The Hidden Peak Steward’s brow was furrowed. His mind was still fixated on Wen Qingye’s last sword strike, unable to pull away. ’Has this Registered Disciple’s Swordsmanship already reached such a level? How terrifying.’

Wen Qingye swept his gaze over the people from the Luocheng Ancient Country and said coolly, "Killing you would be as easy as slaughtering chickens and dogs. Do you believe me?"

UPROAR!

Weren’t those the exact words Zhong Liang had just said?

As one of the Four Great Ancient Countries, the Luocheng Ancient Country wasn’t as powerful as the Dayan Dynasty, but when had they ever suffered such a humiliation?

Right now, the members of the Luocheng Ancient Country were deathly silent, all traces of their initial eagerness to fight gone. Their faces turned a deep, shameful red. After exchanging glances, they all fell into a tacit silence.

Geng Yue arched an elegant eyebrow and challenged, "What? Is there no one left? Weren’t you all just clamoring to fight? Why the hesitation now?"

Hearing Geng Yue’s words, the people from the Luocheng Ancient Country glanced at Chen Fan and the other two lying on the ground. They all lowered their heads, not daring to even breathe too loudly.

A powerful Evil Qi flashed in Zhong Liang’s eyes as he stared at Wen Qingye ahead. "This Wen Qingye was never someone they could compare to. It looks like I’ll have to go up this time. I said killing him would be as easy as slaughtering chickens and dogs, and I will not go back on my word."

As he spoke, Zhong Liang strode forward.

He walked to the center of the four pillars, his eyes scanning Wen Qingye from top to bottom. He nodded and said, "I actually know of your Celestial Martial Country. A small country on the Southwest Border. I was once from that area myself."

The corner of Wen Qingye’s mouth remained slightly upturned. He didn’t speak, just watched Zhong Liang, knowing he hadn’t finished.

"Because I am from the Divine Wind Country!"

"What!?"

Cheng Yu and Yann Xiangyang stared at Zhong Liang, their mouths slightly agape in disbelief.

Zhong Liang smiled and said, "Man strives for greater heights, just as water flows to lower depths. I understood this principle long ago. That’s why, five years ago, I spent my entire family fortune to hire two Refining Spirit Eighth Layer Heaven experts to escort me to the Luocheng Ancient Country."

"You gave up everything just for a sliver of what you call an opportunity?" Wen Qingye said with a faint smile.

Zhong Liang, completely unfazed by the sarcasm in Wen Qingye’s tone, replied with immense arrogance, "And that’s why I am so powerful now, isn’t it?"

SWISH! SWISH!

Wen Qingye’s sword danced in his hand, creating several flourishes, but he said nothing more.

"But I am a person of the Divine Wind Country. I have never forgotten that. I’ve also kept up with news about the Sixteen Countries and the Thousand Rivers Secret Land," Zhong Liang continued, speaking as if to himself, seemingly unconcerned whether Wen Qingye was listening or not.

Suddenly, a sinister light shot from Zhong Liang’s eyes. "Therefore, today I swear I will kill you to avenge the departed souls of my Divine Wind Country!"

The moment he moved toward Wen Qingye, an aura like a tidal wave surged forth, blanketing the entire summit of Hidden Peak.

SCREEE!

A sound like ghostly wails seemed to echo in his ears as an intense sense of crisis enveloped him. Wen Qingye, already on guard, heard the sharp cries around him and, without a second thought, unleashed a surge of majestic Powerful Qi.

With a series of HISSES, the Powerful Qi rippled outwards. Zhong Liang discovered that the black poison mist formed from his Primordial Qi couldn’t get near Wen Qingye at all.

This black poison mist was a special Martial Art he cultivated, the Ninth-Grade Peak Martial Arts, Ghost Slayer Technique. In the past, this move had been invincible, but today, it was blocked by the Primordial Qi from Wen Qingye’s body, unable to penetrate no matter what.

