Strongest War Emperor

The crowd’s predictions were quite accurate. The tournament had indeed become a stage for the Ye and Xu Families.

Everything was revolving around them.

No matter how stunning the disciples from other families were, they paled in comparison to the few from the Xu and Ye Families.

”Damn it, this is outrageous! Those three from the Xu Family and those two from the Ye Family are clearly already at the Spirit Martial Realm. Do they really think we can’t tell?”

”Yeah, in past tournaments, the strongest were only at the Seventh or Eighth Heaven of the Qi Martial Realm. Now look, a whole group of Spirit Martial Realm experts has appeared. How are we supposed to fight?”

”Their Cultivation is high, so we have to accept that. But the problem is that guy, Long Fong. His surname isn’t even Xu; he’s not part of the Xu Family at all! Yet they claim he’s a Martial Artist who attached himself to the Xu Family! Crap, would someone that powerful attach himself to the Xu Family? What a joke!”

”And that guy Xu Daolin, his patience is incredible. He’s clearly reached the Spirit Martial Realm but pretends to be at the Qi Martial Realm Fifth Heaven. He even used to suck up to Ye Xue like a little lapdog. That man is terrifying!”

”Those two from the Ye Family have never been seen before either. No idea where they popped up from, but the Cultivation Techniques they use are all from the Ye Family. It looks like they’re masters Ye Xiao Zheng has been hiding.”

”There’s nothing we can do now. We can only hope that Mo Ge can defeat them and vent our frustrations for us, damn it!”

”That’s right, I also hope Mo Ge can beat them. I’d love to see the looks on their faces then, haha!”

The resentment towards the Ye and Xu Families caused a great shift in the emotions of the various family factions present.

Especially as the tournament neared its end and the vast majority of participants were knocked off the battle stages, losing their chance to perform, the anger and resentment of the various families grew ever stronger.

It reached the point where even some family Elders were secretly hoping that Shen Lang, wearing his Ghost Mask, would defeat them all, forcing the Xu and Ye Families to end the tournament in disgrace.

Sitting in his seat and watching the stages with indifference, Shen Lang’s powerful Divine Thought covered the entire arena, naturally catching every bit of this commotion.

He couldn’t help but sneer inwardly.

In truth, Shen Lang had no interest in occupying Celestial Phoenix City. He also felt little affection for the Shen Family and had no desire to do anything for them.

However, Ye Xiao Zheng had colluded with the Demon Martial Artist Ji Chengwu, which led to Shen Lang’s father being poisoned and suffering inhuman pain for over three years. This was a debt that had to be repaid!

Now that he had killed Ji Chengwu, the next one on the list was Ye Xue.

As for Ye Xiao Zheng, if his collusion with the Demon Dao were to be exposed, even the Imperial Dragon Sect would likely not let him off.

Without Shen Lang even having to act, his chances of survival wouldn’t exceed fifty percent.

On the other hand, Xu Daolin, with Yuwen Huaji as his backer, was ambitiously plotting to seize Celestial Phoenix City for himself. He was also involved in the scheme against Shen Lang’s father back then, and had ultimately designed a plot to directly annihilate the Shen Family...

For Shen Lang, the desire to kill Xu Daolin was far greater than his desire to kill Ye Xue.

’Seizing Celestial Phoenix City right in front of both of them... that should be even more unbearable for them than just killing them, right...?’

A cruel smile appeared on Shen Lang’s lips.

The Xu and Ye Families wanted to seize Celestial Phoenix City. Shen Lang had originally come with the intention of causing chaos and disruption; whether he could actually take the city wasn’t that important to him.

But if he could take it, that would naturally be for the best.

No matter how powerful Yuwen Huaji was, for now, he could only manipulate the Xu Family from the shadows. He couldn’t just swagger out and handle such matters openly.

For a master from a Sect to attack and seize territory from a subordinate power without the Sect’s permission was a major taboo.

Ye Xiao Zheng’s backer couldn’t do it, and neither could Yuwen Huaji.

