LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 354: The Challenge
Chapter 354: The Challenge
Xu Lian spoke with Time Supreme for a long while before finally leaving satisfied.
Just before he departed, he remembered two things. “O, I’ve now reached the Sage Realm. I plan to head to the Ten Thousand Peaks Stone Sea to complete my challenge with Princess Ao Mei’er, the Black Dragon of the Sea Race, and claim their divine medicine.
With my current strength, it shouldn’t be difficult to defeat Princess Ao Mei’er.
However, I’m worried that if she loses, the Sea Race’s Supreme might become enraged and retaliate against me. Can you keep an eye on me?”
The Time Supreme replied, “Go ahead. I’ll keep an eye on you.”
Xu Lian smiled. “Also, my priority ranking in the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands should be at the top now, right? Make sure to reserve all the Metamorphosis Elixir produced in the sacred lands’ exclusive cultivation resource zones for me.”
Time Supreme simply said, “I know.”
Immediately, Xu Lian crossed through space, heading toward the Ten Thousand Peaks Stone Sea. He couldn’t reveal the elevation and suppression abilities of the laws of the Divine Kingdom, but against someone like Princess Ao Mei’er, who was only at Stage 2 or 3 of the Sage Realm, such powers weren’t necessary. With his divine body alone, defeating her would be more than enough.
Soon…
He arrived above the surface of the Ten Thousand Peaks Stone Sea.
One hand was loosely clenched into a fist at his waist, while the other was held behind his back. His expression was calm as he stood atop the waves, perfectly embodying the elegant and transcendent demeanor expected of the Holy Son of the Nine Heavens.
As the representative face of the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands, he had to look impeccable when stepping out. He had to represent the prestige of the Holy Land.
Sure enough, his presence immediately drew the attention of many herb gatherers who had come to the Ten Thousand Peaks Stone Sea. All eyes were on him.
“Who is this person?”
“What’s he doing standing on the sea?”
“I don’t know.”
“…” Xu Lian’s defenses immediately crumbled.
Since the laws of the Divine Kingdom had completely merged with his body and soul, there was no longer any dazzling divine light emanating from him. As a result, no one seemed to recognize him at first glance.
How dare they!
This is outrageous!
Unable to bear it any longer, Xu Lian decided to call out to her directly. “Ao Mei’er! I’ve reached the Sage Realm and have come to fulfill our challenge. Come out and fight!”
“Holy Son Xu Lian of the Nine Heavens?”
“I’ve heard about his challenge with the Sea Race Princess. I didn’t expect him to advance from the Origin Tracing Realm to the Sage Realm so quickly. His cultivation talent truly surpasses all others in history.”
“Less than a hundred years to master the Origin Tracing Realm, and just over two centuries to reach the Sage Realm. Unprecedented, unheard of…”
Only then did the crowd of herb gatherers recognize him, and they were all astonished.
Finally, some recognition. Xu Lian felt much better.
“Splash!”…
The calm sea suddenly surged with no wind as a pitch-black dragon emerged from the water. Its massive dragon eyes fixed on Xu Lian, and it sneered.
“I thought I’d have to wait at least a few centuries for you to reach the Sage Realm. I didn’t expect you to ascend so quickly. You’re practically rushing to deliver the laws of the Divine Kingdom to us.”
Xu Lian replied, “I am here to claim the Divine Medicine.”
Without warning, a huge, boundless dragon-shaped shadow rose from the depths of the ocean and swept across the sky. It blotted out the sun and filled the air with overwhelming dragon power and the oppressive aura of a Supreme.
Clearly, the Sea Race Supreme slumbering deep within the Ten Thousand Peaks Stone Sea had awakened.
The herb gatherers present felt suffocated and began to retreat nervously.
Fortunately, the Sea Race Supreme paid no mind to them; otherwise, none of them would have escaped.
At that very moment, the Time Supreme appeared, clad in white robes. Her cold, ethereal presence radiated like a celestial being. A brilliant glow filled half the sky, dispersing much of the Sea Race Supreme’s dragon power and oppressive aura.
The Sea Race Supreme in the Ten Thousand Peaks Stone Sea snorted coldly.
“Time Supreme, what a grand display. But this isn’t a competition between you and me. Why are you showing off?”
The Time Supreme responded indifferently. “I am not showing off. I just don’t want your Dragon Power and Supreme Aura to affect our Holy Son of the Nine Heavens.”
