Crushing Defeat

Qin Lang's voice rang out like the clear cry of a sword, piercing metal and splitting clouds as it echoed through the void. In an instant, everyone except Ning Xuanyuan, Saint Jianjue included, had a change of expression, their gazes sharpening.

Qin Lang had actually dared to challenge everyone present!

"Arrogant!"

A cold shout came from one direction. A figure rose to his full height and strode out from among the seats.

Many eyes turned toward him. The man was powerfully built, his presence formidable and tyrannical beyond compare.

Yan Sen, a disciple of Heaven's Gate Palace in the Zhenlei Ancient Domain!

Yan Sen himself had not received a sword invitation. He had come to the Sword Emperor Sect to observe the ceremony alongside Su Ting and Su Mo. Su Mo was Su Ting's elder brother. He too possessed an Innate Thunder Body, and his talent was even more monstrous than Su Ting's. In the Heavenly Thunder Pool, he had comprehended the true meaning of the thunder path's rules, mastered the thunder of the nine heavens, and boasted that he would enforce the law on heaven's behalf.

From his seat, Su Mo stared coldly at Ning Xuanyuan, tears glistening in his eyes.

During the trip to the Thousand Mysteries Secret Realm, Su Ting had not only returned in defeat, but had also been suppressed by Ning Xuanyuan's presence, too afraid to fight. After Su Ting returned to Heaven's Gate Palace, Su Mo learned what had happened and immediately punished him by sending him into the Tribulation Thunder Abyss to face the wall and reflect on his mistakes. Only a few days ago, when the Sword Emperor Sect sent someone to deliver a sword invitation, had Su Ting been permitted to leave seclusion and come along.

Su Mo's gaze shifted away from Ning Xuanyuan and settled on Qin Lang. Yan Sen had entered the fight at his bidding. He wanted to see just how strong this so-called young king of the blood race, this Asura Sword Body, truly was.

In the surrounding seats, everyone watched the scene in silence. They all felt considerable resentment that Ning Xuanyuan had been personally welcomed by a Saint Realm expert. Now that Yan Sen had stepped forward, they could watch the show.

Even if Ning Xuanyuan did not fight, defeating Qin Lang would still take some of the edge off his arrogance. It would also show the Sword Emperor Sect that even an Asura Blood Scion had no right to stand a head above them.

"Yan Sen of Heaven's Gate Palace, Zhenlei Ancient Domain!" Yan Sen strode up to Qin Lang, his voice like rumbling thunder that made people's eardrums ache. "He's only a Blood Scion. What right does he have to be personally welcomed by a Saint Realm expert? I refuse to accept it!"

Saint Jianjue lowered his eyes and did not respond. How could others be allowed to question a saint's actions? But Yan Sen was clearly targeting Ning Xuanyuan, so he had no need to interfere.

Clashes between heavenly talents were commonplace. Qin Lang had spoken arrogantly and challenged all the heavenly talents, so Saint Jianjue would see what strength gave him the nerve to be so brazen. If he lost, they would see how Ning Xuanyuan dealt with the aftermath.

Qin Lang narrowed his eyes and drew his longsword with a ringing cry. A trace of killing intent rose between his brows.

When someone from the Asura Domain fought, it was a battle of life and death.

"That's enough. Today is a grand occasion for the Sword Emperor Sect, so don't take any lives," Ning Xuanyuan's voice came from behind. Then he descended and landed directly in one of the seats, looking at ease.

"Yes." Qin Lang nodded, then strode directly toward the plaza below. Seeing this, Yan Sen followed close behind and landed in the plaza as well.

Countless figures had gathered around the plaza. Among them were disciples of the Sword Emperor Sect, but even more were young experts from all sides who had come to take part in the assessment.

No one had expected someone to step onto the battle platform before the Sword Sect's assessment had even begun. Countless gazes converged on the platform, filled with anticipation.

"Young king of the blood race? Let me see what right you have to call yourself a king," Yan Sen said, looking at Qin Lang. At the same time, streaks of pitch-black lightning fell from the sky around them, forming a terrifying lightning storm.

"Then look closely." Qin Lang's voice was ice-cold. He extended his arm and struck with his sword. In an instant, blood-red light shone across the sky.

"Boom!"

Qin Lang stomped forward and controlled his sword with both hands. Streaks of blood-red sword light immediately circled his body, roaming through the void with terrifying shrieks that shook the soul.

A fierce look in his eyes, Yan Sen unleashed a punch. Streaks of pitch-black demonic lightning descended from the sky with violent rumbles, striking at Qin Lang.

Qin Lang raised his arm and held his sword horizontally in the air, drawing countless blood tribulations into it. Blood-red light blotted out the heavens, stinging the eyes. Countless streaks of sword light swept through the air and streamed swiftly around Qin Lang, each one containing a terrifying current of death.

When Ning Xuanyuan returned to the Asura Domain and saw Qin Lang again, he had given him a large quantity of Golden Soul Jade. Ning Xuanyuan had always been generous to those around him, never stingy.

On the journey here, Qin Lang had not only absorbed the will of death within the Golden Soul Jade, but had also received Ning Xuanyuan's guidance. His sword path cultivation had already reached an extremely high level.

Thus, his sword intent now contained a powerful Death Rule.

Yan Sen seemed to sense a trace of danger, and his expression grew much graver. His figure flickered as he descended from the sky, wielding thunder techniques. A terrifying bolt of demonic lightning crashed down, threatening to destroy its target's spirit and will.

Qin Lang sneered and swept his hand toward the sky, slashing with his sword. The pitch-black demonic lightning was split down the middle, its terrifying light instantly extinguished.

"Kill!"

The icy word left Qin Lang's lips, and countless blood swords immediately surged out in a frenzy, slashing toward Yan Sen.

"Boom!"

A fierce gleam flared in Yan Sen's eyes. Lightning spread over his body, as though he had donned a suit of demonic lightning armor. He punched upward with both fists, tyrannical beyond compare. The void ahead seemed to explode as the streaks of blood-colored sword light shattered one after another.

"With that little strength, you dare call yourself a king?" Yan Sen laughed wildly, brazen and unrestrained.

Qin Lang, however, remained unmoved, a cold gleam flickering in his eyes. As he waved his hand, boundless sword intent flowed through the void, then came crashing down in a frenzy. Yan Sen roared. A shadow of lightning appeared behind him, and tyrannical palm imprints blotted out the sky and shattered the void.

Yet the blood swords of death that descended from the sky and streamed around his body seemed endless. The Dao intent of death enveloped this space, leaving no life in the area.

Yan Sen's expression gradually turned ugly, and even his face was being overrun by wisps of death Qi.

"Boom!"

Realizing something was wrong, Yan Sen shot into the sky, trying to escape the area. But Qin Lang pointed a finger, and ten thousand swords howled. The endless sword lights of death roaming around him shot forth, annihilating the heavens.

High above, Saint Jianjue's eyes flashed, and a trace of shock appeared on his face. Qin Lang's comprehension of the sword path's rules was unexpectedly exquisite, and his sword intent also contained the intent of death.

He was indeed worthy of being an Asura Sword Body, a future emperor among swordsmen!

"Bang!"

A muffled impact rang out as a streak of blood-colored sword light tore through the sky and pierced straight downward. In an instant, Yan Sen was sent flying by the blow and crashed onto the plaza. The swords descended with violent cries, stabbing frenziedly into his body.

"Ah!"

A scream rang out. Yan Sen's body was instantly dyed red with blood, riddled with wounds and too gruesome to look at. Qin Lang had clearly shown great restraint, however, avoiding his vital points. Otherwise, he would already be dead!