The Genius Battle was a designated arena within Mysterious Spirit City. A single contract sealed the terms: life and death bore no liability.

  Clearly, the Azure Wave Kingdom and the Barbarian Desert Kingdom had come prepared. Their aim was to cripple the younger generation of the Heavenly Wind Kingdom before the Hundred Kingdoms Trial even began. Both kingdoms harbored deep grudges against the Heavenly Wind Kingdom.

  "Perhaps… their true target is me after all."

  A cold glint flashed through Su Chen's eyes. He couldn't fathom where these two minor kingdoms found the audacity.

  Nevertheless, Su Chen went to the appointed place. He might not be the most gifted participant in the entire Hundred Kingdoms Trial. But against the likes of these two small nations, Su Chen believed he stood invincible.

  His direct arrival sent waves of delight through the prodigies of the Azure Wave and Barbarian Desert Kingdoms. They pointed eagerly toward a plainly dressed youth in coarse hemp robes, standing alone with an unremarkable appearance.

  "Kill him, and everything we promised will be yours!"

  They had hired outside help?

  Su Chen inwardly scoffed. So that was where their boldness came from—hiring a mercenary to deal with him. The hemp-robed youth looked at Su Chen with grave seriousness.

  "I will kill you."

  His tone was flat, as though stating an indisputable fact.

  A razor-sharp sword qi sliced across Su Chen's skin, drawing thin lines of blood.

  "Interesting."

  A long-dormant battle intent rose within Su Chen. Together with the youth, he ascended the Prodigy Platform, signed the life-and-death contract, and began the Genius Battle. The spectacle drew prodigies from numerous kingdoms to watch.

  After all, with the Hundred Kingdoms Trial about to commence, anyone with real strength preferred to keep their cards hidden. Who would willingly reveal their full power in public?

  Every participant was a rival. When someone exposed their abilities, naturally, everyone paid close attention.

  On the Prodigy Platform, Su Chen regarded the hemp-robed youth calmly.

  "I'm curious. A genius like you—why let yourself be manipulated by a bunch of trash?"

  Su Chen voiced the question that had been nagging at him.

  The youth before him stood at the third layer of the Spirit Sea Realm. The keen sword light carried the clear mark of sword intent. He was a genius, no less talented than Su Chen himself.

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  The prodigies from Azure Wave and Barbarian Desert Kingdoms turned livid when Su Chen bluntly called them trash. In their own kingdoms, each of them was the center of admiration, a dazzling star.

  The youth remained silent for a moment, his expression solemn and resolute.

  "I need a great deal of gold coins. They offered me gold coins, so I work for them."

  Su Chen was momentarily stunned. In the youth's eyes burned pure, unwavering determination.

  Su Chen probed carefully. "How much did they offer you?"

  Perhaps because he already considered Su Chen a dead man, the youth answered without haste, as though granting a final wish.

  "One million gold coins."

  One million gold coins was a fortune. Plenty of people would leap at the chance to kill a fifth-layer Spirit Sea cultivator for that sum. But Su Chen laughed.

  "One million? I'll offer ten times that. Bring me their heads, and I'll give you ten million gold coins."

  By "their," he clearly meant the prodigies of the Azure Wave and Barbarian Desert Kingdoms. The words sent pallor racing across the faces of those two kingdoms' geniuses. They knew exactly how terrifying the hemp-robed youth was.

  Fortunately, the youth ultimately refused.

  "My father taught me that a man must have principles."

  His gaze remained firm, as though he feared further conversation might shake his resolve.

  He attacked.

  Mastering sword intent made one a genius. But Su Chen—how could he be anything less?

  Facing the breathtaking sword strike hurtling toward him, Su Chen kept one hand behind his back while raising the other, fingers pressed together like a blade.

  The supreme art of the Li Clan.

  Spirit Rhino Sword Finger.

  The two sword lights collided in a violent burst, scattering endless shadows across the platform. An even more terrifying aura erupted atop the Prodigy Platform.

  From outside, spectators could see nothing clearly—only swirling dust and blinding light. Only the hemp-robed youth knew what horror unfolded at the very center.

  Su Chen stood with both hands crossed before his abdomen, black hair whipping wildly in the wind. His eyes held no trace of emotion. The temperature around them plummeted. Snowflakes drifted down in a sudden blizzard.

  The hemp-robed youth felt cold—not in his body, but a bone-piercing chill deep in his soul. The pure white snowflakes falling before his eyes turned crimson in his vision—blood. Beneath the ice and snow lay mountains of corpses and seas of gore.

  He had witnessed famines that stretched for thousands of miles, fields piled high with a million dead. Yet the scene before him was far more horrifying.

  The youth clenched his teeth. He could not give up. He had reasons to keep living. With everything he had, he thrust out one final sword.

  An ice spear materialized in Su Chen's hand. The spear shadows danced.

  Spear intent!

  One thrust rang out with terrifying force, once again swallowing the entire Prodigy Platform in chaos.

  The battle reached its conclusion.

  When the dust settled, the hemp-robed youth knelt on one knee. An ice spear hovered at his throat.

  With a mere thought, Su Chen could end his life.

  The youth stared in confusion as his opponent withdrew the spear.

  "Why… are you sparing me?"

  In his understanding, defeat meant death.

  Su Chen answered calmly, "Because I believe you shouldn't die here."

  The youth froze, then broke into a faint smile.

  "My name is Lin Wu."

  Su Chen nodded. "Li Chen."

  As Su Chen turned to leave, Lin Wu called after him in a loud voice. "I owe you my life. If you ever need it, this life is yours to take at any time!"

  Su Chen smiled to himself. His goal had been achieved. This was a man of true principles. There might be unexpected rewards in the future.

  The prodigies of the Azure Wave and Barbarian Desert Kingdoms turned deathly pale. Su Chen had survived—and defeated such a terrifying opponent! They knew exactly how strong the hemp-robed youth was. With dark faces, they released Wan Miao'er. Their hearts filled with dread.

  Wan Miao'er and Wan Yuanbao showered Su Chen with endless gratitude.

  The storm passed quickly.