Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 427 427: 427

Facing the doubts of the crowd, Ye Qingchen knew he was just one step away from his goal. The martial artists surrounding Feng Yuan drew their Spiritual Artifacts. Although they might not be Ye Qingchen's match in single combat, they couldn't afford to look weak with so many on their side.

Ye Qingchen walked to a spot about ten meters from Feng Yuan and stopped. Fiddling with the Flowing Cloud Sword in his hand, he sneered, "Feng Yuan, I have great respect for your father and don't want you to lose this opportunity to enter Central Celestial Academy. If you know what's good for you, hand over a spot for a Spiritual Qi Infusion to me now, and I won't kill you."

Surprisingly, Feng Yuan didn't fly into a rage at Ye Qingchen's taunt. Instead, he calmly issued various orders to the dozen or so Martial King Realm experts around him. Following his instructions, they began to move into position. Ye Qingchen could tell that Feng Yuan was arranging a formation. Although the power of a formation is significantly diminished when using people as its focal points, it could still empower every participant and enhance their combat abilities. Ye Qingchen didn't try to stop him. While the formation appeared riddled with flaws—and Ye Qingchen could have disrupted the entire arrangement with a single swing of his sword—doing so would have lessened the intimidating effect he intended to achieve.

He wanted everyone to know that even a well-prepared Feng Yuan and all his lackeys were no match for him.

About a quarter of an hour later, Feng Yuan finally finished setting up the formation. Due to its effects, the strength of the Martial King Realm experts within it had increased by an entire level. In other words, for Ye Qingchen to even touch Feng Yuan, he would have to get through more than a dozen experts whose combat strength had now reached the fourth layer of the Martial King Realm.

This undoubtedly made things several times more difficult. The martial artists who had doubted Ye Qingchen shook their heads, sighing inwardly at what they considered his supreme arrogance. Had he acted before the formation was complete, he might have stood a chance with that dazzling sword attack from earlier. But now, he would likely be defeated in a single move.

Ye Qingchen, still nonchalant, played with the Flowing Cloud Sword in his hand. Seeing the formation was complete, he stretched leisurely and said, "All set? If you're ready, I'll make my move. I wouldn't want to be accused of bullying you!"

With the formation successfully in place, the last of Feng Yuan's fear evaporated. He sneered at Ye Qingchen, "Do you really think I'm afraid of you? Now that the formation is complete, you won't escape even if you sprout wings."

"Escape? Why would I escape? One move. I'll only make one move!"

Ye Qingchen extended a finger and wagged it in front of Feng Yuan, infuriating him so much that he wanted to pounce on Ye Qingchen and tear him to shreds. But when Feng Yuan thought of the price Ye Qingchen would soon pay for his arrogance, he felt a secret thrill. The Martial King Realm experts participating in the formation also felt deeply insulted and glared at Ye Qingchen with fury.

Ye Qingchen lifted the Flowing Cloud Sword. With the groundwork laid, it was now time for him to display his thunderous power.

"Leaf Blade Storm!"

He immediately launched into the Leaf Blade Storm. When facing a siege, the attack always unleashed an unexpected and astonishing amount of power. Furthermore, while the formation boosted his opponents' strength, it also bound them together into a single entity where they would prosper or perish as one. In such a scenario, the power that the Leaf Blade Storm erupted with was more than three times its normal level.

Of course, Ye Qingchen wasn't so arrogant as to think a single Leaf Blade Storm could instantly defeat over a dozen fourth-layer Martial King Realm experts. So, as he used the attack, he also secretly incorporated the Fen Tian Earth Fire within it. As the martial artists struggled to withstand the overwhelming barrage of Leaf Blades, the Fen Tian Earth Fire suddenly erupted, turning the Wood Attribute Leaf Blades into a raging sea of fire.

Screams of terror and agony rose and fell. Some martial artists tried to flee, but the constraints of the formation prevented them from leaving its range.

Feng Yuan retreated in horror, finally understanding what it meant to be hoist by his own petard. If it weren't for the formation he had set up, it would have been impossible for Ye Qingchen to defeat more than a dozen Martial King Realm experts with a single attack. It was his own formation that had allowed Ye Qingchen to achieve such an astonishing feat.

In an instant, flashes of white teleportation light flickered one after another as the Martial King Realm experts in the formation were continuously teleported out of the Secret Realm, arriving outside still terrified.

Is he even human? Why is he so strong? He's only a first-layer Martial King Realm expert, yet he defeated so many of us with one move? Even those peerless geniuses from the Central Regions are probably no better than this, right?

These martial artists, all pale-faced after being teleported out, remained tight-lipped when questioned by their waiting family elders. This led the elders to wonder if some indescribable monster had appeared in the Secret Realm to have scared these proud young talents so thoroughly out of their wits.

Meanwhile, inside the Secret Realm, everyone fell silent.

Ye Qingchen stood there, alone with his sword, like a peerless Sword Immortal. Everyone, consciously or not, avoided his sweeping gaze. This day's battle would likely become a psychological scar, causing them to tremble at the mere mention of Ye Qingchen's name for years to come.

Ye Qingchen sheathed his Flowing Cloud Sword and continued to approach Feng Yuan. Each step caused Feng Yuan to tremble even more violently.

"Feng Yuan, have you made your decision now?" Ye Qingchen asked, looking at him playfully.

Feng Yuan cursed his predicament, his heart in turmoil. If he didn't exchange his spot now, he stood no chance, given the combat power Ye Qingchen had just displayed. A fight would mean losing his opportunity to enter Central Celestial Academy. He knew that as the only fifth-layer Martial King Realm expert present, his chances of ultimately winning should have been high. But if he made the exchange now, he would completely lose face in Northern Barrier City. The Secret Realm contained disciples from all the various powers of the city; once they left, they would surely spread the news of today's events far and wide. He would become the laughingstock of Northern Barrier City.

Feng Yuan agonized over his decision, but Ye Qingchen clearly wasn't going to give him much time, drawing the Flowing Cloud Sword once again.

Feng Yuan swallowed hard and finally said with difficulty, "Fine, I agree."

His voice was barely audible, yet it reached the ears of the thousands present crystal clear. A wave of astonishment swept through the crowd. Had the imperious son of the city lord really capitulated without even a fight?