Heaven-Surpassing Divine Emperor

CRACKLE... RUMBLE...

The cliff face shattered, riddled with cracks as massive boulders tumbled down, kicking up clouds of dust.

It was like the end of the world!

Zhao Qinghuo propped himself up on his hands and knees, gasping for air. He coughed up mouthfuls of jarringly bright blood, letting the falling boulders smash against him as a violent True Essence Light surged from his body.

His caved-in chest was faintly rising and falling.

Enveloped in surging True Essence, his broken ribs were knitting back together.

Venomous, blood-red light and a chilling killing intent gushed from Zhao Qinghuo’s eyes.

”Heh heh heh... To think that I, Zhao Qinghuo, after decades of dominating the martial world, would nearly fall at the hands of a brat who still smells of his mother’s milk.”

He snapped his head up, the bloody light in his eyes flaring like two burning red lanterns. ”I haven’t used my Martial Soul Talent in many years. Not even Yulan Shouqing or Wang Yizhou were worthy of making me use it. But today, a little brat like you has pushed me this far. Jiang Chen, you can be proud of yourself in the Underworld!”

BOOM—

Violent fluctuations of True Essence erupted from his body.

A cyan storm of True Essence swept out, forming a whirlwind a hundred meters high that lifted the surrounding rubble and sand into the air.

Sand flew and stones rolled—it was like an apocalypse!

Boulders were pulverized within the True Essence storm.

Immediately after...

Clusters of cyan flames began to appear within the storm. They grew fiercer and more vigorous, finally coalescing into individual tongues of cyan fire.

The flames rose, burning slowly, and condensed above Zhao Qinghuo’s head into a three-foot-wide cyan Fire Lotus!

The Profound Tier Seventh Grade Martial Soul, Samadhi Cyan Lotus!

”Martial Soul Talent—Fire Lotus True Body!” Zhao Qinghuo roared to the heavens as the three-foot cyan Fire Lotus bloomed magnificently.

Petal after cyan petal unfurled.

They spiraled down, covering Zhao Qinghuo’s body and forming a suit of cyan Flame Armor.

Zhao Qinghuo was completely wreathed in cyan flames.

HISSSS...

The cyan fire flickered with tongues of flame, incinerating everything in its path, turning it to magma amidst billowing black smoke.

”Hundred Battles Divine Fist!”

Cyan flames surged around Zhao Qinghuo, making him look like a Cyan Fire War God. He punched out with both fists, striking like thunder and lightning as the surging True Essence Power rumbled. Each Fist Force was wreathed in cyan flames—this was the effect of his Martial Soul Talent, allowing him to imbue his attacks with the Cyan True Flame of the Samadhi Cyan Lotus!

The temperature of the Cyan True Flame was so high that he could melt even a Profound Tier Combat Weapon just by holding it.

At this moment, Zhao Qinghuo was like a Gai Shi Fire God, inspiring fear in all who saw him!

The temperature in the Celestial Demon Canyon continued to rise as if it had been plunged into a sea of fire. All moisture was evaporated from the plants, turning the lush greenery into a withered yellow.

BOOM!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Unable to withstand the high temperature, the withered vegetation burst into flames, sending fires raging into the sky.

”Run! If that fire gets on you, not even True Essence can put it out...”

”It’s the Immortal Fire! Don’t touch it!”

The experts scattered, some fleeing, others hovering high above to watch the battle, and still others retreating to a safe distance to observe...

”Hahaha, this young master told you! Jiang Chen’s defeat is certain!” Luo Zhen said with a smug expression.

Yulan Shouqing and Wang Yizhou’s faces darkened. ”Damn it, how could we forget about Zhao Qinghuo’s Martial Soul Talent? This Samadhi Cyan Fire can incinerate even True Essence. Jiang Chen’s attacks can’t even reach his body. What can he do now?”

”Wind Fluctuation!”

”Gale Break!”

”Fierce Tiger Shocks the Sky!”

”Flood Dragon Soaring to Heaven...”

Jiang Chen’s expression was grim. He launched attack after attack—sword lights and fist shadows rained down like meteors, constantly hammering away at Zhao Qinghuo.

However...

All this surging True Essence Power was instantly incinerated and melted upon contact with the cyan flames. It couldn’t touch Zhao Qinghuo’s real body at all, let alone defeat or kill him!

Zhao Qinghuo laughed uproariously. Bathed in cyan flames, he looked like a Wudi Cyan Fire War God. He gloated, ”Little bastard, even if I stand here and don’t move, you can’t hurt me in the slightest. I told you, you can be proud that you forced me to use my Martial Soul Talent, even in death!”

”Sigh, it’s not that Jiang Chen isn’t strong enough, it’s just that Zhao Qinghuo’s Martial Soul Talent is too monstrous!”

”Forcing Zhao Qinghuo to use his Martial Soul Talent at such a young age is something to be proud of!”

”From now on, I’m afraid Yulan Mansion will truly belong to the Qinghuo Gang!”

Everyone sighed with emotion, their gazes toward Jiang Chen filled with pity and regret.

Inside the Celestial Demon Canyon...

