"Lucifer Flowing Water was captured?" "Lucifer Flowing Water was captured?"

Qian Jin and Baolong Zhence asked the people opposite them simultaneously.

Lucifer Flowing Water! Others might not know her status in the Zhence Dynasty, but Baolong Zhence knew better than anyone; his son, Munuo Zhence, had hidden nothing regarding this matter.

Baolong Zhence was also keenly aware of the weight and significance this Demoness held in Qian Jin’s heart. Now, this news—that Sha... Jiyu Liujing was none other than Qian Jin!—was spreading like wildfire across the Demon Lands, finally confirmed by the Royal Family: Lucifer Flowing Water was captured because of Qian Jin, and she had chosen to be burned alive within days!

Mother and son would not be spared!

The instant this news struck Baolong Zhence’s ears, it was like thunder crashing into his skull. Why had things come so suddenly? Why, at the critical juncture when Qian Jin was ascending to the peak of his life, would something like this happen?

Mother and son would not be spared! The mother was naturally Lucifer Flowing Water; who was the son? Whose child?

Baolong Zhence could figure it out just by thinking with his knees: that child belonged to Qian Jin!

What would a father’s reaction be upon learning his son and wife were about to be killed?

A coward would naturally kneel, kowtow, and beg for mercy, pleading for the safety of his wife and son. But there was never a successful precedent for such actions.

A merchant would more likely employ negotiation, exchanging profit for the return of his wife and child; this method often proved useful.

But now, facing the entire Demon Royal Family, the chances of successful negotiation were slim, and the demands from the demons were likely to be excessively harsh.

Was Qian Jin a coward? No!

Was Qian Jin a merchant? Also no!

Baolong Zhence knew Qian Jin’s character well. When he was nothing, he dared to challenge the authority of the Elf King’s bloodline families; now, he certainly wouldn’t fear a challenge from the Demon Race!

The Demon Race spreading this news publicly now was certainly a calculated stratagem designed to lure Qian Jin out.

Would Qian Jin go? Baolong Zhence let out a wry smile. Qian Jin wasn't a fool; he would naturally recognize this as a trap laid by the Demon Race. Warriors around him came from military families, and people like Munuo Zhence, steeped in royal intrigue, could certainly inform him that this was a layered snare.

Did Qian Jin know all this? Yes! Baolong Zhence knew with absolute certainty that Qian Jin understood everything, but would he refuse to go simply because he knew? No! He would still go! If he didn't go to save his wife and child, he wouldn't be Qian Jin.

Baolong Zhence’s face was etched with bitterness. This news was more troubling than the Demon Race gathering a massive army for another decisive battle against the Zhence Dynasty! The Demon Race must have understood that Qian Jin would definitely go! Therefore, the Demon Lands would be riddled with threats aimed at Qian Jin.

Qian Jin’s value was now immeasurable. If he lived another ten years, how much stronger would he make another nation? No one could say!

The Demon Race understood this truth as well. If Qian Jin went to rescue his Demoness, he was highly likely to die on Demon soil.

"Qian Jin, you must finish the Newcomer King Tournament!" Munuo Zhence slapped Qian Jin’s shoulder hard: "I know what you're thinking. I know what you plan to do! Go to the Demon Race! We absolutely cannot let you go alone; we’ll save Flowing Water together! At worst, we all die together! But the Newcomer King must be finished! If for no other reason! It’s purely to increase everyone's chance of survival! This Newcomer King Tournament has incredibly rich rewards! If everyone gets the rewards, it increases our hope of survival."

Qian Jin turned his head, looking at Munuo Zhence, then at Duan Fengbu’er, and finally at the Bandit Leader who was relaying a message for Ba Huang Wusheng. Lucifer Flowing Water—everyone! "Jie Jie Zhi Jie! Who else!"

Above the fighting stage, Qian Wuqing roared maniacally. In a short time, he had devoured all the essence of Tie Ge Zhan Hun, a peak Void Saint expert, leaving only that empty human skin drifting in his hand.

"Wait for me." Qian Jin slapped the Bandit Leader’s shoulder, turned, and strode toward the arena. As he passed his Metal Throne, he tossed it directly above the stage. His body stepped out, arriving above the arena simultaneously with the throne, where he sat down upon it, making the throne rotate in the air, looking down upon all the young warriors below: "I originally intended to wait until you all had fought more battles and improved further before challenging me. But now I am pressed for time, I apologize, everyone."

The crowd stared up at Qian Jin in astonishment. The lottery draw hadn't even been completed; what was he doing suddenly running up there?

