"Chief Sword Elder…"
From across the grand plaza, the Fire Leopard Sect Master Huo Yanbao and the White Tiger Sect Master Dai Yuncong exchanged glances — a glint of murderous resolve flickering in both their eyes.
"Hmph!"
In the next instant, their Spirit Power exploded outward,
and above their heads, their Martial Souls manifested in towering, colossal forms dozens of meters tall.
"ROAR——!!!"
The Flame Leopard, wreathed in fire, strode through the air; every step stirred fierce currents of wind and heat, its muscular body aflame with burning crimson stripes as it charged straight toward the Wind Sword Sect.
Beside it, the White Tiger shone with a metallic golden aura, exuding the majesty of a beast king as it lunged for Li Zhexian.
"Grandfather…"
Huyan Li whispered, his voice trembling with futile plea.
From the direction of the Elephant Armor Sect, Sect Master Hu Yanzhen's robes billowed.
A deafening trumpet echoed — and a Diamond Mammoth, towering over tens of meters like a moving mountain, appeared behind the Fire Leopard and White Tiger.
Hu Yanzhen's aged face remained calm.
Once a side was chosen, there was no turning back.
To hesitate between factions…
would only lead to ruin on both sides.
Three of the Four Lower Sects were joining forces against the Wind Sword Sect — or rather, against the white-robed youth who had become the Chief Elder of the Wind Sword Sect at barely twenty years of age!
Silence engulfed the plaza.
The air was so still, one could hear a pin drop.
Countless gazes — astonished, doubtful, mocking, or anxious — all fell upon the young man walking calmly at the forefront.
Three Spirit Douluo attacking together — how could he possibly resist?!
Retreat?
That would destroy his prestige!
Should Feng Bailong intervene?
That would be even worse — a humiliation!
This was Li Zhexian's first public appearance as Chief Elder—
if he failed to show strength worthy of that title,
the world would turn admiration into ridicule.
Under the eyes of all—
The three Martial Souls formed a deadly encirclement, pressing in within ten meters of Li Zhexian.
The wind howled violently, whipping the robes of the Wind Sword Sect disciples, black silks fluttering wildly.
Yet their steps remained steady — not the slightest trace of panic.
Buzz—!
Li Zhexian took a single step forward.
At his feet, a purple Spirit Ring rose into view.
Then the second… the third… up to the fifth ring, each appearing in succession.
Each one radiated colors and power beyond anything the Spirit Master world could comprehend, leaving all witnesses utterly dumbfounded.
And then—
When the sixth ring ignited in crimson light—
The once-silent plaza erupted in thunderous uproar.
A hundred-thousand-year Spirit Ring?!
In the current understanding of the continent, a hundred-thousand-year ring was legendary—
something even Titled Douluo could only dream of!
His sixth ring was a hundred-thousand-year ring?!
Impossible!
On the drum tower, the Spirit Master's hand trembled, the brush jerking across the paper before he steadied it and began furiously writing again, eyes gleaming.
...
Across the plaza—
Ning Fengzhi and the others raised their cups with calm grace, taking a slow sip of wine as though nothing were amiss.
From the Clear Sky Clan's side, the Second Elder, Tang Yue, narrowed his eyes and murmured,
"So this youth… is Li Zhexian?"
The Third Elder, Tang Jun, suppressed his astonishment and said gravely,
"If he weren't such a monster, how could he be hailed as the number one genius of the young generation?"
The other three elders nodded silently.
Even as opponents—
They had to acknowledge the truth.
This youth's talent was terrifying beyond words.
His sixth ring—already a hundred thousand years.
His future was boundless.
"Li Zhexian…"
Hidden behind the five elders, almost completely obscured, Tang San's eyes reflected that crimson radiance.
He clenched his fists so hard that his nails dug deep into his palms.
A crushing sense of helplessness flooded him.
How could he ever catch up to such a man?
...
At the peak of the divine mountain, several ice mirrors reflected the scene below.
"A hundred-thousand-year Spirit Ring…"
The worship elders fell silent.
The Azure Luan Douluo's shock faded, his expression softening into quiet approval.
