Chapter 383: Showdown with the Xu Holy Clan
Below the Heavenly Stairway, the talented students were all stunned, some marveling at Huang Yanchen’s strength, while others felt sorry for Xue Yingrou.
After all, a beauty like Xue Yingrou being thrown directly off the Heavenly Stairway would stir any man’s protective instincts.
“That blue-haired woman just used martial techniques from the ‘Divine Dragon Art’—could she be a descendant of the Eastern Domain Saint King Manor’s Chen Clan?”
From the crowd, an arrogant voice rang out, followed by a cold snort: “You don’t even know her? Her mother is the youngest Half-Saint of the Chen Clan. Her name is Huang Yanchen.”
The speaker was none other than the foremost prodigy of the Xu Holy Clan, Xu Qing.
Xu Qing wore a white robe embroidered with flying pythons, his hands clasped behind his back, his spine straight as a spear. As he strode over, the sheer aura he exuded intimidated the surrounding students, who parted to make way for him.
Only a few could remain calm and composed in his presence.
Chen Xi’er smiled and said, “This man is named Xu Qing. He is deeply favored by a Half-Saint elder of the Xu Holy Clan and possesses outstanding natural talent. It’s said his martial arts cultivation has reached the peak of the Heavenly Extreme Small Extreme Realm.”
“More importantly, he once met my cousin at the Chen Manor and was utterly captivated. Since then, he has visited her many times, bringing all sorts of rare treasures—only to have them thrown out by my cousin.”
“Later, he kept sending things to her residence every day, each gift more precious than the last. Even knowing she was already betrothed, he never gave up. He even intends to take her from you.”
Zhang Ruochen remained calm, but Chang Qiqi let out a cold snort. “He wants to steal someone else’s fiancée? Doesn’t that guy know his place?”
Chen Xi’er laughed. “As a descendant of a Saintly Clan, stealing a fiancée—or even someone else’s wife—is child’s play. Senior Brother Chang, if Xu Qing were to strike, he could kill you in half a move.”
Chang Qiqi was furious. He mobilized all his true qi, and golden, hard scales emerged on his skin.
After refining dragon blood, Chang Qiqi’s body had undergone some transformation. When he activated his true qi, dragon scales covered his entire body, making him impervious to blades, water, and fire, while greatly enhancing his strength with the power to move mountains and seas.
Chen Xi’er sneered dismissively. “Only by cultivating the ‘Divine Dragon Art’ can you maximize the power of dragon blood. Did you see my cousin unleash her dragon force? You’re far beneath her. Even with dragon scales protecting you, how many moves could you last?”
“You’ve also cultivated the ‘Dragon God Art,’ haven’t you? Want to spar?”
Stung by Chen Xi’er’s taunts, Chang Qiqi sank his weight, stretching his ligaments and meridians, channeling power into his hands.
“Is that so?”
Chen Xi’er raised an eyebrow, even more disdainful. Her ten pale fingers clenched tightly, and strands of golden true qi emanated from her body, each like a flying horned dragon.
Zhang Ruochen frowned and said coldly, “We’re here for the Saint Academy’s assessment, not to show off. If you’ve got the skill, save it for the Heavenly Stairway and compete against students from other Martial Market Academies.”
At Zhang Ruochen’s rebuke, even the proud Chen Xi’er immediately withdrew her true qi, not daring to challenge him.
From a distance, Xu Qing praised loudly, “Junior Sister Huang’s move just now, ‘Divine Dragon Moves Mountains,’ was truly exquisite. Truly a proud daughter of heaven worthy of the Golden Dragon’s legacy!”
“Golden Dragon? Which Golden Dragon?”
Hearing Xu Qing’s words, many were puzzled.
“Naturally, it’s the Golden Dragon that once accompanied the Buddha Emperor. Junior Sister Huang has obtained its dragon blood, which is equivalent to receiving its inheritance. Having refined the Golden Dragon’s blood, her physique, even if not a Saintly Body, is certainly top-tier,” Xu Qing explained.
“So it’s that Golden Dragon. I’ve heard of it—it’s said that dragon relics also emerged alongside it.”
“The Golden Dragon is the most powerful dragon clan in the entire Kunlun Realm. Even a single drop of its blood is enough to benefit one for a lifetime.”
…
Xue Yingrou, who had fallen from above, had just gotten to her feet when she heard Xu Qing praising Huang Yanchen, filling her with even more jealousy and resentment.
Earlier, when Xue Yingrou saw Xu Qing, she had been envious and wanted to throw herself into his arms, becoming a daughter-in-law of a Saintly Clan.
But Xu Qing didn’t even glance at her.
His gaze was fixed entirely on the proud daughter of heaven on the Heavenly Stairway—Huang Yanchen.
“Who is she? What did I do to offend her? Why does she keep opposing me?”
Xue Yingrou clenched her fists and gritted her teeth, her eyes as if she wanted to tear Huang Yanchen apart—a mix of fury, jealousy, and a hint of murderous intent.
Seeing that Huang Yanchen ignored him, Xu Qing wasn’t angered. He laughed heartily, spread his arms like a roc, and charged up the Heavenly Stairway.
