Divine Wilderness Dragon Emperor

Liu Ming stood with his hands behind his back and spoke calmly.

Instantly, countless young women stared at him, their eyes filled with adoration.

It had to be said that, at this moment, Liu Ming held a special charm for these girls.

"Xiaoman, it looks like your Ling Fei will have to defeat this Liu Ming if he wants to dominate the whole competition!" someone teased from beside Huang Xiaoman.

"This Liu Ming is a genius. Don't be fooled by his low ranking on the People's List; that's only because he doesn't care about it. As the inheritor of the Liu Clan's Celestial Spiritual Snake Bloodline, his true strength is beyond ordinary people. I heard the Liu Clan also possesses a powerful Secret Technique!"

Some of the older female students said with a hint of worry.

"What's there to be afraid of? I'm rooting for Brother Ling," Mu Xue declared, raising an eyebrow with a bold air. "I think his Cold Dao True Qi is quite impressive. Besides, who's to say Brother Ling doesn't have a trump card of his own?"

'He's just some guy who relies on his noble birth. What's so great about that?'

"Ling Fei should be able to fight Liu Ming, right?" Huang Xiaoman's brows furrowed slightly, a trace of worry in her heart.

Even though she knew Ling Fei was far stronger than other Cultivators at his level, Liu Ming was no ordinary person.

Liu Ming stood with his hands behind his back, his words causing a stir among the crowd.

At this, many people turned to look at Ling Fei.

"Can this Ling Fei fight Liu Ming?"

"Who is stronger?" Amidst their doubts, the crowd was also filled with anticipation.

The fiery atmosphere of the competition grounds was pushed to its peak.

"Hehe, the path of Martial Arts is vast, with countless capable experts. It would be too shallow for us to claim to be number one. However, since Young Master Liu has such confidence, I will gladly test your skills. I'd like to see just how strong the Liu Clan's bloodline is and if it truly inspires the fear that rumors claim."

On the battle platform, Ling Fei laughed heartily.

He was also rather displeased with Liu Ming's arrogant attitude.

Thus, his words carried a hint of a tit-for-tat challenge.

"Hehe, since you wish to witness my Liu Clan's bloodline, then today, I shall grant your wish." Liu Ming smiled, his raised brows making him look incredibly haughty. He paid no mind to Ling Fei's pointed response, as if it was only natural for the Liu Clan to be this way.

'People of the Liu Clan are meant to be high and mighty, for others to challenge.'

As his words fell, Liu Ming took a step and walked down from the Waiting Battle Platform.

His pace was slow, like a Monarch surveying his domain.

Such an arrogant posture made many people frown.

"This Liu Ming is so arrogant!" some people from Humble Families said.

"You must not know. The Liu Clan is the head of the Empire's Four Major Clans. It would be strange if they weren't arrogant," someone else said.

"So that's how it is."

And so, under the gazes of countless eyes, Liu Ming walked toward the battle platform.

"Hehe, this will be a fight between two tigers!" Seeing Liu Ming walk to the battle platform, the instructors on the mentors' platform couldn't help but stroke their beards and smile.

It had been a long time since Celestial River Academy had seen such an anticipated match!

Shangguan Hong stroked his short beard, a smile unconsciously appearing on his lips as he looked ahead.

For him, witnessing this young man from a small town make it this far step by step filled him with an inexplicable excitement.

'I wonder if he can defeat Liu Ming?' Shangguan Hong thought, his face full of expectation.

"Hehe, Rainbow Grand Patrol Envoy, how much confidence do you have in this Ling Fei?" a man in a green robe next to Shangguan Hong chuckled.

This was the academy's Director Pang.

"Confidence?" Shangguan Hong's brows twitched. He glanced at Director Pang beside him, and after seeing the man's teasing smile, he raised his own brows and said, "I'd say Ling Fei has a fifty percent chance of winning. In fact, it should be more like sixty or even seventy percent."

"What! Seventy percent?" Hearing this, Director Pang's expression changed.

