"Since the Divine Son has accepted the challenge, I shall take the liberty of serving as referee for this match and guarantee absolute fairness and impartiality!"
In front of the Immortal Pavilion, Pavilion Master Qingxiao smiled warmly.
With that, he flicked a finger, and a dazzling beam of sword light transformed into a gigantic golden dragon that soared into the heavens.
Dragon roars rang out, and saintly might filled the air. A terrifying force enveloped the entire Immortal Lake Island.
The sky above Immortal Lake Island suddenly dimmed, turning so black that no one could see their own fingers before their face.
Boom!
Pavilion Master Qingxiao had struck down a primordial star with a single sword strike, sending it plummeting from the heavens.
Crack!
He then casually kneaded and refined it into an ancient battle platform, which landed steadily in the center of the island.
"Divine Son, Ninth Holy Son, please!"
Pavilion Master Qingxiao held one hand behind his back and gestured for them to proceed with the other.
"Many thanks, Pavilion Master!"
Li Cangtian cupped his fists in salute, then leaped onto the star-forged battle platform, landing firmly.
Pavilion Master Qingxiao's sudden display left Li Xunyuan somewhat surprised.
He had not expected Pavilion Master Qingxiao, who outwardly guarded the pavilion, to possess Saint Realm cultivation.
There were strong and weak cultivators within the Saint Realm, but he did not know which level the man had reached.
If that's the case... wouldn't those old schemers in the Lineage hiding in the shadows...
It was an indirect indication that the Li Lineage's foundations were extraordinarily profound, even more terrifying than he had imagined!
Thud!
Li Xunyuan also took a step forward, vanishing from where he stood. When he reappeared, he too was standing on the star-forged battle platform.
"I will suppress my cultivation to the Life Palace Realm and fight you on equal terms!"
Li Cangtian's purple hair fluttered, his bearing majestic, like an ancient divine mountain bearing down upon the world.
With that, Li Cangtian circulated the Tyrant Body Immortal Art. Purple lightning and thunderlight surged into the sky, engulfing heaven and earth. Immortal radiance enveloped him, making him look like a son of a Heavenly Emperor!
Immediately afterward, nine immortal beast phenomena appeared behind him: a true dragon soaring into the heavens, a phoenix undergoing Nirvana, a white tiger roaring at the sky, a black tortoise treading the void, and more...
Boundless radiance enveloped Li Cangtian, while the nine great immortal beasts surrounded and guarded him, as though welcoming their emperor!
Li Cangtian's presence was far too terrifying at that moment. Like an emperor who ruled over immortal beasts, his might pressed down on the world in every direction, leaving no one able to muster the will to resist!
"Holy Son Cangtian has been famous for a long time, and his Heavenly Hegemon Body is invincible among those of the same realm. The Divine Son is still young; I'm afraid he won't be able to withstand more than a few moves!"
"Even though Holy Son Cangtian is suppressing his cultivation, he's a genuine Creation Realm cultivator. I doubt the Divine Son can even last three moves!"
The disciples around Immortal Lake Island discussed the match among themselves, all watching the battle platform with their full attention, unwilling to miss a single detail.
This battle, between a long-established Holy Son and the newly appointed Divine Son, promised to be quite a spectacle.
Hearing the people around him sing his praises, Li Cangtian's eyes grew deep, purple immortal flames burning within them.
He did not grow arrogant because of it, remaining as steady as Mount Tai from beginning to end.
"Divine Son, my cultivation realm and comprehension are higher than yours. You may strike first," Li Cangtian said calmly.
"You're being so polite that it makes me look unreasonable. I think you should strike first!"
Li Xunyuan's golden immortal eyes shone brilliantly as he smiled. "I'm afraid that once I make a move, you won't have a chance!"
His words were like a stone cast into a tranquil lake, sending ripples spreading outward and leaving countless Li Lineage disciples exclaiming in astonishment.
Could the Divine Son actually intend to fight across realms?
If his opponent were an ordinary heaven's chosen, he could naturally fight across realms, or even defeat them instantly!
But Holy Son Cangtian possessed the Heavenly Hegemon Body and had opened nine Life Palaces. He was an existence who could be called invincible among those of the same realm.
Defeating Holy Son Cangtian in a single move would truly be a little difficult!
"In that case, be careful, Divine Son!"
