Chapter 336: Battle Begins
Within the Ancient Secret Realm
"Xiao Tiance, I never thought you'd dare come here alone. Truly, you've chosen hell over heaven. What boldness," Elder Winter sneered as his cold, cutting voice resonated through the air.
Hearing this, Xiao Tiance's lips curved into a faint smile. His gaze was calm as he turned toward Elder Winter. Slowly, the elder stepped out from the swirling spatial vortex. As soon as he appeared, a wave of icy energy radiated from him, freezing the very vortex behind him.
Xiao Tiance remained unfazed, though he felt a slight surge of anticipation Elder Winter's full power was indeed impressive.
Following the elder's appearance, two other figures emerged from the spatial vortex.
Opposing Figures
One of them was a towering figure over two meters tall, exuding an explosive aura of raw strength. His muscular body seemed to bristle with power, each inch of his frame emanating energy so overwhelming that even from a hundred meters away, Xiao Tiance could sense its intensity.
This man was Ao Tianxiu, the Leader of the Strength Clan one of the four great divine clans. His long black hair flowed over his shoulders, and his eyes burned with a fighting spirit as fiery as molten lava. Ao Tianxiu locked his gaze on Xiao Tiance, as if ready to charge and clash in an epic battle at any moment.
Standing beside Ao Tianxiu was a stark contrast: Gu Changming, the Bone Clan Leader. His skeletal frame was clad in a bone crafted battle suit, and sharp, bone like horns jutted from his head. Despite his frail appearance, his sinister aura exuded deadly power. He stood over 2.3 meters tall, a grotesque and imposing figure resembling a demon straight out of hell.
As the leaders of their respective clans, Ao Tianxiu and Gu Changming were both at the pinnacle of Earth Supremes formidable foes by any measure.
Reinforcements for the Enemy
After the two clan leaders, Ling Zhanzi and Ling Jianzi stepped out, followed by Bear King Xiong Ba, a peak Lower Earth Supreme. They weren't alone several other powerful figures joined the scene, their presences strong enough to shake even seasoned warriors. Each carried the air of a renowned expert within the Western Heaven Continent.
Surrounded by this overwhelming array of enemies, Xiao Tiance's expression remained indifferent. It was as if he considered their gathering nothing more than a trivial affair.
His gaze swept over the crowd before finally resting on Ao Tianxiu and Gu Changming. Despite Elder Winter's domineering frost aura, Xiao Tiance deemed these two to be the greater threats.
Xiao Tiance Taunts
"Whether it's boldness or recklessness, it doesn't matter. The fact is, I've come," Xiao Tiance said with a faint smirk.
"You've gone to great lengths, but frankly, you've overreached. I already promised to visit your Little Western Heaven after leaving this secret realm. Why rush to throw your lives away?"
Taking in the surroundings, Xiao Tiance's smile widened. The location was a basin like area, sunken in the middle with towering walls on all sides a terrain perfect for a battlefield.
"Not bad. This place will make a fitting grave for you all," he remarked with deliberate provocation.
"Grave, you say?" Elder Winter's frosty demeanor grew even colder. "Whether it's our grave or yours, you'll know soon enough. Let's see if your mouth is as sharp after this battle!"
The Provocation
Hovering in mid air, Xiao Tiance ignored Elder Winter's anger. He smiled faintly and said, "Enough talk. Since I've come, I'm clearly not here to waste time. So, will you all attack together, or do you prefer to come at me one by one? It's up to you."
Not far away, a young girl and her guardian observed the unfolding scene from a hidden vantage point.
"Uncle Lin, isn't he being far too arrogant? The Western Heaven Battle Hall has gathered so many powerful warriors, with even the weakest among them being Lower Earth Supremes. How does he expect to fight them all?" the girl asked, her brow furrowed in doubt.
The man addressed as Uncle Lin smiled calmly. "Miss, things aren't always as they seem. Numbers alone don't determine the outcome of a battle.
"We don't know how many trump cards Xiao Tiance has hidden, nor the true extent of his power. It's best to watch quietly and observe for now."
The girl hesitated but nodded. However, her curiosity soon resurfaced.
"Uncle Lin, if he ends up losing, can you help him escape? Even if we don't know him, his boldness alone is rare and admirable. It'd be a shame to let someone like him die here," she said earnestly.
The man hesitated, a look of concern crossing his face. "Miss, my responsibility is to ensure your safety. If aiding him puts you in danger, I cannot agree."
The girl frowned but quickly countered, "Uncle Lin, think about it. If we save him and bring him back to the clan, Grand Elder would surely appreciate it. With his talents, the clan could easily recruit him. Wouldn't that be a great achievement for us?"
Her words left the man in deep thought. After a pause, he replied, "Miss, while recruiting him might benefit the clan, such individuals rarely submit to others.
"People like him either die in battle or rise to become legends. Submission is never in their nature."
Hearing this, the girl fell silent, realizing the truth in his words.
After a moment, Uncle Lin added, "But forging a positive connection with him? That's not impossible."
Xiao Tiance vs. the Alliance
Meanwhile, in the basin, Xiao Tiance's sharp gaze scanned his opponents.
"Come on now," he said, his voice calm yet commanding. "I've arrived as you planned. Why not show yourselves properly and greet me?"
Suddenly, the space around him rippled, and three figures emerged. At their forefront was Elder Winter, his cold aura chilling the very air. Behind him stood Ao Tianxiu and Gu Changming, their combined presences suffocating.
