Chapter 95: So This Is the Strength of the Peerless Marquis?

“Impossible!”

“How could it be him sitting up there?”

“Heavens, does he have a death wish? Do you know who those other nine are?”

“Heh, does he really think that just because he once slew a sixth-layer Cave Heaven Marquis, he’s now invincible? How laughable!”

“Wait, look at his cultivation. It’s actually the eighth layer of the Cave Heaven Realm!

Hiss~! How did he do that?”

With those words, the crowd’s gazes fixed in earnest upon the black-robed man. They confirmed that he truly had stepped into the Cave Heaven Realm, and not merely its early stages, but the eighth layer!

In an instant, countless gasps of disbelief rippled through the spectators.

“Heavens! How did he cultivate to such a level?”

“Incredible! Among his generation, the most talented are still only at the peak of the Dharma Image Realm. For them to break into the Cave Heaven Realm would take at least three more years yet he’s already close to its great perfection!”

“Too terrifying. He’s already far beyond his peers!”

“As expected of the Peerless Marquis, Ye Wushang! Even the main branch of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion records his legendary deeds. How could he be ordinary?”

“This will be interesting to watch. I wonder if the other nine will tolerate Ye Wushang’s presence?”

“Heh, if he’d taken the lowest seat, perhaps none would object. But to sit in the very first seat? Not one of them will be pleased!”

“Indeed! Each of those nine was once a figure who shook the world, suppressing entire provinces. Some had already risen to fame a century before Ye Wushang was even born. To now be forced beneath a junior? They will not stomach it!”

“Hahahaha! Looks like a great battle will erupt early. I wonder if Ye Wushang can withstand it?”

“Hardly. Most of those seated are only a step away from the Starsea Realm of Kingship. Their strength has already reached the very limit of Cave Heaven. Compared to them, Ye Wushang is still lacking!”

“Heh, I disagree. A man who, at the peak of the Dharma Image Realm, could slay a Cave Heaven Marquis after breaking into the Cave Heaven Realm, do you think his strength would be weak? I don’t believe it!”

“And yet, the gap between Dharma Image and Cave Heaven is vast. Just because he dominated one stage doesn’t mean he can dominate the next.”

“Let’s wait and see. The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion clearly reserved that first seat for Ye Wushang. If he has no strength, wouldn’t that make them a laughingstock?”

The one seated in the foremost position on the left was none other than Ye Wushang.

The moment he entered the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, he knew that the first seat had been prepared for him.

Thus, he showed no false humility and sat there directly.

Though normally low-key and rarely contending with others, in his bones he remained a blade-wielder: domineering, unyielding, invincible.

Especially now he believed within the entire Cave Heaven Realm, there existed no rival.

To yield this seat to another would taint his fortune, cloud his Dao Heart.

Such matters he would never compromise.

Yet he knew as well if he wished to secure this seat, he would have to suppress all nine others.

Sure enough, as soon as he sat, the gazes of the other nine turned toward him.

Whoosh~~!

In an instant, their combined auras surged, pressing down like a mountain.

Eight of them, only the mysterious white-robed woman remained still.

If Ye Wushang could not withstand this pressure, he would be forced into disgrace.

The entire Tianluo Dao Province trembled with anticipation.

And yet—just as that immense force closed within two meters of Ye Wushang, it was stopped cold, as though by some unseen wall.

No matter how violently the pressure roared, it could not advance further.

Blocked!

At once, shock rippled across the hall.

“He actually blocked it. Ye Wushang is no ordinary man!”

“To dare take the title of ‘Peerless Marquis’ indeed, extraordinary!”

“Hmph! To withstand aura alone proves nothing. If he can’t suppress the other nine in battle, he won’t keep that seat!”

“Exactly! Especially since the so-called First Marquis the Enchanting Clan’s Heavenly Maiden hasn’t even acted yet!”

Onstage, the eight great figures saw their combined might fail. Their gazes narrowed slightly, recognition flickering in their eyes.

Yet to retreat now? Impossible.

“Blade-wielder.”

At last, the River-Cleaving Marquis, Jiang Lingxiao, spoke. His voice carried mocking amusement.

He tilted his head toward the Soaring Sword Marquis, Wang Chang, seated nearby.

Understanding instantly, Wang Chang stepped forward. Sword brows sharp, his aura erupted skyward, piercing the clouds.

“Young one! To sit there, wait another fifty years. For now roll down!”

Clang~~!

His long sword rang out, unleashing a dreadful sword intent that pierced Ye Wushang’s brow.

This strike was terrifying, forcing Ye Wushang to move, or die.

If he yielded now, he would never sit again.

All eyes fixed upon him waiting.

At last, Ye Wushang moved.

As the sword wind howled in, he merely turned his gaze slightly his eyes falling upon Wang Chang.

Crack~!

A sharp sound rang.

To the crowd’s astonishment, Ye Wushang had not even lifted a hand. His aura alone exploded outward.

A profound, mysterious power surged from his body; his gaze, imbued with divine might, shattered the sword wind.

Worse still the long sword in Wang Chang’s hands trembled, then split apart with a deafening bang.

An invisible force slammed into Wang Chang’s chest, blasting him away.

Boom~!

He smashed into the Pavilion wall before crashing to the floor.

Hiss~~!

Countless onlookers felt their scalps go numb.

Wang Chang the swordmaster who once rivaled even Marquis Tianhai defeated by a mere glance?

Even the nine seated powerhouses revealed flickers of surprise.

“Interesting. To strike down my man your courage is not small. Now kneel!”

Jiang Lingxiao rose, exuding the tyranny of a true blade sovereign.

Hands clasped, he spread his palms. Infinite spiritual qi gathered, coalescing into a colossal illusory blade of ten thousand feet, descending with world-crushing force.

The crowd’s faces paled.

Even the Four Great Heavenly Marquises turned to watch, expressions edged with surprise.

Who would have thought a junior of the next era could pose such a threat?

Curious, all eyes fell upon Ye Wushang.

Yet he stood calmly, watching the incoming strike with detached indifference as if it were nothing.

At last, he spoke.

“Overestimating yourself.”

With those words, he raised two fingers pinching the descending blade between them.

Whoosh~!

Before countless disbelieving eyes, the colossal blade was held fast by nothing more than two fingers.

“What!”

Gasps echoed across the province.

Even Jiang Lingxiao’s pupils dilated, shock and disbelief filling his face.

His supreme strike caught so casually?

But Ye Wushang gave him no chance to recover.

“You think such paltry strength gives you the right to speak arrogantly before me? You want me to kneel? Then you kneel before me.”

With a snap.

Crack~!

The illusory blade shattered into fragments.

Then, with one palm raised high, Ye Wushang pressed downward.

Boom~~!

The vast energy crashed upon Jiang Lingxiao. His divine weapon shattered like brittle wood, his body slammed into the ground kneeling, unable to rise.

Hiss~~!

The crowd was struck dumb.

The River-Cleaving Marquis once famed for severing a great river, its waters reversing for half a year was now pressed to his knees by a single palm.

So this was the strength of Ye Wushang, the Peerless Marquis.