Not far away, Zhou Chong shook his head. "Looks like even though Fo Ye has some strength in Chanzhou's underground martial world, when he runs into a real expert, he's just as miserable."
"The martial world sure is exciting. Even a figure like Fo Ye ends up being forced out."
Jiang Hengwu couldn't help sighing.
At that moment, Ouyang Xue suddenly cried out. "Ah Wu, I see Uncle."
Zhou Chong and Jiang Hengwu turned their heads and really did see Jiang Bingjun on the island.
Jiang Bingjun was speaking with an old man. "Elder Mo, what do you think of this Blade Emperor?"
Elder Mo answered calmly. "He has some strength, but to me, he's nothing special."
Jiang Bingjun finally felt relieved.
"Second Master, your daughter is here," Elder Mo added.
Jiang Bingjun turned his head and really did see Jiang Hengwu.
He smiled. "Actually, I had Ouyang Xue lure her here. Let her open her eyes and see the true bearing of geniuses."
"That's exactly how it should be." Elder Mo nodded.
Meanwhile, the Blade Emperor had already fought several more experts.
Not a single one could match him.
Even Jiang Bingjun frowned at this.
"Elder Mo?"
He was already thinking of letting Elder Mo make a move.
But Elder Mo said, "No rush."
Almost at the same time, Fang Muxian stepped forward, smiling. "Blade Emperor, the world has changed. The great realm's prodigies are here. You'd better step down honestly before you lose your life."
Miao Yongnian's gaze turned cold. "I was just hoping to see the methods of an Azure Jade Realm genius."
"Just you?" Fang Muxian sneered.
"Cut the nonsense. Let the great realm genius behind you come out. Why haven't we seen him? Is he only bluffing?"
The others also looked around. They too saw no so-called genius.
"Miao Yongnian, looks like you really can't wait to die," Fang Muxian said with a grim smile.
Then he and the Fang family behind him bowed toward Spring Lake. "We respectfully welcome Young Master Chu Chen."
Everyone else was confused.
Boom!
The surface of Spring Lake suddenly exploded.
The crowd on the island all turned pale in shock.
A figure rose from the lake, holding up a massive beast.
That massive beast was a black fish several dozen zhang long.
"It's the divine fish of Spring Lake!"
"The divine fish has lived here for over a thousand years, already a demon saint, and yet someone killed it!"
"And it was killed in the water. The fish has an enormous advantage in its own element."
Witnessing this, no one could stay calm.
"Chu Chen!"
Jiang Bingjun's face changed drastically.
"As expected of Chu Chen of the Chu clan," Elder Mo murmured.
Bang!
Chu Chen threw the black fish onto the island, landing lightly. He looked at Miao Yongnian. "You want to fight me?"
"N-no…"
Miao Yongnian already realized things were bad and tried to back down.
But the next instant, Chu Chen struck.
He pressed his hand down toward Miao Yongnian.
Boom!
An invisible force crashed down.
The ground beneath Miao Yongnian sank half a zhang, leaving a massive palm print.
Miao Yongnian was smashed to the ground, blood covering his body.
Everyone watching felt their blood run cold.
Chu Chen beating Miao Yongnian was even easier than an adult beating a baby.
"Still alive?"
Seeing Miao Yongnian still breathing, Chu Chen looked a bit surprised.
Just as he was about to finish him off, a sigh rang out. "Young man, when it's possible to spare someone, do so. Why push things to the extreme?"
Splash!
A raft floated over from the distance.
On it lay an old drunk.
Chu Chen's expression flickered. "Oh? You actually have some strength."
The next moment, without anyone seeing how, the drunkard appeared on the island.
"It's that old drunk!"
Ouyang Xue cried out.
"He really is an expert."
Zhou Chong and Jiang Hengwu exchanged looks, equally stunned.
"Swift Shadow Without a Trace—what's your relation to Feng Heling?" Chu Chen asked.
"Feng Heling is my senior brother. How do you know him?" The drunkard looked startled.
"Because your senior brother was killed by my little martial uncle," Chu Chen said coldly.
The drunkard's pupils contracted sharply. "Your little martial uncle… is Su Lingchen!"
"Correct." Chu Chen's voice carried arrogant pride.
Ordinary martial artists didn't react much to those words, but the older experts present were deeply shaken.
Seventeen years ago, a genius from the Azure Jade Realm descended upon the Wasteland Realm.
Back then, the strongest genius in Chanzhou—and in all Great Zhou—was Feng Heling.
At just twenty-four years old, Feng Heling was already a Martial Saint.
Yet he was killed by that Azure Jade Realm genius.
And it wasn't just Feng Heling.
That genius fought three Wasteland Realm prodigies at once, with Feng Heling only one of them.
The Azure Jade Realm genius's name was Su Lingchen.
That's why ordinary martial artists didn't feel much, but the older generation's experts were filled with dread whenever outsiders were mentioned.
It felt like the world was caught in a cycle.
Seventeen years ago, Su Lingchen swept through the Wasteland Realm's young geniuses. Now Su Lingchen's martial nephew Chu Chen had arrived. From the look of it, Chu Chen seemed ready to recreate Su Lingchen's legendary deeds.
His gaze flashed like lightning, his robe stirred though there was no wind, and a fierce true qi surged around him. He lifted his fingertip slightly. A streak of azure light shot out from his palm, forming a three-inch sword shadow that hung before him.
