Heaven-Surpassing Divine Emperor

”Young warrior, are you really still going to the Imperial Capital?”

”You shouldn’t go! You’ve offended a disciple of the Jiuhua Celestial Sect. You should get out of here as fast as you can!”

”The Imperial Capital is the Jiuhua Celestial Sect’s turf. If they find you, you’ll be in grave danger...”

The faces of the passersby were filled with concern as they offered their advice.

Generally speaking, ordinary people held an innate reverence for Martial Artists.

However, Jiang Chen had previously stood up for Xiaobao and his father, earning him everyone’s gratitude and approval. Naturally, they felt no need to be on guard around him.

Jiang Chen smiled and nodded. ”Thank you all for the warning. I’ll be careful!”

With that, Jiang Chen strode off, heading quickly toward the Imperial Capital alone.

About the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, Jiang Chen arrived at the Imperial Capital.

The Black Emperor was already itching to go. Once Jiang Chen found lodging at an inn called the Drunken Immortal Inn, the Black Emperor said with a cheeky grin, ”Jiang Chen, this Emperor is heading out to have some fun!”

”Alright. Be safe, and try to stay out of trouble!”

Jiang Chen nodded and added a warning, ”You have to be back at the Drunken Immortal Tower to meet me before dawn tomorrow. Otherwise, I’m heading to the Profound Celestial Ice Field on my own!”

”Relax! You think this Emperor is the type who can’t tell what’s important?”

The Black Emperor waved its paw dismissively.

It transformed into a black shadow and shot out of the room.

But then, Jiang Chen heard the Black Emperor’s sleazy voice from outside, ”Hey, attendant! Tell your master here, are there any famous pleasure districts in the Imperial Capital of the Celestial Fate Dynasty?”

”Holy shit, did that Demon Beast just ask about pleasure districts?”

”If I’m not mistaken, it must be his master who wants to go. He was probably too embarrassed to ask himself, so he sent his Demon Beast to do it for him!”

”His master is so shameless...”

The corner of Jiang Chen’s eye twitched. ”...”

Damn it!

’I can’t believe I’m taking the fall for that damn animal, the Black Emperor!’

Shaking his head helplessly, Jiang Chen straightened his clothes and set off for the Jiuhua Celestial Sect.

The Jiuhua Celestial Sect was situated in the very heart of the Imperial Capital, bordering the Imperial City. It was a massive complex of palaces.

Together, the Jiuhua Celestial Sect and the Imperial City formed the two halves of a massive Taiji symbol—the Yin and the Yang—creating a colossal Array. Even an expert beyond the Union Palace Realm would find it impossible to breach its defenses in a short amount of time.

”Halt!”

A cold shout stopped Jiang Chen in his tracks.

Jiang Chen looked at the two guards, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

’The Jiuhua Celestial Sect truly lives up to its name as the strongest Sect in the East Continent Cloud Realm. Even the gate guards are experts at the True Martial Realm Ninth Stage.’ Jiang Chen cupped his hands toward the two and took out the letter of recommendation Lui Chuanchang had given him. ”Greetings. I am Jiang Chen. An elder from my sect gave me this letter of recommendation and told me to find Elder Beis Ming of your esteemed Sect.”

”You’re looking for Elder Beis Ming?”

The two guards were taken aback.

They glanced at the envelope and the token Jiang Chen presented, and their expressions softened somewhat. ”Wait here for a moment. I’ll go announce your arrival.”

”Much appreciated.”

Jiang Chen said with a smile and a nod.

The True Martial Realm Ninth Stage expert immediately turned and departed, while the one who remained gave Jiang Chen a nod before his expression returned to one of cool indifference.

...

「Inside the Jiuhua Celestial Sect.」

Within the Elder Hall, Pei Yuan, the esteemed Fourth Elder of the Jiuhua Celestial Sect, frowned at his beloved disciple kneeling before him, his expression turning cold. ”Yulou, you’re saying the brat who injured you is not even twenty?”

”Yes, Master!”

Kneeling before him was none other than Jian Yulou.

Jian Yulou’s face was ghastly, pale as a sheet and drained of all color. His eyes burned with venomous hatred. ”Master, you must avenge me.”

”Rest assured. I will certainly avenge you. No one can harm a disciple of mine, Pei Yuan, and get away with it...” A chilling light glinted in Pei Yuan’s eyes, and the very air around him seemed to freeze.

