Shangguan Wudi

Lintian Dao Domain.

A cluster of floating islands.

This was the territory of the Shangguan Clan, a hegemonic force in the Heavenly Realm.

The news released by the Heavenly Mystery Tower naturally reached the Shangguan Clan as well.

"What? Someone actually wants to challenge the Young Clan Leader? There are still people these days who think they're something."

"It's been many years since someone like that appeared. It's perfectly normal for one to pop up now. There's a show to watch—pretty good."

"No, didn't you notice what happened over at the Heavenly Mystery Tower? That golden gateway was making quite a spectacle. Its golden light illuminated the entire Lintian Dao Domain. One look told you it was no ordinary thing. This time might be different from before?"

"I saw it, but I still don't think the Young Clan Leader will lose."

On a central floating island.

There was only a single grand hall on this floating island.

The hall was lavish and majestic, possessing an extraordinary bearing.

It was precisely the palace of Shangguan Wudi, the Young Clan Leader of the Shangguan Clan.

Inside the palace.

A young man dressed in magnificent golden robes, with sword-like brows, starry eyes, and an imposing presence, stood there in a daze.

"Hm? Someone is challenging me?"

A moment later, the corners of Shangguan Wudi's lips rose.

"Wonderful! Hahahaha! Someone is finally challenging me again! My invincible life has been far too lonely! No projection needed—I'll go in person!"

After confirming that someone truly was challenging him, Shangguan Wudi burst into excited laughter.

At the thought, he sprang straight into the air, about to start dancing.

"Wait. Dance after the fight. Mm."

With that, he vanished from where he stood.

Heavenly Mystery Tower.

At an arena.

This was a place specially provided by the Heavenly Mystery Tower for those challenging the rankings to battle.

As long as one was ranked, they could automatically send down a projection.

Of course, that required them to control it remotely with their own consciousness.

"Little Jiu, go on."

Arriving before the arena, Ye Chang'an spoke to Zhao Jiu.

He had arranged for only Zhao Jiu to issue a challenge.

Though his own cultivation was also qualified, there was no need.

First, he was already in the Heavenly Saint Realm. No one within three major realms could defeat him, Zhao Jiu included, so there was simply no need for him to challenge this ranking.

Second, Zhao Jiu was going up as a disciple of the Primordial Divine Hall. Did he, the dignified Hall Master, still need to go up himself?

Just as Zhao Jiu was about to step onto the arena, Tian Xuan, dressed in white, suddenly appeared.

"Master, Shangguan Wudi has arrived."

Hearing this, Bai Wenxuan raised his brows.

Then he smiled. "It seems he intends to personally defend his place on the ranking."

"Tian Xuan, bring Shangguan Wudi over."

Very soon, Tian Xuan brought the expectant Shangguan Wudi to the arena.

"Brother, are you the one challenging me?"

Seeing Zhao Jiu standing on the arena, Shangguan Wudi immediately asked with a smile.

He was so excited that he had not even noticed Zhao Jiu's utterly unreadable cultivation.

Zhao Jiu nodded calmly without saying a word.

"Oho, quite the cold one. Putting on the airs of an expert, are you?"

Shangguan Wudi did not mind and cheerfully stepped onto the arena.

Mm, he did not look like an expert at all, anyway.

This sight left Ye Chang'an and Shangguan Shi stunned.

This... was he really the top-ranked person on the Heavenly Prodigy Ranking?

Seeing Ye Chang'an look at him, Bai Wenxuan smiled and nodded.

That look seemed to say: Just get used to it. He was like this.

On the arena.

One was cold as an iceberg, while the other shone like the sun.

"Brother, my name is Shangguan Wudi. I'll hold back in a moment. Come at me."

"I suggest you make the first move."

Only then did Zhao Jiu speak.

"Oh? Fine. I like your confidence."

As he spoke, the aura of a half-step Heavenly Venerate Realm expert surged from Shangguan Wudi's body.

In an instant, he vanished from where he stood.

