Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.
On this day, Shura Blood Purgatory opened, and the Blood Heir Contest finally arrived.
Countless figures flocked to Blood Prison City, gathering in its central district.
At the center of the vast city stood eight enormous, ancient stone pillars. Within them, blood-red light soared into the sky, and bloody mist filled the air. Below was no solid ground, but a churning sea of blood, a shocking sight.
Waves surged through the sea of blood as piercing shrieks shook the heavens. It was as though a hundred ghosts were howling, changing the very color of heaven and earth.
This was Shura Blood Purgatory. If an ordinary person entered, let alone fighting another, even preserving their own life would be difficult.
The bloody mist corroded the body, and ghostly shrieks seized the soul. Once inside the sea of blood, not even bones would remain!
A group of Asura Blood Guards stood watch outside the ancient stone pillars, and anyone uninvolved was strictly forbidden from approaching. Farther out, enormous, lavish palaces floated in the air, dazzling in their splendor.
They had been prepared for spectators from the Asura Imperial Clan, the five great blood clans, and other top-tier factions.
The Blood Heir Contest was a grand event in the Asura Domain, and all eyes were naturally upon it. Every local faction in the Asura Domain would attend. After all, the Blood Scion would be the next emperor, so of course they had come to pay their respects in advance.
"Whoosh!"
The air trembled as the piercing sound of rushing wind rang out. A figure descended from the sky, landing atop an ancient stone pillar.
He wore a purple robe and bore an extraordinary air of nobility. His face was handsome, but a fierce light lurked in his eyes. A domineering, razor-sharp blood-red sword intent swirled around him, ringing with a metallic hum. It swept out without restraint, blanketing all of Shura Blood Purgatory.
"The Qin Clan's young king, Qin Lang!"
"The Qin Clan was the previous Asura Imperial Clan. His great-grandfather Qin Ao was the emperor of the previous generation!"
"This Qin Lang is exceptionally gifted, surpassing even his father, Qin Hao, King of Qin Guang. Rumor has it his strength is already enough to suppress an entire era!"
Cries of astonishment rose from the crowd around the Blood Purgatory. Countless gazes fixed on Qin Lang, full of admiration. Inside one of the palaces, Qin Hao stood with his hands behind his back, a smile on his face.
Qin Lang had been born with an Asura Sword Vein. If he could enter the Ancestral Land to cultivate, there was a chance it could transform into an Asura Sword Body! Back then, Qin Ao had possessed a Sword Emperor Body and looked down upon all who stood before him!
Qin Hao was brimming with confidence in this Blood Heir Contest and had already begun making plans for the future. Unfortunately, he had no idea that some fellow had long since swallowed every last drop of the Innate Spiritual Qi in the Ancestral Land.
"Boom!"
A dazzling streak of blood-red light flashed across the sky and landed atop another stone pillar. A terrifying pressure rippled outward, making the air tremble.
A figure emerged from the blood-red light, unparalleled in his domineering bearing, his imposing presence on full display!
"Chu Tian!"
Someone immediately recognized the young man in battle armor, his long blood-red hair flowing behind him.
The Chu Clan's young king, Chu Tian!
"It's said that Chu Tian has already cultivated an Asura Blood Body, with strength enough to shatter the heavens and unmatched domineering power. Some say his future achievements could surpass those of his ancestor, the Hegemon King Chu Xiang!"
"Chu Xiang, the Hegemon King of Western Chu, was the foremost battle general under the previous emperor, only one step away from being crowned emperor himself. If Chu Tian's talent surpasses his ancestor's, doesn't that mean he has an excellent chance of winning the position of Blood Scion this time?"
Cries of astonishment rose again, and the crowd buzzed with excitement.
Chu Tian stood with his hands behind his back and a smile on his face. He glanced at Qin Lang across from him, his eyes blazing with battle intent.
"Rumble!"
A deafening peal of thunder suddenly rang out from the heavens. Countless people looked up to see lightning flashing high in the sky. A figure bathed in its light strode through the air before landing firmly atop a stone pillar.
