"So, shall we continue the fight?"
Ye Chen looked provocatively at the Crown Prince. Although the Crown Prince had now fully unleashed all his strength, becoming significantly more powerful than before—his terrifying aura soaring to a level that could rival a Martial God, truly formidable and peerless—at this moment, Ye Chen also fearlessly released another powerful aura. He had broken through to the Xiantian realm.
This breakthrough had been achieved during the previous battle, and he had only just entered the first level of Xiantian. Compared to the Crown Prince, a high-level figure who had stepped into Xiantian years ago, there was a considerable gap in cultivation realm.
But one must not forget that Ye Chen primarily cultivated his physical body. His own blood energy was vigorous, and in his previous life, he had mastered a secret technique that could fuse blood energy with Xiantian True Yuan. Now, he had completely merged his blood energy with his Xiantian True Yuan. The dazzling white True Yuan power was thoroughly dyed crimson, transforming into Blood Yuan power.
Moreover, because Ye Chen's own blood energy was sufficiently vigorous, the Blood Yuan power increased exponentially.
It could be said that at this moment, Ye Chen's Blood Yuan power could even rival that of a high-level Xiantian expert. With a resounding boom, it surged forth, transforming into a tidal wave that churned and rolled, dyeing the void crimson. The energy fluctuations were extremely powerful.
Even now, facing the Crown Prince, he was not the slightest bit weaker.
The onlookers watched in shock. Both were indeed the once-in-a-millennium peerless geniuses of the Xia Feng Kingdom. Each had hidden their trump cards, and now they were finally willing to reveal them. Compared to them, the other young generation powerhouses were completely insignificant.
The Crown Prince's gaze instantly sharpened to needle points. He slowly exhaled a breath and said in a deep voice, "Ye Chen, you truly have never disappointed me. So you were also hiding a trump card."
"The feeling is mutual," Ye Chen said softly, meeting him tit for tat without backing down.
However, Martial God Gu Yang frowned and shook his head. "Although he has exchanged for powerful strength, this approach is not advisable."
"Indeed. Ye Chen is, after all, a rare and talented genius. To go this far just for a contest of pride shows his temperament is still lacking," the two Martial God elders also said solemnly.
"Well then, if the situation turns unfavorable later, we'll intervene and stop it," one of them said.
In their view, although the Blood Yuan power was powerful, the blood energy enhanced the True Yuan power while also consuming his own blood energy. This was a double-edged sword. While exchanging for formidable power, he was often depleting his own lifeblood, essentially draining his vitality.
This was not advisable; it was a foolish practice.
What they didn't know was that while it might indeed be a double-edged sword for ordinary people, for Ye Chen, it was purely a sharp blade. Because he had mastered the Human Yuan Body Art, and at higher levels, the Human Yuan Body Art could generate blood energy continuously and endlessly. The loss of blood energy was of no consequence to him.
This was Ye Chen's true source of strength.
Boom— Boom—
Just as everyone thought the two were about to engage in an even fiercer battle, the void was directly torn apart. Suddenly, two earth-shattering auras swept over, causing the void itself to tremble and nearly shatter.
Two figures stepped out from within. One was withered and emaciated, an old fossil with one foot in the grave, wearing golden dragon robes. Needless to say, this was undoubtedly a founding ancestor of the royal lineage.
The other figure was lean. Though also an elder, he appeared much younger and more robust than the royal ancestor. He carried an air of scholarly elegance. Upon his appearance, many of the Xia Feng Academy's elders and instructors hurriedly bowed in deep respect. It was the Headmaster of Xia Feng Academy.
The appearance of these two made even Martial God Gu Yang and the Martial God realm elders bow respectfully. One could imagine how exalted their status was.
The royal ancestor held a lofty position, possessing even greater authority than the current monarch. Legend had it he was a Heavenly God realm existence, safeguarding the kingdom's peace.
The Headmaster of Xia Feng Academy was also a figure of profound cultivation, not much inferior to the royal ancestor.
These two were usually the apex existences at the very top of the pyramid, elusive and rarely seen. No one expected them both to appear now, inspiring awe in everyone present.
However, neither paid attention to the others. The royal ancestor looked towards the Crown Prince. Seeing his ancestor, the latter naturally dared not be arrogant and hurriedly performed the highest bowing ritual. The ancestor helped him up, chuckling without any trace of an ancestor's sternness. "Good, good, good. What a fine Yang'er. Truly worthy of being the Crown Prince and heir of our Xia Feng Kingdom. To actually produce unprecedented seven-colored radiant light—this truly heralds prosperous fortune for our Xia Feng Kingdom."
How could he not value a descendant like Xia Yang? He was a possessor of divine qualification, with immense potential, capable of surpassing even him in the future. Once he truly attained the divine throne, he would lead the entire Xia Feng Kingdom to advance into the central continent, occupying vast and fertile territories, no longer confined to this tiny land.
