Sword Sovereign of the Celestial Emperor

The old man continued endlessly, wholly engrossed in a state of oblivion. At his table were over ten children, each only seven or eight years old, who were attentively listening to the story of Chu Ming, their eyes shining like stars.

In this Celestial Realm, Chu Ming had long become a legendary figure. His background and experiences had been dug out by some curious individuals, and there were even storytellers who compiled his entire life into tales, widely spread across the Celestial Realm. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

The tavern was extraordinarily massive. Besides the old man and the dozen or so children, everyone else was silently sitting at their tables, quietly savoring their food and wine.

"Tsk tsk tsk, it seems that Chu Ming's reputation in the Celestial Realm is unparalleled!"

At a table near the window on the left, a woman in a green robe put down the wine cup in her right hand and sighed.

"I've heard that he has broken through to the Life and Death Realm. It should be true. Not just in the Celestial Realm, but even on the entire Celestial Martial Continent, there are very few who can surpass him!"

A young man in a blue robe with a calm expression spoke to his tablemates, his words tinged with a hint of regret.

"Speaking of Chu Ming, I am surprised you have the focus to come to the ruins of the Yanashita Sect, considering your Beiling Alliance is currently beset with internal and external troubles!"

Another young man in a light yellow linen robe spoke calmly. His eyes were as tranquil as deep water, making one involuntarily captivated.

"Haha, as long as my father is alive, the Beiling Alliance will not perish!"

The stern-faced young man in the green robe said coldly and slowly.

If others knew the identities of these people, it would undoubtedly cause a huge stir, for they were all pinnacle figures among the younger generation on the Celestial Martial Continent. Leaving aside their prowess, their names alone could scare off a crowd.

The woman in the green robe was Immortal Changqing, and the young man in the yellow linen robe was Soroch, the chief disciple of the Great Inner Esoteric Sect. Naturally, the stern young man in the green robe was none other than Liu Shengchuan, son of the Beiling Alliance Leader, Liu Wuxiang.

At this table sat not only these three but also Fire God Ning Lie and Emperor Wuji, who had once crossed paths with Chu Ming. Besides, the other people present were not obscure either; each held considerable renown within their respective sects.

"Aren't you quite close to the Life and Death Realm?"

As the conversation continued, Liu Shengchuan suddenly asked Soroch, causing the scene to fall silent; everyone quietly stared at Soroch, waiting for his response.

Soroch leisurely lifted the wine cup in his hand, "My Life and Death Dharma Aspect has already formed. If I wish to break through to the Life and Death Realm, I could do so at any time!"

Upon hearing this, the other young prodigies were astonished, while Immortal Changqing and Liu Shengchuan revealed a wry smile, secretly exclaiming how monstrous he was.

"Then why doesn't the senior brother break through immediately?"

Another disciple of the Great Inner Esoteric Sect, Xu Fei, asked cautiously. Xu Fei was a recently risen prodigy within the Central Divine Domain and had made a significant name for himself. Otherwise, he wouldn't have the qualification to sit at the same table as Soroch.

"Haha, when the Blood Sword King broke through, he immediately became a top-tier King. Naturally, your senior brother does not want to fall behind the Blood Sword King!"

Emperor Wuji was indifferent, answering leisurely.

"Our senior brother has already cultivated the Formless Finger Pinching Treasure Seal Divine Skill to the Thirteenth Layer. If he breaks through, he will by no means be inferior to the Blood Sword King!"

Xu Fei said unwaveringly. He had neither crossed paths with Chu Ming nor even met him. In his heart, Soroch was undoubtedly the greatest prodigy on the Celestial Martial Continent, with no equal.

In his view, Chu Ming's victory over Soroch back then must have been due to sheer luck. So many years had passed without them facing off again; who knew who would emerge victorious now.

"What?! You reached the Thirteenth Layer of Formless Finger Pinching Treasure Seal Divine Skill?!"

Hearing Xu Fei's words, Immortal Changqing and Liu Shengchuan were astounded. The Formless Finger Pinching Treasure Seal Divine Skill was a Middle Tier Celestial Level Cultivation Technique, cultivating both inner spiritual power and external physical strength. Upon reaching the Thirteenth Layer, one could internally generate the Dharma Vajra, let alone the Fifteenth Layer. Even the Silver Lion Emperor, who proclaimed himself Emperor, had only cultivated up to the Seventeenth Layer.

Back when Soroch battled Chu Ming, his Formless Finger Pinching Treasure Seal Divine Skill had only reached the Twelfth Layer. Otherwise, it's still uncertain who would have won.

"You underestimate the Blood Sword King and the lethal power of top-tier Kings!"

Soroch emptied his wine cup, his eyes deep and profound. As Soroch did not refute Xu Fei's words, an unusual feeling arose in the hearts of both Immortal Changqing and Liu Shengchuan.

Initially, the two still had thoughts of competing with Soroch. Now it seemed they couldn't compare at all.

Among the younger generation on the Celestial Martial Continent, the strongest was undoubtedly Chu Ming, who had broken through to the Life and Death Realm. And at the moment of breakthrough, he became a top-tier King, an unprecedented feat. Some even speculated that he had absorbed over a hundred strands of Life and Death Origin while at the half-step Life and Death Realm.

Below Chu Ming, in the second tier, were Soroch, Ling Yun, and the Snow Demon Immortal. The three were currently at the peak of half-step Life and Death Realm cultivation. It was rumored that Ling Yun and the Snow Demon Immortal were currently in seclusion, aiming to break through the Life and Death Mysterious Gate, while Soroch had boldly declared that he could break through to the Life and Death Realm at any time.

However, compared to Chu Ming, the three paled in comparison. Among them, Soroch had refined the most strands of Life and Death Origin, a total of fifty-three, nearly matching the accomplishments of the Emperor of Creation and the Emperor of Destruction. Ling Yun and the Snow Demon Immortal had each absorbed over forty strands. But even with their achievements, if they broke through to Life and Death Realm Kings, they would only attain Late Stage High Tier King combat power, far from rivaling Chu Ming.

The third tier naturally included Immortal Changqing, Wang Xue'Er, Fire God Ning Lie, and other once Five Star prodigies, currently in the phase of condensing their Life and Death Dharma Aspect. To truly break through to the Life and Death Realm, they still needed half a year or more.

The remaining prodigies belonged to the fourth tier. This was the hierarchy of the younger generation on the Celestial Martial Continent, like a pyramid, separating the numerous prodigies.

"Alas, I can't compare with you monsters. In my lifetime, I'd be satisfied to become just a top-tier King. As for proclaiming as Emperor, I'll leave it to fate!"

Liu Shengchuan shook his head. Having grown up in the North Sea, he understood the horrors of proclaiming as Emperor. A powerful Emperor would be the true authority in the North Sea.