Fantasy: After transmigrating, I effortlessly became a god.

Chapter 424 Lie Yuchen's Killing Intent

Zheng Qian created the Blood-Drinking Soul-Severing Sword, but he felt that there were still many flaws that needed to be improved in actual combat.

Before the command platform, prodigies of all realms gathered to begin a new day of battle. Zhao Nuo descended from the sky once again, calling out names to participate.

The team that participated in the Dragon Shaping Void Cliff battle was the same as last time, but this time Li Zun and Feng Yingte's group were added. When they reached the bottom of Dawn Cliff, they learned that the Dragon Shaping Void Cliff battle had ended, and the three races had not even sent troops to defend the Void Cliff, but instead retreated to the Void Cliff fortress.

There's not much to say at this point. With powerful figures protecting them, they don't need to worry about any demon clan experts attacking them. They simply run to the Huaxu Cliff Fortress and beg for a defeat.

"Come on, don't let the battle stop!" Zheng Qian shouted from outside the Huaxu Cliff Fortress. The three races of demons above all looked at Zheng Qian with strange eyes.

Lie Yi glared angrily at Zheng Qian, who was handing out the papers, his hoarse voice filled with rage: "Zheng Qian, do you have any sense of decency? The Gate-Blocking Battle can only be held once per realm, and it just ended yesterday. Why are you here again today?" Lie Yi's words were full of dissatisfaction and accusation. Zheng Qian's behavior had crossed some unspeakable line.

Zheng Qian was completely unconcerned about Lie Yi's anger. He pointed at Lie Yi, a cold smile playing on his lips: "Lie Yi, stop spouting nonsense up there. This is the training ground. I can come and go as I please. One word: come out and fight." Zheng Qian's tone was full of provocation and disdain, showing that he didn't take Lie Yi, this great demon, seriously at all.

The air around them seemed to freeze, and all eyes were focused on Zheng Qian and Lie Yi.

Five days ago, Zheng Qian fought his way from the Dragon Transformation Cliff to the Transformation Cliff Fortress, nearly wiping out all the demonic geniuses in the Demon Transformation Realm. How could they possibly fight back? Furthermore, Zheng Qian was able to kill Shadow Demon, ranked seventh in the Zen Demon Realm, so they were even less likely to fight him. Sending anyone out now would be suicide.

"Zheng Qian, we're closing the gates to rest and refuse any challenges." Lie Yi roared, jumped behind the city wall, and disappeared.

It's infuriating! They haven't even gone to the Dragon Shaping Void Cliff today, and they haven't even sent out the garrison troops, yet Zheng Qian still came knocking on their door. Isn't this blatant bullying?

"Heh heh, I'm waiting for you to open the door." Zheng Qian sneered, flying into the air and stopping when he felt a series of terrifying powers coming from above. This was the defensive formation of Huaxu Cliff, which he could not shake with his current strength.

Zheng Qian hovered silently in mid-air, surrounded by faint fluctuations of spiritual energy, as if he were one with heaven and earth. His gaze pierced through layers of clouds, staring directly at the tightly closed gate of the Huaxu Cliff Fortress, his eyes flashing with layers of blood mist.

Zheng Qian came here today to relive the atmosphere of the battles from the past few days and to more carefully recall each fight in order to perfect his Blood-Drinking Soul-Severing Sword. For safety reasons, he had informed Yun Youzi and received his approval before coming.

The bloodstains on the ground had been cleaned up by the three races, but a few wisps of demonic energy could still be felt rising in the air—the last traces left by Zheng Qian after slaying the three races' prodigies. Because of his arrival, and because of his single-handed efforts, the entire Huaxu Cliff was plunged into an unprecedented silence and panic among the three races' genius prodigies at the Demon Transformation Realm.

The three races of prodigies were terrified that the higher-ups might suddenly decide to send them out to fight a war of attrition, which was tantamount to suicide. On the first day, they did indeed fight a war of attrition, and as a result, every one of them who went up died, and every two who went up died.

Time passed slowly. Inside the Void Transformation Cliff, Lie Yi and a group of high-ranking officials urgently discussed countermeasures. They guessed that Zheng Qian's arrival was no accident and must have a deeper purpose. Moreover, the strength Zheng Qian displayed terrified them. Even if they transferred spiritual energy and treasures to geniuses in the Demon Transformation Realm, it would be difficult to bridge the huge gap in strength between the two sides in a short period of time.

“We cannot sit idly by and wait for our doom.” An elderly demon elder pondered, “We must find a way to break this deadlock, otherwise, the reputation of Huaxu Cliff will be tarnished for a thousand years.”

“But… even Shadow Demon…” Lie Yi hesitated, his heart filled with bitterness. Shadow Demon, ranked seventh in the Zen Demon Realm, had fallen, a fatal blow to the morale of the Void Transformation Cliff.

“Perhaps we can seek help from outside forces,” another demon general suggested. “Let’s contact other demon factions and fight against Zheng Qian together.”

