Initiating a Challenge

Lu Yan'an watched with great interest as the Mantu Divine General slowly approached, and asked with a smile, "Mantu Divine General, is there something you need?"

"Hahaha... It's been so long since we last met, I couldn't resist coming over to say hello." Mantu Divine General looked at Lu Yan'an, smiling slightly, his outward appearance surprisingly amiable, only the occasional glint of cold light in his eyes sent chills down one's spine. "The moment I saw you, I felt that the pressure you were simulating in this Glory World was significantly stronger. How come... King Huanshi, you've broken through to the Immortal realm?"

This statement has attracted the attention of many inheritors of the tradition.

"Heh, Mantuo's information channels are really closed off. When the King Huanshi broke through to Immortality more than a hundred years ago, the entire Zijing Island witnessed that scene. But that's normal. Mantuo received a gift from the Strongest World Tree before, obtaining a branch of the World Tree. I guess he's been studying the secrets of that World Tree branch all these Years, right?"

"Even if he, the King Huanshi, has broken through to the Immortal realm, what is he compared to a Special Lifeform like the Mantu Divine General? He is far inferior in both pressure and strength."

"There's simply no comparison. The Mantu Divine General broke through to the Universe Venerable realm as a Special Lifeform form. No matter what, the King Huanshi is just a human. Even if he breaks through to Immortality, it's normal that his aura is weaker compared to a Special Lifeform that defied the heavens and broke through to the Universe Venerable."

There was much discussion in other directions in the distance.

Lu Yan'an remained unaffected, nodding slightly. "Mantu Divine General, your insight is indeed sharp. Yes, I have indeed broken through."

When answering, Lu Yan'an was very cunning. He simply said that he had broken through, without specifying whether he had broken through to Immortal or Venerable! In any case, in the eyes of those around him, he was just a newbie who had just broken through to Immortal.

"Congratulations!" Mantu Divine General laughed loudly. "The legendary King Huanshi! You were able to kill Feng Wang at the limit of his power at the World Lord Level, you were able to escape from my clutches at the World Lord Level, and you even fought 2000 battles in a row, your cultivation level far surpassing your successor..."

These words immediately caused an uproar!

"If I heard correctly, this human, Lu Yan'an, was able to escape from the clutches of this Mantu Divine General when he was still World Lord? So, their relationship is that of mortal enemies?"

Many of the inheritors present wondered if they were hallucinating... because the significance of this event far surpassed his previous record of 2000 undefeated battles in the Glory World. This Mantu Divine General was a genuine Universe Overlord, even considered a powerful figure among Universe Overlord. The fact that World Lord could escape from Universe Overlord was undeniable; they had to admit that Lu Yan'an was incredibly powerful, managing such an unbelievable feat at the World Lord Level.

"You, a legendary World Lord, have finally stepped into Immortality!" Mantu Divine General exclaimed. "I must admit that I couldn't do as well as you when I was World Lord Level. Now that I know you've stepped into Immortality... I'm very happy, extremely happy."

"Thanks," Lu Yan'an said.

Upon hearing Lu Yan'an's response, Mantu Divine General grinned and said, "You were capable of escaping from my grasp when you were World Lord, and now that you've entered the Immortal Realm... you must be even more powerful."

Many inheritors in the open-air plaza found it strange that Mantu Divine General praising Lu Yan'an so highly, since the two seemed to have a life-or-death feud. Yet, they had to admit that Lu Yan'an had achieved complete victory against High Venerable in the Glory World without the aid of external forces, even when he was still at the World Lord Level Lu Yan'an's current combat power must be astonishing.

"I'll do it!"

The Mantu Divine General stared at Lu Yan'an, "Firstly, congratulations; secondly..."

Before the Mantu Divine General speaking, Lu Yan'an waved his hand to interrupt him.

"I know your purpose, so there's no need to say anything more. First to belittle, then to praise? Do you think I won't fall for your provocation? But today, I'll grant your wish!"

"After my breakthrough, I do need to find a worthy opponent to prove myself! Now, you and I will have a life-or-death battle, Mantu Divine General, do you dare?"

