Heaven-Surpassing Divine Emperor

"I told you to use your Martial Soul Talent, but you just had to refuse my kind offer. When you go looking for death, who can you blame but yourself?"

Jiang Chen glanced at the dead Bing Xiao, shaking his head and sighing.

With his hands clasped behind his back, Jiang Chen looked up at Bing Qianchi and the others. The corners of his lips curved into a taunting smirk. "Seniors, I should be allowed to enter the Profound Celestial Ancestor Realm now, shouldn’t I?"

On Ancestor Mountain...

Bing Qianchi’s face was ashen.

His fists were clenched tight, his knuckles cracking with a series of sharp pops. He gritted his teeth so hard it seemed they might shatter.

His ice-blue eyes, now bloodshot and sinister, locked onto Jiang Chen. He snarled, "Jiang Chen... you dare kill my Xiao’Er right in front of me?"

The might of the Human Emperor Realm erupted.

A tempest of oppressive energy swept across the arena.

Jiang Chen stood at the eye of the storm. His robes whipped about him with a sound like tearing fabric, and his long hair billowed wildly.

The cold wind slashed at his face like a thousand tiny blades.

But Jiang Chen was utterly unfazed. "Seeing as he dared to challenge me, I assumed he must be quite powerful," he said nonchalantly. "Naturally, I had to give it my all against such an expert... I just never imagined he was all bark and no bite—strong on the outside, but as fragile as tofu on the inside. I killed him by accident. How can you blame me for that, Senior?"

His words actually made a certain kind of sense, and many in the crowd found themselves nodding in agreement, believing him.

After all...

Bing Xiao had been far too arrogant earlier.

He’d been shouting over and over about how he was going to kill Jiang Chen.

Anyone in his position, facing such a challenger, would probably have gone all out right from the start.

"If anyone’s to blame, it’s Bing Xiao for overestimating his own abilities. He didn’t have the strength, so why was he trying to act so tough?"

"If I’d known he was that weak, I would have challenged him myself!"

The experts chimed in one after another.

In the crowd.

Zhao Hongluan looked completely stunned.

Purple Wind Frost was thrilled, clenching her little fists. "Jiang Chen is totally right! It’s that big oaf Bing Xiao’s own fault for biting off more than he could chew!"

Yuan Jiu facepalmed. "No wonder that little guy Black Emperor is so shameless. It turns out he has a master just like him."

"Completely shameless!"

Yuan Zeng added with a wry smile.

Bing Qianchi was enraged.

He shot to his feet, looking as if he was about to attack himself.

Zifeng Tianhen, who was beside him, spoke coolly, "Bing Qianchi, you are representing our Icefield Race right now. Are you certain this is the appropriate way to act?"

"You..."

Bing Qianchi’s face contorted with rage.

But he knew Zifeng Tianhen was right. Nearly every expert from the entire Eastern Continent was gathered here.

If he truly attacked Jiang Chen now, his reputation would be dragged through the mud.

More importantly...

Bing Qianchi knew full well that if he dared to make a move, Zifeng Tianhen would stop him, no matter the cost.

Now that Zifeng Tianhen was free from the Soul-Loss Gu, his combat power had returned to its Peak. Bing Qianchi was no match for him.

Just then...

A cold, clear voice echoed in his mind. "Father, do not be rash. Let him live a little while longer. Once we are in the Profound Celestial Ancestor Realm, I will personally take his head to avenge my brothers!"

Bing Qianchi paused, his gaze shifting toward the Royal Family’s contingent.

The one who had sent the telepathic message was none other than the Royal Family’s number one genius, ranked fourth on the Human Venerable List—Bing Long!

’That’s right. I don’t need to act personally. So what if I let this brat enter the Ancestral Land? With Long’Er there, his death is certain!’

Bing Qianchi consoled himself with this thought. He snorted coldly and announced, "In this battle, Jiang Chen is victorious. He has earned the right to enter the Profound Celestial Ancestor Realm!"

"Many thanks, Senior!"

Jiang Chen gave Bing Qianchi a cupped-fist salute and grinned. "As expected of an expert on the Celestial Venerable List. Your magnanimity is truly extraordinary. Your own son gets stomped to death by me, yet you can still remain impartial. Mmm, not bad at all!"

Bing Qianchi: "..."

His teeth ground together, and he looked as if he wanted to eat Jiang Chen alive.

Jiang Chen was about to turn away when he sensed something and looked toward Bing Long.

Bing Long was looking right back at him. Their gazes clashed in midair, so intense that sparks seemed to fly. Bing Long bared a set of pearly white teeth in a sinister grin. "You," he said slowly, "will die a miserable death."

