Heaven-Surpassing Divine Emperor

"You deserve to die!"

The icy words carried a frigid gust of wind that swept in, echoing throughout the dungeon.

Frigid gusts converged from all directions.

Pei Yuan shuddered, his eyes filled with disbelief.

That voice was all too familiar!

Pei Yuan swallowed hard.

When he saw the youth standing silently before him, clad in black martial attire that fluttered as if in a phantom wind, a look of stunned disbelief crossed his face. "Jiang... Jiang Chen, weren’t you seriously injured and recovering on the Profound Celestial Ice Field? What are you doing here?"

"You knew I was injured and on the Profound Celestial Ice Field? Your sources are quite good, it seems." Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes.

’The news of my injury and my seclusion in Purple Wind City to heal was known only to the Purple Wind Clan and the members of the Ice King Race who came to deliver reparations.’

’The Purple Wind Clan would never have leaked my condition.’

’So that only leaves the Ice King Race...’

’Or more precisely, the one behind the Ice King Race—the Royal Family’s Bing Qianchi!’

’The Ice King Race delivered the reparations about half a month ago. The Six Mountains Dynasty and the Fengyang Ancient Country also launched their surprise attack on the Cloud Domain half a month ago. Could it really be such a coincidence? It seems Bing Qianchi is pulling the strings behind the scenes. That Bing Qianchi is a truly grave threat!’ Jiang Chen took a deep breath, a sharp glint flickering in his eyes.

Bing Qianchi had tried to have him killed time and time again.

This was an irreconcilable feud.

However...

’My current strength is still insufficient to deal with Bing Qianchi. I must proceed cautiously and not act rashly.’

’As for the others...’

Jiang Chen looked at Pei Yuan, the corner of his mouth twisting into a cold smile. "Pei Yuan, I never thought the great Fourth Elder of the Jiuhua Celestial Sect would willingly become a lapdog for the Six Mountains Dynasty."

"Y-you’re spouting nonsense!"

Pei Yuan’s face flushed red as he retorted angrily, "I am doing this to preserve the Jiuhua Celestial Sect! I sacrificed my own reputation for the greater good."

"Hahaha! Forget about whether *I* believe you. Go on, ask the disciples of the Jiuhua Celestial Sect if *they* believe you!"

Jiang Chen gave Pei Yuan a mocking glance, then turned to the Jiuhua Celestial Sect disciples in the surrounding cells.

Over the past few days, Pei Yuan had come to the dungeons more than once to gloat and show off, torturing Beis Ming again and again.

Everyone had long since come to hate his guts.

Hearing Jiang Chen’s words, the crowd craned their necks and shouted, "Reputation? What reputation? Do you have any honor left, Pei Yuan?"

"You shameless traitor."

"You shameless bastard..."

"The scum of our Jiuhua Celestial Sect..."

The experts hurled curses one after another, making Pei Yuan’s face flush then pale with humiliated rage.

His icy gaze swept over them as he let out a furious roar, "All of you, shut your mouths!"

"..."

Everyone flinched and dared not make another sound.

Ever since the Jiuhua Celestial Sect had been conquered, those disciples unwilling to surrender to the Six Mountains Dynasty had their cultivation sealed. They were imprisoned in this dungeon, awaiting their fate as slaves.

They were living an inhuman existence.

Even a former janitor of the Jiuhua Celestial Sect could now torment them at will, simply because he had sided with the Six Mountains Dynasty.

They had truly been broken by the torture.

"A bunch of worthless trash about to become lowly slaves. What right do you have to criticize me?"

Pei Yuan snorted, the chill in his eyes growing colder. His gaze, sharp as a blade, landed on Jiang Chen as he said in a low voice, "Jiang Chen, the Six Mountains Dynasty and the Fengyang Ancient Country have practically carved up the Cloud Domain. Surrendering to the Six Mountains Dynasty is the only way out; any who resist will only find death. They say a wise man submits to the circumstances. As long as you surrender to the Six Mountains Dynasty, I can guarantee that our past grievances will be forgiven and forgotten. What’s more, with your talent and strength, you’ll surely be given a position of great importance. You might even receive a title from the Sovereign himself and become a High-level noble. Why would you pass up such an opportunity?"

The nobility of the Six Mountains Dynasty was divided into three ranks: Low-level, Middle Level, and High-level.

High-level nobles.

In the Six Mountains Dynasty, they were Crownless Kings, second only to the Royal Family of the Six Mountains Sword Venerable, wielding immense power.

One could say they were below one family, but above all others.

He, Pei Yuan, had only managed to secure the title of a Middle Level noble after defecting to the Six Mountains Dynasty!

