Strongest War Emperor

The wind stirred and the clouds parted as three middle-aged men, each with a pair of wings on their back, appeared in the sky above the Martial Arts Arena, suspended in mid-air.

Immediately after, at the entrance to the Martial Arts Arena, troops of Iron Guards in gleaming, pitch-black armor filed in. There were over a hundred of them!

”Evil Wind Valley is finally here. I knew they would come.” Many of those who had learned at the Shen Family estate that Shen Lang was an Honored Elder of Evil Wind Valley had a knowing look on their faces.

With a slight flap of their wings, the three men in the air descended, landing on the battle stage.

Then, they bowed in unison to the members of the Imperial Dragon Sect and said, ”Jiang Ling, Xiang Qingfeng, and Bai Wuji of Evil Wind Valley greet you, Sirs.”

The expert surnamed Lin nodded slightly. ”Your timing is impeccable. Are you preparing to intervene in the affairs of Celestial Phoenix City?”

Bai Wuji of Evil Wind Valley stepped forward with a smile. ”It’s not that we wish to intervene. Celestial Phoenix City has always been within Evil Wind Valley’s sphere of influence. If the family of Elder Ye’s descendant could live here in peace, we would have no objections, but...”

Bai Wuji paused for a moment, putting on a pained expression. ”To think that Ye Xiao Zheng would actually collude with the Demon Dao... That is a major taboo! Alas...”

The expert surnamed Lin rolled his eyes. ”Alright, that’s enough. No need to put on an act in front of me. From your demeanor, I can tell you knew about this all along. So, what’s your plan now? Are you going to use Evil Wind Valley’s power to help this young man, Shen Lang, take Celestial Phoenix City?”

Bai Wuji was a handsome man, fair-faced and beardless, with sharp, sword-like eyes and striking brows. He grinned and said, ”Since we’ve come all this way, we are naturally here to help the Shen Family take Celestial Phoenix City. We at Evil Wind Valley will not recognize anyone else’s claim to the city.”

”Oh?” The Lin-surnamed expert frowned slightly, thinking to himself, ’Evil Wind Valley knows the Xu Family is under Yuwen Huaji’s protection, yet they’re still doing this... It seems this Shen Lang is truly no simple character. I’m afraid taking him as a disciple will be difficult... It looks like there’s a lot more going on that we don’t know about.’

At this moment, Xu Daolin, whose expression had been frighteningly grim, finally snapped back to reality. The corners of his mouth twitched, his eyes filled with doubt.

’After all this, the force backing Shen Lang is actually Evil Wind Valley?’

’Hadn’t Evil Wind Valley already surrounded the Shen Family?’

’Considering the feud between Drunken Thousand Cups and Shen Lang, and given Drunken Thousand Cups’ personality, he should have already killed quite a few members of the Shen Family by now. The two sides should be locked in a mortal struggle, right?’

’Even if they really did resolve the misunderstanding, there’s no way they could have allied themselves with each other now, is there?’

’Wait, I feel like I’ve missed something...’ Xu Daolin felt his head spin, his thoughts a chaotic mess.

’That’s right, something Shen Lang said earlier... He said I sent a message to Evil Wind Valley to frame the Shen Family! How could he possibly know about that? Even if Evil Wind Valley investigated, they couldn’t have figured it out this quickly, could they? Besides Master, only Long Fong and Yun Qing knew... And with Yi Hongchen and the others dead, there are no witnesses. How could Evil Wind Valley possibly let the insignificant Shen Family off so easily? And why would they risk offending my master to help them?’

Xu Daolin’s mind was a tangled mess, and for a moment, he was utterly unable to sort through his thoughts.

Bai Wuji shot Xu Daolin an indifferent glance, then turned to Shen Lang, cupped his fist in salute, and said, ”I have long admired Elder Shen’s great name. Seeing you today, you are truly a dragon among men. Evil Wind Valley is fortunate indeed!”

’Elder...’

Xu Daolin felt his mind suddenly go blank, and the uncomfortable emptiness was overwhelming.

Shen Lang grinned. ”I was starting to think you weren’t coming... If you really hadn’t shown up, this little play of mine would have been much harder to pull off.”

He tilted his head slightly, glancing sideways at Xu Daolin. ”So, have you made up your mind? Fight me fair and square and settle the grudge between us! Stop dithering. Are you a man or not?”

”Damn it...”

Xu Daolin nearly coughed up blood. After all that, they were right back where they started!

And this time, it seemed he had no other choice!

