Unexcelled In This World

Unexcelled In This World . . .

As the echoes of that spear's earth-shattering impact reverberated through the air, a heavy silence settled upon the stunned spectators. Their hearts raced wildly, disbelief shining brightly in their widened eyes.

"He... he killed an immortal. An immortal, slain by his hand, a mere third-level Celestial Phenomenon cultivator!"

The sight of this moment had sent shockwaves crashing through the very core of their beings, shaking them to their very souls.

In the realm of immortals, one must tread carefully, for to insult an immortal was a grave transgression. Immortality was not just a mere level of cultivation; it was an aspiration, a symbol of power, a marker of exalted status for those who managed to transcend the shackles of mortality.

In the eyes of ordinary mortals, standing before an immortal was akin to being in the presence of a deity. They approached such beings with reverence and humility, their voices trembling with awe. Never would they dare to defy or speak boldly as Qin Wentian had.

Before this clash, when Qin Wentian had been exuding an aura of unmatched arrogance, everyone had assumed that his end was nigh. It seemed all too clear that the immortal-foundation expert would effortlessly snuff out his life with a mere flick of his hand.

Yet, reality defied their expectations, and their world had been turned upside down. Who decreed that only immortals could humiliate mortals? Who ordained that immortals could regard mortals as insignificant ants, untouchable by the specter of death?

In this battle, Qin Wentian had delivered a resounding message to all who witnessed it: immortals were not infallible gods; they too could meet their end like any mortal. With enough strength, one could face an immortal without fear, holding one's head high and proud. Not even the mighty immortals could force you to bow and submit.

A collective, deep inhalation of breath swept through the spectators. The shock still lingered in their eyes, refusing to dissipate. It felt as though they were trapped in a surreal dream, but the truth was inescapable. That immortal-foundation expert from the Battle Heavens Immortal Manor had been vanquished by Qin Wentian's spear, and he had paid the ultimate price for his arrogance.

Even the experts from the major powers, who were typically composed and astute, stood stupefied, their minds grappling to comprehend the profound implications of this event. As for the other immortals, they couldn't help but entertain a troubling thought: If they were the ones facing Qin Wentian, could they have withstood that final, earth-shaking spear strike?

Many of them begrudgingly admitted that if they were in the same dire predicament, they could not guarantee their ability to defend against that astonishing spear thrust. The indomitable power contained within the spear was undeniably an immortal force, capable of crushing all obstacles in its path.

Pei Tianyuan, whose eyes usually exuded a quiet wisdom, now burned with an intense sharpness. He realized he had gravely underestimated the young man before him. Regardless of whether Qin Wentian had harnessed the Nine Immortality Bells' might or not, he had achieved something that had eluded mortals for millennia. Pei Tianyuan, who had lived for tens of thousands of years, had never witnessed mortals successfully slaying immortals. This momentous event marked a profound shift in the balance of power, a cataclysmic turning point in their understanding of the cosmos.

The legend of the Driftsnow Master, it seemed, was no mere tale. Pei Tianyuan pondered this revelation as he observed Qin Wentian, contemplating the appropriate approach for interacting with the young prodigy who had apparently unraveled the secrets hidden within the ancient bells. The fact that Qin Wentian had harnessed enough energy from these enigmatic artifacts to slay an immortal was nothing short of astounding.

Pei Tianyuan's gaze, however, inadvertently shifted toward Pei Yu. Below immortals, all were considered mortals, and it was a common belief that immortals viewed those of lower cultivation as insignificant ants. Yet, certain individuals, often dubbed "demon-level characters," possessed exceptional potential to become immortals. Qin Wentian, with his ability to communicate with the runic inscriptions emanating from the ancient bells and his capacity to vanquish an immortal using their power, demonstrated remarkable comprehension and perception—qualities that augured well for his chances of ascending to immortality.