Upon hearing this, a hint of hesitation flashed in Lie Yi's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination: "Alright! Immediately dispatch envoys to request aid from the surrounding demon races. At the same time, strengthen the defenses of the fortress and prepare for possible surprise attacks."

The three races' prodigies have sent requests for help from within their own clans, and it's unlikely that any more powerful prodigies will arrive in the short term. Their only hope now is to appeal to other demon clans for assistance, hoping they will send even more extraordinary geniuses to fight Zheng Qian.

Lie Yi looked up at the sky, his face full of bitterness. Zheng Qian was such a prodigy that even the strongest prodigy of the Yu Ren royal family would likely be sent to their deaths. His only hope now was that Zheng Qian could quickly advance to the Liquid Aperture Realm, so that they could send a prodigy at the late stage of the Zen Demon Realm to kill him openly on the battlefield.

Meanwhile, Zheng Qian was not idle. He closed his eyes and concentrated, sensing the subtle changes in the spiritual energy of the surrounding world. He practiced the Blood-Drinking Soul-Severing Sword in his mind again and again. Every flash of the sword shadow seemed to outline the trajectory of death in the void. Zheng Qian's state of mind became more and more stable, as if he had become one with the Dragon Scale Void-Breaking Sword in his hand. His sword intent was full of vigor, sharp and unrestrained.

One of Zheng Qian's purposes in coming to Huaxu Cliff Fortress was to experience this pressure, because he knew that in the face of Lie Yi and others' covetous eyes, only by constantly improving himself could he gain a foothold in this world where the strong are respected.

Time passed very quickly, and Zheng Qian remained suspended in the air, letting the wind blow and the sun shine on him without moving an inch.

"Is Zheng Qian going to start another gate-blocking battle?" Feng Ying asked Li Zun with great curiosity. It just ended yesterday, and he's blocking the gate again today. It's not giving the three races any chance to send someone to seek help from the prodigies.

"What's there to be afraid of? When those monstrous talents in the Demon Transformation Realm come out, I can easily sweep them aside without my master's intervention." Li Zun said arrogantly. Apart from Zheng Qian, he dared to fight anyone of the same realm fairly.

Li Zun's words carried an undeniable confidence. He stood side by side with Feng Yingte, their gazes fixed on Zheng Qian's motionless figure. A tense and subtle atmosphere permeated the air of the Huaxu Cliff Fortress, as if even the wind had frozen, awaiting the possible changes to come.

“I’m not afraid of anything. Let me tell you, even if I rip a huge hole in the Wind Rift Valley, I, Feng Yingte, won’t back down. I’m just thinking that Zheng Qian’s move must have a deeper meaning.” Feng Yingte frowned slightly. Although he was young and impetuous, he was also cautious: “Perhaps, he is forcing himself to reach some kind of limit in this way, or perhaps he is trying to show everyone, including all his opponents, including the three races, that he, Zheng Qian, has never had the slightest intention of backing down.”

As time passed, the sun gradually slanted westward, its golden afterglow bathing Zheng Qian's resolute face, gilding him with a sacred glow. Zheng Qian closed his eyes and concentrated, as if communicating with some power between heaven and earth. A faint fluctuation of vital energy emanated from his body, a sign that his cultivation was silently brewing a breakthrough.

"Look, his aura..." Feng Yingte suddenly exclaimed. He keenly sensed the changes happening to Zheng Qian. It was a qualitative leap, a sign that his cultivation was about to enter a new realm.

Upon hearing this, Li Zun's expression also tightened. After careful sensing, he indeed discovered that Zheng Qian's aura was rising at an incredible speed, as if an invisible force was helping him.

"Is he... about to break through?"

Just as the two were discussing, Zheng Qian suddenly opened his eyes, and two dazzling beams of light, as bright as stars, streaked across the sky. A streak of blood-red light fell from the sky, and a suffocating killing intent filled every corner.

"Haha... Three races of prodigies, no limit on the number of people at the same realm, dare to fight?" Zheng Qian laughed. His self-created Blood-Drinking Soul-Severing Sword was now theoretically perfected and urgently needed practical tempering. He unleashed even stronger spiritual energy and killing intent, not a breakthrough in realm, but a further refinement of the Blood-Drinking Soul-Severing Sword, making his sword intent even more powerful.

"A madman! Zheng Qian is a complete madman!" Lie Yi was going crazy. He couldn't defeat a prodigy of the same realm, and he couldn't intervene with a higher-level expert, otherwise, it would inevitably lead to a large-scale battle between the two sides. For a higher-level expert to attack a young prodigy of the enemy was a major taboo for survival; it would be ridiculed by other races and lead to the severing of diplomatic relations.

Most importantly, beings who have reached the Pseudo-God Realm cultivate karma, and when they wage war, they seek the protection of the Heavenly Dao. Therefore, it is unlikely that a high-level expert will kill a low-level prodigy. This is also why Zheng Qian dared to declare war here.