"Yan Chen of the Yan Clan!"
"He awakened the Extreme Thunder Saint Body as a child. Born with the makings of a saint, he can be said to be destined for at least the Saint Realm. He may even reach the Human Emperor Realm someday."
"Screech!"
Just after Yan Chen landed, a clear phoenix cry suddenly rang out. Countless gazes turned to see a blood-red fire phoenix soaring toward them from the distant horizon.
Billowing blood-red flames roared outward, and terrifying heat like that of a volcano descended in an instant. Many faces changed drastically as people hurried back. Even Qin Lang and the others standing on the stone pillars had flickers in their eyes, their expressions turning slightly grave.
The blood phoenix spread its wings and landed atop a stone pillar. The flames then receded, transforming into a graceful figure, like an immortal spirit descending to the mortal world. Long dark hair cascaded down her back, and her beauty was beyond compare.
"Song You'er!"
"That just now was... an Asura Blood Phoenix! I never expected Song You'er to have awakened the Blood Phoenix Bloodline!"
"The Song Clan was originally the weakest of the five great blood clans, and Song You'er was the weakest of the five young kings. Now that she's awakened the Blood Phoenix Bloodline, doesn't she have the strength to contend for the position of Blood Scion?"
Cries of astonishment rang out, far louder than before. Clearly, Song You'er's appearance had shocked the crowd far more than Qin Lang and the others had.
"Hmph. I didn't expect you to awaken the power of your bloodline. It seems your Song Clan has finally produced a decent prospect in this generation." Qin Lang glanced at Song You'er, a hint of surprise in his eyes, but nothing more. It was as though, in his eyes, Song You'er remained unable to withstand a single blow even after awakening the Blood Phoenix Bloodline.
Song You'er lowered her bright eyes and paid Qin Lang no heed.
"Whoosh!"
The last figure landed on a stone pillar: Tai Yu, son of the Tai Clan's King of Mount Tai!
Tai Yu was powerfully built, with close-cropped hair and round eyes. Muscles bulged all over his body, and merely standing there, he gave off an overwhelming sense of pressure. His gaze in particular was fiercely aggressive. A heavy pressure, like a mountain, bore down upon heaven and earth.
With that, the young kings of the five great blood clans had all arrived!
And just as the Asura Emperor had said, all five had reached the Soul Sea Realm. The strongest among them was Qin Lang, who was already at the late stage of the Soul Sea Realm!
The crowd's gazes grew fervent. This Blood Heir Contest would surely be a magnificent clash of dragons and tigers. The only question was who would ultimately win the position of Blood Scion and stand beneath only one person!
After the five young kings appeared, however, they showed no intention of fighting. They simply stood in silence, as though waiting for something.
"His Highness the imperial prince has arrived! All beings, kneel and pay homage!"
A loud shout suddenly rang out. Countless gazes hurriedly turned to see a white-robed figure striding through the air.
There was no earthshaking pressure, nor were there any strange phenomena. The young man in white simply walked through the air, approaching from afar until he came into everyone's view.
After appearing, however, the white-robed young man did not land atop a stone pillar like the other five. Instead, he stood high in the air, looking down upon them.
"Greetings, Your Highness!"
The young man in white was naturally Ning Xuanyuan. Countless figures hurriedly fell to both knees, touching their heads to the ground. Atop the stone pillars, the five young kings' eyes flickered before they knelt on one knee, paying their respects as subjects.
Ning Xuanyuan stood beneath only one person. Even though Qin Lang and the other four were all proud and arrogant, they still had to salute him respectfully.
In the palaces floating in the surrounding air, crowds of figures also dropped to their knees. Only the heads of the five great blood clans cupped their hands and bowed without kneeling.
The heads of the five great blood clans had all been granted the title of king. They were not required to kneel except when paying their respects to the Asura Emperor.
Smiling, Ning Xuanyuan raised his right hand slightly. "Rise."
Only then did the crowd begin to stand. But just as Qin Lang and the others started to move, Ning Xuanyuan's voice rang out again. "You five had better stay on your knees."
