Chapter 772: Securing the Quota
Up in the great hall, Lin Langtian gazed at the tall, black‑armored man, thoughts stirring in his heart.
By now, he also knew the man's identity: this was the Second Commander of the Qiankun Guards, Yang Hao.
Sensing the powerful aura radiating from the latter's entire body, Lin Langtian's eyes narrowed slightly. Although Yang Hao was also a Fourth‑Grade Sovereign, compared to him, that Song Zang was indeed inferior by more than just a little.
As commander of the Qiankun Guards, the strongest army of the Qiankun Sect, Yang Hao's strength was outstanding even among commander‑level experts across the entire Qiankun Continent.
"So this is the newly risen commander of Silver Mist Palace, Lin Langtian, whose name has been spreading through our Qiankun Sect recently, the one who turned the tide in the campaign against the Domain of Chaos."
While Lin Langtian was sizing up this cold, armored man, the latter's gaze also fell upon him, a faintly playful smile curling at his lips as he spoke.
Hearing the malice and mockery in the other party's tone, Lin Langtian frowned slightly before saying calmly, "It is but a trifling reputation, nothing compared to Commander Yang.
"As for 'turning the tide,' that is mostly an exaggeration. If the Sect Master and the Grand Elder, along with the other high‑level figures, had not sat in town like stabilizing pillars, there would have been no chance for someone like me to display anything."
"That is true enough. When there is no tiger in the mountain, the monkey proclaims itself king. That fellow Song Zang and his ilk only dared to strut about while the commanders of my Qiankun Guards were all in seclusion. Had this commander been present at the time, how could I have allowed him to stir up such a storm?" Yang Hao said with an arrogant laugh.
At those words, the expressions of both Lin Langtian and Jiang Yinyan beside him instantly became rather unsightly.
Yang Hao's words all but openly stated that the only reason Lin Langtian had been able to gain fame and achieve such merits was that Yang Hao had been in seclusion, letting Lin Langtian take advantage of the situation.
"When there is no tiger in the mountain, the monkey proclaims itself king"—he was clearly not only referring to Song Zang, but also insinuating that Lin Langtian was that so‑called monkey.
If such words spread, the prestige Lin Langtian and Silver Mist Palace had just established would likely be completely destroyed.
This man was truly vicious at heart.
Yang Hao, of course, paid no attention to what Lin Langtian thought. He now turned toward Qian Tian, the master of the Qiankun Sect.
"Sect Master, the Dragon‑Kun Realm is about to open. This subordinate humbly offers to fight on the front lines and is willing to represent the Qiankun Sect there!" Yang Hao knelt on one knee toward Qian Tian and spoke with reverence.
Hearing this, Qian Tian's golden pupils narrowed slightly as his fingers gently tapped the armrest of the throne. He did not immediately make a decision.
Seeing this, the Grand Elder lightly coughed and said, "Commander Yang, there is something you do not know. Lin Langtian rendered great service in the Domain of Chaos, and this quota was originally meant as a reward for him."
Yang Hao's brows lifted at that, and he said, "Although Commander Lin has indeed earned great merit, this subordinate has also served the Qiankun Sect for over a decade and has rendered many feats of arms. In terms of contribution, I am not far behind Commander Lin.
"Moreover, the Dragon‑Kun Realm will gather many top‑tier experts from the various powers across the Qiankun Continent. Although Commander Lin is quite strong, he is ultimately still somewhat lacking. Therefore, this subordinate believes that, in order not to disgrace the prestige of the Qiankun Sect, it would be better to choose a more reliable candidate."
Yang Hao's words were practically a blunt assertion that Lin Langtian was unqualified to participate in the Dragon‑Kun Realm and that only he, Yang Hao, was the most suitable candidate.
A flash of cold light flickered in Lin Langtian's eyes, but he took a step forward and looked straight at Yang Hao as he said calmly, "Then I wonder, Commander Yang, what sort of candidate do you think is qualified to enter the Dragon‑Kun Realm?"
Yang Hao stood up at this, smiling faintly. "Naturally, the one with the heavier fists and greater strength should be the one to go."
A faint arc lifted the corner of Lin Langtian's mouth. "In that case, it is quite simple. I will have a bout with Commander Yang. Whoever wins will receive the right to enter the Dragon‑Kun Realm. How about it?"
"Oh?"
Yang Hao's eyes lit up at once, and a look of delight surfaced on his face.
He truly had not expected Lin Langtian would dare propose such a contest.
Did the man not realize that his strength was on a completely different level from Song Zang's?
"As expected of a fellow who got lucky. Fine, then. A good chance to teach you a lesson and let you understand how high the heavens are and how vast the earth is," all sorts of thoughts surfaced in Yang Hao's mind as a chilling light flashed in his eyes when he looked at Lin Langtian.
