Chapter 1186: The Battle of the Divine Son

The God Bestowing Stage was utterly silent, stunned expressions fixed on everyone's faces for a long time.

"Yun... Yun'er!!"

In the silence, a thunderous roar erupted. Huo Rulie no longer cared about anything else; he lunged forward, rushed to Huo Poyun's side, and carefully but quickly helped him up.

Huo Poyun's chest and back were stained with blood. Though his external injuries were minor, his internal injuries were extremely severe. Fortunately, they were not irreversible. Huo Rulie's mind relaxed slightly, but then he suddenly saw Huo Poyun's eyes, and the tension that had just eased in his heart instantly tightened severalfold.

Huo Poyun had not lost consciousness. Despite his severe injuries, he didn't cry out in pain, nor did he guide profound energy to suppress his wounds. Instead, he lay there utterly still, his eyes open, but they seemed covered by a thick layer of smoke, devoid of color and focus, as if he were in a dream.

As his master, having watched Huo Poyun grow up, Huo Rulie knew his disposition well. He was always peaceful and sincere in his dealings with others, yet he possessed a profound sense of profound-way dignity. The Golden Crow lineage and Golden Crow flames, in particular, were his greatest pride and deepest sensitivities throughout his life.

When his Golden Crow flame power was fully unleashed, it was defeated by the opponent in an instant. The blow was, understandably, immense.

This outcome was something even he had never anticipated.

"Yun'er, it's alright, it's alright," Huo Rulie comforted him in the calmest voice he could manage. "She is the Sword Sovereign's successor; losing to her is nothing to be ashamed of. You've done exceptionally well. You are your master's pride, and the pride of the Flame God Realm."

Huo Poyun remained in a daze, completely unresponsive. At that moment, Jun Xilei's cold and disdainful voice reached his ears: "Hmph, so this is the so-called strongest Divine Flame? It's nothing special after all!"

"You!" Huo Rulie turned back in a rage, but no matter how furious he felt, he couldn't act on it.

The God Bestowing Stage remained silent, a glance revealing widespread astonishment. The power Huo Poyun had displayed was astounding, earning praise from all the Realm Kings, the Brahma Heaven God Emperor, and even the Dragon Monarch.

Yet, Jun Xilei had used only one sword strike...

Huo Poyun's flames, his battle intent, and his pride all shattered in an instant like a bubble.

Everyone from the Flame God Realm stood up, their pupils trembling, utterly unable to believe or accept this outcome.

Yun Che's pupils also contracted slightly, and a storm raged within his heart.

This was... the power of the Sword Sovereign's successor...

This was the power of the Four God Children of the Eastern Region!?

The immense power of that single sword strike, which instantly defeated Huo Poyun, exceeded—no, far exceeded Yun Che's expectations. It also meant that Jun Xilei's strength far surpassed Yun Che's estimation.

Such an outcome was clearly unexpected even for Exalted Qu Hwai; he only reacted now, taking a deep look at Jun Xilei, and loudly announced: "Huo Poyun has left the God Bestowing Stage area and enters the loser's bracket for tomorrow's fourth-round battle. Jun Xilei wins and enters the God Bestowing Group's third-round battle the day after tomorrow!"

Everyone was convinced that Huo Poyun couldn't be Jun Xilei's opponent, but they were also incredibly eager to see how Huo Poyun would perform against her. They wanted to witness firsthand the extent to which this ultimate dark horse of the God Bestowing Battle could unleash his full power, yet they never expected such an ending.

It was not that Huo Poyun was too weak; when he unleashed his flame power, he truly astonished everyone. It was that Jun Xilei was simply too powerful. In previous matches, she had won easily, never truly displaying her full strength. The sword light from that single strike which instantly defeated Huo Poyun, which seemed to freeze the world, was still deeply imprinted in their minds, impossible to shake off.

Huo Poyun was gravely injured. Huo Rulie no longer cared about anything else; he quickly took Huo Poyun away. The various elders of the Golden Crow Sect also rose and departed. Yan Juehai stood for a long while, not following them, his face filled with restless anxiety.

