Chapter 114: Witness of the Era (11) |
In a grand era, countless smaller eras existed. Under the suppression of a single Emperor, the cultivation paths of all living beings grew ever more arduous—until that Emperor entered their twilight years.
During the decline of an Emperor—from their peak to their fall—there arose decay, dharma-ending ages, and fleeting revivals. Innumerable smaller eras produced innumerable invincible figures. Some chose to shatter their shackles and die without regret. Others, seeing no path forward, sealed themselves away to await the arrival of a new grand era.
Among the invincible, some were mighty, others merely strong.
Ji Xuanxiao had been born in a dharma-ending age when Saints no longer appeared and divine or sacred physiques were nearly extinct. He had battled and defeated every genius of his time, then sealed himself away as the undisputed invincible one—waiting for a new great era.
To Su Chen, Ji Xuanxiao seemed utterly laughable—like a frog at the bottom of a well, blind to the splendor of a true grand era.
Su Chen drew his sword. This single strike fused his martial dao will into a radiant sword beam unlike anything Ji Xuanxiao had ever witnessed.
The manic grin on the latter's face froze. One after another, the puppet-like figures—former prodigies defeated and soul-bound by Ji Xuanxiao—shattered like fragile porcelain.
In front of Su Chen, those once-era-defining souls were no different from cannon fodder.
"How is this possible? How can you be this strong?"
The name Wang Chen carried no weight in Central Continent—just another spoiled young master. The only reason anyone knew of him was because of his elder brother, the Young Emperor Wang Yunfei, the undisputed number one of Central Continent. Yet now this so-called spoiled brat made him feel the shadow of death!
For a moment, Ji Xuanxiao fell into deep self-doubt.
Unfortunately for him, Su Chen had no intention of giving him time to wallow in it. He had already given Ji Xuanxiao a chance. Ji Xuanxiao chose to become his enemy. Between enemies, there was only life and death.
Su Chen's killing intent rose steadily. Pure martial dao will manifested around him as countless white lightning bolts intertwined. The earth trembled and cracked. Countless shattered stones floated upward, then disintegrated into dust.
Ji Xuanxiao stared into Su Chen's eyes—now nothing but endless white—and for the first time, his invincible conviction wavered. He might actually die here!
Su Chen's figure flashed past in an instant. A casual strike carried power no weaker than a full-force saint-grade technique.
Ji Xuanxiao could only grit his teeth and meet it head-on. Possessing a divine physique and never having stepped into the realm of true Dao, he still wielded god-like might within his realm. His demonic body unfolded, unleashing an array of terrifying martial techniques capable of suppressing mountains and rivers.
Stolen novel; please report.
Their clash produced shockwaves that flattened ten thousand meters of hills and plains.
"Meow~"
Hu Miaomiao clung desperately to the white horse's back with both paws. The horse raised a protective barrier to withstand the terrifying aftershocks, inwardly grumbling: "Second Young Master is also a terrifying monster. Only at the sixth layer of Void Refining, yet he can probably fight Nirvana Venerables head-on… This ancient monster who blocked our path really picked the wrong person."
The violent fluctuations naturally drew the attention of everyone in the holy city. When they saw clearly who was fighting, shock rippled through the crowd.
"That's Ji Xuanxiao—one of the three invincible figures who recently emerged! He's actually being suppressed in battle. Who could possibly push Ji Xuanxiao to this extent?"
"Idiot, you don't even recognize the second young master of the Wang Clan? That's Wang Chen—Young Emperor Wang Yunfei's own younger brother!"
"It seems the rumors were true. Ji Xuanxiao emerged and went straight to the Emperor Palace seeking a fight with Wang Yunfei. Unable to meet him, he must have decided to target Wang Yunfei's little brother—hoping to use his life as leverage to force a battle."
"But… why is Ji Xuanxiao so weak? He's being completely suppressed. His defeat is only a matter of time."
"It's not that Ji Xuanxiao is weak… It's that Wang Chen is simply too strong. We all underestimated him. Every move he makes flows naturally, as though he has already stepped into the legendary realm of true Dao mastery. He is no weaker than those invincible figures of old. Ji Xuanxiao really kicked an iron plate this time!"
"…"
Under countless watchful eyes, Ji Xuanxiao roared in despair. One of his arms was severed by Su Chen in a single stroke. The profound iron throne beneath him shattered into fragments. Blood soaked his entire body. His hair hung in wild disarray.
In stark contrast, Su Chen appeared utterly calm and composed.
Every move Ji Xuanxiao made was riddled with openings in Su Chen's eyes. Even with the augmentation of his divine physique, Ji Xuanxiao could only desperately parry—unable to dodge, unable to counter. Without that innate divine body and its tough hide, he would have died long ago.
A divine physique… was not invincible.
"No… I was invincible in my era! I am the one destined to fight Wang Yunfei! I am meant to walk the path to becoming an Emperor! How could I die here?!"
Ji Xuanxiao's mind shattered. Watching the azure-robed figure approach step by step—tearing through his divine body—he had no remaining means of resistance.
"Invincible? You don't even have your own dao. Relying solely on a divine body, and you dare call yourself invincible?"
Su Chen's gaze was cold, yet it carried a trace of pity—as though he were looking at a pitiful creature. In his view, Ji Xuanxiao was perhaps a little stronger than Lei Tianxin… and that was all.
Compared to the Sacred Son of the Heavenly Sword Sacred Land or Ling Wuya of Heavenly Ruins Sacred Land, the word "invincible" attached to Ji Xuanxiao sounded utterly laughable. It was not glory—it was mockery. And compared to the brother he intended to challenge, it was even more absurd. Perhaps from the very beginning, none of the true pinnacle prodigies had ever taken Ji Xuanxiao seriously.
Su Chen swung his sword.
The blade severed Ji Xuanxiao's head. Sword qi annihilated his consciousness.
For Su Chen, defeating—or even killing—Ji Xuanxiao was nothing worth celebrating. Such a pitiful figure had never truly seen himself clearly. Even if he had been lucky enough to reach the Saint realm in this life, his path would have ended there.
Merely another casualty of a grand era. And he was far from the only one. Countless others—those who refused to see reality—shared the same fate.
A long time passed. Only after Su Chen rode away on his white horse, disappearing into the glow of the setting sun, did the people of the holy city finally recover from their daze.
"Wang Chen… killed Ji Xuanxiao… one of the three ancient invincible figures… just like that?"
"The Wang Clan doesn't just have Wang Yunfei… two supreme prodigies from one family—terrifying!"
"After today, the name Wang Chen will resound across the Central Continent. No longer merely ‘Wang Yunfei's younger brother'—but an unparalleled prodigy capable of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with, or even slaying, ancient monsters!"
"…"
Ten years later, Su Chen returned to the Wang Clan.
The entire clan was shaken. Their second young master had returned to Central Continent—and his very first act upon arrival was to slay an ancient monster!