Lin Chen stepped out of the void, appearing on the official road outside Black Wind Ridge.
To him now, ten thousand miles were merely a thought away. The cultivation he had accumulated through a hundred thousand years of signing in had long since freed him from the shackles of this world. Shrinking the earth to an inch and traversing space, things ordinary cultivators spent their entire lives pursuing, were as simple as breathing to him.
He did not deliberately conceal his presence, nor did he release any pressure. Like an ordinary youth of the mortal world, he simply walked slowly toward Azure Flame City, the capital of the Azure Flame Kingdom.
A hundred thousand years ago, he had briefly passed through Azure Flame City. Back then, it had been only a small frontier town, nowhere near its present size. A hundred thousand years had turned blue seas into mulberry fields, and he wanted to see what this mortal dynasty's capital had become.
As he continued along the road, cultivators gradually grew more numerous.
The Azure Flame Kingdom covered a vast territory. As its capital, Azure Flame City was the cultivation center of the entire kingdom. Every day, countless cultivators, martial artists, and merchant caravans poured into the city from every direction, seeking fortuitous opportunities, trading treasures, or participating in sect trials. It bustled with activity.
Most cultivators along the road had low cultivation, chiefly in the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment realms. The few who had reached the Soul Condensation Realm were already the focus of everyone's attention. They gathered in groups of three or five, discussing recent major events in Azure Flame City, their words brimming with excitement and awe.
Lin Chen strolled among the crowd, listening to the discussions around him without a ripple in his heart.
The supreme treasures, heavenly chosen, and grand gatherings these cultivators spoke of were no more than children's games to him. Any ordinary object he casually obtained through signing in was ten thousand times more precious than these so-called supreme treasures; the bandit cultivators he crushed with one finger were countless times stronger than these so-called heavenly chosen.
"Have you heard? Three days from now, the martial arena in the center of Azure Flame City is holding a Heavenly Chosen Assembly for the younger generation!"
"Heard? This is Azure Flame City's biggest event in nearly a hundred years! The core disciples of the three great sects-the Azure Cloud Sect, Blazing Fire Valley, and Water Moon Pavilion-will all participate, along with the favored geniuses of the great aristocratic clans!"
"They say Qin Hao, the Azure Cloud Sect's senior brother, has already broken through to the Mystic Understanding Realm First Layer at only twenty-five. He's the undisputed number one of the Azure Flame Kingdom's younger generation!"
"And there's Su Qingyue, the Su Household's eldest young lady. They say her cultivation advanced tremendously after her return from Black Wind Ridge, and she even received guidance from a mysterious expert. She's bound to shine brilliantly at this Heavenly Chosen Assembly!"
"Heh, I wouldn't be so sure. Yan Xiao of Blazing Fire Valley and Wang Teng of the Wang Household are both no weaker than Qin Hao. This Heavenly Chosen Assembly is bound to be a clash of dragons and tigers!"
Discussions rose and fell throughout the crowd, every conversation revolving around the Heavenly Chosen Assembly three days away.
In these cultivators' eyes, the Profound Understanding Realm represented supreme experts. Someone who reached it at twenty-five was an unparalleled heavenly chosen seen once in a thousand years, worthy of everyone's admiration.
Hearing this, Lin Chen's lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile.
The Profound Understanding Realm?
Before me, they don't even count as dust.
A hundred thousand years ago, he had already surpassed this world's cultivation ceiling. The so-called Profound Understanding, Grotto Heaven, King, and Great Emperor realms were nothing but a thin sheet of window paper before him, punctured with a single poke.
He paid no heed to these discussions and continued walking slowly, his figure soon blending into the stream of people heading toward Azure Flame City.
Several hours later, a magnificent, towering city that soared into the clouds appeared before Lin Chen.
Azure Flame City!
Its walls stood a thousand zhang high, built entirely from hard black iron stone and covered with ancient defensive formations. Light shimmered across them, radiating heart-palpitating pressure. Above the gates, the words "Azure Flame City" swept like dragons and serpents, imbued with boundless dominance. Written personally by the Azure Flame Kingdom's founding ancestor, they had endured for thousands of years without fading.
At the gates, streams of people interwove and cultivators gathered like clouds. Armored city guards stood solemnly on both sides with spears in hand, their sharp eyes scanning the passing crowds. Even the weakest of these guards was in the Foundation Establishment Realm, while their commanding officer had reached the fifth layer of the Soul Condensation Realm and possessed an imposing presence.
Ordinary cultivators had to pay one mid-grade Spirit Stone to enter the city. Those whose cultivation had reached the Soul Condensation Realm or above could enter free of charge.