"Very well, I agree to your contest. Whoever wins will represent the Qiankun Sect in the Dragon‑Kun Realm," Yang Hao said decisively after turning the matter over in his mind.
As soon as he spoke, both men looked toward the Sect Master.
After all, this was merely a verbal agreement between the two of them. The quota for the Dragon‑Kun Realm rested firmly in the hands of Qian Tian, the master of the Qiankun Sect.
In a certain sense, the two of them had already infringed upon Qian Tian's authority.
Fortunately, Qian Tian did not blame them for this overstep. After a brief moment of thought, his austere voice echoed through the great hall.
"Granted."
"Yes!"
Lin Langtian and Yang Hao both cupped their fists respectfully.
Yang Hao then turned around, a smile appearing on his face as he looked at Lin Langtian. "Commander Lin, you and I serve the same sect. I have no wish to damage our harmony.
"How about this: if you voluntarily admit defeat and give me the quota for the Dragon‑Kun Realm, I am willing to compensate you with one hundred thousand drops of Sovereign Spirit Liquid."
Lin Langtian's brows lifted slightly at this. One hundred thousand drops of Sovereign Spirit Liquid was indeed a sizable sum.
However, it clearly did not compare to the opportunity of the Dragon‑Kun Realm for him. So he replied calmly, "If Commander Yang is willing to voluntarily return the quota to me, two hundred thousand drops of Sovereign Spirit Liquid shall be delivered into your hands."
"Two hundred thousand drops of Sovereign Spirit Liquid. Commander Lin certainly has deep pockets."
Hearing Lin Langtian use his own tactic right back at him, Yang Hao could not help but let out an angry laugh.
"In that case, there is nothing left but to fight it out with Commander Lin. I only wonder how many exchanges Commander Lin can endure."
He loosened his shoulders with a stretch, the sound of his armor crackling like iron in the cold air, his voice turning icy.
Boom!
In the next moment, a vast and fierce spiritual power erupted from Yang Hao's body like a howling storm.
As a peak Fourth‑Grade Sovereign, his strength was clearly far more formidable than Song Zang, who had only just entered the Fourth Grade!
Yang Hao's gaze chilled. He stomped down and shot straight toward Lin Langtian, his palms glowing with a dark luster, as if forged from black iron and wrapped in fearsome power.
"Black Fiend Hand!"
He shouted coldly, and a dark‑steel pattern emerged in his black‑iron‑like palms, radiating a ferocious and unyielding force that seemed capable of shattering mountains and cutting off rivers.
As Yang Hao's offensive descended, Lin Langtian's eyes narrowed slightly. His palms twisted, and black icy energy surged forth, filled with a demonic chill that seemed able to freeze even the air.
Swish!
The black ice writhed like a living thing, finally transforming into a black ice python that shot into the sky and collided head‑on with that dark‑steel palm imprint.
Boom!
Violent spiritual power rippled out, and the shockwave actually warped the surrounding space.
Yang Hao's eyes flashed as his hands suddenly formed seals. Dark radiance surged into the sky from his body as his entire figure transformed into black iron.
"What is this…?"
Lin Langtian looked at Yang Hao's transformed body with a hint of surprise.
He could clearly sense that Yang Hao's physical body had become especially powerful.
"That is the Black Iron Battle Body, a body‑forging divine art Yang Hao obtained from an ancient ruin. He relied on it to win the position of Second Commander of the Qiankun Guards," Jiang Yinyan's voice quietly transmitted from nearby.
Swoosh!
Even as Jiang Yinyan's voice faded, the now black‑iron Yang Hao vanished on the spot. When he reappeared, he was already behind Lin Langtian like a ghostly apparition.
His black fist then hurtled forward at lightning speed, carrying a terrifying force that could shatter mountains as it smashed toward the center of Lin Langtian's back.
Faced with such a thunderous blow, Lin Langtian appeared too slow to react and seemed to simply allow Yang Hao's punch to land.
Rip!
Yang Hao's fist pierced straight through Lin Langtian's chest.
Yet as it passed through, Yang Hao's expression suddenly changed, because he saw that where his fist had penetrated Lin Langtian's body, there was nothing but a black hole.
A bad premonition flashed through Yang Hao's mind, and he hurriedly tried to pull his fist back.
"Hehe, Commander Yang, it would be rude not to reciprocate. Stay awhile."
A faint smile tugged at Lin Langtian's lips as the devouring black hole in his chest abruptly solidified.
At the same time, a terrifying black chill spread from within that devouring black hole.
The terrifyingly cold energy froze Yang Hao's arm in an instant, and the black ice rapidly crawled up along it, trying to encase his entire body.
The sinister chill invaded Yang Hao's body, as if seeking to freeze even his spiritual power. His expression shifted dramatically at this, and with a grim glint in his eyes, he exploded his spiritual power without reservation.
