Heaven-Surpassing Divine Emperor

BOOM—

Long Jingtian transformed into a humanoid Demon Dragon. A draconic tail, thick as a python and covered in black scales, extended from behind him and casually whipped down to strike the lake's surface.

The entire surface of the lake trembled violently.

A column of water a hundred meters high erupted!

Using the force of the rebound, Long Jingtian's speed increased even more as he shot toward Jiang Chen with a SWOOSH.

In Long Jingtian's wake, a wall of water surged high into the air. The white waves churned and then fell in a great cascade.

Before the droplets even hit the lake's surface,

Long Jingtian was already in front of Jiang Chen. He let the Long Spear slide forward smoothly through his hand, his palm covered in black Dragon Scales closing around its butt. Then, he spun, sweeping the spear wide. "Sweeping Thousand Armies!"

SWISH!

A fan-shaped wave of black spear light swept toward him.

Jiang Chen's eyes flickered. He leaped into the air, dodging the sudden attack.

Unperturbed, Long Jingtian seemed to have expected this exact evasion. A cold smirk touched his lips. "Demon Dragon Tail Swing!"

WHOOSH!

The thick tail behind him lashed out like a divine whip, striking horizontally toward Jiang Chen.

'Not good!'

Jiang Chen's gaze hardened. He pointed the tip of his Spirit-Slaying Sword downward, holding it at his side.

CLANG...

A sharp ring of metal echoed.

The black dragon tail had struck the Spirit-Slaying Sword, and the immense force made the blade hum, sending Jiang Chen flying sideways.

He crashed into the Celestial Lake with a huge SPLASH.

The waves on the lake's surface stilled for a moment.

Then, with a deafening BOOM, a massive column of water over a hundred meters in diameter shot toward the sky!

A torrent of water rained back down.

Long Jingtian dove into the water. His tail propelled him forward, allowing him to move with incredible speed even underwater.

In an instant, he had caught up to Jiang Chen.

"Black Dragon Shining Sky!"

He thrust his Long Spear forward. The water resistance caused the shaft to bend dramatically before snapping straight like a bowstring releasing an arrow.

WHOOSH...

The black spear light, carrying with it a surging column of water, shot toward Jiang Chen.

The water spiraled in a deadly dance of Yin and Yang.

This single thrust had enough power to tear a mountain apart!

Jiang Chen's eyes flashed. With a flick of his wrist, his Spirit-Slaying Sword cut through the dense water, fanning out like a peacock's tail to form a wall of swords.

BOOM!

The black spear light struck the sword wall, pausing for a fraction of a second.

But it was only for an instant!

BOOM...

The sword wall immediately shattered.

However, Jiang Chen had already used that brief moment to rush toward the surface.

"Where do you think you're going?!"

A savage sneer appeared on Long Jingtian's face, which was covered in black Dragon Scales. With a flick of his dragon tail, he shot after him.

...

「On the deck of the pleasure boat.」

A group of masters stared nervously at the surface of the Celestial Lake. Seeing no movement, they began to whisper amongst themselves. "Who do you think will win this fight?"

"It has to be Long Jingtian!"

"Jiang Chen is talented, but he's only in the Human King Realm. Long Jingtian is at the Seventh Stage of the Human Emperor Realm. There's no way Jiang Chen can be his match!"

"That makes sense!"

In the crowd, Long Chan wore a cruel smile and said sinisterly, "Gai Jinlong, did you hear them? Jiang Chen is doomed to die!"

"Hmph!"

Gai Jinlong snorted coldly and said nothing.

'If my nephew Jiang Chen is in danger later,' Gai Jinlong thought, 'I'll have to save him, even if it costs me my reputation!'

Long Chan naturally guessed Gai Jinlong's intentions. He shot him a cold glance before looking toward Bing Qianchi, Yang Qiong, and Song Tiancheng. He announced loudly, "Everyone, this is a life-and-death battle between Jiang Chen and Long Jingtian. It's a conflict between juniors. I believe that no matter what happens, it would be inappropriate for us elders to interfere!"

"That's right. Brother Long speaks wisely!"

"If we casually interfere in the battles of the younger generation, they will forever hide under the protection of their elders. How could they ever grow?"

Yang Qiong and the others all agreed.

Gai Jinlong's expression grew uglier. Long Chan was cutting off any chance he had to rescue Jiang Chen!

