Unexcelled in the World

Unexcelled in the World

The after-images, which had dazzled the onlookers with their speed and agility, dissipated into nothingness. In their wake stood a lone figure, resolute and defiant, clutching a blood-colored ancient halberd. Ye Kongfan's life force was dwindling rapidly, and his gaze was fixed upon Qin Wentian with an incredulous expression, as though he couldn't fathom that he had met his demise at the hands of Qin Wentian's halberd.

Ye Kongfan had been a formidable opponent, possessing a cultivation base at the seventh level of Heavenly Dipper, coupled with a calamity lightning bloodline and a heavenly lightning physique. He had dedicated himself to reaching the pinnacle of attack power, and in their exchanges of blows, he had undoubtedly held the upper hand compared to Qin Wentian. Qin Wentian had managed to endure thus far primarily due to his Stellar Transposition technique, which granted him astonishing short-burst movement speed. This had compelled Ye Kongfan to focus solely on defense, intending to drain Qin Wentian's energy. Yet, paradoxically, he found himself facing defeat.

Each strike of Qin Wentian's ancient halberd resonated with a fierce, beastly roar, while simultaneously deploying dreamforce to assail Ye Kongfan's sea of consciousness. However, Qin Wentian's final blow arrived without a sound or presence. Before Ye Kongfan could even react to the incoming attack, the ancient halberd had pierced through the center of his brow.

"You... how did you do that?" Ye Kongfan's voice was weak, blood trickling continuously from his mouth.

Qin Wentian stared coldly at Ye Kongfan, devoid of any trace of pity. He responded icily, "Did you never consider yourself anything less than extraordinary since birth? You slandered my wife due to your fragile ego. Now that you're facing your death at my hands, do you regret your actions?"

Without waiting for Ye Kongfan's response, Qin Wentian swiftly acted. The ancient blood halberd gleamed with a flash, and a surge of annihilating energy erupted. In an instant, Ye Kongfan's head exploded, showering the area with a gruesome spray of blood. His demise had been swift and merciless.

As the spectators below watched this grim scene unfold, an involuntary shiver ran down their spines. They could discern that Ye Kongfan's attacks had been superior to Qin Wentian's, but in battle, victory was not solely determined by offensive prowess. Qin Wentian's strategic use of Stellar Transposition during his attacks had paved the way for Ye Kongfan's inevitable downfall.

Ye Kongfan found himself utterly bewildered, unable to comprehend how those Celestial Phenomenon Ascendants had failed to perceive the potency of that final strike. There had been no telltale sound or discernible presence within that attack; it had been pure speed and destructive might. What made it even more terrifying was its ability to conceal itself within the void, effectively deceiving the onlookers. Qin Wentian had achieved a seamless fusion of illusion and reality, crafting a strike born from his profound comprehension that bordered on the miraculous.

In an astonishing turn of events, Qin Wentian, a cultivator at the fifth level of Heavenly Dipper, had slain Ye Kongfan, the son of the Qi King and a chosen disciple of the Violet Thunder Sect. As the majority of spectators gazed upon this young man, they couldn't help but speculate that if he were to survive, he would inevitably rise to become a formidable force in the future. The fact that the Human Emperor had taken him under his wing hinted at the hopes of passing down his legacy.

"Junior Brother Qin is truly remarkable," Liu Yun murmured, her voice filled with admiration. Duan Han nodded in agreement, adding, "I believe I witnessed the essence of the eighth through fourteenth sword strikes in his attack earlier. His offensive prowess has undoubtedly entered a new realm. With his level of comprehension, it's no surprise that he could grasp the first through fourteenth sword strikes in one go, breaking the Battle Sword Sect's previous record."

Li Hanyou's countenance darkened significantly. She had never expected Qin Wentian to possess such formidable strength. Back when Qin Wentian had shattered the record of the Grass Hut and the Plum Mountain Sword Sovereign had personally extended an invitation to him, she had already harbored a deep sense of dissatisfaction. How could she reconcile herself to the fact that she was inferior to Qin Wentian, especially when he had possessed a lower cultivation level at the time? Now that Qin Wentian had advanced to the same level as her, the fifth level of Heavenly Dipper, and had audaciously slain the genius Ye Kongfan from the Violet Thunder Sect, she could no longer deny her own inadequacy. This realization grated on her, particularly as she was a prodigy of the Li Clan and a personal disciple of the Plum Mountain Sword Sovereign, while Qin Wentian was a relatively recent member of the Battle Sword Sect.

