Chapter 74 – Shang Han's Challenge, No Difference At All, Shattered Hopes
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The Royal Azure King had publicly announced Chu Kuangren as the Fiancé of the Royal Azure Dynasty's Eldest Princess!
That news alone was like a tossed stone that stirred up thousands of ripples as all the sky-prides present had a complicated feeling within them. At that same time, they also thought about how the alliance between the Royal Azure Dynasty and Black Heaven Sect would impact the former's power.
However, no matter what, the fact that Chu Kuangren was now the Fiancé of the Royal Azure Dynasty's Eldest Princess had been established.
The crowd of people in the banquet could only stare at him with looks of jealousy and contempt.
'Possessing a Supreme Daoist Physique, having peerless talents, and coming from a Black Heaven Sect sage orthodoxy with various cultivation resources available at demand, and now Chu Kuangren has become the Fiancé of the Royal Azure Dynasty's Eldest Princess; even Princess Linglong who has unparalleled beauty is now…'
'Oh right, there's also Lan Yu who was even more devoted to him as well.'
'Powerful techniques, beautiful women, properties of wealth, and pieces of land. All of these are things that cultivators should not yearn to possess!'
'Yet Chu Kuangren alone possesses all of them!'
'How can anyone not feel jealous of him? How can anyone not despise him for what he has?'
Chu Kuangren sat in his place and paid no heed to the dozens of gazes that were as sharp as knives. 'What's the matter, scared to make a move?'
"Brother Chu, you are indeed full of surprises." Sitting beside him, Li Xingchen hurriedly leaned towards him with an impressed expression.
'Take a look at this guy. Saying all those things about not having any interests, but he still went and took Princess Linglong for himself without anyone knowing.'
'That's f*cking awesome!'
"With Princess Linglong's n.o.ble position and Royal Azure Dynasty behind your back, Brother Chu, you have obtained a huge benefit for yourself," Li Xingchen said.
"I for one think that being able to be the Master's Fiancée is a culmination of the karmic blessing that Princess Linglong has cultivated for eight lifetimes," Lan Yu who was beside them said with a somewhat bitter tone.
Li Xingchen then thought for a while. "Yeah, it does make some sense."
Chu Kuangren had the heavenly looks of a fairy, vast amounts of talent, and also a high ranking status in the world of cultivation. Compared to Princess Linglong, he would appear better if not similar.
If Princess Linglong was said to be the best among the young female cultivators, then Chu Kuangren would be the most unique and peerless one among the male cultivators.
The more Li Xingchen thought, the more he felt that it made sense. He further lamented, "Wait until the news of this spreads, who knows how many female cultivator's hearts will be broken then."
"You must be joking. That's too ridiculous!"
Chu Kuangren laughed.
"The Royal Azure Dynasty is one of the best Sage Orthodoxies in the world, so its Elder Princess's Fiancé should naturally be one of the best talents in this world too."
At that point, the voice suddenly rang out.
It was Shang Han, the Shang Clan's Young Emperor.
Everyone looked towards him as he continued speaking, "Word says that our fellow Daoist Chu has peerless and remarkable talents. My name is Shang Han, please allow my bold request to learn from you by combat."
Fangtian, Yuanhong, and the others looked at each other confusingly.
'What?'
Did they hear that right?
'This guy wants to challenge Chu Kuangren?'
'Who the h*ll is he kidding. Does he want to die so quickly?'
Although they had an unpleasant opinion of Chu Kuangren, they still had to admit and acknowledge his depressingly overpowering strength.
They were not even a match for Chu Kuangren despite having banded together to fight him, yet this guy here dared to challenge him alone? Did something break in his head?
"Sigh, he's seeking a shameful disgrace!" Fangtian said
"We might have had such an idea of challenging Chu Kuangren alone in the past, but now… Sigh, the very thought of bringing it up pains me to tears."
Lin Batian of the Zhiyang Valley could not help but sigh in despair.
"Wait a minute, Shang Han…"
One of the sky-prides suddenly reacted, feeling that the name was quite familiar to him.
Yuanhong's pupils immediately shrank. "Shang… Can it be the ancient clan of the Scarlet Phoenix Domain, the Shang Clan! That means Shang Han is the Shang Clan's Young Emperor!"
When the words 'Young Emperor' came out, everyone in the crowd gasped.
They had never thought that they would meet a Young Emperor here.
"The Shang Clan is one of the Sage Orthodoxies in the Scarlet Phoenix Domain. Their power is quite similar to the Royal Azure Dynasty, if not weaker. So that's him huh, the Young Emperor Shang Han."
"No wonder he dares to challenge Chu Kuangren."
