Today, the Divine Light Sect was exceptionally bustling.
Divine Infant cultivators of any repute throughout Great Shang arrived one after another.
After all, the invitation sent out by the Divine Light Sect was simply too shocking.
A Divine Infant approaching twenty years of age was unprecedented in Great Shang, and indeed unique across all the Hundred Nations.
Even in the Eastern Lands, there had never been a Divine Infant cultivator so young.
Regarding Seven Colors Peak's Qi Yuan breaking through to the Divine Infant realm, these Divine Infant True Monarchs were all filled with doubt.
At this moment, a group of Divine Infant True Monarchs had gathered together, buzzing with discussion.
Monk Wudian sat upon a golden chair, his arm resting on the chair's carved golden lotus and his large bare feet stretched out without the slightest posture. In a muffled, booming voice, he asked, "Do you fellow Daoists think this breakthrough to Divine Infant by Seven Colors Peak's Qi Yuan is real or fake?"
"Even if it is real, I don't believe he broke through with the aptitude of a twenty-year-old. Perhaps some old monster possessed him!" True Monarch Chayu said, narrowing her eyes.
Her cultivation was at the middle Divine Infant realm, and she was an itinerant cultivator—the strongest rogue cultivator in Great Shang after the deceased Old Demon Black Chicken.
"Breaking through to the Divine Infant realm at twenty is indeed hard to believe, but with supreme fortune or a paramount treasure, it isn't entirely impossible," said True Monarch Kuangjian, sect master of Floating Mountain.
As the leader of one of the Three Great Sects, the moment he spoke, the surrounding Divine Infant cultivators nodded in agreement.
"I heard a Purple Mansion cultivator died here at the Divine Light Sect. Perhaps Qi Yuan's breakthrough... is connected to that matter," Monk Wudian spoke again.
Upon hearing this, the Divine Infant True Monarchs present all shifted in expression.
The Red Sword Sect had plotted against Great Shang for a long time, even backing the Old Emperor of Great Shang in an attempt to slaughter the disciples of the various sects within the Heavenly Dragon Immortal Realm.
Yet not long ago, when that Purple Mansion cultivator from the Red Sword Sect came to cause trouble at the Divine Light Sect, he was directly slain by a mysterious powerhouse within the sect.
When they first learned of this, all the Divine Infant cultivators present were thoroughly stunned.
They had hurried into Lingtian Pavilion to seek information, eventually learning that the incident at the Divine Light Sect was connected to the Blood-Robed Alliance.
At first, they did not even know what the Blood-Robed Alliance was.
Eventually, they discovered that the Alliance Leader of the Blood-Robed Alliance, the Blood-Robed Sword God, hailed from the Hundred Nations.
His daughter had been humiliated by the Palace of Light and forced to live in a dog kennel, and in his wrath, he annihilated the Palace of Light, which possessed dozens of Purple Mansion cultivators.
Later, rumors even spread that he had slain quite a few Yin God Venerables.
That was a sky-shattering feat.
The Blood-Robed Alliance was founded by none other than the Blood-Robed Sword God.
Qi Yuan of Seven Colors Peak was suspected to have deep ties to the Blood-Robed Sword God.
Putting all this together made everything seem reasonable.
Perhaps Qi Yuan caught the Blood-Robed Sword God's eye and became his disciple, or perhaps Qi Yuan was the Blood-Robed Sword God's child.
After all, this Eldest Disciple of Seven Colors Peak in the Divine Light Sect truly had a mysterious background.
Ruan Yixi had towered over Great Shang for years and rarely left her peak; yet the one time she went out, she brought back a disciple. How could they not let their imaginations run wild?
"If that's the case, then everything is easy to understand."
"The Divine Light Sect's luck is simply too good."
"Sigh..."
These Divine Infant True Monarchs indulged in wild speculation. After all, even if their skulls were cracked open and every drop of excess fluid dried out, they could never imagine that Qi Yuan himself was the Blood-Robed Sword God.
Because... that defied all logic.
"No wonder rumors always had it that Qi Yuan of Seven Colors Peak refers to his master, Ruan Yixi, as his wife. Perhaps... heheh."
"The Blood-Robed Sword God must have entered seclusion to break through to the Yin God realm and had no time to look after his son, so he found him a child bride."
