Atop Desolate Beast Valley, a massive Golden Lion covered in black scales appeared, its terrifying aura piercing the sky, causing one’s heart to tremble.
Because everyone recognised that this was the Golden Lion from the Seventh Pass, an extremely fearsome Innate Demonic Beast which was even more daunting than the top 100 trial participants.
Yet, at this moment, what drew even more attention was the figure riding on the back of the Golden Lion, a young figure who was overbearingly youthful, merely a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy, with delicate features. However, his expression was unusually stern as he gazed down condescendingly at Yangg Jun.
His appearance captured the attention of everyone present. Who was this young enigma? His name seemed to have never been heard before.
But the presence of this Golden Lion was enough to change the color of anyone’s face. Upon seeing the newcomer, the Eighth Prince Yangg Jun’s expression shifted slightly as he hastily greeted the youth with a courteous fist and smile, "I am Yangg Jun, the Eighth Prince of the Tianqi Empire; who might you be, sir?"
Yet the boy in black merely glanced at him indifferently before he moved on, choosing to ignore him entirely and turned his gaze to the Thirteenth Prince behind him, who was wounded, coughing up blood, but wearing a smile on his face. Only then did a gentle smile slowly spread across the cold and frosty countenance of the youth, "You’re not hurt, are you?"
Overjoyed and surprised, the Thirteenth Prince hadn’t expected him to appear, a sign that the tides were about to turn. Hearing the question, he could only respond with a wry smile, "If you were a moment later, I would’ve been eliminated."
Ye Chen nodded and said something that left Xia Teng utterly speechless, "It’s good you’re not dead."
"You jerk, your mouth is as venomous as ever," the Thirteenth Prince shook his head helplessly.
Upon seeing the newcomer, Vivian trembled slightly, her eyes welling with mist before tears started to fall uncontrollably, looking at the youth with a joyful sob. At this moment, she was filled with hope.
The boy finally appeared, possibly to turn the whole situation around.
"This silly girl..." Princess Hongs Rong shook her head gently with a touch of helplessness, but like the others, she was pleased with Ye Chen’s arrival. Although unsure how he had entered the Trial Road, his presence alone was enough.
The others, even Xia Mang and Li Hu, who had been opposed to Ye Chen in the past, also felt an incomparable joy at this moment. There was no longer a need to be afraid, the mightiest one had arrived, capable of defying everything.
Ye Chen’s arrival meant salvation was at hand.
Among those present, probably only Yangg Yi had the most complex feelings due to the bet they’d made.
A cold snort broke the atmosphere at that moment. Yangg Jun’s face turned oddly grim. Despite having seen the young man riding on the notorius Golden Lion of the Seventh Pass, he couldn’t help but feel shocked and angered that he was being ignored!
He was not only one of the Top 100 trial participants, but also the Eighth Prince from one of the Three Empires, Tianqi Empire—a true royal bloodline, noble in lineage. Everyone who met him should bow and proclaim fealty. Yet this youth dared to ignore him, fueling his rage.
Only then did Ye Chen’s gaze fall upon him. He asked, "Xia Teng, was it this person who hurt you?"
The Thirteenth Prince nodded, "Yes, he made his move, bringing so many experts to chase us down and surround us."
"Good," Ye Chen responded, before proclaiming, "Those who hurt my friends are beyond redemption. You all shall be eliminated."
The crowd was stunned, and the Eighth Prince was even angrier. What was happening? It was as if he treated them like dirt, ready to dispose of them with a flip of his hand, not taking them seriously at all.
This dismissive attitude filled him with rage as he clenched his fist, declaring coldly, "Hmph, do you really think you are someone who can deal with us so casually? Ridiculous, so young and yet so arrogant. Today I will let you see that there are always bigger fish. My men, attack! Let’s dispose of this brat first. Don’t let him think he’s invincible!"
"Ye Chen, be careful!"
Vivian cried out in alarm, for at that moment two men were silently striking at Ye Chen’s back, evidently with the intent to kill.
Ye Chen himself didn’t move, but his mount, the Golden Lion, launched an attack, its wings vibrating as it transformed into a fierce streak of black light across the sky. With a terrifying roar, it caused both assailants to bleed from all orifices and brought them crashing down from the sky.
The Golden Lion then dived down to fight, frightening the two attackers into bursting their Spirit Talismans to eliminate themselves for self-preservation.
All present felt a chill, because it was too fast, too brutal. Within a moment, two trial participants had been eliminated.
