Golden Blazing Divine Falcon

Golden Blazing Divine Falcon . . .

At the grand Cloudheaven Arena, the attention of spectators shifted towards Jun Mengchen. Among the eighty-one battle platforms that adorned the arena, a handful of participants had already emerged as formidable powerhouses. Their battle halos had swelled to awe-inspiring dimensions, with some reaching a staggering 1,000 meters, while a few boasted halos that stretched an astonishing 10,000 meters. The radiance emanating from these colossal halos bathed them in a divine light, exuding an imposing aura that seemed almost otherworldly.

The selection test had been underway for several hours, a relentless succession of battles that had pitted the strongest contenders against one another. They had vanquished their opponents, accumulating their rivals' battle qi with each victory.

Those with 10,000-meter battle halos were undeniably the cream of the crop, the pinnacle of the Cloud Prefecture's talent pool. Their innate strength was already awe-inspiring, and with the added augmentation of their massive battle halos, they stood unchallenged as the kings of the Cloudheaven Arena.

However, all eyes were now fixed on one individual who had stolen the spotlight from these reigning champions—Qin Wentian. His reputation, forged through his actions in the Driftsnow City, had cast a long shadow over the arena, capturing the fascination of the majority of spectators.

As Jun Mengchen's voice faded, two figures with 10,000-meter battle halos turned their attention to the trio of fellow sect members who had dared to challenge their supremacy.

"It's a shame our cultivation levels differ. Otherwise, I would ensure you never set foot on the Cloudheaven Arena again," remarked one of them, Zu Xuan. He was a fifth-level Celestial Phenomenon disciple of the Cloud Towers, one of the top three outstanding disciples from the Cloud Towers participating in the selection. He was widely regarded as a strong contender for the top 1,000 positions.

Jun Mengchen responded with a smile, his face bearing an innocent expression. "If we were on equal footing, that 10,000-meter battle halo of yours would be mine by now." His words, though light-hearted, didn't sit well with the others.

"Zu Xuan, this young man has quite the audacity," noted the other expert with a 10,000-meter battle halo. He was another standout genius from the Cloud Prefecture, even more powerful than Zu Xuan, standing at the fifth level of Celestial Phenomenon. His expression remained impassive as he descended from his battle platform. "We've been battling for quite some time. Let's take a break and give others a chance to compete on the platforms."

"Gu Chen, you could even accumulate a 100,000-meter battle halo in one breath," Zu Xuan commented, a playful glint in his eyes.

"No rush," replied Gu Chen, his tone unfeeling. He gracefully descended towards the ground, the crowd parting before him. As a true demon-level genius, he commanded the respect of countless admirers. The gazes fixed upon him could be divided into two categories: one filled with reverence, the other with a burning desire to challenge him.

"Although you have a higher cultivation level than that young man, your strength is equivalent to that of his senior sister. Defeat her, and the outcome will be the same," shouted an expert from the Myriad Sage Academy, encouraging Zu Xuan to take action.

"That's correct, I suppose," Zu Xuan chuckled, his gaze shifting towards Zi Qingxuan. "Although my heart is reluctant to challenge such a beautiful girl."

Zi Qingxuan tilted her head and fixed her gaze on Zu Xuan. "Spare us your shameless boasting."

Upon hearing her retort, a glint of sharpness flickered in Zu Xuan's eyes. However, he quickly wore a sly smile. "Since you put it that way, I won't hold back."

As his words faded, Zu Xuan's figure shot towards Zi Qingxuan with the grandeur of his 10,000-meter battle halo, an imposing force capable of crushing everything in its path.

Jun Mengchen chimed in with a mischievous grin, "Senior sister, let's give these people a good show." Then, he turned his attention to the Myriad Sage Academy representative who had egged them on. Pointing directly at him, Jun Mengchen's handsome features oozed with arrogance. "Inciting others, are you? What does that make you? I challenge all the third-level ascendants of your sorry sect. Summon them, and I'll take them on."

"IMPUDENT!" The expert from the Myriad Sage Academy roared. "Didn't your elders teach you any manners?"

Jun Mengchen's lips curled into an impish smile. "My elders taught me how to deal with cowards. If you don't have the guts to accept my challenge, then kindly keep your mouth shut."

The Myriad Sage Academy elder's fury flared. Being rebuked by a junior in such a manner was an embarrassing blow to his pride. This brat displayed the same audacity as Qin Wentian.

"Disciples of the Myriad Sage Academy, whoever defeats any one of these three shall be generously rewarded," the elder declared, seething with frustration. This young upstart had dared to challenge his authority.

"I'll take care of that arrogant brat," a young heaven-chosen from below stepped forward. He was a proud disciple of the Myriad Sage Academy.

"Good," the elder praised. Within moments, the young man ascended the battle platform where Jun Mengchen stood. An unmistakable aura of intent to kill emanated from him.

"With just you? Your aura is so feeble, what makes you worthy of being called a heaven-chosen?" Jun Mengchen's delicate features transformed abruptly. He bellowed with such force that it seemed as if ten thousand demons had been unleashed, trampling over everything in their path, and ten thousand weapons had been brandished simultaneously, ripping through the very fabric of reality. Each gust of wind spawned by this tempest contained an overwhelming killing intent.

The Myriad Sage Academy's disciple felt the razor-sharp blades of wind cutting into his flesh. He quickly summoned his astral defenses, but they crumbled in an instant, unable to withstand the relentless assault. Fear etched itself onto his face, but it was too late. The tempest's might sliced him into countless fragments, reducing his body to a chaotic storm of particles.

A deafening "BANG!" marked the final obliteration of those particles, as they disintegrated into a fine dust that scattered on the winds.

