Heaven-Surpassing Divine Emperor

In the Celestial Martial Hall.

Jiang Chen’s words echoed: "If Heaven will not have me, I will slay it! If the Earth will not have me, I will bury it!"

The mighty declaration thundered like rolling clouds and beat like a thousand war drums—a deafening roar that shook the heavens.

Jiang Chen’s voice echoed across the skies above Martial Saint Mountain.

Every expert present paled at the sound of his words.

"What arrogance! Does he truly intend to challenge the Ten Great Dynasties all by himself?"

"He’s courting death!"

"If this boy leaves here alive today, what will become of the Ten Great Dynasties’ honor?"

The experts glared at Jiang Chen, their eyes brimming with murderous intent.

Even the lofty powerhouses, the Sect Masters of the Ten Great Sects, were no exception, their faces all masks of ice.

Xiao Tianqi, the Sect Master of the Celestial Sword Sect, wore a grim expression. The longsword on his back hummed softly, radiating a terrifying killing intent and a chilling sharpness. "Today, anyone who dares stop me from killing this boy makes an enemy of my Celestial Sword Sect!"

"Heh heh, the same goes for my Nine Sins Hall!"

Ghost Mother Lishan added with a sinister cackle.

Mu Feiyang of the Yinluo Sect, the Purple Star Beast Emperor of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, and the other experts all chimed in.

Every one of them was determined to kill Jiang Chen!

Tu Shanhe sat upon his high throne, looking as calm and detached as if none of this concerned him. In truth, however, a deeply sinister glint flickered in his eyes. ’Ah, Jiang Chen. It seems I won’t have to lift a finger. You’re about to die a miserable death at the hands of the enraged Ten Great Sects!’

But facing the murderous glares of the experts from the Ten Great Sects, Jiang Chen remained utterly fearless.

One man and one sword, daring to challenge all the heroes under heaven.

The Sect Master of the Celestial Sword Sect snorted, declaring with arrogance, "Hear my decree! Any member of my sect who slays this boy shall be named Vice Sect Master of the Celestial Sword Sect!"

BOOM—

The declaration sent a massive shockwave through the crowd.

The hall was utterly shaken!

The Celestial Sword Sect was ranked a solid fifth among the Ten Great Sects, putting it leagues above a bottom-tier sect like the Saint Martial Sword Sect.

Becoming the Vice Sect Master of the Celestial Sword Sect was a position of prestige no less revered than that of an Emperor of one of the great dynasties!

"Sect Master, I wish to make an attempt!" A man in his early thirties stood up. At his age, he was considered exceptionally young among Martial Artists who often lived for centuries.

"Oh?"

Xiao Tianqi was taken aback for a moment, then a look of satisfaction spread across his face. He nodded. "Shi Yichen, since you wish to win glory for the Celestial Sword Sect, I have no reason to refuse. Go. Let that arrogant fool know that before the Celestial Sword Sect, he is nothing but an ant!"

"Yes, sir!"

Shi Yichen nodded, his long robes fluttering as he strode through the air.

He carried himself with a straight back, like a longsword hanging in the sky, radiating an aura of unstoppable, piercing momentum.

This was a Swordsman!

"I am Shi Yichen. I have come to request a lesson," Shi Yichen said, looking at Jiang Chen and cupping his fists in a formal salute.

Jiang Chen frowned. "Shi Yichen?"

The name was unfamiliar to him.

However, many of the experts present were very familiar with the name. It was, one might say, a household name among cultivators. The moment they heard it, gasps of surprise rippled through the crowd. "Shi Yichen? The peerless genius who ranked seventh on the previous generation’s Junior Venerable List? I heard he only left the list because he turned thirty. Otherwise, with his strength, he could’ve at least ranked in the top three!"

"Top three? Don’t sell him short! The last generation’s Junior Venerable List was packed with talent, especially that Ghost Demon from the Nine Sins Hall, who was the undisputed number one!"

"Since Shi Yichen is making a move, Jiang Chen is bound to lose!"

"Defeat is inevitable! After all, Shi Yichen entered the Union Palace Realm a full decade ago!"

Jiang Chen, who had overheard the crowd’s chatter, raised an eyebrow. He gave Shi Yichen a surprised look. "I didn’t realize you were one of the previous generation’s Junior Venerables."

