Li Shenzhou (double-length chapter)

Although everyone had already seen that Mo Tianxing was no match for Li Wangxian and was only holding out through the might of his King Weapon, they still felt chills when they saw him subdued with nothing more than a raised hand.

After all, Mo Tianxing had become the Saint Son of a great sect. However unimpressive he might be, surely he could fight opponents one or two minor realms above him?

Yet now, someone at the first level of the four extremes realm had defeated him across a gap of three minor realms. Nor had he lost after a fierce battle-he had been effortlessly subdued. That could only happen if the gulf between them was enormous.

"He subdued Mo Tianxing across three minor realms with a mere lift of his hand. This boy must have reached at least six prohibitions, perhaps even the Seven Prohibitions, right?"

Veteran experts from great sects paled, fear rising within them. He was already this heaven-defying upon first entering four extremes. Such talent was practically identical to the descriptions of young Great Emperors in ancient records.

"If he reaches the perfection of four extremes, or enters the dragon transformation realm, will he become one of those legendary few who have stepped into eight prohibitions?"

These words shocked everyone. Some independent cultivators who did not know what eight prohibitions meant asked around. When they learned it meant fighting enemies eight minor realms above oneself, they were left wide-eyed and speechless. It sounded like a tale from the Arabian Nights, overturning their entire understanding of the world.

The difference in strength between realms was immense. It was like a heaven-climbing ladder: one step up made one an "immortal," one step down made one a "mortal," with absolute supremacy over those in lower realms.

If someone could defeat an immortal as a mortal, that was called defying the realms to slay an immortal. The number of minor realms one could cross determined the number of prohibitions one possessed. In many sects, someone capable of fighting opponents two or three minor realms higher could already become a Saint Son, let alone accomplish something as mythical as crossing eight minor realms.

"Now this is the legendary potential of a Great Emperor!"

Many people's voices trembled. They could barely form complete sentences, stammering out words that silenced the entire crowd once more.

"Another Heavenly Prodigy like Daoist Sanque—or someone even more terrifying?"

Xu Sheng had actually not left yet. His expression was now exceedingly complicated. This peerlessly graceful youth and this strangely familiar scene reminded him of years past. That man had also subdued him just as effortlessly. With a single hand, he had left all of them, those so-called Saint Sons, unable to lift their heads.

The only difference was that this boy had fought across an even greater gap in realms.

Everyone present was overwhelmed by emotions they could scarcely express, but Li Wangxian paid them no heed after subduing Mo Tianxing. A thought stirred in his mind. He had not killed his opponent immediately, partly to keep him alive until he could loot his source and equipment, but also to guard against any spiritual sense left on him by some powerful figure that might turn defeat into victory.

Let me get the Jade Disk first. With that thought, Li Wangxian directed the Treasure Wheel with his spiritual sense. It radiated golden light, enveloping the little Jade Disk, which had fallen still without its master powering it, and brought it flying back toward him.

The Treasure Wheel crossed the sky, its golden Buddhist light dazzling as it descended with the Jade Disk. At first, nothing unusual happened, and the Jade Disk landed safely in his hand.

He picked up the Jade Disk, erased his opponent's spiritual imprint, and examined it closely. The palm-sized disk was flawless silvery white, with a luminous sheen flowing naturally over it even without divine power. Li Wangxian recognized the material as what seemed to be great luo silver essence, an extremely precious substance second only to rare immortal materials such as the nine immortal metals and mother qi of all things. It was a treasure for artifact refining that would tempt even a Saint.

"Heavens! Rumor has long claimed that this Jade Disk was forged from great luo silver essence. Today, we've actually seen its true appearance!"

"A King Weapon forged from great luo silver essence-even a Saint would be tempted!"

In the distance, many people practically drooled with envy. Even their shock at hearing about eight prohibitions faded considerably. After all, he had not actually reached eight prohibitions yet, had he?

Quite a few even wanted to snatch it from him now, along with the Treasure Wheel. That wheel was also a King Weapon, and its material was certainly extraordinary. Besides, Li Wangxian's cultivation was still not particularly high.

"It's a sealed King Weapon, yet it can clash with a King Weapon forged from great luo silver essence without breaking. The material of that Treasure Wheel is no worse than great luo silver essence!"

"If those two King Weapons were carefully nurtured and refined over many long years, perhaps they could become two invincible Saint Weapons?"

Someone secretly transmitted these words through spiritual sense, harboring ill intentions. They wanted to stir others' greed so they could fish in muddy waters and eliminate this peerlessly gifted youth.

After all, the more dazzling a genius was, the greater the danger if he did not belong to their own faction.

By now, killing intent had risen in the hearts of quite a few veteran experts from great sects, though their faces betrayed nothing. Too many things remained unclear. Who dared openly attack and offend a boy destined to become terrifyingly powerful?

The atmosphere grew strange. Even many independent cultivators sensed something unusual and glanced around in puzzlement.