Amidst this revelation, Pei Yu and Cheron struggled to put their feelings into words. Cheron, a talent in the field of weaponsmithing, hailed from the Wondergate Immortal Manor. The gathering had attracted young geniuses from various major powers, all vying to uncover the Nine Immortality Bells' secrets and, in the process, compete for supremacy. Yet, the events that had transpired had cast the other prodigies into the shadows. All attention was now riveted on their newfound acquaintance.

The brilliance emanating from Qin Wentian outshone them all, rendering their own talents momentarily dim by comparison.

A piercing, icy voice abruptly shattered the silence that had settled over the assembly. All eyes turned to identify the speaker, who none other than Zurius, a representative of the Battle Heavens Immortal Manor.

Zurius wore an expression of profound discontent. As one of the chosen of the Battle Heavens Immortal Manor, he had previously regarded himself as a dominant force, leading a group in relentless pursuit of Qin Wentian's demise. He had been convinced that Qin Wentian lacked the qualifications to stand on equal footing with them.

Yet, today, Qin Wentian had effortlessly outshone this gathering of supposed geniuses, surpassing their combined prowess with ease. To Zurius, this abrupt shift from a leading role to a mere supporting character was unbearable.

Furthermore, the slain immortal was a member of the Battle Heavens Immortal Manor—a once haughty and arrogant figure, now reduced to ashes. The news of this ignominious end would undoubtedly spread throughout Cloud Prefecture, causing Zurius considerable discomfort.

In response to Zurius's accusatory remark, Qin Wentian regarded him with a frigid stare and delivered a mocking retort, "Do you even possess the qualifications to converse with me?"

Zurius seethed with rage. His forehead seemed ready to burst from the pressure building beneath it. Bloodshot eyes glittered with an intensity that spoke of his murderous intent, an intent aimed squarely at cleaving Qin Wentian into two. The atmosphere teetered on the brink of chaos.

But Qin Wentian, unyielding as ever, unleashed a verbal salvo that struck at the very core of Zurius's self-assuredness. With a withering barrage of words, Qin Wentian chipped away at the remnants of Zurius's confidence, reducing him to a mere shadow of his former, overconfident self.

"Seems like all of you are the same—arrogant but useless," Qin Wentian declared, his voice a whip lashing through the air, "self-proclaimed as geniuses and feeling a false sense of superiority towards others. Sadly, you guys only know how to talk, but in fact, all of you are nothing but a bunch of trash."

The verbal onslaught had its desired effect, a ripple of disarray spreading through Zurius's resolve.

Amid this heated exchange, an expert from the Battle Heavens Immortal Manor, wreathed in a corona of immortal light, stepped forward, his eyes glinting with a calculated intensity. He raised an eyebrow at Qin Wentian, his words tinged with a warning.

"You've already slain one of our sect's experts, yet your audacity remains unyielding. Do you truly comprehend the potential consequences?"

Qin Wentian's response was a derisive laughter that danced in his eyes. "Consequences? Now you speak of consequences? First, it was Zurius, who relentlessly pursued me with murderous intent. Then, an immortal-foundation expert used his status to trample on me—a mere junior at the third level of Celestial Phenomenon. He openly threatened to seize my divine weapon, violate my soul, and strip away my memories. And now you mention consequences? If I hadn't possessed the strength to eliminate him, would you be speaking to me with such decorum? I would have perished long ago."

He continued, his voice brimming with unapologetic authority, "My ability to stand before you is not a result of your magnanimity but a testament to my strength. So, I shall reiterate: I have no desire to be in your presence any longer. Depart from here, immediately."

Qin Wentian's words were an uncompromising command, his finger pointing resolutely at these experts. Civility had no place in his rhetoric; strength was his sole currency. His combat prowess, not etiquette, had earned him a place in this confrontation.

The truth, as many in attendance begrudgingly acknowledged, lay in the logic of Qin Wentian's words. When the immortal-foundation expert had been prepared to subject him to brutal and humiliating treatment, politeness would have been utterly futile. Only strength had turned the tide, allowing him to now confront these experts on equal terms.

