the Night Emperor, and Di Tian.

They had all fought Lan Haichen before and knew firsthand how terrifying he had become after breaking through to the Union Palace Realm!

At the beginning of the fight, they had all assumed Jiang Chen would be instantly killed by Lan Haichen!

But now...

Jiang Chen was actually matching Lan Haichen in pure strength. It was unbelievable!

Xuue Yinhao gave a bitter smile. "That Jiang Chen’s talent is simply terrifying."

"Terrifying indeed. It’s just a shame he and Lan Haichen seem to share a blood feud..." the Night Emperor said, nodding as the Dark Night Light Wheel pulsed behind him. In a low voice, he continued, "After advancing to the Union Palace Realm, Lan Haichen has far surpassed the likes of us. If Jiang Chen were at the Half-Step Union Palace Realm, or even the Heavenly Destiny Realm Ninth Stage, he might stand a chance of contending with Lan Haichen. But as it is, his cultivation is ultimately too weak."

Di Tian, his face pale, also nodded from the side.

His burning gaze was fixed on the two combatants.

His fists couldn’t help but clench. ’I never imagined that besides Lan Haichen, a backwater place like the Saint Martial Dynasty could produce someone as terrifying as Jiang Chen. It seems my years here have been like a dragon stranded in shallow waters. My horizons have narrowed. Once this is all over, I should return to my clan!’

He was one of Heaven’s chosen, possessing the Undying Divine Body and cultivating the peerless miraculous technique, the Undying Divine Technique.

Yet now, he had been defeated at the hands of Lan Haichen.

And now...

The power Jiang Chen was displaying was even a notch above his own, making Di Tian feel a profound sense of humiliation and immense pressure.

At that very moment...

...back on the Floating Battlefield, the clash of power between Jiang Chen and Lan Haichen finally reached a conclusion!

BOOM!

Radiance pulsed around the two men as a terrifying power erupted between heaven and earth.

At the very center of their clash, a mass of True Essence Power, containing a destructive storm, condensed but did not disperse. It swelled and shrank, pulsing with a blinding light.

Suddenly...

...the ball of destructive power shrank to the size of a speck of dust.

"Not good!"

"Fall back!"

The expressions on Jiang Chen and Lan Haichen’s faces changed simultaneously. Both shot backward at their maximum speed.

In an instant, they had both retreated several thousand meters.

At the same time...

...that tiny point of energy rapidly expanded, instantly covering a thousand-meter radius. Then, with a deafening BOOM, an incomparably terrifying power erupted.

Waves of destructive power erupted, nearly tearing the Celestial Vault asunder as the water from half the ocean was blasted high into the air.

It evaporated completely in midair, never to fall back down.

In the air, Jiang Chen and Lan Haichen hovered, facing each other. In that clash of power, they had been evenly matched!

Jiang Chen grinned. "As expected of Lan Haichen. Your strength is truly extraordinary!"

After all, Jiang Chen cultivated the Divine Demon Tyrant Body. Not only was his physical toughness comparable to a High-grade Earth Tier Profound Weapon, but his strength could also crush any Martial Artist at his level.

In that clash of power, he had used his full strength, yet he still hadn’t been able to overcome Lan Haichen.

’This Lan Haichen’s strength really is something else!’

Across from him, Lan Haichen’s expression was a shifting mask of shock and fury. He glanced down at his arms; they were still bright red from where blazing sparks had flown during their clash.

His gaze darkened as he stared at Jiang Chen, unable to hide the shock in his heart. "I never thought a mere Heavenly Destiny Realm Seventh Stage cultivator like you could contend with me in strength. However, strength isn’t my specialty. I’m about to show you my true power. Are you ready? Don’t die too quickly. That wouldn’t be very fun."

"What a coincidence. My greatest strength isn’t power, either!"

Jiang Chen retorted with a grin. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Lan Haichen snorted. With a flick of his arm, a ray of blue light shot from his body and landed in his palm.

The blue light faded, revealing its true form.

It was a longsword, entirely blue.

He held the blue longsword before him. Forming a Sword Finger with his left hand, he gently stroked the length of the blade, which emitted a low HUM. His gaze sharpened abruptly. "A Celestial Tier Low-level Profound Weapon. Its name—Lanling! Jiang Chen, you will have the honor of being the first expert I slay with the Lanling Sword since my ascension to the Union Palace Realm."

"I don’t feel very honored!"

Jiang Chen rolled his eyes, splayed his fingers, and grunted, "Sword, come." Amid a pulse of black light, the Demon Sword Spirit Slayer landed in his hand.

The Spirit-Slaying Sword felt warm in his grasp, as if it were a part of him.

The blade trembled slightly.

It seemed to be unleashing its soaring battle intent.

Jiang Chen gave a faint smile, his cold gaze sweeping over Lan Haichen as he spoke, enunciating each word, "High-grade Earth Tier Profound Weapon. Its name—Spirit Slayer."

"An Earth-tier Profound Weapon?"

Lan Haichen froze for a second, then shook his head and sneered. "Just as I’d expect from a country bumpkin from the backwoods. You can’t even produce a single Celestial-tier Profound Weapon? Jiang Chen, you’re just embarrassing yourself!"

"So what if it’s Earth Tier? It’s more than enough to kill you!" Jiang Chen replied, his tone even.

"Arrogant!"

Lan Haichen snorted, his expression frigid. "All I need is a single strike to shatter your Spirit Slayer!"

"Enough talk! Take this—Celestial Flame Sun-Devouring Slash!"

A crimson Sword Aura streaked across the sky.

It was like a blazing sun falling to earth. Scorching heat advanced with the Sword Aura, and wherever it passed, the ocean roiled and monstrous waves surged. Though the Sword Aura was a full hundred meters above the surface, the searing storm it whipped up caused the water below to rapidly evaporate, sending columns of hot steam shooting upward.

The steam formed into a long, pale dragon of mist that charged forward.

Lan Haichen flicked his arm. The Lanling Sword instantly erupted with a blue radiance, as brilliant as a divine halo and as vivid as a True Dragon. Baring fangs and claws, it pounced toward the blazing Sword Aura.

CLANG—

The two Sword Auras collided in midair, grinding against and consuming one another until they disintegrated into motes of light that scattered in all directions.

"Kill!"

"Die!"

Jiang Chen and Lan Haichen simultaneously shot through the air, swords in hand, flying toward each other to deliver the killing blow...