Lin Chen walked beneath the gates. Without paying a Spirit Stone or releasing any trace of his presence, he headed straight into the city.
"Stop!"
A guard immediately stepped forward to block Lin Chen's path, barking with a hostile look, "Boy, the entry fee is one mid-grade Spirit Stone. Can't you see?"
Seeing Lin Chen's plain clothing and the complete absence of Spiritual Qi fluctuations around him, the soldier thought he looked like a mortal of the secular world. Contempt immediately arose in him, and his tone grew arrogant.
In his eyes, mortals ought to obediently pay their Spirit Stones. Otherwise, they were not worthy of setting foot in Azure Flame City, this sacred ground of cultivation.
Lin Chen stopped and cast an indifferent glance at the soldier.
With that single glance, the soldier felt as though an eternal god or devil had fixed its gaze upon him. His blood froze, his soul throbbed with agony, and his legs buckled. He dropped to his knees, trembling all over, without even the courage to raise his head.
Fear from the depths of his soul instantly swept through his entire body.
He did not even know why he was afraid. He knew only that this seemingly ordinary youth before him was a supreme existence he absolutely could not afford to provoke!
"Scram."
Lin Chen uttered the single word indifferently. His voice was quiet, yet like the resonant voice of the Great Dao, it shook the soldier until blood poured from his seven orifices and he fainted.
The surrounding cultivators were stunned at the sight. They stopped in their tracks, staring at Lin Chen in shock.
"Who is this? He actually dared attack at Azure Flame City's gates and injure a city guard?"
"No idea. His clothes are ordinary, and he doesn't have any Spiritual Qi fluctuations. Could he be a descendant of some secluded clan?"
"He's in trouble now. The city guards serve the Azure Flame Kingdom's imperial family. Injuring them is the same as challenging the imperial family. He's dead for sure!"
Discussions broke out everywhere. Some gazes directed at Lin Chen held sympathy, others curiosity, and still others delight in his misfortune.
In their eyes, even if Lin Chen had some strength, he would never live through the day after daring to run wild at Azure Flame City's gates.
Seeing this, the commanding officer's expression turned livid. He strode toward Lin Chen, unleashing his full fifth-layer Soul Condensation Realm cultivation. Spiritual Qi churned around him, his imposing presence bearing down.
"Audacious scoundrel! You dare commit violence at Azure Flame City's gates and treat our imperial laws as nothing? Today, I'll capture you and throw you into the imperial dungeon!"
The officer shouted fiercely and raised his right hand. A spear formed from Spiritual Qi instantly took shape and thrust straight toward Lin Chen's chest with a sharp rush of wind. The attack was vicious and utterly merciless.
In his eyes, Lin Chen was merely a brat ignorant of the heights of heaven and the depths of earth, someone he could suppress with a casual move.
The surrounding cultivators hurried backward, afraid of being caught in the battle. Their eyes remained fixed on the scene, eager to see how this arrogant youth would be dealt with.
Yet in the next second, everyone's eyes widened, their expressions as though they had seen a ghost.
Facing the officer's thrusting spear, Lin Chen stood motionless. He did not even lift his eyelids.
Just as the spear was about to touch his clothing, an invisible barrier abruptly spread outward from his body.
Bang!
With a thunderous crash, the Spiritual Qi spear shattered instantly, scattering into fragments of Spiritual Qi that dissipated in the air.
The fifth-layer Soul Condensation Realm officer flew backward as though struck by an ancient divine mountain. He spat several mouthfuls of blood in midair and crashed heavily to the ground dozens of zhang away. His tendons and bones were shattered, and he lost consciousness, his fate unknown.
One move!
A single invisible barrier had instantly defeated the fifth-layer Soul Condensation Realm officer!
Utter silence fell!
Every cultivator stood frozen, their minds blank and their faces filled with disbelief.
Instantly defeating someone at the fifth layer of the Soul Condensation Realm?
Such strength belonged to at least a mighty Profound Understanding Realm cultivator!
But this youth looked only about twenty. How could he possibly be a Profound Understanding Realm expert?
The Azure Flame Kingdom's youngest Profound Understanding Realm expert was Qin Hao of the Azure Cloud Sect. At twenty-five, he was already hailed as an unparalleled heavenly chosen seen once in a thousand years. Yet this youth was younger than Qin Hao, and his strength had reached such a terrifying level!
"A... a mighty Profound Understanding Realm cultivator?"
"Heavens! There's actually such a young Profound Understanding Realm expert in this world! He's even more terrifying than Senior Brother Qin Hao!"
"Who exactly is he? Why have we never heard of anyone like him in the Azure Flame Kingdom?"
