Heaven-Surpassing Divine Emperor

Jiang Chen hovered mid-air.

He was bathed in a rain of blood, and as the crimson droplets landed on him, they were absorbed directly into his body.

With a wave of his hand,

Long Jingtian's corpse fell into his grasp. A ball of fire instantly engulfed it, and as the flames refined the body, Jiang Chen devoured all of its Essence Blood, Martial Soul, and True Essence.

The God-slaying Sword was already a Saint Tier Second Grade weapon, and the energy required for it to advance was immense.

A single Saint Tier First Grade Martial Soul was not enough.

Devouring Long Jingtian had merely replenished the energy Jiang Chen had expended in the battle, restoring him to his peak condition.

He stood firm in the sky.

It was as if his feet had taken root in the sky. The iridescent wings on his back vibrated gently, and the Spirit-Slaying Sword radiated a sharp, unconcealed aura. He looked like an unrivaled War God.

「Aboard the pleasure boat.」

Everyone stared at him, their eyes filled with shock and a trace of awe!

Yang Qiong's heart pounded. 'He's actually gotten this strong? What kind of monster is this kid? It's only been a year, and he's already reached such a level?'

His mind couldn't help but flash back to the Six Mountains Dynasty.

If Jiang Chen hadn't suddenly awakened his bloodline at the last moment and unleashed terrifying combat power, he, Yang Qiong, could have crushed him with a single hand.

But now...

Jiang Chen had grown to a point where even he felt intimidated.

No one was more furious than Long Chan. First, he had somehow been tricked into drinking a bowl of foul, stinking urine. Then, he had been swindled by Jiang Chen at the auction, sending 3.1 billion Upper-Grade Spirit Crystals down the drain. And now, even Long Jingtian, the strongest genius of the Dragon Emperor Ancient Country's younger generation, had perished at Jiang Chen's hands.

This series of blows nearly drove him mad.

He wished for nothing more than to strike immediately and kill Jiang Chen.

However...

Gai Jinlong and Wei Lihuang were watching him with constant vigilance. The moment he made a move, he would undoubtedly be besieged by both experts, who were at the Peak of the Human Emperor Realm.

His hands were completely tied.

'That damned little bastard...' Long Chan seethed, grinding his teeth, but he was utterly helpless.

「Above the Celestial Lake.」

Jiang Chen had now fully recovered. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. His chilling gaze swept across the void and landed on the deck, settling on the stunned figure of Bing Qianchi.

Bing Qianchi's body trembled slightly.

The moment their eyes met, he felt a chill run down his spine and found himself trembling uncontrollably.

His thoughts also drifted back to the Profound Celestial Ice Field.

Back then, Jiang Chen had only been at the measly Union Palace Realm!

Before a great expert of the Human Emperor Realm such as himself, Jiang Chen had been as fragile as an ant, someone he could have crushed with ease.

But now...

Jiang Chen had grown strong enough to slay an expert at the Seventh Stage of the Human Emperor Realm. And he, Bing Qianchi, after cultivating for hundreds of years, was only at the Peak of the Seventh Stage of the Human Emperor Realm himself!

As if sensing Bing Qianchi's gaze on him,

the corner of Jiang Chen's mouth curled up. He slowly pointed at Bing Qianchi, then beckoned with his index finger. His calm voice broke the tranquility over the Celestial Lake. "Bing Qianchi, do you remember what I said back on the Profound Celestial Ice Field? When you, a mighty Human Emperor, launched a sneak attack on me, a mere Union Palace Realm cultivator?"

"Hm?"

Bing Qianchi's face fell, his expression turning grim. A strong sense of foreboding washed over him.

A nostalgic look appeared in Jiang Chen's eyes...

He recalled a blood-soaked youth, heavily injured after a sneak attack by a Human Emperor Realm expert.

The youth hovered in the air, his face deathly pale, and pointed a blood-stained finger at the arrogant Human Emperor. Using every last ounce of his strength, he roared, "Bing Qianchi, one day, I will personally cut you down with my own blade!"

Bing Qianchi also remembered the words Jiang Chen had spoken that day.

Back then...

