The winds over the Central Continent battlefield turned cold and still.
Above the shattered arena, clouds swirled in slow circles, pulling spiritual energy from the very air. The crowd — tens of thousands strong, including sect masters, envoys, and the greatest geniuses of every continent — fell into utter silence.
They had seen Lin Feng crush the champions of the South, the North, and even the indomitable Long Aotian of the West.
But this opponent was different.
The final name spoken by the Higher Realm envoy carried a weight that silenced all.
"Central Continent's number one genius — Ye Qingxuan, bearer of the Heavenly Dao Bloodline."
A tremor ran through the sky itself.
From within a vortex of silver light, a figure slowly descended — tall, serene, dressed in flowing white robes inscribed with ancient runes. His hair shimmered faintly like starlight, and behind him floated a single ring of divine light that pulsed in rhythm with the heavens.
Where Lin Feng's aura burned with fury, killing will, and blood, Ye Qingxuan's radiated harmony — an endless calm that made the air hum softly.
"The child blessed by Heaven's Will…" whispered one elder in awe.
"He's said to have comprehended a Heavenly Law at birth. Even the Higher Realm calls him Heaven's Chosen."
Ye Qingxuan's eyes met Lin Feng's across the arena.
No hostility — just quiet, perfect confidence.
"So you're Lin Feng," Ye said softly, his voice carrying like a melody. "The one who defies fate. The one who kills heaven's dogs."
Lin Feng smirked faintly.
"Heaven's Chosen, is it? Then today I'll see how Heaven bleeds."
A ripple of murmurs spread through the audience. Even the Higher Realm envoys exchanged glances — one smiling slightly.
"Arrogance... or destiny?"
The two stepped forward.
And the battle began.
---
Boom.
Both vanished at the same instant.
The next moment, the heavens split open.
Lin Feng's sword blazed in azure light, and his Dragon Domain flared behind him — nine draconic shadows roaring as they descended upon Ye Qingxuan like celestial beasts.
But Ye Qingxuan merely raised his hand.
A luminous golden lotus unfurled beneath his feet, expanding outward until it covered the arena. With one calm breath, he pressed his palm forward.
"Heavenly Dao Art — World Suppression."
The air itself thickened. Every droplet of qi in the sky froze under his command, bending around his will. Lin Feng's dragons shuddered as invisible chains of law wrapped around them, freezing their movements mid-roar.
"He's bending the world's qi to his command!" someone cried.
Lin Feng's expression hardened. His sword hummed with power, its blade trembling in defiance.
"Sword of Destiny — Third Stage: Azure Divide!"
He slashed upward, splitting Ye Qingxuan's suppression field with a surge of pure will.
The chains shattered — the dragons roared again, breaking free.
Ye Qingxuan smiled faintly.
"Impressive. You resist Heaven's Law with will alone. Perhaps you truly walk a path of defiance."
"I don't bow to Heaven," Lin Feng said coldly. "I slay it."
---
They moved again, faster than mortal eyes could follow.
Sword light met divine brilliance.
The shockwaves bent the arena's stone pillars into molten shards.
Each strike from Ye Qingxuan carried divine precision — every motion seemed preordained, as though the universe itself fought beside him. Lin Feng's sword, on the other hand, was chaotic, ruthless — born of battlefields soaked in blood and fury.
Finesse versus will. Heaven's order versus mortal rebellion.
After a hundred exchanges, Ye Qingxuan spoke quietly while parrying a strike.
"Do you understand, Lin Feng? The difference between us is not cultivation — it is origin. I am the voice of Heaven. You… are but a mortal that screams against eternity."
Lin Feng's eyes burned with killing intent.
"Then let's see whose voice echoes louder."
His aura exploded outward. The ground cracked beneath his feet, the nine-headed dragon shadows roaring behind him as his bloodline fully awakened.
"Battle Intent — Fifth Level!"
"Slaughter Intent — Fifth Level!"
"Sword Intent — Fifth Level!"
"Dragon Domain — Sovereign Manifestation!"
Each intent fused together, forming a pillar of azure-gold light that tore through Ye Qingxuan's lotus field.
Ye's calm face finally flickered.
"To fuse four Great Intents… you truly walk a forbidden path."
But even then, he didn't retreat. Instead, he extended his hand to the sky. The heavens dimmed, and lightning began to gather.
"Heavenly Dao Art — Divine Edict: Judgment!"
The clouds above twisted into a vortex. From it descended a colossal silver sword of pure law, large enough to pierce the earth itself.
The crowd gasped as the divine weapon fell.
Lin Feng's pupils shrank — and then he roared.
"Sword of Destiny — Seventh Stance: Heaven's Annihilation!"
He swung.
The Azure Sword met the Divine Edict midair.
The explosion that followed shattered the clouds themselves. Light flooded the world; sound vanished for an instant. When it returned, half the arena lay in ruin.
Lin Feng staggered, blood seeping from his mouth. His azure sword trembled violently, almost breaking.
Ye Qingxuan, too, stood pale — the glow around him flickering. A thin line of blood trickled down his lip.
---
For the first time, the Heaven's Chosen spoke with genuine emotion.
"You are dangerous, Lin Feng. Your existence distorts the order of Heaven. Do you understand what that means?"
Lin Feng lifted his sword, voice hoarse but steady.
"If Heaven's order means the weak must kneel, then I'll break Heaven."
Their eyes met — one of divine serenity, the other burning defiance.
Then they charged again.
Sword clashed against light, aura against divinity. Their movements became blurs of energy, tearing apart the space between them.
Lin Feng's sword intent howled like an unchained beast, each strike filled with fury, grief, and the will to live.
Ye Qingxuan countered every blow with grace, flowing like water, divine yet unreachable.
At one point, Lin Feng's sword grazed Ye's shoulder, blood flying.
Ye's expression didn't change — instead, he countered with a palm strike that sent Lin Feng tumbling backward through shattered stone.
"He fights like the embodiment of perfection itself," Lan Yu whispered in awe.
Li Yuexin's eyes, however, were fixed on Lin Feng's battered figure.
"And yet… perfection always cracks under will."
---
As dust filled the air, Lin Feng rose slowly from the debris, breathing heavily. His robe was torn, his body bloodied, yet his eyes were sharper than ever.
Ye Qingxuan hovered in the air, his divine ring pulsing faster now — cracks spreading faintly across its surface.
"Still standing?" Ye asked softly. "Few have lasted this long."
Lin Feng smiled faintly, raising his sword.
"I'm just getting started."
The two rose into the sky, their auras expanding until even the Higher Realm envoys felt pressure. The heavens above began to shake violently — cracks appearing in the firmament as if unable to contain their power.
"He's forcing open Heaven's boundary…" one envoy whispered.
But Lin Feng and Ye Qingxuan paid no mind. Their wills had already transcended reason.
The next strike would decide who ruled the sky.
The storm of divine and mortal will gathered once more — Heaven against Heaven.
And then
BOOM!
The world turned white.