”He tried with all his might, and in the end, Shen Lang still forced him into a direct confrontation. Xu Daolin and the Xu Family have truly lost all face!”

”His earlier performance was commendable, but in front of Shen Lang, he’s acting like a coward hiding in his shell. Heh heh.”

”If he doesn’t accept Shen Lang’s challenge, Shen Lang will just charge into the Xu Family estate with Evil Wind Valley’s help! Do they really think the Xu Family can stand against the Evil Wind Valley’s Iron Guards? Xu Daolin has no choice left. Heh heh heh!”

Sinister sneers echoed from the surrounding spectator stands.

Those who had learned back at the Shen Family estate that Shen Lang was an Honored Elder of Evil Wind Valley were now thoroughly enjoying the show.

And now, they were even more eager to see Shen Lang display his might on the stage and defeat the insidious and cunning Xu Daolin, who had hidden his identity with the Imperial Dragon Sect and concealed his true strength!

Striking while the iron was hot, Shen Lang continued, ”You’d better see things clearly. I have the Iron Guards of Evil Wind Valley at my command. Just this one troop is enough to crush your Xu Family’s forces and take the City Lord’s Mansion. It would be as easy as flipping my hand. By then, rivers of blood will flow from the Xu Family, and you will vanish from Celestial Phoenix City. Or do you think Yuwen Huaji will help you deal with Evil Wind Valley? If the Xu Family withdraws from the City Lord’s Mansion now, he can protect you, and no one will dare to cause you trouble. But in a battle for control of the Mansion, he can’t make a move at all!”

Before Xu Daolin could react, Shen Lang sneered again. ”My cultivation is only at the Spirit Martial Realm Second Heaven, a full heaven lower than you are right now. Are you really that afraid of me?”

The crowd in the stands immediately erupted into another uproar.

Many had suspected Shen Lang’s cultivation had already reached the late stages of the Spirit Martial Realm, but now he was claiming to be only at the Spirit Martial Realm Second Heaven?

A Martial Artist at the Spirit Martial Realm Second Heaven could crushingly defeat Ye Juexin, who was at the Spirit Martial Realm Fifth Heaven?

A Martial Artist at the Spirit Martial Realm Second Heaven could beat Drunken Thousand Cups, a Xuanwu Realm Second Heaven expert, into a sorry state at the Shen Family estate?

It completely overturned everything they thought they knew...

For someone at the Qi Martial Realm Second Heaven to defeat someone at the Qi Martial Realm Fifth Heaven was already as difficult as ascending to the heavens, unless they relied on a powerful Spiritual Artifact.

The chasm between each heaven in the Spirit Martial Realm was far greater than in the Qi Martial Realm, and yet Shen Lang...

”This guy... he’s a monster...”

Even the three from Evil Wind Valley couldn’t help but marvel. They had come from Evil Wind Valley, but they had already heard about that unlucky bastard Drunken Thousand Cups getting thrashed.

”Shen Lang, don’t be so arrogant!”

Xu Daolin’s expression was savage. He swallowed hard, and the bitter look on his face deepened.

’Damn it, Spirit Martial Realm Second Heaven my ass...’

’So what if you really are at the Second Heaven?’

’Back then, when I ganged up on you with Long Fong and the Netherworld Wolf King, I almost didn’t make it back alive!’

’Ye Juexin, at the Spirit Martial Realm Fifth Heaven, was utterly crushed by you, and you have the gall to claim you’re at the Spirit Martial Realm Second Heaven?’

Just as Xu Daolin had this thought, a faint voice transmission from Yuwen Huaji echoed in his mind: ”Unseal the Flame Demon Spear and fight him. His true cultivation is only at the Spirit Martial Realm Second Heaven. The Spiritual Power in his Pill Sea can’t be much stronger than yours. He’s only relying on his powerful physical body and the assistance of a Thunder Element Technique.”

Having received Yuwen Huaji’s instructions, Xu Daolin’s spirits were instantly lifted.

’That’s right. It seems I was just so shocked by everything Shen Lang has shown that I lost my composure and subconsciously believed his strength was superior to mine... Since his true cultivation is only at the Spirit Martial Realm Second Heaven, if I just strategize a little, I am more than capable of fighting him!’

’Since Master has already agreed to let me unseal the Flame Demon Spear, what the hell do I have to be afraid of! Could that long blade in his hand possibly be stronger than a Third Grade Profound Artifact? This Profound Artifact has the most powerful Beast Soul from the Tala Prairie sealed within it. It can easily slay even a Martial Artist at the Spirit Martial Realm Sixth or Seventh Heavens!’

