Chapter 186: Chapter 184: Holy Dragon Knight — Di Tian

Under Jiang Chen’s lead, Nalan Qiantian, Chen Huan, and the others ascended the path with unstoppable momentum.

The top five hundred...

The top four hundred...

The top three hundred...

He had already broken into the top one hundred, and his speed hadn’t slowed in the slightest. Along the way, other powerhouses tried to block Jiang Chen’s group, but under the force of his powerful aura, they couldn’t even mount a basic attack before they were left staring at his back. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

One after another, they could only stare in helpless awe, cursing with a mix of jealousy and bitterness, "Damn it, are you in a rush to get reincarnated or something?"

Behind Jiang Chen, Nalan Qiantian was completely dumbfounded. During the mad dash, they couldn’t use their True Essence, so the fierce wind whipped directly against their faces.

It felt like a knife, stinging his skin!

"I... I, damn it... How is this guy so fast?" Nalan Qiantian said, completely frustrated.

"Didn’t Young Master Nalan say he’d lead our charge? Why is it Jiang Chen now?"

"I feel like Jiang Chen is even faster than Young Master Nalan. Does that mean he’s stronger than him?"

"That... That’s impossible, right?"

Chen Huan, Chen Xiao, Niu Geng, and Sun Peng looked at each other in bewilderment.

Hearing the conversation from Chen Huan and the others behind him, Nalan Qiantian’s face flushed red with anger. Staring at the young man’s back ahead of him, he suddenly felt his own face burn with shame.

Damn it...

’Along the way, I was showing off for all I was worth, puffing out my chest and guaranteeing their protection.’

’And now, I’m the one being protected by Jiang Chen?’

He felt as if he had been brutally slapped across the face several times. However, Nalan Qiantian was nothing if not confident. He thought to himself, ’Father once said that a Martial Artist can’t excel at everything. Jiang Chen must just have an absolute advantage in speed. His true combat strength and cultivation can’t possibly be stronger than mine. That has to be it!’

With that thought, the color returned to Nalan Qiantian’s face!

At that very moment, Jiang Chen had already charged into the top ten. All ten of these individuals had cultivation at or above the True Martial Realm Eighth Stage.

A young man with a longsword on his back caught sight of Jiang Chen out of the corner of his eye and snorted coldly. "Don’t even think about passing me!"

The words had barely left his mouth when a blue Sword Aura cut through the air, shooting explosively toward Jiang Chen.

Nalan Qiantian’s expression changed drastically. "Jiang Chen, watch out! That guy is Li Ke, the sword genius from the Li Family, a great house of the Imperial Capital. His cultivation is in no way weaker than mine. Let me block... block... Holy shit..."

Before Nalan Qiantian could even finish his sentence, Jiang Chen pointed a finger, shattering the blue Sword Aura into pieces.

Jiang Chen glanced sideways at Nalan Qiantian. "What did you just say? The wind’s too loud, I couldn’t hear you!"

"I..."

Nalan Qiantian opened his mouth, then gave a bitter laugh. "It was nothing!"

"Oh, then I’m speeding up. We’re almost at the Earth Martial Hall!"

Jiang Chen nodded and abruptly accelerated.

SWOOSH—

He pulled Nalan Qiantian, Chen Huan, and the other three along with him, transforming into a streak of azure Flowing Light. His speed doubled in an instant!

Li Ke, who had expected his one sword strike to repel Jiang Chen, was suddenly buffeted by a fierce gust of wind. His heart shook. He hastily looked over, only to see Jiang Chen’s back growing more and more distant. A look of shock and grim menace appeared in his eyes. "Damn it, that kid actually passed me? Kid, you just wait. How dare you pass me, Li Ke. I’ll make you regret it!"

Fifth!

Fourth!

Third!

Second!

First...

At the very instant they reached the Earth Martial Hall, Jiang Chen, leading Nalan Qiantian, Chen Huan, and the others, became the very first to step inside.

"Hm? The incense stick is still a finger’s length long. Looks like we’ve passed this first trial!" Jiang Chen glanced at the incense in the hand of the stone-faced Du Haoyu standing to the side. Relieved, he sat down cross-legged.

Nalan Qiantian stared at Jiang Chen with a complicated expression, speechless for a long time.

「A short while later...」

Li Ke and the others also arrived at the Earth Martial Hall.

As the incense in Du Haoyu’s hand slowly burned down, more and more powerhouses reached the Earth Martial Hall.

"Time’s up... All who have not yet reached the Earth Martial Hall are eliminated!" The incense in Du Haoyu’s hand finally burned out. A cold light flashed in his eyes as he spoke in a booming voice.

BOOM—

Waves of holy light surged up from the plaza before the Earth Martial Hall, enveloping it completely.

The powerhouses still outside were completely unable to enter...

"No... I’m already here! Just a little more! Let me in!"

"I failed... I actually failed..."

"How could this happen? I was so close!"

One after another, the failed powerhouses roared in frustration.

This first trial alone had eliminated more than 23,000 people.

Du Haoyu remained expressionless, showing no pity for those who had been eliminated. He said coolly, "All who have been eliminated, you have half an incense stick’s time to leave Martial Saint Mountain. Anyone who lingers will be killed without mercy!"

