The Return Of Sam

On the day of the finals, an enormous crowd gathered in the stadium. These where the people from powerful families, sects, and nations who had come to watch. In the royal capital large enchanted screens are billboarded to board cast live battles for civilians. Rich merchants were also watching in a similar method from a TV like device. In fact all across the Thousand Flames upper realm were viewing this event.

The 128 finalists met up once more, majority of them were strong Heavenly Connection experts although a few have not shown up yet, chief amongst them was the crown Prince Hu Jin Shen, and the infamous Yun Xiao Che.

"Did that Yun fellow chicken out?" "Probably, a puny Xiantian have no business in this competition." "Who do you think will win?" "I'm betting senior brother Li" "Its always brother Li, pick someone original for once" "Maybe the prince has got a chance".

The commotion was huge, everyone was chattering with each other. Betting pools were set. Even large cheering squads can be seen practicing their chants.

"Man this really does look like the NFL" Hu Wenxi muttered as he watched from the balcony of the VIP box.

"NF what your majesty, I'm afraid I didn't catch that" Lao Fu who was to the side turned to the emperor when he spoke. Seeing this the emperor responded "Its nothing, just my…you know what never mind". Seeing this Lao Fu let the matter drop, the emperor does have certain eccentricities.

For this event all the Human Immortals had turned up, even the empress had arrived. The performance in this competition was to the intrigue of everyone present. This time around the VIP box was transformed into a pocket dimension by Hu Wenxi in order to contain everyone. At present it was average sized on the outside but massive on this inside. This was because Demon Ascendents from the Thousand Flames upper realm had shown up.

Previously the demon factions did not have any juniors that could participate. They only arrived now for the emperor's sake. In truth demons have always followed the law of the jungle to them it was a dog eat dog world. The strong eat the weak hence they did not care about the demon clansmen captured for the qualifiers.

While some demons may've felt grievances this was mainly due to how the qualifiers were rigged so that no one would die. Since ancient times demons have always been on the decline. Not since the Demon-God war during the early primordial age had the demons been a top faction.

The exception was the dragon, Phoenix, and Kirin tribe and their subsidiaries, however they don't consider themselves demons in the first place. In modern times aside from the Dragons who still controlled at least 3 galaxies, the other two had gone into hiding. However the phoenix and Kirin are no less powerful.

As the various experts were intermingling the sky above Thousand Flames upper realm rumbled. This caught everyone's attention. After his conquest the emperor set up massive planetary defence formation to protect Thousand Flames upper realm and the 33 lower realms, this was the 12 pillars zodiac formation. In the past the Hu dynasty repealed a True Immortal led invasion because of it.

"Who's trying to enter?" Qiang Wang questioned, everyone in this galaxy knew of the Hu dynasties power. Hardly anyone was dumb enough to invade.

"Peace father in law, its not an enemy" Hu Wenxi placated the Creation God sect chief before waving his hand at the sky. "Fellow taoist forgive me, I was not expecting you".

"A thousand apologies your majesty, I had only recently returned to attend this event. Forgive me for my rudeness" a loud voice rumbled across the heavens. Hu Wenxi smiled "Then please come in".

In that instant a titanic white serpentine body appeared above the atmosphere. A ten thousand kilometre white dragon winded across the royal capital before arrive before the stadium. This dragon had a wise look and resembled more of a sage then a beast. But every expert all felt his aura it didn't loose out compared to the emperor and suppressed all Human Immortals and Demonic Ascendents present.

Peak Demonic Ascendent, White Dragon emperor Long Chi Bai.

The dragon closed his eyes and concentrated, golden clouds wrapped around him and condensed his size. Then it quickly shrunk before appearing in the shape of a man on the VIP platform. This man was a white haired elder who whore taoist robes with the face of a dragon imbedded onto his sash. He had two dragon horns on his head and long tail behind hem.

Long Chi Bai cupped his hands and bowed "Greetings your majesty, forgive me for my hasty appearance".