The moment he spoke, deathly silence fell over the entire gathering. Qin Lang and the other four stiffened, then raised their heads, boundless battle intent surging in their eyes.
Everyone else could rise, but the five of them alone had better remain kneeling?
Was Ning Xuanyuan asserting his status as imperial prince, or implying that the position of Blood Scion belonged to him and no one else?
The five looked up at Ning Xuanyuan in the sky, their gazes sharp. Then, as one, they rose to their feet. They had paid their respects earlier because he was the imperial prince, standing beneath only one person.
But from this point on, the competition was fair. Who would become the Blood Scion remained to be seen!
"It seems you few aren't very convinced." Ning Xuanyuan smiled down at the five below, showing no intention of descending.
"I knelt to you earlier because you're the imperial prince. But after today, I'll be the sovereign and you'll be the subject. Then you'll be the one kneeling to me." Qin Lang's expression was calm, but his gaze was utterly defiant.
"That's right," Yan Chen said, his voice domineering. "If not for the status bestowed on you by the emperor, what right would you have to make us kneel?"
"In our Asura Domain, status and position are won through one's own efforts. What others bestow is nothing but a spring dream. Now, it's time for you to wake up from yours." Chu Tian laughed aloud, blood Qi surging around him as his fierce might swept over the world.
"Get down here and fight me!" Tai Yu slammed his fists together with a piercing clang like fine steel, his battle intent soaring and sharp light spilling from his eyes.
Of the five, only Song You'er said nothing. But her proud gaze said it all.
"Oh? You've all got quite the attitude, huh?" Ning Xuanyuan grinned, but in the next moment his smile vanished, and his voice turned gloomy. "Have I been giving you too much face?"
"Boom!"
As Ning Xuanyuan's words fell, a terrifying, ferocious might that made hearts and minds tremble burst from his body, mingled with an indescribable, overwhelming killing intent. It came rushing out like a collapsing mountain and a surging sea.
At that moment, countless faces throughout the vast Blood Prison City changed drastically, their pupils contracting to pinpoints.
It was as though an unrivaled Asura had appeared between heaven and earth, blood-red light soaring into the sky. Boundless vicious Qi spiraled upward, blotting out the heavens and the sun.
The terrifying killing intent and the Asura's ferocious might swept across the entire gathering like a raging wind. Countless people turned deathly pale, their hearts and minds trembling beyond their control.
"I said you'd better stay on your knees!" Ning Xuanyuan was the very opposite of his earlier relaxed, smiling self. He was like a bloodthirsty Asura that had climbed out from beneath the Blood Purgatory, ready to slaughter the world!
"Get down on your knees!"
The fierce shout was like thunder crashing from the nine heavens!
"Kneel! Kneel! Kneel!" Qin Lang and the other four felt their minds reel as a fierce killing intent invaded their thoughts, the domineering voice echoing endlessly in their ears.
But they were, after all, the young kings of the five great blood clans. How could their resolve be anything but steadfast? As they steadied their minds, each unleashed their power to resist the crushing pressure of Ning Xuanyuan's might.
"Boom!" Yan Chen was the first to act. Lightning coiled around him as he soared into the sky with an air of invincibility, charging straight at Ning Xuanyuan like a young thunder god.
"I told you to get down on your knees!" A sharp light flashed in Ning Xuanyuan's eyes, and in the next instant, he vanished from where he stood. When he reappeared, he was already above Yan Chen's head.
"Thunder God Dash!"
Inside the palace, Yan Shang, King of Yan Luo, turned pale with shock. What Ning Xuanyuan had just used was none other than the Yan Clan's secret ultimate technique!
As Yan Shang stared in horror, Ning Xuanyuan stepped down, driving Yan Chen all the way to the ground beneath his foot!
"Boom!"
The earth trembled and dust billowed. The crowd peered intently through it, and in the next moment, their eyes nearly burst from their sockets!
Yan Chen was on both knees, blood spraying from all seven orifices. Ning Xuanyuan had one foot planted on his head, lightning raging around him in a matchless blaze!