Strongest War Emperor

Xue Jingyuan was just plain unlucky.

He had suffered a backlash when Shen Lang used the Emperor’s Will to shatter his Death Realm, leaving him semi-conscious.

The King Martial Realm experts aboard the Flood Dragon had helped him cultivate to heal his injuries, but he remained in a daze.

As a result, he was mostly unaware of what had transpired after Xue Hongluan descended.

He only regained full consciousness after Xue Hongluan waved her hand to deploy the Barrier.

The moment he did, he immediately realized something was wrong.

’My Death Realm was shattered, I was seriously injured, and I was utterly humiliated. Shouldn’t Aunt have flown into a rage and just killed that brat?’

’The dignity of the Xue Family cannot be trampled on!’

’Besides, she’s taking Dingdang away. How could she not have clashed with that brat?’

’No, how can it even be called a clash?’

’That brat is nothing but an ant!’

’If Aunt made a move, she could have crushed him with a single finger!’

’It’s been so long, yet that brat is still alive and kicking. This doesn’t make any sense!’

’Even with Dingdang protecting him and some expert from the Buddhist Sect getting in the way, shouldn’t the two sides be at each other’s throats by now?’

Xue Jingyuan simply couldn’t understand how everything he was seeing could be so vastly different from what he had expected!

The scene he had imagined—Shen Lang groveling on the ground, trembling in fear and begging his aunt for mercy—had not occurred.

Not only was Shen Lang completely unharmed, but his aunt, who had always maintained an ice-cold demeanor, was actually smiling!

’What the hell? The sun must be rising in the west... I’ve never seen Aunt smile in my entire life!’

’That bastard must have said something to deceive Aunt, with Dingdang fanning the flames on the side. That’s the only reason things are like this! Yes, that has to be it!’

Xue Jingyuan felt his analysis was perfectly logical.

’I don’t know what happened or what he said to Aunt, but I absolutely cannot let his scheme succeed! That detestable brat is just the scion of some family from a backwater place like this. His family status, his strength... in what way is he possibly worthy of Dingdang?’

’The most you can say for him is that he’s cultivated the Celestial Purity Sect’s Sword Skill. Other than that, he’s not even worthy to carry my shoes!’

’And he’s the one who made me look this pathetic! I’ll tear you two lovebirds apart and get my revenge!’

With this thought, Xue Jingyuan bellowed, interrupting Xue Hongluan and Shen Lang, and rushed to the edge of the Barrier.

It was no wonder he dared to act this way. The hierarchy of power in this world was rigid. The intricate web of influence formed by various families, Sects, and merchant guilds was built upon a strict class structure.

In all of Xue Jingyuan’s twenty-odd years, the concept of families being of equal social standing for marriage was deeply ingrained in the minds of those from Major Sects and Great Noble Families.

He had never seen a scion of a powerful Dark Gold Level Influence like the Xue Family marry someone from a Sect or Noble Family of a lower level.

A Dark Gold Level Influence was a power that stood nearly at the Peak of the world!

Forget a backwater like Celestial Phoenix City—even the Elder Ancestor of the Purple Chu Country’s most powerful sect, the Imperial Dragon Sect, was right here, and hadn’t he been forced to act deferentially toward a junior like him?

So who did this Shen Lang think he was, that he could defy the natural order?

”Aunt, you mustn’t be deceived by this brat’s words! He has a treacherous look about him. He is definitely not a good person!”

After saying those last six words, a deeply contemptuous sneer appeared on Xue Jingyuan’s face.

It was mingled with a hint of schadenfreude.

There was nothing more humiliating than being defied and defeated by Shen Lang earlier.

If that damn monk, Chaos, hadn’t been getting in the way, he would have ordered his men to kill Shen Lang on the spot long ago!

Killing Shen Lang now seemed unlikely, but there was no way Shen Lang and Dingdang could be together. He just needed to keep up the taunts and ridicule. Eventually, his aunt would take Dingdang and leave. And when that happened, he imagined Shen Lang would be so devastated he would never recover, left to suffer in misery!

Imagining Shen Lang trapped in a state of living death, Xue Jingyuan nearly burst out laughing.

However, to his surprise, after hearing his words...

Shen Lang, inside the Barrier, remained unexpectedly calm and even shot him a smile.

”Hm?”

Seeing Shen Lang’s attitude, Xue Jingyuan froze for a moment, even more confused than before.

In the next instant, a figure flashed. Before Xue Jingyuan could react, he felt as if a small mountain had slammed into his gut, and he was sent flying backward through the air.

Shen Lang had sent him flying with a single kick to the stomach.

”UGH!”

Xue Jingyuan knelt on the ground, clutching his stomach with both hands. Incomprehensible sounds escaped his lips, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief.

’That little bastard dared to kick me? He actually dared to kick me!’

’I’m a genius of the Xue Family!’

Xue Jingyuan couldn’t wrap his head around it. A fight during their earlier duel would have been one thing.

But now his aunt was standing right there, and the bastard still dared to make a move!

It was utterly lawless!

He was courting death!

...

Xue Jingyuan wasn’t the only one who couldn’t understand. The surrounding people of Celestial Phoenix City were just as baffled.

Outsiders couldn’t hear what Shen Lang and Xue Hongluan were saying inside the Barrier, so of course they had no idea that Xue Hongluan’s attitude had changed so dramatically in such a short time.

As for the eight King Martial Realm experts on the Flood Dragon, they were utterly dumbfounded.

Shen Lang’s audacity was simply terrifying.

Of course, the most shocking thing wasn’t his audacity, but the fact that Xue Hongluan was standing right in front of him and hadn’t done anything to stop him!