"No trouble fellow taoist, I see you have improved your cultivation base, that's a good thing. Come join me in the VIP seats" Hu Wenxi led Long Chi Bai into the main hall where a large dragon seat was situated below both the emperor and empress but above many Human Immortal elders.

Long Chi Bai used to be the top expert of the Thousand Flames upper realm. He was known as White Dragon Emperor due to his status as the leader of the White Dragon clan in the western regions of Thousand Flames upper realm. However 200 years ago he lost tragically to emperor Hu Wenxi and swore loyalty to him. Since then he had been working hard to improve his cultivation.

This placement above many Human Immortals was fitting for him as he is the second strongest in the empire. Even the prideful Demonic Ascendents here agreed.

"My god, another powerhouse showed up" the people down below were still mesmerised but eh appearance of the dragon. One must understand that dragons have always been symbols of power, authority, and rulership. Even their bloodlines contain unique mystical powers.

"Has Shen'er left the time acceleration chamber yet" Qiang Mei Hua transmitted a message to Hu Wenxi to the side. It was true, Hu Wenxi had yet to leave the chamber and the finals were starting soon. The organisers had already decided the matches and where proudly displaying them.

"Not yet, Blade 7's last report was 5 minutes ago and he had yet to come out".

"God, he's not going to be disqualified is he?" Qiang Mei Hua was on one hand glad and on the other worried. On one hand her baby wouldn't be hurt but in the other he would be mocked as a coward.

"Not unless he misses his match" Hu Wenxi was fair to the rules of the tournament even to his own son. "If he does not show during his match then I will disqualify him". This entire conversation took place mentally, as such their companions did not hear them.

"I have faith, who knows he may have experienced a second tribulation" after all at least 6 years had gone by for Jin Shen. Seeing that the time was right Hu Wenxi began the proceedings. He thanked everyone for coming to his celebration and congratulated the finalists for making it this far. Hu Wei then announced the first match.

The sky lit up as the match was announced "Yan Shu vs Sam"

"What" this shocked everyone though both royals didn't seem shocked. The truth was that upon seeing his potential Hu Wang Tian approached Hu Wenxi regarding Sam earlier in the week. Because of their fairly good relationship the emperor told Wang Tian to bring it up to his wife the empress. Surprisingly enough she agreed.

This was under the condition that Sam defeated a previous finalist. She carefully selected a Creation God disciple who was willing and convinced him to let Sam take his place. Whatever reason she had was her own, Wenxi did not care either way as the results will be the same.

Various maids brought refreshments and snacks into the VIP lounge. Salesmen were also selling food in the stadium. Everyone was excited as although Sam's placement seems unfair he did have good ability. They would love to see him fight and quite possibly be knocked around a bit.

'This is gonna be good' Qiang Mei Hua though while her husband though 'This is gonna be cringe'. Qiang Mei Hua wanted to see how Sam will fight. This was especially the case after Wenxi informed her about the inspirations for them.

On the stadium both Sam and Yan Shu stepped up and faced each other, they were over 20 metres apart. Hu Wi also stepped on stage and announced some special rules. "Don't be afraid to maim or fatally injure we will save if that's the case" Hu Wei said this while looking at taoist Infinity Heaven who stood on the side, he had volunteered for this role due to his exceptional defensive spells.

"Don't worry Han Wu, I'll follow the rules" Sam loudly said pointing to himself with a thumbs up before flicking his nose with that thumb. Hu Wei's eyebrows twitched but he nevertheless remained calm, "You can choose which type of area you fight in, for the first round the one with higher points chooses".

After this a stone table appeared before Yan Shu, several options were on it that says forest, ocean, dessert, beach, standard, mountain. After thinking for a while he clicked forest.

FWOOOOSH

The stage transformed into a wide forest contained in a pocket dimension. Many dragonfly golems flew into it and began recording. The created space was a thick forest that was in the shape of a square that was a kilometre by a kilometre.

"Begin" Hu Wei announced.

Both participants appeared on opposite ends and immediately dashed forwards. While Yan Shu scanned Sam with his Immortal sense Sam saw Yan Shu via his magekyo sharingan. Dashing at high speeds both Heavenly Connection experts clashed with each other. Lest then a second later

BOOM!