After the deathly silence, an earth-shaking uproar erupted. The initial contempt and curiosity in everyone's gazes toward Lin Chen transformed entirely into profound awe and fear.
A mighty Profound Understanding Realm cultivator stood at the pinnacle of the Azure Flame Kingdom, an ancestor-level figure of the great sects and aristocratic clans. Such people were usually like divine dragons whose heads could be glimpsed but never their tails. Yet one had appeared at the city gates today, and he was so young!
Lin Chen ignored everyone's shock and stepped toward the city once more.
This time, no one dared stop him. Every city guard dropped to his knees, trembling all over and not daring to breathe loudly. The passing cultivators automatically cleared a broad path, lowering their heads without daring to look directly at Lin Chen, afraid of provoking this terrifying mighty cultivator.
Lin Chen walked slowly into Azure Flame City. The scene within was far more prosperous than outside.
The streets were broad and level, lined with towers and pavilions, carved beams and painted rafters lending them extraordinary grandeur. Shops displayed dazzling arrays of spirit medicines, Law Treasures, cultivation methods, and Spirit Stones. Cultivators radiating powerful presences could be seen moving among them everywhere. Calls from vendors and voices haggling rose and fell in a lively bustle.
Occasionally, cultivators flew through the air, leaving streaks of light that displayed this cultivation city's extraordinary nature.
Lin Chen strolled along the street, calmly surveying his surroundings.
A hundred thousand years of solitude had left him without the slightest attachment to the prosperity of this world. Everything before him was merely passing clouds and mist, gone in an instant.
He casually chose a restaurant called the Azure Cloud Inn and walked inside.
The restaurant was packed. Cultivators gathered in groups of three or five, exchanging toasts and still discussing the Heavenly Chosen Assembly three days away.
Lin Chen found a seat by the window and ordered a few ordinary dishes and some wine. He poured and drank by himself, quietly listening to the conversations around him, seeming entirely out of place amid the lively surroundings.
Just then, a clatter of footsteps came from downstairs. A group of disciples wearing blue Daoist robes embroidered with the words "Azure Cloud Sect" on their chests came upstairs, clustered around a handsome young man with an arrogant bearing.
The young man wore luxurious blue brocade robes, a jade pendant at his waist and a folding fan in his hand. An innate sense of superiority marked his features. His haughty gaze swept over everyone in the restaurant as though he were looking down upon a swarm of ants.
He was Qin Hao, the Azure Cloud Sect's senior brother and the foremost member of the Azure Flame Kingdom's younger generation!
Qin Hao had now reached the Mystic Understanding Realm First Layer. He was virtually invincible among the Azure Flame Kingdom's younger generation. Wherever he went, he became the center of attention and received lavish acclaim.
"It's Senior Brother Qin Hao! The Azure Cloud Sect's senior brother!"
"It really is him! What an extraordinary bearing. As expected of our Azure Flame Kingdom's number one heavenly chosen!"
"It looks like Senior Brother Qin Hao is certain to take first place at this Heavenly Chosen Assembly and become the overlord of the Azure Flame Kingdom's younger generation!"
Upon seeing Qin Hao, the cultivators in the restaurant rose and bowed respectfully, their voices filled with admiration.
Qin Hao nodded slightly, a satisfied smile appearing on his face. He had long since grown accustomed to everyone's adulation.
His gaze swept casually over the restaurant. When he saw Lin Chen sitting by the window, his brows furrowed slightly.
Everyone in the restaurant had risen to bow to him. Only Lin Chen remained seated, pouring and drinking his wine without even glancing at him, as though the Azure Flame Kingdom's number one heavenly chosen were no more than air in his eyes.
Displeasure instantly arose in the proud and arrogant Qin Hao.
In his eyes, every member of the Azure Flame Kingdom's younger generation ought to honor him as their superior and treat him with utmost respect. For some nameless brat to dare ignore him like this was simply courting death!
The Azure Cloud Sect disciples beside Qin Hao noticed as well and immediately shouted angrily, "Where did this wild brat come from? You dare remain seated instead of rising to bow when you see Senior Brother Qin Hao? You have no respect for your betters! Utter arrogance!"
"Hurry up and kowtow to Senior Brother Qin Hao in apology, or you won't walk out of this Azure Cloud Inn today!"
Several Azure Cloud Sect disciples advanced menacingly toward Lin Chen, intending to teach him a lesson and show off before Qin Hao.
Seeing this, everyone in the restaurant shook their heads, their gazes toward Lin Chen filled with sympathy.
