Divine Wilderness Dragon Emperor

"Junior Brother Ling, I heard you've been focused on Alchemy lately. How's your progress?" Yuan Chong asked casually as they flew forward.

"I've made a little progress," Ling Fei said with a smile.

"Haha, no need to rush, Junior Brother Ling. You successfully refined a Flawless Pill in just four months, which is a testament to your incredible talent. In my opinion, if you just keep at it and raise your Cultivation a bit more, you'll probably be able to refine Spirit Pills and become an Entry Grade Alchemist in another six months," Yuan Chong said with a laugh.

"Another six months to refine a Spirit Pill?" Ling Fei was taken aback.

"Haha, what's wrong? You think that's too long? Don't be impatient. After all, your Cultivation isn't high enough yet, and you haven't been doing Alchemy for very long. You should know that very few people in the entire Southern Wilderness can refine a Flawless Pill at your age. Your current accomplishments are already outstanding." Yuan Chong's face was full of envy as he continued, "Take me, for example. I've only just barely managed to refine a Flawless Pill myself. If only I had half your talent!"

His face was filled with envy as he looked at Ling Fei.

When it came to Alchemy, most people were considered exceptionally talented if they succeeded even after a year of study.

Refining a Flawless Pill within three years was also enough to make one proud.

And yet, Ling Fei had managed to refine a Flawless Pill in just four months.

How many could possibly compare to such talent?

"Haha, if you put it that way, my results really aren't too bad," Ling Fei said, nodding. Seeing Yuan Chong's envious expression, he didn't have the heart to tell his senior brother that he had already succeeded in refining a Spirit Pill a month ago. If he did, it would probably make Yuan Chong question his entire existence.

"Junior Brother Ling, by the way, what do you think of that Lian Shuang?" Yuan Chong asked, turning his head as they flew.

"She's a genius," Ling Fei said.

"Is she pretty?" Yuan Chong asked with a grin.

"In our Lingyun Sect, I'm afraid few can compare to her." As Ling Fei's mind stirred, the image of the blue-haired girl couldn't help but surface in his thoughts.

Thinking about it now, there truly were few who could compare to Lian Shuang.

"Nonsense! 'Few in the Lingyun Sect can compare'? Lian Shuang would stand out as the most beautiful woman in the entire Southern Wilderness," Yuan Chong said.

Ling Fei chuckled. 'It seems this Senior Brother Yuan Chong is quite taken with Lian Shuang.'

"By the way, are you interested in her?" Yuan Chong asked.

"Well... I don't really know her that well," Ling Fei faltered.

"Then why did she make a special trip to the Falling Star Mountain Range to see you last time?" Yuan Chong asked, his face full of suspicion. "Did she confess her feelings to you in private?"

"Confess?" Ling Fei was stunned. "Senior Sister Lian Shuang has always been cold and reserved. How could she possibly confess to me?" Ling Fei found the idea baffling.

"She didn't?" Yuan Chong was extremely suspicious. 'Then that's strange. But why do I always get the feeling she pays special attention to you?'

'If she hasn't fallen for you, then why pay attention to you? Is it just because you're an Alchemy genius?'

'That must be it,' Yuan Chong mused to himself.

"Sigh, if only I had your talent. I could surely win the beauty's heart," he said, his face full of regret.

But for now, he could clearly do nothing but dream.

After all, an unparalleled beauty like her wasn't someone an ordinary person could be worthy of.

Ling Fei shook his head, not giving it much thought.

Because in his heart, there was already someone with whom he had sworn to live and die.

...

At this moment, on the summit of Lingyun Peak.

Here, there was a Martial Arts Arena large enough to hold tens of thousands of people.

Beside the Martial Arts Arena, giant trees towered, shrouded in mist and clouds.

At this moment, the Peak Masters of the Lingyun Sect's Seven Veins had all gathered on a main Observation Platform at the Martial Arts Arena.

Only Grand Alchemist Yuan Chun of the Medicine Vein was not present.

However, on the other Observation Platforms beside the Martial Arts Arena, there was no small number of people from the Medicine Vein.

The people of the Medicine Vein were devoted to Alchemy and rarely participated in such grand events.

But this time was different.

Because this competition featured a disciple of such stunning talent that she had captured everyone's attention.

This female disciple was, naturally, Lian Shuang.

At this time, directly in front of the Martial Arts Platform, below the steps of the high dais where the Elders were seated, there was another wide platform.

Seated here were the geniuses of the Lingyun Sect's new generation.

A blue-haired woman in a light blue dress was seated right in the center.

Around the arena, people's gazes would occasionally, and involuntarily, converge on this blue-haired woman.

This woman was, of course, Lian Shuang.

Those seated beside her were all disciples who ranked in the top fifty of their generation in the Lingyun Sect.

"Senior Sister Lian Shuang is so beautiful!"

"A true peerless beauty. It's a shame we can't get close to her."

On the nearby platforms, many people gazed at Lian Shuang with infatuation in their eyes, wishing they could be sitting with her to watch the matches.

"Look! He Tianming and Zhao Fan are about to settle their match!" Just then, an uproar erupted in the arena.

Then, all eyes turned and locked onto the Martial Arts Platform ahead.

At that moment, Zhao Fan, wielding a pair of Iron Hammers, was battling He Tianming.

He Tianming wielded a sword and cultivated the Mystical of the Blade.

Zhao Fan wielded his pair of hammers with astonishing power. He possessed the legendary Gravity Martial Soul, an innate Power passed down from his ancestors.

Such individuals were one in ten thousand even among Martial Arts Cultivators, possessing a unique and natural advantage.

"Gravity's Embrace, Hammers Shatter Mountains and Rivers!" On the Martial Arts Platform, Zhao Fan leaped into the air, bringing his twin Iron Hammers smashing down toward He Tianming.

