NINE STAR HEGEMON BODY ARTS

The void twisted, revealing a martial stage amongst the mountains. Countless figures quickly gathered around it.

“What’s going on?” some disciples asked in confusion.

This martial stage had appeared without warning. More importantly, it gave Liu Ruyan no chance to reject the challenge.

“Ever since I refused the Sovereign Pool’s blessing, I must face a challenge from one of the Undying race’s Sovereign sprouts every seven days. According to the agreement, if I lose, I must obey the Sovereign Lord’s will and undergo the blessing,” Liu Ruyan explained through gritted teeth.

“Haven’t you already awakened your Sovereign sprout qi? Why are they still making you fight?” Long Chen snapped, furious.

“He’s just that kind of person. He can’t accept defeat. Even though I’ve become a Sovereign sprout, I’m not the Sovereign sprout he wants. He wants me to fail—to submit to him. He wants me to grow in the direction he dictates,” said Liu Ruyan, her eyes growing misty.

There was grievance in her voice, but she also felt profoundly powerless about it.

Liu Changtian was the true king of the Undying race—an untouchable authority. No one dared defy him. Even his wife, Liu Xihua, didn’t dare to cross him.

“Tch, does he have any shame?” Long Chen was seething.

At first, Long Chen still held some respect for Liu Changtian. After all, the latter was the Sovereign Lord of the Undying race and Liu Ruyan’s father, his future father-in-law. But now? That respect shattered.

To force Liu Ruyan, who had already endured life-and-death tribulations to awaken as a Sovereign sprout, to continue suffering just because she didn’t match his expectations… that was pettiness beyond reason.

Seeing the powerlessness in her expression twisted Long Chen’s heart and ignited his rage. Any respect he had for Liu Changtian was gone—only contempt remained.

This was truly shameless. To do such a thing to his own daughter, just what was he trying to prove?

So what if he didn’t acknowledge her as his daughter? Then Long Chen saw no reason to show him any respect.

With a cold snort, Long Chen stepped directly toward the martial stage.

“Long Chen!” exclaimed Liu Ruyan.

Long Chen appeared on the martial stage. Across from him stood a tall man, his face cold and expressionless.

This man radiated immense Sovereign qi—stronger even than Aguta’s. He was a strong Sovereign sprout.

“Long Chen, don’t be rash!” Liu Ruyan said, hastily rushing onto the stage and grabbing his arm. “He’s an elite of the Undying race. I can’t describe how much stronger he is than Aguta. If you fight him, he will kill you. He’ll use any means necessary.”

She could tell that Long Chen intended to fight in her place. The thought moved her but also filled her with dread. Liu Qingyu was no ordinary foe.

The Undying race already looked down on the human race, so naturally, they viewed Long Chen with contempt. On top of that, as Liu Ruyan’s fiancé, he was the very reason she had defied Liu Changtian’s decree and rejected the Sovereign Pool. That made him the object of the entire Undying race’s resentment.

Even Liu Xihua had once considered letting Long Chen die before stepping in to save him.

Hence, Liu Qingyu absolutely knew who Long Chen was. Killing him would be a matter of honor for the Undying race. He might even be willing to die if it meant taking Long Chen down with him.

This was what Liu Ruyan was most afraid of. In the Undying race, Liu Changtian’s word was law. Anyone who opposed him became a common enemy.

If Liu Ruyan weren’t their Sovereign’s daughter, her challengers might have already tried to kill her outright. Though they hadn’t gone that far, they showed no mercy. Each challenger wanted to defeat her and force her back into the fold of the Undying race.

Only Liu Xihua showed some favor to Liu Ruyan, doing her best to protect her and buy her more time to get stronger.

From the moment Liu Ruyan defied Liu Changtian’s decree, it was Liu Xihua who carefully selected her challengers—each one just slightly inferior to her. With every victory, Liu Ruyan bought herself some time to breathe and precious combat experience. Through each battle, she grew more familiar with the Undying race’s fighting style and rapidly improved.

But Liu Ruyan had deep-rooted assumptions about her parents. She had no idea how hard her mother was working behind the scenes. Chu Yao saw it clearly. Yet even she knew that Liu Xihua’s protection wouldn’t last forever.

Liu Changtian’s authority in the Undying race was absolute. He would never allow his decisions to be questioned, nor tolerate any challenge to his rule.

When Liu Ruyan managed to walk a different path and still awaken as a Sovereign sprout, Chu Yao’s suspicions were confirmed. Liu Changtian immediately ordered all 1,031 of the Undying race’s Sovereign sprouts to challenge Liu Ruyan—starting from the weakest.

The first challenger was ranked last. The second was ranked one-thousandth. The third, nine-hundredth. Each new opponent was one hundred ranks stronger than the last, which was a terrifying leap in power.

And yet, Liu Ruyan remained undefeated.

Seven days ago, she had won over the Sovereign sprout ranked one hundred. Naturally, she thought her next opponent would be ranked ninetieth. But instead, the challenger turned out to be Liu Qingyu.

Liu Qingyu was their Sovereign’s son, Liu Ruyan’s brother from a different mother.

He was ranked tenth among all the Undying race’s Sovereign sprouts. Rumor had it he had also been cast into the lower world like Liu Ruyan, and through sheer determination and power, he climbed his way back to the immortal world and returned to the Undying race.

Liu Changtian held great hopes for him. Though currently tenth, his talent was so immense that many believed he could climb even higher.

He had returned only half a year before Liu Ruyan, yet had already established himself as the tenth strongest Sovereign sprout. That was enough to prove his terrifying power.

Compared to the other experts of the Undying race, Liu Qingyu had the demeanor of a battle-hardened general—ruthless and commanding. As a result, Liu Changtian favored him.

Now that he had stepped forward, it was clear—Liu Changtian had lost patience. He no longer wished to delay the inevitable. He wanted Liu Qingyu to crush Liu Ruyan, to shatter her unrealistic dream and show her what a real expert was.

Countless experts gathered around the martial stage, and nearly all the Sovereign sprouts had shown up. Clearly, this was an important fight for them to witness.

But Long Chen’s sudden appearance caught everyone off guard.

When they realized who he was, their gazes immediately sharpened.

“You foolish, sinister human. You dare show your face in the domain of the Undying race? Are you mocking us?”

Liu Qingyu’s killing intent exploded the moment he recognized Long Chen. A terrifying pressure surged out of him like a tsunami, shaking the entire stage.

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