’And with the Netherworld Wolf King’s help... Hmph, I have plenty of trump cards. I was just mentally shaken by him before, deceived by what I saw with my own eyes! There’s no way I, Xu Daolin, am inferior to Shen Lang!’

At this thought, Xu Daolin finally managed to regain a sliver of confidence. The self-assurance that Shen Lang had nearly shattered began to recover.

”Fine! Since you’re so eager to fight me, I’ll fight you! I will defeat you fair and square on this battle stage! From now on, Celestial Phoenix City belongs to the Xu Family!”

Xu Daolin roared, his voice filled with heroic bravado.

The Martial Arts Arena instantly erupted, the din of the crowd reaching a fever pitch.

Bai Wuji of Evil Wind Valley smiled calmly and said, ”Since Shen Lang is an Honored Elder of my Evil Wind Valley, it seems inappropriate for us to remain here. We will leave the stage to you two, Sirs.”

The Lin-surnamed expert and Fan-surnamed expert from the Imperial Dragon Sect exchanged wry smiles. The Lin-surnamed expert waved his hand casually and said, ”In that case, my martial brother and I shall serve as referees for this match.”

He glanced at Xu Daolin and Shen Lang, then added, ”This is a life-or-death match. Leaping from the stage counts as a loss. If one party leaves the stage, the other is forbidden from pursuing. The loser must withdraw from the City Lord’s Mansion and will no longer contend for control of Celestial Phoenix City. What do you say?”

Although the Lin-surnamed expert knew Shen Lang wanted to kill Xu Daolin, Xu Daolin was, after all, a member of the Imperial Dragon Sect. Moreover, Yuwen Huaji was currently hidden in the City Lord’s Mansion, so he had to leave Xu Daolin an escape route.

If Xu Daolin were to die here, it would reflect poorly on the Imperial Dragon Sect.

”No objections,” Shen Lang said with a grin aimed at Xu Daolin, which sent a chill down his spine and made him shiver.

Xu Daolin gritted his teeth and nodded. ”I agree!”

The Lin-surnamed expert nodded in satisfaction. ”In that case, everyone else, please clear the stage. It belongs to these two now.”

Yan Congyun and the others eagerly ran down and stood at the edge of the battle stage, all of them rubbing their hands in anticipation, as if they were the ones about to fight.

The two from the Imperial Dragon Sect moved, soaring into the air. One hovered over the north side of the stage, the other over the south.

”Hahaha, Shen Lang, you are too arrogant! The price for underestimating me is death! A pity you won’t get the chance to regret it!”

With a maniacal laugh, Xu Daolin flipped his wrist, and a Long Spear wreathed in roaring flames appeared in his hand.

The Long Spear was over ten feet long and of an ancient, simple design. Its entire shaft was wrapped in flames, and it seemed heavier than metal or stone.

Through the flames on the spear’s shaft, one could faintly see countless profound runes and strange patterns covering its surface, all emitting an eerie glow.

The spearhead was sharp, a foot long, and double-edged, radiating a piercing glint.

The Long Spear radiated a sense of power and pressure, exuding a heavy Slaughter Qi reminiscent of a tragic, heroic dirge from an ancient battlefield where thousands of soldiers clashed in a bloody massacre!

Merely being held casually in Xu Daolin’s hand with its tip pointed at Shen Lang, it gave off an overwhelming Killing Intent, like the wailing of ghosts and the howling of gods!

The eyes of Yan Congyun and the others, who had just reached the edge of the stage, were filled with the sight of the roaring flames on the Long Spear, yet they felt a sudden chill as cold sweat trickled down their bodies.

A wave of bone-chilling Killing Intent and the stench of blood washed over them, mixed with the tyrannical aura of a powerful Fierce Beast, forcing Yan Congyun and the other two—all of them at the Spirit Martial Realm Fifth and Sixth Heavens—to retreat several steps.

”This is insane! That bastard Xu Daolin is insane! To think he would unseal a Profound Artifact that has a powerful Demon Beast sealed inside!”

”Now this is a little more interesting. But it’s still not quite enough. Show me your full strength!” Shen Lang shouted lightly. With a flick of his right hand, SHIING! He drew the Celestial Water Blade.

Then, with his left hand, he grabbed the robes on his body—which had been shredded by the Celestial Silkworm Silk—and tore them completely off, tossing them aside to reveal his bare upper body.