The Peerless Emperor (TPE)

Boom!

A surge of bright white soul power erupted from deep within Lin Qian's body, radiating outward like the most dazzling star on the stage.

Crack!

Lin Qian bent his body slightly, and the tough blue steel tiles of the stage under his feet emitted a crisp cracking sound as they began to collapse.

Enveloped in his radiant white soul power, Lin Qian launched himself into the air like a cannonball. With a swift spin, he lashed out with a kick toward the scar-faced youth who was diving toward him from above.

Thud!

The collision between Lin Qian and the scar-faced youth's legs produced a deep, resonant boom. The intense clash of soul power and physical strength generated a powerful shockwave that rippled outwards.

The canopies covering the viewing platforms around the square were shattered and blown away. Those with only the basic cultivation level of the Innate Origin Realm were knocked to the ground by the shockwave from the leg-to-leg clash.

Even those in the Condensing Origin Realm, though not as battered, were forced to retreat several steps from the impact.

In contrast, the Zhao brothers, who were also in the Condensing Origin Realm and standing much closer to the action, remained firmly in place. This starkly highlighted the natural disparity between the disciples of the Vientiane Sect and the soul cultivators of the small city of Ba Mountain.

In mid-air, both combatants used the force of the collision to propel themselves backward, landing steadily on the ground.

"Impressive, as expected of the renowned Young Emperor." The scar-faced youth, who had returned to the Li Family's viewing platform, massaged his slightly numb right leg and offered Lin Qian his begrudging praise.

However, his expression was now darker than before.

As he looked at Lin Qian, who appeared completely unaffected by the clash, the scar-faced youth couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. "How in the world is this kid doing it? His physical strength is simply terrifying."

While the scar-faced youth and the twelve Overlord Blade Sect disciples behind him were shocked, the members of the Li Family were utterly terrified.

The Ye Family members, aside from Ye Lin, were all struck dumb with shock.

The Bai Family members were similarly stunned into silence. Bai Zun was particularly bewildered. His son had only told him that the patrol envoy for this trial wasn't him but someone from the Ye Family.

Bai Zun had racked his brain, trying to figure out when the Ye Family had produced such a genius who could become the Vientiane Sect's patrol envoy without his knowledge.

At this moment, Bai Zun's thoughts echoed those of everyone else in Ba Mountain City.

Is this some kind of joke?

The patrol envoy is Lin Qian?

The rising star known as the Young Emperor in the Vientiane Sect is Lin Qian?

The people of Ba Mountain City, recalling the strange conversation between the scar-faced youth and Lin Qian earlier, suddenly realized the truth.

The Vientiane Sect's new rising star, the Young Emperor, was indeed named Lin Qian. As a Nirvana Realm expert of the Overlord Blade Sect, the scar-faced youth naturally knew the Young Emperor's real name.

But Ba Mountain City was just a small town under the Vientiane Sect's jurisdiction—how could they possibly know the Young Emperor's name?

When the scar-faced youth asked Lin Qian if he was Lin Qian, what he was really asking was...

Are you the Young Emperor, Lin Qian?

"Hmph, I told you, my brother Lin is far superior to you all," Ye Lin said smugly to the speechless Ye Long and Ye Feng, her voice full of pride.

At the forefront of the Ye Family's viewing platform, Ye Nanxin stared at the young man on the stage with wide eyes, finding it hard to believe that Lin Qian's strength now surpassed his own.

Now, Ye Nanxin understood why the disciples of the Vientiane Sect had treated him so courteously.

It suddenly made sense why the Ba Mountain Vientiane Trial had been entrusted to the Ye Family to host.

No wonder when he had expressed concern about whether the trial might disappoint the patrol envoy, Lin Qian had confidently assured him that there would be no disappointment.

"Of course! This boy is the patrol envoy. If he says there won't be disappointment, then there won't be." Staring at the young man on the stage, Ye Nanxin couldn't help but laugh. "Brother Lin, your son Lin Qian truly lives up to his name!"

At this moment, everything became clear.

"I must admit, you truly are a genius. Your soul power at the fifth stage of the Form Condensation Realm is comparable to my own at the fourth stage of the Nirvana Realm. And your physical strength far surpasses mine." As the scar-faced youth spoke, he spread his hands in front of him, and a soul light began to take shape, revealing four objects.

A small, crimson dagger and three similarly crimson metal spheres.

"Artifact core, artifact components!" Lin Qian's expression tightened as he recognized the objects, and he immediately charged forward, his white soul power gathering in his fists.

"But I know your fatal flaw, because you cannot…" The scar-faced youth smirked as he watched Lin Qian swiftly close the distance between them.

With that, the scar-faced youth's body erupted with crimson soul power, which quickly enveloped the small crimson metal dagger.

At the same time, the three crimson metal spheres, infused with soul power, suddenly liquefied and flowed toward the small dagger, forming a complete weapon.

"Artifact Armament!"

The scar-faced youth shouted, and the liquid metal instantly solidified into a three-foot-long crimson dagger.

Gripping the newly-formed dagger, the scar-faced youth sneered and swung it down at the rapidly approaching Lin Qian.

The blade, glowing with crimson soul light and radiating intense heat, collided with Lin Qian's incoming fist.

The sight was as shocking as ever—flesh and bone clashing against an armed artifact. This was the baffling combat style of the Vientiane Sect's Young Emperor that left people in awe.

The blade struck Lin Qian's fist, yet it left only a faint white mark on his skin.

"He blocked it!" Seeing Lin Qian's fist withstand the blade's strike, the crowd couldn't help but gasp in astonishment.

"Heh!" The scar-faced youth, looking at the boy just inches away, let out a cold laugh. "You haven't forgotten the greatest characteristic of the Nirvana Realm, have you, Young Emperor?"

"Hmm?" Lin Qian hesitated for a moment, then noticed the blade before him suddenly glow with a blinding crimson light.

Boom!

A deafening explosion rang out as a fiery blast erupted from the blade's edge, sending Lin Qian flying back onto the stage.

Caught off guard by the sudden explosion, Lin Qian was unable to react in time and was blasted directly onto the stage.

"Senior Brother Lin!" Bai Ren, Zhao Qiang, and Zhao Jian hurried over to help Lin Qian to his feet.

As Lin Qian got up, he waved his hand to reassure the trio. "It's nothing serious!"

"The Nirvana Realm's soul weapon awakens special traits. Mine is explosion," the scar-faced youth said, lifting his head as he swung the dagger in his hand and pointed it at Lin Qian. "By the way, I enjoy sharing, and killing a Young Emperor is the kind of fun I like to share with my fellow sect members."

The scar-faced youth's words left the crowd even more confused.

But they soon understood.

One by one, figures in red robes began to appear, ignoring the onlookers as they moved through the aisles between the viewing platforms. Their overwhelming auras caused many people in Ba Mountain City to collapse to the ground.

In an instant, nearly a hundred red-robed figures had gathered around the scar-faced youth. Each one looked around with disdain, their gazes filled with contempt for the stunned citizens of Ba Mountain City.

"I've heard that the Young Emperor's combat prowess is extraordinary, but I have with me six Nirvana Realm and a hundred Form Condensation Realm disciples of the Overlord Blade Sect." The scar-faced youth sneered at Lin Qian, his voice booming. "Today, I will slaughter this entire city of Ba Mountain—how will you stop me?"

The scar-faced youth puffed out his chest and shook his head. "I have overwhelming numbers!"

"Overwhelming numbers?" Lin Qian laughed at the remark. "Are you sure you want to compare numbers with me?"