"I live in an age that surpasses the past. I possess a Talent beyond that of my predecessors. To reach a realm they never could, merely lifting this furnace is not enough!"
Yan Hao spoke with a calm expression, his voice booming like a great bell.
The next moment, he suddenly bent down, assuming the stance of someone shouldering a heavy load, and slid half his body into the space beneath the Three-legged Round Furnace.
HAAH!!
Yan Hao let out a low grunt and suddenly exerted his strength. Power flowed from his legs, through his waist, and into his shoulders. His spine moved like a great dragon, connecting every part of his body in a seamless chain as his formidable physique erupted with terrifying force.
Azure Dragon Emerges from the Sea!!
CRACK!!
The immense force instantly fractured the ground beneath his feet, a web of cracks spreading out from where he stood.
And with that move, Azure Dragon Emerges from the Sea, the heavy furnace was torn from the ground and settled steadily onto Yan Hao's shoulder.
"Excellent!!"
Seeing this, Jia Liming and the venerated elders of the Lanhai Society couldn't help but erupt in thunderous cheers.
The audience below, however, let out a collective gasp.
'Just how much strength would that take?'
'Is this the true power of the new Lanhai Society President? He's like a monster in human form.'
Previously, many had only heard rumors of Yan Hao's strength. But to witness it firsthand was a visceral shock, completely different from mere hearsay.
"The Hegemon-King of old... born with Divine Power, strong enough to carry the furnace..."
Sun Dao'an whispered, watching the shocking scene unfold. For a moment, he had the strange sensation of a legend coming to life right before his eyes.
However, this was not the end.
But Yan Hao, with the Three-legged Round Furnace on his shoulder, didn't put it down. Instead, he turned slowly and began walking with heavy strides toward the large, arm-shaped sculpture behind him.
"This is..."
Jia Liming seemed to understand Yan Hao's intent, and a gratified look flashed in his eyes.
The entire area fell silent. Under the reverent gaze of the crowd, Yan Hao ascended the steps carved into the sculpture's arm, carrying the great furnace to its very top.
THUD!!
With a dull thud, Yan Hao placed the Three-legged Round Furnace into the palm of the sculpture.
Since ancient times in Donghua Country, the furnace has been a vessel of great significance, a symbol of authority and power. By carrying the furnace to the summit and placing it in the sculpture's palm, he was signifying his intent to hold authority and power in his own hand.
Yan Hao stood beside the furnace, his expression unchanged. He wasn't flushed or out of breath, a testament to his incredible stamina.
He stood high above, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below, taking in the expressions on their faces.
'He knew he had achieved his goal. From this day forward, the Lanhai Society's prestige in Wuhai would reach a new peak.'
Among the crowd, a man and a woman in well-fitted formal attire stood at the periphery. With arms crossed, they watched Yan Hao look down upon the masses from beside the great furnace, a peculiar light in their eyes.
"Tch. Carrying the furnace to the summit, holding a vessel of power... quite the display of ambition. I never thought someone like him would appear in Wuhai. I'd heard that Yan Hao of the Lanhai Society was born with Divine Power, but I didn't expect his Martial Dao to have reached this level. Dragon Elephant Unmoving Style is a first-rate External Fist Technique. Having reached Great Success, his Power, Physical Strength, and stamina likely place him in the top three of all Tianlu Prefecture. I wonder how his actual fighting skills are, though," said the short-haired, intelligent-looking woman, who appeared to be around thirty.
"Regardless, with that physique alone, he's earned a spot among Tianlu Prefecture's top masters. We were right to come. This guy... he's worthy of being our little brother's opponent. For him to be so ostentatious at his own succession ceremony, his ambitions must be grand. He's probably heard the rumors and is aiming for that higher realm. This major upheaval in the Martial Arts Realm presents a huge opportunity, and there's no way he won't try to seize it. It's a shame we haven't seen him fight at full strength, or we could have gathered more Data," the middle-aged man beside her, who looked to be around forty, said in a heavy tone.
"Ostentatious? Confident? That's only because he's never witnessed true power. We'll see if he can maintain that bravado when he's utterly crushed. I hear he boasts of his own Absolute Talent, but he's nothing more than a frog in a well. In the end, Tianlu Prefecture belongs to our Tianji Sword Sect."
The short-haired woman said coolly, her eyes on Yan Hao, who stood upon the high platform.
BOOM!!
The next moment, Yan Hao leaped down from the top of the sculpture, landing heavily on the ground.
"Excellent! As is tradition for the Lanhai Society, if there is anyone within our ranks who objects to Yan Hao's succession, or if there is anyone among our esteemed guests who wishes to come up and spar, the Lanhai Society welcomes you! Is there anyone who will step onto the stage?"
Jia Liming boomed, addressing everyone present.
'Get on stage?'
The crowd glanced at Yan Hao—at his mountain-like frame, at the man who had just carried a furnace weighing over eight hundred jin up a flight of stairs and now stood there calmly, as if it were a trivial matter—and couldn't help but swallow nervously.
'You'd have to have a death wish to go up there, wouldn't you? With that physique and strength, an ordinary person would have trouble taking him on even with a pistol. You'd need multiple handguns, maybe a machine gun or other heavy weaponry, for a normal person to even have a chance against a monster like that.'
'Bare-handed? He's no longer an opponent a human can fight.'
"Let's go. There's nothing worth seeing next. Staying any longer is just a waste of time."
The intelligent-looking woman shook her head and turned to leave the square.
"Indeed. You can count the number of people in all of Tianlu Prefecture qualified to face him on one hand, and none of them are here."
The middle-aged man nodded, agreeing that there was little value in staying. He turned and followed the woman as she left.
"The Hegemon-King of old could take on a hundred men as easily as flipping his palm. Unarmed, I'm afraid even dozens or a hundred grown men wouldn't be a match for him... Who would dare issue a challenge?"
Sun Dao'an shook his head. 'He felt this whole part of the ceremony was pointless; they might as well just skip it.'
"This is just a formality, meant to cement the Lanhai Society's prestige," Xu Yan said with a knowing smile. "Who would be foolish enough to go up there and actually challenge him?"
For some reason, Sun Dao'an's gaze began to drift through the crowd, finally landing on the man who, like him, was dressed in sportswear.
He then watched in surprise as Zhou Yuanjue began to move.
He walked forward slowly. As he moved, the crowd seemed to part automatically, as if repelled by some strange force emanating from him.
TAP!
Soon, Zhou Yuanjue was before the high platform. With a light tap of his toes, his body shot up, as nimble as a falcon, and he landed steadily on top of the stage.
"Red Falcon Fist. Zhou Yuanjue. I seek your instruction."