"Xiao Tiance," Elder Winter said, his voice dripping with venom. "You've walked right into our trap. Your courage is commendable, but it will be your downfall."
Within the Ancient Secret Realm
"If he loses later, I will step in to save him," the girl declared confidently.
"Very well, as you say, Miss. Let us observe for now," her guardian replied, his tone steady.
Xiao Tiance Faces Off
As Xiao Tiance's words fell, two Lower Earth Supremes stepped forward. With Elder Winter's silent permission, they launched their attack.
Though only Lower Earth Supremes, their power was enough to wield Heaven and Earth Manifestation and crystallized spiritual energy. Their movements could reshape mountains, rivers, and terrain, imbuing their actions with an almost divine essence.
These two did not hold back, skipping any testing phase of the battle. Their Supreme Dharma Bodies had evolved into Supreme Manifestations, allowing their spoken words to turn into reality with remarkable precision.
By all rights, such powerhouses would be legends across most of the Thousand Worlds. However, the overwhelming reputation of the Western Heaven Battle Hall and the request of its leaders left them no hesitation they agreed to join this hunt without question.
Xiao Tiance Ignores the Attack
For others, facing two Lower Earth Supremes would be a daunting challenge. But to Xiao Tiance, they were beneath his notice. It wasn't arrogance; it was disinterest such opponents failed to spark even a flicker of his interest.
He didn't move. Instead, Luo Tian Shen acted on his behalf. With a thought, the Luo Divine Sword at Xiao Tiance's waist flew into his hand. One swift strike cleaved through the Manifestations of the two Lower Earth Supremes, nearly decapitating one of them outright.
"Hmph, with mere Lower Earth Supremes like you, you think you can challenge Lord Tiance?" Luo Tian Shen sneered as he positioned himself between Xiao Tiance and the attackers, his tone dripping with disdain.
Western Heaven Battle Hall Strikes Back
The situation infuriated Ling Jianzi. Seeing his allies nearly dispatched in a single move, he could no longer restrain himself. His three foot long blade flashed from its scabbard, and in an instant, he clashed with Luo Tian Shen.
The two Lower Earth Supremes, freed from Luo Tian Shen's interruption, prepared to launch another attack on Xiao Tiance.
This time, Dean Tianqiong stepped forward, his expression grim. Although he knew he was no match for two Lower Earth Supremes acting in concert, he couldn't stand by. Xiao Tiance was only in this situation because of him and Luo Tian Shen, and abandoning him now was unthinkable.
"Your opponent is me!" Tianqiong roared, throwing himself into battle with the two Lower Earth Supremes.
Xiao Tiance Observes
Seeing Luo Tian Shen and Dean Tianqiong willingly stand by him despite the odds, Xiao Tiance's gaze softened. Though he had sent them a sound transmission earlier, urging them to leave, they had chosen to stay and fight.
His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden shout.
"Hmph! Do you dare to be distracted in front of us?"
Winter Elder's Ice Attack
Swish!
An onslaught of icy arrows formed from Elder Winter's frigid spiritual energy shot toward Xiao Tiance, aiming for his vital points. Each arrow was powerful enough to threaten even Upper Earth Supremes.
But Xiao Tiance didn't flinch. Standing calmly, he waited until the icy barrage was mere moments from striking. Then, a surge of golden flames erupted from his body, consuming the ice arrows entirely.
The Golden Flames
"What is that flame? It feels even more domineering and intense than the flames of the Fire Spirit Clan!"
The crowd, including Elder Winter and Ao Tianxiu, was stunned. Even the distant girl and her guardian watched in shock.
"It's an otherworldly flame Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame," Xiao Tiance announced, his lips curling into a smirk.
Elder Winter's eyes narrowed, and the other leaders exchanged uneasy glances. This flame wasn't just powerful it was terrifying. It could incinerate even the void itself, rendering Elder Winter's icy spiritual energy completely useless.
"Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame?" None of them had heard of it before, but they could all feel its unprecedented intensity. The heat alone made them instinctively step back.
Xiao Tiance noticed this and taunted, "Scared by a mere flame? If so, I might just lose all respect for you."
A Plan Against the Flames
"Hmph, don't get too full of yourself!" Elder Winter snapped. "Everyone, listen! My spiritual energy is ice based and can suppress the flames to some extent. Attack him together, and I'll focus on defense."
It was a sound strategy. Though ice based energy was naturally countered by the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame, it could still weaken its potency.
"Good plan!" Ling Zhanzi agreed, trying to rally the others. "Once we kill him, the Western Heaven Battle Hall will ensure none of you go unrewarded!"
With that, Ling Zhanzi activated his Ancient War Emperor Manifestation, summoning a towering figure behind him. The colossal entity, standing tens of thousands of feet tall, radiated a terrifying pressure. Three glowing orbs hovered behind its head, spinning rapidly and exuding a power that distorted the surrounding space.
Xiao Tiance's Assessment
"So this is the Ancient War Emperor Manifestation," Xiao Tiance mused, his tone calm. "Indeed, it's powerful ranked twenty fourth among the ninety nine Supreme Manifestations.
"But," he added, shaking his head slightly, "it's a shame. You're too weak to unleash its full potential."
Get 30% off on my Patreon and enjoy early access to new chapters.
You can also purchase the next 100 chapters of the novel directly from my Patreon page.
Hurry up! The promotion ends on March 2, 2026.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Albino1