"Let me see if you, the junior brother of Feng Heling, have even a fraction of his skill."
Before the words finished, the sword shadow ripped through the air straight at the drunkard's throat.
The drunkard's murky eyes suddenly cleared. His body slid half a step sideways like a ghost. The wine gourd in his hand suddenly burst apart.
Liquor scattered across the sky condensed into countless fine water needles that clashed against the azure sword shadow.
Screech!
The sharp friction sound rang out as the needles evaporated instantly. The sword shadow slowed a little but still pierced through the drunkard's left shoulder, bursting out a spray of blood.
"Such a fast sword…"
The drunkard staggered back, then suddenly thrust his hand toward the lake behind him. The surface surged into massive waves, transforming into five water dragons that lunged at Chu Chen.
Chu Chen sneered. His sleeve flared like rolling clouds.
"Break."
With one word, the five water dragons froze in midair and shattered into rain.
Before the rain even fell, Chu Chen had already appeared behind the drunkard, pressing a palm toward his back.
Bang!
The drunkard shot out like a kite with its string cut, smashing through two ancient pines before coming to a stop.
He coughed up a mouthful of blood, his chest clothes torn apart, exposing a bluish palm print on his skin.
"Qingming Palm Force!" the drunkard gasped, his face paling. "This is Su Lingchen's ultimate technique…"
Chu Chen stood with hands behind his back, looking down. "At least you can recognize this palm. Not too stupid. But unfortunately, your senior brother couldn't withstand three palms from my little martial uncle. And you—"
A thin layer of azure light appeared on his hand again. "You can't even withstand one from me."
The Wasteland Realm experts all felt as if they had fallen into an ice cave. The scene before their eyes was terrifying.
"Who else refuses to accept this?"
Chu Chen swept his gaze across the crowd.
No one dared speak.
"Since there's no one, then the Azure Emperor's Tomb belongs to me."
His tone was cold. "Also, my useless younger brother Chu Han was killed not long ago by someone from the Wasteland Realm. Since this person dared kill my brother, they must already be prepared to face the consequences."
Then his voice boomed like thunder. "Crown Prince of Great Zhou, Yang Cheng, I, Chu Chen, am here. Why haven't you shown yourself?"
The atmosphere froze. Only Chu Chen's voice echoed through the void.
On the boat, Zhou Chong swallowed hard. "This man is too terrifying. We have so many experts in the Wasteland Realm, yet not one dares make a sound."
"But don't you think he's domineering?" Ouyang Xue's eyes shone. "This is what a real man is. Compared to him, our so-called geniuses aren't worth mentioning."
Zhou Chong felt a pang of jealousy but couldn't refute it. Even the island's veteran powerhouses were acting like frightened quails in front of Chu Chen.
"You think the Crown Prince will come?" Zhou Chong changed the subject.
"Why wouldn't he?" Ouyang Xue frowned. "Chu Chen is strong, but he's still young. He hasn't even reached Martial Sovereign. Our Great Zhou has Martial Sovereign experts. One Martial Sovereign would be enough to deal with him."
Zhou Chong shook his head. "You're too naïve. If it were that simple, how could Chu Chen act so arrogantly? Maybe we can't sense it at our level, but right now an invisible force is spreading from the heart of the lake. This power repels those above Martial Saint. That means Martial Sovereigns can't even get close."
Jiang Hengwu's face darkened with worry. "Then the Crown Prince shouldn't come. There's no need to fight such a dangerous battle over pride."
Time passed quickly.
In just half the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Yang Cheng still hadn't appeared.
"So the Crown Prince's courage is only this much." Zhou Chong curled his lip.
On the island, Bai Lifo and the others looked grim. The Crown Prince was already the most monstrous genius they knew. But if even he didn't dare come, then it was clear—the Wasteland Realm's warriors really couldn't compare to outsiders.
"Actually, the Crown Prince is being very wise," Elder Mo said. "If he came, the only ending would be death."
"Hmph, so His Highness the Crown Prince is just another coward who bullies the weak but fears the strong." Fang Muxian mocked. He had already clung to Chu Chen's thigh, so he no longer feared Yang Cheng. After this, he planned to shift the Fang family's focus entirely to Heavenly Heart Island.
"Could it be that the Crown Prince of Great Zhou is nothing but a rat?"
Chu Chen's voice roared. "If so, then just erect a monument for my younger brother Chu Han, and wear mourning clothes before his grave for three days. Then I might consider sparing you. Given your young age, even if you did this, no one in the world would laugh at you."
"Hahaha!"
"Young Master Chu Chen is truly magnanimous."
The Fang clan burst into loud laughter.
Splash!
At that moment, a lone boat appeared on the lake.
"What's that?"
"It's the Crown Prince of Great Zhou!"
The crowd erupted in shock.
"He really came?"
Ouyang Xue was dumbfounded.
"Your Highness, don't come, leave quickly!" Jiang Hengwu cried urgently.
But the boat didn't slow.
In just over ten breaths, the lone boat reached the heart of the lake and docked by the island.
Yang Cheng stood tall on the boat, looking at Chu Chen, and said words no one understood. "Chu Chen, we meet again."
In his memory of the future, he had only met Chu Chen a hundred years later. Now, their meeting had come a hundred years too soon.