Boom!
A vast tide of spiritual power swept out, forming a powerful spiritual pressure that drew startled cries from within the great hall.
Everyone could sense that Yang Hao's spiritual power far surpassed that of Song Zang from the Domain of Chaos.
"Damn it, if you think you can defeat me, you're still too green!" Yang Hao roared angrily. In the next moment, ignoring his right arm, which was on the verge of being completely frozen, he clenched his left fist, which seemed as heavy as a mountain, and brought it crashing down toward Lin Langtian.
Although Lin Langtian had frozen half his body, that had also drawn Yang Hao into close range. With the strength of a peak Fourth‑Grade Sovereign, this was the perfect opportunity for him to go all out and end the battle in a single blow!
Yet in the face of Yang Hao's full‑force punch, Lin Langtian showed no intention of dodging. His eyes suddenly grew razor‑sharp.
Buzz!
Eight resplendent streams of elemental power burst from Lin Langtian's body all at once, as if enveloping him entirely. He slowly clenched his five fingers into a fist and punched out with a calm expression.
That punch was slow and heavy, as though it contained the myriad phenomena of the universe.
As the punch left his hand, the icy, fiery, and lightning‑type energies within Lin Langtian's body surged forth like an incoming tide. They flowed through his body, down his arm, and finally into his fist.
Boom!
In the next instant, Lin Langtian's and Yang Hao's strongest punches collided head‑on, erupting in a thunderous, ear‑splitting boom.
Bang! Bang!
The green stone tiles beneath their feet in the great hall shattered into dust under the impact, exploding into a cloud of powder.
The commander‑level experts watching from the sidelines all paled and were forced to retreat in embarrassment, while even the king‑level powerhouses wore grave expressions.
Qian Tian, watching the terrifying shockwave, flicked a finger lightly. Instantly, spiritual light filled the air.
A huge, transparent barrier descended from above, enveloping the area within dozens of meters around Lin Langtian and Yang Hao, completely blocking the terrifying shockwaves.
With Qian Tian's action, the countless experts in the great hall finally heaved a sigh of relief, then turned their gazes intently toward the battlefield at the center.
There, they saw violent demonic radiance erupt, completely swallowing up all of the dark light in mere moments.
Yang Hao's expression underwent a drastic change. He had still underestimated the terrifying power contained in Lin Langtian's punch.
Before he could do anything, the demonic radiance surged forth like a crashing wave, tearing through space as it swept over him. His body shook violently as he was blasted backward in a thoroughly wretched fashion.
Swish!
Countless onlookers in the great hall stared wide‑eyed at the sky. Yang Hao's figure shot backward like a streak of light, the air exploding continuously behind him and even space itself fracturing.
Thud!
Yang Hao retreated several hundred meters before he finally slammed a palm out behind him, shattering the space there and using the recoil to forcibly steady himself.
Blood appeared at the corner of his mouth, but he did not wipe it away. Instead, his expression shifted gloomily as he turned to look back at the great hall.
There, an incomparably powerful spiritual pressure now permeated heaven and earth.
Feeling that spiritual pressure, Yang Hao's expression finally changed dramatically.
The pupils of many commander‑level experts within the great hall contracted sharply as they involuntarily drew in sharp breaths. The spiritual pressure was clearly at the true peak of Third‑Grade Sovereign!
Lin Langtian had already completed his breakthrough and advanced to the peak of Third‑Grade Sovereign!
A month ago, when he had fought Song Zang, he had only had half a foot in the Third Grade.
Yang Hao himself found it unbelievable. He had never imagined that in a direct confrontation, he would be blasted out of the great hall by a single punch from Lin Langtian.
Even if the latter stood at the peak of Third‑Grade Sovereign, he, Yang Hao, was a peak Fourth‑Grade Sovereign. They were separated by an entire grade. Could this man's ability to challenge across realms truly be so terrifying!?
As Yang Hao hovered in the distant sky with an increasingly ugly expression, the great hall suddenly burst into an uproar. The many experts of the Qiankun Sect stared blankly at Yang Hao's distant figure.
They glanced at one another and could not help but suck in a breath of cold air in their hearts.
With a single punch, Lin Langtian had forcibly blasted a peak Fourth‑Grade Sovereign powerhouse out of the great hall.
Compared to his time in the Domain of Chaos, Lin Langtian's strength had clearly grown far more terrifying.
This man's rate of growth was simply too shocking.
In the distance, Yang Hao's expression continued to shift darkly. Just as he put away his underestimation and prepared to charge back into the hall for another fierce battle, Qian Tian's indifferent and imposing voice suddenly rang out.
"That is enough. The contest is over. Lin Langtian is the victor. The sole quota for the Qiankun Sect to enter the Dragon‑Kun Realm belongs to Lin Langtian."
(END CHAPTER)
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