"A hollow title, nothing more."

Shi Yichen smiled faintly, the picture of a humble gentleman. "On the contrary, Junior Brother Jiang Chen, your talent is what’s truly astonishing. Quite an eye-opener."

"I was left with no choice," Jiang Chen said coolly.

Shi Yichen’s lips curved into a smile as he spoke in a slow, deliberate manner. "Jiang Chen, surely you understand your current predicament. The top experts of the Ten Great Sects are all here today. You cannot escape, even if you were to sprout wings. However, I do have a way for you to survive this."

"Oh?"

Jiang Chen watched Shi Yichen with great interest.

’After all that pleasantry, he’s finally getting to the point!’

A cunning glint, like that of a sly fox, flashed in Shi Yichen’s eyes. He spoke each word with deliberate weight. "Our Sect Master did say that whoever kills you will become the Vice Sect Master. But I believe that if I merely defeat you, the Sect Master will grant me the position all the same. So, if you surrender and swear an oath to become my Sword Slave, I can use my future status as the Vice Sect Master of the Celestial Sword Sect to spare your life. What do you say?"

Shi Yichen looked at Jiang Chen, his expression eager and full of expectation.

He was extremely confident.

’Jiang Chen has no choice but to accept such generous terms,’ he thought.

’With Jiang Chen’s incredible power, if he really becomes my Sword Slave, my own strength will soar to a new level. In the future, I might even have a shot at the Sect Master’s seat.’

At this thought, the smile on Shi Yichen’s face grew even brighter.

However...

Faced with Shi Yichen’s so-called "generous offer," Jiang Chen merely scoffed. "How about this instead?" he said coolly. "You swear fealty to me and become my loyal dog. In return, I promise that when I wash the Celestial Sword Sect in blood, I’ll spare your life. How does that sound?"

’Me, Jiang Chen, your slave?’

’You’re dreaming!’

Shi Yichen’s expression darkened. The humble, kind smile slowly vanished, the false pretense stripped away. His gaze turned sinister as it locked onto Jiang Chen, and he bit out each word: "Since you refuse to appreciate my kindness and insist on courting death, then I shall grant your wish!"

The moment his voice fell,

Shi Yichen suddenly bent at the waist, forming a Sword Finger with both hands and thrusting them forward. "Wind and Rain Sword Technique—Gale and Downpour!"

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Countless sharp blades shot through the void, their perfectly aligned Sword Auras forming a fan-shaped Sword Curtain that blasted toward Jiang Chen.

CRASH...

The fan-shaped Sword Curtain materialized out of thin air.

It instantly enveloped Jiang Chen.

Shi Yichen’s face was filled with smug satisfaction. "Hahaha, Jiang Chen, my Wind and Rain Sword Technique fuses both Wind Sword Intent and Water Sword Intent! With two Sword Intents combined, I can fight far above my own level. Heh heh, I gave you a chance to live, but you didn’t take it. When you reach the Underworld, don’t forget the one who killed you—Shi Yichen!"

However...

Faced with Shi Yichen’s utterly confident attack, Jiang Chen simply smirked and said nonchalantly, "Oh, I’ll remember. But before that, let me remind you: when you get to the Underworld, don’t forget the one who killed you—Jiang Chen!"

The moment his voice fell,

Jiang Chen raised his hand. A sharp light pulsed between his fingers as specks of brilliant, star-like Spiritual Light from the heavens and earth gathered at his fingertip, as if an entire star was being condensed there.

"Star Pointing Finger—Star-Breaking!"

VMMMM—

With a single point of his finger, the condensed star shattered. Countless streams of Flowing Light shot forth, slamming into the waves of Sword Aura and blasting them into nothingness.

Then, as Shi Yichen stared in utter disbelief, the attack shot forward with a SWISH and pierced through his head.

BANG—

With a loud bang, Shi Yichen’s head exploded on the spot. His headless corpse fell to the ground.

A one-hit kill!

Jiang Chen casually retrieved Shi Yichen’s Storage Ring and sneered in contempt. "You wanted me to be your Sword Slave? You should’ve taken a good look at your own pathetic skills first. You couldn’t even withstand a single blow."