"All geniuses of the Demon Transformation Realm, assemble!" Lie Yi's roar boomed like thunder, echoing throughout the entire space, carrying an undeniable majesty and power. His eyes were like burning flames, flashing with a fervent and resolute light, as if they wanted to burn away all obstacles.

At his summons, the geniuses of the Demon Transformation Realm from the Yuren Clan, the Shadow Serpent Clan, and the Blazing Leopard Clan quickly gathered together. Their eyes held either doubt or unease, but more than anything, they were filled with awe for Lie Yi, this powerful figure. However, this awe could not conceal the frustration and dejection in their hearts.

"Look at you all, each one a leader among your respective races, yet you can't even defeat Zheng Qian!" Lie Yi's voice crashed down like hailstones, each word carrying immense weight, striking the very depths of everyone present. His tone was filled with disappointment and anger, as if he were heartbroken by the enormous waste of these geniuses' potential.

The three races' prodigies exchanged bewildered glances, their faces showing embarrassment and shame. Indeed, none of them could defeat Zheng Qian, a wound in their hearts, an indelible humiliation.

"Is there anyone who dares to leave the city and fight Zheng Qian to the death?" Lie Yi roared again, his voice full of challenge and encouragement, as if he were looking for a hero who could step forward and bring glory to the tribe.

However, he was met with utter silence. The three demon races fell silent, their hearts filled with fear and hesitation. They knew that fighting Zheng Qian was tantamount to suicide, a battle with no chance of victory.

Seeing this, Lie Yi's face grew even more gloomy. He glared fiercely at everyone present, as if trying to pierce through their souls: "Is this all you've got? You don't even have the courage to face a challenge?" His tone was full of sarcasm and disdain, as if he were mocking the cowardice and incompetence of these geniuses.

"Train diligently and improve your strength!" Lie Yi's words, like a sharp blade, pierced the silence and awkwardness present: "If you don't want to become cannon fodder to be slaughtered on the battlefield, then work twice as hard!"

Under Lie Yi's rebuke and encouragement, the three races' prodigies lowered their heads, their hearts filled with remorse and determination. They knew they could not continue like this; they had to pull themselves together and strive for the glory and future of their races.

At this moment, the entire space seemed to be enveloped by an invisible force—the fighting spirit and courage inspired by Lie Yi's majesty and determination. Lie Yi was a qualified general; even in this situation, he did not forget to encourage the prodigies of the three races.

Standing atop the fortress atop Huaxu Cliff, the Demon Saint General Lie Yucheng, his figure elongated in the afterglow of the setting sun, resembled an inviolable war god. The intense killing intent surrounding him seemed to freeze the air around him, turning it into tiny ice crystals that drifted gently through the air. His voice was filled with boundless hatred: "Zheng Qian, if I do not slay you here today, what face will I, Lie Yucheng, have to stand in this vast world of cultivation, and what right will I have to pursue the supreme pinnacle of martial arts?"

The air in the world seemed to be completely sucked away at this moment, forming a domain belonging only to Lie Yuchen. Within this domain, he was the ruler, the rule, and anything that dared to challenge his will would face annihilation. This was the domain that Lie Yuchen had drawn with his killing intent, a domain that made enemies tremble and allies awe.

Zheng Qian's blood seemed to freeze at that moment; the suffocating feeling of death made it hard for him to breathe. The choice between life and death rested solely on the enemy's whim. He raised his head and looked at Lie Yuchen atop the Huaxu Cliff Fortress, and he felt his own insignificance.

The Demon Saint was so powerful that he felt suffocated; with a single thought, he could kill him a thousand times over.

However, at this critical moment of life and death, a deeper and more distant voice suddenly exploded in Lie Yucheng's mind, like a thunderclap, shaking his very soul. It was the voice of Yun Youzi, carrying an unquestionable majesty and an irresistible threat: "Anyone who dares to touch a hair on my disciple Zheng Qian's head, I, Yun Youzi, will annihilate all the demons of Huaxu Cliff, leaving no place for you to hide in this world!"

Yun Youzi's words swept through the space like a violent storm, making the already tense atmosphere even more oppressive. His threat was not only a warning to Lie Yuchen personally, but also a naked provocation and declaration of war against the entire Huaxu Cliff demon race. At this moment, space seemed to be torn apart by this sudden storm, displaying an indescribable chaos and madness.

Lie Yuchen's face turned extremely gloomy after hearing Yun Youzi's words. He knew that even if Yun Youzi lost his true core, his strength was still unfathomable, and he also knew that if he really angered him, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Even so, there was no sign of retreat in Lie Yuchen's eyes. Only by defeating or killing Yun Youzi would he have a chance to kill Zheng Qian. He said coldly, "After three hundred years, I'd like to see how you differ from others."

"Hey, little leopard, you've got guts. I'll be waiting for you up there." After saying that, Yun Youzi disappeared into the clouds above Huaxu Cliff and flew into the high sky, invisible to the naked eye.