Chapter 362: Chapter 354: Unqualified
With a light leap, Mu Chen stepped directly onto Arena One. As Qing Lei, Mu Bingling, and Mo Qing watched him go, they felt a momentary trance. The back that had once seemed so lean now appeared as towering as a great mountain. It exuded a sense of immense stability and reliability, giving them a glimmer of hope for victory even in this desperate situation.
"He’s changed."
Mu Bingling and Mo Qing, who were also watching Mu Chen, were taken aback. They looked at Qing Lei, their expressions full of confusion, clearly not understanding what he meant. But Qing Lei’s own expression slowly relaxed, and he chuckled softly. "He’s become stronger! This is the man I’m striving to catch up to!"
TAP.
Taking a step forward with his right foot and clenching his fists, Mu Chen said calmly, "Referee, I wonder if I might make a request."
Elder Bai glanced at Mu Chen. With his cultivation, he could easily see through Mu Chen’s Martial Artist Realm—he was merely a First-Ring Martial Sect. But as his gaze probed deeper, he sensed a different kind of temperament, one that belonged only to those of the Upper Rank—the aura of a conqueror!
"State your request."
Exhaling softly, Elder Bai pulled his attention away from Ta Shan in the distance. The previous scene was still replaying in his mind, heart-pounding and intense. He had been so tense that he still hadn’t figured out just how Mu Chen and Mu Bingling had neutralized Ta Shan’s terrifying assault. If Mu Chen hadn’t spoken up, his mind would likely still be lost in confusion.
"I wish to represent all the combatants from the Xuanling Empire and issue a challenge to the Cangyue Empire! I, alone, will fight your entire empire!"
"I, alone, will fight your entire empire!"
"Fight your entire empire!"
Mu Chen’s indifferent yet arrogant voice instantly spread across the entire Peak of the Holy Mark, the clear echoes swirling and reverberating high above.
...
At that moment, it seemed everyone had grown accustomed to the Xuanling Empire’s arrogant displays. No one even bothered to complain anymore. Instead, they all just stared at Mu Chen with looks of utter disbelief.
"Is this guy insane? The team opposite him is from a Middle Upper Empire, and you could even say they’re one of the top three teams among them."
"What’s so surprising? This isn’t the first time the Xuanling Empire has pulled a stunt like this."
"True. The Xuanling Empire is too reckless in how it fosters its prodigies. Their disciples are too impulsive and will never amount to anything."
...
Down below, Mu Chen scoffed inwardly. With his Spiritual Power, tempered by the God-Nashing Technique and the Forest of Myriad Manifestations, how could he fail to hear the crowd’s chatter? But he knew exactly where he stood. They were just a few Martial Artists of the Sect Realm; he truly didn’t give them a second thought.
It took a long moment for Elder Bai to process Mu Chen’s words. He asked in surprise, "You’re saying you want to challenge the Cangyue Empire all by yourself? Young man, they are a Middle Upper Empire. Their strength is on a completely different level from a Low-class Empire. Are you certain you want to do this?"
Mu Chen smiled faintly. "It’s just a puny Middle Upper Empire. They’re truly not worthy of my notice."
"What? How dare that bastard be so shameless!"
The Cangyue Empire’s rest platform wasn’t far from Arena One, and since Mu Chen hadn’t bothered to lower his voice, they heard his words clearly. Peng Chong instantly flew into a rage. If Chu Liwen hadn’t held him back, he probably would have charged onto the platform to kill Mu Chen on the spot.
"Peng Chong!"
A sharp rebuke came from behind him. Peng Chong turned his head and said, stunned, "Boss Fei Yuan."
The speaker was none other than Liu Feiyuan, who had just jumped down from the arena. His expression was grim, and a hint of killing intent lurked in his eyes. "I always thought you were the most trustworthy and level-headed person on the team, but your behavior just now was a great disappointment to me."
"Er..."
Peng Chong froze. He clenched his fists tightly, then slowly relaxed them. Taking a deep breath, he said, "Boss... I’m sorry."
Liu Feiyuan sighed and said gently, "Don’t forget, I’m graduating from the academy in another year. After that, everything will be in your hands. This empire tournament is my final battle, in a sense, and I don’t want to leave with any regrets. That’s why my tone was a little harsh."
Hearing this, Peng Chong suddenly felt his eyes sting. He declared, "Yes! Boss Fei Yuan, you can rest assured. I promise it won’t happen again."
"Heh." Liu Feiyuan chuckled softly, patting Peng Chong’s shoulder. He glanced at the four people around him—by now, Ta Shan had climbed out from the wreckage of the arena, and Liu Feiyan had also awoken. Taking a step forward, he asked, "You’re Mu Chen, right?"
Mu Chen watched him coldly. Although the other man maintained a gentle smile, his own keen senses easily detected the killing intent in his eyes. "What do you want?" he sneered.
Liu Feiyuan shook his head. "Young man, it’s good to be driven, but if you’re too arrogant, the outcome is likely to be unpleasant."
At this, Mu Chen laughed, and it was a genuine, happy laugh. "Arrogant? No, the word ’arrogant’ doesn’t exist in my vocabulary. I would never do anything that exceeds my own strength. The reason I dare to treat you all this way is simply because... you’re not good enough." As he spoke, his expression suddenly hardened. "Either fight! Or get lost!"
