Chapter 113: Witness of the Era (10) |
The disciples and elders of Heavenly Ruins Sacred Land all noticed the scene.
"What terrifying auras… this is probably the strongest Void Refining breakthrough momentum our Heavenly Ruins Sacred Land has seen in ten thousand years!"
Su Chen and Ling Wuya had simultaneously polished their paths to perfection and broken through to the Void Refining realm.
Yet it did not stop there. Their auras continued surging wildly. Su Chen's cultivation soared all the way to the fifth layer of Void Refining, constructing five layers of cave heavens. Given another ten years, he would surely achieve Nirvana Venerable status and catch up to Wang Yunfei's generation.
Su Chen gazed at the myriad phenomena manifesting around Ling Wuya—a divine palace appeared, within which countless illusory figures emerged. Some wielded spears, some blades, some swords, some axes… others fought bare-handed. Every single one of those divine shadows brimmed with unparalleled intent.
The Heavenly Ruins Divine Physique was truly blessed by the heavens.
Ling Wuya's aura did not halt at the fifth layer of Void Refining. Having sealed himself away for tens of thousands of years, all that accumulated energy now transformed into cultivation. With Su Chen's mutual verification refining his path even further, he surged straight into the Nirvana realm in one breath!
After a long moment, Ling Wuya opened his eyes. His aura gradually steadied. A look of pure delight crossed his face.
"I never imagined there would be a fellow Dao friend walking the same path as me. For tens of thousands of years, countless teachers and seniors advised me against it—fusing myriad laws, refining the heavens, something impossible for mortal power. Yet I firmly believed this was the true invincible Dao!"
Fuse myriad laws. Refine the heavens. Stand supreme alone. All paths under the skies become nourishment. This was the ultimate supreme road—and the very path Su Chen intended to walk across lifetime after lifetime. With the cheat of endless reincarnation, he possessed thousands, tens of thousands, countless years to perfect it.
But… Ling Wuya had only one life! Even a Great Saint lived no more than ten thousand years. A Quasi-Emperor, perhaps thirty thousand. The legendary supreme Emperors who suppressed the world endured only a hundred thousand.
To fuse myriad laws, refine all heavenly paths, and become the strongest body—how difficult was that? Especially in such a grand era.
Su Chen respected Ling Wuya's choice. He would never deny his own path. To have a companion walking the same road—what greater fortune could there be? Even if their destined end was that only one could survive, on the path to becoming an Emperor, between those of the same dao, there was no higher or lower—only life and death.
"To hear the dao in the morning and die content in the evening—perhaps it is no more than this."
Su Chen sighed with genuine emotion.
Ling Wuya fell into thought for a moment before speaking.
"The Emperor Palace of Central Continent has already sent an invitation. In the near future, the Young Emperor Wang Yunfei will hold his grand wedding. He has issued challenges to prodigies across all five domains—the strongest shall match the most beautiful."
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Su Chen spread his hands helplessly.
"That has always been his personality—challenging every monster across the five domains to forge his invincible path. I'm sure Brother Wuya will not miss such a spectacular battle."
Ling Wuya nodded, his tone brimming with confidence.
"Of course. I emerged from seclusion precisely to see who among the monsters of this grand era can stand above the rest. How dull would such a prosperous age be without me? Wang Yunfei wishes to use the heroes of the world as his stepping stones. I, too, wish to see just how much weight this so-called number one of the era—the one called Young Emperor—truly carries!"
Seeing Ling Wuya's unshakable confidence, Su Chen nodded seriously.
Ling Wuya's eyes lit up.
"Does Brother Wang also believe I can defeat your elder brother?"
Su Chen: "…"
He shook his head.
"I don't know how strong my brother truly is. He has never lost to any enemy—never even taken them seriously."
Ling Wuya showed no disappointment. Instead, Su Chen's words ignited his competitive fire.
"Then it is only because he has not yet met me. If he does, I will make Wang Yunfei taste the flavor of defeat."
Su Chen felt a strange sensation hearing Ling Wuya speak of defeating his own elder brother in this life. By reason and emotion, he ought to stand with Wang Yunfei.
After breaking through in cultivation, Su Chen did not linger in Heavenly Ruins Sacred Land. Accompanied by Hu Miaomiao and the white horse, he departed amid the reluctant farewells and pleas of the many disciples who had come to revere him.
He returned to Central Continent.
The Central Continent had changed over the past ten years. Three invincible figures from a previous era had emerged into the world, each proclaiming their intent to challenge Wang Yunfei.
The prodigy rankings had become a battlefield of dragons and tigers. The top ten were without exception bearers of legendary divine or sacred physiques—true prodigies of a grand era, falling like rain.
"You are Wang Chen?"
On the road back to the Wang Clan, Su Chen was intercepted.
A demonically handsome young man sat high upon a throne forged of profound iron, gazing down at Su Chen with faint indifference.
"Who are you?"
Su Chen looked at the youth blocking his path. The visitor clearly came with ill intent.
The youth's expression remained calm.
"It seems you truly are Wang Yunfei's younger brother, Wang Chen. The intelligence from the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion was accurate. Normally, a minor figure like you would not be worth my time… but you have an excellent elder brother. So I will be merciful and tell you my name—I am Ji Xuanxiao!"
Ji Xuanxiao.
Su Chen was mildly surprised. This was one of the three invincible figures from a previous era who had recently reappeared in this age—and now he had come looking for trouble.
Ji Xuanxiao's expression twisted with manic excitement as he continued.
"I want to be the first to challenge Wang Yunfei. I will not allow him to fall at anyone else's hands—he can only be defeated by me! You are his younger brother. If your life is in my hands, he will surely fight me!"
Su Chen shook his head.
"If that is your reason, then this battle is utterly meaningless. Even if I die, Wang Yunfei will not appear because of it."
He understood Wang Yunfei's character all too well. To a man so supremely domineering, even if Su Chen were his only blood sibling and died at an enemy's hand, Wang Yunfei would not seek revenge—he would simply sneer and call him trash. So this fight held no purpose.
Ji Xuanxiao's expression cooled slightly.
"So you are completely useless? In that case… You can die now!"
Su Chen remained calm. He shook his head again and spoke softly.
"If you are so eager to die, you don't actually need to seek out Wang Yunfei."
Ji Xuanxiao blinked.
"What do you mean by that?"
Su Chen drew the Dustreturn Sword at his waist. His tone stayed even, yet it carried the edge of ten thousand blades piercing the heart—sharp and unrestrained.
"If you wish to die, I can be merciful and send you on your way."
Ji Xuanxiao stared in disbelief. Then he threw his head back and laughed wildly.
"You? With what? How amusing—truly amusing! Though you cannot force Wang Yunfei to fight me, I can still forgive you. You are far too entertaining. You say you will make me die? Hahahahaha—you think you can make me die?"
Ji Xuanxiao's body suddenly expanded, growing towering and demonic, like a fiend descending upon the mortal world.
"Someone as interesting as you… it would be a pity if you did not become my puppet!"
His voice thundered with madness.