949

”…Shun Long?” The burly Xu Tai was the first one to recognize the owner of the terrifying, malevolent aura, his voice tinged with hints of incredulity as the seventh young master of the Xu family stared at him in shock.

However, Shun Long didn’t pay any attention to Xu Tai this time, his gaze fully focused on the black-robed Guo Chen instead.

His calm steps echoed throughout the silent hall as his killing intent gradually increased with every subsequent step. Of course, Shun Long wasn’t going to forget what had happened back in the ‘Illusion Oasis’ between the two of them. He had already promised to make Guo Chen pay even after leaving the ‘City of Immortals’!

”Xu Tai, you actually know that kid?” One of the surrounding Dao Kings, a tall man with long silver hair eventually asked, his cold gaze turning into a frown as he looked at the approaching blue-robed youth.

Although Shun Long hadn’t said a word yet and his killing intent was clearly directed at Guo Chen instead of him, the silver-haired man still felt irritated looking at the arrogant blue-robed young man. It was clear that Shun Long was dead set on fighting Guo Chen within the white hall, completely ignoring everyone else inside the hall.

The green-robed Xu Tai nodded as he looked at the silver-haired man by his side, before he answered calmly

”That’s right, brother Xing. His name is Shun Long and we met back on the third floor. He claimed to have come from the northern region of the continent and that he is a mere rogue cultivator, having no connection to any of the major powers of the continent. However, I’m sure that brother Xing is smart enough to read between the lines as well!”

”A rogue cultivator?” The long-haired man whom Xu Tai had just called brother Xing narrowed his eyes when he heard that, his gaze turning sharp as a blade as he examined the approaching blue-robed youth.

How could a rogue cultivator possibly reach the fourth floor and be on the cusp of the fifth trial? It was simply impossible. Just like Xu Tai and the rest, the silver-haired brother Xing quickly came to the same conclusion they had come; Most likely, this Shun Long must be the disciple of some powerful solitary figure. There was no other explanation to justify him stepping foor in this floor.

Of course, the thought that Shun Long could have stumbled upon the inheritance of some powerful expert also flashed through the silver-haired youth’s mind, but he quickly dispersed the thought as soon as it took form. After all, one needed more than just cultivation techniques and resources to reach this place.

Every single member of the 8 ancient families had received guidance from their seniors throughout their entire lives, and had trained under them as if their lives depended on it, all while having access to the best resources and treasures the central continent had to offer. Could someone who had merely stumbled upon a random inheritance possibly reach the same level as them? The long-haired man was certain about the answer to his own question.

With a deep look in his eyes, one that was unable to truly conceal his astonishment, Xu Tai then continued

”Actually, I didn’t expect him to reach this fourth floor either. I already thought that passing the third trial had been his limit. I don’t understand how a mere rank 8 Dao King can pass that fourth trial… but I am certain of one thing; he is definitely much stronger than Guo Chen.”

As he said the last sentence Xu Tai fell silent, his gaze calmly examining the approaching blue-robed young man. At this point, Xu Tai had to admit that he was indeed somewhat wary of Shun Long in his heart. After all, even after passing the fourth trial, not only was this guy completely unharmed, but he seemed to have enough power to go after Guo Chen as well.

Meanwhile, the silver-haired man widened his eyes, only now realizing that Shun Long was actually a peak rank 8 Dao King. He hadn’t noticed that detail earlier since his murderous aura had already overshadowed everything else within the great hall!

Finally, after a moment of hesitation, the silver-haired man took a step back and said calmly

”Alright. This isn’t bad either. We can use Guo Chen to test him out first. We will decide what to do afterwards.”

At the same time that ‘brother Xing’ made his decision, the blue-robed Chen Yating suddenly took a step forward and appeared in front of Shun Long, a cool breeze swirling around the body of the handsome young master from the Chen family, as he asked with a serious look

”Brother Shun, is everything alright? Could it be that Guo Chen has offended you somehow? Perhaps I can mediate between you.”

However, contrary to Chen Yating’s expectations, Shun Long didn’t pause his steps to explain his reasons and merely shook his head, as his voice echoed throughout the silent white hall

”Mediating? There is no need. Let’s just say that I’ve got an unfinished debt I need to pay back to him.”

Hearing Shun Long’s words, the surrounding Dao Kings all turned their gazes towards the black-robed Guo Chen, including Xu Tai and the silver-haired ‘brother Xing’. However, to their surprise, Guo Chen looked just as stunned as they were, his gaze a mix of bewilderment and shock as he looked at Shun Long. He was certain that he had never met Shun Long before.

Taking a deep breath to suppress his fury, the black-robed Guo Chen stared at Shun Long for a while, before eventually asking with narrowed eyes

”Friend, are you sure it’s me you have unfinished business with? I’m sure we’ve never met before so think again!” As his words rang out, the horrifying aura of a peak-stage Dao King burst out from Guo Chen’s body, filling the entire hall.

Although Guo Chen wasn’t someone who let his emotions govern him and was normally a very shrewd and calculating individual, he wasn’t someone who backed out when he was provoked to such a degree… especially when this was done in front of so many people.

That was even more so considering his opponent was a mere peak rank 8 Dao King whom he had never met before, but who for some reason was singling him out, out of everyone else in the hall.

Unfortunately for Guo Chen, the scene that followed next seemed to have plunged his heart into the coldest depths of the abyss as a sense of lethal danger enveloped his whole body.

A mere moment later, Shun Long had already appeared in front of him, his clenched right fist shattering the fabric of space around it as it headed straight for Guo Chen’s head.

It was only at this moment that Guo Chen finally realized, that the monster in front of him wasn’t just a peak rank 8 Dao King. He was also a peak sixth-stage body refiner!

