Strongest War Emperor

After grasping the Nine-Phased Divine Dragon Spear, Shen Jianfeng’s entire demeanor changed.

His aura became as steady as a mountain—towering and tyrannical!

He even dared to coldly rebuke Xiao Hongyue to her face!

Not only was Xiao Hongyue stunned, but so was everyone around them.

In most people’s eyes, a Martial Artist at the Spirit Martial Realm Second Heaven would barely dare to breathe in front of one at the Spirit Martial Realm Sixth Heaven.

The gap between them was immense.

Furthermore, a Demon Martial Artist like Xiao Hongyue was forged in blood and fire; her experience in battle and slaughter far exceeded Shen Jianfeng’s.

"Has Shen Jianfeng really thrown caution to the wind? Isn’t he afraid Xiao Hongyue will cripple him?"

"It seems the people from the Profound Dao Sect have all become boundlessly arrogant because of Shen Lang. They’re simply courting death!"

"Provoking Xiao Hongyue’s anger will only lead to a more miserable death... Don’t tell me he thinks Shen Lang can come and help him? Or maybe he thinks Xiao Hongyue wouldn’t dare to crush him because of Shen Lang?"

The crowd sighed, feeling sorry for Shen Jianfeng.

Many could already picture his gruesome fate.

On the battle stage, Shen Jianfeng gripped the Nine-Phased Divine Dragon Spear, and his tension finally and completely melted away.

The Nine-Phased Divine Dragon Spear was a Second Grade Profound Artifact that Shen Lang had seized from Qian Luo’s disciple.

In truth, the Profound Artifact belonged to Qian Luo. However, Qian Luo preferred swords, and that disciple had some backing in the Holy Light Sect, which was how the Nine-Phased Divine Dragon Spear ended up with him.

Ultimately, the Nine-Phased Divine Dragon Spear fell into Shen Jianfeng’s hands.

Shen Jianfeng’s eyes narrowed as he recalled what Shen Lang had once told him.

When Shen Lang had given him the Nine-Phased Divine Dragon Spear, he had said...

"The spear is the king of all weapons. Its power is immense, but it’s not easy to master; in fact, it’s the most difficult of all. There’s a saying: ’A year for the fist, a month for the staff, and a lifetime for the spear.’ Moreover, one who cultivates the Long Spear must have the resolve of a battlefield conqueror. Those with an unsteady will cannot hope to master it."

That was precisely why when Tian Hao wanted the Nine-Phased Divine Dragon Spear, Shen Lang gave it to Shen Jianfeng instead.

’My cousin believes in me, so why can’t I believe in myself?’

’If he didn’t believe in me, why would he have entrusted me with the Nine-Phased Divine Dragon Spear?’

’Since he trusts me to master this spear, I can’t afford to lose face! I can’t disgrace him!’

Stroking the jet-black shaft and feeling the tyrannical, ferocious aura emanating from it, Shen Jianfeng’s own presence began to steadily rise.

Across from him, Xiao Hongyue raised an eyebrow, marveling inwardly.

"Well, this is a little interesting. But you can’t beat me on courage alone."

Xiao Hongyue remarked, looking at Shen Jianfeng with cold eyes.

The longsword in her hand slowly rose, pointing toward Shen Jianfeng.

However, before she could utter another word, Shen Jianfeng waved his left hand. With a soft POP, a cloud of black mist erupted, instantly filling the entire light barrier.

In the blink of an eye, the space within the barrier was filled with a pitch-black fog, so thick you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face!

"Damn it, how fucking shameless! He’s actually using Soul-Confusing Smoke!"

"Who is this Shen Jianfeng guy? He even pulled out Soul-Confusing Smoke. Doesn’t he know it’s not that effective against a Martial Artist at the Spirit Martial Realm Sixth Heaven?"

"Not necessarily. It could be poisonous... Wait, I heard he’s Shen Lang’s cousin?"

"Holy crap, he’s really doing Shen Lang proud, isn’t he!"