Jiang Chen stood with his sword, his black hair dancing wildly in the wind, his robes whipping about. Streams of True Essence fluctuated, surging around his body.

His battle intent soared, making him look like a Wudi War God. Yet, there was no trace of cowardice or despair in him. He stared at Zhao Qinghuo, neither servile nor overbearing, and spoke slowly, ”Zhao Qinghuo, do you really think you’re unbeatable?”

”You can’t even break my Wudi defense, and you still dare dream of defeating me?” Zhao Qinghuo sneered.

”Wudi defense? How ridiculous. Utterly absurd!”

Jiang Chen shook his head gently, the corners of his lips curling into a cold smile. ”Even the Divine Spirits in the heavens can fall. Who are you to call yourself Wudi? Open your eyes and watch closely. Your so-called Wudi defense is as fragile as paper. I can shatter it with a single strike!”

”Shatter it with a single strike? Ridiculous! I’ll stand right here and let you attack. I’d like to see how you break my Wudi defense with one strike!” Zhao Qinghuo roared, his face a mask of savage confidence as he laughed.

Hearing this, the crowd shook their heads in disbelief. ”He doesn’t know the immensity of heaven and earth. If he can break Gang Leader Zhao’s defense, I’ll call him grandpa!”

”He’s just a stubborn young man refusing to admit defeat!”

’A bunch of idiots!’

Jiang Chen glanced at the crowd and smiled indifferently. He then raised the Profound Ice Sword and slashed forward. ”Gale Break!”

VMMMM!

Endless True Essence surged into the longsword, erupting in a brilliant flash and condensing into a sphere of Sword Qi.

The sphere of Sword Qi, containing a storm within, flew forward.

”Hahaha, is this the single strike you claimed could break my Wudi defense? Ridiculous! Truly absurd!” Zhao Qinghuo snorted with disdain.

”Is that so?”

Jiang Chen grinned. A flash of cyan and gold light flickered in his eyes as the intangible Divine Thought Blade shot forward. It penetrated the defense of the cyan flames and drilled directly between Zhao Qinghuo’s eyebrows.

”Huh?”

The smug smile on Zhao Qinghuo’s face froze. A vacant, dazed look clouded his eyes as a roaring sound filled his mind, which went completely blank.

The powerful Qinghuo defense suddenly collapsed. With nothing to stop it, the sphere of Sword Qi sped forward and slammed violently into Zhao Qinghuo’s body.

”ARGH...”

Zhao Qinghuo let out a wretched scream, spitting out a mouthful of blood as he was sent flying backward.

While he was in mid-air, violent streams of Sword Qi surged over him, enveloping him in a terrifying storm of the energy.

Every strand of Sword Qi madly sliced at Zhao Qinghuo’s body. By the time he landed, he was covered in wounds, a man drenched in his own blood.

He lay on the ground like a corpse, unable to move!

”H-How is this possible?” Zhao Qinghuo finally came to his senses, his face a picture of despair and disbelief.

Jiang Chen had already closed the distance. The cold Profound Ice Sword rested on Zhao Qinghuo’s neck as he said coolly, ”I told you. It only takes one strike to defeat you.”

”Spare me! I’m willing to help you become the master of Yulan Mansion...” Zhao Qinghuo pleaded.

Jiang Chen shook his head. ”Your fate was sealed the moment you led your men away from Yulan Mansion. Today, you will die!”

”No, you can’t kill me! I am the leader of the Qinghuo Gang! I have the backing of the Luo Family, one of the Ten Great Aristocratic Families of the Imperial Capital! If you dare to kill me, they won’t let you off...” Zhao Qinghuo roared.

”The Qinghuo Gang? From this day forward, there will be no Qinghuo Gang. As for the Luo Family... if they don’t come looking for trouble, fine. But if they dare to provoke me, I’ll kill them as they come, one by one, two by two!” Jiang Chen said calmly.

Just then...

A cold snort was heard. ”What an arrogant brat. My Imperial Capital Luo Family could turn you to dust with a single breath. You think you’re worthy of provoking my Luo Family?”

The speaker was none other than Luo Zhen.

This expert from the Luo Family was squinting, his face full of arrogant condescension and absolute confidence.

”Who do you think you are? Are you even worthy of speaking to me?” Jiang Chen shot him a cold glance and said flatly.

”You... Brat, you’re courting death! My Imperial Capital Luo Family could send any expert and crush you like an ant. If you don’t want to die, release Gang Leader Zhao at once, kneel before me, and beg me to spare you. This young master might be generous enough to spare your pathetic life and let you become one of my dogs. Otherwise, I have a hundred ways to kill you!” Luo Zhen said viciously.

He tilted his chin up slightly, confident and smug, certain that Jiang Chen wouldn’t dare defy the will of the Luo Family.

However...

Without even glancing at him, Jiang Chen swept the Profound Ice Sword across. With a dull THUD...

Zhao Qinghuo was decapitated. His bloody head rolled across the ground, leaving a crimson trail, and came to a stop in front of Luo Zhen. Its blood-soaked eyes, wide with indignation, stared fixedly at him...