Among the spectators, opinions varied, but no one could match the fury of the Qi King. Ye Kongfan had always been the pride of his life, and they had come here with the intention of humiliating Qin Wentian in a spectacular fashion. Little did he anticipate that his own son would be struck down before his very eyes. By the time he sensed that something was amiss, it was already too late. Although Ye Kongfan possessed life-saving treasures, there was simply no opportunity for him to employ them in response to Qin Wentian's instantaneous, fatal strike.

Witnessing Ye Kongfan's death ignited a tempest of rage within the Qi King. Lightning enveloped his body, crackling with ferocious intensity, as his eyes burned with fiery red fury. He descended to the ground beneath Ye Kongfan, catching his son's lifeless corpse just before it could make contact with the earth. He radiated an overwhelming thunderous presence.

"MY SON!" The Qi King's anguished cry reverberated through the air as he gazed upon Ye Kongfan's decapitated body. His head had been obliterated into fragments. His eyes brimmed with madness as he directed his murderous intent towards Qin Wentian, who was now retreating. A blaze of astral light erupted around him, and with the velocity granted by Stellar Transposition, Qin Wentian sought to evade the approaching catastrophe.

"YOU DARE!" The Human Emperor roared, but the Qi King paid him no heed. With a forceful gesture, he summoned a colossal lightning palm that obliterated everything in its path, hurtling relentlessly towards Qin Wentian. In that harrowing moment, Qin Wentian felt as though his doom was closing in.

In this crucial moment, the starlight in the sky erupted with blinding radiance. An immensely vast constellation materialized above, its gentle glow forming a protective shield around Qin Wentian, effectively nullifying the devastating effects of the colossal lightning palm.

"Qi King, it appears that your son's unpleasant temperament was inherited from you. Ye Kongfan's skills were lacking, and he met his end at the hands of my foster son. Yet, you rashly sought vengeance on his behalf. Ye Kongfan's fate was a result of his own actions," the Human Emperor asserted as he stepped forward, his gaze penetrating the Qi King below. His words sent ripples of tension through the onlookers.

The Qi King locked eyes with the Human Emperor, his murderous intent surging to new heights. To hear the Human Emperor declare Ye Kongfan's death as well-deserved was a bitter pill to swallow.

"Human Emperor, this man employs despicable techniques. Even after slaying a member of our royal clan, you still shield him? It appears you are no longer fit to be the Human Emperor of Ye. It's time for you to abdicate the throne," the Su King declared coldly. The other kings revealed their true colors and began rallying against the Human Emperor. The entire royal palace quivered under the weight of their imposing presence.

The Human Emperor's cold laughter rang out, piercing through the tension in the air. "It seems that you've all grown more despicable with age. Ye Kongfan was a seventh-level Heavenly Dipper Sovereign who came here with the sole intention of killing my foster son, Qin Wentian. Now that he's been defeated by Qin Wentian, you still dare to utter such words? How absurd. Want me to step down? It's simple—just chop off my head, and the throne will be yours. Unfortunately, with just the few of you, you are far from sufficient. Who else lurks in the shadows? Show yourselves!"

His thunderous roar reverberated through the entire royal palace. The Human Emperor's might was legendary, and he remained unparalleled in Ye.

"Human Emperor, you should relinquish your throne," another voice chimed in as several experts joined the fray. These were none other than the dukes of Ye Country. Together, they held more authority than the Human Emperor himself, controlling over half of the nation.

"Human Emperor, this man has killed a disciple of my Violet Thunder Sect. Hand him over to us," a representative from the Violet Thunder Sect demanded, pointing directly at Qin Wentian.

