Heaven-Surpassing Divine Emperor

Sima Qingling wore a miserable expression as she steered the chariot into Celestial Relief City, rubbing her butt with one hand.

A fiery, stinging pain pulsed from it.

Her eyes were filled with grievance.

She, the dignified princess of a dynasty, showered with love and affection since birth, was now reduced to Jiang Chen’s servant, and from time to time, her rear had to suffer for it.

It was enough to make her start questioning her very existence.

However...

After the previous lesson, she knew just how terrifying that strand of Profound Yellow True Essence Jiang Chen had left in her body was. She had tried many methods along the way, but none could refine that wisp of Profound Yellow True Essence.

She no longer dared to harbor any thoughts of defying Jiang Chen’s commands.

Jiang Chen sat inside the chariot, a faint curve playing on his lips as he watched Sima Qingling’s back. ”Qingling, find a quiet place nearby for us to stay. I’m going into seclusion in a bit. You’ll go out and gather some intelligence. I want to know which experts from the Ten Great Dynasties are in Celestial Relief City!”

”Yes, Master!”

Sima Qingling answered obediently.

Jiang Chen nodded in satisfaction.

Not long after, they found an empty pavilion. It had once been a restaurant but was now abandoned.

Jiang Chen found a quiet room and went inside.

He then sent Sima Qingling off to gather intelligence.

This area was within the sphere of influence of the Han Dynasty’s Star Pavilion. He believed that with Sima Qingling’s status, she could easily gather the information he needed.

After Sima Qingling left, Jiang Chen sat cross-legged on the bed.

’With my current strength, aside from those prodigies ranked in the top ten of the various dynasties and sects, ordinary experts should be no match for me!’

Jiang Chen was confident in his strength, but not blindly so.

His current cultivation had reached the Heavenly Destiny Realm Third Stage. After his recent training, he was already at the Peak of the Third Stage, just one step away from the Fourth Stage.

His Martial Soul Godslaying Sword had also broken through to Earth Tier Ninth Grade in the Endless Abyss.

His Divine Demon Tyrant Body had even reached the Peak of the Third Stage, making it comparable to a High-grade Earth Tier Profound Weapon.

As for Profound Weapons, he had the Dustfall Sword and the Demon Sword Spirit Slayer!

With his combined combat power, he could even slay an ordinary Heavenly Destiny Realm Eighth Stage expert with ease. But ever since his battle with Young Master Silver Moon, Xin Yuhuang, Jiang Chen had a better grasp of the strength of the top ten experts from the Saint Martial Sword Sect. Their cultivation had all reached the Heavenly Destiny Realm Ninth Stage.

And...

Each of them possessed a Martial Soul of at least the Earth Tier Ninth Grade.

As for young prodigies like Lan Haichen, Di Tian, and Yuwen Tiandu, their Martial Souls had probably already reached the Celestial Tier.

Although there was only a First Grade difference between Earth Tier Ninth Grade and Celestial Tier, the actual gap was like that between the heavens and the earth. One was in the sky, the other on the ground. Against such experts with his current strength, his chances of victory were not high.

After all...

’I’m not the only genius out there.’

There were plenty of geniuses who could fight above their realm!

Young prodigies like Lan Haichen, though only in the Heavenly Destiny Realm, had killed more Union Palace Realm powerhouses than one could count on both hands.

The Saint Martial Dynasty was publicly acknowledged as the weakest of the Ten Great Dynasties, which meant that experts from the other great dynasties were certainly stronger than their counterparts of the same level in the Saint Martial Sword Sect.

’If I can break through to the Heavenly Destiny Realm Fourth Stage, I’ll be able to sweep aside any of the top ten experts from the major sects. But to kill the top five, I’ll need to be at least at the Heavenly Destiny Realm Fifth Stage, or even the Sixth Stage. I must increase my strength as quickly as possible!’ Jiang Chen had already made up his mind.

With a wave of his hand, a large pile of Lower-Grade Spirit Crystals appeared before him.

Jiang Chen activated the Profound Yellow Undying Technique and the Soul-Devouring Sacred Technique. The two Cultivation Techniques complemented each other, greatly increasing the speed at which he devoured the Spirit Crystals.

Surging Spiritual Qi flooded his body, pouring into his three natal Life Palaces.

Each Life Palace was resplendent with golden light, like a Divine Palace Immortal Mansion.

Within his Dantian...

The golden vortex spun rapidly, increasing his absorption speed several times over.

Under Jiang Chen’s guidance, the Spiritual Qi gathered into torrents. A portion was absorbed by his physical body, while the rest was used to assault the Mixed Element Golden Pill within him.

By now, the Mixed Element Golden Pill was mostly consumed.

It had shrunk from the size of a walnut to the size of a longan. Under the impact of the Spiritual Qi, it was continuously being refined, and its potent medicinal power surged into his Dantian.

It bolstered Jiang Chen’s cultivation.

Time flew by during his cultivation. Unbeknownst to him, more than half a day had passed. The pile of Spirit Crystals before him had turned to white powder; he had consumed over ten thousand Lower-Grade Spirit Crystals. Even so, it wasn’t enough for his cultivation to break through to the Heavenly Destiny Fourth Stage. Jiang Chen let out a long sigh. ’Before, it only took around fifty thousand Spirit Crystals for me to advance a Small Realm. Now, it looks like I’ll need a hundred thousand.’