Soon, Shangguan Wudi appeared before Zhao Jiu and threw a fierce punch.

In response, Zhao Jiu flicked out a finger.

Finger and fist collided.

Space twisted, and Shangguan Wudi was sent flying backward.

"What the hell! What realm are you in?"

After steadying himself, Shangguan Wudi looked utterly dumbfounded.

"Young Master Shangguan, he is in the Heavenly Lord Realm."

Bai Wenxuan, outside the arena, offered a kind reminder.

The moment those words fell, Shangguan Wudi's expression froze solid on the arena.

"What did you say? Heavenly Lord Realm? Isn't this the Heavenly Prodigy Ranking?"

Shangguan Wudi asked in stunned disbelief.

"Young Master Shangguan, he is not even as old as you. To be precise, he is not yet a hundred years old."

Listening to Bai Wenxuan's words, Shangguan Wudi felt that they had clearly entered through his ears, yet somehow stabbed straight into his heart.

"Do you still want to fight?"

Seeing Shangguan Wudi like that, Zhao Jiu asked.

"Yes. The top spot is yours, but I want you to suppress your cultivation and fight me at the same realm. Can you?"

Winning was certainly impossible, but Shangguan Wudi did not care that much. What he wanted more was to fight Zhao Jiu at the same cultivation level.

It had been far too long since he had encountered an opponent.

Having encountered such a freak, how could he possibly not have a match?

Hearing this, Zhao Jiu looked toward Ye Chang'an.

Ye Chang'an nodded.

In Ye Chang'an's eyes, this Shangguan Wudi was rather interesting.

Since the other party wanted an opponent, he naturally had to grant him that wish.

"Come."

Seeing Ye Chang'an agree, Zhao Jiu directly suppressed his cultivation to the half-step Heavenly Venerate Realm.

"Hehe, take this!"

Seeing that, Shangguan Wudi laughed loudly and once again threw the same plain yet overwhelmingly powerful punch as before.

Across from him, Zhao Jiu remained rooted in place and answered Shangguan Wudi with a punch of his own.

The result did not change. Shangguan Wudi was still sent flying backward.

"What the hell! Didn't you suppress your cultivation?"

Shangguan Wudi looked completely bewildered.

"Use your full strength. Otherwise, you're simply not worth looking at."

Zhao Jiu spoke in an even tone.

"Annihilation Divine Bone!" Shangguan Wudi shouted in a low voice.

At the same time, a sacred radiance shone from his back, and his aura surged abruptly, as different from before as clouds were from mud.

"Not bad."

Feeling that aura, Zhao Jiu nodded.

Shangguan Wudi once again arrived before Zhao Jiu with a punch.

Numerous cracks appeared in space, visible to the naked eye.

Seeing this, Zhao Jiu still threw a plain, unadorned punch, though it carried far more power than before.

This time, Shangguan Wudi was not forced back. The two locked in a stalemate.

"What the hell! I've even used my Annihilation Divine Bone, and you're making me look so bad!"

Even though he was exerting tremendous force and his face had reddened slightly, Shangguan Wudi still had to say something.

Hearing that, the corners of Zhao Jiu's lips lifted slightly in a rare smile.

That made Shangguan Wudi freeze.

He actually looked rather good when he smiled.

But the next moment, he realized something was wrong.

A tremendous force struck his fist. Before he could say another word, Shangguan Wudi was sent flying backward once more.

"Do you still want to continue?"

"Of course!"

Shangguan Wudi's face was filled with determination.

At that moment, a sword-shaped bone in the center of his back bloomed with divine radiance.

"A sword bone? It looks fairly good."

Zhao Jiu commented.

"Only fairly good? Try it and you'll know!"

Shangguan Wudi said with a smile as a strange yet powerful sword intent rose around him.

At the same time, the Annihilation Divine Bone continued amplifying his power.

"Watch out. This sword strike is very powerful."

After offering that kind reminder, Shangguan Wudi formed a sword with two fingers and slashed out with a single strike.