"The battles among the younger generation should be resolved by themselves, with life and death determined by fate. You, a Celestial Phenomenon Ascendant, wish to interfere? Do you not fear igniting a full-scale war with the Battle Sword Sect?" the Human Emperor retorted calmly, fixing his gaze on the Violet Thunder Sect's representative.

"I won't intervene in a battle among the younger generation. However, a disciple of my Violet Thunder Sect was killed, and the Human Emperor is shielding the murderer. You are essentially declaring war against us," the old man declared with an icy tone, his aura radiating a palpable threat.

Qin Wentian observed the figure that had stepped forward with a hint of unease. It was evident that the Qi King and his allies had meticulously prepared for this moment. Despite being aware of the Human Emperor's poisoning, they left no room for any unforeseen circumstances that might allow him to escape. As for the Violet Thunder Sect's demand for Qin Wentian's extradition, it served as a convenient pretext, masking their true intentions.

When the Human Emperor heard these words, he erupted into mad laughter, causing the entire space to resonate. He then turned his unwavering gaze to the Violet Thunder Sect's representative and coldly retorted, "Utterly preposterous! Is it not shameful enough that the Violet Thunder Sect, one of the nine great sects, resorted to poisoning me in the past? And now you seek to cloak your despicable actions in honor? Do you truly believe I would fear the Violet Thunder Sect?"

"What audacity! Since you refuse to repent, I shall ensure that your end arrives today," bellowed the aged representative from the Violet Thunder Sect. Presently, more than ten formidable Celestial Phenomenon-level experts had gathered, radiating their powerful auras. Shi Xuan and his subordinates appeared, forming a protective barrier around the Empress and the Emperor's concubines. Shi Xuan was poised to join the battle when he saw the Human Emperor motioning for him to stay back. "Just assist in guarding their safety. I alone am more than capable of dealing with these traitorous scoundrels."

With those words, Qin Wentian felt the Human Emperor propel him toward Shi Xuan, clearly aiming to keep him out of the battle's shockwaves.

"Take heed, everyone. In this world, strength reigns supreme, and there is no place for logic or reason. Whoever possesses the might sets the rules. After today, no matter which path you choose, never place your hopes in others. Alliances among major powers and sects are fleeting, shattered at the first whisper of self-interest and gain. Only by cultivating your own strength can you protect those you cherish and become an indomitable force capable of supporting both heaven and earth."

As the Human Emperor spoke, his constellation materialized behind him. All of his astral novas merged into it, illuminating his celestial form with unprecedented brilliance. Witnessing this magnificent constellation, onlookers felt as though they were beholding a supreme being with the power to reshape the heavens. The luminous sphere held in his fist radiated an earth-shattering and awe-inspiring force.

"When I ascended to the position of Human Emperor, I climbed a mountain of corpses and waded through a sea of blood. Today, I shall repeat that journey, purging my country of all traitors," the Human Emperor roared. His outstretched palms abruptly expanded, reaching over ten thousand meters and aiming toward the Qi King and his allies. Enraged, they channeled their strength and defenses to withstand the incoming assault.

Yet, the destructive palm strike obliterated everything in its path, leaving destruction in its wake. There was no force that could withstand its unstoppable advance. It breached their defenses and seized the Han King in an act of utter dominance.

"NOOOOOOO!" the Han King howled in agony. The Human Emperor locked his gaze on him, his voice as icy as the arctic wind. "Death to all traitors."

With that declaration, the Human Emperor clenched his palm, unleashing destructive energies that consumed the Han King's form until nothing remained. This horrifying sight sent shivers through the hearts of Qin Wentian and the others. Who was the Human Emperor, truly? It was likely that even the transcendent powers of Grand Xia wouldn't be able to withstand a single strike from him.

"How can this be?! The poison...?" The Qi King's complexion turned pallid. In this moment, the Human Emperor unleashed his peak strength, which he had possessed before the poisoning.

"The poison within me was long cleansed by the Holy Maiden and my foster son Qin Wentian. Today, your fates are sealed. Do not blame me for showing no mercy," the Human Emperor declared softly, his words echoing in the hearts of all those in attendance. The poison that had plagued his body had been completely eradicated?