Ever since rumours spread about the birth of the Mountain River Martial Soul, although no one has truly seen it to this day, the number of rapidly rising genius youths has indeed increased.
This point is beyond doubt.
In this era teeming with heroes, the one who can stand out among countless geniuses, or trample all others underfoot, is the true king among the young.
The true evildoer who towers above all geniuses.
This era is destined to belong to such a person.
Yet who exactly that person will be remains unknown.
After all, before the Dragon Phoenix Selection and the White Tiger Convention, everything is still a mystery.
Behind Shangguan Hong was a stretch of seven-coloured rainbow. It was not some phenomenon, but his martial soul.
“Rainbow Martial Soul. This is a very unique martial soul. Even among natural-type martial souls, it remains extremely rare.”
Among the crowd, there were still some with keen eyesight who could recognise the rarity of Shangguan Hong’s martial soul.
Standing amid that seven-coloured radiance, Shangguan Hong appeared like a war god clad in colourful battle armour, majestic and awe-inspiring.
The rainbow light flickered. Each hue represented a special form of attack.
This martial soul was rare precisely because of this.
Its attacks often caught people completely off guard.
“Sudden Downpour Domain!”
Revealing his martial soul was not the end. Shangguan Hong seemed intent on displaying his power and released his cave heaven domain as well.
Gale-force winds and torrential rain poured down. That space became his unique domain.
Half was sudden downpour, half was rainbow. Both were extremely dangerous, extremely terrifying.
“The Sudden Downpour Domain combined with the Rainbow Martial Soul. This Shangguan Hong is truly quite unique. One wonders how he fares in actual combat?”
Someone wondered quietly.
“That is unclear. He has only just broken through to the Cave Heaven Realm and has not fought yet. Everything remains uncertain.”
No one could answer this question. Even Shangguan Hong himself could not.
Without testing in real combat, everything is mere speculation.
Shangguan Hong’s gaze shifted away from Lingxiao’s face, carrying a hint of disdain and arrogance.
Then he declared loudly, “From today onwards, I, Shangguan Hong, claim the Tianyuan Treasure Pagoda. Unless you are a disciple of the Divine Phoenix Academy, no one is allowed to enter!
Furthermore, next, I shall challenge the tenth-ranked Star Phoenix Son and the ninth-ranked Tian Peng Phoenix Son. I will seize a Phoenix Son position through my own strength. Those two are decent, but they are no longer my match.
As for a certain waste who kept clamouring while I was in seclusion, someone called Lingxiao, I believe. While I am still in a good mood, hurry up and get lost. Otherwise, after my advancement, the first person I will destroy is you!”
This was a proclamation, an utterly confident and arrogant proclamation.
He wanted to tell everyone present, to tell Lingxiao, that he, Shangguan Hong, would become one of the outstanding figures of this era.
Not only would he climb upwards by stepping on the heads of Ji Mingxing and Peng Yue, but he would also crush certain ants who did not know the height of the heavens or the depth of the earth.
And that ant, he had already named as Lingxiao.
“Well said! Brother Shangguan truly has confidence. What does that Lingxiao even count for?”
“Exactly. Even Tian Peng Phoenix Son and Star Phoenix Son are definitely no match for you.”
Shangguan Hong was fairly self-aware. He only intended to challenge the two lower-ranked Phoenix Sons, making no mention of those ahead.
That was because he knew those people were not ones he could challenge at present.
At the very least, he would need to stabilise his cultivation first before it became possible.
“Heh, I thought you, Shangguan Hong, were so capable. Turns out you only want to challenge two dead men.”
Feng Yanran could not stand Shangguan Hong’s insufferably arrogant manner and spoke out in mockery.
“What do you mean?”
Shangguan Hong asked coldly.
His gaze was icy and merciless. If Feng Yanran could not give him a satisfactory answer, he swore he would kill her.
“What do I mean?”
Feng Yanran smiled. “Star Phoenix Son Ji Mingxing and Tian Peng Phoenix Son Peng Yue have already been killed today.”
“What! How is that possible? Who killed them?”
Shangguan Hong demanded.
“The person is not far away. He stands right before your eyes.”
Feng Yanran glanced at Lingxiao, filled with pride.
That Lingxiao could eliminate Ji Mingxing and Peng Yue truly surprised her. This person’s talent was absolutely unprecedented.
It made one admire him profoundly.
“Him?”
Shangguan Hong paused. “This mere ant?”
“You keep calling him an ant. Then do the two Phoenix Sons he killed count as less than ants?”
Feng Yanran laughed.
“Good. Very good. I will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly. If those two are truly dead, then I shall have to challenge the eighth-ranked Thunder Eagle Phoenix Son Ying Tianxia instead. Additionally, there are the newly risen Jia Tianfeng and Kong Ming, who seek to compete with me for a Phoenix Son position. If you, Lingxiao, are interested, you can challenge as well. I would not mind dealing with you along the way.”
Shangguan Hong revealed a sinister grin.
He had originally planned to challenge Ji Mingxing and Peng Yue immediately. But since those two were already dead, he would prepare for three days before challenging Thunder Eagle Phoenix Son Ying Tianxia.
And in this challenge, he would inevitably face competition from Jia Tianfeng and Kong Ming. He simply decided to challenge them all together.
As for Lingxiao, he still did not take him seriously.
He had already observed earlier. Lingxiao’s aura was not particularly strong. In his judgement, his cultivation was at most the First Cave Heaven Realm. He could still crush him.
So there was no need to worry.
After speaking, he suddenly glanced at Lingxiao again. “I am now returning to the Divine Phoenix Academy to regulate my body. But I leave these words here. This Tianyuan Treasure Pagoda belongs to our Divine Phoenix Academy. You had better take your people and get lost.
Otherwise, in three days, it will not be a mere challenge. I will kill you.”
“Is this meant as a threat?”
Lingxiao asked indifferently.
“Indeed, it is a threat. If you do not wish to die, obey obediently.”
With that, Shangguan Hong transformed into a long rainbow and soared away, swiftly vanishing into the horizon.
Watching that figure, a cold smile lifted the corners of Lingxiao’s mouth.
The Ten Great Phoenix Sons, was it?
He had originally had no interest in such an empty title. But now, it seemed he should compete for it after all.
Even if only for the reputation of Qingxu Academy.
Otherwise, for such a large academy to have not a single Phoenix Son would truly be somewhat humiliating.
“Lingxiao, why haven’t you scrammed yet? Didn’t you hear what our Brother Shangguan said?”
As soon as Shangguan Hong left, a warrior from the Divine Phoenix Academy pointed at Lingxiao’s nose and cursed.
“Ah—!”
The next moment, one of that person’s fingers was severed.
“Get lost!”
Lingxiao’s icy gaze swept over all the people from the Divine Phoenix Academy. Frigid killing intent rapidly spread throughout the entire Tianyuan Treasure Pagoda, making these people tremble uncontrollably.
Those still remaining in the Tianyuan Treasure Pagoda were all ones who had not broken through to the Cave Heaven Realm.
For Lingxiao to kill them would be as easy as turning over his hand.
However, since these people harboured no intent to kill him, he could not be bothered to slaughter widely. Driving them away would suffice.
