Heaven-Surpassing Divine Emperor

Jiang Chen paused the wine cup he was bringing to his lips and looked up.

A burly, bare-chested young man with a purple fin growing from his back was staring at the Black Emperor in front of him.

Jiang Chen smiled slightly and said, "Sorry, Little Black is my brother. I could never give him to anyone!"

The Black Emperor was clutching its potbelly, happily gorging on meat and wine.

Hearing Jiang Chen’s words, its mouth, busy chewing the delicious food, paused for a moment. It let out a light snort through its nose as if completely indifferent, but the corners of its mouth curled up slightly.

The young man frowned and said in a low voice, "Brother, name any Demon Beast you want—even one at the Human Emperor Realm Ninth Stage—and I’ll get it for you. But this Demon Beast must be mine. My little sister has taken a liking to it!"

"Even if you offered me an Emperor Realm Demon Beast, I wouldn’t trade Little Black! Please leave," Jiang Chen said with a smile.

"Dammit!"

An impatient look crossed the young man’s face. "I told you, my sister likes your Demon Beast, which means you have to give it to me. Otherwise, you’ll be disrespecting me, Sha Tongtian!"

The moment he said this,

everyone who had been enjoying their food looked over.

They had thought one of the Red Shark Race’s young experts was coming over to offer a toast, not to start a fight over the Black Emperor.

The experts from the Eastern Continent all frowned, their displeasure evident.

Snow Vajra, Arhat, and the others also narrowed their eyes.

Even though they hadn’t always seen eye to eye with Jiang Chen, the three parties were now allied, and as such, they were in this together.

They could squabble amongst themselves all they wanted, but when facing outsiders, they knew where to draw the line and present a united front!

Besides...

Jiang Chen had already won over most of them with his strength.

Jiang Chen’s expression slowly darkened. Sha Tongtian’s repeated provocations had exhausted his patience. He said coolly, "I told you, even if you offered an Emperor Realm Demon Beast, I wouldn’t give you Little Black. Now, go away!"

"ROAR!"

Sha Tongtian erupted in fury. He slammed both hands on Jiang Chen’s table, leaned forward, and said coldly, "Kid, I came over to negotiate nicely out of respect for you being the Ancestor’s honored guests. But since you won’t give me face, I’ll have to do things according to the rules of my Red Shark Race! I, Sha Tongtian, challenge you right here, right now! If you win, I’ll turn and leave. If you lose, you will give me that Demon Beast!"

Jiang Chen remained unfazed.

He continued to drink his wine, even taking a moment to clink his cup against Little Black’s.

This enraged Sha Tongtian even further. "Kid, you’re too damn arrogant!"

ROAR!

With a low growl, Sha Tongtian’s hand transformed into a large claw and shot toward the Black Emperor.

"Oh no!"

"Watch out...!"

Gai Shi and Zhao Hongluan both cried out in alarm, warning the Black Emperor.

The Black Emperor remained lazing on the table, completely unmoving, as if it hadn’t even sensed Sha Tongtian’s attack.

Just as the hand was about to seize the Black Emperor, at that critical moment, a fair hand shot out from nowhere and clamped down on Sha Tongtian’s.

"Hmm?"

Sha Tongtian froze. He tried to pull his hand back but found it was as if it had taken root, completely immovable. His gaze fell grimly on Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen’s eyes were ice-cold. He said flatly, "Stop this. For the sake of the Red Shark Race’s hospitality, I can let this slide. But if you attack again, don’t blame me for not holding back!"

"Hmph, get off me!"

Sha Tongtian’s face alternated between green and white. With a cold snort, he swung his other hand fiercely toward Jiang Chen’s head.

"Get lost!"

Jiang Chen barked coldly.

He violently twisted the hand he was holding and flung Sha Tongtian away, sending him crashing into the center of the ceremonial venue.

HISS...

The entire venue fell silent. Everyone was stunned by the sudden turn of events.

"What happened?"

"Why did they suddenly start fighting?"

"It seems to be that brute, Sha Tongtian. He must have seen something he wanted from those outsiders and tried to take it again!"

"That outsider is so strong!"

"No matter what, Sha Tongtian is one of our Red Shark Race. That outsider shouldn’t have done that."

"Don’t worry. Sha Tongtian is a master at the Seventh Stage of the Human Emperor Realm, one of the top three experts in our Red Shark Race. That outsider is not necessarily his match!"

A wave of discussion rippled through the crowd.

On the high platform.

The Asura Blood Emperor’s expression darkened. Just as he was about to speak, the Red Shark Ancestor beside him laughed. "Youngsters are supposed to be hot-blooded. Let them fight it out; think of it as pure entertainment. Don’t worry, our Red Shark Race’s little ones know how to control themselves. They won’t go too far!"

The Asura Blood Emperor and Emperor Feixue shot the Red Shark Ancestor a strange look.

The Asura Blood Emperor had wanted to intervene not because he was worried Jiang Chen would be hurt, but because he was afraid Jiang Chen would strike too harshly and cripple the Red Shark expert, which would make things awkward for everyone!

Just as they were about to speak, the Celestial Secret Elder chuckled and shook his head. "It’s fine. That little fellow knows how to control himself!"

The Red Shark Ancestor nodded and laughed. "You see? My old friend, Celestial Secret, knows our Red Shark Race well. Sha Tongtian knows how to control himself, rest assured!"

Celestial Secret Elder: "..."

Asura Blood Emperor: "..."

Emperor Feixue just shook his head with a wry smile and went back to his drink.

「Meanwhile...」

Sha Tongtian had already climbed to his feet. His expression was hideous as he glared at Jiang Chen. Reaching out a hand, he summoned a Wolf Fang Club into his grasp. With fury burning in his eyes, he stared at Jiang Chen. "Outsider! I, Sha Tongtian, challenge you here and now! If you win, I will take my own life on the spot. If you lose, you will present that Demon Beast to me. Do you dare?"

"Jiang Chen..."

"Don’t pay any attention to him!"

Gai Shi and Zhao Hongluan said in quick succession.

This was the Red Shark Race’s territory, after all. A real fight with Sha Tongtian here would put them at a disadvantage!

But Jiang Chen just snorted coldly, downed the wine in his cup, and said flatly, "We Martial Artists walk a path that defies the heavens, a path that seizes fate from destiny itself. If I back down from every confrontation, how can I survive in this world where the strong are revered and the weak are prey? He wants to challenge me, doesn’t he? If I don’t accept, won’t all these Alien Races look down on our Eastern Continent Human Race from now on?"

The moment he finished speaking,

Jiang Chen’s figure flashed, and he appeared in front of Sha Tongtian. He stated indifferently, "Make your move."

"Outsider. Show me your weapon!" Sha Tongtian said coldly.

Jiang Chen shook his head. "To deal with you, I don’t need a weapon."

"ROAR!"

Sha Tongtian roared, feeling utterly humiliated. He spat a torrent of water at Jiang Chen, and at the same time, swung his Wolf Fang Club through the air, bringing it crashing down on him.

Jiang Chen’s gaze was like lightning.

With a cold snort, he stomped forward, and with a BOOM, shattered the column of water under his foot. He then formed a knife-hand and brought it down in a vicious chop, striking the descending Wolf Fang Club.

DONG!

The Wolf Fang Club shuddered violently, and a crack appeared on its surface.

Sha Tongtian let out a pained cry, "WAHH!", as Jiang Chen’s strike sent him flying. He crashed heavily to the ground and stared at Jiang Chen in utter disbelief...