With one step, he reached the twenty-sixth step.
With a second step, he reached the thirtieth step. After leaving his name on the jade stele, he immediately surged upward, chasing after Huang Yanchen.
Following him, the thirty-six talented students trained by the Xu Holy Clan also rushed up the Heavenly Stairway to escort Xu Qing.
“That guy has no shame. Zhang Ruochen, I’ll teach him a lesson for you,” Chang Qiqi said coldly.
Before Zhang Ruochen could stop him, Chang Qiqi had already stormed up the Heavenly Stairway in a rage.
Earlier, Chen Xi’er had said, “If Xu Qing were to strike, he could kill you in half a move,” which had infuriated Chang Qiqi. He was full of pent-up anger, waiting to vent it.
Soon, Chang Qiqi caught up with a talented student from the Xu Holy Clan. Grabbing the student by the back, he sealed his Heavenly Heart Meridian and lifted him overhead.
“You people of the Xu Holy Clan have no shame!”
Chang Qiqi roared, then hurled the Xu Holy Clan student away with all his strength.
“Boom!”
The student fell from dozens of meters high, crashing to the ground and shaking it slightly.
Not only the Xu Holy Clan students but also those below the Heavenly Stairway were stunned. Someone had dared to directly curse the Xu Holy Clan as shameless?
How bold was that?
The Xu Holy Clan’s power was immense, with countless experts. Even descendants of other Saintly Clans wouldn’t dare utter such words lightly.
Did his background surpass the Xu Holy Clan?
Someone noticed that Chang Qiqi’s entire body was covered in dragon scales, indicating he had refined a significant amount of dragon blood. While it likely wasn’t Golden Dragon blood, anyone who could refine large quantities of dragon blood was no ordinary person.
What ordinary martial artist could afford that much dragon blood?
Everyone speculated about Chang Qiqi’s identity. Daring to challenge the Xu Holy Clan made him a true hero.
“Who’s this guy? Isn’t he afraid of retaliation from the Xu Holy Clan?”
“Cursing the entire Xu Holy Clan—that’s not something just anyone would do. Maybe he’s from another Saintly Clan, ready to start a war on the Heavenly Stairway.”
Just then, Xue Yingrou sneered, “Him? You’re overestimating him. He’s just an ordinary martial artist from the barbaric Demon Ridge. Maybe he got lucky and obtained some dragon blood.”
“What? A martial artist from Demon Ridge? I know that place—it’s on the edge of the Eastern Domain, extremely barren, barely civilized, and dirt poor. It’s rare for even one person to pass the Saint Academy exam in decades.”
“Poor mountains breed unruly people—no surprise there.”
“Daring to insult the Xu Holy Clan like that—just wait, he’ll get beaten badly.”
…
As the crowd talked, Chang Qiqi sent two more Xu Holy Clan students flying off the Heavenly Stairway.
By activating his dragon blood’s power, Chang Qiqi’s strength surged, making him like a humanoid dragon, ferocious and roaring like a dragon’s cry.
Standing on the thirty-ninth step, Xu Qing glanced down, his eyes turning cold. He ordered, “Don’t let him leave his name on the jade stele. Break his legs and throw him off the Heavenly Stairway.”
If the Saint Academy didn’t forbid killing, Xu Qing would have ordered Chang Qiqi’s death.
Insulting the Xu Holy Clan—what else was that but seeking death?
At Xu Qing’s command, the Xu Holy Clan students, burning with rage, charged at Chang Qiqi.
Finally, Chang Qiqi met his match.
Under the attack of a Xu Holy Clan genius at the Heavenly Extreme Middle Realm, Chang Qiqi was forced back, even taking two punches. Fortunately, his defense was formidable, so he wasn’t injured.
“Damn it.”
Si Xingkong snorted coldly, unleashing his true qi. His arms emitted a “cracking” sound, like metal striking, as his bones expanded and golden dragon scales grew.
In moments, Si Xingkong’s arms thickened sevenfold, transforming into three-meter-long golden dragon claws. The ten claws were razor-sharp, like ten golden blades.
He charged up the Heavenly Stairway, reaching Chang Qiqi in an instant. With a single claw strike, he repelled the Xu Holy Clan genius fighting Chang Qiqi.
Si Xingkong was already far stronger than Chang Qiqi, and with dragon blood activated, he was even more formidable.
He unleashed three moves, and on the fourth, he struck the genius in the chest, leaving a bloody dragon claw mark and sending him tumbling down the stairway.
“Impressive! Xu Chu was one of the top ten young experts of the Xu Holy Clan this generation, and he was defeated in just a few moves. Who is this?”
“Look—his arms turned into dragon claws! Did he refine a lot of dragon blood too?”
“When did dragon blood become so cheap?”
“Could this guy also be a martial artist from Demon Ridge? Is Demon Ridge really that strong?”
…
Si Xingkong’s display of strength was indeed astonishing, even shocking the descendants of Half-Saint families.
A talent of this caliber didn’t seem like it could come from a small place like Demon Ridge.