Just then...

BOOM! BOOM!

Two columns of water shot skyward as Jiang Chen and Long Jingtian burst out from the surface, one after the other.

Long Jingtian's face was savage. "Jiang Chen, is all you know how to do run and hide? If you have any guts, fight me head-on!"

"That's exactly what I was thinking!"

Jiang Chen snorted coldly. With a tremor, he silently activated his God-Devouring Realm.

RUMBLE!

The surface of the water trembled violently, and the Spiritual Qi between heaven and earth fell into chaos.

All the Spiritual Qi within a hundred-mile radius was devoured by Jiang Chen, pouring into his body. His cultivation soared, reaching the Fifth Stage of the Human Emperor Realm.

"Hm? What kind of Secret Technique is this? How did your power suddenly increase so much?" Long Jingtian's expression changed.

Jiang Chen grinned. "Go ask Long Jingyun in the Underworld!"

"Hmph!"

Long Jingtian sneered, "I don't care what twisted tricks you've used. You still won't escape death—Dragon Battle Star Field!"

Nine Black Dragons burst forth from his Long Spear, rushing toward Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen paused for a moment. Five pairs of dazzling, radiant wings suddenly appeared on his back. With a slight shudder, he evaded the nine Black Dragons. He instantly appeared at Long Jingtian's side, his gaze electric as he struck. "Ten Directions Sword Manual, First Technique—One-Origin Sword!"

SWISH!

The black Sword Aura was astonishingly fast, reaching Long Jingtian in an instant.

"Not good!" Long Jingtian's expression changed as he blocked with his Long Spear.

CLANG—

The power of this sword strike was astounding!

With a loud bang, the impact split the skin between Long Jingtian's thumb and forefinger, forcing the Long Spear from his grasp.

'Damn it...'

Long Jingtian cursed inwardly and flashed forward, chasing after his Long Spear.

However...

Just as the Long Spear was within his grasp, his body froze for a split second, as if he had been hit by an Immobilization Technique. At the same time, Jiang Chen appeared before him, blocking the path to his spear. Jiang Chen's smile grew wider as he grinned. "Second Technique—Liangyi Sword!"

SWISH! SWISH!

Two curved Sword Auras shot out from either side.

They formed an ellipse, trapping Long Jingtian within the Sword Auras.

BANG! BANG!

The Sword Auras struck Long Jingtian's left and right sides, blasting the black Dragon Scales on both his arms to pieces.

His flesh was mangled, and the excruciating pain forced a grunt from Long Jingtian. He kicked off the void with his dragon tail and shot backward.

Jiang Chen was expressionless. With a beat of the five pairs of wings on his back, he caught up to Long Jingtian and even overtook him. Appearing behind him, a golden light flared in Jiang Chen's palm as he grabbed the pitch-black dragon tail. With a low roar, Jiang Chen's arms bulged with strength, and he swung upward!

"AHHH..."

Long Jingtian screamed as he was flung high into the air, his dragon tail ripped clean off by Jiang Chen.

His wings beating in unison, Jiang Chen pursued Long Jingtian into the air. His gaze was icy as he gripped his longsword with both hands and slashed. "Third Technique—Three Talents Sword!"

Three Sword Auras shot out in a triangular formation, merging in mid-air into a single, even more brilliant Sword Aura that slashed toward Long Jingtian.

"Not good!"

Long Chan's expression changed drastically, and he moved to save Long Jingtian.

Gai Jinlong flashed in front of him, a mocking smile on his face. "Long Chan, didn't you just say that it's inappropriate for us to interfere in the battles of the younger generation?"

"Gai Jinlong, get out of my way!" Long Chan roared.

Gai Jinlong grinned. "Get out of your way now? It's too late!"

"What?"

Long Chan's heart skipped a beat. He quickly looked up at the Celestial Vault, and his heart went cold.

In the brief moment he had been delayed by Gai Jinlong's obstruction,

the three Sword Auras had fully merged and descended upon Long Jingtian. With a sickening SQUELCH, the incomparably sharp sword light swept across Long Jingtian's neck.

A large head tumbled down amidst a shower of blood.

At Celestial Lake Peak, Jiang Chen had slain Jingtian with a single sword!

The experts who witnessed this scene were all utterly horrified...

[Five more chapters to come! Little Tian will keep going!]