Heaven-Surpassing Divine Emperor

"Why wouldn't I dare?"

Jiang Chen stepped forward, a calm and confident smile on his face as he spoke slowly.

His long robes fluttered, and his long black hair moved as if stirred by an unseen wind. His handsome face shone with self-assurance.

This caused many of the experts present to nod in silent approval.

Gai Jinlong and Wei Lihuang frowned. As masters at the Human Emperor Realm Ninth Stage, they could naturally tell that Jiang Chen's confidence in his own strength was genuine, not just a facade.

Gai Shi, however, looked anxious. He quickly tugged on Jiang Chen's sleeve and said in a low voice, "Are you crazy? Long Jingtian was a top-ten expert on the Earth Venerable List in his early years. Now he's even broken through to the Seventh Stage of the Human Emperor Realm. How could you possibly be his opponent?"

Jiang Chen smiled faintly and patted Gai Shi's shoulder. "Haven't you always disliked him? Just watch from the sidelines. I'll show you how I'm going to crush him!"

"You..."

Gai Shi was completely stunned.

"Hahaha, good! You dare to accept the challenge. Your courage, at least, is commendable. Jiang Chen, you killed my younger brother and then schemed against my Dragon Emperor Ancient Country. If I don't cut you down with my spear today, I, Long Jingtian, will be unworthy of being called a man!"

It was as if Long Jingtian was afraid Jiang Chen would go back on his word.

He snorted coldly, immediately rushed out of the cabin, and flew above the Celestial Lake.

A grand and resonant voice echoed from outside the cabin, "Jiang Chen, come out and face your death!"

The voice was like rolling thunder, booming continuously.

Inside the cabin.

Wei Lihuang's expression shifted several times before he finally sighed. "Jiang Chen, since you've accepted his challenge, it is not my place to interfere further. But rest assured, on the Celestial Secret Pavilion's territory, no one can harm one of our Venerable guests at will!"

"Many thanks, Master Wei!"

Jiang Chen said, cupping his hands in a salute.

Although he wasn't afraid of Long Jingtian, Wei Lihuang's gesture was a kindness, and he naturally wouldn't be ungrateful.

SWISH...

With a flash, Jiang Chen also appeared in the sky above the Celestial Lake.

Everyone inside the cabin stirred and rushed outside.

Long Chan's pale face held an extreme, sinister coldness. Like a venomous snake baring its fangs, he looked at Gai Jinlong. "Gai Jinlong, don't get complacent. Today, that Jiang Chen will undoubtedly die!"

"Hmph!"

Gai Jinlong snorted coldly. "You should be more worried about Long Jingtian's safety!"

***

Above the Celestial Lake.

The day was sunny and pleasant. A Blazing Sun hung high in the sky, radiating a warm glow.

It shone down on the Celestial Lake, reflecting countless dazzling rays of light that were a feast for the eyes.

Long Jingtian stood proudly in the void, his face filled with a cold, arrogant expression. Like a peerless sovereign looking down upon the world, he declared, "Jiang Chen, this Celestial Lake is a treasure crafted by the gods. To be buried here is a fortune you must have cultivated in your past life!"

"The battle hasn't even been decided, yet you're already certain I will lose?" Jiang Chen said lightly.

Long Jingtian tossed his long golden hair back and said proudly, "I, Long Jingtian, reached the top ten of the Earth Venerable List thirteen years ago. Now, a decade has passed, and I have advanced to the Seventh Stage of the Human Emperor Realm. Although I haven't competed for a ranking on the Three Venerable Lists for many years, if I were to be ranked now, I could at least place in the top fifteen of the Celestial Venerable List. In my presence, you have absolutely no chance of winning!"

"Seventh Stage of the Human Emperor Realm? Li Ru from the Fengyang Ancient Country was also at that cultivation level. He died at my hand," Jiang Chen stated calmly.

"Tch!"

Long Jingtian sneered in disdain. "What kind of trash was Li Ru? Is he even worthy of being compared to me? You'd better state any last words you have quickly. Otherwise, you'll never get another chance to speak!"

Arrogant!

Proud!

Insolent!

Tyrannical!

This was Long Jingtian!

Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes and grinned. "I have no last words, but I do have a sentence for you..."