"The victor has yet to be decided," Jiang Chen replied coolly.

"Hmph!"

Bing Long snorted, closed his eyes, and looked at Jiang Chen no more.

A smirk played on Jiang Chen’s lips as he sauntered off the arena.

Zifeng Jun clapped a fist on Jiang Chen’s shoulder, laughing. "Jiang Chen, you’re incredible! You even stomped Bing Xiao to death! With your strength now, you could probably make it into the top fifty on the Human Venerable List, couldn’t you?"

"More than the top fifty! I bet Jiang Chen could even make a run for the top ten on the Human Venerable List!" Purple Wind Frost chirped excitedly.

Zhao Hongluan stared at Jiang Chen, an unusual light in her eyes.

Only Zifeng Jie had to spoil the mood. "The top ten? Heh. With those paltry tricks of his, he’d be lucky to break the top one hundred!"

"Hm?"

The faces of the others darkened with displeasure as they turned to look at Zifeng Jie.

Purple Wind Frost put her hands on her hips. "Zifeng Jie, if you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all!"

"Alright, alright, I won’t say another word, happy?"

Zifeng Jie shrugged, his gaze toward Jiang Chen still dripping with contempt. "Kid, you’ve got a few tricks, I’ll give you that. But it’s a shame. By killing Bing Xiao, you’ve made a mortal enemy of Bing Long. Once you’re in the Profound Celestial Ancestor Realm, just you wait for the combined hunt from the Royal Family and the Ice King Race! Hahaha! Of course, if you’re willing to kneel before me, kowtow, and accept me as your master, I could offer you some protection!"

Jiang Chen frowned. "You should worry about yourself," he said coolly.

"Hmph. You don’t know what’s good for you!"

Zifeng Jie snorted.

After the spectacle of Jiang Chen’s overwhelming victory against Bing Xiao, the subsequent battles seemed dull and tasteless.

The three incense sticks finally burned down to their ends.

Bing Qianchi stood up, his expression still grim, and announced in a deep voice, "The ancestor veneration ceremony is over. The Profound Celestial Ancestor Realm is now officially open. I hereby declare that the three Human Emperors of my Icefield Race will guard the entrance to the Ancestral Land. Anyone who attempts to sneak in will be killed on sight, no exceptions. Now, all experts who have qualified to enter the Ancestral Land, proceed!"

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

One after another, the experts soared into the sky, flying toward the entrance to the Profound Celestial Ancestor Realm.

Gai Shi was the first to go.

Long Jingyun followed close behind, shouting, "Gai Shi, I’ll be waiting for you in the Profound Celestial Ancestor Realm to settle things once and for all!"

"Why would I fear someone I’ve already beaten?" Gai Shi replied coolly, before plunging into the teleportation portal.

"Hmph!"

Long Jingyun snorted and followed right after him into the Profound Celestial Ancestor Realm.

Expert after expert surged into the Ancestral Land.

"Brother Jiang, once we’re in the Ancestral Land, let’s travel east. We’ll regroup at the first major chokepoint, the Icebound Corridor!" Zifeng Jun advised Jiang Chen and Zhao Hongluan.

Jiang Chen nodded. "The Icebound Corridor, right? Got it. Whoever gets there first waits for the others before we move on."

"Okay!"

The group nodded in agreement.

Only then did they proceed at a relaxed pace toward the entrance of the Profound Celestial Ancestor Realm.

As they passed the entrance...

Bing Qianchi flashed a cold sneer at Jiang Chen. "Brat, you should consider it an honor to die in the Ancestral Land!"

"You’re not dead yet, so I’m sure I’ll be just fine," Jiang Chen retorted coolly.

"Arrogant!"

Bing Qianchi snorted coldly and stopped paying him any mind.

Zifeng Tianhen urged them, "Jiang Chen, you all should hurry inside!"

"Yes, Senior!"

Jiang Chen and the others stepped into the Teleportation Passage one by one.

The instant he stepped into the passage, Jiang Chen suddenly sensed something, as if someone were spying on him from the shadows. Yet a quick scan of the area revealed no one. He frowned, stepping into the Teleportation Passage with a flicker of doubt.

And after Jiang Chen had entered the Profound Celestial Ancestor Realm.

From within the crowd, a figure slowly emerged. A sinister glint shone in his eyes. "The Mystic Sect Sword Order is mine. Jiang Chen, you’d better not let anyone else kill you."

This person seemed to possess a Secret Treasure that obscured his true appearance.

Not even the three great Human Emperors noticed as he stepped into the Profound Celestial Ancestor Realm...