Strongest War Emperor

’Such speed, such a sharp attack. He’s been hiding his true strength all this time!’

A look of despair and unwillingness filled Xiao Qiuyu’s face. He wanted to dodge, but he couldn’t muster even a shred of strength.

’I’m completely outmatched against an expert like this... Is this how I die?’

Knowing the gap in their strength was too vast, that struggling was futile and counter-attacking was impossible, Xiao Qiuyu gave up resisting. With a long, resigned sigh, he closed his eyes.

Suddenly...

"UWAAH!"

A strange cry echoed across the Martial Arts Arena.

Someone who should have been in the crowd below suddenly appeared on the stage.

And he appeared right between Xiao Qiuyu and Ye Juexin!

Shen Lang materialized out of thin air, leaping into the air and kicking both legs forward and back in a split. His left foot sent Xiao Qiuyu flying away behind him, while the tip of his right foot struck Ye Juexin squarely on the right wrist!

The kick sent a burst of Powerful Qi spreading from Ye Juexin’s wrist. He stumbled back several steps to the right before steadying himself.

BANG! BANG! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Using his feet as if they were hands, Shen Lang unleashed a continuous flurry of kicks as swift as a gale. He was so fast that the crowd could only see a whirlwind of leg afterimages filling the stage!

This incomparably fast leg technique, like a clap of thunder, immediately forced Ye Juexin back to the center of the stage!

"You think you can protect him? If I want him dead, he’ll die even if he leaves this stage!"

Ye Juexin twisted his wrist imperceptibly and spoke with vicious menace.

Shen Lang stood proudly and said coldly, "If I don’t want him to die, he won’t. If you dare jump off this stage to hunt him down, I’ll kill you before you can take another step."

"Hmph!" For once, Ye Juexin didn’t retort to Shen Lang’s arrogant words. He just snorted coldly and shifted cautiously into a stance that was both offensive and defensive.

"Yeah!"

The people in the surrounding stands finally reacted, and a wave of cheers erupted.

The disciples from the various families present were all extremely displeased with people like Ye Juexin, who would resort to lethal force at the drop of a hat, showing no mercy. The way he had treated Xiao Qiuyu showed that anyone else who went up against him would suffer the same fate.

This was supposed to be just a martial gathering between the families. Although life and death were not off the table, most people would still hold back a little.

After all, they were all from Celestial Phoenix City and would run into each other sooner or later.

Furthermore, the relationships between the various factions were intricate and complex, so there was much to consider.

No one wanted to get killed the first time they stepped onto the stage, and none of the families wanted to see their elite disciples slaughtered, weakening their own power.

Ye Juexin was certainly ruthless and had enjoyed his kills, but in doing so, he had offended all the major factions.

Therefore, when everyone saw Shen Lang go on stage and save Xiao Qiuyu, they all felt an indescribable sense of relief and satisfaction!

Just then, below the stage, members of the Xiao Family rushed over and carried Xiao Qiuyu away.

Meanwhile, those who had been defeated by Ye Juexin earlier felt a wave of lingering fear, the cold sensation of a blade on their necks.

Everyone understood that the real show was about to begin.

A bloodthirsty person like Ye Juexin hadn’t gone for the kill before, not because he was merciful, but because he had been hiding his true strength.

Now, with only a few people left and a showdown with the Xu Family members imminent, he no longer had to hold back.

Even so, when he was about to kill Xiao Qiuyu just now, he had probably only revealed a fraction of his power.

The crowd had yet to see the truly powerful Ye Juexin!

While the crowd’s emotions were in turmoil, Shen Lang spoke again. "There aren’t many people left. According to the usual rules, we don’t need to draw lots anymore, do we?"

Up in the stands, Chu Xicheng glanced towards the Xu Family, then towards the Ye Family.

A moment later, he seemed to receive their approval, nodding as he announced in a clear voice, "Correct. There are ten of you remaining. You may now choose your own opponents and enter the challenge phase!"

The moment Chu Xicheng’s voice fell, before most people could even react, two figures from the crowd leaped onto another stage.

These two were Chu Chaoyang of the Chu Family and Xiao Buping of the Xiao Family.

It was as if they had planned it, giving no one else a chance as they jumped up at almost the exact same time, drawing wry smiles from the crowd.

"Those two... looks like they were prepared for this all along..."

"Well, they didn’t have much choice. Among the ten who are left, besides the six—Long Fong, Mo Ge, and the others—the remaining four are basically just here to fill the numbers."