A Light Pattern rippled across his body as an invisible force pressed down, causing the very Void to tremble.

Ahead, He Tianming's gaze hardened. He felt an immense pressure.

He had experienced the wonders of Zhao Fan's Gravity Martial Soul many times before.

'Junior Brother Zhao's Gravity Martial Soul Power has grown even stronger.' An astonishing amount of power also gathered in the longsword in He Tianming's hand.

SWISH!

With a focused gaze, he sent a slash from his sword soaring to meet the attack.

BANG!

The sword slashed out with incredible speed, striking twice in an instant, each slash meeting one of Zhao Fan's twin hammers.

BANG!

The sword light descended with the force of a rainbow, striking the giant hammers. The sight made the hearts of many Cultivators skip a beat.

He Tianming was known as the "Blade Maniac," and the power of his strike could shatter mountains and rivers. It was not something an ordinary person would dare to face head-on.

As the sword strike clashed with the Iron Hammers, a terrifying shockwave erupted in the Void, causing countless Cultivators to stare with wide eyes.

"What powerful momentum," Yuan Chong, who was flying toward them from a distance, said, his pupils shrinking. He wore a solemn expression as he looked at the competition platform ahead.

"After breaking through to the Celestial Pill Realm, they've both become much stronger than before." Ling Fei spread his Heart Spirit and deeply sensed the fluctuations of aura from the Martial Arts Platform. He was especially surprised by the Power erupting from Zhao Fan's body—it actually seemed to have the momentum to crush He Tianming.

He recalled that back when they went to the Dongze Ruins, Zhao Fan had been nowhere near as powerful as He Tianming.

BANG!

Just then, on the Martial Arts Platform, the sword light suddenly shattered. A Mystical Technique Pattern bloomed on the twin hammers, pressing straight down.

It was accompanied by a storm-like Power.

The people below saw He Tianming's sword light disintegrate as a vast shockwave swept out, like a torrent about to engulf him.

"He Tianming's sword light shattered!"

"Zhao Fan is actually this strong!" At once, the disciples on the Observation Platforms revealed expressions of surprise.

He Tianming was widely recognized as the second-strongest among the current generation of young disciples in the Lingyun Sect. Was Zhao Fan about to take his place?

"This Zhao Fan certainly has immense potential. If he has a few more years to cultivate and breaks through to the Nascent Soul realm, he might become a prominent figure." On the high dais, the Sect's Elders also gave Zhao Fan high praise, but they remained reserved about the outcome of the current match.

It seemed that in their eyes, Zhao Fan still had many shortcomings.

"He's really someone special, to come from behind like this," Yuan Chong said with a look of admiration.

"He is indeed impressive," Ling Fei nodded, then focused his Heart Spirit, carefully sensing the fluctuations on the Martial Arts Platform.

But after sensing for a moment, he furrowed his brow and muttered, "But Senior Brother He Tianming still has the strength to fight back."

WHOOSH!

Just as everyone was exclaiming over Zhao Fan's strength, He Tianming, who seemed to be at a disadvantage, spun like a top and instantly drifted behind Zhao Fan. His speed was so extreme that even the spectators couldn't react in time.

They only saw Zhao Fan's twin hammers, which were pressing the advantage, come crashing down and strike He Tianming's body.

However, the "He Tianming" that was struck was merely an afterimage he had left behind.

BANG!

The twin hammers hit the ground, landing solidly on the Martial Arts Platform. The entire mountain peak trembled as an astonishing shockwave rippled outward.

The aftershock sent shivers down the spines of the nearby Cultivators watching the match.

'A strike like that... if it landed, not even a Celestial Pill Realm Cultivator could withstand it!' many thought to themselves.

"Where's Senior Brother He?" Amid their surprise, the crowd was shocked to find that the He Tianming who had been hit had vanished.

It seemed that what was hit was just a shadow.

Zhao Fan realized it too. His expression changed, and he whipped his head around.

But just as he turned, a beam of sword light slashed down like a startling rainbow.

"Celestial Brilliance!" a low voice sounded from He Tianming's lips.

A Sword Rainbow slashed down, exploding like a brilliant rainbow. The moment it appeared, endless sword light rained down like countless sharp rays, accompanied by a vast, cascading Sword River.

In an instant, a terrifying Sword Intent engulfed Zhao Fan. Its power was countless times stronger than his previous two strikes.

Clearly, this was He Tianming's true Absolute Kill Strike. The sword light fell, pierced through the Void, and immediately shattered the Pill Essence around Zhao Fan.

Zhao Fan's gaze narrowed. Within his Dantian, a Light Pattern swirled and formed a Light Shield, enveloping him.

But the Light Shield was pierced by the sword light the moment it formed.

The next moment, the massive Sword Rainbow descended, violently tearing his defensive Light Shield apart bit by bit. A ferocious Sword Intent immediately surged in.

BOOM!

At that same moment, Zhao Fan swung his pair of Iron Hammers to meet He Tianming's descending Sword Rainbow head-on.

BANG!

The Iron Hammers swung out, and an invisible torrent of Power swept forth, crushing the endless sword light before finally colliding with the massive sword light.

This time, Zhao Fan's twin hammers trembled. The Mystical Technique Pattern on his Iron Hammers cracked, and a sharp Sword Intent, like a blade, took the opportunity to bear down on him.

THUD! THUD!

Zhao Fan's body shuddered, and he was forced back step by step.

But He Tianming's longsword descended, its Sword Qi sharp as needles and howling like a fierce wind, relentlessly ravaging Zhao Fan until he was powerless to resist.

BANG!

Finally, his arms trembled, and he was completely submerged by the Sword River. The Sword River swept over him, and its sharp Sword Qi landed directly on his body.