"This boy killed so many people from the Star Sect here and seized their King Weapon. This will surely bring a great calamity upon him."

"Indeed. The Star Sect is one of the overlords of the Northern Divine Continent. How could they swallow this insult? This boy is doomed."

"If we capture him and hand him over to the Star Sect, we'll not only gain a king-grade Treasure Wheel but also the friendship of a great sect!"

Perhaps sensing an opening, the person lurking in the shadows redoubled his efforts. Everyone present could hear the undisguised malice in his words.

"Some people are afraid. They don't want to see this boy grow up!"

Among the independent cultivators, some shrewd old hands saw what was happening. Certain great sects felt threatened by this young Heavenly Prodigy and wanted to eliminate someone who might become a formidable enemy in the future.

Li Wangxian's spiritual perception was extraordinarily keen. Naturally, he sensed the killing intent lurking on all sides.

"Divine Son, the person secretly transmitting those words is to the east."

Uncle Jiang secretly sent him a spiritual message, identifying the hidden instigator's position and appearance. Now that the Divine Son had seized another King Weapon, even he, who had been protecting him from the shadows, could no longer sit still. As a Great Ability, he could naturally identify whoever was inciting the crowd.

In fact, Li Wangxian had already pinpointed the speaker himself. After years of nourishment from the Yin and Yang Immortal Seed, his spiritual sense had become extraordinarily powerful. Moreover, his primordial spirit benefited considerably from his daily meditations on "Dimensional Ascension." His spiritual sense had already condensed into tangible form, becoming a tiny Primordial Spirit Form seated between his brows.

After refusing Uncle Jiang's request to appear and act, Li Wangxian abruptly unleashed the Jade Disk in his hand, sending it sweeping toward an old man in Daoist robes to the east.

As the palm-sized Jade Disk rose into the air, it resembled a full moon on the horizon. It poured hundreds of millions of strands of clear radiance over the old man. Moonlight filled heaven and earth, suffused with peerless killing intent.

"I have no quarrel or grudge with you! Why are you attacking this old man?"

The old man was a dragon transformation cultivator. Under the Jade Disk's assault, his heart pounded with terror. He brought out one Spiritually Attuned Treasure after another to resist, desperately trying to escape its range.

But the outcome terrified everyone. Beneath the moonlight shed by the Jade Disk, those treasures were as fragile as tofu, crushed into dust one after another. Nor did the old man possess Li Wangxian's methods or incredible speed to escape its assault. Soon, he was blasted into a mist of blood.

Everyone's hearts jolted. Without a suitably powerful treasure to resist, a dragon transformation cultivator was almost as fragile as paper before a King Weapon. If one were wielded by a Great Ability, who could contend with it unless a Saint Weapon appeared?

"Hmph. Nothing but skulking demons and monsters, only daring to stir up trouble from the shadows."

Li Wangxian snorted coldly and recalled the Jade Disk.

"Is his spiritual sense that powerful? Could he tell who was inciting everyone? Or has his protector arrived?"

Many of those harboring malice felt a chill and stopped their little maneuvers.

Li Wangxian did not continue attacking either. Too many people now held murderous intentions toward him, and he could not tell exactly how many there were. Still, he was unafraid. He knew perfectly well that even if they were given ten times the courage, these people would not dare act.

He turned his gaze toward Mo Tianxing, who remained sealed beneath his hand. Without a ripple in his eyes, Li Wangxian slowly reached toward him with his other hand.

"If you kill me, the Star Sect won't let you off..." There was no trace of madness left in Mo Tianxing's eyes. Instead, his heart was filled with fear as he looked at Li Wangxian and issued that feeble threat.

Seemingly realizing that Li Wangxian was unmoved, he offered another bargaining chip, his lips trembling. "My father is the Saint Lord of the Star Sect. If you kill me, he definitely won't let you off."

The Star Sect's Saint Son and the son of its Saint Lord-honestly, the latter was indeed more threatening. A new Saint Son could be chosen, but the Saint Lord's son could not be brought back.

No wonder he could come out swaggering around with a King Weapon like the Jade Disk.

One of Li Wangxian's questions was answered. After all, it was quite dangerous for a Saint Son in the four extremes realm to travel with such a supreme treasure. Was it not about to be lost right now?

His face remained expressionless, however. The Jade Disk alone, a King Weapon, had already made him and the Star Sect irreconcilable mortal enemies. Was he supposed to fear adding a little more hatred to the tally? What a joke.

He calmly lowered his palm and took several treasures from Mo Tianxing's bitter sea. Then his right hand, which had kept Mo Tianxing sealed all this time, slowly closed.

"No!" Feeling the divine power about to crush him to pieces, Mo Tianxing let out a desperate roar.

Whoosh!

A peerless streak of light shot from between Mo Tianxing's brows, swift and utterly unexpected. It was a strand of spiritual sense transformed into a silver Divine Sword, slashing toward him with dazzling sharpness. Before the blade even reached him, Li Wangxian felt stabbing pain between his brows. Its power was astonishing, certainly enough to kill a high-level dragon transformation cultivator.