Du Haoyu then turned to Jiang Chen and the others. "Congratulations on passing the First Stage of testing," he said faintly. "However, this was merely the simplest of the stages. The upcoming Second Stage of testing will be overseen by Senior Brother Tang Ning. Let us welcome Senior Brother Tang Ning!"

Everyone applauded.

Tang Ning, who had been waiting at the side, pressed his hands down to quiet the crowd. He then swept his gaze over them and said indifferently, "For this Second Stage of testing..."

Just as Tang Ning was speaking, suddenly... the entire Earth Martial Hall grew dim, as if all the light had been blotted out.

"What’s going on?"

"Why did the sky go dark?"

Everyone was startled.

Tang Ning and Du Haoyu were also stunned. They quickly looked up at the Celestial Vault, and both their expressions changed in unison...

ROAR—

A clear and resonant dragon’s cry descended from the heavens. A mass of black clouds, covering half the Celestial Vault, flew rapidly in from the distance. Within the black clouds, streaks of purple lightning rumbled incessantly, their light blinding. Vaguely, an incomparably massive figure could be seen emerging from the clouds.

It was a gigantic dragon, pitch-black from head to tail!

The Black Dragon was over a thousand meters long. Its entire body looked as if it were cast from black iron, its chillingly sharp Dragon Scales shimmering with a metallic luster.

The terrifying Dragon Aura made all powerhouses below the True Martial Realm Seventh Stage tremble, their eyes filled with horror.

Even an expert like Jiang Chen felt his heart palpitate!

The Black Emperor arched its back slightly, baring its teeth with a low growl. A grave look appeared in its eyes. This Black Dragon made even the supremely arrogant Black Emperor feel a sense of solemnity and vigilance.

Jiang Chen sent a telepathic message: "Little Black, what exactly is this Demon Beast?"

"A Dark Demon Dragon with eighty percent Dragon Race bloodline," the Black Emperor replied in a deep voice, licking its sharp fangs. "Jiang Chen, this Black Dragon is powerful, comparable to a Peak of Heavenly Destiny Realm Powerhouse. However, what truly frightens me is the person on its back. That person’s aura gives me a very bad feeling!"

"There’s someone on the Black Dragon?"

Startled, Jiang Chen looked over.

RUMBLE...

With the rumbling thunder and bolts of violet-gold lightning, the atmosphere between heaven and earth became incredibly heavy.

The massive dragon’s head emerged from the dark clouds. As the clouds dissipated with the wind, the figure standing atop the Black Dragon’s head was finally revealed.

He wore a suit of golden battle armor that gleamed so brightly it was more dazzling than the sun.

A head of long, golden hair moved with the wind.

Sword-like brows, star-like eyes, a face as handsome as jade—he was exceptionally dashing!

This was a strikingly handsome young man!

Within his eyes, two stars seemed to twinkle. A single glance from him seemed powerful enough to pierce through the void. After just a brief look toward the Earth Martial Hall, the young man withdrew his gaze, spurred the Black Dragon on, and soared away toward the highest peak of Martial Saint Mountain.

The sound of thunder echoed for a long time!

It wasn’t until the sunlight fell upon them again that the numb and cold feeling subsided. Someone exclaimed, "Was that just a Dark Demon Dragon? A Tier Three High-level Demon Beast! I actually saw a Dark Demon Dragon!"

"Did you guys see? There was a young man in golden armor on the Dark Demon Dragon’s head! He’s so strong, so terrifying."

"Who in the world was that?"

The crowd buzzed with discussion.

Tang Ning’s face was also a little pale. Hearing the crowd’s discussion, a touch of pride and arrogance appeared on his pale face as he said coolly, "That young man in golden armor is also a Senior Brother from our Saint Martial Sword Sect."

"A Senior Brother from our Saint Martial Sword Sect?"

"Could it be the Saint Child, Senior Brother Lan Haichen, who is first on the Earth List?"

"It must be him! No one else could be that powerful!"

Tang Ning shook his head. "That was not the Holy Son. He is the current First True Disciple of our Saint Martial Sword Sect, third on the Earth List, with a cultivation at the Heavenly Destiny Realm Ninth Stage. He is known as the only supreme genius in our Saint Martial Sword Sect who can contend with Senior Brother Lan Haichen for the position of Saint Child—Di Tian!"

"Di Tian? The Holy Dragon Knight, Di Tian?"

"I heard that half a year ago, Senior Brother Di Tian went into the Azure Sky Sea alone and killed three great Demons of the Union Palace Realm!"

"He’s too terrifying. When will I ever have cultivation like Senior Brother Di Tian’s?"

"If Senior Brother Di Tian, who’s third on the Earth List, is already this terrifying, then just how strong is the Holy Son, who’s first on the list?"

Someone wondered aloud in shock.

In the crowd, Jiang Chen’s gaze flickered and he clenched his fists tightly. ’My power is still a far cry from Lan Haichen’s,’ he thought. ’But... that’s only temporary. Lan Haichen, one day, I will crush you under my heel.’