“Hey, someone seems to have arrived before us.”
Just as Xiao Chen was about to make a move, a few unwelcome guests rushed over. The voice of the person who spoke sounded somewhat familiar.
Xiao Chen and Yue Bingyun turned around to look. They saw Wang Zhen leading the three Great Perfection quasi-Emperors of the Xia Clan’s branch in Black Water City, and Xia Luo, as well as an old man who looked to be a Geomaster.
The one who spoke earlier was Xia Luo, whom Xiao Chen taught a lesson previously.
Seeing Xiao Chen’s figure, Xia Luo smiled, his eyes immediately lighting up. “This is quite a coincidence. I did not expect to meet you here. You are really lucky. This young master still has things to do and will not seek trouble for you for now. Quickly, scram. Stop getting in my way.”
With a Consummation quasi-Emperor like Wang Zhen around, Xia Luo did not fear Xiao Chen, so he cockily showed his arrogance.
Xia Luo really wanted to see what Xiao Chen’s expression would be like after being so easily sent off in front of Yue Bingyun.
“Of course, if Miss Bingyun wishes to remain, this young master will welcome you,” Xia Luo added quickly as he glanced at the fairy-like Yue Bingyun, who still looked as beautiful as before, possessing boundless charm.
Xia Luo did not even bother covering the fiery fervor in his eyes, disgusting anyone who saw it.
Yue Bingyun had long since disliked this person. Hence, she did not say anything, simply quietly moved back and stood beside Xiao Chen, silently indicating her stance.
Xia Luo could not help the rage in his heart. Angered, he glared at Xiao Chen and exclaimed furiously, “White-robed brat, still not going to scram? Are you seeking death?!”
Xiao Chen sized up this group of people. Aside from Wang Zhen, he did not attach any importance to the rest.
If he remembered right, this Wang Zhen lit up only three purple gems at the testing stele of the Heavenly Cauldron Pavilion that day, a far cry from the performance of Jin Liangqi, who was also a Consummation quasi-Emperor.
“Sorry, I was here first. If anyone is to scram, it would be you guys.”
Xiao Chen held on to his Lunar Shadow Saber. He stood tall and straight like a sharp mountain, not showing any fear at all.
“I showed you some respect, and you did not accept it, choosing to take a punishment, instead. In that case, there is no need for you to leave. Elder Wang, teach him a lesson. Show him the consequences of offending my Xia Clan,” Xia Luo said coldly.
Yue Bingyun sent a voice projection, If we work together to deal with this Wang Zhen, we should have a seventy percent chance of defeating him.
There’s no need. I alone am enough.
Before Yue Bingyun’s shocked gaze, Xiao Chen stepped forward and stared down Wang Zhen, a strong fighting spirit blazing in the depths of his eyes.
Smiling, Wang Zhen said, “You are really reckless. In the Black Sea, he who has the strongest fist holds the voice of reason. Do you actually think that this place is yours because you saw it first? Today, I will teach you a lesson on how to behave. I will beat you until you kneel and beg for mercy!”
He took a step forward, and rumbling resounded in the sky. Bolts of lightning tore through the clouds, causing his aura to soar rapidly.
As the Thunder Fire Sovereign’s descendants, the cultivators of the Xia Clan naturally cultivated lightning-attributed Cultivation Techniques. Although this Wang Zhen was an outsider, he had pledged his loyalty to the Xia Clan, so he also received its powerful Martial Techniques.
As thunder roared, Wang Zhen circulated his energy, making his aura rise continuously and appearing terrifying.
“What’s going on? Why is Xiao Chen fighting against Wang Zhen?!”
The large group of quasi-Emperors following Xiao Chen arrived a little later, only to discover Xiao Chen facing off with Wang Zhen; hence, they all revealed expressions of worry.
A Consummation quasi-Emperor had already merged their soul with the Heavenly Seal; that was one grade higher than a Great Perfection quasi-Emperor. Their strength went without saying. How could Xiao Chen be so rash as to fight such a person?
“Should we go over and help?!”
These people had interacted with Xiao Chen for a few days already. Although they did not reach the point of being willing to die for each other, there was still some friendship. Xiao Chen’s bearing and broad-mindedness left a good impression on them.
Now that these quasi-Emperors saw that Xiao Chen was in some trouble, they hesitated over whether to help or not. After all, the one he faced was a Consummation quasi-Emperor, someone they did not dare to act rashly against. If they were to do anything, they had to do it together. Only then would they pose a sufficient threat. It would not be effective for just one or two people to step up.
As for the black-clad old man whose friendship with Xiao Chen ran a little deeper than that of the rest, he waved his hand when he saw that Yue Bingyun was not making a move. “Wait for a while first. Xiao Chen got Yue Bingyun to hang back. He definitely does not want outsiders to interfere. Perhaps he is confident of dealing with Wang Zhen.”
“That can’t be. Can a Great Perfection quasi-Emperor defeat a Consummation quasi-Emperor?” the others said, expressing their disbelief.
The black-clad old man felt doubtful as well. However, he still said firmly, “Let’s just wait and see. If Xiao Chen is in any real danger, it will not be too late to charge over. There are so many of us. If we all charge over together, Wang Zhen will surely flee on seeing how united we are.”
Xia Luo’s group of people and Yue Bingyun had already distanced themselves from Xiao Chen and Wang Zhen. Xia Luo revealed a cruel expression as he smirked at Xiao Chen.
“Boom!”
Another intense bolt of lightning tore through the sky. Wang Zhen stepped forward and suddenly attacked. Whether he moved first or the lightning did was hard to tell. The electricity contained in the fire seemed to move at the same time as he did, not even leaving a shadow.