’In his eyes...’

’Jiang Chen would never be able to resist the temptation of becoming a High-level noble.’

Unfortunately for him, the one standing before him was not another Pei Yuan, but Jiang Chen!

Jiang Chen sneered and shook his head. "Pei Yuan, not everyone is a profit-seeking coward like you, afraid of death. You want me to betray my Sect, abandon my people and my family, and surrender to the very enemies who destroyed our home, begging for scraps like a pathetic dog? I’m sorry, but I, Jiang Chen, would never stoop so low. I refuse!"

Jiang Chen’s words were sharp, each one a dagger twisting in Pei Yuan’s heart.

Pei Yuan trembled, his expression turning utterly foul.

"You dare to call me a dog?" Pei Yuan roared through gritted teeth.

Jiang Chen glanced at him and shook his head. "My apologies. Calling you a dog would be an insult to dogs."

"Damn it!"

Pei Yuan’s features twisted in rage, and he fixed Jiang Chen with a venomous stare. "Jiang Chen, rumors are flying that you killed a Human King expert from the Earth Venerable List. But I don’t believe it. You, kill a Human King? What a joke! Today, I’ll capture you and hand you over to the Six Mountains Sword Venerable. It’ll be a great achievement. Perhaps I’ll even be promoted and become a High-level noble of the Six Mountains Dynasty!"

At that moment, a feverish glint appeared in Pei Yuan’s eyes as he stared at Jiang Chen.

In his eyes, Jiang Chen was already his prey. Capturing him would allow him to climb even higher in the Six Mountains Dynasty.

He might even become a High-level noble, enjoying endless wealth and glory.

"Heaven and Earth Net!"

With a low roar, Pei Yuan summoned a Profound Weapon. It was the Heaven and Earth Net, a Fourth-Grade Middle Level Profound Weapon. Even an expert at the Peak of Human King Realm would find it nearly impossible to escape its bindings.

Pei Yuan unleashed the Heaven and Earth Net.

SWOOSH...

It instantly transformed into a massive net that blotted out the sky, descending upon Jiang Chen.

"Jiang Chen, run!" Beis Ming’s hoarse voice had barely rung out before Jiang Chen was already ensnared by the Heaven and Earth Net. Beis Ming let out a desperate, unwilling groan. "It’s over... it’s all over..."

"Hahaha, you idiot! You didn’t even dodge? Jiang Chen, you’ve finally fallen into my hands!"

Pei Yuan was stunned for a moment, surprised it was so easy. A look of excitement and confidence spread across his face. "Jiang Chen, oh, Jiang Chen. You’re now a fish on my chopping block, for me to do with as I please. Heh heh heh... if you don’t want to die a miserable death, you can get on your knees and beg me. Go on, kneel!"

"Dumbass."

Jiang Chen rolled his eyes.

Pei Yuan’s face stiffened, fury blazing in his eyes. "Damn you! Still acting tough? I’ll whip you to death!"

He cracked the long whip.

It whistled through the air, lashing toward Jiang Chen.

However, just as the whip was about to strike, the Heaven and Earth Net binding Jiang Chen suddenly burst apart, shattered by a mere flex of his arms. His hand shot out and caught the whip mid-air. With a powerful tug, he sent Pei Yuan stumbling toward him.

Jiang Chen moved, his body blurring into an afterimage as he appeared before Pei Yuan. With a sharp lift of his knee—THUD!

Pei Yuan’s entire body convulsed.

His eyes bulged, and drool trickled from his mouth as he trembled uncontrollably in agony.

"Letting trash like you keep your cultivation would just be a disaster waiting to happen," Jiang Chen said coldly. "Allow me to get rid of it for you!"

His palm formed a claw, and he struck Pei Yuan’s lower abdomen.

BOOM!

Five streams of Profound Yellow True Essence surged into his body, directly shattering his Spiritual Sea.

PFFT!

Pei Yuan spat out a mouthful of blood. He could feel his power draining away, and his eyes filled with shock and disbelief. "You... you... you destroyed my cultivation?"

Jiang Chen glanced at him, then flicked a finger. The door to a nearby cell holding a hundred Jiuhua Celestial Sect disciples swung open. He threw Pei Yuan inside and said to the prisoners, "He’s yours. If I’m satisfied with how you deal with him, I don’t mind letting you all go free."

The crowd was stunned for a moment, then, like hungry wolves seeing a lamb, they let out bloodthirsty roars.

"Kill him!"

"Kill him and we’ll be free!"

"ROAR!"

They pounced on Pei Yuan like wild beasts. A hundred pairs of hands reached out at once, tearing the former Human King to shreds... He was ripped to pieces.