"This brat is finished. He actually dared ignore Senior Brother Qin Hao. Now that he's offended the Azure Cloud Sect, he's dead for sure!"
"Alas, so young, yet a little strength has made him arrogant and conceited. He doesn't know the heights of heaven or the depths of earth. He's seeking his own death!"
In everyone's eyes, even if Lin Chen were a mighty Profound Understanding Realm cultivator, he would not dare offend the Azure Cloud Sect lightly. As the foremost of the Azure Flame Kingdom's three great sects, it possessed deep foundations. Even Profound Understanding Realm experts had to show it some respect.
Facing the Azure Cloud Sect disciples' rebukes, Lin Chen still did not raise his head. He gently swirled the wine cup in his hand and said flatly, "Scram."
A single, casually spoken word, yet it carried unquestionable authority.
"You dare insult me?"
The Azure Cloud Sect disciples flew into a rage, their expressions turning savage. Without hesitation, they attacked, sending several fierce streaks of Sword Qi hurtling toward Lin Chen, intending to kill him on the spot.
In their eyes, Lin Chen was merely a nameless nobody. If they killed him, then so be it. No one would dare stand up for him.
Qin Hao stood where he was, watching coldly without stopping them. Instead, a playful smile appeared on his face as he waited to see how this brat who had ignored him would be slain by his disciples.
Yet in the next second, the smile froze on his face.
Still seated, Lin Chen merely flicked a fingertip.
There were no earth-shaking phenomena, no boundless Spiritual Qi. Only an insignificant streak of white Sword Qi burst from his fingertip and drifted lightly toward the Azure Cloud Sect disciples.
The Sword Qi looked utterly ordinary, as though a casual wave could block it.
Yet the instant it flew out, the temperature throughout the restaurant plummeted. The air froze, and space itself seemed to be sliced apart by the Sword Qi, releasing a piercing hiss.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
Several soft sounds rang out, like tofu being sliced.
Before the attacking Azure Cloud Sect disciples could even scream, the Sword Qi instantly cut their bodies in half. Blood gushed out as they fell to the floor, their breath gone completely.
Instant kills with a single move!
Several Soul Condensation Realm Azure Cloud Sect disciples, killed instantly!
The restaurant fell silent in an instant, so quiet that a falling pin could have been heard.
Every cultivator stared wide-eyed at Lin Chen in terror, trembling all over and forgetting even to breathe.
The arrogance and amusement on Qin Hao's face vanished completely, replaced by profound shock and disbelief.
He stared fixedly at Lin Chen, his eyes filled with incredulity.
A casual flick had instantly killed several Soul Condensation Realm disciples. Such strength far exceeded the Mystic Understanding Realm First Layer. He was at least an expert at the third layer of the Profound Understanding Realm!
Why would an expert like this appear in Azure Flame City? And why was he so young?
Towering waves surged through Qin Hao's heart, and an inexplicable fear quietly rose within him.
But he was, after all, the foremost member of the Azure Flame Kingdom's younger generation, proud and arrogant. Even knowing Lin Chen was powerful, he refused to show weakness before everyone. Otherwise, his reputation would be swept into the dust.
Qin Hao drew a deep breath and forcibly suppressed his fear. Stepping forward, he shouted at Lin Chen in a stern voice, "Who are you? Why are you wantonly slaughtering my Azure Cloud Sect's disciples in Azure Flame City? Do you really think our Azure Cloud Sect is so easily bullied?"
He invoked the Azure Cloud Sect's name, hoping to intimidate Lin Chen with it.
In his eyes, even if Lin Chen was powerful, he would not dare make an enemy of the Azure Cloud Sect lightly.
Lin Chen finally raised his head slowly and looked indifferently at Qin Hao. Galaxies formed and perished in the depths of his eyes as the Great Dao flowed. That single glance made Qin Hao feel as though his soul was about to be devoured. His whole body stiffened, unable to move.
"The Azure Cloud Sect?"
An indifferent smile curved Lin Chen's lips, a trace of disdain in his voice. "What does it amount to?"
A casually spoken sentence, yet it exploded like thunder beside Qin Hao's ears.
What did the Azure Cloud Sect amount to?
It was the foremost of the Azure Flame Kingdom's three great sects!
Yet someone actually held it in such contempt!
Qin Hao trembled with rage, his face flushing crimson as he shouted fiercely, "Arrogance! Today, I'll cleanse the Azure Cloud Sect's ranks and slay a scoundrel like you!"
As his words fell, Qin Hao held nothing back. He unleashed his full Mystic Understanding Realm First Layer cultivation. Flame Spiritual Qi churned ceaselessly, transforming into a massive flaming tiger that bared its fangs and brandished its claws. With the might to burn mountains and boil seas, it lunged at Lin Chen.
