BOOM!
Pale flame erupted from Xiao Chen’s body with a thunderous boom!
Though it burned, it was bitterly cold.
In an instant, the cold fire swept outward.
Yi Shanjin was driven back by the bizarre flame before he could even close the distance.
At the same time, Xiao Chen’s cultivation was laid bare.
Transcendent realm, fifth stage!
On the Desolate Ancient Continent, cultivation realms were divided into: the body tempering realm, spirit martial realm, qi sea realm, heavenly vein realm, void soaring realm, transcendent realm, divine martial realm, life and death realm, reincarnation realm, nirvana realm, and finally… the emperor realm!
From body tempering through heavenly vein were known as the four martial practitioner realms. Those in them could not yet be called true cultivators.
Upon reaching the void soaring realm, one’s life level transcended. The body grew light and hale, and one could walk briefly through the air. Together with the transcendent and divine martial realms, these were called the three void refinement realms.
At the life and death realm, life level transcended once more. The great life-and-death apertures within the body opened, and lifespan extended enormously. Together with the reincarnation and nirvana realms, these were called the three indestructible realms.
Only after enduring the ninefold reincarnation minor tribulation and the three nirvana major tribulations did one have a chance to prove the Dao and become an emperor!
Both Xiao Chen and Jiang Wuhen were in the transcendent realm of the three void refinement realms.
As for Yi Shanjin, being Jiang Wuhen’s guard, his realm was naturally higher: he had already reached the second stage of the divine martial realm.
Now, seeing Xiao Chen wreathed in cold fire, driving Yi Shanjin back on aura alone, the crowd wore strange expressions.
A few of the older, well-traveled monsters exchanged uneasy glances, their faces grave.
“This aura… could it be one of the nine great ancestral fires of the Desolate Ancient Continent, the Nine Nether Devil Fire?”
“The nine great ancestral fires are the nine most powerful exotic fires, born from the very source of fire at the dawn of creation. They are the ancestors of all flames!”
“To think this unknown boy has stumbled onto such a fortune.”
“He dares come swaggering to the Heavenly One Immortal Sect… he must have something backing him up…”
In an instant, the crowd gave Xiao Chen considerably more regard.
Yi Shanjin gripped his spear, eyes narrowing.
“Hmph, so what if it’s an ancestral fire? He’s only in the transcendent realm. How much strength can he possibly have?”
“I only let him gain the upper hand a moment ago because I was careless.”
“I refuse to believe I can’t beat some nameless transcendent-realm brat!”
Yi Shanjin raised his spear and moved to fight again.
“Stop!”
“On a day like today, it’s best if no one dies.”
Jiang Wuhen hurriedly intervened.
Yi Shanjin frowned.
“The Imperial Son is merciful, but this brat is brazen and disrespectful. How can this subordinate tolerate him!”
“Rest assured, Imperial Son. I’ll hold back. I won’t beat him to death…”
Yi Shanjin thumped his chest.
“I’m worried he’ll beat you to death. That ancestral fire… is no small matter!”
Jiang Wuhen urged.
You’ve got to be joking. For a Son of Fortune, fighting above his level was as easy as eating and drinking. A transcendent-realm kid beating a divine martial expert? Piece of cake.
“Thank you for your concern, Imperial Son!”
“This subordinate has received the Imperial Son’s great kindness since childhood and has never been able to repay it.”
“Today, even if he beats me to death, I will defend the Imperial Son’s dignity!”
Yi Shanjin said, his face full of emotion.
Jiang Wuhen could only sigh.
It doesn’t matter if he beats you to death, but the moment you die, this bastard comes straight for me!
Meanwhile, Xiao Chen basked in the crowd’s admiration.
His gaze fell on Mu Yunxi once more, and he gave what he believed was a radiant, dazzling smile.
“Yunxi, you see? My strength is no longer what it used to be.”
“I know everything you’re doing now is under the coercion of that despicable Jiang Wuhen!”
“And the reason you won’t tell me the truth is to protect me, to let me leave safely!”
“Don’t worry. Since I dared come, I’ve made every preparation. Today I will get you out safely.”
“I want you to know: with me here, no one can force you!”
The corner of Xiao Chen’s mouth curled into an astonishing arc, convinced he saw through everything.
What he failed to notice was that Mu Yunxi’s brow was already tightly knit, a flicker of disgust rising in her beautiful eyes.
