Heaven-Surpassing Divine Emperor

”Twenty of you, go out and tie him down! Don’t let him leave so easily!”

”Another twenty, you will wait by the side for my command. The moment this kid breaks free, you will immediately move to trap him again. His strength is immense. Do your best to deny him the space to unleash his power!”

The expert at the Seventh Stage of the Human Emperor Realm commanded the hundred or so powerhouses with a calm expression.

Building on their previous experience against Tong Niu, the hundred-plus men coordinated with even greater tacit understanding. One by one, they unleashed powerful Martial Skills, trapping Jiang Chen within.

The expert wore a look of assured victory and chuckled. ”As long as we keep him trapped, he’s like a caged Demon Beast, ours to attack at will! Everyone else, on my command, attack together and knock Jiang Chen off this stage!”

”Yes, sir!”

The powerhouses all attacked one after another.

The lowest cultivation among them was the third or Fourth Stage of the Human Emperor Realm. Their offensive power was astonishing, a storm-like barrage of attacks that bore down on Jiang Chen.

A smile appeared on Jiang Chen’s face. ’An attack from this many Human Emperor Realm experts would be unimaginable on the Eastern Continent! Hmm... This is the perfect opportunity to temper my Body Technique. I’ll aim to raise the Golden-winged Roc Body Technique to the Great Perfection Realm!’

After Jiang Chen’s improvements, the Golden-winged Roc Body Technique was already far more powerful than the original.

Its speed was also much greater!

However...

Jiang Chen’s mastery of it had not yet reached a state of complete Perfection. Now, facing the siege of a hundred Human Emperor Realm experts, this was the perfect training ground!

SWISH...

His figure flashed, and five pairs of wings appeared on his back, shimmering with iridescent light, utterly brilliant. Amidst the attacks of the Human Emperors, Jiang Chen was like a Flood Dragon entering the sea or a fish in water, moving with complete freedom. But these Human Emperors were no pushovers. Under the command of the Seventh Stage Human Emperor Realm expert, they constantly varied their attacks.

They actually managed to cause Jiang Chen quite a bit of trouble!

On the high platform.

Zhao Ziyun wore an intrigued smile as he sized up Jiang Chen on the stage. He chuckled, ”This little fellow is interesting, using the Centurion competition as a place to temper his Body Technique.”

”Hmph, I say he’s overestimating himself. At this rate, he’ll be eliminated before long!” Pei Yidao said coldly, a faint look of disdain on his face.

Zhao Ziyun frowned.

His relationship with Pei Yidao wasn’t good; the two had fought tooth and nail for the position of Second Commander.

Precisely because he had praised Jiang Chen, Pei Yidao had spoken up to belittle him. This made Zhao Ziyun feel a bit indignant on Jiang Chen’s behalf. He said lightly, ”Commander Pei, then in your opinion, who is the strongest among this batch of Centurion candidates?”

”If we’re talking about pure cultivation, then Tong Niu is without a doubt number one. In a one-on-one fight, I’m afraid no one in this batch of new recruits is his match. But if we’re talking about who will be most valuable after becoming a Centurion, it’s definitely that Zhuge Tao. Look at how he commands a group of unfamiliar experts with such ease. The first Centurion this time will definitely be Zhuge Tao!” Pei Yidao said with great confidence.

Zhao Ziyun curled his lip and sneered, ”Who doesn’t know that Zhuge Tao is your, Commander Pei’s, prized disciple? Are you really that confident in your student?”

Pei Yidao said proudly, ”Zhuge Tao has followed me since he was young, serving as my Personal Guard and receiving my guidance. I only allowed him to participate in the Blood Saber Guard assessment now. If he can’t even secure the position of first Centurion, wouldn’t my century of guidance have been for nothing?”

”Heh, then let’s just wait and see!”

Zhao Ziyun said indifferently.

「At the same time...」

The five-colored wings on Jiang Chen’s back pulsed with light. With a slight shudder, they made his figure incredibly agile, allowing him to evade the attacks of three Human Emperor Realm experts.

The attacks nearly grazed his body as they passed!

Jiang Chen glanced down and saw that the corner of his robe had been torn open. He muttered in frustration, ’Still not good enough... The speed is too fast, I can’t control it with minute precision yet. I need more tempering. That’s right, this is the feeling. I have to perfectly merge power and speed to truly achieve Perfection, to control it as easily as pointing a finger!’

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Jiang Chen’s speed gradually decreased as he tried to adjust the combination of his speed and power.