But the Eighth Prince Yangg Jun waved his hand, signaling his multitude of powerful followers to attack simultaneously. Streams of potent True Yuan filled the sky, bombarding toward Ye Chen. An onslaught of so much True Yuan was akin to an attack by the Martial God, truly terrifying. Even a super expert vying for a title would surely retreat.
"Ye Chen, be careful!"
Everyone gasped, all infuriated at how despicable the Eighth Prince had been, resorting to a combined attack.
But the Eighth Prince sneered, on the Trial Road, victory crowned the king while defeat doomed the bandit, he never cared about such a so-called reputation.
Yet Ye Chen’s expression remained unchanged as he said indifferently, "Do you really think that such trivial means can harm me? Ridiculous!"
Ye Chen moved, in this instant he charged into the numerous Innate True Essence attacks, causing everyone to cry out in alarm, clearly believing him to be courting death. Who would dare to rush into such a dense barrage of True Essence attacks, even if they were merely the most ordinary, and not Innate Martial Techniques, they weren’t something the average person could endure, let alone the Top 100 Trial Participants.
Ye Chen pointed out a finger, seemingly slow but actually astonishingly fast, pointing into the void, he uttered a light cry: "Spirit Rhinoceros Sword Finger!"
Visible to the naked eye, as Ye Chen pointed out, invisible circles rapidly spread out, and countless invisible Sword Qi appeared, dense and numerous, filling every inch of the void, surging with the expansion of the circles.
The invisible circles enveloped a radius of thirty feet, the Sword Qi was immeasurable, and all True Essence attacks that approached within ten feet of Ye Chen dispersed into nothingness.
Everything turned to nothing!
Upon witnessing this scene, everyone couldn’t help but bulge their eyes, staring dumbfounded at everything before them, still filled with disbelief.
It was too terrifying, merely a single finger had obliterated the attacks of thirty to forty Innate Strong People, such methods were simply inconceivable, making it hard to believe.
Even everyone from Xiafeng Country gaped in disbelief, as if they could not believe how powerful Ye Chen had become, exceeding their wildest imagination.
Such methods were shockingly heavenly, could this be the result of Ye Chen’s retreat?
"You... who exactly are you?"
The Eighth Prince Yangg Jun stuttered in shock, encountering such an exceptional super expert on the Trial Road was beyond his expectations, even a super expert who was a contender for kingship seemed inferior by comparison.
Ye Chen responded indifferently, then rushed towards the Eighth Prince, causing his complexion to change drastically, and at the very first instance, he chose to flee.
At this moment, the Eighth Prince Yangg Jun had only this one thought, but no one felt it was shameful to run, because the opponent was too powerful. One finger had penetrated the True Essence attacks of thirty to forty Innate Strong People, who on the Trial Road could achieve such a feat? Perhaps even the super experts contending for kingship would find it hard to do so.
Undoubtedly, this black-clothed young man was truly one of the most terrifying exceptional strong people, let alone the Eighth Prince, even the strong onlookers to the battle were entertaining thoughts of escape.
"Thinking of escaping, depends on whether you can escape." Ye Chen smiled coldly, his figure moved and in that moment, he unexpectedly appeared right in front of the Eighth Prince, his speed so swift it was unbelievable.
The Eighth Prince’s complexion changed drastically in fright, this person was like a terrifying demon, but just as he neared, he suddenly swung his sword backward, stabbing with remarkable speed toward the young man’s chest.
However, it was a pity that no matter how the Eighth Prince wielded his sword, it couldn’t advance a fraction of an inch further because it was caught between two slender fingers. Those fingers were like they were cast from steel, utterly immovable.
A light sound, the sword snapped, breaking where Ye Chen’s fingers had grasped it. It was a high-quality sword, capable of slaying Innate Demonic Beasts, sharp and sturdy, but at this moment it was so easily shattered by the young man’s fingertips, revealing its fragility.
"Now, do you have any other tricks? If not, it’s my turn to strike." Ye Chen smiled, but his smile was icy cold. His palm extended, appearing gentle yet creating a feeling of inescapability, a sense of encompassing might from all directions.
"Kid, you’ve forced my hand, don’t blame me." The Eighth Prince, resolved to be ruthless, suddenly spat out his mouth, and out came a gourd. It grew from the size of an ant to normal size quickly, made of bronze material, plain and unadorned, seeming very ordinary.
But as soon as it appeared, it emitted an astonishing fluctuation that seemed to shake the very heavens and earth.
"Martial God’s Magical Artifact?"
Everyone present changed color, clearly recognizing the true identity of this Heavy Weapon.