Chapter 114: Witnesses of the Times (Part 11)

Within a grand era, countless smaller eras exist.
Under the suppression of a single emperor, the path of cultivation for all beings in the world only grows increasingly difficult, until... that emperor enters his twilight years.
In the years of an emperor's rise and fall, there is decline, the end of Dharma, and prosperity... In countless smaller eras, there are countless invincible beings. Some choose to break free of their shackles, living a life without regrets; others, seeing no hope ahead, choose to seal themselves away in a future era, awaiting the reopening of the emperor's path.
Among the invincible beings, some are powerful, and some are weak.
Ji Xuanxiao was born in a Dharma-ending era where saints are scarce and divine bodies and holy bodies are almost extinct. He fought against all the heroes of the world, declared himself invincible, and awaited the arrival of a great era.
To Su Chen, Ji Xuanxiao seemed utterly laughable, like a frog at the bottom of a well, how could he possibly know the brilliance of a great era?
Su Chen drew his sword. This strike, infused with Su Chen's martial will, possessed a dazzling sword light unlike anything Ji Xuanxiao had ever witnessed. This single point froze the smile on Ji Xuanxiao's face, and the figures, manipulated by the demon god like puppets, shattered like porcelain.
Those geniuses who had been defeated by Ji Xuanxiao in the past, their soul puppets preserved, were no different from mere foot soldiers before Su Chen.
"How is this possible? How can you be so powerful?"
Ji Xuanxiao used a substitute to dodge Su Chen's fatal blow, appearing in another corner, his expression one of shock.
Wang Chen was an unremarkable name in Zhongzhou, merely a spoiled brat. His fame stemmed solely from his elder brother, the young emperor Yun Fei, hailed as the number one person in Zhongzhou.
But now, this spoiled brat had actually made him feel a life-or-death crisis!
For a moment, Ji Xuanxiao was plunged into deep self-doubt.
Unfortunately, Su Chen had no intention of giving Ji Xuanxiao time for self-doubt.
He had already given Ji Xuanxiao a chance, but Ji Xuanxiao chose to become his enemy. Since they were enemies, it was a matter of life and death.
Su Chen's killing intent surged, and countless white lightning bolts intertwined around him, causing the earth to tremble and crack. Countless shattered stones floated into the air, quickly turning to dust. Ji Xuanxiao saw those pupils reduced to a mere white blur, and his unwavering invincible belief wavered at that moment… He might truly die!
Su Chen's figure flashed past, his casual strike no less powerful than a Saint-level martial art. Ji Xuanxiao could only brace himself and meet it head-on. With his divine body and demonic form, even without reaching the Dao Realm, he possessed unparalleled divine might among those of the same level. His demonic body unfolded, unleashing a variety of terrifying martial arts techniques that could easily suppress mountains and rivers. The clash between the two leveled hills and plains tens of thousands of meters in area.
"Meow~"
Tiger Miaomiao gripped the white horse's back tightly with both paws. The white horse raised a barrier, struggling to block the terrifying aftershocks. She muttered to herself, "The Second Young Master is also a terrifying monster. He's only at the sixth level of the Void Realm, but he's probably capable of defeating a Nirvana Realm Venerable... This ancient prodigy blocking our path has probably messed with the wrong person."
The terrifying fluctuations also attracted the attention of the people in the Holy City. When they saw the two fighting, they were all astonished.
"It's Ji Xuanxiao, one of the three invincible warriors! He's actually fighting someone and is even at a disadvantage. Who could possibly force Ji Xuanxiao to this point?"
"Fool! You don't even recognize the second young master of the Wang family? That's Wang Chen, the younger brother of the young emperor Yunfei!"
"It seems the rumors are true. Ji Xuanxiao went to the Imperial Palace to challenge Wang Yunfei, but he didn't even get to see Wang Yunfei. Now, he probably wants to use Wang Yunfei's brother, Wang Chen, as leverage to force Wang Yunfei into a fight."
"But...why is Ji Xuanxiao so weak? He's being suppressed by Wang Chen. It's probably only a matter of time before he loses."
"It's not that Ji Xuanxiao is weak...it's that Wang Chen is too strong. We all underestimated Wang Chen. Every move he makes is perfectly natural. He's probably reached the legendary Dao Realm, no weaker than those former invincible warriors. Ji Xuanxiao has probably kicked a hornet's nest!"
"..."
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Ji Xuanxiao roared in fury and resentment. His arm had been severed by Su Chen, shattering the throne made of black iron into pieces. He was covered in blood, his hair disheveled.
In contrast, Su Chen appeared completely unfazed. Every move Ji Xuanxiao made was riddled with flaws in his eyes. Even with the enhancement of his divine and demonic bodies, and with the power gathered by his Dao Realm cultivation, Su Chen could easily neutralize any attack. Ji Xuanxiao, on the other hand, could only parry, unable to dodge or neutralize Su Chen's attacks. If not for his innate divine body and thick skin, he would likely be dead already.
A divine body... is not invincible.
"No... I am an invincible figure of this era! I am going to fight Wang Yunfei! I am going to embark on that path to enlightenment! How can I die here?"
Ji Xuanxiao's mentality shattered. Looking at the figure in green robes who had broken through his demonic body and was walking towards him step by step, he had no means of resistance left.
"Invincible? He doesn't even have his own Dao, relying solely on his divine body, yet he dares to call himself invincible?"
Su Chen's gaze was cold, yet filled with pity, as if he were looking at a pathetic wretch.
In his eyes, Ji Xuanxiao was slightly stronger than Lei Tianxin... but that was all. Compared to the Holy Son of the Heavenly Sword Holy Land and Ling Wuyai of the Heavenly Ruins Holy Land whom he had encountered, the word "invincible" seemed utterly laughable. This wasn't honor, but mockery, not to mention his brother who had challenged him.
Perhaps from beginning to end, those top geniuses never took Ji Xuanxiao seriously.
Su Chen severed Ji Xuanxiao's head with a single sword strike, the sword energy annihilating his consciousness.
For him, defeating and even killing Ji Xuanxiao was nothing to be proud of. Such a pathetic person, unable even to see himself clearly, had perhaps reached the end of his path by sheer luck in reaching the Saint Realm.
He was merely a victim of a great era, and Ji Xuanxiao wasn't the only one; countless others were blinded by reality.
A long time passed, until Su Chen rode his white horse and disappeared into the sunset.
The people of the Holy City slowly came to their senses.
"Wang Chen...killed Ji Xuanxiao...this was an ancient prodigy, a once invincible figure, and he's dead just like that!"
"The Wang family isn't just about Wang Yunfei...two outstanding talents in one family, terrifyingly powerful!"
"Today's events will likely make Wang Chen's name famous throughout Zhongzhou. He will no longer be known as Wang Yunfei's younger brother, but as an unparalleled genius who can rival, or even slay, ancient prodigies!"
"..."
Su Chen, after ten years, has returned to the Wang family.
The Wang family is shaken. The second young master's first act upon returning to Zhongzhou is to slay an ancient prodigy!