"How... how on earth did you do that!"
Meng Wushuang stared at Qin Feng, his eyes filled with shock. He had been here before and knew all too well how formidable the guardian statues were. Yet, this time, they had somehow become even more terrifying! And yet, these very statues—monsters capable of crushing him with ease—had actually knelt and committed suicide at Qin Feng’s command!
"Could it be that you possess some treasure given to you by the Crown Prince?" Meng Wushuang could not help but ask.
The others heard this and seemed to snap out of their daze, sudden realization dawning on them. Given how protective Qin Zhantian was, it was entirely possible he had bestowed some vital artifact upon Qin Feng. Even though they now believed this feat wasn't actually Qin Feng's doing, their attitudes toward him softened; at the very least, they were no longer as hostile as before. One by one, they offered him polite salutes.
Qin Feng nodded dismissively. He didn't care about their misconceptions. In any case, when the time came to challenge the young Great Emperor, the truth would reveal itself.
Once everyone had finished tending to their injuries, Meng Wushuang resumed his role as a guide, explaining the rules of the next stage.
"To challenge a Great Emperor in their youth, one only needs to defeat them to obtain the imprint of the technique they left behind. This is a selfless contribution from our Human Race's Great Emperors. For instance, my Saint-grade martial art, 'Heavenly Demon Dance,' is the very technique that the Great Emperor Luan Gu used before he became famous."
"Of course, do not assume a Great Emperor in their youth is weak. Anyone who could become a Great Emperor was, in their youth, a peerless prodigy—someone capable of fighting above their rank during the Golden Age and crushing all their contemporaries!"
Once Meng Wushuang finished speaking, the group nodded with grave expressions. They were all deeply yearning for the techniques left behind by the Great Emperors; after all, a technique created by such a figure would benefit them for a lifetime.
It was then that Qin Feng spoke up, his tone nonchalant.
"Saint-grade techniques? Tasteless to eat and a pity to discard. My goal is an Emperor-grade technique. You all go first."
Hearing this, the corners of everyone’s mouths twitched. Qin Feng was being far too arrogant. A mere ant in the Qi Condensation Realm actually looking down on Saint-grade techniques! They couldn't fathom where he found the confidence to say such things. The small glimmer of goodwill they had felt toward him evaporated instantly, replaced by sharp resentment. The prodigies' faces turned livid; they could not understand why he was acting with such conceit.
"Sixth Prince, though your status is noble, if you were stripped of your princely identity, you would be like a mayfly looking up at the vast ocean in my eyes!" Meng Wushuang could no longer contain himself. Had it not been for Qin Feng’s title, he would have made him taste the consequences. The other prodigies glared at him with equal hostility.
But just then, *BOOM!*
The space shook violently! A massive golden arena manifested before them.
"The challenge begins! The victor shall receive an Emperor’s legacy technique! Fight until the end... and the one who clears the trial shall receive a mysterious reward!"
A voice, ancient and echoing with the weariness of ages, reverberated through the space.
Upon hearing this, everyone’s spirits soared. Qin Feng, however, shook his head indifferently. He had no interest in the standard legacy techniques; he only cared about the mysterious reward.
"Fight until the end, and receive a mysterious reward..." Qin Feng’s eyes lit up. Could it be a Celestial Art? He had come precisely for the Chaos Thunder Punishment Celestial Manual. In the original story, it was one of the premier techniques in the Yanhuang Realm. It was said that this inheritance was one of the Human Race’s supreme legacies—whoever mastered it could become a Divine General of Justice for the Human Race! It granted the power to punish evil with divine thunder, bestowing the highest authority of the Human Race.
While Qin Feng was lost in thought, a figure appeared on the golden arena.
The figure wore green robes, his long hair draped over his shoulders. He stood tall and straight, his features rugged, his eyes burning with intense spirit. On his forehead, a holy green lotus appeared vivid and lifelike. This was none other than the Qingdi, one of the twelve Great Emperors of the Human Race!
"A single lotus in the eternal green sky, staying in this mortal world, choosing not to be an immortal."
"Everyone, those who wish to fight... please step onto the arena."
Qingdi spoke slowly, his expression indifferent and cold, an invisible aura swirling around his body. The onlookers gasped as they stared at the figure on the golden arena. The pressure of a Great Emperor made it hard for them to breathe. In their eyes, Qingdi stood like an uncrossable mountain! Even though this was only the Great Emperor in his youth, and only at the Purple Palace Realm level just like them!