However, no matter how fast Wang Zhen was, Xiao Chen was even faster. After donning the Fleeting Shadow Gloves, Xiao Chen’s attack speed had increased by twenty percent.
Just as Wang Zhen moved his feet, Xiao Chen instantly drew the Lunar Shadow Saber. Even though he sent out his attack later, it arrived first. A saber light flashed. Although Wang Zhen attacked first, Xiao Chen managed to force him to change his trajectory and back off to avoid that meteor-like saber light.
This resulted in Wang Zhen’s attack, which he spent a long time storing up power for so that he could make a lightning-quick strike, losing its might, and his aura plummeted.
“Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!”
The Lunar Shadow Saber vibrated endlessly. Xiao Chen’s clothes fluttered despite the absence of any wind. His aura soared so high that it surpassed Wang Zhen’s significantly.
Such a scene took place in no more than half a breath of time. However, it shocked all the cultivators watching.
To think that Xiao Chen could gain the upper hand so fast in a battle against a Consummation quasi-Emperor! He managed to instantly suppress Wang Zhen, whose aura had been flourishing and appeared horrifying.
Spring Saber, unwithering peach blossoms! Summer Saber, burning to desolation! Autumn Saber, fated person smiles faintly! Winter Saber, snow and frost for five thousand kilometers!
After gaining the advantage with this move, Xiao Chen naturally would not spare his opponent. He spun his saber, and thunder roared. Peach blossoms appeared for fifty kilometers around. Amid the thousands of flower petals, he charged at Wang Zhen while brandishing his saber.
Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter—Cycle of Seasons. The various mysterious phenomena all turned into momentum for Xiao Chen’s saber, surging out with a force that could topple mountains and flip seas.
Wang Zhen could not dodge in time. He could only clash head-on despite his diminished aura. Xiao Chen’s full explosive power sent him flying, causing blood to leak out of his lips.
This outcome stunned the many watching cultivators. The strength that Xiao Chen burst forth with exceeded Wang Zhen’s.
As Wang Zhen moved back, his face sank. A fierce thunder fire burned on his body as he drove a large amount of the power of the world with a thought.
“Thundercloud Storm!” Wang Zhen shouted, and under his direction, the thunderclouds in the sky formed an incredibly horrifying flaming tornado that released lightning incessantly.
Then Wang Zhen thrust his palms forward. This horrifying thunder fire tornado descended from the sky, plunging towards Xiao Chen like a storm.
Space buzzed and trembled as many small cracks appeared in it—which showed how strong this move was. Wang Zhen intended to use this move to turn the situation around and get his aura soaring back up. Otherwise, if his aura remained suppressed, he would be able to bring out only seventy or eighty percent of his strength.
Xiao Chen thought to himself, The amount of the power of the world that a Consummation quasi-Emperor can drive is really startling. If the other party were slightly stronger, I would not be confident of defeating him.
In Xiao Chen’s sea of consciousness, his Great Perfection saber soul and Great Perfection will of thunder merged perfectly.
“Crackle! Crackle!” Countless arcs of electricity flickered on Xiao Chen’s body as he unleashed his saber soul without holding anything back.
Flawless saber Dao, Flawless Azure Dragon, Subduing Dragon Profound Slash!
Many Azure Dragon images appeared around Xiao Chen and rapidly spiraled up around his body.
In that instant, the dragon images roared endlessly, emanating Dragon Might. Xiao Chen twisted his right hand, which held the saber, and the saber spun around. The eighteen realistic dragon images all gathered in the saber.
They formed a long saber light that extended from the ground to the sky, radiating horrifying Dragon Might. Then, Xiao Chen chopped down with it.
“Pu ci!” He cleaved the towering thunder fire tornado in half with this attack.
The power from the Great Perfection lightning saber soul combined with that of the Subduing Dragon Profound Slash surpassed Wang Zhen’s once again. The remnant saber light knocked him into the air, sending him crashing into a mountain.
“Ka ca!”
Xiao Chen sheathed his saber, and a fiery bright moon soared up from behind him. Then, he threw a palm strike at Wang Zhen, who was five kilometers away.
Thousand Year Flame. This palm strike, which contained lofty ambitions and hot-bloodedness, carried all of the pride in Xiao Chen’s heart.
This palm strike might look very predictable, but before Wang Zhen reached within ten meters of the ground, the ground suddenly exploded, surging up with overwhelming shock waves. Dust flew up and shot towards the clouds alongside with him.
This time, the attack severely injured Wang Zhen. Unlike the Thousand Year Death, which contained the state of grief that made the force of the palm strike linger and inflicted endless pain, the Thousand Year Flame was a purely explosive move filled with hot-bloodedness. The power of this palm strike erupted out in one go, plain and simple.
However, if that was all, it would not be sufficient to deprive a Consummation quasi-Emperor of his combat prowess. A Consummation quasi-Emperor was someone who had merged his soul with his Heavenly Seal. The Sage Body advanced further, and his body would be less likely to sustain damage.
A Profound Martial Technique that could kill a Great Perfection quasi-Emperor could only inflict severe injuries on a Consummation quasi-Emperor. What should have been grave injuries could be considered only so-so.
With a thought, Xiao Chen condensed the Azure Dragon Battle Armor. All the Vital Qi in his body roared like dragons, rushing around his body endlessly.
Wearing the extraordinarily mighty Battle Armor, Xiao Chen charged into the air. With every step he took, his Qi and blood surged, causing the sky to shake and the ground to tremble. Everyone’s footing turned unstable; some even fell over.
Wang Zhen, whom Xiao Chen was charging towards, vomited blood. Unexpectedly, he saw Xiao Chen rushing over like a divine being, startling him.
However, it was already too late to dodge. While Xiao Chen looked very slow, he was in fact exceedingly fast.