Divine Wilderness Dragon Emperor

"Who are you, and why have you killed my Dukes?"

This voice was filled with supreme majesty, and its Celestial Might enveloped the entire Celestial River Academy. An invisible pressure descended, striking fear into everyone's hearts.

"It's the Celestial Emperor!"

"The Celestial Emperor has taken notice!"

"Legend says that with a single thought, the Celestial Emperor can manifest a Dharma Aspect in any corner of the Empire. It seems the legends are true!"

As the voice faded, an uproar swept through Celestial River Academy. Everyone was incredibly excited.

The Celestial Emperor…

In the Empire, he was a being like a Divine Spirit.

How could they not be thrilled to witness his Celestial Might now?

"Your Majesty!" Prince Long cried out, overjoyed when he heard the voice.

"Long live Your Majesty!" Marquis Yun and the others also shouted, hastily dropping to their knees in the hopes that the Celestial Emperor would protect them.

"This…" Han Beihai and the others, however, frowned deeply.

They had hoped for the Celestial Emperor's arrival, but now their faces were etched with worry.

Since Elder Ling had killed the Empire's Dukes, would His Majesty spare him?

The current Celestial Emperor was far more than just a Nascent Soul Realm Powerhouse!

"The people I want to kill are beyond the reach of a mere mortal Emperor like you!" Elder Ling was imperious, completely ignoring the sudden manifestation of Celestial Might. With a wave of his hand, he reached for the viewing platform. A startling ripple of energy surged downward, and a mysterious Power bound Prince Long and the others.

Yet Han Beihai and the others standing nearby were completely unharmed, a testament to Elder Ling's masterful control over his Power.

WHOOSH!

With a flash of movement, Prince Long, Marquis Yun, Liu Changyang, and Elder Dean Wang of Tianyan Academy—all four Dukes—appeared together in the Void.

"Is… is Elder Ling actually challenging the Celestial Emperor?" The crowd watched in stunned silence as Elder Ling pressed his attack.

At the same time, they were filled with curiosity.

Prince Long was a Celestial Pill Realm expert, yet he had been plucked from his seat out of thin air. Just how powerful was this man?

The atmosphere in the Martial Arts Arena reached a fever pitch.

Even Shangguan Qingmu and the others were dumbstruck.

This time, Elder Ling was truly and utterly ignoring the Celestial Emperor!

"Ah!" Marquis Yun cried out, his face a mask of terror.

"Your Majesty, save me!" Terror filled Prince Long's eyes as he was pulled into the Void.

The Celestial Emperor had spoken, yet their attacker had not relented. The killing intent was suffocating. If the Emperor hesitated even for a moment, they would all die.

"Friend, you have gone too far." In the Void, Light Patterns flickered, and a towering man wearing a Dragon Crown and a Dragon Robe materialized from nothing.

This was the Celestial Emperor's Dharma Aspect Body.

Though only a Dharma Aspect, it felt as if he were there in person, radiating an aura of supreme power.

Following the deep-voiced words, the Celestial Emperor reached out a massive hand. It blotted out the sky as it descended upon Elder Ling.

A closer look revealed the massive hand was wreathed in Light Patterns, resembling a Dragon Claw as it struck, and it contained a heaven-shattering might.

'The Celestial Emperor is attacking!' Shangguan Hong, standing beside Elder Ling, trembled with terror.

'I'm right next to Elder Ling. If I get caught in the aftershock of the Celestial Emperor's attack, I'll die too.'

'Still, to die in a battle between such powerhouses… I suppose it's worth it.' A bitter smile touched his lips despite his terror.

Throughout it all, however, Elder Ling remained perfectly calm. He merely tilted his head up slightly to gaze at the massive hand descending from the sky, his expression unreadable.

"I have said it before: Those who bully my son shall be executed. Forget killing a few of your Dukes; if my son is without fault, I would execute even a Prince who dared to bully him." Elder Ling's voice was not loud, but his words landed with resounding force, echoing in the ears of everyone at Celestial River Academy.

"Father!" On the tournament stage, tears welled in Ling Fei's eyes as he heard those words. His blood boiled. In that moment, a wave of warmth washed over him, banishing the loneliness and helplessness he had felt before. He felt like the happiest person in the world, because right here, he had a father who loved him.

But he was also worried for his father.

The Celestial Emperor of the Great Tang Empire was too powerful, his Divine Techniques seemingly limitless.

"You alone are not enough to stop me." Just as Ling Fei's worry peaked, Elder Ling spoke again.

Then, his eyes flashed. Dao Patterns condensed within them and suddenly erupted outward.

The Dao Patterns coalesced into sharp swords that shot forward, piercing toward the Celestial Emperor's descending Dragon Palm.

As countless pairs of eyes watched, the swords tore through the air and struck the Dragon Palm.

BANG!

A tremendous crash echoed out. The Dao Patterns wreathing the Dragon Palm were pierced, and the massive palm was then torn apart by a terrifying wave of Sword Qi, shattering into nothing.

At this sight, the entire audience was dumbfounded. A strike from the mighty Celestial Emperor had been effortlessly shattered by Elder Ling. It was an unbelievable sight.

The terrifying Sword Qi raged, flooding that section of the Void like a torrential river.

'So strong… This old man is not from my Empire!' The Celestial Emperor's expression was grave as his Dharma Aspect Body shot backward again and again.

As the Celestial Emperor retreated, Elder Ling took the opportunity to strike.

With a flick of his great hand, he sent a palm strike toward the four Dukes he held suspended in the Void.

"No—" Cries of terror erupted as the giant hand descended.

Despair filled the eyes of Prince Long and the others.

They had been hoping the Celestial Emperor would suppress Elder Ling.

But now, the Celestial Emperor himself had been repelled. Who could possibly save them?

BANG!

As they watched with terrified eyes, the great hand slammed down. The Dukes felt themselves engulfed by a terrifying torrent of power.

"Ah! Why did I get involved in this?!" Marquis Yun's face was a mask of regret.

"Am I, a great Prince, to die here?" Prince Long's face was filled with remorse.

He was normally above it all, rarely concerning himself with the Empire's affairs.

He never would have intervened if not for the Ninth Prince's chance to become the Crown Prince.

But who could have imagined that such a trivial matter would provoke a peerless powerhouse whom even the Celestial Emperor could not suppress?

Lost in his regret, the mountain-like hand descended, smashing all four Dukes into dust.

The next moment, the massive hand withdrew. The four Dukes were gone from the Void.

And so, all six Dukes who had come to Celestial River Academy to capture Ling Fei were dead.

Gazing at the scene, everyone in the arena held their breath.

The descendants of these Dukes were even more terrified.

They never could have imagined that the Dukes, who had arrived so aggressively to demand custody of one man, would meet such an end.

"Elder Ling… is so damn fierce!" On a balcony, Wu Dapang's eyes were wide. Beyond his shock, he felt a thrill of excitement.

"That's Ling Fei's adoptive father?" Mu Xue's mouth fell open in astonishment.

Elder Ling's actions had completely shattered everyone's expectations.

The Elders of Celestial River Academy were even more shocked.

They had assumed that once the Celestial Emperor intervened, Elder Ling would face immense pressure and possibly even death.

But now, he had annihilated the Dukes anyway.

This, however, only made Han Beihai's frown deepen.

The Celestial Emperor himself had appeared, yet Elder Ling had still acted so forcefully. Wasn't that a direct act of defiance against the Celestial Emperor?

A great battle was now inevitable.

'Can Elder Ling truly contend with the Celestial Emperor?' Han Beihai worried.

The Celestial Emperor's power was far greater than what he had just revealed!