Heaven-Surpassing Divine Emperor

Zhang Ruhai looked utterly devastated.

His face was filled with despair and disbelief. He still couldn’t accept that he had been unable to block even a single finger-strike from Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen’s words were like daggers plunging deep into his heart. Humiliation and hatred twisted his features, his gaze turning venomous and bloodshot as he stared at Jiang Chen. "Jiang Chen, don’t you get too cocky! I was just careless for a moment, giving you an opening. Let’s fight again! I definitely won’t lose this time!"

Jiang Chen smiled mockingly. "Can’t even take a loss? And someone like you deserves to be ranked twenty-seventh on the Human Venerable List? How disappointing!"

"You..."

Zhang Ruhai was incandescent with rage, his face alternating between pale and livid.

But he was powerless to refute it!

’Only he knew that his last attack had been near the peak of his power. Even if he were to use his Martial Soul Innate Divine Technique, it wouldn’t be much stronger.’

Zhang Ruhai had no choice but to admit that Jiang Chen’s strength far surpassed his own.

Jiang Chen said coolly, "Zhang Ruhai, if you don’t want to die, I can let you go. All you have to do is beg me."

Seeing the mockery and disdain on Jiang Chen’s face, Zhang Ruhai’s heart twisted in agony. He gritted his teeth. "Beg you? In your dreams! Jiang Chen, if you have the guts, then kill me! Come on, kill me!"

Even in death, he refused to admit he had failed.

Jiang Chen burst out laughing. "Interesting, very interesting. You may not look very manly, but you’re certainly stubborn. Don’t worry, I won’t kill you. In my eyes, you’re not even worthy of dying by my hand. More importantly, I’m saving your life for my brother. It won’t be long before he comes to settle the score with you himself!"

His gaze shifted toward Zifeng Jun.

The only way for Zifeng Jun to wash away the humiliation of his defeat to Zhang Ruhai was to beat him fair and square himself.

If Jiang Chen overstepped and killed Zhang Ruhai himself, it would destroy Zifeng Jun’s hope of overcoming his Heart Demon.

That was something Jiang Chen was unwilling to let happen.

BAM!

Jiang Chen kicked Zhang Ruhai, sending him flying dozens of meters away. He then turned and walked toward Zifeng Jun and the others.

As he approached, the powerful experts in the crowd parted, not daring to block his path.

Such was the awe inspired by true power.

Zifeng Jun looked at Jiang Chen gratefully. "Thank you!"

"We’re brothers. There’s no need for thanks." Jiang Chen waved dismissively. "But you’d better start improving your strength fast! I already made the announcement: before long, you will be the one to defeat Zhang Ruhai, fair and square!"

"Don’t worry," Zifeng Jun said, his spirits renewed. "I will not let you down!"

Jiang Chen nodded.

His gaze swept over the crowd, searching for any sign of Zifeng Jie.

That was the guy who had been secretly stirring up trouble earlier. But unfortunately... Jiang Chen couldn’t find any trace of him. He shook his head in disappointment and clenched his fists. ’Zifeng Jie, you’d better pray I don’t run into you!’

Zifeng Jie was like a viper lurking in the shadows, and it gave Jiang Chen a profound sense of unease.

「Five double-hours passed.」

Under the gusts of the Annihilation Gang Wind, the nine paths of the Icebound Corridor finally finished extending, connecting fully with the cliff’s edge.

"The Icebound Corridor has appeared, let’s go!"

"Nine entrances, which one should we choose?"

"They all lead to the same end, but some of the paths are supposed to be easier..."

"Just pick one!"

The experts all began to move.

Leading the charge were Gai Shi and Long Jingyun. The two were the acknowledged strongest on the Human Venerable List, holding a status akin to Overlords.

No one dared to challenge them.

Long Jingyun stood at one of the entrances and looked at Gai Shi. "Gai Shi, care for a competition? Let’s see who reaches the other side first."

Gai Shi replied nonchalantly, "Why wouldn’t I dare?"

"Let’s go!"

In a flash, Long Jingyun became a streak of white light, speeding across the Icebound Corridor.

Gai Shi was not to be outdone.

His speed was a notch faster than even Long Jingyun’s!

Following them, a stream of powerful experts set foot on the Icebound Corridor: Song Jiuxiao, third on the Human Venerable List; Bing Long, fourth; Weii Wushuang, fifth; and more...

After every trial within the Profound Celestial Ancestor Realm, there were generous rewards to be had!

They were all racing against time.

Before stepping onto the Icebound Corridor, Bing Long fixed his icy gaze on Jiang Chen. He bared his teeth in a grin and said, "Jiang Chen, you’d better stay alive. Don’t go dying on me too soon! I’m still waiting to twist that head right off your shoulders and take it back as an offering to my two dead brothers!"

"I’ll be ready whenever you are!"

Jiang Chen said coldly.

Bing Long laughed loudly and stepped onto the Icebound Corridor.

Zifeng Jun looked at Jiang Chen. "Brother Jiang, you must be extremely careful of Bing Long. His strength is not to be underestimated!"

"It’s nothing."

Jiang Chen waved his hand, then said, "Which path should we take?"

"Up to you!"

"You decide!"

The others all agreed.

Jiang Chen was taken aback for a moment. Seeing the look of trust on their faces, he was slightly moved. He then chose the seventh path. "Let’s take this one."

"Alright!"

The group of four immediately stepped onto the seventh path.

As Jiang Chen and his group of four ventured further onto the Icebound Corridor, they failed to notice Zifeng Jie emerging from the crowd shortly after they had left.

He stared at the seventh path, a sinister coldness on his face. ’Zifeng Tianhen, you killed my father, and then you gave the Young Master position that should have been mine to your son. Heh heh... if your precious son and daughter both happen to die here in the Profound Celestial Ancestor Realm, then there’ll be no one left to fight me for the Young Master’s seat, will there?’

At this thought, Zifeng Jie also stepped onto the seventh path.

......

As they walked along the Icebound Corridor, they saw it was made entirely of ice, about ten meters wide, and completely suspended in mid-air.

Below the corridor lay a deep, bottomless, pitch-black canyon.

Violent torrents of Annihilation Gang Wind surged up from the canyon depths, blasting skyward on either side of the corridor. If anyone were to fall off the Icebound Corridor and into that wind, even a Human King Realm Powerhouse would be swept into the air, frozen into an ice sculpture, and face certain death.

"Everyone, be careful," Jiang Chen warned. "Stay on the corridor, no matter what. It’ll be big trouble if the Annihilation Gang Wind sweeps you away!"

Everyone nodded.

They carefully walked along the Icebound Corridor.

They walked for a full half a double-hour, yet all they could see ahead was a vast expanse of ice and the Annihilation Gang Wind that howled up from the canyon depths.

There was no end in sight.

"This is so boring. Who said the Icebound Corridor was dangerous at every turn?" Purple Wind Frost grumbled.

Zifeng Jun, beside her, scolded, "Don’t say things like that, you’ll jinx us! Are you hoping we run into danger?"

"I was just making an observation..." Purple Wind Frost said defensively.

But Jiang Chen just gave a wry smile. "Oh, for crying out loud... you weren’t just ’making an observation.’ You’re a jinx!"

"Huh?"

The others were stunned for a second, just as the entire Icebound Corridor began to vibrate.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

A series of heavy footfalls echoed from up ahead. As they looked toward the source of the sound, the expression on everyone’s faces changed drastically...