”…Shun Long?” The burly Xu Tai was the first one to recognize the owner of the terrifying, malevolent aura, his voice tinged with hints of incredulity as the seventh young master of the Xu family stared at him in shock.

However, Shun Long didn’t pay any attention to Xu Tai this time, his gaze fully focused on the black-robed Guo Chen instead.

His calm steps echoed throughout the silent hall as his killing intent gradually increased with every subsequent step. Of course, Shun Long wasn’t going to forget what had happened back in the ‘Illusion Oasis’ between the two of them. He had already promised to make Guo Chen pay even after leaving the ‘City of Immortals’!

”Xu Tai, you actually know that kid?” One of the surrounding Dao Kings, a tall man with long silver hair eventually asked, his cold gaze turning into a frown as he looked at the approaching blue-robed youth.

Although Shun Long hadn’t said a word yet and his killing intent was clearly directed at Guo Chen instead of him, the silver-haired man still felt irritated looking at the arrogant blue-robed young man. It was clear that Shun Long was dead set on fighting Guo Chen within the white hall, completely ignoring everyone else inside the hall.

The green-robed Xu Tai nodded as he looked at the silver-haired man by his side, before he answered calmly

”That’s right, brother Xing. His name is Shun Long and we met back on the third floor. He claimed to have come from the northern region of the continent and that he is a mere rogue cultivator, having no connection to any of the major powers of the continent. However, I’m sure that brother Xing is smart enough to read between the lines as well!”

”A rogue cultivator?” The long-haired man whom Xu Tai had just called brother Xing narrowed his eyes when he heard that, his gaze turning sharp as a blade as he examined the approaching blue-robed youth.

How could a rogue cultivator possibly reach the fourth floor and be on the cusp of the fifth trial? It was simply impossible. Just like Xu Tai and the rest, the silver-haired brother Xing quickly came to the same conclusion they had come; Most likely, this Shun Long must be the disciple of some powerful solitary figure. There was no other explanation to justify him stepping foor in this floor.

Of course, the thought that Shun Long could have stumbled upon the inheritance of some powerful expert also flashed through the silver-haired youth’s mind, but he quickly dispersed the thought as soon as it took form. After all, one needed more than just cultivation techniques and resources to reach this place.

Every single member of the 8 ancient families had received guidance from their seniors throughout their entire lives, and had trained under them as if their lives depended on it, all while having access to the best resources and treasures the central continent had to offer. Could someone who had merely stumbled upon a random inheritance possibly reach the same level as them? The long-haired man was certain about the answer to his own question.

With a deep look in his eyes, one that was unable to truly conceal his astonishment, Xu Tai then continued

”Actually, I didn’t expect him to reach this fourth floor either. I already thought that passing the third trial had been his limit. I don’t understand how a mere rank 8 Dao King can pass that fourth trial… but I am certain of one thing; he is definitely much stronger than Guo Chen.”

As he said the last sentence Xu Tai fell silent, his gaze calmly examining the approaching blue-robed young man. At this point, Xu Tai had to admit that he was indeed somewhat wary of Shun Long in his heart. After all, even after passing the fourth trial, not only was this guy completely unharmed, but he seemed to have enough power to go after Guo Chen as well.

Meanwhile, the silver-haired man widened his eyes, only now realizing that Shun Long was actually a peak rank 8 Dao King. He hadn’t noticed that detail earlier since his murderous aura had already overshadowed everything else within the great hall!

Finally, after a moment of hesitation, the silver-haired man took a step back and said calmly

”Alright. This isn’t bad either. We can use Guo Chen to test him out first. We will decide what to do afterwards.”

At the same time that ‘brother Xing’ made his decision, the blue-robed Chen Yating suddenly took a step forward and appeared in front of Shun Long, a cool breeze swirling around the body of the handsome young master from the Chen family, as he asked with a serious look

”Brother Shun, is everything alright? Could it be that Guo Chen has offended you somehow? Perhaps I can mediate between you.”

However, contrary to Chen Yating’s expectations, Shun Long didn’t pause his steps to explain his reasons and merely shook his head, as his voice echoed throughout the silent white hall

”Mediating? There is no need. Let’s just say that I’ve got an unfinished debt I need to pay back to him.”

Hearing Shun Long’s words, the surrounding Dao Kings all turned their gazes towards the black-robed Guo Chen, including Xu Tai and the silver-haired ‘brother Xing’. However, to their surprise, Guo Chen looked just as stunned as they were, his gaze a mix of bewilderment and shock as he looked at Shun Long. He was certain that he had never met Shun Long before.

Taking a deep breath to suppress his fury, the black-robed Guo Chen stared at Shun Long for a while, before eventually asking with narrowed eyes

”Friend, are you sure it’s me you have unfinished business with? I’m sure we’ve never met before so think again!” As his words rang out, the horrifying aura of a peak-stage Dao King burst out from Guo Chen’s body, filling the entire hall.

Although Guo Chen wasn’t someone who let his emotions govern him and was normally a very shrewd and calculating individual, he wasn’t someone who backed out when he was provoked to such a degree… especially when this was done in front of so many people.

That was even more so considering his opponent was a mere peak rank 8 Dao King whom he had never met before, but who for some reason was singling him out, out of everyone else in the hall.

Unfortunately for Guo Chen, the scene that followed next seemed to have plunged his heart into the coldest depths of the abyss as a sense of lethal danger enveloped his whole body.

A mere moment later, Shun Long had already appeared in front of him, his clenched right fist shattering the fabric of space around it as it headed straight for Guo Chen’s head.

It was only at this moment that Guo Chen finally realized, that the monster in front of him wasn’t just a peak rank 8 Dao King. He was also a peak sixth-stage body refiner!