"I said I would sit on the throne and await your challenges..." Qian Jin said gravely.

"Now, I don't have much time to waste. I need to finish this Newcomer King Tournament quickly because I must go to the Demon Race! To the Demon Race to save my Demoness! And my child! In the Demon Race, the Lucifer Clan has captured my wife and child and intends to burn them; I cannot pretend not to know! I am a man, and I must take care of my family or my demon family, so all immortals—"

Qian Jin pointed at everyone below the stage: "You! Come up together!"

One person against a crowd?

Had Qian Jin gone mad? Twenty thousand spectators were shocked, their boiling fervor nearly vaporizing the moisture in the sky. These young warriors were no longer in the state they were in just a few days ago!

Not only had some broken through to True Saint, but each one was more powerful than the last, capable of battling seasoned veterans among the True Saints. They had all witnessed his strength... "I have two seals within my body," Qian Jin said, raising a hand to pat his chest: "One was sealed by my teacher, the other was sealed by Qian Wuqing when he tried to harm me. All of you, come at once! Let me see if you can force me to undo both seals!"

Two seals! The pupils of Jiu Yang Zhenzong contracted incessantly. They had long guessed that Qian Jin might have one seal; unwrapping it would indeed cause trouble, but only some trouble.

Two seals? The combined effect of two seals was simply the power of two seals! Jiu Yang Zhenzong’s sharp eyes desperately tried to pierce Qian Jin’s body to understand the current strength of this young warrior.

Qian Wu Xingchen sneered, remaining seated and unmoving. Shan Chuan also remained seated and unmoving. The successors of the Shan Chuan Dou Qi and Feng Yun Dou Qi held equal status; neither was inherently more noble or powerful than the other, so why should he join a gang-up?

"Qian Jin, I will fight you until both your seals are unleashed!" Lei Long Li stepped into the sky. His True Saint power shook the universe, his imposing aura crushing the entire field, adding to the might of the lightning bolts descending from the dark clouds!

"Qian Jin is the one I must defeat..." Fen Tu Kuang Ge, bearing a dual soul, rose into the air with True Saint strength: "Li Dongfeng, let's compete to see who can force Qian Jin to unleash the first seal first, shall we?"

"Fellow warrior, if I force you to unleash your seal, I don't want anything else; just give me all the cigarettes in your Dou Realm," Duan Fengbu’er said, eager to join the fray.

Munuo Zhence floated into the air: "I'm not strong; can I join you all?"

Qian Jin smiled: "It's fine, come on!"

"Boss Qian Jin, then I won't fight you one-on-one," Yisha Saier unfolded his Pseudo-Dragon Bloodline Battle Form.

Pan Mengcheng and Pan Mengshen exchanged glances and simultaneously soared into the sky.

True Saint, True Saint, True Saint... one after another, True Saints appeared in the sky, surrounding Qian Jin in the middle, leaving the surrounding audience utterly petrified.

What did this mean? These young warriors who had reached True Saint status, usually displaying fierce arrogance against established Inscription Realm experts, insisting on one-on-one duels befitting their status—now, facing Qian Jin, a young True Saint like themselves, they were abandoning their insistence on one-on-one combat and agreeing to swarm and beat Qian Jin alone!

What was the implication? Did these young True Saints view Qian Jin as even stronger than the seasoned veterans? Everyone attacking one person! What concept was this?

"So many against one is boring; I forfeit," Shen Shui Shi Wang Hong Zhe Ling Guan stood up, stretching lazily, looking at Qian Jin: "We'll have a one-on-one fight another day. Today counts as a pass."

Shen Shui Shi Wang Hong Zhe Ling Guan forfeited! Withdrawing from the Newcomer King Tournament!

Everyone looked at Hong Zhe Ling Guan in astonishment again. This title, Shen Shui Shi Wang (Sleeping Lion King), was given by outsiders. Within his family, he was known as the Wise Lion King, simply because this lion was always sleeping, and few ever witnessed his wisdom, let alone knew what this sleeping lion was thinking.

"What right do you have to challenge me alone?" Qian Wu Xingchen raised an eyebrow: "When you win and stand before me according to the rules, I naturally will—"

"Today, whether you fight or not, you will!" Qian Jin slapped the Metal Throne with one hand. The suspended throne resembled a square ark, carrying Qian Jin as it descended through the air, like a great seal holding dominion over all living things, engulfing the entire nation.

