Chapter 1168: I Surrender!
Wei Hen's abnormal state did not last long, only a few short breaths, before he forcibly returned to normal.
Yun Che's gaze moved away from him, his brows furrowing. He could already foresee that today at the Feng Shen Platform, something major and unexpected was likely to happen.
Quhui Zunzhe rose into the air. At the same time, a massive invisible barrier materialized out of nowhere, enveloping the Feng Shen Platform. This barrier could isolate power, preventing the fierce battles on the platform from affecting the spectator stands, but it would not block living beings—people could pass through freely.
"First match: Yan Shen Realm's Huo Poyun vs. Futian Realm's Lu Chenyuan. Enter the Feng Shen Platform immediately!"
As Quhui Zunzhe's voice fell, two figures descended from the sky at the same time, landing on the Feng Shen Platform.
On the left, Huo Poyun. He came from a middle star realm. His cultivation was at the Divine Tribulation Realm, Level 7.
On the right, Lu Chenyuan. He came from an upper star realm—in fact, one of the strongest star realms, the Futian Realm. His cultivation was at the Divine Tribulation Realm, Level 8.
The advantage was clear at a glance. Over on the Futian Realm side, everyone also wore relaxed expressions.
"First round of the God-Sealing War, first match... begin!"
With Quhui Zunzhe's heavy roar, a flash of flame light appeared on Huo Poyun's body, and a short sword materialized in his hand. It was about three feet long, slightly broad in the blade, and entirely red like a branding iron. Without any profound energy infused, it already emitted a heat that was startling to the heart.
This was the first time Yun Che had seen Huo Poyun's weapon.
"The Flame God Demon-Slaying Sword was originally shared by the Vermilion Bird, Phoenix, and Golden Crow Sects. It's only expected that it was given to Huo Poyun," Mu Bingyun said softly.
But Lu Chenyuan did not reveal his weapon, nor did any profound energy stir on his body. His face showed no solemnity before the battle; instead, he smiled calmly and said very casually, "You go first."
An upper star realm facing a middle star realm cultivator naturally carried an air of superiority, or rather a habitual condescending contempt. And indeed, even at the same cultivation level, the foundation of a middle star realm could never compare to that of an upper star realm.
Not to mention that his profound strength also had the advantage of one minor realm.
If he made the first move, he would feel as if he had lost face.
"Then I won't hold back!"
Huo Poyun had no unnecessary words. He shot out like an arrow, heading straight for Lu Chenyuan... and at that very moment, Yun Che murmured, "Brother Poyun wins."
Boom!!!
Without any warning, without the usual gathering of profound energy, blazing golden flames suddenly erupted like a sun exploding directly on the Feng Shen Platform, instantly engulfing more than half of the platform. If not for the barrier's obstruction, it might have been enough to swallow the entire northern spectator section.
"Ah!?"
"What... what!?"
Exclamations rang out across the Feng Shen Platform. The instantaneous burst of flame, lacking any normal precursor, utterly shocked everyone.
And if these star realm big shots were so taken aback, Lu Chenyuan was even more so. One moment, he was still smiling, facing Huo Poyun's charge with an easygoing air; the next, his heart leaped, and before he could react, he was swept into a boundless sea of fire.
The Futian lineage all cultivated earth-type profound arts, boasting extremely strong defensive abilities. This was precisely the basis for his calm confidence. As long as Huo Poyun's profound energy stirred, he could instantly protect himself. He was even inwardly calculating, for greater glory, whether to let his opponent have three moves or five...
But with the first flash of flame on Huo Poyun's body, all these plans became ridiculous bubbles.
In great panic, Lu Chenyuan hurriedly tried to raise an Earth Shield, but before it could even take shape, it was annihilated in an instant by the Golden Crow Flame. Huo Poyun had already closed in, both eyes burning with fire. With a swing of the Flame God Demon-Slaying Sword, the Golden Crow Flame exploded furiously.
Blazing Sun Detonation!
Purgatory Red Lotus!
Calamity Flame Dance!
Brilliant Fire Star-Burning!
Boom boom boom boom boom!!
Flame profound power was immensely destructive, but the time it took to ignite profound energy into flames was generally the longest, and the Golden Crow Flame, as the divine flame with the strongest incineration ability, was even more so. Yet in Huo Poyun's hands, the Golden Crow Flame—extremely powerful but also the hardest to control—erupted like a furious storm, exploding wildly. It was hard to believe it came from a single person; it seemed more like a dozen people attacking together.
"Ah... uwaaah..."
Lu Chenyuan was blasted backward rapidly. From the very first moment he fell into a disadvantage, he could barely even defend himself, let alone counterattack. Flames scorched his body, and his screams constantly came from within the sea of fire. As his body was burned, his will and confidence were quickly crumbling. But the respite he kept waiting for never came; the flames striking him only grew fiercer.
Finally...
Boom!!
Lu Chenyuan's profound energy defense completely collapsed, and he flew out of the sea of fire as a full-blown human torch. Huo Poyun raised his arm, the flame condensed into a sword, and the blade shot up hundreds of feet, sweeping toward Lu Chenyuan.
Lu Chenyuan was not weak after all. Mid-air, he managed to catch his breath, a yellow light flashing as he extinguished most of the Golden Crow Flame on his body, grabbing a nine-foot long spear...
Clang... Boom!!
The "Golden Annihilation" of the Golden Crow Flame was extremely powerful; at the same level, it was almost impossible to withstand head-on. Lu Chenyuan had just raised his spear when it was swept by the Golden Crow Flame Sword. The spear burst into flames and flew away as he let out a scream, hurtling sideways like a meteor, straight through the Feng Shen Platform barrier, and crashing heavily into the spectator stands far away.
