Chapter 61
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Chapter 61: Warm Invitation
Boom!
A wild aura erupted, and roars of dragons and elephants echoed over Linglong City. Chen Longxiang changed, as if transforming from a simple youth into a primeval beast.
His clothes tore apart, muscles bulging. A divine dragon seemed coiled upon his body. Chen Longxiang’s fighting spirit blazed as he stared at Zhu Wuque and said, "Senior Brother Zhu, let’s begin."
Zhu Wuque’s gaze narrowed slightly, and he chuckled lightly.
If he recalled correctly, Chen Longxiang was ranked forty-first on the Talents List.
Chen Longxiang was a rogue cultivator who had received the inheritance of a great sage in his youth and cultivated the Chaos Dragon-Elephant Sutra. His physical body was extremely powerful, and his mana was immensely profound.
Compared to him, Lu Shaojun paled in comparison.
Those on the Talents List had the same cultivation level but differed in strength.
However, Chen Longxiang’s strength was such that even Zhu Wuque had to treat it cautiously.
"Dragon-Elephant Suppress the Prison Force!"
Chen Longxiang roared and charged towards Zhu Wuque. Above the void manifested a dragon and an elephant, crying out in unison. A terrifying divine power crushed the void, as if two supreme beings were about to suppress Hell.
Boom!
Tremendous divine power pressed downward, and Zhu Wuque’s expression changed slightly.
"Burning Sky Seal!"
Zhu Wuque formed a seal with one hand, his red hair blazing like flames. He struck out with one palm, turning the world into a sea of fire that melted the void and instantly enveloped Chen Longxiang.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The dragon and elephant rushed into the sea of fire, instantly set ablaze, but still charged forward relentlessly.
Boom!
Chen Longxiang charged into the sea of fire. The dragon and elephant transformed into two streams of essence and merged into his body. Unfazed by the flames scorching him, he raised his fist and smashed towards Zhu Wuque.
At that moment, the profundity of the Chaos Dragon-Elephant Sutra erupted, condensing all his power into this punch.
The punch smashed out, parting the sea of fire.
Ning Xuan said lightly with a smile, "That guy is formidable. Even I would need to use sixty percent of my strength to beat him."
Lu Shaojun was just at the bottom, and killing him would be effortless.
But Chen Longxiang was undoubtedly a master.
Ji Ning said lightly, "The technique he cultivates is extremely extraordinary, focusing primarily on the physical body while also balancing mana. Ranked forty-first on the Talents List is well-deserved."
Ji Mingyue, with her quiet and elegant aura, quietly watched the battle between the two.
"Well met!"
Zhu Wuque laughed heartily. As a member of the ancient divine clans, which were renowned for their physical bodies, he harbored no fear in competing with Chen Longxiang in physical strength.
Boom!
Zhu Wuque’s body shook slightly, and immense vital essence soared skywards, condensed like beacon smoke without dissipating.
His five fingers clenched into a fist, bones cracking, as he met Chen Longxiang’s challenge.
Bang!
Their fists collided, causing a violent tremor in the void. Fragments of space shattered and crumbled, and the entire arena vibrated and cracked, revealing fine fissures.
The City Lord of Linglong watched with a mix of fear and awe. This arena was forged from the finest materials in his treasury—even a Heavenly God would struggle to destroy it. Yet with just one exchange between Chen Longxiang and Zhu Wuque, the arena already showed signs of collapse. How utterly absurd!
“Are these the monsters on the Talents List?” murmured the City Lord of Linglong, convinced the title ‘Heavenly Pride’ was well-deserved. Though only at the Divine Catastrophe stage, their power rivaled that of Heavenly Gods.
Zhao Cheng was drenched in cold sweat.
The cultivators below the stage were beside themselves with excitement. Witnessing two talents battle was pure ecstasy. Every spectator was utterly absorbed, unwilling to miss a single detail.
On the viewing platform, the Saint King of the Zhu Rong Divine Clan slightly furrowed his brow. Chen Longxiang’s physical strength surpassed Zhu Wuque’s. In pure bodily might, Zhu Wuque had already lost. However, the Talents List rankings assessed overall ability, not just physique.
