Strongest War Emperor

The Imperial City of the Purple Chu Country was enormous.

Within the Imperial City, a tall mountain stood in each of the four cardinal directions: north, south, east, and west.

Although these four mountains were far inferior to the peaks of sects like the Profound Dao Sect, they were still majestic and suffused with an ancient aura, possessing their own unique, immense presence.

In a corner of this massive Imperial City, a secluded courtyard lay nestled amidst a grove of green trees.

This was the courtyard where the disciples of the Profound Dao Sect were staying.

Before the courtyard’s simple, ancient gate stood sturdy old trees, peculiar rocks, and cascading waterfalls. It originally possessed the charm of a celestial paradise...

But that charm had now completely vanished.

In its place was the nose-pinching stench of sweat and a dizzying clamor.

The woods outside the courtyard gate, and even the surface of the small lake, were now packed with people.

Almost half of the disciples from the various sects, who had come to the Imperial Capital for the Yumu Cave selection trials, had gathered here. There were several thousand of them, all shouting brazenly.

"Are all the Profound Dao Sect disciples a bunch of cowardly turtles hiding in their shells? Hasn’t a single one of you poked your head out? Why don’t you just call yourselves the Turtle Sect!"

"The Turtle Sect! That’s a great name, couldn’t be more fitting! If the Profound Dao Sect used that name, it’d be well-deserved, haha!"

"The Profound Dao Sect is full of spineless cowards! In previous years, they at least dared to show their faces and humor us a bit. I can’t believe they won’t even step out the door this year. What a fucking disgrace!"

"I say the Profound Dao Sect should just get the hell out of the Imperial Capital! With guts like these, they still want to join the competition? Still want to enter the Yumu Cave Blessed Land? They’re just asking to be humiliated!"

Many of them hurled ugly curses while continuously throwing eggs and mushy fruit at the closed gate.

The gate was splattered into a wretched, unbearable sight.

Someone had also dragged three massive logs and placed them in a crisscross pattern before the gate, as if to completely barricade the people inside.

Yet no matter how they clamored, there wasn’t the slightest response from within.

This began to infuriate the crowd outside. Their shouts grew louder and uglier.

They were no longer just throwing eggs and fruit at the gate.

Stones of all sizes began to whistle through the air, striking the gate with loud THUDS.

Just as the crowd was in an uproar, a sneer came from behind them. "Hmph, a bunch of spineless cowards! What’s the point of standing guard at the door? If you have the guts, then fight your way in!"

The crowd turned in fury, looking toward the source of the voice.

When they saw who it was, everyone’s eyes narrowed slightly. ’People from the Celestial Defying Demon Realm!’

A group of people was walking over from the small bridge behind them. They were a menacing-looking bunch, with vicious gazes and arrogant demeanors.

The one in the lead, though dressed in flowing white robes like a scholar, had the same domineering and fierce eyes.

He was like a vicious wolf, ready to pounce at any moment!

This year’s trial for the Yumu Cave Blessed Land was different. In addition to the major sects of the Purple Chu Country, many sects from the Celestial Defying Demon Realm were also participating.

It was even rumored that besides the sects from the Celestial Defying Demon Realm, there were also people from the neighboring Yunfeng Country, though they had yet to make an appearance.

In any case, the competition was unprecedentedly fierce and more chaotic than in previous years.

Seeing the people from the Celestial Defying Demon Realm approach, everyone instinctively tensed up, their eyes revealing a sense of dread.

The Righteous and Demonic Daos had always been as incompatible as fire and water. Of the major sects present, aside from a few that straddled the line between good and evil, the vast majority considered themselves part of the Righteous Dao.

In the past, an encounter with Demon Martial Artists would have inevitably led to a bloody battle.

But most knew how cruel Demon Martial Artists were. In their hearts, they would rather face a powerful Demon Beast than a Demon Martial Artist.

Now, as the people from the Celestial Defying Demon Realm arrived, led by a dashing young man, not a single person from the dozens of surrounding sects dared to speak. The scene was incredibly awkward.

Seeing this, the white-robed young man who had spoken earlier grew even more arrogant and conceited.

He let out a scornful laugh. "What, you got a problem? I was already being polite by not calling you all trash!"

"So many of you, from so many sects, outnumbering them dozens of times over, yet you just stand here, too scared to move. Do you think you look impressive?"

This fellow glanced at the fuming crowd and continued to sow discord. "To be honest, if the Profound Dao Sect had provoked my White Bone Hall, I’d make sure every last one of them died. Not a single one would escape!"

"Hmph, only spineless cowards like you would stand here running your mouths, too afraid to even break down a gate!"

"Pathetic, truly pathetic..."

The White Bone Hall wasn’t just a sect from the Celestial Defying Demon Realm; it was also a Spirit Copper Level Influence.

The only sects that could truly contend with them were the likes of the Imperial Dragon Sect and the Li Hen Sect.

Compared to the many Profound Iron Level Influences present, these people were far stronger, both in terms of their aura and their Cultivation.

Despite this man’s outrageous provocations, the surrounding crowd was furious, yet, strangely, no one said a word.

The arrogance and viciousness of Demonic Cultivators were on full display!

"Hehehe, this is so fucking hilarious... To think that I, Helian Qingyun, have to go through a trial with a bunch of trash like this! What a joke!"

As Helian Qingyun lamented, he drew a giant axe. "Forget it. This young master might as well give you a hand!"

