Chapter 164: Ever Since the Beginning of History

Shen An shifted his gaze and said, "You recognize me?"

"Who hasn't heard of the formidable reputation of the Earl King? This year, the Grandmaster Council welcomed the youngest Earl King in history! That event caused quite a sensation," said Zhang Zhaotian.

"Oh, an Earl King? How impressive. I just wonder if his Earl King badge is made of genuine diamond. If it's truly crafted from diamond, it must be worth a fortune."

"Needless to say, such a huge diamond—is that something an ordinary person could ever forge?"

"We people of the Ebony Martial Arts Hall are going to seize that Earl King badge today and take a good look at it."

"The Earl King's badge looks rather nice."

Zhang Zhaotian grabbed a martial arts hall disciple and directly crippled the disciple's arm, saying, "Now this disciple's life is in my hands. If you want to save him, come and have a one-on-one duel with me. If I win, your Earl King badge is mine."

"That disciple and my martial arts hall—whether you kill him or cut him down has nothing to do with me," Shen An said indifferently. He would not lift a finger for a mere disciple, especially one he did not even recognize.

Zhang Zhaotian tossed the disciple directly onto the ground and ignored him further, realizing that he had to capture someone of sufficient value.

Soon, Zhang Zhaotian seized a martial arts hall master. Astonishingly, the master put up almost no resistance in Zhang Zhaotian's grip.

"How about now? Does the Earl King find this person weighty enough?" Zhang Zhaotian stared coldly at Shen An.

Shen An frowned. He had not expected to encounter such a situation upon attending the joint tournament of the Ten Great Martial Arts Halls.

"It seems this battle is unavoidable. In that case, I'll let you witness my true strength," Shen An said.

"Watch this person closely for me!" Zhang Zhaotian said in a deep voice, then leaped onto the arena stage.

At that moment, Shen An stood opposite Zhang Zhaotian, completely calm as if unaffected by anything around him.

"Today I will seize the Earl King's badge. I wonder if I obtain it, will I also be considered an Earl King of the Grandmaster Council?" Zhang Zhaotian laughed heartily.

"Master Zhang Zhaotian possesses terrifying strength; he has never displayed his full power before anyone else."

"From the looks of it, that Earl King fighting Master Zhang Zhaotian is bound to die a miserable death. Hah, what young Earl King? Just an undeserved reputation, I suppose. Against our master, he only has the option of cowering."

"Let this fellow truly appreciate the limit of his own power! A mere existence of this level dares to contend with our master? Sheer arrogance and overestimation of oneself."

"Precisely. Right before the Alliance of the Ten Great Martial Arts Halls, let this young Earl King learn what a true powerhouse is, and what it means to kick a steel plate."

……

The masters of the other martial arts halls were also filled with worry. They had never witnessed Shen An's true strength, and their respect for him stemmed mostly from his position as the Earl King.

Had it not been for his status as the Earl King, they would never have shown him such deference.

"Can the Earl King really triumph over Zhang Zhaotian? That Zhang Zhaotian is no ordinary expert; his strength is formidable, and we stood practically no chance against him."

"Zhang Zhaotian's power is terrifying, but I believe the Earl King is no weakling either. Since he could become the Earl King of the Grandmaster Council, he naturally possesses commensurate strength."

"If anything were to happen to the Earl King here, I'm afraid the Grandmaster Council won't let the matter rest easily. If this goes on, we are doomed."

"Sigh, we can't stop this from happening now and can only let it run its course. Let's just hope the Earl King comes to no harm in the duel."

Hearing the masters' concerns, many of the surrounding disciples broke into a commotion.

"It sounds like the masters are deeply worried about the Earl King. Could it really be that he is no match for the master of the Ebony Martial Arts Hall?" said a disciple.

"The Earl King is the person I respect the most! To become an Earl King of the Grandmaster Council at such a young age—he is simply my idol. I don't want him to fall in this battle. Never! Earl King, you must hold your ground!"

"I believe the Earl King can definitely defeat Zhang Zhaotian of the Ebony Martial Arts Hall."

……

On the arena stage, Shen An and Zhang Zhaotian drew the attention of countless gazes, for both men possessed extraordinary identities.

Shen An, the renowned Earl King, the youngest Earl King in the history of the Grandmaster Council.

Zhang Zhaotian, the master of the Ebony Martial Arts Hall, whose fierce reputation shook the entire city of Yincheng.

Staring at Shen An ahead, Zhang Zhaotian sneered, "Earl King, today I'll beat you into a minced-meat king, to show you that without real strength, no status can save you from being a mere illusion."

"Hah, I only fear your words are fierce while your true abilities are mediocre," Shen An retorted. Faced with the contempt of the Ebony Martial Arts Hall, he showed utter disdain, without the slightest intention of backing down.

"Such a sharp tongue! Let's see just what kind of strength you truly possess," Zhang Zhaotian said grimly.

With a sudden sprint, Zhang Zhaotian closed in on Shen An, his terrifying momentum resembling a raging wild bull that was impossible to easily withstand.

Such a charge by Zhang Zhaotian was capable of collapsing a solid wall; his might was truly peerless among ordinary mortals.

Yet, Shen An easily sidestepped it, seemingly without expending any effort at all.

"If my eyes do not deceive me, your strength is merely at the mid-stage of the Third Rank? With such meager power, you are still no match for me."

"Do not be so arrogant! I haven't even unleashed my true power yet. I shall let you witness what real power is right now."

Zhang Zhaotian drew a golden broadsword and swung it fiercely. Terrifying blade auras surged forward, each one lethal enough to claim a life instantly.

Thrown into a battlefield slaughter, a man like Zhang Zhaotian would undoubtedly become a god of death.

Accompanying the swinging golden broadsword was a terrifying surge of vital energy. Zhang Zhaotian was truly enraged this time, unleashing a horrifying amount of vital power.

"The Transcendence Saber Technique of the Ebony Martial Arts Hall! There is no way you can defend against a move like this," Zhang Zhaotian proclaimed triumphantly.

"Holy shit, it's actually the Transcendence Saber Technique! Our master actually resorted to the Transcendence Saber Technique to deal with that Earl King?"