He had only intended to tease Shangguan Hong.

After all, Shangguan Hong had held high expectations for Ling Fei from the very beginning.

Now that Liu Ming was making a move, he would most likely crush Ling Fei.

Who would have thought that Shangguan Hong would still dare to speak so boldly at a time like this?

It wasn't just Director Pang; Dean Han and the others beside him were also moved.

Everyone looked at Shangguan Hong, as if asking where he got his confidence from.

"Hehe, you'll see in a moment." Shangguan Hong smiled and said no more. However, as he looked forward, his face was filled with anticipation, and he mused inwardly, 'Now that Ling Fei has comprehended True Sword Dao Intent, his strength is beyond ordinary. If he combines that with his Cold Qi, who at the same level can possibly contend with him? The only thing to worry about is the Liu Clan's Bloodline Secret Technique. If not for that, his chances of victory would be at least seventy percent.'

This was why he had given Ling Fei such an evaluation.

However, since the others had not perceived the matter of the Cold Qi, Shangguan Hong felt it was not his place to say more.

"This Shangguan Hong seems to have a lot of confidence in Ling Fei!" Seeing his expression, the nearby instructors were all filled with doubt.

They simply couldn't imagine where Shangguan Hong's confidence came from.

'Is it just because of that Cold Qi?'

'But the Liu Clan's bloodline is not to be underestimated!'

"Ling Fei has killed an Innate Realm Cold Python before. His combat power shouldn't be underestimated. Maybe he really does have a chance to win," Zhou Xiaoyu said, her eyes filled with hope.

"Now, all we can do is watch the outcome of their battle."

Amidst all the doubts, the experts on the mentors' platform locked their gazes on the battle platform before them.

On the battle platform, Ling Fei and Liu Ming faced each other.

Liu Ming was very young, half a year younger than Ling Fei even. But at this moment, his brows were raised provocatively, and his slightly boyish face was filled with arrogance.

In addition, a powerful aura was gathering around him.

Faintly, Ling Fei could sense the terrifying power hidden within Liu Ming.

'This Liu Ming has Bloodline Power hidden within him.' Ling Fei's gaze sharpened as he perceived the latent power inside Liu Ming.

That power was wild and seemed ready to erupt at any moment.

However, Ling Fei did not sense any dangerous aura from this power.

'I've heard the Liu Clan's bloodline has a Secret Technique, but I wonder what it is?' Ling Fei stared intently ahead.

Although he had absolute confidence, he did not underestimate his opponent.

Sword Momentum gathered. A Light Pattern flickered in Liu Ming's eyes, like a Spiritual Snake lying in wait. His gaze was sharp and chilling.

Immediately, with a flick of his hand, a Red Patterned Long Sword appeared in his palm.

The sword was exquisite, with the pattern of a Spiritual Snake coiling all the way to the hilt!

With the Long Sword in hand, a Sword Momentum began to build.

Then, Liu Ming raised an eyebrow and looked at Ling Fei.

"Celestial River Fury!" a deep voice called out.

Liu Ming strode forward, and the Sword Qi from his Long Sword howled forth like a raging river, sweeping toward Ling Fei.

'Celestial River Fury?' Liu Ming attacked, his Sword Qi like a roaring river, its momentum fierce. Yet, Ling Fei just shook his head slightly.

One Sword Seals the River!

The deep words came from Ling Fei's lips.

With a move of his Long Sword, his Sword Momentum surged out like river water, meeting Liu Ming's attack head-on.

From a distance, the two youths on the battle platform could be seen brandishing their long swords, their whistling Sword Qi like two rivers sweeping forward.

But just as their attacks were about to clash, Liu Ming's Sword Qi faltered and began to be frozen by the Sword Qi erupting from Ling Fei's Long Sword.

Their Sword Momentum... was about the same.

But Ling Fei's Sword Qi had the power to seal with ice!

Liu Ming's Sword Qi was sealed by ice, the surging river freezing in an instant.

