Boom!
After the deafening explosion, the giant hammer began to flash with a blinding light not dissimilar to the blazing sun. The light chased away the darkness, destroying everything in its path. When it shone on the ferocious creatures charging toward Zhong Gui Yu that had been strengthened by the blood spirit, the creatures let out a terrified shriek.
Following that, a pillar of red light shot up into the sky. The Nether Blood abandoned the creatures that it had been using as vessels, returning to the Emperor Grade Celestial Staff in Meng Fan Gui’s hand.
Meng Fan Gui was still in a daze when the Nether Blood’s raspy voice rang in his ears, “Crush the jade token and leave now! Otherwise, even if you don’t die, you’ll be grievously injured.”
Simultaneously, a dignified voice that brooked no argument rang in Meng Fan Gui’s mind.
“Crush the jade token.”
Meng Fan Gui was not surprised when he heard Nether Blood’s warning and had felt slightly hesitant to do as it suggested. However, as soon as he heard the second voice, he did not hesitate and hurriedly crushed his jade token.
At the instant Meng Fan Gui vanished from the battle ring, the giant hammer smashed down on the spot where he had just been standing a moment ago, causing the ground to quake violently.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Countless beams of light ricocheted in the battle ring, crashing against the light barrier.
The light barrier trembled, and it did not take long before cracks began to form on it.
Upon seeing this, the expression of Meng Fan Gui, who had just left the battle ring, changed drastically. “He’s so powerful!”
“I wouldn’t have asked you to crush your jade token if you could withstand that attack…” the Nether Blood in the Emperor Grade Celestial Staff said in a trembling voice. Then, it said confidently, “If I wasn’t fast enough, I would’ve been cleansed by his light energy. He’s definitely as strong as a Five Star God of War at least! If I wasn’t weakened after becoming your weapon’s soul, I wouldn’t need to fear him!”
Nether Blood belonged to the Blood Spirit Clan in the Land of the Dead, which is one of the seven deadliest places in the Devata Realms. It was incredibly strong; its strength was comparable to a Six Star God of War. If it were someone else other than Gongsun Xuanyuan, the Heavenly Emperor of the Pavilion Shaft Heaven, it would not have been captured and brought out of the Land of Dead to become the soul of a Celestial Weapon.
‘A Five Star God of War!’ Meng Fan Gui did not doubt Nether Blood’s words. Moreover, he knew Nether Blood’s strength was comparable to a Six Star God of War before becoming his weapon’s soul. According to his grandfather, they had to suppress Nether Blood’s cultivation base since he was not powerful enough to make Nether Blood submit to him. As such, his grandfather had requested Gongsun Xuanyuan to suppress Nether Blood’s strength to that of a Three Star God of War.
Similarly, the crowd was shocked by this display as well. They inhaled sharply when they looked at the light shield that was about to shatter in disbelief.
“He’s definitely as powerful as a Five Star God of War at the very least!”
“Heavens! What’s the Title Temple thinking? This is only the beginning, and yet, they’ve already arranged for those with strength comparable to Four and Five Star Gods of War to fight?!”
“I feel like I’m dreaming. Since when are those below the age of 1,000 with the strength of Four or Five Star Gods of War so common?
“They arranged for a battle between those with strength comparable to Four and Five Star Gods of War… Are they trying to stir up a commotion on purpose?”
On the other hand, the Heavenly Emperors of the various Devata Realms were surprised as well.
The higher-ups from the Title Temple branches were surprised and at a loss as well. They knew Meng Fan Gui’s strength, but they did not know Zhong Gui Yu was so strong. Otherwise, they would not have arranged for him to fight first.
Normally, this kind of battle between two strong participants only happened during the fifth round of the Devata Realms’ Battle of the Geniuses where the participants fought for a place in the top 30. It was unexpected that during the first batch of battles in the fourth round there was already a battle between participants with strength comparable to Four Star and Five Star Gods of War.
“We had assumed Zhong Gui Yu had strength comparable to a Two Star God of War… Who knew he’s as powerful as a Five Star God of War?”
“Where did Zhong Gui Yu come from?”
“No one knows… We only know that he came from the Boundless Heaven.”
“Initially, I thought the Title Temple pitted Zhong Gui Yu against Meng Fan Gui because he comprehended the law of light that was the opposite of the law of darkness that Meng Fan Gui comprehended. No one thought he’d be able to defeat Meng Fan Gui; everyone thought he would only be a stepping stone for Meng Fan Gui. Who knew he has strength comparable to a Five Star God of War and was actually able to defeat Meng Fan Gui with three moves?”
The battles in the fourth round were arranged by the Title Temple. When they assigned Zhong Gui Yo to fight Meng Fan Gui, no one expected Zhong Gui Yu to win. The end result shocked everyone present on the scene.