Otherwise, the entire sphere of influence of the Imperial Dragon Sect would descend into chaos. Everyone could just carve out their own territory. What would that look like?

The higher the level of the power, the stricter the sect rules and the more regulations there were.

Shen Lang saw clearly that Yuwen Huaji could only hide in the background, which was why he prepared to take Celestial Phoenix City directly.

In any case, his identity as an Elder of Evil Wind Valley was already known. In a couple of days, everyone in Celestial Phoenix City would know.

With Evil Wind Valley, the Treasure Pavilion, and Tayun Academy as his backing, it wouldn’t be a major issue for the Shen Family to occupy Celestial Phoenix City.

Relatively speaking, thwarting Xu Daolin’s plot, driving the Xu Family out of Celestial Phoenix City, and simultaneously eliminating Ye Xiao Zheng were his main priorities.

As for gaining Celestial Phoenix City, that was just a bonus.

Shen Lang watched as Ye Juexin and Xu Daolin defeated their respective opponents on the two stages and walked off in a blaze of glory. He immediately sneered again.

’A Spirit Martial Realm Martial Artist fighting someone at the Qi Martial Realm on the stage... even if they win, it’s nothing to be happy about, is it? These two families are really committed to being shameless.’

’Yuwen Huaji really went all out. The last time I heavily injured Xu Daolin with a single punch, his Cultivation was only at the Spirit Martial Realm First Heaven. In such a short time, he actually leaped to the Spirit Martial Realm Third Heaven. Looking at his complexion—the clear qi swirling around his forehead, the persistent bloodshot eyes, the purplish-blue hue of his skin... hmph. So he swallowed a low-grade Blood Sea Evil Pill!’

’That Evil Pill is extremely dangerous. If you’re lucky, your Cultivation can jump several levels. If you’re unlucky, you’ll suffer a cultivation deviation and lose all your Power. Worse still, your mind could descend into madness and you could become a Fallen Demon. Even with an old fox like Yuwen Huaji helping him, the success rate is very low, no more than fifty percent. For Xu Daolin to dare to do this, he’s quite the ruthless character.’

’Ye Juexin and Ye Jueqing are both at the Spirit Martial Realm Fifth Heaven. Although the Cultivation Techniques and Martial Techniques they’re displaying are from the Ye Family, their movements are just like those of Shadow Tower assassins. Every move is aimed to kill, and their bodies exude an irrepressible, bloody Killing Intent... It seems they weren’t hidden away by Ye Xiao Zheng all these years, but rather they’ve been cultivating in a place like the Shadow Tower, growing up through constant slaughter.’

’Long Fong’s Cultivation is at the Spirit Martial Realm Seventh Heaven, and Yun Qing is a notch weaker. Both of them have higher Cultivation than the two from the Ye family. However, despite their high Cultivation, Long Fong and his partner have long been in positions of power, living comfortable lives. Compared to the likes of Ye Juexin, they aren’t that much stronger. If they really fought on stage, it would likely be an even match. The Ye Family members might even have a slightly better chance of winning.’

Shen Lang watched the stage coldly, calmly analyzing the few people who would be in the final battle.

With Shen Lang’s current Cultivation, he could defeat all of them even if they attacked him at once.

He and they were no longer on the same level.

But to be safe, he still carefully analyzed each person’s skills and Cultivation, ensuring nothing could go wrong.

For Shen Lang, who possessed the memories of a War Emperor who had lived for over six thousand years, he understood very well that many experts lived for thousands or even tens of thousands of years not because of their immense power, but because of their caution.

Those who became arrogant and thought they could control everything after gaining a little bit of strength weren’t experts, but idiots.

That was just Shen Lang’s personality...

When he could carefully ponder everything and the situation was still under control, he wouldn’t miss a single detail, exploring every possibility as if he were playing a game of chess.

When faced with overwhelming power—like when he encountered the Netherworld Wolf King who completely crushed him before he had comprehended Sword Intent—he would abandon all guesswork and scheming and just go for it!