The surrounding crowd buzzed with discussion. Many of the elders simply looked at one another speechlessly, shaking their heads.

Over on the Profound Dao Sect’s side, Su Wenxuan and the others clearly hadn’t expected Shen Jianfeng to pull such a move, and they all looked a little embarrassed.

Ever since the day Shen Lang had the Evil Eye Lord help pair every disciple with a Demon Beast, Su Wenxuan and the others had been fantasizing about the Profound Dao Sect sweeping the selection tournament...

He could have just released his Spirit Beast to fight alongside him, yet Shen Jianfeng insisted on playing so dirty...

"Shameless bastard! You only know how to use such dirty tricks!"

Inside the battle stage, light flickered around Xiao Hongyue as she formed a layer of Spiritual Power Gauze Clothing to protect herself.

Just then, Xiao Hongyue sensed a sharp blast of Powerful Qi shooting toward her from the front, but she remained completely unfazed.

She twirled the longsword in her right hand in a defensive flourish and thrust her left palm forward!

A fierce gust of wind blew away most of the thick smoke, and Xiao Hongyue instantly saw a long spear, wreathed in a spiraling light, thrusting toward her at an incredible speed.

"To have such power at the Spirit Martial Realm Fourth Heaven is impressive, but it’s a pity you’re facing me!"

Xiao Hongyue snorted coldly. Her longsword vibrated, and with a gleam of light, it sliced toward the long spear.

CLANG!

The longsword had just clashed with the Nine-Phased Divine Dragon Spear when another cloud of thick smoke erupted from the point of impact!

Outside of her own Body-Protecting Light Shield, Xiao Hongyue was once again unable to see a thing!

She sent out several palm strikes in a row, only to be startled!

Even at the Spirit Martial Realm Sixth Heaven, she couldn’t disperse this second cloud of smoke!

"Is this... Soft Tendon Powder? You damned brat, I’ll skin you alive!"

Xiao Hongyue’s figure shot backward as she took out a green elixir pill and shoved it into her mouth.

The toxins in Soft Tendon Powder weren’t fatal, but after inhaling a certain amount, all the Power in one’s body would dissipate. It was like recovering from a major illness, leaving one unable to move for at least several hours.

To use such a thing in a duel like this was the very height of shamelessness.

Xiao Hongyue’s anger was steadily rising; she wished she could drag Shen Jianfeng out and torture him to death!

At the same time, Xiao Hongyue’s powerful Divine Thought radiated outward, instantly blanketing the entire, vast battle stage!

However, as her Divine Thought swept the area, Xiao Hongyue was once again taken aback...

All trace of Shen Jianfeng had vanished from the entire stage!

’It must be a High Tier Invisibility Talisman!’

Startled, Xiao Hongyue moved to retreat further.

Just then, the sharp sound of something tearing through the air rang out from her right front. Like a soaring dragon, the Nine-Phased Divine Dragon Spear shot forth, carrying a tyrannical Powerful Qi. It was more than twice as fast as before!

"You’re fast, I’ll give you that!"

Instead of retreating, Xiao Hongyue advanced. Her Sword Qi howled like the wind, carrying the force to split mountains and shatter stone as it sliced toward the incoming spear.

On the stage, one black and one white figure shot past each other!

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

A rapid series of crisp, metallic clashes erupted as ferocious ripples of Powerful Qi violently surged from the point where the longsword and long spear met.

In their very first exchange, the two figures traded several blows, their battle unleashing crisscrossing waves of Powerful Qi!

The lingering smoke was finally dispersed for the most part, revealing the two combatants.

The crowd looked closely and saw that on the battle stage, in a radius of over twenty meters around the two fighters, an entire layer of the hard bluestone floor had been scraped away!

Even deeper, two intersecting gouges, each over twenty meters long, had been torn into the stage in front of them!

"Such terrifying destructive power! The weapons in both their hands must be Profound Artifacts!"

