Above the Central Imperial City, figures stepped out from the spatial gate: three people and one ox.
A young girl, a young boy, a youth, and a sturdy azure ox.
It was a somewhat peculiar group, yet at this moment, it drew gazes away from the spectacle of Shen Rong's challenge. For one among them was none other than the Peacock King, a supreme powerhouse of the demon race, renowned throughout the world—handsome and beautiful yet cold and aloof, a supreme expert who had attained the Dao of Space.
Among this party, it was clearly not the Peacock King who took the lead. The central figure was that handsome young man with flowing black hair, exceptionally dashing and charismatic. At the center of his brow was a faintly discernible Moon Mark, adding a unique charm.
His appearance caused many to change color, for this person was none other than Qian—the final victor in the Hundred Battles Mountain Range three months ago!
No one expected him to appear as well. Was he also here to participate in this martial arts tournament for marriage?
Yet it also excited many, adding an element of suspense to this tournament.
Ye Chen stood in the void, paying no attention to the grand spectacle of the eighty-one trials in the starry sky. Instead, his gaze shifted, following his senses to directly look upon the three graceful, elegant figures atop the central heavenly palace of the Imperial City. Even a man who seldom sheds tears felt them welling up now, wishing to pour forth and express the longing in his heart.
He was the invincible young generation's supreme, always forceful and domineering, revered and worshipped by countless among the younger generation, and feared by the various True Kings, regarded as the greatest enemy on the path to the Human Sovereign.
But he was also a man of flesh and blood, with his own emotions, not merely a walking corpse who only knew battle.
Separated for decades, he finally saw his three beloved women again, so close, closer than ever before, stirring his usually calm heart into a thousand crashing waves.
"Jingruo, Wu'er, Chen'er..."
Ye Chen softly called out their names, sensing their emotions at this moment. Even the fox-like enchantress Goddess Zhao Jingruo had her eyes misty now, crystalline tears streaking across her flawless, immortal visage, sparkling as they fell, speaking of the longing and love in her heart.
Yi Wu, his first love from past and present lives, gentle and virtuous, devoted to him alone, unwavering unto death.
Chen'er, a young woman pure as a lotus rising unsullied from mud, innocent and naive, charmingly adorable.
Zhao Jingruo, hailed as the Goddess, a female True King of the younger generation, admired by countless Talents across the world, cool and noble, yet before him, she was bewitching like a fox spirit, captivating the heart.
All three were rare, peerlessly beautiful women of the ages, all his betrothed beloved women who had pledged their lives to him.
Now meeting again, separated for a lifetime, seeing each other so closely for the first time, he felt endless emotions wanting to pour out.
But he forcefully suppressed them, speaking softly, "Wait for me a moment. I will challenge the eighty-one trials, seize the final laurel, and welcome you with the most radiant identity."
Though the three women were weeping like pear blossoms bathed in rain, longing to rush over now, embrace him, and pour out the feelings of separation from decades apart.
Knowing his thoughts, they did not stop him, only lightly nodding their heads, saying softly, "We will wait for you!"
That single phrase, "We will wait for you," filled Ye Chen's heart with surging heroic spirit. He turned and took a step, appearing within the spatial gate on the martial arts arena and strode directly in.
...
Within the eighty-one trials, though Shen Rong led the charge, reaching first place with none to rival him, the other Saints still rushed swiftly toward the final trial, wanting to witness Shen Rong's supreme divine bearing, to see how he would break through the numerous perilous barriers set by the three fairies.
At that moment, the starry sky boiled.
A long roar shook the heavens, clouds stirred in all directions, countless shattered stars in the starry sky exploded, and massive meteors disintegrated.
A figure tore through the starry sky, charging toward its depths.
His tall, heroic physique seemed forged from Nine Tribulations Gold, robust and powerful, possessing a might that could crush heaven and earth.
Wherever he passed, the void twisted, asteroid belts exploded, meteors tore apart, chaos reigned—like an invincible war god descending from the Primordial Immortal Realm, nothing could block his step.
"Who is that?"
Many deep in the starry sky were startled, for that fluctuation was too intense, too terrifying, overwhelming the starry sky like a vast ocean pouring forth, shattering everything.
Even Saints trembled from the depths of their hearts.
"It's Qian! He's here!"
A Saint exclaimed, recognizing the newcomer's true identity.
That was a youth of unparalleled heroism, his tall frame exceptionally upright and majestic, flowing with vast golden radiance, causing even the undying Saints within the eighty-one trials to feel their bodies turn cold, oppressed by a powerful aura that made them want to convulse.
The invincible Qian had arrived. He too would challenge the trials, forcefully breaking through the eighty-one trials, charging straight for the final barrier.
Boom—
The thirty-sixth trial exploded. It was a fragment of a small world, opened by Divine Spirits of the Heavenly King level from the era of gods, also containing remnants of Samsara-level formations. Though many parts had been shattered by the Saints and the five supreme powerhouses during their challenges, it was still not a place ordinary people could easily traverse.
Even a Saint Lord entering would be trapped for a long time.
Yet such a perilous trial could not stop Qian. Forceful and invincible, he directly traversed it, shattering this fragment of a small world and charging straight out.
Too domineering! Who could possibly stop him!
Roar—
Deep in the starry sky, a fearsome Purple Qilin appeared, its terrifying aura soaring, shaking this starfield with rumbling echoes.
"Is that a pure-blooded Qilin holy spirit?"
Many exclaimed. Such holy spirits were said to be capable of rivaling ancient Great Emperors when grown to their peak.
An ancient recluse with deep experience said, "You are mistaken. This cannot be a Qilin holy spirit, nor is it a living creature. Legend says that during the era of gods, a Qilin beast with highly pure blood appeared, standing at the Samsara level, nearly reaching the Heavenly King realm, but was slain by a powerhouse in the starry sky. This Purple Qilin should be the undying remnant spirit of that Qilin beast, temporarily revived by combining with the essence blood of fallen Saints."
In short, this Purple Qilin was overwhelmingly powerful, at least at the supreme powerhouse level, though only for a short time.
Disturbed from its slumber, it roared, purple qi billowing for thirty thousand li, assailing Ye Chen.
A cold light gleamed in Ye Chen's eyes. "Perfect. I lack a suitable mount. Even the Heaven-Supporting Azure Ox won't do. You'll do."
He traversed the sky like a deity or demon, releasing wisps of golden essence energy that shone across the starry sky, colliding head-on with the Purple Qilin.
Boom—
That region of the starry sky exploded, several nearby perilous trials shattered. It could be considered intense, but not a true great battle, for it ended soon.
Those wisps of golden essence energy transformed into Order Divine Chains, directly sealing the Purple Qilin. Ye Chen descended from the sky to sit upon its back. No matter how it struggled, it was useless, never effective.
"Go!"
Ye Chen drove the Purple Qilin to charge deeper into the starry sky, forcefully breaking through the trials.