“Xiao Chen, I’ll say this one last time. No one is forcing me. All of this is my own free choice!”
“If you leave now, I’ll ask the Empress, for the sake of the fact that you once saved me, to let you off.”
“But if you keep making a scene, don’t blame me for severing all ties!”
Mu Yunxi said, displeased.
How had she never noticed before what a self-righteous person this Xiao Chen was?
She’d even developed some feelings for him back then.
Looking at it now, her brain must have been completely waterlogged!
Setting aside talent and strength, in bearing and temperament alone, he’s worlds behind the Imperial Son!
Xiao Chen has been making a racket this whole time, yet Wuhen hasn’t so much as batted an eye. Clearly, he doesn’t consider Xiao Chen worth his attention…
Mu Yunxi thought to herself.
She felt she’d made herself about as clear as anyone could. Even the thickest-skinned person should have left by now.
But—
“Jiang Wuhen, do you see?!”
“Even under your coercion, she still doesn’t forget to protect me.”
“You may have used despicable means to force her into marriage, but all you’ll ever have is her body. Her heart belongs to me! It always has!”
Xiao Chen laughed, triumphant.
The words landed, and the crowd cringed so hard they could have carved a three-bedroom apartment out of the floor with their toes.
Good heavens. What an absolute greaseball!
Where does he get this towering sense of superiority?
“Screw this, I can’t take it anymore!”
“Even if he beats me to death, I’m going to punch him first!”
Yi Shanjin bellowed, spear in hand, and charged at Xiao Chen again.
“Hmph. Overreaching!”
Xiao Chen snorted coldly. In his palm, the pale Nine Nether Devil Fire ignited from thin air and gathered.
A pale fire lotus took shape.
“Go!”
The pale fire lotus shot toward Yi Shanjin as a beam of white light.
Though no bigger than a palm, the explosive force packed within it was nothing to scoff at.
In an instant, the fire lotus detonated.
BOOM!
A colossal shockwave tore outward!
With a shriek of agony, Yi Shanjin’s body flew backward like a kite with its string cut, crashing heavily into the ground.
One strike. Severe injury.
Jiang Wuhen’s brow furrowed.
I told him not to fight. Isn’t this just handing the protagonist free experience?
And at the same time—
“Hmph. Insolent!”
Mu Cangtian snorted coldly, his great emperor pressure erupting without warning.
Jiang Wuhen’s brow creased.
“Ancestor, don’t—”
Before the words were out, the great emperor pressure crashed down.
An ordinary transcendent-realm cultivator would surely perish beneath it.
But when have you ever seen a protagonist crushed to death by pressure?
Sure enough, the next moment—
BOOM!
Pale flame erupted from Xiao Chen’s body like a tidal wave, surging skyward against the pressure.
His aura climbed with it!
At that moment, his cultivation shattered its bottleneck.
Transcendent realm, sixth stage. A natural progression!
“He… he broke through?”
“This young man is no ordinary talent!”
Another wave of astonishment swept the crowd.
At the same time, the sky blazed with ten thousand rays of auspicious light and a thousand ribbons of blessed color.
A natural phenomenon!
Mysterious auras swirled around Xiao Chen.
“The blaze art has advanced to heaven rank!”
Xiao Chen’s mouth curled upward as he lifted his gaze to Mu Cangtian.
“Old fellow, is this all a great emperor can do?”
Xiao Chen laughed, dripping with contempt.
“You’re asking for death!”
Mu Cangtian was thoroughly enraged. With a sweep of his hand, the pressure multiplied.
Pfft!
Xiao Chen’s brow shot up, and a mouthful of blood burst from his lips.
To one side, Jiang Wuhen tensed.
It’s over. He’s at critical health now. The Son of Fortune is about to trigger his cheat!
Ancestor, at your age, why are you getting caught up in this nonsense too!
Just then—
RUMBLE!
Thunder rolled across the sky. On the distant horizon, firelight surged upward, staining a great sweep of the heavens red.
Screech!
Accompanied by piercing cries like phoenixes, nine enormous phoenix birds, hauling a magnificent white jade carriage, came into everyone’s view.
At the same time—
“Mu Cangtian, first ancestor of the Mu Clan. Throwing your weight around and bullying the young!”
“If word gets out, aren’t you afraid of ruining your reputation in your old age?”