Even Xu Kong Hai, the Vice Temple Master of the main Title Temple, was surprised. He only regained his senses when he saw the light barrier he erected around the battle ring was about to shatter.
Swoosh!
Xu Kong Hai raised his hand before a huge translucent palm fell from the sky, like a hand smacking down a mosquito, to dispel Zhong Gui Yu’s energy that was wreaking havoc in the battle ring.
And so, Zhong Gui Yu obtained his first win by defeating Meng Fan Gui who was as strong as a Four Star God of War.
While the young geniuses whispered among themselves, they would look at the Heavenly Emperor of the Boundless Heaven furtively.
“After today, I believe there’ll only be a few people who don’t know Zhong Gui Yu…”
“Zhong Gui Yu is from the Boundless Heaven, right?”
“I wonder if the Heavenly Emperor of the Boundless Heaven knows him.”
The Heavenly Emperor of Boundless Heaven was the maternal grandfather of the Palace Master of the Heavenly Pool Palace, a heaven-grade force in the Boundless Heaven that Duan Ling Tian once joined. Moreover, the Palace Master of the Heavenly Pool Palace had been hostile toward Duan Ling Tian until he discovered Duan Ling Tian was the only true disciple of the Heavenly Emperor of the Solitary Destructive Heaven. After that, he had abandoned all thought of harming Duan Ling Tian and became courteous toward Duan Ling Tian.
The Heavenly Emperor of the Boundless Heaven smiled wryly when one of his peers asked him if he was familiar with Zhong Gui Yu. He said, “I don’t know him. He came with the Boundless Heaven’s Title Temple…”
The other party nodded. “Since you don’t know him, it’s likely he’s a disciple of an expert living in seclusion in the Boundless Heaven.”
“Perhaps…” The Heavenly Emperor of the Boundless Heaven thought it was likely as well. If Zhong Gui Yu was from one of the forces in the Boundless Heaven, it would be impossible for him to have not heard about Zhong Gui Yu at all. If he had met Zhong Gui Yu in the past, he would have fought to accept Zhong Gui Yu as a disciple. For Zhong Gui Yu, he was willing to set aside his pride as a Heavenly Emperor.
In fact, the Heavenly Emperor of the Boundless Heaven had not completely dismissed the thought of accepting Zhong Gui Yi as a disciple. Eventually, he could no longer hold back and sent Zhong Gui Yu a message through Voice Transmission.
“Zhong Gui Yu, I’m the Heavenly Emperor of the Boundless Heaven. I’d like to accept you as my disciple; do you agree?”
Without waiting for Zhong Gui Yu’s reply, he said through Voice Transmission again, “If you join me, there’s no need for you to hold back when you’re in the Boundless Heaven. You can do as you please, and no one will dare to offend you!”
In his opinion, Zhong Gui Yu must be flattered to receive such a message from a Heavenly Emperor.
Alas, contrary to his expectations, Zhong Gui Yu glanced at him indifferently before he said, “Put aside the fact that I already have a master, you’re not qualified to be my master…”
The Heavenly Emperor of the Boundless Heaven, who did not expect such a reply, was so shocked that he had even forgotten to be angry. When he finally regained his senses, he said with a growl, “Brat, you’re really arrogant. Who’s your master? Do you really think he’s stronger than I am?”
Zhong Gui Yu still remained indifferent when faced with the angry Heavenly Emperor of the Boundless Heaven. “Why? Do you want to fight my master?”
“Well, we’ll have to see if he dares to accept my challenge…” the Heavenly Emperor of Boundless Heaven said with a low voice.
“Are you sure? If you are, I’ll ask my master to go to the Heavenly Palace of the Boundless Heaven when I return,” Zhong Gui Yu replied, clearly amused.
At this time, the Heavenly Emperor of the Boundless Heaven who had calmed down finally sensed something was amiss. He asked, “Who’s your master?”
“You won’t know him even if I tell you his name. All you need to know is that he’s stronger than Heavenly Emperors. He’s already attained godhood several centuries ago…”
‘A god? His master is a god living in the Boundless Heaven?’
The Heavenly Emperor of the Boundless Heaven was scared stiff and shocked upon hearing those words.
Zhong Gui Yu did not care about the reaction of the Heavenly Emperor of Boundless Heaven and flew back to his seat. When he flew past Duan Ling Tian, he said through Voice Transmission, “Duan Ling Tian, my senior sister talked about you a lot, and she holds you in high regard. I hope you won’t disappoint me with your performance during the Battle of the Geniuses…”
“Hm?” Duan Ling Tian was surprised when he received Zhong Gui Yu’s Voice Transmission. He asked in confusion, “Who’s your senior sister?”
Zhong Gui Yu replied, “Xu Ya Si.”