"With such talent — the bearing of a god — he is indeed a perfect match for Xue'er."
"Heh, see? My judgment isn't wrong," Glowing Feather Douluo laughed, swinging his ice crystal swing.
With a flick of his wrist,
the mirrors turned, focusing on the Clear Sky Clan's direction.
Looking upon the five Titled Douluo exuding unmatched dominance,
faint, knowing smiles curved the lips of the Worship Hall elders.
"The Worship Hall truly has been silent too long."
"The Clear Sky Sect, who once hid in fear of us…"
"And now, they dare to flaunt their might again."
...
"Your Holiness…" Yue Guan's voice trembled as he turned toward Bibi Dong.
"Months ago, in the Star Dou Forest, Li Zhexian didn't yet possess that hundred-thousand-year Spirit Ring!"
"Could it be—"
"The Titan Giant Ape? Or the Azure Bull Python?!"
Bibi Dong's eyes were fathomless, her face unreadable.
Ghost Douluo grit his teeth.
"Your Holiness, Li Zhexian's rate of growth is monstrous!"
"He may already possess power to rival a Titled Douluo!"
"Li Zhexian must die — otherwise, none of us will sleep easy!"
Bibi Dong's slender fingers curled unconsciously.
"The aura of that ring doesn't belong to the three beasts of the Star Dou Forest."
"Not long ago, Li Zhexian was abducted by the mysterious Snow Maiden to the Extreme North."
"When he returned—he bore this hundred-thousand-year ring."
"The Snow Maiden… worshiped by those in the north as a deity, the sovereign of the frozen lands…"
"Why would such a being allow—let alone assist—Li Zhexian in obtaining his ring?"
"Li Zhexian…"
"What are you hiding…?"
Within her purple eyes, killing intent and greed churned like venomous spiders devouring each other.
...
"Impossible?!" Huo Yanbao, Dai Yuncong, and Hu Yanzhen all cried out in shock, their Martial Soul True Bodies freezing mid-motion.
And in that instant—
Behind the youth striding with draconic vigor, two figures emerged:
an ancient longsword engraved with lotus petals,
and a jade-smooth wine gourd glimmering with pure light.
Wine boiled — sword sang!
It was Li Zhexian's Twin Martial Souls: Sword and Wine!
A vast spiritual power surged from his brow, merging with the crushing might of the hundred-thousand-year ring and fusing into the Qinglian Sword.
CLANG—!
A blood-red sword light tore across the sky.
In that moment, blood-mist filled the heavens;
the white-jade plaza reflected crimson, as if turned into a roiling sea of blood.
The sword's edge was so sharp that spectators had to cover their eyes in pain.
Zheng—!
Zheng—!
The blood-red sword light cleaved through the oncoming Martial Soul True Bodies —
piercing from head to tail in one unstoppable stroke.
The Fire Leopard was annihilated.
The White Tiger dissolved.
The Diamond Mammoth shattered!
And still—
The sword's momentum did not stop there —
It carved a deep trench across the plaza before finally dispersing.
The three sect masters staggered, their faces flushing red as blood spurted from their lips.
They retreated several steps before barely regaining balance.
"Li Zhexian…"
They wiped their mouths, their eyes filled with disbelief — and undisguised fear.
A mere junior…
Could he truly be this strong?!
That sword stroke —
had already brushed the threshold of Titled Douluo!
As the shattered Martial Soul True Bodies dispersed, the unleashed energy stormed outward, sweeping across the plaza.
From within that chaos,
Li Zhexian and Feng Bailong walked side by side, sword light dispersing the lingering energy, disciples following closely behind.
Under countless stunned, wordless gazes—
Li Zhexian's white robes fluttered gently as he seated himself at the foremost row, calm and unshaken — on equal footing with the Titled Douluo present.
It was his first appearance as the Chief Sword Elder.
How does one command respect?
How does one prove worthiness of the title?
How would he command respect?sac
With a single stroke—
that suppressed three Spirit Douluos at once.
With one sword that suppressed three Spirit Douluos.
That was Li Zhexian's answer.
From this day forward—
none would ever again question his place.