Strongest War Emperor

Time always flies. In the blink of an eye, more than half a month had passed.

The selection tournament for entry into the Yumu Cave Blessed Land was about to begin.

This selection tournament was being held at Cangxia Mountain, over a hundred li from the Imperial Capital.

The terrain of Cangxia Mountain was a continuous series of rolling peaks and cliffs thousands of fathoms high. Its peaks were as steep as if carved by a knife, its rock faces so high that even eagles struggled to climb them. It was a place utterly inaccessible to ordinary people.

It served as a natural barrier outside the Imperial Capital Imperial City.

「On this day」

On Cangxia Mountain, the chimes of a bell echoed repeatedly, ringing throughout the mountains.

Over sixty Profound Iron Level influences and the three major Spirit Copper Level influences from the Purple Chu Country, in addition to sects like the White Bone Hall and the Blood Wing Demon Sect from the Celestial Defying Demon Realm, had gathered here. Each sect brought hundreds of elite disciples, creating a bustling and incredibly lively scene.

On the six-thousand-zhang-square Martial Arts Arena at the summit of Cangxia Mountain, the disciples of the various sects were craning their necks in anticipation, waiting for the grand tournament to begin.

Squads of fully-armed Royal Guards stood watch at every checkpoint.

The disciples of the Imperial Dragon Sect, dressed in uniform attire, were rushing about, greeting the Martial Artists from the other major sects.

In the area designated for the Profound Dao Sect, Chu Qingcheng casually fanned herself a few times with a paper fan and said, "Such a grand event, and Xiaolang can't even take part. He left me here all by myself... Sigh, it's so lonely!"

Beside her, Wang Dashu, looking pleased with himself, stroked his beard and chuckled. "There's no benefit for him in participating in a selection tournament of this level. Besides, if he really did participate, it would be a bit too much like bullying."

"Indeed, indeed." A group of old-timers next to them nodded repeatedly.

After Shen Lang burst onto the scene, Songdu Peak, once an unremarkable Outer Sect mountain peak, had become highly sought-after.

Buoyed by Shen Lang's prestige and with the favor of several Profound Dao Sect Elder Ancestors, Songdu Peak had faintly become the head of the Profound Dao Sect's Nine-Nine Eighty-One Peaks.

And as the Master of Songdu Peak, Wang Dashu's status had risen again and again.

At first, it was the masters of the other peaks who curried favor with him. Later, even the ten great Elders of the Profound Dao Sect were flocking to Songdu Peak.

After that, even people from major sects like the Evil Wind Valley and the Xiu Hua Sect started hanging around Songdu Peak, refusing to leave...

Who could blame them? Wang Dashu was Shen Lang's master, after all.

These days, even the four Elder Ancestors were polite and courteous when they saw Wang Dashu, making others burn with envy.

As for the Songdu Peak Elder, Tian Mohan, who had once opposed Wang Dashu, he had long since shed his superior, elder-like airs. Now, he followed Wang Dashu around constantly, looking for all the world like his most capable deputy!

Chu Qingcheng glanced at Wang Dashu and gave a wry smile. "Having him compete against Spirit Martial Realm Martial Artists would indeed be bullying. But he did accept that challenge from Dugu Zhange. Take a look at the Imperial Dragon Sect and the Li Hen Sect over there..."

"Oh, right, I almost forgot about that... But he's still in seclusion. It's questionable whether he'll even come out in the next few days, isn't it?" Wang Dashu and the others were startled, and their gazes followed Chu Qingcheng's.

About two hundred meters to their left were the gathered disciples of the three great Spirit Copper Level influences: the Imperial Dragon Sect, the Li Hen Sect, and the Flower Sect.

The people from the Profound Dao Sect hadn't noticed anything before, but one look in that direction and they immediately sensed something was off.

The disciples of those three Spirit Copper Level influences were whispering amongst themselves, pointing at the Profound Dao Sect's group. Every one of them had an extremely hostile expression.

After a moment's hesitation, Wang Dashu and the other old-timers spread their Divine Thought and immediately overheard the conversations of the group from the three Spirit Copper Level sects.

"I heard that Shen Lang fellow has some skill, that he even took a palm strike from the King Martial Realm's Dugu Zhange and accepted his challenge. So how come he's nowhere to be seen now that the selection tournament is about to start? He's not scared, is he?"

"Of course he's scared! Think about it, Dugu Zhange is a King Martial Realm powerhouse! If it were me, I'd be scared too!"