The moment he finished speaking, while still five or six meters from the gate, his giant axe glinted with a dark light as he swung it viciously toward the entrance!

A sharp gleam of axe light, accompanied by a piercing whistle, slashed violently at the gate!

At that very moment, the gate creaked open!

A swift figure flashed out. With a frosty expression, Mo Ge flicked a short, wood-chopper-like saber upward!

Before anyone could get a clear look, they saw Helian Qingyun’s axe light sliced in two, instantly dissipating into the air...

"Well now, someone finally came out! So even a cowardly turtle pokes its head out sometimes, huh? Haha!"

Helian Qingyun roared with laughter.

"If you don’t want to die, get lost!" Mo Ge said grimly.

With that, Mo Ge sent the massive logs blocking the gate flying with a few kicks.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

The three massive logs tumbled through the air, hurtling swiftly and fiercely toward Helian Qingyun.

Helian Qingyun glanced at Mo Ge, slightly surprised.

According to his Divine Thought, Mo Ge’s Cultivation was only at the Sixth or Seventh Heaven of the Spirit Martial Realm. He hadn’t expected him to possess such immense strength!

Helian Qingyun snorted coldly. He put away his giant axe, crossed his hands, and struck the incoming logs with three successive palm strikes!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Three loud bangs erupted as the massive logs instantly shattered into countless splinters, which shot out in all directions.

Countless wood fragments rained down, creating a spectacular scene.

After completing what he considered a stylish move, Helian Qingyun’s gaze turned cold, locking onto Mo Ge like a viper. "Brat, are you provoking me...?"

"Do you understand the consequences of your actions?"

Before Mo Ge could speak, Chu Qingcheng swaggered out with a large group of people. "I don’t know what consequences Mo Ge will face, but I do know... that you lot from the White Bone Hall, sticking your noses where they don’t belong, will soon regret this bitterly!"

All eyes immediately focused on Chu Qingcheng.

Many of the disciples from the other sects looked at Chu Qingcheng, grinding their teeth...

This was mainly because in the "competitions" held on these grounds before, Chu Qingcheng either didn’t act, or when he did, he was even more ruthless than Mo Ge.

The guy was handsome and dashing, but he shamelessly used all sorts of dirty tricks that others wouldn’t dare use, or at least not in public—moves like "Monkey Stealing Peaches," groin kicks, and the "Dragon Claw Grab"...

His opponents usually ended up with no visible serious injuries, but they would be grimacing in unbearable pain, and would definitely be bedridden for a long time.

Now, seeing Chu Qingcheng appear, the disciples from the various sects felt all their pent-up frustration from the Celestial Defying Demon Realm’s provocation, combined with their original resentment for the Profound Dao Sect, erupt at once!

With no one giving orders, the surrounding disciples surged forward like a tide.

It was the perfect setup for a group beatdown on the Profound Dao Sect disciples!

Just then, a sharp whistling sound came from behind the crowd!

A tree branch, like an arrow, shot towards Helian Qingyun at the front!

Why would Helian Qingyun pay any mind to a mere tree branch that wasn’t even imbued with Spirit Light?

He sneered, reaching out his right hand to snatch the branch from the air.

But at that moment, everything changed!

Just as it reached Helian Qingyun, the branch suddenly accelerated!

Helian Qingyun misjudged and grabbed at empty air. With a PFFT, the branch plunged directly into his right shoulder!

As blood sprayed, Helian Qingyun grunted, the force of the branch actually lifting him off his feet.

With a THWACK, he was pinned directly to one of the half-open gate doors!

The disciples of the White Bone Hall turned pale with shock and rushed forward to rescue him.

Unexpectedly, Chu Qingcheng and Mo Ge, who had been relatively restrained until now, blocked their path with expressionless faces. A few swift kicks sent the rushing disciples flying!

Behind them, all the Profound Dao Sect disciples drew their Lifebound Spiritual Artifacts, glaring fiercely at the crowd outside!

Facing a crowd dozens of times their number, they showed not a trace of fear. Instead, their faces were ferocious, looking ready for a massive brawl at any moment!

A series of sharp gasps filled the air as everyone froze.

In unison, they turned to look behind them.

There, on the stone bridge, a young man in black robes with an ancient long saber strapped to his back slowly walked forward, appearing in the line of sight of thousands of people.

Behind him followed another group, three of whom had auras so immense and majestic they were unfathomable!

A single glance from these three made the crowd feel as if a mountain was crushing them, making it hard to breathe!

Just as everyone was wondering who had arrived, the black-robed youth, who had been walking slowly, suddenly blurred into motion, charging toward the crowd in front!

His charge created a series of afterimages!

Before anyone could react, he had plunged into the crowd like a fierce wolf into a flock of sheep!

Piteous screams immediately filled the air as figures were sent flying one after another!

The black-clothed youth who had charged into the crowd didn’t use any Spirit Light; his movements were simple and direct.

But his speed was extreme, and his power was immense!

Many could clearly see his fist flying or his leg kicking toward them, yet they were completely unable to dodge!

In just an instant, a whole group of people were severely injured and sent tumbling away!

The scene descended into chaos...

A path was forcefully cleared through the once densely packed crowd!

Amidst gasps of shock, the newly arrived black-robed youth stopped his assault.

He planted one foot on a Demon Martial Artist from the Celestial Defying Demon Realm, pinning the man to the ground as he coughed up blood.

Only then did he cross his arms, looking at the surrounding crowd with cold arrogance as he spoke faintly.

"Profound Dao Sect, Shen Lang."