"The senior’s ranking could not be wrong," Ji Zhe remarked with a faint smile, seeming to soothe the Zhu Rong Saint King. "Zhu Wuque will undoubtedly win."
Today’s battle was merely to prove the authenticity of the Talents List. Had they not met Ye Xu before, doubts might have lingered. But after stepping out of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, Ye Xu’s words became truth—undeniable law.
The Zhu Rong Saint King remained silent.
“How would my strength compare to theirs?” Ye Xu wondered inwardly. He had established his Celestial Court and cultivated an immortal Qi seed, constantly absorbing immortal spirit energy. His cultivation level was also at the Divine Catastrophe stage. By all logic, he should be number one on the Talents List.
Of course, Ye Xu could never appear on the Talents List. After all, as someone omniscient and omnipotent, how could he possibly rank alongside mere juniors? Ye Xu sighed inwardly.
The fierce battle on the arena stirred his own fighting spirit. Were it not for his identity as master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, he would have loved to join them. Though he was the Pavilion master, combining both lifetimes, he was barely forty years old—a junior compared to Ji Ning and others. This was the bold, unstoppable vigor of youth!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
On the stage, the two fighters refrained from using divine abilities, relying solely on physical prowess. They traded furious blows at blinding speed—punch after punch landed squarely. The air shimmered with countless afterimages.
As time passed, Zhu Wuque clearly lost ground. Physical strength was Chen Longxiang’s forte. Even as a scion of an ancient divine clan, Zhu Wuque had to admit his inferiority here.
“Chen Longxiang, I concede defeat in raw strength,” Zhu Wuque declared, reining in his vital Qi. “But my fourth rank doesn’t rest on physique alone. Now, witness my true power!”
Boom!
At Zhu Wuque’s thought, a Dao Palace manifested. Zhu Rong Divine Fire blazed out, engulfing the entire arena. The structure began melting, slowly but inevitably.
The Ancestor of the Zhu Rong Divine Clan was indeed an Innate Divine Being, born from the very first heavenly fire. Hence, those of Zhu Rong lineage naturally possessed the ability to command fire.
Flame was the very foundation for the Zhu Rong Divine Clan.
Across all realms, few could surpass the Zhu Rong Divine Clan in the mastery of fire art.
"Incinerate mountains and boil seas!"
Zhu Wuqing channeled his magic power, unleashing the Dao Palace’s full might. Divine Fire erupted like a volcano, descending like an overwhelming tide, swallowing the heavens and earth, melting everything.
Chen Longxiang’s countenance underwent a great change.
"Heavenly laws manifesting earth!"
Chen Longxiang manifested his true form, his body swelling to a hundred zhang tall. Bathed within the fiery sea, his massive hand swept out, blotting out the sky as it struck towards Zhu Wuque.
Whoosh!
As his palm moved, surges of chaotic energy gushed forth, smothering the Zhu Rong Divine Fire.
Boom!
Yet at that moment, Zhu Wuqing produced a divine seal. He stood like a Fire God Emperor, commanding the divine flames. Strands of Zhu Rong Divine Fire shot towards Chen Longxiang like majestic dragons.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Enormous, searing fire dragons slammed into Chen Longxiang’s body. His chaotic energy shattered, and his entire form ignited with Zhu Rong Divine Fire.
"I yield!"
With Chen Longxiang’s voice announcing defeat, the battle concluded.
Chen Longxiang stirred his magic power. Chaotic energy circulated, extinguishing the divine flames. His body was charred black all over, emitting the scent of roasted meat, yet he remained utterly composed.
"Senior Brother Zhu, can you tell me of your origins?" Chen Longxiang inquired.
Few in the Southern Wilderness could manipulate fire art with such flawless mastery.
"You shall learn in due time."
Zhu Wuqing smiled faintly. "This journey has been well worthwhile."
"I claim you as a friend."
Chen Longxiang grinned broadly, revealing teeth that were startlingly white against his charred visage.
"Next, who shall step onto the stage?"
As Zhu Wuqing and Chen Longxiang descended from the arena, all eyes shifted to Ji Ning, Ji Mingyue, and the respective geniuses of the Tian Wu divine clan and the Lu Wu divine clan.
As for Li Ruofeng, he was completely ignored.