He had thought he was quite wealthy.

But now it seemed that his one million or so Spirit Crystals wouldn’t last him very long at this rate!

”Master, are you awake?” Sima Qingling’s voice came from outside the door.

Jiang Chen was taken aback. A sweep of his Divine Thought revealed Sima Qingling and another man standing outside the door.

The man’s vitality was overwhelming, fierce as a dragon and powerful as a tiger. This was a formidable opponent!

With a flicker of thought, Jiang Chen guessed his identity—’Xing Haisheng, the expert from the Star Pavilion stationed in Celestial Relief City!’

”Come in!”

With a wave of his hand, Jiang Chen opened the door. Sima Qingling walked in, followed by the calm-faced Xing Haisheng.

Xing Haisheng’s sharp, tiger-like eyes scanned Jiang Chen up and down. He already knew that Jiang Chen had sent Xia Hao flying with a single palm strike. He also knew that Sima Qingling had become Jiang Chen’s servant. He was quite curious about this young man who had managed to tame the unruly princess.

While Xing Haisheng was sizing him up, Jiang Chen was also observing him. He smiled faintly and said, ”You must be Xing Haisheng, I presume?”

”That would be me!”

Xing Haisheng nodded, his eyes fixed on Jiang Chen as he said in a deep voice, ”I have learned of your identity from the Princess—Jiang Chen of the Saint Martial Sword Sect.”

”Mm.”

Jiang Chen just smiled.

The two stared at each other. After a moment, Xing Haisheng was the first to break the silence. ”You should know,” he said gravely, ”that Her Highness the Princess is a sacred and inviolable existence to our Han Dynasty. I wonder what it would take for you to be willing to remove the restriction inside her and grant her freedom?”

When Sima Qingling had found him, Xing Haisheng had tried to help her dispel the Profound Yellow True Essence, but he had ultimately failed.

If not for that...

He would have attacked Jiang Chen long ago. Why would he be negotiating so calmly?

Jiang Chen smiled. ”As long as your Han Dynasty doesn’t make an enemy of me, I naturally won’t harm her. As for the restriction inside her, I’ll remove it when the time is right!”

Xing Haisheng frowned.

On his way here, he had considered subduing Jiang Chen by force and compelling him to remove Sima Qingling’s restriction. But after meeting Jiang Chen in person, he had dismissed the idea.

Because Jiang Chen gave him a very unsettling feeling!

Xing Haisheng hesitated for a moment before saying, ”Her Highness the Princess mentioned that you want intelligence on the various experts in Celestial Relief City?”

”Mm.”

”The intelligence is in here!” Xing Haisheng tossed out a scroll.

Jiang Chen caught it. With a sweep of his Divine Thought, he memorized its contents, a hint of surprise appearing on his face. ”Huaa Ruyi of the Saint Martial Sword Sect, Shaoyang Yu of the Fiery Sun Sect, Shan Yanlin of the Ten Thousand Hands Sect, Farm Steward Mengg Wanqing, Zhou Dong of the Jade Radiance Sect, Dugu Xue of the Yinluo Sect, Wum Jiuling of the Emperor’s Palace, Xu Canghai of the Sun and Moon Pavilion, the Ghost Emperor of the Nine Sins Hall, and Xing Haisheng of the Star Pavilion?”

”That’s right!”

Xing Haisheng nodded. ”These ten people all possess cultivation at the Heavenly Destiny Realm Ninth Stage. The Ghost Emperor, Xu Canghai, and Dugu Xue are especially powerful. All three are at the Peak of the Ninth Stage and have the strongest combat abilities.”

Jiang Chen committed the three names to memory.

The ten people recorded on this scroll were all true experts, formidable rivals.

Xing Haisheng glanced at Sima Qingling, knowing it was impossible to get Jiang Chen to remove her restriction today.

”Jiang Chen, let me give you a word of warning. No matter when you remove the restriction in the Princess, I hope you won’t let any harm come to her.” Seeing Jiang Chen nod, he continued, ”At noon, three days from now, the City Lord’s Mansion will be distributing the Celestial Fate Orders. I hope you won’t be late!”

”Many thanks!”

Jiang Chen cupped his hands in thanks, then had Sima Qingling see Xing Haisheng out.

Sitting back down on the bed.

Jiang Chen’s gaze was distant. ’There are still three days. I should be able to break through to the Heavenly Destiny Realm Fourth Stage.’

He waved his hand again, taking out another fifty thousand Spirit Crystals, and began to cultivate.

「Three days later.」

On this day.

As noon approached.

The area in front of Jiang Chen was covered in white powder. The fifty thousand Spirit Crystals had been completely devoured. His body jolted, and three golden Life Palaces appeared above his head.

A golden vortex spun above him.

A fourth Life Palace slowly rose!

The four Life Palaces lined up in a row, shining with a brilliant golden light. The aura emanating from Jiang Chen grew more and more tyrannical, like a dragon or a tiger. He snapped his eyes open, and they shot out two beams of brilliant light. ’I’ve finally broken through... It’s about time. I should head to the City Lord’s Mansion to claim my Celestial Fate Order!’

He then went out, boarded Sima Qingling’s chariot, and headed straight for the City Lord’s Mansion...