"It seems the major sects have brought out their best treasures for their disciples this time. To think a mere Spirit Martial Realm Fourth Heaven guy has such a powerful Profound Artifact!"

"The spear in Shen Jianfeng’s hand... it looks like the Nine-Phased Divine Dragon Spear belonging to Ji Ruotong of the Holy Light Sect? How did her Profound Artifact end up with him?"

"What’s so strange about that? I heard even Qian Luo of the Holy Light Sect defected to the Profound Dao Sect. Since Ji Ruotong is Qian Luo’s disciple, it makes sense that Shen Jianfeng would have the Nine-Phased Divine Dragon Spear."

"Holy hell, what’s been going on? How did things get so complicated?"

"Shut up and watch the stage... Even with the Nine-Phased Divine Dragon Spear, Shen Jianfeng is doomed to a miserable defeat! With his cultivation at the Spirit Martial Realm Fourth Heaven, there’s no way he can fully unleash the power of that Profound Artifact!"

"Hey, look! The web of Shen Jianfeng’s hand is bleeding! He’s injured!"

Everyone looked closely and, sure enough, saw a trickle of fresh blood slowly sliding down the shaft of the Nine-Phased Divine Dragon Spear!

After just one exchange, Shen Jianfeng was already injured!

On the stage, Xiao Hongyue sneered. "I have to admit, your tactic of using the Mist Smoke to obscure my vision and make me hesitant was the right move. You absolutely could have used the smoke and that High Tier Invisibility Talisman to fight a hit-and-run battle with me."

"But you were foolish enough to reveal yourself and clash head-on! Do you truly not understand the gap between a Martial Artist at the Spirit Martial Realm Fourth Heaven and one at the Sixth Heaven? Or did you think you could rely on the power of your Second Grade Profound Artifact to fight me?"

Shen Jianfeng tightened his grip on the spear’s hilt, frantically circulating his Spiritual Power to purge the invading Sword Qi from his body.

Xiao Hongyue didn’t press her advantage, instead continuing indifferently, "Unfortunately, you’re far too confident in that Profound Artifact of yours."

"A Profound Artifact’s power must be drawn out by the user’s own cultivation. At the Spirit Martial Realm Fourth Heaven, you can’t possibly activate the full power of your Nine-Phased Divine Dragon Spear! I, on the other hand, can unleash the maximum power of my First Grade Profound Artifact, the Star Moon Sword!"

"I’ll give you one last chance. Kneel and beg for mercy, and I will spare your life."

"Otherwise, I’ll see to it that you leave this stage without all your limbs!"

Shen Jianfeng scoffed. "Women will be women. Even on the battlefield, you just keep croaking on and on like a frog!"

"You!" Xiao Hongyue was so enraged her face twisted with a murderous aura.

Shen Jianfeng gave a roguish grin and added, "That first exchange was just to test your strength and speed. It’s not time to decide a winner yet. This is just the beginning!"

"You’d better be careful. I, Shen Jianfeng, may have a soft spot for beautiful women, but when it comes to my enemies, I can be just as ruthless as my cousin and crush a flower without mercy!"

The moment his voice fell, Shen Jianfeng’s shoulders swayed, and he shot forward like a whirlwind!

"Wind and Thunder Surge, Wave-Breaking Spear!"

With Shen Jianfeng’s explosive roar, the Nine-Phased Divine Dragon Spear shot forward with the sound of wind and thunder, striking with the vicious cunning of a venomous snake.

The tip of the spear crackled with electricity, surging with untamed Thunder Power!

With this single thrust, eight spear afterimages materialized out of thin air, blanketing all the vital points on Xiao Hongyue’s body!

Clutching her Star Moon Sword, a grave expression finally appeared in Xiao Hongyue’s eyes. ’What kind of Spear Skill is this, to have such power! He’s only at the Spirit Martial Realm Fourth Heaven, yet he’s like a War God, seemingly impossible to defeat!’