In short, this group of Divine Infant True Monarchs was extraordinarily gossipy at this moment, spinning wild theories.
"Who would have thought that the Seven Colors Peak master, renowned as the greatest beauty in Great Shang, is actually a child bride!"
"Such words must not be spoken recklessly!"
At this moment, Jiang Lingsu wore a navy-blue immortal dress, a deep black sash tied around her slender waist, and pleated folds layering her hem, making her look entirely ethereal and fairy-like.
With a crestfallen expression, she rested her hand on her hip.
"These Divine Infant True Monarchs are stingy to the bone, every single one of them. They only give this much...?"
Although she had grumbled about lowering herself to be Eldest Senior Brother's greeter, once she actually took on the role, Jiang Lingsu took it exceptionally seriously.
Jiang Ran stood opposite Jiang Lingsu, dressed in simple elegance. She could not help smiling. "Senior Sister, you weren't like this back on Seven Colors Peak just now, were you?"
Back on Seven Colors Peak, Jiang Lingsu had complained nonstop about Eldest Senior Brother Qi Yuan.
It was nothing more than calling him dense and unromantic, humiliating her by making her a greeter, and the like.
"Yet now that you're playing the greeter, you actually seem to be enjoying it, even worrying that Eldest Senior Brother is receiving too few gifts. You truly have the air of a household mistress!"
Jiang Ran smiled playfully, teasing Jiang Lingsu.
Sure enough, a blush crept behind Jiang Lingsu's ears, hidden beneath her lustrous hair. Puffing out her chest, she retorted, "If Eldest Senior Brother receives more gifts, as his junior sister, I might get a share of them too! Why shouldn't I be meticulous about it?!"
She spoke with righteous confidence.
Jiang Ran looked at Jiang Lingsu with a hint of envy in her eyes.
Back then, several of them had earned Grade A evaluations, and Qi Yuan was to choose one to enter Seven Colors Peak.
At that time, she too had desperately wanted to join Seven Colors Peak.
For one, Seven Colors Peak's Peak Master Ruan Yixi was exceedingly mysterious; for another, a peak with only two disciples meant an abundance of resources.
Back then, Qi Yuan had rejected everyone, including both her and Jiang Lingsu.
Yet Jiang Lingsu dared to step forward and beg Qi Yuan, successfully entering Seven Colors Peak.
Now that Qi Yuan of Seven Colors Peak had become a Divine Infant True Monarch, wouldn't his junior sister, Jiang Lingsu, be able to strut across Great Shang without anyone daring to cross her?
A person's fate diverged completely from the moment they joined a peak.
Before these Divine Infant True Monarchs, Jiang Lingsu had the confidence to criticize their meager gifts behind their backs, whereas Jiang Ran would never dare.
Envy naturally stirred in her heart.
Just then, a voice called out:
"Shen Wushen and Shen Zhifeng of the Demonic Desire Sect have arrived!"
At the Divine Infant Assembly, all the Divine Infant cultivators present looked up.
The sudden upheaval within the Demonic Desire Sect had stunned everyone.
The Shen faction had risen abruptly to power, while the Ji faction was suppressed.
Among the many questions, there were countless speculations regarding Shen Wushen's identity and origins.
Everyone involuntarily turned their gaze toward Shen Wushen.
He wore a long black robe and held an expressionless countenance, yet merely by standing there, he gave everyone present an impression of being invincible.
"He is no ordinary Divine Infant!" True Monarch Kuangjian, sect master of Floating Mountain, was visibly moved.
He sensed the scent of danger.
Monk Wudian's expression turned solemn as well.
Every Divine Infant present sensed an impending storm.
Shen Wushen looked at the dozens of Divine Infant cultivators present, his gaze calm.
His eyes burned with an intense will to fight.
Shen Wushen was fundamentally a martial fanatic who pursued the pinnacle of the Dao.
He had come to the various realms seeking only a defeat.
He sought only to sublimate himself through diverse battles, solidify his foundation, and hone his supreme divine abilities.
Shen Wushen spoke:
"I have come from the other end of the world, sincere and expectant, seeking only a battle."
The moment Shen Wushen spoke, his martial fanaticism was revealed without reservation.
He was directly demanding a fight.
The Divine Infant True Monarchs present were somewhat stunned, exchanging bewildered glances.
Some old men in the corners chuckled, as if mocking Shen Wushen for overestimating himself.