Mu Chen wasn’t a vindictive person, but he was fiercely protective of his own. ’You bullied my brothers, so I will humiliate your empire. You nearly harmed the person I love most, so I’ll teach you that only the truly powerful have the right to be arrogant!’
Those six words struck the hearts of the six Cangyue members like a sledgehammer, shattering their cautious reasoning to pieces. Even Liu Feiyuan’s eyes went wide, his expression twisting with ferocity. "Good! Good! Good! If you were trying to provoke me, then congratulations—you’ve succeeded! In all these years, you’re the first person to ever make me this furious! We, the Cangyue Empire, accept your challenge!"
The moment he finished speaking, Liu Feiyuan clenched his fists and, with a light leap, hovered in the air above Arena One. The wild Primordial Power in his body erupted violently, and seven dazzling blue Martial Rings materialized beneath his feet. At the same time, as his Primordial Power surged, a faintly discernible golden sword-shaped mark appeared between his brows. The tiny golden sword flashed, and a Wide Blade Giant Sword condensed from Primordial Power appeared, hovering steadily behind his back. A terrifyingly sharp Qi Force radiated from the greatsword, instantly spreading across the entire Peak of the Holy Mark.
"That’s... Sword Intent!!"
"Sword Intent?! Heavens, how is that possible? How old is he? To have already condensed such a sharp Sword Intent... is that kid really from just a Middle-class Empire?"
"A Seventh-Ring Martial Sect! A Gold Attribute Martial Artist who has mastered Sword Intent! With strength like that, he could probably get into a High-level Empire..."
Countless people were stunned by the dazzling golden Sword Aura. As for Mu Chen, he had been completely forgotten.
"Hoh hoh, the Cangyue Empire has certainly been low-key," Dilaka chuckled from the special seating area. "A descendant of the Giant Rock Race who has mastered Giant Rock Transformation, and a Seventh-Ring Martial Sect who possesses Sword Intent... with this kind of power, they could probably be ranked among the Middle-level High-level Empires." He then turned his head and continued, "Jun Wu, what do you think? Are this Giant Rock Race descendant and this Gold Attribute kid qualified to enter Holy Tomb Mountain?"
Jun Wu, who had been lost in her own thoughts, was startled by Dilaka’s question. She glanced down below, slightly embarrassed, then nodded. "Based on their age and talent, they are qualified to enter Holy Tomb Mountain. However, among the many prodigies there, they would only rank at the very bottom."
"Haha, you really don’t pull any punches, do you?" Dilaka laughed. "Still, talent that meets the standard should be recruited. Once the tournament is over, regardless of their success or failure, let them enter Holy Tomb Mountain." After speaking, Dilaka shifted his gaze to Mu Chen on the other side of the arena. But when he saw the smile on Mu Chen’s lips, he froze for a moment. "Has this kid been scared witless? He’s still smiling. This Xuanling Empire really is something special."
"Special in their arrogance, you mean," Shan Ziyan, who was sitting below, suddenly chimed in, her expression full of contempt. In her eyes, Mu Chen’s actions were nothing but grandstanding.
Hearing Shan Ziyan’s words, Shan Qiuhen shook his head with a sigh, though he inwardly agreed. Based on the battles fought by their youths earlier, the Xuanling Empire could only be considered to have the strength of a Mid-level Middle-class Empire. They were unlikely to accomplish anything great. As for this kid named Mu Chen, he was even more clueless, arrogantly challenging the entire Cangyue Empire by himself when he was just a First-Ring Martial Sect.
Liu Feiyuan hovered like a superior being, looking down on Mu Chen with contempt. On the arena floor, his teammates—Ta Shan, Liu Feiyan, Chu Liwen, Peng Chong, and Huang Bo—all glared furiously at Mu Chen, yet their glares were tinged with pity. This was the first time they had ever seen their leader so enraged.
Seeing the tense, explosive situation, Elder Bai quickly intervened. "Wait a moment. Although both sides have agreed to the terms of the challenge, it is not official until I announce it. Before that, I will ask one more time. Mu Chen, are you absolutely certain you wish to challenge them all by yourself?"
Even an outsider could tell that Elder Bai was giving Mu Chen a way to back down gracefully. His opponent’s strength was terrifying; if a real fight broke out, Mu Chen would surely die. What’s more, after seeing Liu Feiyuan reveal his true power, even Di Cang and the combatants from the Holy Hall had begun to shrink back in fear. A Seventh-Ring Martial Sect who had already cultivated Sword Intent at such a young age—the gap in their strength was simply too vast. Not only that, he was a Gold Attribute Martial Artist, known for having the strongest offensive power. No matter how strong they believed Mu Chen to be, he was absolutely no match for this. But would Mu Chen really take the escape route offered to him?
"Heh heh. They are still not worthy."
UPROAR!
Countless stunned faces appeared in the spectator stands. In their eyes, it was the same calm and carefree words, the same composed smile, the same tall and resolute young man... Just what power gave a person the audacity to be so arrogant, even to the point of risking his own life?
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