"I've heard the rumors say that he might be stronger than Lei Ao."
Multiple discussions started to build up among the crowd in the banquet, with everyone looking at Young Emperor Shang Han with gazes of admiration and curiosity.
Meanwhile, Chu Kuangren, the challenged party, sat quietly in his place and chuckled. "Fellow Daoist Shang, are you sure you want to challenge me?"
Shang Han raised his eyebrows in surprise. "What's the problem? Can't do it?"
"Nope, it's not that. But I have a little problem and that is I can't really hold back my punches that well. A few days ago, I accidentally killed a Young Emperor because of that, so I'm worried that you won't be able to handle my attacks for long."
Everyone's mouth could not help but twitch when they heard his words.
'Accidentally killed a Young Emperor?'
'Lei Ao will rise from the dead out of pure spite and anger if he heard that.'
Everyone naturally understood the hidden meaning behind Chu Kuangren's words, which implied that he was not taking this Shang Clan's Young Emperor seriously at all.
To put it simply, his words meant, 'I have accidentally killed someone else on the same Young Emperor level as you, so how long do you think you can withstand my attacks?'
Shang Han's expression was so cold, it was as if there was a layer of frost on his face. He then said, "Chu Kuangren, your name isn't misgiven indeed."
"I agree that it's not a bad one. It was given to me by my parents."
"Kuangren, since the Shang Clan's Young Emperor has traveled far and is interested in fighting you, why don't you agree and keep him company? Either way is fine with me," the Royal Azure Dynasty King suddenly said.
Chu Kuangren nodded. "Since Your Majesty has spoken, then I shall not back down. It's not convenient for us here, let's head outside for our match."
Without another word, Shang Han stood up and headed outside the palace hall.
Outside the royal palace.
Shang Han stood still as the wind blew against him. His green robes could be heard fluttering in the wind as Daoist Rhymes swirled around his body. His terribly potent and domineering aura was so strong that it almost choked the nearby onlookers.
"Such tremendous power! It's even stronger than Lei Ao's!"
"Perhaps he can take down and wipe away Chu Kuangren's arrogant spirit…"
Fangtian, Yuanhong, and the others looked towards Shang Han with a ray of hope glimmering in their eyes.
They were defeated by Chu Kuangren too harshly, hence all of them desperately hoped that someone could step out and take down Chu Kuangren now.
"I know you're strong since you killed Lei Ao. But you should not compare me with someone like him!" Shang Han said indifferently.
Opposite him, Chu Kuangren merely replied, "It makes no difference."
Since Shang Han did not hesitate to show him hostility, then naturally, he need not do the same as well. Chu Kuangren's att.i.tude of contempt towards him was clear.
"The difference is great!" Shang Han snorted coldly as rays of light started to gather and swirl around his hand. Then, a dark long spear with runes engraving appeared.
A cold bitter surge of Daoist Rhyme immediately burst forth!
"Take this attack of mine, Soaring Waterfall Technique!" The spear in Shang Han's grasp shook and out came a spear beam that blasted forward like a raging waterfall that rumbled the surrounding void.
Chu Kuangren held his Self Descendant Sword and swung it lightly. An incredibly dominating purple sword ray instantly shot through the night sky and shattered the spear beam immediately.
Then, the horribly terrifying sword beam instantly and forcefully pushed Shang Han dozens of feet back. His gaze became stern as he leaped high into the air, and when the spiritual power in his body had reached its peak limit, the turbulent Daoist Rhyme behind him formed into a fierce and strong wind.
"Sage Technique, Nine-Day Storm Terror!"
That attack was an extremely terrifying one.
As the endless gusts of wind gathered on Shang Han's body, he then landed a single strike with his spear, releasing a pressure that could engulf the entire world!
Fangtian, Yuanhong, Gu Changge, and the others looked up with faces full of hope. 'He can win. This attack has a chance to take Chu Kuangren down!'
"Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique." A soft roar was heard. After that, a glistening purple sword ray rose from the ground like a dragon flying out of a mountain range. Within an instant, the strong winds and storms in the skies were ruptured by the sword ray before it landed on Shang Han's body.
With a 'clang' sound, the spear fell off his grasps and plunged into the ground.
At the same time, Shang Han was flung out of the sky like a piece of falling rag.
"I told you earlier, there's no difference." Chu Kuangren stood unmoved from his place. Up until that point, he had not moved a single step at all.
The hopes that Fangtian, Yuanhong, and the others had shattered.
"Another Young Emperor falls again," Fangtian said bitterly.
1
What were they hoping for?
They were hoping for someone to appear and defeat Chu Kuangren…
However, how could such a thing ever happen?