"Lu Chenyuan has left the Feng Shen Platform. Defeated. He enters the Defeated Group. Huo Poyun wins. He enters the Feng Shen Group!"
With Quhui Zunzhe's verdict, all flames on the Feng Shen Platform extinguished in an instant. Huo Poyun stood at the center of the platform. Having defeated an opponent of superior origin and profound strength in such a crushing manner, he showed no sign of ecstatic joy, remaining as calm as before the battle. He slightly raised his hand toward the direction where Lu Chenyuan had been blasted: "I accept."
The Feng Shen Platform was deathly silent. Every gaze was fixed on Huo Poyun... Not just the experts from lower and middle star realms, but even the renowned upper star realms of the Dong Shen Domain had deep astonishment in their eyes.
The name "Huo Poyun" from this moment on was truly etched into their memories.
Although the Yan Shen Realm was only a middle star realm, the name of the Golden Crow Flame was known to all. It was one of the three supreme flames of the Age of Gods, representing the strongest fire, yet also the hardest to master.
But in the battle just now, Huo Poyun displayed a mastery over flames that completely exceeded their understanding—even surpassing what should be humanly possible. Instantaneous burst of flame... and it was the Golden Crow Flame!
"Good! Well done! Good! Hahahahahaha!..." Huo Rulie leaped a hundred feet, laughing like a madman, oblivious to those around him.
Outside the spectator stands, Lu Chenyuan scrambled up in a wretched state. His whole body was charred black. The moment he stood up, he grunted and fell heavily to his knees, all his clothes disintegrating. But he was completely unaware. His eyes blazed as he roared hoarsely, "Unfair... This is unfair! I didn't even use my full strength... I want a rematch with him!"
If Lu Chenyuan had not been arrogant from the start and had instead been on full alert, with the powerful profound arts of the Futian Realm and his profound strength advantage, it would have been far from easy for Huo Poyun to defeat him, let alone win in such a crushing fashion.
But unfortunately...
"Enough!" Before Quhui Zunzhe could speak, the Futian Realm King had already bellowed, "This is the God-Sealing War, yet you are so arrogant from the start, throwing your father's and your master's warnings to the wind. You deserve to lose! Even if you could win, you wouldn't be worthy! Now get out of here and reflect!"
Humiliated and scolded publicly by his own father, Lu Chenyuan's face turned pale. He shot a vicious glare at Huo Poyun, dared not say another word, and slunk away.
"This child's future is limitless," the Dragon Emperor said slowly.
The Dragon Emperor's voice was very low, but everyone heard it clearly.
This was the evaluation given by the number one person (dragon) in the God Realm. Huo Poyun, once unknown, would from today become a name that the entire Dong Shen Domain would have to note and remember.
Because on the first day, the matches of the first round were decided on the spot, there was no time to set up gambling. Otherwise, Huo Poyun's dominant victory would surely have bled a fortune from many gamblers.
But starting from the next round, the opponents for the following day would be decided after the current day's matches ended. Gambling houses would spring up all over Dong Shen Domain. This had long become an indispensable tradition of every Profound God Convention.
Huo Poyun returned to the Yan Shen Realm seats. The Yan Shen Realm, previously unnoticed, now drew frequent sidelong glances from the entire venue. Everyone from the Yan Shen Realm held themselves a little straighter; they had never in their lives felt such glory.
"Sister, didn't I say so?" Shui Meiyin said playfully from the Liuguang Realm seats.
Shui Yingyue nodded slightly. "Indeed, he is an opponent worth noting."
"But he's definitely not my sister's match... However, many years from now, that might not be the case. So, sister, you have to work hard too," Shui Meiyin said softly.
Shui Yingyue: "..."
At that moment, Quhui Zunzhe's voice rang out:
"God-Sealing War first round, second match: Saint Universe Realm's Luo Chang'an vs. Yan Shen Realm's Yun Che!"
Boom!!
Like a thunderclap, Luo Chang'an descended onto the Feng Shen Platform with a huge explosion of air, turning around to stare directly at Yun Che's position. His gaze carried a challenging expression, and the corner of his mouth held a faint, somewhat unsettling smile. It was clear—he was very satisfied that his opponent was Yun Che.
"This Luo Chang'an is damn lucky! Getting to fight that interloper in the first round is practically a free win!" A Feng Shen candidate curled his lip.
"Luo Chang'an's strength is basically the bottom among us, but against this trash, he can go straight into the first round of the Feng Shen Group. Meanwhile, my opponent is his brother, Luo Changsheng... what a load of crap!" Another candidate said indignantly.
"I bet that kid might not even dare to step up. After all, in the preliminaries, he could rely on some shameless underhanded tricks, but this is the God-Sealing War... tsk."
"That's not necessarily true. Having cheated three rounds in a row, how could he possibly have any face left? What's a little more shame? Maybe he'll become even more notorious!"
"Bah! If I ran into this guy, I wouldn't be grateful at all—this is the God-Sealing War! Winning against such an opponent would only be a disgrace."
Everyone wore expressions of someone ready to enjoy a good show. But Luo Chang'an stood on the Feng Shen Platform for a long time while Yun Che remained seated, making no move at all.
Quhui Zunzhe's brows tightened as he said sternly, "Yun Che! Enter the Feng Shen Platform immediately!"
Without even raising his head, Yun Che said directly, "No need. I surrender!"
(Note: The original text ends with website promotions and advertisements. For the translation, only the chapter content is provided. The final line "I surrender!" (I surrender) is the chapter title and the concluding statement.)