Over Savage Beast Valley, a massive golden lion covered in black scales appeared. Its terrifying aura soared into the heavens, causing hearts to tremble.
Everyone recognized it—this was the Scaled Golden Lion from the seventh checkpoint, an extremely fearsome Xiantian demonic beast, even more intimidating than the Hundred Strong Trialists.
But what drew even more attention at this moment was the figure riding on the back of the Scaled Golden Lion. It was a young figure, so young it was almost excessive—merely a youth of sixteen or seventeen years old, with delicate features. Yet his expression was unusually cold and stern as he looked down from above, gazing down at Yang Jun.
His appearance made everyone focus their gaze on him. Who exactly was this youth? It seemed no one had ever heard of his name before.
But this single Scaled Golden Lion was enough to make everyone's expressions change. The Eighth Prince Yang Jun, upon seeing the newcomer, quickly cupped his fists with a smile, his face slightly altered: "I am Yang Jun, the Eighth Prince of the Tianqi Empire. Greetings, sir. May I ask who you are?"
However, the black-clothed youth merely swept a cold glance over him before directly skipping past him, choosing to ignore him. His gaze fell upon the injured, blood-coughing Thirteenth Prince behind him, who was nonetheless wearing a full smile. Only then did the frosty, stern face of the youth slowly reveal a trace of gentle warmth: "Are you alright?"
The Thirteenth Prince's face overflowed with pleasant surprise. He hadn't expected him to appear, which meant the situation was about to reverse. Hearing this, he could only smile wryly in resignation: "If you had been delayed by even one more breath, I would have been eliminated."
Ye Chen nodded and said something that made Xia Teng quite speechless: "As long as you're not dead, it's fine."
"You, your mouth is as poisonous as ever," the Thirteenth Prince shook his head helplessly.
"Ye Chen..."
Seeing the newcomer, Vivian suddenly trembled slightly. Mist appeared in her eyes, and then tears began to fall like rain. She looked at the youth with tearful joy, filled with hope in this moment.
The youth had finally appeared, about to reverse the entire situation.
"This silly girl..." Princess Hong Rong shook her head slightly, seeming somewhat helpless. But she also felt joy at Ye Chen's arrival. Although she didn't know how this guy had entered the Trial Path, as long as he was here, that was enough.
As for the others, even those like Xia Mang and Li Hu who had once opposed Ye Chen felt the same. At this moment, they felt an unparalleled joy and no longer needed to fear. The strongest one had come, enough to fear nothing.
Ye Chen's arrival meant they were saved.
Among those present, perhaps only Yang Yi's feelings were the most complicated, because of that bet.
"Hmph!"
A cold snort broke the atmosphere. The Eighth Prince Yang Jun's expression had become unusually gloomy. Although he clearly saw this youth riding a Scaled Golden Lion, infamous from the seventh checkpoint, he couldn't help but feel shocked and angry at this moment—the other party was actually ignoring him!
He was not only one of the Hundred Strong on the Trial Path but also the Eighth Prince of the Tianqi Empire, one of the three great empires, a true imperial bloodline of noble lineage. Who wouldn't bow their head in submission upon seeing him? Yet this youth before him dared to ignore him, truly making him furious.
Only then did Ye Chen's gaze fall upon him. "Xia Teng, was it this person who injured you?"
The Thirteenth Prince nodded: "Yes, it was him who attacked, leading so many experts to chase and surround us."
"Good." Ye Chen said one word, then pronounced judgment: "Those who harm my friends are guilty beyond forgiveness. All of you will be eliminated."
Everyone was dumbfounded. The Eighth Prince was even more enraged. What was wrong with this guy? He was treating them all like clay chickens and pottery dogs, something he could casually deal with, not even putting them in his eyes.
This dismissive attitude filled him with rage. Clenching his fists, he sneered coldly: "Hmph, who do you think you are, that you can casually deal with us? Ridiculous. So young, yet such a big mouth. Today, I'll make you understand that there are skies beyond skies, and people beyond people. Everyone, attack! Deal with this kid first, so he doesn't think he's invincible under heaven!"
"Ye Chen, be careful!"
Vivian cried out in alarm, because at this moment, two people were silently attacking Ye Chen's back from behind, clearly intent on killing.
Roar—
Ye Chen did not make a move, but the Scaled Golden Lion beneath him attacked. Flapping its wings, it transformed into a fierce black light streaking across the sky. A roar shook the void, causing both attackers to bleed from all seven orifices and fall from the air.
The Scaled Golden Lion then swooped down to attack, scaring the two into hurriedly crushing their spirit talismans to self-eliminate and protect themselves.
Everyone present felt a chill. It was too fast, too brutal. In a single encounter, two trialists had been eliminated.