This was the Azure Cloud Sect's supreme art, the Blazing Flame Tiger Roar Instruction. Its limitless power was enough to slay cultivators of the same level!
Attacking in fury, Qin Hao intended to suppress Lin Chen with a single move and salvage his dignity.
Everyone in the restaurant held their breath, their eyes fixed on the scene, eager to see the outcome of this clash at the summit.
On one side was Qin Hao, the Azure Flame Kingdom's number one heavenly chosen of the younger generation. On the other was a mysterious, unfathomable nameless youth with terrifying strength. Who would prevail?
Under everyone's gaze, the flaming tiger instantly pounced before Lin Chen. Terrifying heat swept through the entire restaurant, and the tables and chairs began to burn.
Yet facing this fatal strike, Lin Chen remained seated, his expression calm and utterly unchanged.
He merely raised one finger and lightly pointed forward.
"One Sword Breaks Ten Thousand Laws."
Lin Chen murmured softly, his voice calm and unruffled.
A streak of dazzling golden Sword Qi burst from his fingertip, instantly tearing through the void and shattering every principle between heaven and earth.
This Sword Qi possessed no earth-shaking might, yet it contained the Great Dao of Chaos that Lin Chen had comprehended a hundred thousand years ago. It was the ultimate attack in this world!
Crack!
Where the golden Sword Qi passed, the flaming tiger instantly shattered, scattering into sparks that filled the air before dissipating.
Then, without losing any momentum, the Sword Qi slashed straight toward Qin Hao.
Qin Hao's face turned as pale as paper, his eyes filled with utter terror. He tried to dodge, only to discover that the Sword Qi had locked onto him, leaving him unable to move an inch.
He could clearly sense that the power within this Sword Qi was enough to kill him hundreds or thousands of times over!
"No!!!"
Qin Hao let out a desperate roar.
Squelch!
With a soft sound, the golden Sword Qi swept across Qin Hao's body in an instant.
No blood spurted. No body shattered.
Qin Hao stood rooted to the spot, his entire body rigid, terror still frozen on his face. His Profound Understanding Realm cultivation rapidly dissipated at a speed visible to the naked eye. His flesh, soul, and Dao foundation were all destroyed by the Great Dao of Chaos within the Sword Qi.
In the space of a single breath, Qin Hao-the foremost heavenly chosen of the Azure Flame Kingdom's younger generation, an expert at the Mystic Understanding Realm First Layer-became utterly crippled. His cultivation was gone, his vitality severed, and he fell straight to the ground, completely lifeless.
An instant kill!
Qin Hao had been killed in a single move!
The Azure Flame Kingdom's foremost heavenly chosen had not lasted even one move against Lin Chen. He had been crushed as easily as an ant!
Inside the restaurant, every cultivator collapsed to the floor, trembling all over, their faces ashen, not daring even to breathe heavily.
Terror!
Utter terror!
They finally understood that the seemingly ordinary youth before them was no mighty Profound Understanding Realm cultivator, but a supreme true god from above the nine heavens!
The Azure Cloud Sect, Qin Hao, the Heavenly Chosen Assembly... before this true god, they were nothing but a joke!
Lin Chen slowly withdrew his finger without so much as glancing at Qin Hao's corpse on the floor, as though he had merely crushed an insignificant ant.
He picked up the wine cup on the table and took a light sip. Looking out the window toward the martial arena in the center of Azure Flame City, he spoke indifferently.
"I'll attend the Heavenly Chosen Assembly in three days."
"Every so-called heavenly chosen who dares to come, I will slay."
His voice was not loud, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly. Like a pronouncement from the god of death, it branded itself into the depths of every person's soul.
Having spoken, Lin Chen paid no further attention to the utterly terrified crowd. His figure slowly faded and vanished from the restaurant, leaving only deathly silence and a piece of news that would make all of Azure Flame City tremble.
That very day, Azure Flame City was shaken!
Qin Hao, the Azure Cloud Sect's eldest senior brother, had been slain in a single move by an unknown youth at the Azure Cloud Inn!
The mysterious youth had declared that he would slay every heavenly chosen at the Heavenly Chosen Assembly in three days!
As though it had sprouted wings, the news instantly swept through all of Azure Flame City and spread to the three great sects and every major aristocratic clan, unleashing unprecedented panic and upheaval!
Everyone knew that, in three days, a heaven-shaking storm was certain to erupt at Azure Flame City's martial arena!
And at the center of that storm was the youth who had emerged into the world already invincible-Lin Chen!