The Dou Qi gale pressure exploded across the field! The moment Qian Jin moved, he instantly displayed the demeanor of the number one figure among the younger generation. Even before truly attacking, merely moving his body stirred the winds and clouds, making heaven and earth tremble for him!

Amidst the torrential rain, Qian Jin’s throne hung suspended in the air, descending. Qian Wu Xingchen’s scalp tingled; he instantly felt the threat of death looming from above. If he made no move, the throne would undoubtedly crush him on the spot.

"Qian Jin! You are too arrogant!" Qian Wu Xingchen roared, unleashing his True Saint power. The third vertical eye on his forehead, the Myriad Law Divine Eye, fully opened, and a pair of wings radiating seven-colored divine light sprouted from his back—the Swiftness Wings, part of the Elf King’s Sacred Artifact Set!

The Swiftness Wings, named 'Swiftness,' already explained the artifact's capability very clearly.

Although Inscription Realm experts could also fly, the speed of flight varied, and speed during combat often determined the final outcome. The Swiftness Wings boosted flying speed to almost lightning quickness.

The Swiftness Wings on Qian Wu Xingchen's back moved slightly, and he was instantly clear of the throne's envelopment. The anger of being attacked naturally prompted him to retaliate.

"Myriad Laws of the Stars, gather in my eyes! With my eyes, I gather the myriad laws!" Qian Wu Xingchen’s vertical eye instantly generated hundreds, thousands, even tens of thousands of spells!

Fire, frost, curses of the gale—spells from different domains merged

"Behold my Chaotic Punch." Qián Jìng raised his arm, and it seemed as if heaven and earth were grasped within his hand, the vast cosmic power merging into his body. Facing the attack head-on, he met it with a counter-punch, unwavering.

Two ultimate forces clashed mid-air, raindrops mingling with the battle aura to form a colossal, enveloping sphere of energy that completely shrouded the pair. It became impossible to discern the actual fight within; only the endless roar of the storm persisted, the raging wind compelling onlookers to cover their ears, witnessing a scene unfolding in the sky like the coming of the apocalypse.

"How is this possible? My ascent has only just begun!"

"What is happening? Why won't my Battle Techniques obey me?" Why did my techniques sever themselves from the Nightmare Arts?"

"How could a Battle Technique submit to Qián Jìng's punch?"

"No!"

The sound of Qián Wú Xīng Chén’s Star Roar transitioned from initial astonishment to bewilderment, then from bewilderment to sheer terror, finally dissolving into profound unwillingness.

The rampaging energy sphere in the sky exploded with a bang. Qián Wú Xīng Chén’s body shot out like a cannonball, crashing through the highest observation deck of the spectator stands, flying directly into the thick, dark clouds above. A bolt of lightning struck him as he soared, slamming him violently back towards the ground.

The already deep pit below the arena became even deeper from Qián Wú Xīng Chén’s impact, churning up a significant amount of moist earth into the air.

The turbulent air mass high above dispersed. Qián Jìng remained seated upon the metal throne. Not only had Qián Wú Xīng Chén failed to force him to release his seals, but he hadn't even managed to make him leave the throne.

How could this be? A large contingent of the younger warriors stared at Qián Jìng in the sky, utterly shocked. Based on the combined battle aura strength shown just moments ago, Qián Wú Xīng Chén’s destructive power should have far surpassed Qián Jìng's! Qián Jìng should have been the one defeated! Why? Why was Qián Wú Xīng Chén the one defeated? Qián Jìng hadn't even bothered to stand up?

"Truly formidable," Pán Hóng Jī murmured, the corner of his eye twitching. Qián Jìng’s combat sense had reached a truly terrifying level. While Qián Wú Xīng Chén was still striving to increase raw power, Qián Jìng had already begun to touch the essence of power itself!

"The current Qián Jìng," Lǐ Bà began to speak, "he has truly reached the level of us old timers now."

Pán Hóng Jī nodded slowly, though his eyes, capable of discerning all things, still held deep suspicion and disbelief. Although he had known Qián Jìng for a very long time and was aware of the youth's astonishing rate of progress, he never imagined he would advance this rapidly—so quickly it bordered on the unbelievable.

Warriors, much like mages, are groups dedicated to the pursuit of strength; they dedicate their entire lives to chasing power.

However, when a warrior pursues power to a certain realm, merely chasing strength is no longer the entirety of the goal. They must simultaneously strive to understand the essence of power, to recognize it, and even to grasp a portion of that essence.

This is precisely why True Saint warriors create their own unique Battle Techniques: it is through the act of creation that they seek to recognize, understand, and ultimately master the very essence of power.