"It’s not just about filling the numbers; it’s also incredibly risky. Those top six don’t seem to be holding back anymore. Just like Ye Juexin, they kill without hesitation. And the Ghost-faced Person, Mo Ge, was just as merciless against Ye Xue! The final battles are about to begin!"

"Those two are smart. If they had to face one of the top fighters, they might not even get a chance to run. But by seizing this opportunity, they get to fight each other. Their Cultivation levels are evenly matched, so they can both showcase their skills without risking their lives."

"This is the only way now. Otherwise, if they had to face one of those six, their only option would be to forfeit. Going up would be suicide. Of course, no one wants to die, but forfeiting in front of the experts from the Imperial Dragon Sect... no matter how impressive you were before, it would leave a terrible impression."

"Next up, it’s time to watch the battles between those six..."

As the people in the surrounding stands chattered excitedly, on Stage Number One, Ye Juexin’s aura soared. The great battle with Shen Lang was about to erupt!

He stared intently at Shen Lang, his jet-black, gem-like eyes radiating Killing Intent and a menacing danger.

Before this, Ye Juexin had always kept his aura restrained, his movements as elusive as a ghost, revealing not the slightest hint of his edge.

But now, facing Shen Lang, his aura surged wildly. He was like a completely different person.

Though he was handsome, the aura he exuded was like that of an Asura Demon from the depths of Hell!

He was no longer Concealing his Aura. The full presence of a Spirit Martial Realm expert was on display, a soul-stealing pressure powerful enough to make one’s heart freeze with terror and retreat without a fight!

One would never see the terrifying, Demon Fiend-like side of a Shadow Martial Artist, who was accustomed to hiding in the dark, unless it was a true life-and-death battle...

"Where is your saber?" Ye Juexin asked coldly.

"My saber is where it should be. If you want to beat me, you’d best stop worrying so much about it. My entire body is a weapon," Shen Lang said lightly.

"You’re too arrogant!"

The Killing Intent in Ye Juexin’s eyes intensified, and a cold glint flashed from the daggers in his hands!

Shen Lang stood with his hands behind his back, wearing an Evil Ghost Mask that left only his eyes visible. Within them, an unparalleled saber light would occasionally flash—a radiance that could shake the heavens and earth!

His aura, however, remained subtle and restrained, giving him an air of mystery and profound depth.

"When your strength becomes a genuine threat to me, I will naturally draw my saber," Shen Lang said indifferently. "We’ll see if you have what it takes."

A flash of fury crossed Ye Juexin’s chilling gaze. "Your death is at hand, and you don’t even know it! In that case, I’ll grant you your wish!"

The moment he finished speaking, he stomped his right foot. As dust and smoke billowed up, a gray mist suddenly swept across the area, obscuring the entire stage.

Then, Ye Juexin’s figure slowly faded, as if completely melting into the gray mist!

"That’s not gray mist—it’s a Shadow Barrier! He must have already set this Barrier up while he was fighting Xiao Qiuyu!"

"It feels a bit shameless, but this guy cultivates a Shadow Technique. He’s secretive, unscrupulous, and only cares about the result. Strictly speaking, it’s not against the rules... but it looks like that Ghost-faced Person, Mo Ge, is in for some bad luck..."

"A Shadow Barrier is a type of Array. Many assassins set up this Array in advance at the assassination spot, activate it at the last moment, and go for the killing blow! The gray mist looks simple, but it can’t be dispelled unless the Array is broken. Mo Ge is going to lose this fight..."

In the Chu Family’s stands, Chu Xiuxiu grew anxious. "The Shadow Barrier not only allows Ye Juexin to hide his figure at will, but it also increases his speed! On the other hand, Mo Ge’s speed and vision will be severely hampered! Ye Juexin’s movements are already unpredictable and his daggers are incredibly tricky. With one’s power growing as the other’s wanes, Mo Ge is in trouble!"

Up in the Ye Family’s stands, a cruel smile touched the corners of Ye Xiao Zheng’s mouth.

’It’s more than just the Shadow Barrier. Ye Juexin’s Martial Soul is the one-in-ten-thousand Shadow Martial Soul! No one is better suited for assassination than someone with a Martial Soul like his! His speed, his ultimate moves... even I would be terrified to face them! Even if this Ghost-faced Person, Mo Ge, is at the Fifth or Sixth Heaven of the Spirit Martial Realm, he can only die in regret before Ye Juexin! You were given face but didn’t want it, so just go and die, hehehe...’