Heaven-Surpassing Divine Emperor

"Because it’s beneath me!"

These four words were like the most vicious curse in the world, causing Long Jingyun’s expression to shift repeatedly. A torrential rage surged in his eyes.

The fury!

He was utterly enraged.

He, Long Jingyun, was the former number one on the Human Venerable List, and the current number two. A super genius who possessed the blood of the Dragon Emperor.

And yet now...

Gai Shi actually said he was unwilling to work with him because it was beneath him?

Long Jingyun glared at Gai Shi, a ferocious light glinting in his eyes. He stared like a furious lion. "You actually said working with me is beneath you? Gai Shi, aren’t you a little too arrogant? I am Long Jingyun..."

Gai Shi shrugged. "Of course I know you’re Long Jingyun. My defeated opponent."

"You..."

Long Jingyun nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.

Damn it!

’How are we supposed to have a conversation like this?’

His predatory gaze shifted from Gai Shi to Jiang Chen. A grim light filled with cold killing intent shone in his eyes as he demanded, "You say it’s beneath you to work with me. Fine. You, Gai Shi, are number one on the Human Venerable List, so you’re qualified to say that to me, Long Jingyun. But I have to ask—if in your eyes, I’m not worthy of being your partner, then what does that make this piece of trash? Is *he* qualified to work with you?"

Long Jingyun simply couldn’t accept that the person he saw as trash was held in such high regard by Gai Shi.

To him, this was the ultimate insult!

Jiang Chen rubbed his nose and said coolly, "Long Jingyun, do you know why Gai Shi finds it beneath him to work with you?"

However, Long Jingyun wasn’t about to give Jiang Chen the chance to speak. He rebuked him with a cold expression, "Who the hell do you think you are to speak with me? Get lost!"

He struck out in anger.

Surging True Essence gathered in his palm, condensing into a burst of True Essence Power shaped like a hexagram.

The surging, turbulent power formed a giant True Essence Palm that slapped viciously toward Jiang Chen.

"Hm?"

Jiang Chen’s sharp brows knitted together, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. This Long Jingyun was far too arrogant, constantly looking down on and insulting him.

Now, at the slightest disagreement, he attacked, trying to kill him.

A surge of anger rose in Jiang Chen’s heart as well.

’Just because this tiger doesn’t show its claws, you really think I’m a sick kitten?’

This all happened in an instant.

Jiang Chen flicked his hand through the air. A cold light immediately pulsed from his palm, condensing into a thick barrier of True Essence before him.

BOOM...

The two True Essence Palms collided, instantly erupting in a terrifying shockwave of power that swept out in all directions.

The aftershock of True Essence struck the Ice Lake in front of them, causing a crack to appear on its surface.

Gai Shi glared at Long Jingyun. "Long Jingyun, what are you doing?"

Long Jingyun shot him a glance and said flatly, "Who does he think he is, speaking to me?"

"Long Jingyun, I’m warning you... Jiang Chen is my brother. If you dare to touch him again, I’ll kill you!" Gai Shi was incandescent with rage. His golden eyes blazed with a terrifying golden light, making him look like a furious Golden Lion.

Long Jingyun’s expression changed slightly.

He had never seen Gai Shi so furious. The terrifying pressure of his aura made even Long Jingyun’s heart pound in alarm.

This only made Long Jingyun even more furious and humiliated. He glared at Jiang Chen and sneered contemptuously, "Jiang Chen, if you’re a man, come out and fight me! Hiding behind Gai Shi like a woman—what kind of man are you?"

"Long Jingyun, I think you’re looking to die!" Gai Shi’s anger intensified, his killing intent overflowing.

Just as he was about to strike Long Jingyun...

But at that very moment...

Jiang Chen’s voice came from behind him. He wore a faint smile as he said, "Long Jingyun, why would I, Jiang Chen, be afraid of you? You want a fight? Then I’ll give you a fight!"

"Hm?"

Long Jingyun was stunned for a moment, then his face broke into an ecstatic grin. "Good, good, good! So you do have a bit of a man’s courage after all. For the sake of that courage, I’ll leave your corpse intact when we fight!"

Gai Shi frowned at Jiang Chen, a questioning look in his eyes.