Even the Headmaster of Xia Feng Academy couldn't help but say enviously, "Old Man Xia, this generation of your royal family is truly extraordinary. To produce a peerless prodigy like Xia Yang, with seven-colored radiant light—this is the first time in a thousand years of history. He is destined to be one who shapes the kingdom's great fortune."
The royal ancestor didn't mind the informality and laughed heartily, filled with pride. The emergence of such a future Crown Prince within the kingdom was a great blessing.
Then, the two looked towards Ye Chen, also with amazement. One Crown Prince was one thing, but following the Crown Prince heir, another Ye Chen had appeared. This was truly a blessing for the kingdom.
"Ye Chen, so it's you. I didn't expect you to soar to prominence once again," the royal ancestor said, remembering the peerless genius who had shaken the world three years ago the moment he saw Ye Chen, feeling a wave of emotion and sighing.
The fallen peerless genius had climbed back up, and had gone even further and become stronger than before.
The Headmaster also sighed with emotion. Facing the two mightiest figures of the kingdom, to whom even Martial Gods showed deference, Ye Chen remained neither haughty nor humble, offering a respectful bow. This composed temperament made the two view him even more highly.
Strength was important, but a person's temperament was also crucial.
"You are both peerless geniuses capable of making the Power Monument emit seven-colored radiant light, and possessors of divine qualification. As long as no accidents occur and you obtain sufficient opportunities, you may have the chance to ascend to the divine throne that governs the rise and fall of the continent in the future. You cannot afford casualties over personal grievances now; that would be a tremendous loss for our Xia Feng Kingdom," the royal ancestor said, attempting to mediate between the two.
The Headmaster also nodded. No matter what, they could not allow anything to happen to these two, for the potential within them was boundless, qualifying them to strive for the highest divine throne.
Due to the intervention of these two old fossils, this peak battle of the young generation was temporarily concluded, leaving many secretly sighing that it didn't continue, somewhat disappointed.
After all, this battle could be called the peak clash of the young generation in the kingdom's thousand-year history. For it to end like this was somewhat regrettable.
"Yang'er, from now on, follow me in cultivation. I will guide you and resolve any problems you encounter in your training," the royal ancestor stated directly, having the Crown Prince cultivate by his side.
Such fine, unpolished jade was rare and carried immense hopes. He wanted to keep him close for careful guidance, imparting as much of his own experience in reaching the Heavenly God realm as possible, making it at least less arduous for him to reach the Heavenly God realm. As for whether he could attain the divine throne, that would depend entirely on Xia Yang's own fortune; he could do nothing about that.
"Thank you, Ancestor!" Xia Yang bowed respectfully, naturally not refusing. Guidance in cultivation from the royal ancestor was an opportunity even the monarch greatly desired; how could he refuse?
Subsequently, the royal ancestor looked at Ye Chen and said with a chuckle, "Little friend Ye Chen, are you interested in following this old man and cultivating alongside Xia Yang?"
"Old Man Xia, your royal family already has a Xia Yang, and you still want to snatch another? Don't even think about it," the Xia Feng Headmaster interjected, also chuckling as he said to Ye Chen, "Little friend Ye Chen, you see Xia Yang has the royal ancestor's guidance. How about you follow this old man for cultivation? I assure you it won't be much worse than Xia Yang's. Moreover, one-on-one guidance is much better than divided attention guiding two. What do you think, little friend?"
The surrounding students, even the Martial God realm existences, were filled with envy and jealousy. Both were genuine Heavenly God realm existences. Receiving guidance by their side meant truly inheriting the Heavenly God Dao, allowing one to avoid many detours on the cultivation path, possessing a shortcut directly to the Heavenly God Dao. This could be considered the most precious opportunity.
But only these two had the qualification to receive such an opportunity. For others, it was something they could only yearn for but never reach.
"My apologies, Seniors. I appreciate your kind intentions, but my master will personally guide me. I dare not trouble you."
Ye Chen chose to refuse, astonishing everyone. That was an invitation from a Heavenly God realm existence lowering himself, and it was actually rejected. That damnable kid! Why didn't such a heaven-defying opportunity fall on their heads?
The Headmaster was dumbfounded, never expecting his invitation to be rejected—a first for him. After all, who was he? A Heavenly God realm existence. Even Martial Gods hoped for his casual guidance, yet this kid refused. It was truly beyond his expectations.
However, hearing that the other had a master, he couldn't help but ask, "Might I ask who your master is—"
Before his words could fully finish, suddenly, a series of loud bell tolls rang out from the royal capital. A voice like rolling thunder spread out, reaching every corner of the entire royal capital—
"It's terrible! News from Demon-Suppressing City! The Demonic Beast Mountain Range has begun to stir into turmoil!"
The most terrifying demonic beast turmoil in history had descended!