If she had wanted to stop it, a single glance would have been enough. How could Shen Lang possibly have harmed Xue Jingyuan?

The eight King Martial Realm experts looked at one another, not daring to make a move.

”For your aunt’s sake, I’ll let you off this time. If there is a next time, I’ll cripple you! Hmph. Some ’genius.’ Daring to act so arrogantly in front of me... you’re really courting death!” Shen Lang said coldly, stepping out of the Barrier to face Xue Jingyuan.

”WOW!”

The people of Celestial Phoenix City couldn’t hold it in any longer, letting out a collective gasp of shock.

This was simply too arrogant, too brazen!

Their opponent was a scion of a legendary Dark Gold Level Influence!

Never mind how powerful that influence was—the Nine-headed Flood Dragon above them could easily destroy Celestial Phoenix City all on its own!

And there were still eight King Martial Realm experts on the Flood Dragon, any one of whom would be considered an Ancestor Level existence in a Profound Iron Level Sect!

Down below, standing right beside Shen Lang, was an Emperor Martial Realm expert from the Xue Family who could cause mountains to collapse and the earth to split with a mere wave of her hand!

He kicked the guy and then claimed he was doing the Emperor Martial Realm expert a favor?

The surrounding crowd felt dizzy.

Every time they thought they had figured Shen Lang out, that they finally understood his strength and status, they would discover they were wrong all over again...

At that moment, Shen Lang gave Xue Jingyuan a cool glance before turning and walking back to Xue Dangdang’s side.

Inside the Barrier, Xue Hongluan shot Xue Jingyuan a glare so fierce she almost couldn’t resist the urge to strangle him on the spot.

It was a good thing she hadn’t acted. Shen Lang’s attack only cost Xue Jingyuan some face and wasn’t a serious injury. If she had been the one to strike, she wouldn’t have stopped until he was crippled.

Xue Jingyuan wouldn’t have been able to withstand more than a couple of blows from her.

’How did the Xue Family produce someone so useless? I saw he had comprehended the Death Realm and thought he had potential. But now, comparing him to Shen Lang... it’s like comparing heaven and earth. The gap is immeasurable!’

’The biggest mistake I made on this trip was bringing this brat with me...’

’Then again, since Shen Lang is that personage’s heir, that alone is enough for him to crush all other young talents... Thinking about the legends in the family, that personage likely has the power of a Venerable Emperor! Setting aside the grace that personage showed the Xue Family, their strength alone is something the Xue Family cannot afford to provoke.’

Xue Hongluan silently cursed Xue Jingyuan. As she thought about the legends surrounding the personage backing Shen Lang, her feelings grew even more complicated.

If they were to truly speak of being well-matched, the Xue Family was probably completely unworthy of being compared to that personage.

Only an idiot like Xue Jingyuan would be here, courting death by shouting such nonsense...

Thinking of this, Xue Hongluan turned her head to look at Xue Dangdang. ”Dingdang, what have you decided about what I said earlier?”

”You understand that Aunt isn’t trying to break you two up. On the contrary, I’m trying to give you a chance...”

”Shen Lang needs time to grow and become stronger. And you need to return to receive the family’s teachings and undergo the Spirit Pool baptism. Shen Lang already has the strength to contend with a Xuanwu Realm Martial Artist. But you... although your Cultivation has been deliberately sealed, the gap between you and him is only growing wider. Do you really want to become a burden to him?”

Xue Dangdang remained silent, but her grip on Shen Lang’s hand tightened.

Outside the Barrier, Xue Jingyuan was once again dumbfounded...

’This is ridiculous. After getting kicked, I’m just being treated like thin air, completely ignored?’

’Did he just get away with kicking me for free?’

’No, wait, that look in Aunt’s eyes... it’s like she doesn’t think the kick was hard enough!’

’Goddammit, this is just bullying! Can’t you people just explain what’s going on?’

’If you had just explained it, I wouldn’t have offered my face up to be slapped, would I?’

’Shen Lang, you bastard, you better remember this! I only let you get away with it because I’m still injured! I’m actually really strong... Huh?’

Just as Xue Jingyuan was lost in his thoughts, two figures flickered down from the Flood Dragon in the sky. Two King Martial Realm experts silently descended, expressionless. They grabbed him by his left and right arms and unceremoniously began dragging him back to the Flood Dragon.

Unlike before, this time one of the King Martial Realm experts tapped a finger on the back of his heart, completely immobilizing him with a Seal.

He couldn’t move, nor could he make a sound.

Moreover, their actions were rough, completely lacking the carefulness they had shown toward their young master before.

Xue Jingyuan was so angry he almost spat blood.

’Everyone kicks a man when he’s down! This is fucking humiliating!’

The people of Celestial Phoenix City watched the miserable Xue Jingyuan, who looked like he wanted to cry but had no tears, and felt a sense of immense satisfaction. They were tempted to shout out ”Good riddance!”

Once the little interlude was over...

Inside the Barrier, Shen Lang sighed softly and said to Xue Hongluan, ”Can I speak with Dingdang alone for a moment?”

Xue Hongluan gave a slight nod. With graceful steps, she walked out of the Barrier and approached Master Kong Jing.

”When Xue Jingyuan ordered Shark’s Kiss and Nangong Yan not to interfere, Master Kong Jing, you raised no objection. Later, the Star Moon Bodhi Prayer Beads in your hand chose their own master... All of this, does it not suggest that you, Master, know a great deal about the matters of this place, and about Shen Lang?”

Xue Hongluan’s voice was cold, her tone laced with a hint of displeasure.

It seemed she suspected Master Kong Jing of pulling strings behind the scenes.