"This Sword Qi... it's so domineering! It can seal my Sword Momentum with ice!" Liu Ming showed a look of surprise as the Sword River was frozen.

He quickly flicked his wrist, using his True Qi to shatter the encroaching Cold Qi. Then, his body seemed to Move with the Wind as he retreated ten meters away.

The Sword Qi he had just unleashed, however, was completely frozen solid.

Seeing Liu Ming retreat, Ling Fei shook his Long Sword. The frozen Sword Qi in front of him shattered, turning into ice crystals that fell onto the battle platform.

He withdrew his Sword Momentum, not pressing his advantage. Instead, he fixed his gaze on Liu Ming and said, "You should use your full strength."

Clearly, Ling Fei felt no challenge from such a probing attack.

That was why he had directly frozen Liu Ming's offense—to make him fight with everything he had.

"Ling Fei's Sword Momentum is so strong! He completely froze all the momentum from Liu Ming's strike!"

At this, the spectating Cultivators couldn't help but gasp.

"With such a technique, ordinary people truly can't compete with him!" The crowd looked at Ling Fei with faces full of respect.

"Next, we'll see what Liu Ming can do." Amid their surprise, the crowd turned to look at Liu Ming.

If Liu Ming had no way to counter, then there wouldn't be much of a show to watch.

THUMP! THUMP!

At this moment, Liu Ming steadied his footing.

Then, he raised his gaze, and when he looked at Ling Fei, his eyes held a new hint of seriousness.

By now, he was finally starting to take Ling Fei seriously.

"Not bad. You're worthy of me using my Bloodline Power!" Liu Ming stabilized himself. His gaze then hardened, and the Blood Qi inside his body began to roil.

In that instant, Liu Ming's entire aura suddenly skyrocketed.

It seemed a power within him was about to erupt at any moment.

That aura made many of the new students' hearts pound with fear.

"Why did Liu Ming's aura suddenly spike like that?" someone couldn't help but ask.

"He's starting to activate his Bloodline Power," an Innate Realm Cultivator said.

"The Liu Clan's Bloodline Power is incredibly strong!" On the Observation Platform, Qin Rong's eyes flashed. 'I wonder which of them is stronger?'

At this moment, he seemed extremely tense.

If Liu Ming couldn't defeat Ling Fei even after activating his Bloodline Power, then it was not hard to imagine how terrifying Ling Fei would become once he matured.

Sensing the aura from Liu Ming, Shangguan Hong, on the mentors' platform, narrowed his eyes.

"The real duel is about to begin!" Director Pang murmured, his gaze focused.

Even an expert like him couldn't help but tense up, watching the front intently as if afraid of missing a single moment of this spectacular battle.

'Is he finally going to use his Bloodline Power?' Opposite him, Ling Fei's gaze sharpened, a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

He was eager to see just how powerful the Liu Clan's bloodline truly was.

Sword Momentum like a river, sword movements like a snake!

The deep words suddenly came from Liu Ming's mouth.

Then, his body moved, slithering like a Spiritual Snake.

In the next moment, the Red Patterned Long Sword in his hand was already slashing upward toward Ling Fei from below.

SWISH, SWISH!

Liu Ming's Long Sword danced, his Sword Qi surging violently, its fierce Sword Momentum locking onto Ling Fei.

In addition, within this river of Sword Qi, his Red Patterned Sword was as unpredictable as a snake. Its movements were bizarre and impossible to track, making it hard to tell from which direction the fatal blow would come. With this strike, Liu Ming had clearly merged his Liu Clan's Spiritual Snake Sword with the Celestial River Sword River.

'His Swordsmanship is a bit more bizarre, and his momentum is about thirty percent stronger!' Seeing this, Ling Fei's gaze sharpened, but his expression remained unchanged.

'But I wasn't using my full power just now either. Against my One Sword Seals the River, powered by Cold Dao Sword Qi, it doesn't matter how agile your techniques are. It's useless.'

Before these thoughts even faded, he had already struck with his sword.