With strength as his foundation, Qin Wentian had no inclination to veil his sentiments with pleasantries or respect. Power was the ultimate arbiter of fate; without it, he would tread a path to certain doom. In light of these facts, there was no reason to feign civility or humility in his dealings with these individuals.

Yet, as the tension escalated, the immortal-foundation expert unleashed an aura of unparalleled intensity. Immortal light radiated from him with blinding brilliance, a stark contrast to the fallen expert's strength.

"Impudent!" the immortal seethed, his rage apparent.

Qin Wentian, however, met this fury with a chilling laugh. The immortal's earlier intent to plunder his soul and memories before ending his life was the true embodiment of impudence. If such actions constituted impudence, then Qin Wentian was more than willing to embrace that label.

But then, a resounding toll rang out, the ancient bells chiming with renewed vigor. The colossal silhouette, standing a towering 30,000 meters tall, took form once more. It exuded an overwhelming aura, evoking the image of an ancient war god from a primordial era, radiating a killing intent that transcended all else.

The divine spear in its hand shimmered with blinding luminance, sending waves of terror rippling through the crowd. The experts from the Battle Heavens Immortal Manor quivered involuntarily; a few even took involuntary steps backward. The memory of the immortal-foundation expert's demise still haunted their thoughts. If Qin Wentian launched another spear, how many of them could escape unscathed?

"In the name of those who persist, prepare to meet your end!" Qin Wentian's voice sliced through the tension, a chilling command that resonated in the very marrow of those who heard it. The towering figure, now an extension of his indomitable will, grasped the long spear, its intentions clear.

With a mere gesture, the battlefield transformed into a stage of imminent reckoning. There was no need for further words; the spear sliced through the air like a blade through silk, a singular declaration of war.

The space around the weapon shuddered in response, its might a testament to its celestial prowess. All else paled in its presence, subjugated beneath its overwhelming aura. The spear hurtled, an unstoppable force directed at the experts of the Battle Heavens Immortal Manor.

Their leader's countenance drained of color, his corona of immortal light flaring as it surged to the heavens, coalescing into a formidable golden shield adorned with intricate runes. It was a last-ditch effort to halt the impending disaster.

A deafening collision echoed through the arena, the spear's ferocity causing the golden shield to shudder and crack. Despite the immense pressure, it held firm, buying the expert time to regain his footing, though not without being pushed back several steps.

The leader's voice trembled with amazement. "Such a formidable attack."

Beside him, his comrades echoed his sentiment, their gazes locked onto Qin Wentian, their astonishment mingled with caution.

But Qin Wentian was unrelenting. The long spear withdrew briefly, only to thrust forth with newfound ferocity, cleaving through the heavens and earth. "Go!" the leader shouted, and the golden shield reassembled, now nine times thicker than before. The force of their collision reverberated, echoing through the spatial confines. The shield fractured, but it endured, repelling the spear's assault. Yet the relentless momentum of the attack sent the expert hurtling backward.

Undaunted, Qin Wentian roared. The spear expanded again, this time like a serpent recoiling before lunging forth, earthshaking power surging. "Advance!" The leader's voice quivered, and the golden shield sprang into existence once more, ninefold in its resilience. The earth shuddered under their contest, and though the shield eventually disintegrated, it was a valiant defense.

As the Battle Heavens Immortal Manor's contingent retreated to a distant vantage point, their expressions were a mosaic of disbelief and anger. Their gaze bore into the silhouette that stood defiantly in the distance, a stark reminder of their expulsion from the heart of the conflict.

The very epitome of a supreme-tier major power in the Cloud Prefecture had been forced to retreat by a third-level ascendant. The irony of the situation was lost on no one.

But Qin Wentian showed no sign of relenting. The towering giant, an echo of ancient power, held the long spear aloft, his gaze sweeping over the remaining contenders. "What are you all waiting for?" His voice, infused with unwavering resolve, cut through the lingering tension.

These individuals had come, each harboring ambitions of uncovering the Nine Immortality Bells' secrets. Yet now, they found themselves, by Qin Wentian's unyielding will, cast out from the heart of the enigma they sought to solve.