But the Eighth Prince Yang Jun waved his hand in a gesture. The many experts under his command all attacked simultaneously. Streaks of powerful True Yuan shot across the sky, blasting toward Ye Chen. So many True Yuan attacks were practically equivalent to a Martial God striking out—truly terrifying. Even a super expert with the qualification to delay claiming kingship would surely have to retreat.
"Ye Chen, be careful!"
Everyone cried out in alarm, furious that the Eighth Prince was too despicable, actually launching a group attack.
But the Eighth Prince sneered. On the Trial Path, the victor is king, the loser a bandit. He never cared about so-called reputation.
Yet Ye Chen's expression remained unchanged. He said lightly, "You think this little trick can hurt me? Ridiculous!"
Whoosh—
Ye Chen moved. In that instant, he charged into the midst of the numerous Xiantian True Yuan attacks, causing everyone to gasp. This was clearly suicidal. Who would dare charge into such a dense barrage of True Yuan attacks? Even if these were just the most ordinary attacks and not Xiantian martial techniques, they were not something an ordinary person could withstand. Not even a Hundred Strong Trialist could.
Ye Chen pointed a finger. It seemed slow, yet was actually incredibly fast. He pointed into the void and uttered softly: "Spirit Rhinoceros Sword Finger!"
Boom—
Visible to the naked eye, as Ye Chen pointed, circles of invisible rings rapidly expanded outward. Countless invisible sword energies appeared, densely packed, filling every inch of the void, rushing forth with the expansion of the circles.
The invisible rings enveloped an area of ten zhang around him. Sword energies were boundless. All True Yuan attacks that approached within ten zhang of Ye Chen completely dissipated into nothingness.
Everything turned to emptiness!
Seeing this scene, everyone couldn't help but widen their eyes, staring dumbfounded at what was before them, still finding it hard to believe.
Too terrifying. With just a single finger, he had annihilated and dispersed the attacks of thirty or forty Xiantian experts. Such a method was simply unbelievable, beyond belief.
Even everyone on the Xia Feng Kingdom side was dumbstruck, as if unable to believe when Ye Chen had become so formidable, exceeding their imagination.
How earth-shattering was this method? Could this be the result of Ye Chen's seclusion?
"You... who exactly are you?"
The Eighth Prince Yang Jun was so shocked he began to stammer. On the Trial Path, there was actually such a peerless powerhouse? Even a super expert with the qualification to delay claiming kingship seemed inferior.
"Ye Chen!"
Ye Chen replied indifferently, then charged toward the Eighth Prince, causing his expression to change drastically. He chose to flee the first moment.
"Escape!"
At this moment, the Eighth Prince Yang Jun had only this one thought. But no one felt he was losing face, because the opponent was too powerful. With a single finger, he shattered the True Yuan attacks of thirty or forty Xiantian experts. Who on the Trial Path could achieve this? Perhaps even super experts with the qualification to delay claiming kingship might not necessarily be able to accomplish such a feat.
Without a doubt, this black-clothed youth before them was absolutely a most terrifying peerless powerhouse. Not to mention the Eighth Prince, even the many experts merely watching the battle had thoughts of fleeing.
"Want to escape? That depends on whether you can get away."
Ye Chen laughed coldly. His figure moved. In that instant, he actually flashed before the Eighth Prince, his speed reaching the extreme, making it hard to believe.
The Eighth Prince's face paled in horror. This person was simply as terrifying as a devil. But just as the other approached, he suddenly reversed his hand and thrust with a sword. The treasured sword shot toward the youth's chest at an astonishing speed.
Unfortunately, no matter how the Eighth Prince attacked, this treasured sword could not advance another half-inch. Because it was clamped between two slender fingers—fingers that seemed cast from steel, utterly immovable.
Snap—
A light sound. The treasured sword broke. It snapped at the point where Ye Chen's fingers clamped it. This was a superior-grade treasured sword, capable of slaying Xiantian demonic beasts, sharp and hard. Yet now, under the youth's fingers, it was so easily broken, appearing so fragile.
"Now, do you have any other tricks? If not, it's my turn to attack." Ye Chen smiled, but his smile was icy cold. He extended a palm. It seemed gentle, yet gave people a feeling of being unable to dodge, carrying a momentum that enveloped all directions.
"Kid, you forced me into this. Don't blame me." The Eighth Prince hardened his heart. Suddenly, he opened his mouth and spat out a gourd. It quickly grew from the size of an ant to normal size. It was made of bronze material, plain and unadorned all over, appearing very ordinary.
But the moment it appeared, an astonishing fluctuation surged forth. This stretch of heaven and earth seemed to tremble.
"A Martial God artifact?"
Everyone present changed expressions, clearly recognizing the true nature of this heavy weapon.