For a moment, the entire space went silent. No one dared to step forward.
"Damn! This is a Great Emperor in his youth? This is way too strong! His Purple Palace Realm pressure is suffocating us," someone exclaimed.
"He’s too powerful! Is this really just a prodigy of the Purple Palace Realm? If we are both in the Purple Palace Realm, why is Qingdi’s pressure so terrifying? It’s comparable to a Dao Palace powerhouse!"
"Truly worthy of being a Human Race Great Emperor! Even in his youth, his strength is enough to sweep us aside!"
The prodigies exclaimed in shock, their faces pale as they looked at the figure on the golden stage. They had considered themselves invincible among their peers in the Purple Palace Realm, but in comparison to Qingdi, they realized just how small they truly were.
Meng Wushuang stared at Qingdi, feeling the immense shock, but at the same time, a sense of longing and a frantic, burning desire to fight ignited in his eyes!
Just then, seeing that none of the prodigies would step up, the projection of Qingdi frowned.
"Since when have the prodigies of my Human Race become so cowardly? Afraid of a battle among peers?"
"If all our human prodigies are like you, how can our race carve out a place for itself among the myriad races?" Qingdi chided them, disappointed. Although he was only a projection, he retained a shred of divine will and was influenced by the memories of his true self.
Hearing this, everyone hung their heads in shame. Qingdi’s words struck deep, hitting them where it hurt most. The aura radiating from him was enough to pin them to the ground; they had lost their will to fight before the battle had even begun.
Suddenly, a roar echoed in all directions!
"So what if it's Qingdi! I, Meng Wushuang, shall be peerless under heaven! I will fight the heavens and the earth!"
Meng Wushuang stepped forward. *BOOM!* Instantly, Qingdi’s gaze on the golden arena locked onto him.
"Junior Meng Wushuang comes to challenge Qingdi!"
Meng Wushuang shouted coldly, his fighting spirit surging like a peerless divine weapon drawn from its sheath! The golden arena vibrated, and countless eyes fixed upon him.
On the stage, Meng Wushuang’s true energy surged, and a murderous aura rose to the heavens! Seeing Meng Wushuang’s state, Qingdi smiled faintly, a glimmer of gratification in his eyes.
"Human prodigies really are good stock! Not bad, not bad at all!" Qingdi nodded.
Immediately, his gaze fixed on Meng Wushuang. "Since you dare to fight, you shall not shame the name of a human prodigy! If you defeat the remnant shadow I have left behind, you shall obtain the Emperor-grade technique, the 'Green Lotus Creation Manual.' If you fail, it is no matter! But I hope you remember this."
"You are a prodigy of my Human Race. Do not lose your edge because of this defeat! You must press forward against all difficulties! If you lose even your will to fight, then how can my Human Race speak of rising?"
Qingdi’s calm voice echoed like the sound of the Great Dao throughout the space, trembling deep within everyone’s souls. They all shuddered.
"If we lose our will to fight, how can our Human Race speak of rising!"
These words from Qingdi made them all feel immense shame. However, as Qingdi spoke, he glanced at Qin Feng intentionally or otherwise. Although the glance was subtle, Qin Feng caught it.
"As expected of a Great Emperor in his youth; even with only Purple Palace Realm cultivation, he can sense that I am different," Qin Feng remarked to himself.
At the same time, Qin Feng held Meng Wushuang in higher regard. When everyone else was too afraid to act against Qingdi, only Meng Wushuang dared to step up first. Qin Feng dimly remembered that Meng Wushuang was a villain in the original novel. It was a pity, he thought—in the Myriad Laws Convention, in an attempt to restore face for the Immortal Qin Empire, Meng Wushuang would be crippled by the Child of Destiny. A brilliant genius reduced to nothing. In the end, he would enter a Forbidden Zone alone, returning as a Supreme powerhouse! By then, the Immortal Qin Empire would be undergoing a great upheaval, and Meng Wushuang would die protecting the people in that final war.
"Even if he eventually awakens the Peerless Saint Physique, he still can't escape being crushed by the Child of Destiny," Qin Feng mused, stroking his chin.
As a great villain, how could he not have henchmen? Given Meng Wushuang’s combat prowess and his status as a premier prodigy of the younger generation, he was more than qualified to be his subordinate.