Chapter 1618: The Unrivaled Emperor's Shadow
At the same time, within the Saint Realm at the highest peak of Dongling Immortal Pool, an old man seated cross-legged on the back of a giant ancient turtle slowly opened his eyes.
"Oh? Looks like that little fellow is finally about to enter the inner sect. Hah, this old man's about to get busy for a while."
He stroked his snowy white beard and gazed down through the rolling clouds. Suddenly, his eyes narrowed, and a sly grin spread across his face.
"Hm? Is little Bi Luo bathing right now? Hehe..."
But the moment he focused his sight, two streaks of green light shot out from the clouds straight at his eyes. The old man yelped and flipped backward off the turtle's shell.
At the same time, an angry shout rang out.
"You shameless old lecher! Peek again, and I'll blind you!"
"That girl's temper is getting worse and worse..."
The old man shook his head with a sigh, not daring to look again.
The old turtle beneath him lifted its head and cast him a disdainful glance.
"You filthy old goat have no shame at all. You disgrace the title of one of the Three Great Half-Saints!"
"It's just a title. Whoever wants it can have it."
The old man hopped back onto the turtle's shell and drew in a slow breath. As he recalled the vision he had once glimpsed in the Turtle Mirror, a trace of worry appeared in his eyes.
"Less than a year remains... Can that boy truly grow enough in time...?"
...
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Early on the morning of the third day, Ling Feng emerged from seclusion.
Fang Wen had already prepared a lavish breakfast for him.
Ling Feng ate unhurriedly, calm and composed. Only after finishing did he step out of his Sky-tier Number One Mingjian Tower.
After today, this Mingjian Tower would likely belong to someone else.
No matter whether he won or lost this battle, he would become an inner sect disciple.
Fang Wen accompanied him to the gate.
The outer sect disciples, filled with reverence, escorted him to the boundary between the Earth Realm and Heaven Realm.
The inner sect disciples, carrying anticipation and curiosity, followed him all the way to the largest challenge arena at the center of the Heaven Realm.
Countless inner sect disciples had gathered there.
Strangers. Acquaintances. Friends. Rivals. Familiar faces and unknown ones alike.
All had come to watch from afar.
Several sect elders also appeared, each eager to witness for themselves the rumored genius named Ling Feng.
Even above the clouds, a few mysterious figures could be seen faintly.
They were none other than three Hall Masters.
Zuo Feiqing of Tempest Wind Hall.
Lei Wensheng of Profound Thunder Hall.
Saint Lady Bi Luo.
Three Hall Masters of the Heaven Realm's Eight Halls had come in person.
That alone was enough to shock everyone.
Even a battle involving the number one Young Emperor of the inner sect might not draw such a lineup.
In truth, several Hall Masters who had not come personally were also observing in secret through magical treasures.
Everyone knew Ling Feng was a monster.
What nobody knew was exactly how monstrous he really was.
And the Unrivaled Young Emperor was the perfect touchstone.
Of course, after crippling his own cultivation and rebuilding his path from scratch, finally breaking into the Great Emperor Realm once more, today might also become the battle that restored his name.
To both men, the other was merely a stepping stone.
The victor would stand tall.
The loser would be trampled beneathfoot.
Under countless watching eyes, Ling Feng stepped calmly onto the arena.
His expression was tranquil, like a cold lake untouched by wind, without the slightest ripple.
Then suddenly, golden light burst across the horizon.
A colossal imperial shadow rose into the heavens.
It was a peerless Great Emperor phantom, accompanied by thousands of divine and demonic apparitions, tearing through the sky with thunderous force as it descended.
Boundless dominance.
Terrifying might.
An overwhelming, crushing pressure.
The sky darkened.
The earth seemed to sink.
A suffocating aura poured in every direction from that imperial shadow.
At that moment, above heaven and below earth, it felt as though only this unmatched war god remained.
The Unrivaled Emperor's Shadow descended wrapped in endless violent winds.
Like heavenly thunder descending upon the world, it suppressed all directions.
Boom!
The shadow landed heavily upon the arena.
The entire stage shook violently.
Cracks spread outward in every direction.
This was the Heaven Realm's largest arena, its strongest arena.
For centuries, countless inner sect experts had battled here without leaving so much as a single crack.
Time itself had only left behind a few weathered scars.
Yet one step from that imperial shadow had shaken this indestructible arena.
The black radiance faded.
A towering figure slowly emerged.
A square, sharply defined face.
Pitch-black eyes blazing with overwhelming dominance.
A tall frame that radiated terrifying pressure even while standing still.
He did not feel human.
He felt like a ferocious primordial beast hidden beneath human flesh.
Hands clasped behind his back, the Unrivaled Young Emperor looked coldly at Ling Feng with those black eyes.
Anyone brushed by his gaze felt their heart pound wildly against their chest.
It was as though even his eyes could kill.
"Fight."
Ling Feng slowly opened his eyes and looked at the young man before him.
His expression remained calm, untroubled as drifting clouds.
He spoke only one word.
Simple.
Plain.
As if the opponent before him was merely an ordinary challenger, not the mighty Unrivaled Young Emperor.
That single word sent countless hearts racing with excitement.
At last, the Unrivaled Young Emperor spoke.
His voice was heavy as a mountain, carrying suffocating pressure.
"A battle without stakes is meaningless."
Standing with hands behind his back, he looked down upon heaven and earth like a born ruler.
Anyone before him seemed naturally diminished.
This was the meaning of Unrivaled.
Supremacy above all.
Yet from beginning to end, Ling Feng remained like an invisible breeze, untouched by that oppressive force.
Unlike the Unrivaled Young Emperor's aggressive dominance, he simply answered flatly.
"The spirit core you wanted is gone. I have nothing left worth wagering."
Murderous intent flickered in the Unrivaled Young Emperor's dark eyes.
He grinned.
The smile was strange, cold, and sinister.
"I no longer want your spirit core."
"There is something else I want."
"Speak," Ling Feng replied calmly.
"Your life."
Three simple words.
Each word struck like a blade.
Each syllable carried killing intent.
The whole arena erupted.
Shock spread across every face.
On the high platform, the elders exchanged glances, then looked up toward the three Hall Masters in the sky.
Seeing that they remained silent, the elders also chose silence.
A wagered duel was sacred.
Unless there was special cause, even elders could not interfere.
Even if the wager was life itself.
Ling Feng's eyes remained still as ancient wells.
He had expected this.
"You want my life?"
Ling Feng's tone was flat.
"What are you staking in return? Your life holds no value to me."
The Unrivaled Young Emperor sneered.
"What are you? You think you're worthy of wagering against my life?"
"My life is priceless. Even a hundred thousand of yours could never compare!"
With a flick of his wrist, he produced a letter of repudiation.
Coldly, he declared:
"This letter, casting off Yu Qingping, is my stake."
His icy eyes gleamed.
"If you win, it becomes official."
"I'll consider it a gift, fulfilling your wish to be with that shameless woman. How about that?"
The crowd exploded in uproar once more.
So the rumors were true.
The Unrivaled Young Emperor and Fairy Qingping really had a marriage agreement.
And now, he used a letter of repudiation as a gambling stake.
That meant one thing.
He had never truly loved Yu Qingping.
To him, she was nothing more than a possession he could discard whenever he pleased.
From beginning to end, the only thing he cared about was his own pride.
That single letter was not merely a wager.
It was a vicious insult aimed straight at Ling Feng.
His meaning was crystal clear.
You are only taking what I no longer want.
The venom in his heart was plain for all to see.
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