Nine Dragon Ascending Emperor Step, Where Does the Talk of Half-Step Come From!

The Nine Great Mountain Gates' Grand Elders personally arrived, displaying absolute dominance over this Heavenly Pool opportunity with overwhelming force, scaring everyone away.

Who could have imagined that, under such circumstances, someone would still dare to interfere, and so arrogantly at that, completely disregarding the nine of them!

Immediately, all eyes turned in unison towards the source of the voice. They saw a figure whose face wasn't remarkably handsome, yet possessed a presence that drew everyone's gaze.

"This young man is so arrogant!"

"A newborn calf fears no tiger; I truly understand now."

Age equals cultivation.

This was the consensus of the vast majority.

It was like traditional Chinese medicine; you'd subconsciously assume that the older the doctor, the better their skills.

Perhaps there were exceptionally gifted individuals in the world, but such talent wasn't apparent at first glance. It required factual evidence to change ingrained perceptions.

Therefore, when everyone saw Yuan Tianzong's young face, disappointment immediately welled up in their hearts.

They had expected some renowned old master from Huaxia to utter such arrogant words, not some mere youngster.

Zhong Wanli's expression was indifferent: "Little fellow, where did you pop out from to be so presumptuous?"

Perhaps the other party came from an extraordinary background, from a major sect.

This speculation was the only reason Zhong Wanli and the other eight didn't immediately resort to forceful measures.

Yuan Tianzong, who had already arrived before the Heavenly Pool, paid no one any mind. The only thing reflected in his eyes was the exceptionally radiant twelve-petaled golden lotus. Knowing what Zhong Wanli's words implied, he replied:

"A rogue cultivator from the wilderness."

"A rogue cultivator dares to be insolent before us? You're seeking death!"

"Wait a moment, he's the one who killed Liu Mei and Elder Xia!"

"That's right, it's him!"

Finally, someone recognized Yuan Tianzong as the person who had recently slain a disciple of Yin Xu Mountain.

Upon hearing this, Zhong Wanli attacked abruptly.

Firstly, the other party had a grudge against him;

Secondly, he had already investigated the other party's background and confirmed he wasn't a disciple of a major sect.

"You murderous wretch, you walk into hell with no way to heaven!"

With a cold snort, a Flying Thunder Sword, under Zhong Wanli's control, shot out explosively, leaving visible lightning trails in the void, and instantly appeared before Yuan Tianzong!

Its speed was several points faster than when he had slain the Pig King previously, astonishing those present.

"Oh no!"

"Is he your relative?"

"No."

"Then what are you worried about?"

"He's so handsome! So charismatic!"

"..."

Just as everyone thought Yuan Tianzong was about to be annihilated, things began to get interesting!

One punch!

Facing the Flying Thunder Sword, which possessed potent killing power, he directly threw a punch, confronting it with his bare flesh and repelling its lightning!

What?!

The surrounding spectators were all astonished.

Zhong Wanli and the other eight were instantly stunned, thinking they were seeing things.

He repelled the Flying Thunder Sword with a single punch?

Some were horrified, some disbelieving, some perplexed.

"Who exactly are you!"

How could Zhong Wanli believe that such a young man possessed the cultivation and strength to contend with him, unless he came from a major sect, and was an exceptionally outstanding disciple within it.

"A rogue cultivator from the wilderness."

Zhong Wanli's eyelids twitched violently, his whole body felt hot.

Hmph, you mean to say that my Yin Xu Mountain's Grand Ancestor, a peak Dragon Opening realm cultivator, who spent a fortune cultivating the Flying Thunder Sword technique... is actually no match for you, a mere rogue cultivator from the wilderness?

In front of everyone, how could he bear this?

What about Yin Xu Mountain's reputation?!

"Good! You indeed have the capital to be arrogant! But no matter what, today you will walk the road to the Yellow Springs!"

With an angry roar, Zhong Wanli no longer dared to hold back. Three swords on his back unsheathed in an instant, joining the first. Surging true energy erupted from his body, laced with wisps of lightning!

Flying Thunder Sword!

Thunder Dragon's Wrath!

Four swords shot out, and the thunder intensified!

They tore through the air, transforming into thunder dragons!

The onlookers trembled in fear, even though they weren't the ones directly facing Zhong Wanli's attack.