Long Jingtian raised an eyebrow and sneered, "What? Are you going to beg me to spare your life? If so, you can save your breath. Today, you will die!"

"No, no, no!"

Jiang Chen raised a finger and wagged it gently. "I was going to say—Long Jingyun has been waiting for you in the underworld for a long time!"

"ROAR!"

An overwhelming killing intent erupted from Long Jingtian.

With a loud WHOOSH, a black Long Spear in his hand thrust forward, unleashing a spear gleam as bright as the Blazing Sun.

The Long Spear pulsed with an incomparably brilliant and blinding radiance.

It was incredibly sharp.

Weight and sharpness merged perfectly in his thrust as a black spear gleam, like a mountain peak, shot forward. The heavens and earth trembled, and the violent Spiritual Qi in the air converged madly at the tip of the spear.

In an instant, it was right in front of Jiang Chen.

"Strong enough, but too slow!"

Jiang Chen commented nonchalantly, his body flickering as he dodged aside.

BOOM!

The spear gleam struck heavily into the Celestial Lake.

The calm surface of the Celestial Lake was instantly shattered. A massive vortex appeared, and countless torrents of water from the Celestial Lake surged from all directions, mercilessly swallowed by it.

The enormous Celestial Lake Tour Boat shuddered violently, bobbing up and down.

"That was just an appetizer! Take another one of my strikes!" Long Jingtian shouted coldly, his speed suddenly exploding to an astonishing degree.

His figure darted left and right in the air. In just two flashes, he had appeared before Jiang Chen.

"Rising Dragon Strike!"

As Long Jingtian thrust his spear upward, a clear dragon's roar suddenly emanated from the black Long Spear, accompanied by the unending rumble of thunder.

The Long Spear seemed to transform into a Black Dragon, twisting its massive body as it lunged at Jiang Chen.

A terrifying pressure bore down on him like a series of mountain peaks.

Golden light pulsed from Jiang Chen's body. Even though his physical body was comparable to a Saint Tier Low-level Profound Weapon, it was now being crushed to the point of CREAKING. A stinging pain spread across his skin, as if it were about to be torn apart.

'He's worthy of being called the number one genius of the Dragon Emperor Ancient Country's younger generation. Though we're both at the Seventh Stage of the Human Emperor Realm, Long Jingtian's strength is indeed greater than Li Ru's. But it's far from enough to defeat me with just this level of skill!' Jiang Chen's gaze was like a torch. With a cold shout, his Spirit-Slaying Sword began to hum.

He struck out with his sword, instantly unleashing a sheet of pitch-black Sword Aura.

It fell like a torrential downpour!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The lights of the spear and sword clashed repeatedly above the Celestial Lake, erupting in bursts of energy.

It was an incomparably brilliant spectacle!

BOOM—

A terrifying roar exploded outward.

In the Celestial Vault, a blinding golden light filled the sky.

Jiang Chen and Long Jingtian were sent flying backward simultaneously. The robes on their bodies were blasted to shreds as they skimmed rapidly across the surface of the Celestial Lake. The water beneath their feet churned with a loud SPLASH, sending a wave surging hundreds of meters into the air. Only when the two of them steadied themselves did the wave slowly fall back into the lake.

"I didn't expect you to be this strong. It seems I truly did underestimate you. However, your moment of pride ends here. From now on, I will no longer hold back."

Long Jingtian took a deep breath.

Ripples suddenly spread from beneath his feet, growing larger and larger as they expanded outward in concentric circles.

A gale of black wind enveloped his body and swept outward.

Long Jingtian's tattered robes whipped in the wind. A black dragon's shadow suddenly materialized behind him. It was his Martial Soul—a Saint Tier First Grade Martial Soul, the Netherworld Black Dragon!

"Jiang Chen, have a taste of my Demon Dragon Battle Body's power!"

With a great roar, Long Jingtian threw his arms wide. The Netherworld Black Dragon Martial Soul let out a bellow as its massive body coiled around Long Jingtian. Pitch-black Dragon Scales grew all over his body, and two black Dragon Horns sprouted from his head. His eyes turned impossibly cold as he charged toward Jiang Chen, brimming with terrifying power...