Long Tianba was at the massive gathering in the arena. The least that could be said about it was that it was magnificent - a runic gateway and a luminous screen created by runic magic displayed what was happening inside. Constructed from plates of Black Demon Steel, the second hardest metal, no less strong than the steel of a grieving man’s tear. But Long Tianba was intensely angry and furious, grinding his teeth. His killing intent was utterly terrifying; everyone kept their distance from him. The opponent he had arranged to fight hadn’t even come to watch his matches, as if mocking him. He said: •"I’ll come and kick your ass, then be on my way!" Of course, Clark hadn’t said that, but the angry Long Tianba would interpret it that way. Suddenly, a beautiful girl descended from the sky like a bright star stealing the spotlight. Qing Xue had arrived, and Clark wasn’t with her. Long Tianba knew she had been training with him, as they were both under the same master’s teachings. Thus, they were considered comrades, and comrades help each other - that was customary. So naturally, he went to ask her. Long Tianba’s footsteps were terrifying, like a raging drunkard, not restraining the force of his steps. Everyone looked in the other direction, away from where Long Tianba was heading. He was truly frightening; every step screamed with a terrifying aura and mad energy. Now, a demon had taken control of Long Tianba’s heart; even his yellow eyes turned red when he unleashed his power. This art had become completely demonic, having affected Long Tianba deeply. Martial arts and cultivation paths are influenced by their practitioner. This art was no longer the Tyrant Dragon Emperor Art, but had become the Demonic Tyrant Emperor Art. He had taken his first steps and become a seasoned expert on the cultivation path. Face to face: Long Tianba and the cold Star Blade, Qing Xue. He addressed her in a voice resembling a demon trapped for a thousand years: • "Where is Zou Long? Why hasn’t he come?" •"He will come, but he’s preparing for the final confrontation between you and him. Why the rush?" Suddenly, the mad laughter of Long Tianba erupted: •"Fuhahahahaha ahahahahahahahahahahaha! Fine! Let’s see that! I’ll show him the difference between the peak of the Enlightenment Stage and the King Stage!" •"Well! I warn you, Long Tianba! Don’t underestimate him, for you might lose a hand or an eye! You never know!" • "What, you ill-mannered woman! Who do you think you are to judge this duel? You speak of a great one like me, a seasoned expert, and describe him as possibly losing? Fine! Let me show you something you’ve never seen before!" Suddenly, a great, scattered beam erupted from Long Tianba’s body, but it was black. Demonic marks began to appear on his forehead - the Demonic Dao Marks. His eye color became frighteningly red, his hair rose with the massive surge of uncontrollable energy. The third level of the Demonic Emperor Body Tempering Art!!!! Qing Xue looked on in horror: •"How? It was only two days! How did you reach this power? Could it be support from your grandfather?" Long Tianba laughed and replied: •"Of course you’d say that! But I regret to say nothing of the sort happened!" •"This is merely the destiny of a man fated to become a king! I’m one step away from reaching the Void Stage! Fuaaaa hahahahahahahahaha!" Everyone looked on in terror, except for the five ancestors who watched Long Tianba with pride. Suddenly, Tai Fei appeared behind Qing Xue: •"Don’t waste time talking with him! It’s just a waste of time!" •"And you, Long Tianba, let me tell you: you won’t win! For Zou Long has surpassed you by stages!" Follow current novels on NoveIＦire.net He glared angrily at Long Tianba, but turned his back and left. He could provoke Qing Xue, but her master was entirely different - not someone easy to play with or provoke. Tai Fei went to where the ancestors were. It was a high, massive place overlooking the huge arena and the runic gateway. Mo Xian, Long Tianba’s grandfather, came and said: •"So, how did Zou Long’s training go?" Tai Fei looked at him with a smile: •"Good enough to kick your grandson’s ass!" Mo Xian angrily turned away, saying: •"We’ll see! If this ungrateful child loses, I’ll make him suffer a terrible torment!" Suddenly, Nie Tianhun stood, using runic magic to amplify his voice and said: •"Today we gather for an important event! Today, the Great Venerable of our sect, Lord Tai Fei, is here! Therefore, we want to show him the strength of our elite disciples, whom I will now call to line up in the middle of the arena!" •"Long Tianba, Xie Wudi, Hai Zun, Ao Huang Chen, and Han Song! And finally, the new outstanding disciple under the guidance of Venerable Tai Fei: Zou Long!" Everyone stood except Clark. All the attending disciples hated him. They thought Clark was arrogant. They began laughing, saying: •"It seems he’s afraid to face Long Tianba! How laughable!" Tai Fei stood and said: •"I’m sorry, friends, but the final match will be between Zou Long and Long Tianba!" •"And since I’m a man with limited time, this fight will be every man for himself! We won’t stay for boring rounds waiting for Long Tianba to kick them one after another! So we’ll gather you all in a free-for-all battle! This way we’ll speed up Long Tianba trampling over you!" Everyone was furious at Tai Fei’s arbitrary speech. The ancestors glared at him angrily, gnashing their teeth. Tai Fei sat down