Chapter 142

Chapter 142: Heavens Have Their Pillars, Lands Have Their Expanses, Only I Am Supreme

"Senior, how do you also have time to come out?"

Ao Bing asked in astonishment. In his memory, Ye Xu had only emerged once before; this was the second time.

"Can’t I come out for a stroll?"

Ye Xu’s single sentence left Ao Bing stammering, flushing awkwardly.

"Recently, the strange phenomena at Godfall Ridge are spreading. I need to go to Godfall Ridge and see," Ye Xu said lightly. "Moreover, many young cultivators from the Spirit Realm and the Mysterious Realm suddenly appeared in the Southern Wilderness area. It seems they’re here for the Hidden Dragon List. Haven’t you received any news?"

"Of course,"

Ao Bing declared solemnly. "I heard that several of the younger generation from the Taihao Heavenly Sect, all at saint level cultivation, are searching everywhere for geniuses listed on the Hidden Dragon List."

"A few days ago, one even came to the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace."

"However, as you know, Senior, my son’s cultivation is still weak, merely at the Complete God King realm. How would he dare to face such opponents?"

"They came to the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom as well."

Lian Jiuyou spoke up too.

"From my perspective, they surely intend to use the people on the list to test their skills, aiming finally for a battle against Nangong Zhandao."

"Interesting."

Ye Xu smiled. "Seems like the Red Dust Demon Sect will be bustling for a while."

"Senior, since you’re heading to Godfall Ridge, we won’t accompany you."

Taking their leave, Ao Bing departed alongside Lian Jiuyou.

Ye Xu flew towards Godfall Ridge.

Within a radius of a hundred thousand miles, Lan Youruo and Qin Changsheng had sealed the area with a barrier using their great magic. Starkly deserted, Ye Xu traversed various locations. Everywhere he passed where animals had once been, only skeletal remains littered the ground.

Clearly, the demon mist of evil spirits had already swept through.

Yet, they remained unable to break the barrier for now.

"This barrier won’t hold for long," Ye Xu murmured to himself.

At most a month, as the seal on Godfall Ridge weakened further and more powerful evil spirits escaped, they would inevitably corrupt the barrier and wreak havoc upon the Southern Wilderness.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, ripples distorted the space above Godfall Ridge as a tear appeared. A nimble figure leaped out: a youth clad in battle armor, powerfully built, with a gourd dangling at his waist.

Thick-browed and big-eyed, an aura of unruly wildness radiated from his brow.

"Vile phantoms, begone!"

Sensing living presence, a swirl of eerie demon mist swiftly drifted towards him. Calmly, the youth gripped a golden, gleaming command arrow and spat out four words.

Hum!

The golden command arrow erupted with divine light, instantly piercing through the demon mist. The golden light morphed into golden sacred flames, reducing the evil spirits to ashes amid agonizing shrieks.

"An Emperor Venerable’s magical treasures…"

A glint flickered in Ye Xu’s eyes. That golden command arrow was unmistakably the treasure of an Emperor Venerable. This youth, merely at saint level, possessed such an artifact, clearly marking an extraordinary origin.

"Stop you two!"

The young man dealt with the eerie magic mist, fixed his gaze firmly on Ye Xu and Ye Xian’er, moved in an instant, spanned thousands of miles, and appeared right before them.

He put away the golden arrow, glanced arrogantly at Ye Xu and Ye Xian’er.

"Are you natives of the Southern Wilderness?"

The young man’s tone overflowed with arrogance and pride, carrying a distinctly domineering attitude.

"You’re the native—your whole family are natives!"

Ye Xian’er flushed with anger and snapped back.

"Little girl!"

The young man looked astonished; how dare a girl at the Dao Palace stage talk back to him?

"If it weren’t for my generosity, I’d have slapped your head off."

The young man didn’t bother arguing more with Ye Xian’er.

"Kid, do you know where Nangong Zhandao is?"

He faced Ye Xu, bringing up Nangong Zhandao right away.

"Nangong Zhandao?"

Ye Xu widened his eyes, pretending to be shocked, and said, "That’s the top genius on the Hidden Dragon List, elusive like a phantom. What do you want with him?"

"To challenge him, of course!"

The young man snorted in disdain, brimming with confidence. "Once I find him, the number one spot on the Hidden Dragon List will be mine."

"Boasting."

Ye Xian’er said disdainfully, "So young, yet so full of hot air."

"Brother, are you from Godfall Ridge?" Ye Xu smiled as if he’d deciphered the young man’s origins. "Nangong Zhandao isn’t an opponent to take lightly."