"Hmph. A disciple from a mere Profound Iron Level Sect can, at best, show off within his own sect. Even against the genius disciples of our Three Sects, it wouldn't be so easy for him to win, right? And what's more, Dugu Zhange, despite his youth, is already a King Martial Realm powerhouse! I also heard he comes from a reclusive Great Noble Family!"

"That may be, but that kid Shen Lang has a way of commanding King Martial Realm powerhouses, and even legendary Zombie Emperors like Duanmu Xie. His methods are truly impressive..."

"So what? That just proves he has powerful backing, not that his own cultivation is strong! It's probably just because he has some special connection to the Ruyi Buddha Sect!"

"I heard he pierced through Helian Qingyun of the White Bone Hall with just a dry twig, and then killed him on the spot with a single move..."

"Hmph, Helian Qingyun was only at the Spirit Martial Realm Eighth Heaven. If I wanted to kill him, it would take two moves at most! What's so special about Shen Lang being able to kill him?"

"Exactly. All those previous rumors were just tall tales, exaggerated countless times as they spread... Saying he cut off the arm of a King Martial Realm Fifth Heaven powerhouse from Celestial Sword Mountain? Hmph, that was all thanks to the Immortal Celestial Saber of my Li Hen Sect's Elder Ancestor Shark's Kiss! Without the Immortal Celestial Saber, do you think he could even injure a King Martial Realm powerhouse?"

"I just don't get it. On what grounds does that punk deserve so much of Elder Ancestor Shark's Kiss's favor? Just what kind of backing does he have?"

"Who cares what backing he has. He accepted Dugu Zhange's challenge, and everyone knows it now, hehe..."

"No matter how strong Shen Lang is, his cultivation hasn't reached the King Martial Realm. There's a world of difference between the Xuanwu Realm and the King Martial Realm. If he doesn't show up, he'll lose face. If he does show up, he'll lose even more face! I can't wait to see him and the Profound Dao Sect get utterly humiliated this time!"

The group from the Profound Dao Sect all rolled their eyes.

They never imagined that even the disciples of the three Spirit Copper Level sects, including the Imperial Dragon Sect, had come to hate Shen Lang and the Profound Dao Sect.

During this period, Shen Lang had appeared in the Imperial Capital with an incredibly arrogant attitude, causing a few major uproars, and his fame was temporarily unrivaled.

To say nothing of the disciples from the various Profound Iron Level sects...

Back then, outside the Profound Dao Sect's residence, many of them were not only beaten until their faces were swollen like pigs' heads, but also had their Lifebound Spiritual Artifacts and Sumeru Rings stolen. They were still grinding their teeth in hatred.

Originally, these matters had nothing to do with the disciples from the three Spirit Copper Level influences like the Imperial Dragon Sect.

Because they hadn't been involved at all.

Moreover, several powerhouses from the Imperial Dragon Sect had publicly and privately expressed their friendship with Shen Lang... like the King Martial Realm's Zu Wei and Nanfeng Yao.

The problem was, all these genius disciples from the three Spirit Copper Level influences had been planning to shine in this grand tournament and make a name for themselves in one fell swoop!

This was the grand stage they had been eagerly awaiting!

They had waited several years for this stage!

But as soon as Shen Lang appeared, all of that vanished like a soap bubble.

For this entire period, everyone in the Imperial Capital, young and old, from all walks of life, was talking about Shen Lang!

The talk on every street corner was all about Shen Lang's affairs!

The moment that punk Shen Lang appeared, no one was interested in the genius disciples of their three Spirit Copper Level sects anymore...

And whether in word or in thought, these genius disciples, once the objects of envy and admiration, were completely incomparable to Shen Lang.

In most people's eyes, even though Shen Lang was of a similar age to these sects' elite disciples, they were no longer on the same level.

Many people even believed that Shen Lang would definitely not participate in this selection tournament...

...because there was simply no need!

Even the Xuanwu Realm powerhouses from the major sects no longer participated in this kind of competition, to say nothing of a ruthless character like Shen Lang who dared to strike down even King Martial Realm experts.

He could obliterate Helian Qingyun, a Spirit Martial Realm Eighth Heaven expert from the White Bone Hall, with a mere turn of his palm.

He could rise into the air without needing Spiritual Wings, and then force the Third Prince to slap his own face.