indifferently. Suddenly, the gateways to the real battlefield activated. •"Let the real battle begin! Charge forth, pride of our sect!" Everyone quickly entered. Long Tianba stood with his arms crossed behind his back. They all entered, but the remaining four looked at him with demonic gazes. Hai Zun, who held deep grudges against Long Tianba, knew that someone like Tai Fei with his volatile temperament might do such things. Last time, he made them fight in the chasm of the great Mount Oh Cha volcano! And this time wasn’t the craziest. They all stood before Long Tianba, looking at him with hatred. Suddenly, Han Song charged forward, shouting: •"Poison Dragon! Devour his body!" A strange, four-colored poisonous dragon charged at Long Tianba, who merely raised a fist and said: • "Soaring Dragon Claw!" A terrifying punch erupted with frightening yellow light that shook the place! And annihilated Han Song, who vaporized! Everyone looked on in terror, even Hai Zun who had been confident! Everything began to crumble, but he had to avenge his stolen dignity. Hai Zun wasn’t being childish, not just because he held grudges against Long Tianba for humiliating him in all their battles, but because Long Tianba had sacrificed his sister to reach the first level of the Tyrant Dragon Emperor Art! This was what fueled the hatred in his heart! He had trained for years throughout those periods! He still tempered his heart despite all losses and insults, his determination weakened, but he kept trying like a hungry tiger craving victory! Ao Huang Chen and Xie Wudi charged! They were called the Thunder Brothers! They had mastered a dual combat art called the Thunderstorm Dance! They began moving at imaginary speed around Long Tianba, as if leaping on the steel walls. And Long Tianba didn’t follow them with his eyes, he didn’t care! Everyone thought he would die from his arrogance! Suddenly, Xie Wudi charged, shouting: •"Die in your arrogance!" His single hair strand and sword slammed into Long Tianba’s face, but in split seconds, Long Tianba directed a fast and powerful punch! He shattered the sword with his bare fist and crushed his opponent’s face! Suddenly, Long Tianba charged at Ao Huang and directed numerous strikes at him! Ao Huang screamed in pain, but he died and his screams quieted! Those outside watched in terror at the overwhelming power Long Tianba displayed! Suddenly, Long Tianba said while wiping his bloody fist: • "Now it’s just you and me! Do you want revenge? I’ll allow you that! You’ve been persistent from the beginning, but why do I see you hesitating to fight me?" •"Did you forget that I exploited your sister? In truth, I needed her body, not just her soul! Because of her great spiritual flexibility, I gained power before your eyes! Hahahahahahahahah!" Hai Zun’s heart was seized by merciless anger! Before the demon! With his own eyes, he laughed like a madman! Suddenly, Hai Zun charged rapidly, using the extreme form Mo Wu Qi - Black Demon Speed! He appeared around Long Tianba like shadows everywhere! You couldn’t tell what was real! And he directed attacks from everywhere! But Long Tianba was aware of everything and blocked his strikes! But all the ancestors knew that Long Tianba was playing with him, and could burn Hai Zun to ashes, but he wanted to prolong the battle until Clark appeared! But he quickly grabbed Hai Zun, who was shocked that he’d been caught with such preemptive speed! Suddenly, Hai Zun screamed: •"Launch! Black Tiger Attack!" Suddenly, voids appeared between the steel! There were scattered shadows! They formed into explosive shadow energy balls! But Long Tianba appeared unharmed and healthy, while Hai Zun was severely injured! • "How is this? I trained for years and put all the power I had into that strike! And in the end, I lose in such a humiliating defeat!" Long Tianba quickly grabbed him and said while laughing, choking him against a wall: •"You’ve been playing around me like a fool! But let me tell you: you’re no good at tempering or fighting! You kept developing your speed! What exactly did you think I was? An impenetrable fortress that can’t move?" •"Your body is weak! It won’t withstand what’s coming! But it will be one strike!" •"Why one? I thought you wanted to torture me because I was a nuisance to you!" Long Tianba looked at him laughing: •"You’re a nuisance? You bastard! You were just a stupid mouse running between my feet! But every time I crush it! The difference is you’re a mouse with many lives! Now grit your teeth so you don’t scream!" Suddenly, Long Tianba’s terrifying fist descended on Hai Zun’s face, pierced completely through it, burned his body and turned him to ashes! Then... He exited the runic chamber! He was stained with blood, like a statue meant to frighten enemies! •"It seems your foolish disciple fears me!" But suddenly, Clark landed on the ground with full force! No one sensed him, not even Long Tianba! Clark stood before him! The opponent he wanted to face! Looking at him with complete arrogance! Clark sneezed and said: •"It seems you were cursing me in your heart, Long Tianba!" •"Unfortunately! I was cursing you openly, not in secret! It seems you’ve reached the peak of the King Stage! You’re on the threshold of Enlightenment!" •"Said it! Your observation is sharp! But unfortunately, my spirit - the World - has reached the Enlightenment Stage!" •"Today, Long Tianba, you won’t see tomorrow! I promise you that!!!!"