Others knitted their brows, deeming Shen Wushen insolent.
Yet Shen Wushen's subsequent words made the Divine Infant cultivators feel that he was not merely insolent, but utterly arrogant.
"Come at me all at once. If anyone can injure me, this pill... shall be yours."
Shen Wushen extended his hand, holding a translucent jade-porcelain bottle.
Inside the porcelain bottle were clearly seven medicinal pills.
When the Divine Infant True Monarchs saw those pills, their expressions shook.
"The Seven Accumulations Spirit Nourishing Pill! It's actually the legendary Seven Accumulations Spirit Nourishing Pill!"
"To think it really is this pill! That spiritual aroma enraptures the soul—it cannot be a fake!"
The Seven Accumulations Spirit Nourishing Pill could nourish a Divine Infant cultivator's divine soul.
If a late Divine Infant cultivator consumed it, their soul strength could reach the pinnacle of the Divine Infant realm, allowing them to attempt a breakthrough to the Purple Mansion realm.
This pill could strengthen a Divine Infant cultivator's soul and also raise their chances of breaking through to the Purple Mansion realm by thirty percent.
Therefore, how could any Divine Infant cultivator present not be tempted?
"Shen Wushen, are your words true?" Monk Wudian was the first to ask.
"Naturally true. I anticipate that someone can... defeat me!" Beneath his black robes, Shen Wushen's battle intent soared.
Hearing this, the other Divine Infant cultivators hesitated no longer.
"For an old woman like me to take the field is arguably bullying a junior. But for the sake of the pill, what harm is there in thickening my skin and joining hands with fellow Daoists?" True Monarch Chayu said, itching to make a move.
Floating Mountain's sect master let out a hearty laugh. "This old man shall join in the fun as well."
In normal times, they might care about saving face. But when someone was practically giving away pills, they naturally would not stand on ceremony.
They possessed great confidence in their own strength. Even against a Divine Infant from other grand domains, they would dare to fight, to say nothing of Shen Wushen foolishly trying to challenge over thirty Divine Infant cultivators at once.
All the Divine Infant cultivators were eager to test their mettle, and even the Divine Infant cultivators of the Divine Light Sect were no exception.
Right at this moment, a crisp voice rang out.
"You haven't given your gift yet!" Dressed in her azure immortal dress, the greeter Jiang Lingsu spoke up, interrupting the conversation among all the Divine Infant cultivators present.
The Divine Infant True Monarchs looked at Jiang Lingsu, slightly dumbfounded. A mere... greeter, how dared she be so bold?
A flash of anger appeared in Shen Zhifeng's eyes, and just as she was about to berate her, Shen Wushen spoke: "This was indeed thoughtless of me."
With a wave of his hand, one Seven Accumulations Spirit Nourishing Pill flew out from the porcelain bottle, landing before Jiang Lingsu amid a chorus of gasps.
"Let this pill serve as the congratulatory gift," Shen Wushen said.
Jiang Lingsu was momentarily stunned, then promptly stowed the pill away, beaming from ear to ear.
This pill would be of immense use to Eldest Senior Brother, so she had to guard it well. After all, even her Jiang family would be hard-pressed to produce such a precious pill.
Her heart blossomed with joy, just as if she were the one who had obtained the pill.
At this time, led by True Monarch Kumu, the Divine Infant cultivators made their way to the nearby Sparring Platform.
The Sparring Platform was exceedingly sturdy; even Divine Infant True Monarchs would struggle to damage it in short order.
Standing there, Shen Wushen looked at the thirty-three Divine Infant cultivators before him, his eyes burning with fighting spirit, tinged with a thread of gravity.
As long as someone was an opponent, he would face them with absolute seriousness, even if they were merely an Origin Core cultivator. This was Shen Wushen's path of cultivation.
"Fight!" Shen Wushen roared.
With that cry, the once quiet young man seemed to have his bloodline awakened. In an instant, the aura enveloping his entire body surged more than tenfold.
Seeing this, the Divine Infant cultivators on the platform all changed color. They felt as though they were facing not another Divine Infant, but a god of war!
"Quick, manifest your Divine Infants!"
"Don't hold back any divine abilities!"
The thirty-three Divine Infant True Monarchs hesitated no longer, and none held anything back. Otherwise, the Seven Accumulations Spirit Nourishing Pill would be out of their reach.
