Heaven-Dominating Martial Emperor

Among everyone present, only Ji Yuanshan had personally been to the Dragon Prison Cave.

With his level of ability, he could naturally only join in on the excitement from the sidelines. But at the very least, he had witnessed Ye Chen's awe-inspiring might with his own eyes, so he recognized him at a glance.

Lu Fanyan, Lin Heng, and Qu Yuanfei were also deeply shaken by this revelation.

So this young man was the very same Ye Chen who had shot to fame in Lei Province.

But... he's just so young, isn't he?

He looked to be about their age, yet he was capable of such incredible feats?

After all, they had seen the scene of Ye Chen slaying the Cyan-faced Demon Monarch, so they didn't doubt the news in the slightest.

On Hong Zhi's side, however, after his initial astonishment, he quickly composed himself. He eyed Ye Chen with suspicion and confusion.

Ninth Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm.

'For someone so young, such a cultivation level is a clear sign of extraordinary talent.'

'But that's all it is.'

'To say he's the Ye Chen who has even slain a Divinity Transformation Realm Great Power? That's just preposterous.'

Li Yue and the other young masters also slowly came to their senses.

Their cultivation was only at the Blood Coagulation Realm, far inferior to Ye Chen's.

But they could feel that the fluctuations of aura coming from him weren't even a match for Hong Zhi, the Elder from Qingyue Sword Mansion.

Let alone the Ye Chen whose name had been resounding everywhere recently.

Li Yue looked Ye Chen up and down. Knowing that the young man's realm was inferior to Hong Zhi's, his brazen attitude returned.

He sneered and said, "You're saying *he's* Ye Chen?"

"This guy isn't even in the Primordial Mansion Realm, is he? And you're telling me he's Ye Chen?"

"How can you even spew such bullshit? Do you believe it yourself?"

The young masters behind Li Yue also burst out laughing, their faces full of mockery and scorn.

Hong Zhi, standing to the side, also smiled. "I can see this boy has extraordinary potential and astonishing talent. I suppose that after Ji Yuanshan was crippled, he became the ace up your sleeve for the martial tournament, didn't he?"

"It's a pity you're getting your hopes up. First place in this tournament will never go to your Songyin Sword Mansion. You should just give up on that idea."

Seeing their condescending attitudes, Yu Xiaoran's face turned ashen with anger. Lin Heng and Qu Yuanfei clenched their fists, looking ready to fight.

Lu Fanyan stared coldly at Li Yue, shielding Ji Yuanshan.

Only Ye Chen's brow furrowed slightly. He said calmly, "You're the one getting ahead of yourself. I have no intention of participating in any martial tournament."

"Right, right. Because you're Ye Chen, isn't that it? You can even kill Divinity Transformation experts, so how could you possibly care about a competition between us juniors?"

Li Yue looked at Ye Chen and let out a sarcastic laugh.

He had come here today specifically to humiliate Songyin Sword Mansion and Ji Yuanshan.

Just as Hong Zhi had assumed, he also believed Ye Chen was a helper that Songyin Sword Mansion had found to replace Ji Yuanshan in the martial tournament. Naturally, he joined in on the taunts and mockery.

"Hahaha, Young Master Li is right! Someone as amazing as Ye Chen, why would he get involved in an event like this?"

"The way I see it, a guy like that has probably already secured a spot at the Peach Blossom Banquet, right? But tell me, can someone who isn't even in the Primordial Mansion Realm really kill so many Primordial Mansion Realm experts?"

"Sure he can! In his dreams!"

The young masters chimed in one after another, finishing with another round of roaring laughter.

Ji Yuanshan clenched his fists, his eyes filled with fury.

He never would have imagined that because of him, Ye Chen would also end up being humiliated by these young masters from Qingyue Sword Mansion.

Amidst the gales of laughter, Ye Chen looked at Li Yue and suddenly spoke. "What, you don't believe I'm Ye Chen?"

"A mere Spirit Sea Realm Cultivator daring to impersonate the expert who killed a Divinity Transformation master? If I were stupid enough to believe you're Ye Chen, I might as well just drop dead."

Li Yue sneered. With Hong Zhi backing him up, he had nothing to fear.

"What if I really am Ye Chen? Will you really go and drop dead then?" Ye Chen asked.

"Wouldn't I?" Li Yue said with a mocking expression. "If someone with your pitiful cultivation level can kill a Divinity Transformation expert, then I really would be better off dead."

"Then go die."

Ye Chen flicked a finger. A sharp strand of Sword Qi shot out and, right before everyone's eyes, lopped off Li Yue's head.

It all happened so suddenly that even Li Yue himself didn't have time to react.

Even in the moment before his death, he was still thinking about how he could further humiliate the people of Songyin Sword Mansion and vent his own frustrations.

"Bastard, what have you done?!"

When Hong Zhi snapped back to his senses, the Qingyue Sword Mansion Elder became utterly enraged.

He stared at the headless corpse on the ground, his aura flaring violently. Like an enraged lion, a terrifying glint shone in his eyes!

The remaining young masters had long since collapsed to the ground, too scared to move a muscle.

They usually followed Li Yue around, causing trouble and acting as his lackeys.

Now that Li Yue had died so gruesomely before their very eyes, they were scared out of their wits, nearly fainting on the spot.

Watching their pathetic display, Ye Chen couldn't help but sigh in boredom.

'These young masters rely on the power of their factions to act arrogantly and domineeringly everywhere they go.'

'The moment they run into someone truly tough, they just clam up, not daring to even make a peep.'

'It's just as Li Yue said—scum like this would be better off dead.'

"What's the matter, Hong Zhi? This is just a squabble between juniors. Are you planning on bullying the weak from your position of strength?"

Seeing Ye Chen make his move, Yu Xiaoran was instantly invigorated.

He immediately struck back with cold words, giving Hong Zhi a taste of his own medicine that made the Elder's face turn ashen with rage.

"A squabble between juniors? He killed someone right in front of me, and you call that a squabble!"

Hong Zhi said through gritted teeth, "Yu Xiaoran, do you really want to go to war with our Qingyue Sword Mansion?"

"Your Qingyue Sword Mansion is so angry you want to start a war over the death of such an insignificant piece of scum?"

"Then bring it on. Let's see who's afraid of whom!"

Yu Xiaoran's expression was solemn, completely unfazed by Hong Zhi's powerful aura.

"Fine! You're the one who said it!"

Hong Zhi took a deep breath. He knew that with Yu Xiaoran here, he likely wouldn't be able to get his revenge today.

"Brat, you dare kill someone from our Qingyue Sword Mansion? You'd better watch your back. The consequences are not something you can bear," he said, giving Ye Chen a cold glare.

"If you have a problem with it, you can make a move right now," Ye Chen said nonchalantly.

This brazen attitude made Hong Zhi's face twitch with anger.