Heaven-Dominating Martial Emperor

His low voice carried a tone that brooked no argument, seemingly forcing Ye Chen to make a decision.

A cold killing intent radiated from Xu Zhi. His eyes were like blades, fixed on Ye Chen!

If Ye Chen made any move to escape, he would strike him down with his sword without hesitation!

However, it seemed his worries were unfounded.

Ye Chen had no intention of fleeing; on the contrary, his expression was perfectly calm.

"As you wish."

Ye Chen smiled and slowly walked forward, positioning himself before the members of the Liu family to face Xu Zhi.

"Master Ye, you must be careful!"

"The Xu family is a renowned family of the Sword Dao! Every genius to come from their ranks is a master of the sword, with combat strength far surpassing that of other Cultivators at the same realm!"

Liu Yuchan shouted to Ye Chen.

'Ye Chen is certainly formidable, but against a supreme prodigy from outside the province, what are his chances of winning?'

"This young friend is…"

Liu Tianxin glanced at Ye Chen, a hint of inquiry in his eyes.

Ye Chen's unexpected and immense strength had piqued his curiosity.

"He is the Sect Leader of the Demon Sect… The Demon Sect is a power that has recently been gaining immense traction in our Lei Province!"

"Just a short while ago, he even defeated the abbot of Vajra Temple!"

Liu Yuchan offered a brief explanation.

But this was more than enough to leave Liu Tianxin utterly shocked.

"What?!"

"To think that our Lei Province could actually produce such a peerless prodigy! This is truly a blessing for Lei Province!"

"It seems that with the opening of the Dragon Prison Cave this time, a prodigy from our Lei Province will be able to shine brightly inside!"

Liu Tianxin sucked in a sharp breath.

「On the other side.」

Facing the standoff, Xu Zhi was the first to break the silence.

"Boy, draw your sword."

"Let me see for myself just what level your Sword Dao has reached."

He spoke indifferently, his expression cold.

But in his eyes, a glimmer of solemnity could be seen.

In reality, he didn't look down on Ye Chen as much as he let on.

'To be able to cut down a Primordial Mansion Realm Cultivator with a single strike… this youth from Lei Province is absolutely no ordinary person!'

"You want me to draw first?"

"I could, but I'm afraid you won't get the chance to draw your own sword after."

Ye Chen gave a faint smile.

"Hmph!"

"This kid is unbelievably arrogant!"

"Such big talk! Daring to look down on our Xu family… How outrageous!"

Ye Chen's wild arrogance infuriated the members of the Xu family.

As for the Liu family, they simply looked at each other, not daring to speak.

Although they knew Ye Chen was powerful, they couldn't help but worry for him.

'When facing a powerful family of the Sword Dao, no one could fathom just how terrifying their foundation truly was!'

"Fine! Then I'll strike first!"

At these words, Xu Zhi sneered. He wasn't being careless; he actually struck first!

He had always believed in swift and decisive killing methods.

Even if Ye Chen's strength was far beneath his own, once he attacked, he would not show the slightest bit of negligence!

This was the way of a Sword Cultivator when facing an enemy!

Whenever he struck, he aimed for his opponent's vitals, unleashing his most ruthless killing move!

In a mere instant, Xu Zhi drew his sword. A torrent of light, like a vast ocean, poured out from the blade. The next moment, it was right in front of Ye Chen!

The terrifying and unstoppable Sword Skill caused the expressions of everyone in the Liu family to change drastically!

This was the terrifying power of a prodigy from the Xu family!

His very first move was so earth-shattering!

The Sword Qi sprayed out like a shower of rain. Even from a distance, they could still feel a stinging sensation on their skin.

At the same time, a vast aura erupted from Xu Zhi's body.

Behind him, the phantom of a Spiritual Sea surged and churned, kicking up boundless waves. Within the Spiritual Sea, a Primordial Mansion stood tall, flickering with an eerie purple light that left countless people stunned!

It was actually a Five-Star Primordial Mansion!

Although Xu Zhi was only a First Layer Primordial Mansion Realm Cultivator, the fact that he had condensed a Five-Star Primordial Mansion still made the many experts present feel immense pressure!

"He truly lives up to his name as a prodigy of the Xu family! To think he could condense a Five-Star Primordial Mansion!"

"A Primordial Mansion of this level is impossible to condense without one-in-a-million talent or an astonishingly great opportunity!"

"The foundation of the Xu family is truly extraordinary!"

The experts of the Liu family exclaimed in amazement again and again.

'Compared to the Xu family, we, one of the four great families of Lei Province, seem so shabby in comparison.'

Liu Tianxin's gaze flickered, his expression grave.

'Even I, the strongest of the Liu family, only managed to condense a one-star Primordial Mansion when I broke through to that realm.'

'Of course, that was also related to my age.'

'When I broke through to the Primordial Mansion Realm, I was already over sixty years old.'

'I was long past the age where my vitality and blood-qi were at their peak.'

"How about it, boy?"

"Let's see what you've got to counter this!"

Xu Zhi laughed heartily. After unleashing his full power without reservation, his confidence and battle intent soared to a new level.

Fueled by his vast Spiritual Power, the light from his sword grew even more brilliant and condensed. As it streaked through the air, it seemed to eclipse the sun and moon—an astonishing sight!

Watching that streak of sword light rapidly magnify before his eyes, Ye Chen finally moved!

His expression was indifferent, his heart as calm as a still well.

SHING!

The Cangming Sword left its sheath!

Ye Chen simply executed a single, direct slash.

In that instant, the sky-filling sword light shattered completely, and a profound, mysterious conception spread through the air.

It was as if everything in the surroundings had become an extension of Ye Chen's blade, slashing forward along with the Cangming Sword.

It was such an ordinary-looking move, yet it seemed to captivate the gaze of everyone present.

For some of the Sword Cultivators standing closer, the treasured swords in their sheaths even began to vibrate inexplicably, causing them to retreat in horror!

"What?"

"This is… Sword Intent?! This is impossible!!!"

At this moment, Xu Zhi's expression finally changed.

He cried out in disbelief. The battle intent and confidence on his face were instantly swept away, replaced only by pure horror!

'I am a genius from a family of the Sword Dao!'

'I've cultivated the way of the sword painstakingly for eighteen years, and even now, I've only barely touched the surface of Sword Intent.'

'Yet this youth, from a barren place like Lei Province, can actually unleash Sword Intent with a wave of his hand!'

Under the influence of the Sword Intent, all the sword light in the air seemed to fall under Ye Chen's control!

Even the Sword Qi that Xu Zhi himself had slashed out turned around at this moment, bombarding him instead!

Xu Zhi's expression was ghastly, and a deep sense of crisis welled up in his heart.

'Yes, this is the absolute gap between Sword Cultivators!'

'My opponent has cultivated Sword Intent, and I have not!'

'It's like the bloodline suppression between demonic beasts. On the level of swordsmanship and its underlying conception, I am completely outmatched!'

'Faced with that surging Sword Intent, I am completely powerless to resist!'