"I’ll tell you this: the heavens have four poles, and the earth has eight wastelands—but only I reign supreme!"

The young man raised his head high, looking utterly conceited.

"Haha!"

Ye Xian’er couldn’t help but laugh. "You sure know how to spin a tale!"

Ye Xu chuckled faintly, realizing this was just an immature adolescent fooling around.

"Little girl, I’ve held my patience long enough." The young man said angrily.

"Brother, aren’t you here to challenge Nangong Zhandao? I know his location—I can guide you there." Ye Xu hurriedly spoke up, trying to smooth things over.

This youth before them was a Saint-level cultivator, hailed from Godfall Ridge, and practiced the Four Poles and Eight Wastelands Scripture. He must be Qi Wuhen, third on the Hidden Dragon List.

Around that period, Nangong Zhandao was making a breakthrough, and other talents on the Hidden Dragon List were also advancing significantly.

Especially since the revival of spiritual energy, the rules of the Yuan Realm were awakening, bringing rich gains for every cultivator.

"We’ll head out immediately."

The young man calmed slightly and folded his arms across his chest.

He exerted his magic power, untied the wine gourd at his waist. The gourd grew upon the wind and transformed into a huge gourd. "Your strength is too weak, moving is too slow. Get on quickly, don’t waste my time."

"That’s the best."

Ye Xu and Ye Xian’er jumped onto the gourd.

The whole way, Ye Xian’er stifled her laughter and occasionally teased the youth with words.

If the youth knew Ye Xu’s identity, what expression would he show?

Ye Xian’er looked forward to it very much.

The gourd traveled over mountains and rivers. After two incense sticks, it flew hundreds of thousands of li and arrived at the Red Dust Demon Sect.

At the mountain gate of the Red Dust Demon Sect, crowds bustled as many young cultivators gathered. Clearly, it was the younger generation coming to challenge Nangong Zhandao.

Though not many people, the weakest ones were all masters at God King level. Placed anywhere in the Yuan Realm, they would be geniuses among geniuses.

At that moment, many geniuses came together solely for Nangong Zhandao.

After all, Nangong Zhandao was too prominent, and many wanted to use him as a stepping stone to achieve the fame of a peerless prodigy.

"Brother, this is the Red Dust Demon Sect," Ye Xu pointed to the Red Dust Demon Sect and said, "That group of people has the same purpose as you: they’re all here for Nangong Zhandao, but likely haven’t met the real man yet."

Just then, the Saint Son of the Red Dust Demon Sect, Li Ruofeng, walked out of the sect.

"Senior brothers, senior sisters, Brother Nangong asked me to pass a message to you," Li Ruofeng’s palms were all sweaty, extremely nervous.

"Go ahead."

"We’ve waited seven days. Why hasn’t Nangong Zhandao come out? Is he afraid of us?"

"Tell Nangong Zhandao to come out!"

The crowd spoke their minds, and the scene turned chaotic.

"Everyone, please listen to me," Li Ruofeng’s forehead was covered in sweat, he said nervously, "Brother Nangong said, your strength is too weak, not one of you is worth him drawing his blade."

"He fears his blade is too fast, and you senior brothers can’t catch it, only to lose your lives for nothing."

Whoosh!

As these words were spoken, the gathered young elites were all stirred up.

"Nangong Zhandao is too insolent! Treating us like we’re nothing!"

"Dear friends, why not storm the Red Dust Demon Sect and force Nangong Zhandao to make a move?" a young saint suggested.

"Cough, cough…" a woman with a lovely appearance looked awkward, "Brother Luo, the Red Dust Demon Sect has two top quasi-­emperors guarding it. I fear we’d enter alive but not come out alive."

That Brother Luo froze in expression, extremely embarrassed.

"I was too hasty…"

Brother Luo looked chagrined.

Li Ruofeng shrank his neck, his face ashen.

He also thought Nangong Zhandao was far too arrogant.

Even if you refused to fight, there was no need to humiliate people like that. Now with everyone furious, the situation was spiraling further out of control.

It was simply adding fuel to the flame.

"Senior, where did that arrogant guy go?"

Above the void, the gourd floated motionless. Ye Xian’er looked up, but the youth had long since vanished.

"Below."

Ye Xu watched with keen interest.

Boom!

Suddenly.

A beam of golden divine light descended from the heavens. It was a divine spear, radiating a fearsome divine might and an aura of overwhelming dominance. It clanged thunderously as it slammed into the ground before the gates of the Red Dust Demon Sect.

The next second, the youth landed on its haft, his expression fiercely proud as he surveyed the crowd disdainfully.