Bing Qianchi had scoffed at Jiang Chen's words, dismissing them as the powerless struggles and moans of an ant.

What he never could have imagined was that the ant's vow from that day was now about to become a reality!

'Damn it! I should have ignored Zifeng Tianhen's interference back then and killed this brat at all costs. Instead, I let a tiger return to the mountains, and now he's become a knife at my throat...' Bing Qianchi gritted his teeth, his fists clenched and his eyes filled with regret.

Unfortunately,

there was no medicine for regret in this world!

"Bing Qianchi, don't tell me you're afraid to fight me?" Jiang Chen asked, his face a mask of ridicule as a wide grin spread across his lips.

His voice was clear and loud, echoing across the Celestial Vault.

Everyone on Celestial Secret Mountain could hear him loud and clear.

Instantly...

all the experts on the deck turned to look at Bing Qianchi with mocking eyes.

The great chief of the Icefield Race, an expert at the Peak of the Seventh Stage of the Human Emperor Realm, was afraid to accept a challenge from a junior?

If word of this got out, Bing Qianchi's reputation would be in ruins, and he would never be able to show his face again!

'Damn it, how dare this brat be so arrogant? Doesn't he know that I've become a disciple of the Ice Emperor? Damn him to hell...' Bing Qianchi's face was a shifting mask of white and green, his rage boiling over.

Gai Jinlong said teasingly, "Bing Qianchi, Jiang Chen is talking to you. Why don't you answer?"

"I..."

Bing Qianchi opened his mouth but didn't know how to respond.

Gai Shi grinned, a playful smirk on his face. "Don't tell me it's true what Jiang Chen said, that you're too scared?"

A dark expression crossed Bing Qianchi's face, and beads of cold sweat broke out on his forehead. "..."

'Accept Jiang Chen's challenge?'

'Didn't I just see that even Long Jingtian was no match for him?'

'If I accept, aren't I just fucking asking to be killed?'

'But if I don't, I'll never be able to show my face in the Eastern Continent again!'

Just as Bing Qianchi was hesitating, Jiang Chen lost his patience. With a cold snort, he vanished and reappeared directly in front of Bing Qianchi.

"Ah? You..." Bing Qianchi froze, startled by the sudden appearance.

Jiang Chen's face was nearly touching his. He could clearly see the reflection of his own dazed and astonished expression in Jiang Chen's eyes.

Jiang Chen's icy voice rang in his ear. "Since you're too afraid to accept the challenge, I'll have to force you to fight. Bing Qianchi, the vow from that day will be fulfilled today!"

WHOOSH!

A beam of light shot out from Jiang Chen's fingertip.

The beam was as sharp as a bolt of lightning, flashing past in an instant. Bright, star-like motes of light condensed around it.

"Not good!"

Bing Qianchi's expression changed drastically as he shot backward in retreat.

The beam of light pursued him relentlessly, only vanishing after he was forced off the deck.

"Damn it, Jiang Chen! Do you really think I'm afraid of you?" Bing Qianchi roared, his face a contorted mask of rage.

Jiang Chen said coolly, "Take this sword strike first, then we'll talk!"

SWOOSH...

Jiang Chen shot forward.

With a flicker of his Divine Thought,

the Thunder World materialized. A terrifying sea of lightning enveloped Bing Qianchi, forcing him into a miserable retreat.

His robes were blasted to shreds by the lightning, leaving him covered in wounds and billowing black smoke. He was in a wretched state.

Jiang Chen's figure flickered, and he appeared before Bing Qianchi, sizing him up with an icy gaze. "Have you spent all these years living like a dog? You haven't made the slightest bit of progress. Bing Qianchi, I'll send you on your way with this next strike! Ten Directions Sword Manual, Third Form—Three Talents Sword!"

RUMBLE!

Three Sword Auras tore through the sky and then merged into one, imbued with the power of the Sword Dao Origin.

They formed a colossal pillar of sword energy whose brilliant light completely engulfed Bing Qianchi.

"No—"

Bing Qianchi let out a desperate roar as his body disintegrated under the pillar's assault, turning into nothing but dust...