Devouring Soul Emperor

It turned out that Huo Yuchen and his group of nine were all from the Dark Moon Dynasty, here to participate in the sect recruitment assessment.

The Dark Moon Dynasty wasn’t like the Great Xia Dynasty, which ranked very low. While not one of the Ten Great Dynasties, it was one of the few powerful dynasties just beneath them.

Moreover, the Dark Moon Dynasty had even produced a super-genius this time: the Fourth Prince. At only twenty years old, he had already cultivated to a Seventh-level Martial Spirit and become a Celestial Spirit Realm powerhouse.

And Huo Yuchen’s group had lingered in Black Blood City for an extra half-month precisely to avoid his genius of a fourth brother. Unexpectedly, they ran into the Ninth Prince and Princess Qingyou’s group instead.

As for the reason behind their feud, it could only be described as bizarre.

It was because both men were ranked ninth in their respective dynasties, making them both Ninth Princes, and both of their names contained the word "Chen."

So, that Huo Yuchen had taken a disliking to Yu Chen, and after repeated provocations, a conflict erupted.

Before Chu Qingyun arrived, Yu Chen had already sent out several of his subordinates. However, despite also being Fifth-level Martial Spirits, none of them were a match for the Fifth-level Martial Spirits from the Dark Moon Dynasty.

After listening to Princess Qingyou’s explanation, Chu Qingyun understood why Huo Yuchen kept emphasizing "Ninth Prince" over and over, and why Yu Chen had been so furious.

"Chu Qingyun, aren’t they just childish? We’re in a place like the Blood-soaked Land, and they’re causing such a huge scene over something so trivial."

Princess Qingyou said, somewhat annoyed.

However, Chu Qingyun glanced quickly at the Ninth Prince of the Dark Moon Dynasty and sneered inwardly.

’Childish?’

’A genius who grew up in a complex place like a royal family, managed to become a Sixth-level Martial Spirit, and came to participate in the sect assessment.’

’Someone like that would be childish?’

’The fact that Princess Qingyou thinks this way only proves that compared to Huo Yuchen, she’s the truly childish one!’

’Both are Ninth Princes, and both have "Chen" in their names, so they must come to blows?’

’Impossible. It’s just an excuse. Huo Yuchen’s goal was simply to make a move against Yu Chen, Princess Qingyou, and their group.’

’Faced with the stronger Fourth Prince of the Dark Moon Dynasty, Huo Yuchen chose to lie low and avoid him, even at the cost of delaying his journey for half a month.’

’But when faced with the weaker group from the Great Xia Dynasty, he actively provoked a conflict to kill Yu Chen and Princess Qingyou, plunder their cultivation resources, and strengthen his own side.’

’In Chu Qingyun’s view, this Ninth Prince of the Dark Moon Dynasty was not only far from childish, but actually very shrewd. He had already adapted quickly to the rules of the Blood-soaked Land.’

’Compared to him, never mind Princess Qingyou, even Yu Chen was probably a cut below.’

While Princess Qingyou was explaining, the Ninth Prince, Yu Chen, had already been forced completely onto the defensive.

Yu Chen’s strength wasn’t much greater than Yin Feiyang’s. Moreover, his Claw Technique hadn’t even reached the Realm of "Qi"; he was relying entirely on a powerful Secret Technique to hold on.

Red Clothes, however, was quite strong. Her Sword Technique was superb, and her Secret Technique seemed to be no weaker than the Ninth Prince’s.

Soon, Red Clothes found an opening and struck Yu Chen’s chest with a Palm Seal, sending him flying backward, spitting blood as he hit the ground.

Seeing that even Yu Chen had been defeated, the faces of everyone from the Great Xia Dynasty were filled with despair.

Their strongest Ninth Prince had lost. It seemed they had no hope left.

At that moment, Red Clothes turned her attention to Chu Qingyun. With a sweet smile, she said, "My good sir, it’s your turn. I hope you’re not as useless as your Ninth Prince, hm?"

It was obvious she had realized that her own Ninth Prince had taken an interest in something Chu Qingyun possessed.

"Can we not fight?" Chu Qingyun asked, sounding rather helpless.

In a place like the Blood-soaked Land, Chu Qingyun really didn’t want to stir up extra trouble, especially not over Yu Chen and Princess Qingyou.

Red Clothes was taken aback, not expecting Chu Qingyun to say something like that.

"Hehe, of course we don’t have to fight," Red Clothes said with a laugh. "Just hand over everything our Ninth Prince is interested in. I can even put in a good word with His Highness for you and let you join the sect with us."

Chu Qingyun sighed softly and stepped forward. "Please, go ahead."

He knew this battle was unavoidable. If he tried to force his way out, he might provoke an attack from the Dark Moon Dynasty’s group, or even the surrounding onlookers, which would be even more troublesome.

The people in the Blood-soaked Land were no saints.

"Hehe, you’ll go easy on little old me, won’t you, sir?"

"Vortex Spirit Sword!"

As she spoke, Red Clothes thrust her sword toward Chu Qingyun.

Red Clothes had witnessed Chu Qingyun’s prowess earlier, seeing him heavily injure a fairly strong Fifth-level Martial Spirit with a single palm strike. So, she didn’t dare to be careless now. She immediately used her strongest move, imbuing her attack with her Secret Technique and the power of a Fifth-level Martial Spirit as she slashed directly at Chu Qingyun.

As the sword thrust out, a powerful Sword Momentum gathered at its tip, forming something like a vortex. The surrounding air seemed to be continuously sucked into it.

Chu Qingyun could even faintly feel that Sucking Power affecting the Primordial Power within his meridians.

’What a formidable Sword Technique! It can actually affect the Primordial Power inside my body. This must be a King-rank Sword Technique!’

Chu Qingyun’s expression was calm; he could see how formidable this Sword Technique was.

However, the disturbance to the Primordial Power in his meridians didn’t affect his state of mind. With his insight and understanding of the way of the sword, he quickly saw through the attack.

Unhurriedly, Chu Qingyun activated his Profound Celestial Divine Pattern. He then drew the Strange Sword from his waist, took a light step forward, and with a deliberate yet steady motion, thrust the Strange Sword directly into the center of the vortex formed by the Sword Momentum.

BANG!

Instantly, the vortex of Sword Momentum burst like a popped balloon.

Gusts of violent wind, laced with Primordial Power, surged in all directions.

Red Clothes’s ferocious strike had been completely dismantled by Chu Qingyun’s simple thrust.

"This..."

Including Huo Yuchen, almost everyone present could hardly believe their eyes.

If Chu Qingyun had unleashed Sword Qi or used some overwhelmingly powerful Sword Technique to blast Red Clothes’s attack apart, they might have been able to accept it.

But that thrust was clearly just an ordinary stab, without even a ripple of Primordial Power.

"That thrust looked simple, but it struck the very core of the vortex’s Sword Momentum—its weakest point. Without absolute confidence in oneself, no one would ever dare to strike there."

At that moment, Yin Feiyang, who had been injured by Chu Qingyun earlier, spoke slowly.

At the same time, the look he gave Chu Qingyun had become somewhat complicated.

He had to admit that he now felt a certain admiration for Chu Qingyun—if for nothing else, then for the confidence and courage behind that one thrust.