"That's the move that killed the Pig King!"

"Dragon Opening realm, paired with technological flying swords... his combat power has surged to half-step Grandmaster!"

"Too strong!"

Zhong Wanli, unleashing his full power, his aura skyrocketing, stared intently at Yuan Tianzong and shouted, "If you can take this move from me, all past grievances will be settled!"

"Haha, you think too highly of yourself!"

The ground shook violently. Yuan Tianzong took a step forward, his presence utterly imposing.

The onlookers staring at him swallowed repeatedly, realizing he seemed to be stepping on air, with dragon shadows flickering beneath his feet, accentuating his aura like an emperor personally leading his troops to conquer the world. His might was unfathomable, his dominance unstoppable!

Nine Dragon Ascending Emperor Step!

An aura as pure and fiery as the sun intensified with each step Yuan Tianzong took.

One step!

The four swords let out a mournful cry, vibrating and unable to advance an inch further in the void!

The second step, Yuan Tianzong appeared ten meters before Zhong Wanli. The oppressive aura of an emperor's decree made the old ancestor tremble all over, his clothes bursting first under the surging energy!

His heart was filled with dread as he realized he couldn't even withstand one of the opponent's moves!

Who was this person!

So young, yet possessing a presence that surpassed the prodigies of great sects!

No, he could even contend with the veteran powerhouses within the great sects!

"Sirs, if you're not going to act now, when will you?" Feeling the breath of death creeping into his lungs, Zhong Wanli finally abandoned his pride and called for help from his old friends.

"Show mercy!"

"Don't go too far!"

"Young man, state your sect. Perhaps we have some connection!"

A roar erupted. Long Xiaotian used his full combat power, activating Rocket Leg, and charged forward. Standing beside Zhong Wanli, his blurred legs swept out a sky full of leg shadows, combining with the power of rockets to shake the void with astonishing might!

At the same time, Chen Daofeng of Gui Cang Valley, Xu Qiantao of Gudao Mountain, and Guan Feiyan of Lianhua Dock, three figures at the level of half-step Grand Elder, also arrived and attacked together.

Years of friendship, along with the interests involved, made it impossible for the three to stand by and watch Zhong Wanli get injured again.

Moreover, a thought lingered in their minds—five half-step Grandmasters joining forces, could you still handle it? If you're sensible, let's all take a step back; otherwise, the outcome is truly unpredictable!

The crowd erupted in shock.

"Five half-step Grandmasters joining forces?!"

"Such astonishing true energy! Their cultivation methods are clearly different, yet how can they boost each other's aura!"

Facing the combined might of five individuals, Yuan Tianzong showed no fear.

He steadily took the second step of the Nine Dragon Ascending Emperor Step!

The golden footprint condensed from true energy, carrying the imposing aura of an emperor personally leading his troops, descended ferociously!

Half-step Grandmaster?

Dragon Opening is Dragon Opening, and Grandmaster is Grandmaster. What is this talk of half-steps? Heh.

Bang bang bang!

The terrifying golden footprint suppressed the offensive of the five with overwhelming force. Then, amidst their pleas for mercy, it landed coldly.

Boom--!

Violent tremors spread in all directions, and snow dust scattered everywhere.

When everything settled, five pools of bloody pulp plunged the entire world into dead silence.

The remaining Grand Elders broke out in cold sweats, secretly rejoicing that they hadn't stepped forward to engage.

This person's strength, again and again, exceeded their estimations. He was as strong as... a Grandmaster!

Impossible, impossible.

Divine Smoke of Entering the Dao was the only opportunity to break through to Grandmaster. With the Divine Smoke of Entering the Dao not yet appearing, how could he have entered the Grandmaster realm?

The expressions of the crowd shifted unpredictably, and no one spoke.

Even the companions of the disciples who had died remained in deathly silence.

Crushing five half-step Grandmasters with a single foot?

With this kind of strength, anyone who dared to step forward and cause trouble would truly be seeking their own death and wouldn't be considered a hero.

"The Golden Lotus King belongs to me. Does anyone have any objections?"

Yuan Tianzong's gaze swept over the remaining Grand Elders. They all shook their heads, where would they dare to have any objections now!

Then, Yuan Tianzong turned and leaped, crossing hundreds of meters, and landed steadily on the brilliantly golden Golden Lotus King!