He was no mere Union Palace Realm expert.

Pei Yuan had long since transcended the Union Palace Realm, reaching the legendary Human King Realm!

If contending for Heavenly Destiny was a step toward transcendence, then reaching the Human King Realm meant one could already be considered a king among the martial artists of the age!

Above the Human King Realm were the Human Emperor Realm and the Emperor Realm.

And higher still were only the legendary Demigod Powerhouses.

Across the entire Eastern Continent, the strongest known experts were at the Human Emperor Realm. Those at the Emperor Realm might exist, but not in a way that ordinary people would ever know. As for Demigods, they were beings of pure legend!

Having cultivated to the Realm of the Human King, Pei Yuan was a renowned powerhouse throughout the Eastern Continent, holding the rank of Fourth Elder in the Jiuhua Celestial Sect.

Both his cultivation and his status were top-tier.

The image of Jiang Chen surfaced in Jian Yulou’s mind, and a venomous smile crept onto his lips. ’Brat, with Master here to avenge me, you’re a dead man. Hahaha...’

Just then, an Outer Sect disciple of the True Martial Realm appeared at the door and reported respectfully, ”Elder Pei, there’s a fellow outside named Jiang Chen. He has a letter of recommendation and is asking to see Elder Bei!”

”Beis Ming is in seclusion,” Pei Yuan said coolly. ”Go tell that person to come back in a month.”

”Yes, sir!”

The disciple responded and was about to withdraw when Jian Yulou’s eyes darted, and he called out, ”Wait a moment!”

The disciple immediately halted.

Jian Yulou looked at Pei Yuan with a sinister smile. ”Master, you’ve never seen eye to eye with Beis Ming. Since this person has a letter of recommendation to see him, their relationship must be quite close. Why don’t we take this opportunity to make things a little difficult for him?”

Pei Yuan frowned.

He and Beis Ming belonged to rival factions—one aligned with the Sect Master, the other with the Supreme Elder—and they had never been on good terms.

They had clashed both openly and in the shadows on numerous occasions.

Neither would pass up an opportunity to make the other lose face.

Pei Yuan nodded, his expression still nonchalant. ”You’ve thought it through well. Let him in.”

”Didn’t you hear what Master said? Let the man in,” Jian Yulou ordered, his tone arrogant and haughty.

”Yes!”

The True Martial Realm Ninth Stage disciple immediately withdrew.

A short while later, Jiang Chen followed the disciple into the hall. The moment he stepped inside, a sudden cry of astonishment rang out. ”What? It’s you?”

”Hm?”

Jiang Chen froze, shooting a strange glance at Jian Yulou. He rubbed his nose and gave a wry smile. ”Well, what a coincidence. I didn’t expect we’d meet again so soon.”

”You damn brat! You refused the path to heaven and chose to barge right into hell. I was just wondering how I was going to find you, and you ended up delivering yourself right to my door!” Jian Yulou sneered, his eyes glinting with venom. He quickly turned to Pei Yuan. ”Master, this is the brat who injured me!”

”Oh?”

Pei Yuan paused, his icy gaze falling upon Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen felt a jolt in his heart.

Pei Yuan’s gaze was incredibly sharp. As their eyes met, Jiang Chen felt a piercing sensation, as if his own eyes were about to burst.

’This man... he’s a supreme expert!’

’Far stronger than the likes of Tu Shanhe.’

’Then there’s only one possibility: he’s an existence beyond the Union Palace Realm.’

’So the path of enemies is truly narrow,’ he thought. ’The Jiuhua Celestial Sect is huge. Who would have thought the random person I beat up would turn out to be the disciple of the Fourth Elder, Pei Yuan?’

Suppressing the shock in his heart, Jiang Chen cupped his hands toward Pei Yuan and said, ”This junior, Jiang Chen, greets Senior.”

”Junior,” the Fourth Elder Pei Yuan began, looking at Jiang Chen with an air of indifference. ”Considering you have some connection to Elder Beis Ming, this Seat will not punish you too severely. Cripple your own cultivation, kneel and kowtow in apology before my disciple, and leave your Storage Ring behind as compensation for his medical fees. Do this, and we can consider the matter closed.”

As soon as he spoke, the smile on Jiang Chen’s face slowly vanished...