After that, when the people from Celestial Sword Mountain besieged the Shui Family, he took advantage of the chaos to sever the arm of a Celestial Sword Mountain powerhouse, and ultimately even destroyed the man's physical body, allowing only his Nascent Soul to escape...

And just a short while ago, the immensely talented young King Martial Realm powerhouse, Dugu Zhange, had failed in a sneak attack against him, and had subsequently issued a written challenge to determine a victor!

All of this made people subconsciously regard Shen Lang as a King Martial Realm powerhouse.

So how could they possibly compare him to these Spirit Martial Realm Martial Artists?

And the more this was the case, the more the disciples of the Three Sects were so angry they could spit blood.

The disciples of the three Spirit Copper Level sects clearly knew that their own Elder Ancestors held Shen Lang in high regard.

But now, not only were they hoping for Shen Lang to be defeated and utterly humiliated by Dugu Zhange, they had also come to hate the people of the Profound Dao Sect as well.

In their eyes, this really wasn't because they were jealous of Shen Lang...

...It was because Shen Lang had stolen all their thunder and snatched away all their opportunities... It was truly infuriating!

These people were supposed to be the dazzling new stars, but then Shen Lang had burst onto the scene... In front of Shen Lang, their own light was so dim they didn't even qualify as his foil!

"We all need to put aside our past grudges and unite! We'll focus on dealing with the Profound Dao Sect's people during the selection tournament! We can't let them get too smug!"

"That's right! If you run into anyone from the Profound Dao Sect, beat them half to death!"

"Hehe, just doing that would be letting them off too easy. Later, we should discuss properly how we can wipe out the entire Profound Dao Sect inside the Yumu Cave Blessed Land!"

The Profound Dao Sect, currently in the limelight, had practically become a common enemy!

Originally, the Profound Dao Sect's main enemy was the White Bone Hall. They never expected the disciples of the Imperial Dragon Sect and the other two sects to get involved as well...

'Things in the Yumu Cave Blessed Land have gotten even more complicated. We can't just kill people from the Imperial Dragon Sect and the others like we can with the White Bone Hall. Those sects have a very good relationship with us right now. This... Forget it. I'll ask Xian'Er properly when I get back.'

Wang Dashu and the others furrowed their brows and began to rack their brains for a counter-strategy.

Among the disciples of the Imperial Dragon Sect and the other two sects, a few had strange expressions and remained silent.

Some of these people had seen Shen Lang annihilate Xuanwu Realm powerhouses in a village in the Desolate Land;

Others had personally witnessed Shen Lang slaughter an entire group of Xuanwu Realm powerhouses, including Young Hall Master Helian Qingshan of the White Bone Hall;

And still others had watched the entirety of Shen Lang's great battle against the zombies in the Hidden Moon Tomb...

These people were crystal clear on how terrifying Shen Lang's methods were.

However, the competition between fellow disciples was immense. Seeing so many people smugly discussing Shen Lang, these few simply curled their lips into a cold smirk and didn't bother to correct them.

Back with the Profound Dao Sect, Chu Qingcheng's gaze shifted slightly, turning to another area.

On a high platform on the other side, the Third Prince and Dugu Zhange were chatting and laughing. Their gazes swept, intentionally or not, over the Profound Dao Sect's group, filled with a sinister light.

That Third Prince had slapped his own face in front of so many people, losing all dignity, yet now he was in high spirits. Where was the slightest hint of dejection or change?

Anyone who didn't know much about what happened that day might have actually thought that the person who slapped himself wasn't this Third Prince before them...

Chu Qingcheng glanced at the Third Prince, her brow furrowing slightly.

'This is a bit troublesome. Xu Daolin was actually chosen by that old monster to be a candidate for the Billions of Avatars! If Xiaolang kills this punk now, I'm afraid he'll immediately draw the attention of the Demon God Hall...'

SWISH. Chu Qingcheng snapped her paper fan shut and began tapping it lightly against her palm.

'Even though that old monster isn't in the Human Realm right now, the power of the Demon God Hall is far beyond what the current Xiaolang can handle... I have to think of a way.'

'But my true body is placed in the Valley of Death. On one hand, I have to suppress the Supreme Yin Qi, and on the other, I have to evade that old monster's detection. My life is so miserable...'

'Even if I didn't have to hide, even if I didn't need to suppress the Supreme Yin Qi, the power of a Divine Demon Body can't be used in this tiny Human Realm... Heh, it's so damn lonely!'

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