But in Zhuge Tao’s eyes, this looked as if Jiang Chen was growing exhausted. A smug look appeared on his face. ’Jiang Chen, so what if you got a Seven-Star rating on the Mystic Wall test? In military combat, individual strength is important, but only by deploying troops to the fullest can one truly defeat an enemy. Before long, you’ll be eliminated just like that dumb ox. The position of first Centurion will definitely be mine, Zhuge Tao’s!’

At this thought, a smug smile spread across Zhuge Tao’s face. He continued to command, ”Add ten more men! Keep shrinking the encirclement. Squeeze his room to evade as much as possible. Only then can we win!”

”Don’t worry!”

”With us in the fight, we’ll definitely pin him to the ground!”

With ten more people added to the siege, Jiang Chen’s space to evade grew smaller and smaller.

It seemed as if Jiang Chen was becoming more and more disheveled.

In reality...

...he was growing more and more excited. ’This commander is a real mind reader! That’s right, just like this! Shrink the encirclement as much as possible. This will let me see the flaws in my Body Technique even more clearly...’

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The encirclement had already shrunk to just one-tenth of the stage.

Jiang Chen’s room to dodge was shrinking. Each time, he had to control his speed to the optimal degree. If he used too much force, he would crash into the encirclement and get caught in the bog-like restraints. But if his power was too low and his speed too slow, he would be hit by the enemy’s attacks.

In that short time, Jiang Chen had already been hit by more than thirty attacks.

His robes were torn to shreds, revealing a well-built physique that faintly glowed with golden light.

BANG!

Five consecutive attacks landed on Jiang Chen, causing his figure to falter.

A look of wild joy flashed across Zhuge Tao’s face. ”Now’s the time!”

SWOOSH!

A terrifying blade of light descended from the sky, heading straight for Jiang Chen.

”Hm?”

Jiang Chen’s expression changed abruptly. This saber aura came so swiftly that he had no time to defend.

He was surrounded by attacks and had no path of retreat. Only by stepping off the stage could he dodge this strike.

’No, there’s a gap here. I can get through. But...’ To Jiang Chen’s left, two attacks crisscrossed, leaving a gap half a person wide that made his eyes light up. ’The attack on the left is weaker. I can take it head-on... Wait, weaker? A difference in power? Ah, I’m such an idiot... Haha, I finally get it...’

BOOM!

An explosive wave of qi erupted from Jiang Chen.

Three of the five pairs of wings on his back suddenly moved. With a WHOOSH, he shot straight through the gap between the two attacks.

His speed control was perfect!

An excited look appeared in Jiang Chen’s eyes. ’That’s right, this is the feeling. When all five pairs of wings move together, the speed is too fast and hard to control. So, I’ll just reduce the number of wings... The Golden-winged Roc Body Technique has finally reached Perfection! Next, it’s time to end this fight!’

At this thought, Jiang Chen’s figure suddenly flashed.

He swung the Spirit-Slaying Sword in his hand forward, and a fan-shaped Sword Aura swept out.

RUMBLE...

The attacks that had been sealing Jiang Chen’s movements were all shattered by this one sword strike. The forty Human Emperors who had been locking him down were all swept off the stage by his sword.

”How is that possible?”

”That speed... that attack... is he really just a Human King?”

”Don’t panic!” Zhuge Tao’s face was ashen as he roared, ”Everyone, drop your defenses and attack with everything you have!”

A storm of attacks suddenly descended.

The corner of Jiang Chen’s mouth lifted. He activated the Golden-winged Roc Body Technique, sometimes using two pairs of wings, sometimes five. His speed fluctuated between fast and slow, making it impossible for the attacks to get near him.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Every sword strike, every punch, sent another figure tumbling off the stage.

Just moments later... only Jiang Chen and Zhuge Tao remained on the stage. Holding his Spirit-Slaying Sword, Jiang Chen grinned at Zhuge Tao. ”It’s just you left now. Who are you going to command?”

”You...”

Zhuge Tao’s expression shifted repeatedly. Jiang Chen’s strength had far exceeded his expectations. An uncertain glint flickered in his eyes, and he snorted coldly. ”You got lucky today. My coordination with the experts under my command wasn’t perfect. When I have the chance, I will challenge you again. At that time, I will surely defeat you!”

As he spoke, Zhuge Tao held his head high and started to walk off the stage. But before he had taken two steps, a sharp pain shot through his rear end. He was sent flying high into the air and, caught completely off guard, crashed face-first into the dirt below the stage.

Jiang Chen’s scornful voice echoed in his ears, ”In the face of absolute power, all schemes and strategies are pale and powerless!”