Yan Shu was thrown back bloodied into several large trees collapsing them. "GAH" he cried out but immediately jumped sideways just barely avoiding Sam's giant fists. Sam on the other hand was smiling a toothy grin, it would be quite cute if he wasn't such an asshole.

"GUMO GUMO NO GIANT PISTAL" yelled Sam at the top of his lungs and slammed the palms down. Yan Shu dodge to the left and launched several trees at Sam, using his spells he transformed them into solid spiked projectiles. Said trees ripped themselves from the ground

"KAMUI" and portal appeared that sucked the trees in. Sam then launched a palm at Yan Shu. "This is my new technique, eat this. GUMO GUMO NO CHIDORI x1000". That palm coated itself in lightning and began chirping like a flock of birds.

Yan Shu raised both his arms and multiple trees launched themselves out forming a shield, in that instant dozens of trees were destroyed but Yan Shu was unharmed. Using another spell he sent land bark tentacles to restrain Sam. Instead Sam drew a knife sword from somewhere and screamed.

"YAHHH, EAT THIS GETSUGAAAAA TENSHOOOOOOOOOO"

The attack was too strong, Yan Shu used his powers to rip every tree in the forest and formed them into a single titanic tree to hopefully withstand the impact. It somewhat succeeded but the blue energy beam sliced the tree apart taking Yan Shu arm with it.

"Unbelievable Sam is already at the Heavenly Connection realm, what dogs hit progress is this?" Every one in the stands were shocked out of their minds. They all felt useless about themselves, 'Just who is this kid'.

Up in the VIP lounge, each Human Immortal and Martial saints narrowed their eyes in suspicion. However only the emperor and the empress had a clue as to what's going on.

If one looked inside the seemingly calm emperor's mind they would find him cringing hard every time Sam opened that loudspeaker he called a mouth, which ideas calls out all their attacks like that. Sam also only seemed tone able to flashy super moves.

Yan Shu in fact had a secret weapon. Although Sam was overwhelming him on every front and was barely winded he wasn't about to admit defeat. Sam landed with a superhero landing on the crater surrounding by splinters of wood. "SHAN JI you have lost, give up"

Yan Shu snarled in rage, to think he the proud son of the chief of the blitzing forest sect was to be humiliated like this. 'Fuck it, I'll use everything'. Yan Shu ripped a log from the ground and stabbed into his right stump.

"Oi Oi are you masochist? HI WI, remove him, he's lost" Sam called out towards Hu Wei who was seething in rage. In fact the only reason he hadn't slapped the boy to death was due to the empress' orders.

Yan Shu transmuted the wood into a new arm that appeared similar to his old one. "Good as new" he said. Sam eyes widened, "Holy shit, are you Harshirama?"

Up in the stands Wenxi deadpanned, 'Since when did Hashirama have that ability?'

Yan Shu crossed both hands a bit bewildered Sam was just standing there waiting for him, 'Is he that arrogant'. In truth Sam was waiting to see what he will do, although when he first arrived in this world he swore to never stand around like an idiot in dragon ball he now did the same.

When Yan Shu's spell activated a sea of timber combined into one forming a giant wooden golem hundreds of meters tall. Yan Shu sat inside the golem feeding it energy. "This is my final move, Great Lord of the Forest".

"Ha that's cute" Sam smirked and crossed his fingers. "TAIJU KAGE BUNSHIN NO JUTSU" and a sea of Sams appeared. Then all their eyes changed into the mangekyo sharingan and began bleeding. Suddenly all the clones transformed into blue giants holding two blue swords. They all stood around 100 meters tall

The Sams crossed their arms and yelled "AMATERASU" and all the blades became coated in thick black flames.

Up in the VIP lounge Wenxi began wondering, 'Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, Susanoo, Kamuii, and that manipulation is definitely flame control. That's 4 unique mangekyo abilities not counting Susanoo'. Thinking a little deeper Hu Wenxi realised something, 'Thats not how the sharingan works'.