Attaining the True Saint realm is difficult; mastering the essence of power is even harder!

Once the essence of power is grasped, during combat, one can locate the essence of the opponent's power, target its core with the most devastating attacks, thereby achieving that fighting style which appears to be the weak prevailing over the strong.

Only those who truly comprehend power can know that the seemingly weaker party who wins is not weak at all; it is because they have grasped the essence of power—or at least a part of it.

As for mastering the entire essence of power? Pán Hóng Jī let out a self-mocking laugh. That requires continuing the pursuit of strength until power reaches the so-called true limit, only then is there a chance to question its totality.

If one has not reached the limit of their power, by what right can they claim to see the essence of all strength?

Beginning to control the essence of power is the critical marker by which the very pinnacle group of experts accepts a newly ascended powerhouse. Now, Qián Jìng had truly achieved it!

Qián Wú Xīng Chén relied on the boundless power elevation provided by the Holy Artifact Set, pushing his overall strength to surpass every peak among the younger generation, yet he was still defeated by Qián Jìng!

"Qián Jìng, you have attacked a Qián Family warrior without authorization. The moment the Rookie King Tournament concludes, that is when I will make my move," Qián Zhàn Xuán stated, hands clasped behind his back as he watched Qián Jìng. "The Qián Family will not allow one of its own to be beaten so lightly!"

"You don't need to say it; I will seek you out for a fight regardless," Qián Jìng shot back proudly, glaring at Qián Zhàn Xuán. "Uncle Fabredis's revenge, the insult my father suffered—this time, I will reclaim it all! I will strike down every honor of the Qián Family!"

At this moment, both the young Sixth Generation and the older generation powerhouses were deeply moved!

"Either withdraw and forfeit, or choose a group battle." Jiǔ Yáng Fēng Huá sighed, unleashing his peak True Saint strength as he slowly ascended. "Qián Jìng, you are truly formidable. I hope you can provide me with enough pressure to assist my breakthrough."

Shān Chuān remained silent, offering no words, and ascended directly into the sky, joining the other young warriors to surround Qián Jìng in the center.

Wú Míng's eyes lit up, and his body soared into the air. With the strength of a True Saint manifesting his Wind and Cloud Battle Aura, he called out loudly, "The one who can touch the essence of power is not only you, Qián Jìng. I want you to release all your seals; let me see just how immensely powerful you truly are."

Qián Wú Qīng smirked coldly, choosing an inconspicuous angle for an attack, poised to strike Qián Jìng with a sneak attack at any moment.

The referee stared blankly at the unfolding scene. This young man, Qián Jìng, had once again disregarded the tournament rules. It was too late for him to intervene now; only His Majesty the Emperor could stop this, yet His Majesty showed no inclination to interfere.

Alas! The referee shook his head and retreated further away. Which one of these youths wasn't brimming with pride? Their eyes were fixed solely on Qián Jìng now; no matter how much he tried to stop them, it would be useless.

Jiǔ Yáng Fēng Huá, Yī Shā Sài Ěr, Pán Mèng Shén, Pán Mèng Chéng, Duàn Fēng Bù Èr, Léi Lóng Lǐ—Wú Míng, Qián Wú Qīng, Fén Tú Kuáng Gē, Shān Chuān!

Out of the final sixteen contenders, a total of ten young powerhouses formed a siege, surrounding Qián Jìng.

The crowd watched the formation in the sky, rubbing their eyes in disbelief. Was such a formation truly not intended for assassinating the contemporary Great Demon King? Was it really just meant to eliminate the foremost figure of the younger generation?

Arguably the ten strongest young warriors alive stared cautiously at Qián Jìng. Many still hadn't grasped how Qián Wú Xīng Chén had been defeated just moments before.

"Excellent. I thank you all for giving me this opportunity. The pressure you exert has elevated my spirit to heights I've never known. I must admit, facing all of you, I feel a pressure unlike anything I've experienced before," Qián Jìng slowly rose from his throne. As the immensely heavy metal throne lost his connection, it plummeted rapidly into the deep pit, the sound of its metal collision striking the minds of the onlookers.

"You are not opponents I can defeat while seated," Qián Jìng slowly spread his arms. "In fact, in my current state, I truly do not know if I can defeat all of you! I relish this sense of the unknown! Come! After this moment, I will make a decision that countless people will deem the most foolish!

Before that, I hope the oppression you generate can allow me to achieve yet another breakthrough! I need power; I crave stronger power!" (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian to cast recommendation votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)