Jiang Chen just smiled and shook his head. "It’s nothing. He’s just a dancing clown. Watch me cut him down!"

"Alright then, I’ll just wait here and enjoy the show!" Gai Shi said with a smile.

Although he hadn’t known Jiang Chen for long, he knew that beneath Jiang Chen’s easygoing exterior was a heart as firm and competitive as his own.

’Since Jiang Chen chose to accept the challenge, he must be confident in his chances!’

Gai Shi stepped back!

The tense, sword-drawn atmosphere was hard to miss, naturally attracting the attention of the other experts nearby. Profound Nether, the bald traitor from the Ten Thousand Buddha Ancient Country, wore a mocking expression. "Isn’t that Long Jingyun, the current number two on the Human Venerable List? And who’s that kid? Daring to accept Long Jingyun’s challenge... isn’t that just seeking death?"

Dao Feiyang narrowed his eyes, his gaze as sharp as a blade. It swept briefly over Jiang Chen and Long Jingyun. "A peerless prodigy with the blood of the Dragon Emperor? Long Jingyun’s strength is truly extraordinary. The outcome of this battle is already decided!"

Almost everyone else shared the same thought.

They all believed that in this fight, Jiang Chen was certain to lose!

A smug smile spread across Long Jingyun’s face. His narrowed eyes were locked on Jiang Chen as he made a welcoming gesture. "Jiang Chen, you can go first!"

"You want me to go first?"

Jiang Chen gave Long Jingyun a strange look.

Long Jingyun nodded, his expression full of pride. "If I go first, you won’t even get a chance to make a move."

"..."

Jiang Chen was speechless.

’This guy sure is confident!’

The corner of his mouth lifted. His calm gaze fixed on Long Jingyun as he said coolly, "Since you’re so insistent that I go first, if I refuse, you’ll probably just accuse me of insulting you again. As you wish, then. I’ll go first."

HUM!

The Spirit-Slaying Sword vibrated slightly as it landed in his hand.

Jiang Chen’s fingers gently brushed along the blade of the Spirit-Slaying Sword. The entire sword trembled, emitting a series of low, unceasing hums.

Jiang Chen took a deep breath, and his gaze suddenly sharpened.

The aura around him underwent an earth-shattering transformation. If the Jiang Chen from before was a sleeping tiger, then the man standing here now was an awakened dragon. A furious gale swirled around him, and the Spirit-Slaying Sword in his hand erupted with unparalleled radiance.

"Long Jingyun, take this!" Jiang Chen said indifferently.

Long Jingyun still looked completely unconcerned. He waved his hand dismissively. "Bring it on!"

"Heaven and Earth—Split in Two!"

Jiang Chen’s eyes flashed like lightning. An peerless Sword Aura suddenly materialized in the void.

It looked as if it could tear the very world apart.

"What?"

As the Sword Aura closed in, Long Jingyun finally felt a mortal threat. His expression changed drastically as he hastily circulated his Profound Technique. A golden light pulsed, and a layer of Protective True Essence surrounded him like an eggshell.

At that same moment, Jiang Chen’s strike landed.

BOOM—

The edge of the blade was blindingly brilliant, a flash of black and white light that seemed to split heaven and earth.

Under the impact of this peerless Sword Qi, Long Jingyun’s Protective True Essence shattered instantly. The sword light slammed heavily into his arms.

BOOM!

The sleeves on Long Jingyun’s arms exploded into tatters. His hands recoiled from the pain. That single instinctive movement cost him the exchange of power. As the saying goes, a defeat can become a rout. With his arms no longer blocking the way, the devastatingly powerful Sword Aura drove straight through.

With a deafening crash, the Sword Aura struck Long Jingyun’s chest.

"WAAH..."

Long Jingyun let out a wretched scream. Blood gushed from all seven of his facial orifices as he was sent flying backward, crashing heavily onto the Ice Lake.

BOOM...

Jagged, glaring cracks spread out from beneath Long Jingyun, shooting across the surface in all directions. In the blink of an eye, the entire Ice Lake shattered into powder. The power of a single strike was just that terrifying!

Not even the great Long Jingyun, number two on the Human Venerable List, could withstand it.

The crowd’s gazes toward Jiang Chen were no longer filled with contempt, but with a newfound awe...

[Three more Chapters to come!]