Yun Che's brows furrowed. From Huo Poyun's unusual aura, he distinctly sensed something was wrong. After a moment of hesitation, he was about to follow and check on him, but Mu Bingyun reached out and stopped him: "Don't get distracted!"

"..." Yun Che slowly sat back down, but his heart was unusually heavy. He had considered that Jun Xilei would vent her anger and hatred during her fight with Huo Poyun, but he never expected it to be in this manner.

A display of absolute power.

This sword strike made Jun Xilei's already dazzling aura even more brilliant. Watching Jun Xilei, with her ancient sword on her back, slowly fly away from the God Bestowing Stage like a celestial being, the young profound practitioners suddenly felt as if they were looking up at a deity... As fellow young cultivators, if Jun Xilei was in the heavens, they were but mud and dust.

From the first day she became the Sword Sovereign's successor, Jun Xilei's name resonated throughout the Eastern Divine Region, yet it was also accompanied by countless doubts because she was a woman. Later, she was listed as one of the Four God Children of the Eastern Region, undoubtedly proving the Sword Sovereign's foresight and her own talent. And today, the entire Eastern Divine Region witnessed anew and re-recognized what kind of existence this generation's Sword Sovereign successor truly was.

Moreover, that was just one sword strike... It was clearly far from Jun Xilei's true strength.

"Jun Xilei's sword mastery has actually reached such a profound level," Mu Bingyun sighed softly. "Perhaps, the current Jun Xilei is not far from Luo Changsheng."

Yun Che's brow twitched. "Perhaps... not far? Could it be that even such a Jun Xilei is still no match for Luo Changsheng?"

"Among the younger generation in the Eastern Divine Region, excluding those from the King Realms, Luo Changsheng is an absolutely invincible existence," Mu Bingyun said. "Many legends about him are akin to myths. Next up is Luo Changsheng's match; you should see for yourself what it means to be the number one among the Eastern Divine Region's younger generation."

"God Bestowing Group, Round Two, Match Two: Luo Changsheng of the Sacred Universe Realm versus Lu Lengchuan of the Sky Covering Realm!"

Luo Changsheng and Lu Lengchuan, both "Four God Children of the Eastern Region," were about to face off in the first God Child battle of the God Bestowing Battle. As Exalted Qu Hwai made the announcement, all eyes were firmly fixed on the God Bestowing Stage.

One was the head of the Four God Children.

The other was the last of the Four God Children.

Although both were "Four God Children of the Eastern Region" and both were at Level Ten Divine Spirit Realm, there was still a gap in their strength. In fact, to many, it was an "absolutely insurmountable" gap.

On the God Bestowing Stage, two figures simultaneously appeared, standing opposite each other.

Lu Lengchuan was exceptionally tall, nearly nine feet in height. His stoutness was comparable to Xia Yuanba in his youth. Even before he unleashed his profound energy, a heavy aura already surged forth, as if a towering mountain stood before them.

In contrast, Luo Changsheng wore white robes, his black hair lightly tied. His aura was faint, almost imperceptible. His face and neck muscles were as fair and flawless as a young girl's, coupled with his handsome features. He clearly gave the impression of a delicate, frail scholar unfamiliar with the profound way.

Both God Children were quite calm, their faces and eyes showing composure, completely devoid of the tension typically preceding a fierce battle.

Their composure was, for one, the composure of absolute strength, and for the other, the composure of knowing certain defeat.

Having heard Mu Bingyun's words earlier, Yun Che was already surprised. Now, seeing Lu Lengchuan's expression, he was even more shocked. Although Lu Lengchuan was among the Four God Children of the Eastern Region and his strength was the weakest, it shouldn't be too far from Jun Xilei's. Yet, facing Luo Changsheng, even before the battle began, he displayed an attitude of "knowing certain defeat."

Just how strong was Luo Changsheng?

Why would Mu Bingyun say that legends about him were "akin to myths"!?

Previously, he had no interest in how powerful the Four God Children of the Eastern Region were. However, with the change in his objectives, the Four God Children became four great mountains blocking his path... Four great mountains he absolutely had to overcome! And even now, he didn't truly know just how powerful these "Four God Children" were.