"You, Mantu Divine General, are an opponent worthy of my challenge Lu Yan'an."

"And coincidentally, you do indeed qualify me to give my all!"

Lu Yan'an looked sharply at the Mantu Divine General, directly silencing its provocative words, and then challenged it fiercely.

Silence.

The open-air plaza fell silent instantly. Countless inheritors were excited, yet they all held their breath and remained silent, looking at the Mantu Divine General.

"Where are we fighting? Is it within the Glory World?" Mantu Divine General an eyebrow. "You're not thinking of doing that, are you? If your challenge is really just that kind of thing, then I advise you not to say anything more and just crawl back home like a coward! Hahahaha!"

"Of course not." Lu Yan'an also smiled, his dark eyes filled with fighting spirit. "I'm talking about a battle in the real world. We can choose a place in the 'Ancestral God Secret Region' to fight, and we both promise not to bring any help. It's purely a one-on-one life-or-death battle between you and me. Do you dare?"

Upon Mantu Divine General immediately grinned. "You ask me if I dare? That's utterly ridiculous! What you need to consider now is how to get back alive! But don't worry, I will never give you that chance!"

"I never imagined anyone would be this stupid! To strike first, hahaha, a strike without real strength only makes you a laughingstock!"

"I thought you, King Huanshi, a peerless genius renowned throughout the universe, would at least have some brains. But I was clearly overestimating you." The Mantu Divine General stared at Lu Yan'an, a hint of mockery in his eyes. "Since you yourself refuse to live, what else can I say?"

The entire open-air plaza was completely silent, with tens of millions of inheritors watching and listening intently.

The King Huanshi is indeed a legend.

But after becoming immortal, would he dare to fight against the equally immortal "Mantu Divine General"? Although Mantu Divine General is not legendary, he is powerful enough to intimidate countless immortal "Special Lifeform".

Now he's taking the initiative to ask this Mantu Divine General he dares to accept his challenge? This is utterly absurd. Does this King Huanshi have a death wish?

The situation on the scene was strange no matter how you looked at it. If the Mantu Divine General challenged Lu Yan'an to a duel, and Lu Yan'an was afraid and dared not, then the inheritors present would understand. After all, how many would dare to accept a life-or-death challenge from a powerful Special Lifeform? But now, a weakling, knowing that the strength of the enemy and himself was vastly different, still dared to take the initiative to attack. This was completely baffling.

So, there really are people willing to go and die!

Mantu Divine General suddenly stood up, looked at Lu Yan'an in front of him, and smiled slightly, saying, "Since you've chosen to die, how could I not give you a chance?"

The tens of millions of inheritors in the open-air square immediately became excited and agitated.

"You accepted?" Lu Yan'an's eyes immediately gleamed with a fierce light, his fighting spirit soaring.

"Joke!"

Mantu Divine General glanced around, "If you refuse a challenge from a mere immortal, then that is an insult to my strength!" Its voice was loud and clear, echoing throughout the open-air plaza.

"Since you want to come, then let's fight! That way I won't be branded as someone who bullies the weak!"

Seeing that the Mantu Divine General had also accepted the challenge, the surrounding onlookers became as noisy as if it were New Year's Day! Even the powerful figures of the Hong Alliance, who had always been supporters of Lu Yan'an, fell silent. In their eyes, Lu Yan'an had gone mad! An Immortal versus Universe Overlord —the vast difference in their abilities caused some people to start complaining.

"King Huanshi, you'd better think this through! With us here, Mantu Divine General won't dare to push you too far. But if you take the initiative to attack and court death, then even if we have great abilities, it will be useless!" A powerful member of the Hong Alliance immediately spoke up.

This was already quite tactful, almost a direct warning: run and stop messing around! However, Lu Yan'an, who had already made up his mind to take down this Venerable Mantu, generally ignored these well-intentioned reminders.

"Gentlemen, no need for further words! I dared to initiate this challenge because I was fully prepared. Thank you all in advance!" Lu Yan'an turned to the powerful figures of the Hong Alliance beside him and said. Then he turned his gaze to the Mantu Divine General before him and smiled, "Then let's begin!"

(Reader group number: [number missing], feel free to join if interested)