"Hmph. I was guarding against you all along." Li Wangxian snorted, and a fist-sized golden Primordial Spirit Form shot from between his brows.

The golden Primordial Spirit Form was immensely formidable. The moment it appeared, it met the descending Divine Sword with a supremely powerful Sun Emperor Fist.

Clang!

A sound like a smith striking iron rang out. Their clash did not resemble a battle between primordial spirits at all. Instead, it had the metallic quality of real weapons, sending chills through everyone. Were these really primordial spirits?

Unfortunately, it was ultimately only a strand of spiritual sense left by a Great Ability. After that single exchange, the Divine Sword exploded with a boom, smashed apart by Li Wangxian's tiny Primordial Spirit Form.

After Li Wangxian recalled his Primordial Spirit Form, the distant crowd, stunned by this sudden turn of events, gradually came back to their senses.

"What was that? A little sword formed from a primordial spirit?"

In the distance, everyone was astonished.

"Was that formed from Mo Tianxing's spiritual sense? Does he have such a powerful primordial spirit?"

"No. The Divine Sword was destroyed, but Mo Tianxing's spirit wasn't injured. That wasn't his spiritual sense."

"Yes, it was a protective strand of spiritual sense left by a Great Ability-the Saint Lord of the Star Sect."

"Heavens! He scattered a Great Ability's spiritual sense with a single blow. How terrifying is his primordial spirit's power?"

Some recalled the golden Primordial Spirit Form Li Wangxian had displayed. It was condensed almost into tangible substance. If it attacked with all its strength, it would undoubtedly be terrifying.

"His physical body is immensely powerful too. Even from this far away, I can hear the overwhelming strength of his blood and qi. His blood flows like a mighty river, vast and surging."

Someone with an impressive secret art had acted on an impulse and examined Li Wangxian's body. Now even his words trembled with shock.

Though they had already been shocked many times, many people still could not suppress their horror.

"His body, primordial spirit, secret arts, and comprehension of the Great Dao are all astonishing. Does he have no weakness at all?"

"The scripture he cultivates is also a supreme immortal canon. I can hear the Great Dao Celestial Music resounding within his dao palaces."

"This man defies heaven. Could he truly be the one to attain the Dao in the future?"

Holy crap!

As Li Wangxian listened to them peel away his secrets layer by layer, one remark after another, his scalp prickled. If they keep talking, will they figure out that I cultivate the Sun Scripture and that I'm the Divine Son of the Sun God Sect too?

These bystanders are ridiculous. They can even hear that?

Li Wangxian bristled. Unwilling to stay and be examined under a magnifying glass any longer, he crushed Mo Tianxing to death with one squeeze. Ever since the Star Sect Saint Lord's spiritual sense had been destroyed, Mo Tianxing's heart had been cold as dead ashes.

I can't stay in Thunder City anymore. Never mind the Star Sect experts who'll arrive soon-even these bystanders are more than I can handle!

As for tempering myself with lightning, I won't lack heavenly tribulations in the future. Forget the Thunder Domain!

Thoroughly unnerved, Li Wangxian took out a Profound Jade Platform and activated its Domain Gate without hesitation, intending to make his escape.

He had not yet entered the Thunder Domain, and there were no formation patterns specifically sealing the void here. A Domain Gate inscribed into divine material, such as this Profound Jade Platform, also performed far better than a fixed Domain Gate. Opening it posed no problem.

"Big brother, what's your name?" A little girl as exquisitely lovely as carved jade suddenly stepped forward and called loudly to Li Wangxian as he entered the Domain Gate.

A thought stirred in Li Wangxian's mind. An alias would be useful, so he called back loudly.

"Li Shenzhou!"

Li Wangxian traversed the void and departed so swiftly that many could not react. Only his final words lingered in the air.

Everyone froze. He had named himself after the Divine Continent? Did he intend to dominate it?

Whether true or false, the fact that he dared proclaim such a name revealed something of his boldness.

Just then, someone suddenly acted, trying to deduce the coordinates and even hold the Domain Gate in place. Unfortunately, after Li Wangxian vanished, the Profound Jade Platform self-destructed with a bang, leaving that person covered in dust and soot and drawing laughter from many onlookers.

Someone recognized him as a veteran expert from a certain great sect, and much of the laughter immediately died away. Of course, some people had powerful backgrounds and were unafraid, so they continued laughing. One particular little girl, for instance, laughed especially loudly.

The veteran expert flew into a rage, but when he saw who stood beside the little girl, his anger vanished in an instant. Without another word, he slunk away.

Li Wangxian had left, but once word of that day's events and the storm he had stirred spread, it shook the entire Divine Continent and gradually reached all of Ziwei.

After a reader pointed out that the alias overlapped with the Dao Yi Saint Son's name, it was changed to Li Shenzhou.