Jun Mengchen's roar echoed through the arena, leaving the crowd in stunned silence. The young man's appearance, so exquisitely striking, now bore a fierce and piercing gaze that sent shivers down everyone's spine. His eyes radiated a regal brilliance, striking fear deep into the hearts of all who looked upon him.

"Another extraordinary talent," the crowd murmured in hushed tones, their hearts filled with trepidation. It appeared that this selection test in the Cloud Prefecture would indeed be graced by the presence of numerous demon-level geniuses.

Despite his youthful arrogance and impatience, this young man possessed terrifying combat prowess. He had effortlessly slain a heaven-chosen opponent of the same cultivation level with just a single roar. Even among those who had earned their place on the Cloudheaven Arena, demonstrating the ability to challenge opponents of higher levels, this young man stood out as a formidable force.

"People from the Myriad Sage Academy? You're all sorely lacking," Qin Wentian chimed in, fully aware of the extent of his junior brother Jun Mengchen's strength. As he watched the experts from the Myriad Sage Academy, bewildered and thunderstruck, Qin Wentian couldn't resist a taunting remark, delivered with a heavy dose of arrogance.

Meanwhile, on another battle platform, the duel between Zu Xuan and Zi Qingxuan was well underway.

Zu Xuan's battle halo enveloped him, and the moment his constellation materialized, millions of palm imprints emerged in the sky. Each imprint exuded a terrifying might, capable of shattering gods should they obstruct his path. With each strike, the countless palm imprints unleashed earth-shaking power.

As they witnessed Zu Xuan's display of power, the spectators couldn't help but admire the majestic spectacle. It offered a vivid glimpse into the immense might wielded by a Celestial Phenomenon cultivator.

Zu Xuan's constellation was a fusion of multiple true intents, resulting in not just powerful but tyrannical and precise palm imprints. Each strike felt as though it could topple the heavens themselves. Under the relentless barrage, Zi Qingxuan found herself pushed into a defensive stance, relying on her speed to evade. Yet even so, the surrounding pressure forced her to retreat continuously.

"His attacks are truly formidable. It appears that those who can accumulate a 10,000-meter battle halo are no ordinary individuals. Coupled with the augmentation from his battle halo, his combat prowess has soared to incredible heights. However, Zi Qingxuan has yet to unleash her full potential," Qin Wentian observed silently, his gaze locked on their battle.

At that moment, Zu Xuan's battle halo released an overwhelming pressure, bearing down on Zi Qingxuan, while he declared with unwavering confidence, "You are not my match. Allow me to send you off."

A low, ominous hum filled the air.

As the echoes of his voice dwindled, an astonishing eruption of blazing golden light burst forth from Zi Qingxuan, reaching skyward in a dazzling display. It was as though her entire being was engulfed in celestial flames, radiating a divine brilliance akin to the golden sun. Her eyes gleamed with a soul-stirring intensity as the power of a supreme-tier bloodline surged forth.

"Do you truly believe yourself to be formidable?" A sun-like radiance blazed in Zi Qingxuan's eyes as her body became enveloped in intricate, fiery runic inscriptions. With each step she took, her constellation manifested, outshining even the sun itself, a radiant and resplendent golden divine falcon.

Behind her, the faint image of an enormous golden falcon materialized. Moments later, a pair of luminous wings unfurled from her back.

In the spectator stands below, several individuals rose to their feet, their eyes riveted on Zi Qingxuan. Her bloodline's power...despite the distance, they keenly sensed the overwhelming aura emanating from her.

Even Zu Xuan was momentarily taken aback. Clearly, he hadn't anticipated his opponent, a woman, to be such an incredibly formidable adversary.

"Swish!" A brilliant streak shot forward, Zi Qingxuan herself transformed into a beam of light akin to a divine falcon, hurtling straight toward Zu Xuan.

At that very moment, Zu Xuan unleashed the full extent of his strength. His fingers wove ancient imprints, and astral light poured over him. Countless palm shadows blanketed the world, converging and targeting Zi Qingxuan.

Zi Qingxuan's eyes emitted a terrifying radiance, shattering her opponent's palm imprints with ease. Simultaneously, she extended her hands, her fingers forming a falcon claw that surged forward with cataclysmic force, obliterating all incoming attacks as she swiftly closed the distance to Zu Xuan.

"You're still not worthy of conversation," her icy voice proclaimed. Zi Qingxuan's palms struck with brutal force, a fearsome falcon piercing straight through Zu Xuan.

Zu Xuan's body quivered with terror, his features contorted in horror. His battle qi leaked uncontrollably, flowing directly into Zi Qingxuan's battle halo. A deafening explosion resounded as Zu Xuan disintegrated into motes of golden light, dissipating entirely.

By plundering the battle qi from a 10,000-meter halo, Zi Qingxuan's own halo gleamed even more brilliantly. Bathed in the golden light cascading from her constellation, she appeared like a celestial maiden from the heavens, exuding unparalleled grace and strength. Her golden eyes scanned the crowd, and none dared to meet her gaze. She resembled an innate goddess of war, blessed with an unmatched physique and a supreme-tier bloodline.

"Senior sister, you're incredible!" Jun Mengchen cheered, his praise resounding throughout the arena. This battle had left everyone awestruck, their eyes fixed firmly on her.

Observing their three fellow sect members on the Cloudheaven Arena's battle platforms, the spectators couldn't help but feel as though an extraordinary radiance emanated from each of them. Just which sect could these exceptional beings belong to?

Had the individuals from Driftsnow City witnessed this spectacle in the past, they would have wholeheartedly believed Qin Wentian's claims of hailing from a supreme power. There was no room for doubt anymore.