’This Wen Qingye really is something else,’ Zhong Liang thought, slightly surprised. It was the first time he had met someone completely unafraid of his poison gas. Little did he know that the Primordial Qi in Wen Qingye’s body was cultivated from the Longevity Technique, making it incomparably pure. Moreover, using a Poison Skill in front of Wen Qingye was like showing off in front of an expert.

"Die!"

Zhong Liang shot into the air, his palm striking toward Wen Qingye. His right hand transformed into a ghastly white bone claw, carrying a strange fluctuation as it forcibly tore through Wen Qingye’s Primordial Qi and shot straight for the top of his head.

"Perfect timing!"

Wen Qingye’s hands flowed continuously, and a strange Seal Technique materialized in his palms.

"Undying Seal Technique, First Form! Funerary Summons on the Yin Wind!"

A bone-chillingly cold wind began to encroach as the Undying Seal Technique blasted from Wen Qingye’s palms, meeting Zhong Liang’s bone claw head-on.

With a BOOM, the bone claw shattered into dust. Zhong Liang felt a sharp pain shoot through his entire arm, as if it had been pierced by a thousand needles.

’This Wen Qingye, he’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing! I never expected his Primordial Qi to be so profound!’

His arm heavily injured, Zhong Liang immediately realized the situation was bad. He had completely misjudged his opponent. At this thought, Zhong Liang hastily retreated.

How could he know that although Wen Qingye was only at the Yin Yang Realm First Layer Heaven, his cultivation had been suppressed and condensed through the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer Heaven, the Refining Essence Tenth Layer of Heaven, and the Refining Spirit Tenth Layer, making him far beyond what an ordinary Yin Yang Realm First Layer Heaven expert could ever compare to.

"Hmph!"

Wen Qingye let out a cold snort as an exquisite Seal Technique once again coalesced in his palms.

BOOM!

A dark, hazy shadow appeared, as if something was slowly materializing behind Wen Qingye, radiating a dreadful Yin Qi.

Before long, a majestic and vast hall, shimmering with a ghostly light, slowly manifested behind Wen Qingye. It emanated a soul-stealing aura of death.

The great hall seemed to have emerged from the Nine Netherworld itself. It looked like a reflection, yet it blotted out the horizon, and even the sky itself seemed to darken.

Wandering souls seemed to drift around it, some standing silently, others prostrating themselves on the ground.

This was Yama Hall! The place where life and death are judged.

"Undying Seal Technique, Third Form! Yama’s Judgment of Yin and Yang!"

Wen Qingye abruptly activated the Seal Technique in his hands, and the Undying Seal shot from his palm directly toward Zhong Liang.

Wherever the Undying Seal passed, the air hissed, shaking the Heart Spirits of all who watched. In comparison, Zhong Liang’s earlier ghostly wails seemed like child’s play, completely insignificant before this vast and desolate hall.

Geng Yue’s eyes suddenly brightened, and her long eyelashes fluttered. ’This Martial Art is definitely no weaker than a High-level King-grade technique. Where did this kid get such a supreme Martial Art?’

One had to understand that most Registered Disciples currently used Eighth Grade or Ninth-Grade Martial Arts. Only those with patrons in an Ancient Country or Sect had access to King-Grade Martial Arts for their cultivation.

Besides, even if one possessed a King-Grade Martial Art, it wasn’t certain they could successfully cultivate it in such a short time. The higher the grade of the Martial Art, the greater the difficulty to master it.

Zhong Liang retreated several steps, a look of absolute horror on his face. His movements, however, were not slow. A purple-black gas suddenly emanated from his palm, its chilling aura laced with a domineering presence.

This was precisely the Low-Level King-grade Martial Art, Ghost Claw.

"Netherworld Ghosts and Fiends!"

A Ghost Claw suddenly materialized in the air. Black energy currents swirled around it, exuding a terrifying aura, as if it could tear the very sky apart.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The onlookers only felt a fierce gale erupt and a sound like cracking thunder explode by their ears. They couldn’t help but feel their qi and blood churn, and they all hastily retreated.