O is the best, Xu Lian thought bitterly. Damn that treacherous old Sixth Sea Race Supreme. No wonder he had felt uneasy the moment the Sea Race Supreme had appeared – it turned out that they had been subtly suppressing him, trying to give Ao Mei’er an advantage.
Now exposed, the Sea Race Supreme showed no sign of embarrassment. Their thick-skinned nature was evident as they asked, “How will this challenge proceed? What are the rules?”
Time Supreme spoke indifferently. “You may decide how the challenge will proceed; the rules are up to your Sea Race.”
The Sea Race Supreme frowned in confusion. “The Holy Son of the Nine Heavens must have just ascended to the Sage Realm not long ago, right? The Time Supreme seems so confident in him – could it be that he has some hidden advantage?”
The Time Supreme replied, “Even if he does have an advantage, I wouldn’t tell you. There’s no need to probe. You should focus on devising a challenge that will benefit your Princess Ao Mei’er.”
Xu Lian found this amusing. The Time Supreme’s unwavering confidence in him seemed to make the Sea Race Supreme doubt their own Black Dragon Princess Ao Mei’er.
A thought occurred to the Sea Race Supreme. “Could it be that the Holy Son of the Nine Heavens has already mastered the laws of the Divine Kingdom?”
But then he dismissed the idea as unlikely, muttering to himself, “Throughout ancient history, one needs at least a high-level Sage Realm cultivation to master the power of the laws. The Holy Son of the Nine Heavens has probably just recently ascended to the Sage Realm, and his cultivation is probably still at the lower stages of the Sage Realm. It’s impossible for him to have mastered the laws of the Divine Kingdom so quickly.”
Xu Lian grew impatient. “Are the Sea Races going to fight or not? If not, consider yourselves defeated and hand over the Divine Medicine.”
Princess Ao Mei’er of the Sea Race sneered coldly. “You should be the one to hand over the laws of the Divine Kingdom!”
Xu Lian replied, “Since the Sea Race doesn’t want to give in, please, Sea Race Supreme, hurry up and set the rules for the challenge. A fair trial of strength is fine, or an unrestricted battle will also work – I am eager to claim the divine medicine.”
The Sea Race Supreme couldn’t figure out Xu Lian’s true strength, but he couldn’t wait any longer. Reluctantly, he announced the terms of the duel. “This challenge will be a fair test of strength. No weapons, forbidden techniques, or anything beyond your current cultivation level may be used. Violators will be considered defeated!”
“Come, let us begin.”
Princess Ao Mei’er rose from the surface of the sea into the sky above.
Xu Lian soared upward to meet her. “We can fight anywhere.”
Princess Ao Mei’er made the first move – or rather, she unleashed her breath attack.
She opened her mouth and exhaled a jet of black dragon breath. In the instant she did so, the surrounding space was sealed off, leaving no room for evasion. One could only endure the terrifying blast of dragon breath.
Hmm, what a powerful mouth, what deadly saliva… Xu Lian raised his hand, ready to unleash his divine power and slap Ao Mei’er down. But then he had an idea. If he revealed that he had already mastered the laws of the Divine Kingdom so soon after ascending to the Sage Realm, it would undoubtedly draw the suspicion and fear of the Supremes from the top-tier factions. Until he reached a level where he could openly challenge the Supremes, it was best not to reveal too much.
With that in mind…
He reined in his divine power and relied solely on his Stage 2 Sage Realm cultivation to execute a secret immortal technique from the Sacred Spirit Record . He manifested an entire Ten Thousand Peaks Stone Sea.
Puff! Puff! Puff! …
The black dragon breath Ao Mei’er had unleashed dissipated like stones sinking into the ocean, completely absorbed by the Ten Thousand Peaks Stone Sea Xu Lian had conjured. This gave him confidence and led him to two conclusions:
First, his earlier suspicions were correct – Ao Mei’er’s cultivation wasn’t particularly high. She was only at Stage 3 of the Sage Realm, still within the lower stages of the Sage Realm.
Second, now that his own cultivation had reached the Sage Realm, the secret immortal techniques of the Sacred Spirit Record had become significantly more powerful.
In the past, the things he conjured could only be used to smash opponents. Now, however, they seemed to possess a certain divine essence, capable of absorbing Ao Mei’er’s black dragon breath.