"Autumn Gale Cleaves the Water!" True Monarch Kuangjian bellowed.
A colossal sword materialized out of thin air as Floating Mountain's sect master unleashed his strongest divine ability.
"Weak. Far too weak." Shen Wushen moved with terrifying speed; not even the Divine Infant cultivators present could track his silhouette.
He extended two fingers, catching the colossal sword formed of divine ability between them, and lightly flicked.
*Snap!*
The fearsome divine ability instantly dispersed.
Before True Monarch Kuangjian could even react, a tremendous force crashed into him, sending him flying backward and knocking him off the stage.
The remaining Divine Infant cultivators were all struck with profound shock.
"Too strong!"
"We're completely outmatched!"
"How could such a monster exist?!"
Shen Wushen tore through them as if striding into an empty field, crashing forward unimpeded. Not a single Divine Infant could match him for even one exchange. Whomever he touched was effortlessly sent flying out of the ring.
The divine abilities they took pride in were entirely useless before Shen Wushen.
Like a phantom, Shen Wushen darted among the thirty-odd Divine Infant cultivators. Every few breaths, another Divine Infant was knocked out.
The battle was breathtaking to behold.
In the eyes of the other disciples and elders, all they saw was a dazzling display of magnificent Dao arts, followed immediately by Divine Infant cultivators being tossed out one by one.
Every cultivator witnessing this was thoroughly astounded.
"Too strong!"
"Is this even a Divine Infant?"
"Even a Purple Mansion cultivator might not be this powerful!"
The cultivators present looked upon Shen Wushen as though watching a heavenly deity descended to earth. After all, Shen Wushen was simply too terrifying. One against thirty, an absolute thrashing!
Not far away, Jiang Lingsu bit her lower lip, furrowing her brow. "Despicable! This guy has zero emotional intelligence! Today is clearly Eldest Senior Brother's Divine Infant Assembly, yet all the limelight has been stolen by him!"
This murmur jolted Jiang Ran beside her out of her stupor.
She stared at Jiang Lingsu, finding her reaction... mind-boggling.
Is right now... really the time to worry about the limelight?
Shouldn't you be worried about... the threat posed by the Demonic Desire Sect?
After all, the Demonic Desire Sect and the Divine Light Sect had always been bitter enemies. Now that the Demonic Desire Sect had produced such an unrivaled Divine Infant, all the disciples of the Divine Light Sect felt a looming sense of peril.
"Too weak. Far too weak."
A hundred breaths had passed. On the Sparring Platform, Shen Wushen stood tall and proud, all alone.
Every Divine Infant cultivator had been driven off the stage.
In just a hundred breaths, one against thirty-three, an absolute victory!
A flicker of disappointment flashed in Shen Wushen's eyes. Such a battle was truly dull, nothing more than a warm-up.
The thirty-three Divine Infant cultivators defeated by Shen Wushen wore unsightly expressions. Facing the arrogant Shen Wushen, they had been utterly humiliated and had nothing left to say.
At this point, Shen Zhifeng thought of something and could not help saying smugly, "My young master is the true... number one Divine Infant of the Canglan Realm! If my young master were to participate in the Eastern Lands Heavenly Pride Roll, first place would certainly be his!"
Had Shen Zhifeng made such a claim earlier, the Divine Infant cultivators present surely would have scoffed. But the overwhelming dominance Shen Wushen had just displayed rivaled that of Purple Mansion experts. If he took part in the Eastern Lands Heavenly Pride Roll, first place would indeed belong to him without question.
"Kang Fulu, you are ranked on the Eastern Lands Heavenly Pride Roll. If Fellow Daoist Shen were to participate, could he take first place?" Monk Wudian asked at this moment.
If they had lost to the number one Divine Infant of the Eastern Lands, their humiliation would at least be slightly more bearable.
Kang Fulu fell silent for a moment, not expecting the spotlight to turn to him. He recalled the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle and said, "Those heavenly prides fall far, far short of Shen Wushen!"
Indeed, not even True Monarch Dazhi, who ranked within the top ten of the Eastern Lands Heavenly Pride Roll, possessed such crushing dominance.
Hearing this, Shen Zhifeng smiled with triumphant pride. "Young Master is truly the number one Divine Infant of the Canglan Realm!"
Chapter 244