"Begin!"

Exalted Qu Hwai's cold command instantly silenced the God Bestowing Stage.

*Slaaash!!*

With a crackle of lightning, Luo Changsheng already held his weapon: a broad-bladed longsword, its body wreathed in purple lightning.

"Holy Thunder Sword!" Mu Bingyun murmured.

"Luo Changsheng actually cultivates thunder profound arts," Yun Che said.

"Yes, and no," Mu Bingyun's somewhat puzzling words caused Yun Che to pause.

"Brother Lengchuan, please!" Luo Changsheng extended his free hand. Compared to Luo Changan's arrogance and overbearing nature, Luo Changsheng was courteous. Though he allowed Lu Lengchuan to make the first move, he showed no arrogance, and his words and demeanor revealed respect as if addressing an elder brother.

"Alright!!"

Lu Lengchuan didn't stand on ceremony. With a low roar, a burst of yellow light erupted from his body. When the yellow light stabilized, it had formed a defensive barrier circling his body.

"Hah!!"

Lu Lengchuan roared again, streams of yellow profound energy swirling and entwining like swimming dragons. After a few breaths, a second defensive barrier formed.

However, Luo Changsheng did not attack to interrupt this process. Instead, he merely watched calmly, or rather, waited, a faint, almost imperceptible smile on his lips.

"Hah!!!!!"

With Lu Lengchuan's final roar, a shocking dragon's roar suddenly echoed through the sky.

On Lu Lengchuan's body, a third defensive barrier formed. However, this layer was not a faint barrier, but a bright yellow true dragon's phantom circling and swirling around him.

The heavy aura suddenly intensified severalfold. Everyone, even, felt a potent aura of a true dragon.

"This is..." An expression of shock appeared on Yun Che's face.

"It's the 'Radiant Dragon Sacred Realm' of the Lu clan from the Sky Covering Realm," Mu Bingyun whispered. "They inherited divine blood from ancient true dragons and cultivate earth-element profound arts, possessing incredibly strong defensive capabilities; their bodies are as tough as profound steel. And the 'Radiant Dragon Sacred Realm' that Lu Lengchuan has currently invoked possesses unparalleled protective power. Once all three layers are formed, he can stand undefeated even against two opponents of the same rank."

Yun Che: "..."

"To dare allow Lu Lengchuan to form three layers of the 'Radiant Dragon Sacred Realm' right in front of him... Among all the God Bestowing Children, only Luo Changsheng possesses such strength and audacity!"

"Indeed." From the eastern seats, the Dragon Monarch subtly nodded. As the Dragon Monarch, he naturally took interest in Lu Lengchuan, who inherited the bloodline of ancient true dragons.

With the three layers of "Radiant Dragon Sacred Realm" completed, Lu Lengchuan's entire aura completely changed. His whole body glowed a brilliant yellow, especially his skin, which unmistakably reflected a bronze-like metallic sheen.

Lu Lengchuan extended both hands and grasped a ten-foot-long silver spear from thin air. This spear, named "Sky Splitting," imprisoned a true dragon's soul and was one of the Sky Covering Realm's long-renowned profound artifacts.

"Brother Luo, I admit I am no match for you." Even with three layers of "Radiant Dragon Sacred Realm" active, Lu Lengchuan retained his earlier composure of certain defeat: "But I am eager to know if the current 'Young Master Changsheng' truly lives up to the legends... Fifty breaths. If Brother Luo can shatter my three layers of 'Radiant Dragon Sacred Realm' within fifty breaths, then I will willingly concede defeat."

***

From today until the end of the month, I shouldn't stop updating. I should... try my best to do two updates, try my best...

Also, I'd like to recommend one of my old books, also my first urban novel: "Warm Moon, Cold Star." That's right, I'm going to 'court death' by picking up this unfinished project again! Starting tomorrow, I'll repost the first chapter on the WeChat official account, then the second chapter, and so on... Those interested can look forward to it a bit; after all, you've been pestering me for an eternity, and I'm well aware of my sins.