Li Ruofeng could only offer a bitter smile.
Though his name was indeed on the Talents List, he truly lacked the qualifications to ascend the arena.
At this moment.
Ji Ning, who had been standing with his arms folded around his sword, walked onto the platform. He swept his gaze across the assembly.
"I know," he stated. "You are all deeply dissatisfied that I hold the position of number one on the Talents List."
"Isn’t it a fight with me that you seek?"
"Come on?"
Whoosh!
"Isn’t he afraid of being worn down by successive challenges?"
"So this is the confidence of the number one on the Talents List!"
"What exactly is Ji Ning’s background? Why have I never heard of him before?"
The cultivators chattered and discussed fervently.
"He really is as arrogant as ever," Ning Xuan smirked. Ji Ning had acted this way back in Godfall Ridge too, yet his strength was undeniably formidable.
"Zhu Wuque, didn’t you want to challenge him and take his first place?"
Zhu Wuque shot him a cold glance. "Ning Xuan, stop using me as a tool. If you want to challenge him, you go first yourself. Do you think I don’t see through your little scheme?"
The talented youths from the various ancient divine clans each schemed secretly.
Back at Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, several had boasted of challenging Ji Ning, but now that the moment arrived, no one dared to make the first move.
As everyone debated, a figure rose from the viewing platform and walked towards Ye Xu’s position.
It was the man in black from the True Martial God Sect, the junior brother of the Ziwei Saint — Saint Ziyang.
Ye Xu sensed his approach and looked towards Saint Ziyang.
"Master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion," Saint Ziyang stared intently at Ye Xu, as if trying to discern some secret from his expression.
"It is I," Ye Xu replied.
Ji Zhe, Ao Lie, and others fixed their gazes on Saint Ziyang.
After a few breaths, Saint Ziyang finally spoke slowly, "Recently, I heard a rumor. Was it you who revealed the location of my senior brother’s final resting place?"
Ye Xu’s heart skipped a beat.
Thinking back carefully, only the Ziwei Saint fit the information Saint Ziyang hinted at.
So, they were people from the True Martial God Sect…
"That’s correct," Ye Xu said with a light smile. "Someone came to buy the information; naturally, I conducted business with him."
"Moreover, I profited, the buyer gained an opportunity; a mutually beneficial situation. Why not facilitate it?"
Saint Ziyang narrowed his eyes, watching Ye Xu like a venomous snake.
He seemed deeply displeased that Ye Xu had disclosed the location of the Ziwei Saint’s cave.
"Do you wish to settle accounts with me?" Ye Xu asked, smiling meaningfully without smiling, though inwardly he panicked.
He was merely a cultivator at the Divine Catastrophe stage now. If Saint Ziyang truly intended to act, Ye Xu would have no means to resist, and the revered persona he had cultivated would shatter instantly.
At that point, he would become a target to devour, vulnerable to being carved up by everyone.
The atmosphere grew tense.
The various saints watched the two, their expressions complex.
"I wouldn’t dare," Saint Ziyang gave a thin smile. "The Master’s action allowed my senior brother Ziwei to see the light of day again. One could call it… a favor."
He continued, "I’ve heard the Master possesses the ability to see through people’s thoughts. I wonder, Master, do you know what I’m thinking right now?"
Ye Xu rested his chin on one hand, leaning lightly on the armrest. "Your heart is too corrupt," he said lightly. "If I saw it, it would only dirty my eyes."
"Hmph!" A flash of anger crossed Saint Ziyang’s eyes. He stated coldly, "To be frank, I am here under the sect master’s orders to invite the Master to come to Central Province."
"And if I decline," Ye Xu asked, still smiling, "does that mean you’ll resort to force?"
"Hahaha…"
Saint Ziyang laughed loudly. "The True Martial God Sect is a major power in Central Province. Since the sect master extends this invitation so cordially, I doubt anyone would dare refuse it."
So this was their "cordial invitation"!
Everyone present disagreed inwardly.
"Master," Saint Ziyang’s voice dropped to a whisper. "I’ve said all the pleasantries. Give me a straight answer. If you choose to decline… then don’t blame me for acting."
"In that case, it will inevitably… damage the pleasantries between us."
