Nine Star Hegemon Body Arts

Six astral gates roared open in the sky, while the seventh stood ajar, leaking waves of destructive astral energy. Then, the Starry Sky Battle Robe manifested on Long Chen’s body, releasing a boundless pressure.

Although his Sovereign flames had vanished, the astral fluctuations surrounding him made his aura no weaker than Long Wu’s nine hundred ninety-eight Sovereign flames.

When Long Wu sensed this, his desire to fight rose.

He said, “Nine star heirs are said to be unrivaled within the same realm. Hmph, that’s nothing more than an outdated legend from the primal chaos era. Today, I’ll kill you and seize the Earth Cauldron. I will offer your head to my fallen comrades!”

“These words are so stale they’ve grown mold. If you have the ability, then show it in combat,” sneered Long Chen, stretching his neck.

The crack of his bones echoed as starlight flowed around him, shaking the world. Long Chen was already in his combat state thanks to the warm-up from before.

“Mengyao, I’ll leave those two fellows to you. Xue Tu, Qing Yi, Mingkong—look after our brothers and sisters. Don’t overdo it if you don’t have to. Every single person here carries the karmic luck of the dragon race, and their future is limitless. Trading lives is not an option,” transmitted Long Chen.

Long Chen had Di Mengyao wield the Heavenly Dragon Battle Halberd to suppress the two with 997 Sovereign flames. With Xue Tu, Qing Yi, and Hai Mingkong wreaking havoc, the battle should be in their favor.

Having obtained immense karmic luck, Xue Tu and the others had made shocking advancements. Whether it was the blessing of their ancestors or the return of the nine heavens’ karmic luck to its rightful owners, their strength had soared in this short moment. Given time, their rate of advancement would surpass the vile dragon race.

“Boss, I...” Xue Tu protested, his expression gloomy.

Long Chen’s strategy would make him focus on defense, which was not his specialty. He wanted to slay them all.

“Unless it’s a true life-or-death juncture, don’t use that move!” Long Chen shouted, not using a spiritual transmission this time.

Long Wu also seemed to be communicating with the surviving vile dragon experts. Hearing Long Chen’s shout, Long Wu snorted.

“Even with death at hand, you can still show such bravado? Die!”

Long Wu’s Sovereign flames erupted, devouring the entire battlefield. His powerful Sovereign flames then formed a giant domain.

The instant it formed, Long Wu appeared before Long Chen, unleashing a punch wreathed in raging Sovereign flames. At this moment, the roar of a vile dragon split the sky.

A hand of stars met his fist.

Sovereign flames and astral light collided, forming a wall that seemed to cleave heaven and earth.

The wall shattered with an explosion that blasted Long Chen back several steps. Behind him, the dragon experts were hurled away by the leftover force.

“Lord Long Chen!” Hai Mingkong shouted.

In their very first exchange, Long Chen had been pushed back. Was this an ill omen?

Qing Yi reassured, “Don’t worry. Lord Long Chen did it intentionally. If he clashed head-on, the rest of us would’ve been injured by the impact. Trust him. Everyone, prepare yourselves! Long Wu’s subordinates are moving!”

Though weaker in raw talent, Qing Yi’s perception surpassed both Di Mengyao and Xue Tu. She instantly saw through Long Chen’s intent—isolating Long Wu to create a distance between them.

Long Wu had attacked first to seize the initiative, thinking that even if Long Chen had managed to block him, the shockwaves would have injured Qing Yi and the others. Then, the vile dragon experts could launch their attack and instantly seize the upper hand, while also applying psychological pressure on Long Chen.

However, Long Chen had deliberately redirected the force, ruining that scheme and turning the rhythm back in his favor.

BOOM!

Another loud explosive sound rang out as Long Chen and Long Wu clashed. It was like a sun had detonated. The shockwave forced Di Mengyao and the others to retreat, pushing them even further back.

This confirmed Qing Yi’s deduction—Long Chen’s first attack had been to shield his allies, and now, he was starting his counterattack.

Now, it was the vile dragons’ turn to take the brunt of the impact. Their formation shattered, and the weaker ones were sent tumbling over.

“This is our chance!” Di Mengyao shouted.

Di Mengyao’s battle blood burned as she spread her domain and raised the Heavenly Dragon Battle Halberd.

“Kill!”

Xue Tu and the others immediately launched attacks in the midst of the chaos.

“Kill!”

One of the vile dragon leaders—a bald man covered in dragon runes with 997 Sovereign flames—ignored their previous strategy. He charged straight at Di Mengyao.

He wanted to “kill the king” first. After all, the moment Di Mengyao fell, her domain would break down, and the whole dragon race would be theirs to devour.

“Wait!” shouted the other vile dragon leader.

They had planned a pincer attack from both sides, but Long Chen’s clash had disrupted their tempo.

Di Mengyao’s retreat had drawn her closer to the bald fellow. Before his partner could adjust with the tempo, the bald man had already rushed in alone.

The moment the bald man approached, the pressure of Di Mengyao’s domain suddenly increased. However, he was strong enough to break through this domain.

With a blood-colored saber longer than his body, he slashed open a path through the domain. But Hai Mingkong appeared in front of him, a water rune forming a curtain like a crystalline wall.

“Those who block me—die!” the bald man bellowed.

The bald man’s saber blazed with light. With this powerful Divine Sovereign weapon, he struck the water curtain.

The water curtain split with a whisper, as if it posed no resistance at all. Yet, in the next instant, a twisted world appeared before the bald man.

“Shit, it’s an illusion!”

Panic flickered in his eyes, and he unleashed his Spiritual Strength to break the mirage—

Only to see the Heavenly Dragon Battle Halberd’s sharp tip arriving right before his chest.