Must Be Slain

This was a youth of peerless talent. That was everyone's first impression of Li Wangxian.

For anyone could see with their own eyes how extraordinary this youth was.

Yet none of them knew how to describe his unrivaled splendor.

Dao marks wreathed his entire body. Myriad Daos seemed to manifest in reality, weaving a domain around him. No one could make out his appearance; they could only sense the vigorous yet youthful vitality radiating from him and knew he must be very young.

What struck them as even more contradictory and astonishing was that they could all sense him standing right there, yet he also seemed far away on the horizon, transcending this world.

"What a peerless prodigy!"

Every cultivator shared that thought. Li Wangxian had no need to demonstrate his cultivation or abilities again. The instant they saw him, they could all sense that he must be extraordinarily brilliant, an outstanding figure for the ages.

"This era is truly terrifying! As if dazzling talents like Yi Qingwu, Lu Ya, and Daoist Sanque weren't enough, now peerless Heavenly Prodigies like Li Shenzhou and this mysterious youth have appeared one after another."

"Could this really be another golden age?"

"Nearly ten thousand years have passed since the Azure Emperor died in meditation. Once his Great Dao dissipates, this era is destined to see another bloodstained struggle along the Emperor Road."

Within the ancient grounds, no one could remain calm. With this dazzling youth's appearance, his world-surpassing talent and the soaring confidence of one who looked down upon all under heaven washed over them, making everyone involuntarily think of that road to becoming a Great Emperor, where blood and fire filled the skies.

This was a young Heavenly Prodigy whose ambitions lay on the Emperor Road. No words were needed. Everyone could sense the invincible will radiating from him—a will to overshadow every Heavenly Prodigy throughout history, attain the Dao, and become an emperor.

"Another prodigy rarely seen across the ages... Li Shenzhou has a rival."

In the distance, a beautiful woman looked astonished. Having personally witnessed Li Shenzhou fight outside the Ninefold Thunder Domain, she had once believed him to be the greatest Heavenly Prodigy of this age. Yet now, before this youth had even made a move, she naturally placed him alongside Li Shenzhou, and even vaguely felt that he might prove more dazzling.

Her background was far from ordinary. She was versed in many ancient texts and secrets, including accounts of Great Emperors in their youth, and had personally seen Heavenly Prodigies renowned throughout Ziwei, such as Yi Qingwu and the Taiyin Divine Son. Yet none had made as profound an impression on her as Li Shenzhou. At the time, she had felt as though she were looking upon a young Great Emperor.

She had never imagined that, after only three months, she would encounter another youth of peerless splendor, just as dazzling and confident.

Several old servants beside the beautiful woman looked horrified at her words. Her status was exceedingly exalted, and the last youth she had praised so highly had been that monstrous young talent, Li Shenzhou.

Even dazzling figures such as Lu Ya and Daoist Sanque, already renowned throughout Ziwei, had never received such praise from her!

Yet in the span of merely three months, she had praised two youths so highly in succession. If word of this spread, all of Ziwei would be shaken.

Before the beautiful woman's words could spread and cause a stir across Ziwei, however, a certain little girl was already displeased.

"Hmph! He could never be Big Brother Shenzhou's match. Big Brother Shenzhou could suppress him with one hand!"

The little girl fumed, deeply annoyed that the beautiful woman had "betrayed" Li Shenzhou's camp to praise the enemy.

The beautiful woman chuckled, not bothering to argue with this little "fan" who had begun idolizing Li Shenzhou after watching just one battle.

Tap, tap, tap!

As though awed by Li Wangxian's presence, the place had fallen rather quiet. Across the vast ancient grounds, only the unceasing footsteps of Li Wangxian and his companion could be heard.

There were well over a thousand cultivators here, with no small number of Great Abilities among them, and their positions already formed a loose encirclement around the pair.

Yet Li Wangxian and his companion treated all the cultivators present as though they did not exist. Since emerging from the underground cavern, their expressions had not changed, nor had their footsteps faltered. They utterly ignored everyone as though they were air and headed straight out.

"What boldness, fellow Daoist! You intend to walk out through a thousand cultivators without so much as a change of expression? Do you regard us all as nothing?"

Duanmu Yun stepped forward and addressed Uncle Jiang in a sinister tone.

With the Taiyin Human Emperor involved, he could not simply watch the two leave, no matter what.

"Are you going to stop me?"

Li Wangxian spoke softly, without the slightest fluctuation in his tone. Yet everyone who heard him felt an inexplicable chill, as though a Great Emperor had posed the question.

An authority that needed no anger!

The same phrase came to everyone's mind, and disbelief appeared on their faces. Just what was this youth's background, for him to have cultivated such imposing presence at his age?

Duanmu Yun first froze, then anger rose within him. We Great Abilities are speaking. However dazzling your talent, you haven't matured yet, and you dare disrespect a sect-leader-level figure?

But when he saw Li Wangxian's expression, an inexplicable chill gripped his heart. His instinctive spiritual perception actually told him that he must not defy this youth, instantly filling him with doubt and alarm.

Li Wangxian and his companion had no intention of waiting for him to sort out his thoughts. They continued straight ahead, ignoring Duanmu Yun completely, as though he were a weed by the roadside.

Of course, if a weed happened to block their path, they would naturally step right over it.

Everyone present clearly sensed this undisguised attitude. Strange looks flickered in their eyes as they prepared to enjoy the spectacle.

"Brat, how dare you insult me like this! No one in Ziwei has ever dared hold our Taiyin God Sect in such contempt!"

Duanmu Yun flew into a rage. Though he knew the people before him must have powerful backgrounds and even suspected they possessed a Saint Weapon, whom had the Taiyin God Sect ever feared throughout its many years in Ziwei?

Who could humiliate the Taiyin God Sect like this without paying a price?

In the past, they had annihilated the orthodoxy of an immortal heritage for precisely such an offense.

"Even if you are the Saint Son of some immortal family, you cannot insult our Taiyin God Sect like this. I will teach you what it means to respect the order of high and low."

Duanmu Yun was now so furious that he laughed. He looked at Li Wangxian as though he were already a corpse. Clearly, driven to the height of anger, he had resolved to kill.

"The Taiyin God Sect?"

Li Wangxian abruptly stopped. Just as everyone assumed he had been cowed by the Taiyin God Sect's formidable reputation, his next words left their hearts pounding and their mouths agape.

"Disloyal and unrighteous, heartless and unfilial-a sect that slaughtered the Human Emperor's bloodline and stole his orthodoxy. It must be slain."

"Yes, Divine Son! Your command shall be obeyed!"

Uncle Jiang stepped forward and activated the Saint Weapon. A sun slowly rose from his palm, unleashing an ancient Saint Might capable of swallowing heaven, destroying earth, and suppressing eternity as it blasted toward Duanmu Yun.

"Brat, you dare!" Duanmu Yun roared, his eyes bulging as though their corners would split.

There probably won't be a second chapter. I haven't been in the right state these past two days, and writing each chapter has been painful.