"Four Poles hold up the heavens, Eight Wastes define the earth; Yet among them all, I am the strongest."

He crossed his arms, sneering down at everyone.

"Here, only your granddaddy here is worthy to challenge Nangong Zhandao."

"If any of you lot want to challenge Nangong Zhandao, you’ll have to ask my divine spear first!"

The youth exuded an aura of sheer, teenage bravado and immaturity that overshadowed everyone present.

"Another arrogant fool!"

Brother Luo was so angry he laughed. Nangong Zhandao, at least, held the top spot on the Hidden Dragon List and had the backing to speak like that. Who was this youth in front of them?

"Kid, who the hell do you think you are?"

A young man at the Complete God King realm sneered.

"I am who I am."

The youth replied coldly, his gaze detached.

Ye Xu snorted a laugh, half afraid the youth would follow up with, ‘a unique spark in the darkness’.

Truly, the Hidden Dragon List gathered all sorts of… ‘talents’.

"Seems like a nobody."

Brother Luo said scornfully.

"Brother, let me handle this."

The Complete God King realm cultivator gave a harsh laugh. "We traversed countless miles to come here just to see what geniuses the Yuan Realm holds!"

"This lout boasts loudly but his strength is ordinary,” Brother Luo dismissed. “For you to act would be beneath you. Better to leave him be."

"Fine."

Brother Luo nodded. "Do not bring shame upon the Taihao Heavenly Sect."

These few were clearly the young geniuses of the Taihao Heavenly Sect.

"Brat," declared Yue Changqing with a sweep of his sleeve as a divine axe materialized in his hand, "I am Yue Changqing, a true disciple of the Taihao Heavenly Sect. State your name. I do not kill nameless nobodies."

"Heh heh…"

The youth laughed. "You’re unworthy of knowing this grandpa’s name."

"Since that’s the case," Yue Changqing spat, fury coloring his face, "then become a fallen soul beneath my axe!"

His magical power surged as he swung the axe toward the youth.

Boom!

The heavens underwent a great change. Divine Thunder roared, converging onto the divine axe. Yue Changqing’s figure vanished instantly, disappearing without a trace.

KABOOM!

A breath later, he suddenly emerged behind the youth amidst tumultuous lightning, aiming to sever the youth’s head with a single strike.

"A petty trick, and you dare show it off before this grandpa?"

The youth remained utterly motionless.

THUD!

Yue Changqing’s axe struck the youth’s skull as if hitting divine gold or divine iron. Even the crashing lightning couldn’t jostle the youth the slightest bit.

"Junior Brother Yue, retreat! You’re no match for him!"

Brother Luo’s expression changed drastically.

"Too late."

The youth’s body jolted. Raising his hand, he slammed his palm onto Yue Changqing’s crown.

Crack!

The crown shattered. Yue Changqing’s primordial spirit fragmented, his soul scattering to the winds. In that fleeting instant, he was instantly annihilated, denied even a chance to retaliate. Moreover, from start to finish, the youth hadn’t revealed the slightest trace of his divine abilities.

Everyone’s faces registered profound shock. At this moment, no one dared look down on this quirky youth any longer.

Witnessing this, Ye Xian’er’s small mouth opened slightly, her astonishment profound. "He… wasn’t bragging…"

Ye Xu chuckled. "Of course he wasn’t. Qi Wuhen may be eccentric, but he’s no braggart. He has an accurate assessment of his own strength. Without true capabilities, would he dare challenge Nangong Zhandao?"

"Qi Wuhen…" Ye Xian’er murmured the youth’s name, a flicker of recognition dawning. "He’s third on the Hidden Dragon List!"

She finally recalled Qi Wuhen’s origins. Ranked third on the Hidden Dragon List — a monstrous genius second only to Nangong Zhandao and Meng Feixian.

"Anyone else want to give it try?"

Qi Wuhen looked utterly serene after palm-striking Yue Changqing to death, as if he’d merely swatted an insignificant fly. The crowd fell silent. Moments earlier, Yue Changqing at the Complete God King realm had attacked. Yet Qi Wuhen, unmoving and without employing divine abilities or any sacred artifact, had annihilated him instantly. His strength was terrifyingly formidable. This was a serious adversary. Brother Luo’s expression darkened. Even if he were a fool, he now understood: Qi Wuhen possessed Sage cultivation, but had concealed his true power. Pitiful Yue Changqing, sacrificing his life needlessly.

"If no one dares accept the challenge?" Qi Wuhen proclaimed, resuming his characteristic arrogance without a shred of face offered, "then all of you get the hell out! Don’t hinder this grandpa’s battle with Nangong Zhandao!"