With that, Li Cangtian wasted no more words. He formed a hand seal and activated the Ancient Phoenix Divine Ability, one of his nine great immortal beast divine abilities.
Boom!
Terrifying Nirvana immortal flames transformed into lifelike Nirvana phoenixes.
They spread their wings and soared, burning with Nirvana flames. Like an entire great world of blazing immortal fire, they descended upon Li Xunyuan with overwhelming force.
Li Xunyuan did not panic at the sight. He simply smiled and retreated a safe distance.
He then directly designated Li Cangtian as the target and used Throw Oneself into Another's Arms.
He had just obtained this divine ability through signing in, and it had come without any description. Li Xunyuan was very curious about what it did.
The scene he had imagined of severing heaven, destroying earth, and suppressing all immortals did not appear.
Instead, the divine ability was utterly uneventful, so uneventful that it was somewhat strange.
After using Throw Oneself into Another's Arms, Li Xunyuan only felt his arms suddenly sink, as though he had caught a heavy mammoth.
In an instant, all the arguing around the battle platform came to an abrupt halt!
Frozen in place.
All sound fell silent!
Not a crow or sparrow made a sound!
Everyone stared slack-jawed, as though carved from wood or molded from clay.
Unconcealable shock and confusion filled the face of every disciple watching the battle.
Some even looked horrified.
Even Pavilion Master Qingxiao stood frozen, one hand on his forehead and his mouth hanging wide open, at a loss for words.
A huge question mark.
"Holy shit...!"
Li Xunyuan lowered his gaze and suddenly discovered another person in his arms. He could not help cursing on the spot.
The person in his arms was none other than Li Cangtian.
The Ancient Sovereign Divine Ability and the immortal beast phenomena had all vanished without a trace.
At that moment, their eyes met, and the atmosphere suddenly became a little strange.
Even Li Cangtian, with his unflappable composure, was so frightened that his face turned pale.
He then fled Li Xunyuan's arms at the speed of light, faster than he had ever moved in his life.
"Sorry, this is all a misunderstanding, really, a misunderstanding!"
Li Xunyuan gave an awkward smile, so embarrassed that his toes nearly dug a three-bedroom apartment into the ground.
In his heart, he cursed all eighteen generations of the system's ancestors!
What kind of bullshit divine ability did it give me!
Wasn't this screwing me over in broad daylight!
It made me look like a pervert!
"Divine Son, are you making a fool of me?"
Li Cangtian's face alternated between ashen and pale, his chest heaving. Clearly, he had been badly frightened just now.
For one thing, he had been held in Li Xunyuan's arms, and Li Xunyuan was a grown man!
For another, his Ancient Phoenix Divine Ability had completely failed in that instant, vanishing without a trace like ice and snow meeting lava.
Rumor had it that the Ancient Sacred Body countered many divine body phenomena. Having seen it today, he found that its reputation was well deserved.
A terrifying thought suddenly surfaced in Li Cangtian's mind.
Could it be... that he has broken ten complete Ancient Shackles?
Otherwise, he could not possibly have broken his Tyrant Body's immortal beast divine ability so easily.
"This time, let me make a move!"
Li Xunyuan was the first to break the silence, eager to prove that he was not a pervert.
With that, the Dao bone in Li Xunyuan's body blazed with immortal radiance, and his presence climbed steadily. He was like a brilliant golden sun, illuminating the eternal blue sky!
"One Sword Severing Heaven!"
He pressed two fingers together, using them as a sword, and pointed them at Li Cangtian.
Clang!
A clear sword hum rang out. Winds rose and clouds surged overhead as chaotic sword light pierced the clouds and the heavens, shattering the void piece by piece along its path!
This sword strike could split open the heavens!
"Black Tortoise Return to the Ruins!"
Sensing the power of the strike, Li Cangtian's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly unleashed the Black Tortoise Divine Ability, the strongest in defense among his nine divine abilities.
Hum!
A black phantom image of a black tortoise appeared out of nowhere, protecting Li Cangtian within.
It exuded an unparalleled presence, as though it ruled over this world and possessed an invincible defense throughout the ages!
Boom!
Life Palaces began to rise into the air, manifesting above Li Cangtian's head.
One, two, three... ten. A full ten Life Palaces stretched across the sky, radiating brilliant, eternal divine light.
"Those are... ten Life Palaces!"
"Holy Son Cangtian actually opened ten Life Palaces!"