Later, when he encountered Drunken Thousand Cups of the Xuanwu Realm Second Heaven at the Shen Family estate, he could have easily flipped the situation by throwing out his Elder Token, but he still chose to fight first and talk later!

You want a fight? Then let’s fight!

Even if the gap in our Cultivation is enormous, I’m not afraid of a battle!

And this time, even though he didn’t think much of Xu Daolin, Long Fong, and the others, the greatest threat, Yuwen Huaji, was right here. Still, he was fearless, facing them alone.

...

Suddenly, Chu Xicheng’s aged voice echoed from the viewing platform once more, ”Stage one: Mo Ge versus Ye Xue.”

’Ye Xiao Zheng is even more impatient than Xu Daolin.’

Shen Lang snorted lightly, leaped high, took a few steps through the air as if walking on nothing, and landed on the stage opposite Ye Xue.

”You must be Mo Ge? I am Ye Xue. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Brother Mo.”

Ye Xue gave a radiant smile, her lips curving into a coquettish grin. Her enchanting appearance was like a hundred flowers blooming at once, dazzling and captivating.

The surrounding crowd was momentarily stunned. Ye Xue had always been spoiled and arrogant. In all of Celestial Phoenix City, aside from Chu Qingcheng, they had never seen her smile at any other man like that.

Now, she was about to fight Mo Ge. What was the meaning of this gesture?

Was she hoping Mo Ge would go easy on her?

Shen Lang raised an eyebrow and said coldly, ”If you don’t want to die, get off the stage yourself.”

”Whoa!”

The entire arena erupted in an uproar. No one would have thought Shen Lang would be so disrespectful.

Ye Xue was the City Lord’s daughter, after all. Her status was noble, and her looks were undeniably among the top one or two in Celestial Phoenix City. She was stunningly beautiful, yet this ghost-faced man had spoken to her so rudely...

A flash of anger appeared in Ye Xue’s eyes on the stage, but it vanished as quickly as it came. She calmed herself and smiled. ”Brother Mo, since you don’t belong to any faction, I wonder if you would be willing to join my Ye Family? If you are willing to pledge allegiance to the Ye Family, all the resources of the City Lord’s Mansion will be at your disposal. Even I...”

As she spoke, she fidgeted shyly and blushed, not finishing her sentence.

Her bashful appearance could have charmed a man made of stone.

The clamor from the surrounding stands instantly grew louder.

Only then did the crowd understand her intention. She was trying to recruit the mysterious, ghost-faced Mo Ge right on the battle stage!

And in front of so many people, she was brazenly putting herself on the table as part of the deal!

In the Xu Family’s viewing area, Xu Daolin’s expression was grim, and faint traces of blood-red light flickered in his eyes. ”That bitch isn’t stupid. She’s actually trying to use this opportunity to win over Mo Ge. Does she really think she can turn the tables with just one man?”

”A buffoon jumping on the rafters, nothing to fear,” Long Fong said nonchalantly. ”In the next match, let Yun Qing go up and probe this Mo Ge’s true abilities. Let’s see what he’s really made of.”

Yun Qing cracked his knuckles with a KRAK KRAK sound and said sinisterly, ”Let me go up and meet him in a bit. I want to see just who this character is, and how many moves he can last against me!”

At this moment on the stage, seeing Shen Lang remain silent, Ye Xue’s smile grew even brighter. ”Brother Mo, have you considered it? I truly admire a young hero like yourself and sincerely hope you can give us both a chance... My father has only one daughter. If you are willing, Brother Mo, the City Lord’s Mansion of Celestial Phoenix City will be yours in the future...”

Ye Xue’s voice grew softer and softer until it was almost as quiet as a mosquito’s buzz, audible only to Shen Lang, who stood a few meters away.

”I’ve given it enough thought...” Shen Lang grinned.

The moment the words left his mouth, his figure flashed, leaving a string of afterimages as he lunged toward Ye Xue!

”Not good!”

Ye Xue was shocked. Her body shot backward as she instantly flicked her longsword upward, about to release a sharp wave of Sword Qi...